ASCENSION SUNDAY – MAY 20, 2012
• HMP Wandsworth – Notional Theists but Practical Atheists!
• Apparently, 78% of all Americans believed in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ rose from the dead but over half said made no difference
to how they lived. How much more the Ascension!!!
FIVE REASONS WHY THE ASCENSION IS SUCH GOOD NEWS AND WHY IT MUST CHANGE
OUR LIVES FOREVER
1) Jesus
is Alive! -Luke 24:44-47 (885); Matt 28:20 ‘I am with you always…’
There are three sites in Jerusalem purporting to be the
burial tomb of Jesus: orthodox, Armenian and garden tomb – one thing in common:
All Empty!!!
The same person who said: "Come to me all you who are
burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
The same person who said: "Ask and it will be given,
seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened”
The same person who is with us today and is with you when
you wake up tomorrow morning.
2) Jesus
Rules Forever! – Ephesians
1:19-22 (p. 976)
The Message: 1:20-23 “All this energy issues from Christ: God
raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of
running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no
power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is
in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all
this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the
world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in
which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
'Over ever name' that means over the king, the queen, the
president, your father, your CEO, your boss, your teacher, you life-coach, your
spiritual guide, Jesus Rules!
Colossians 3:2 "…seek
the things that are above, where Christ is seated… Set your mind on things that
are above, not on things that are on earth.” (p. 984)
What’s your morning routine? Radio? TV? Blackberry? A young
man came to see me once and he was suffering from depression. I asked him what
his normal day looked like. Well he got up, went to the kitchen made breakfast
and watched the news on TV for half and hour then he went and showered
listening to the radio. He got dressed got in this car and listened No wonder
you are depressed! Jesus is not going to jump out of the closet and say ‘Here I
am!’ You have to seek him, love him, call upon him, worship him.
3) Jesus
way of Living is Eternally Vindicated
Philippians 2:1-11 (p. 980) - the way of humility,
sacrificial service, obedience and kindly loving is the only life that has a
future.
4) Jesus
Ascent means the Holy Spirit's Descent!
Acts 1:4, (p. 907) - wait until you receive what the father
has promised. Christ goes up so the Spirit may come down! Like a lift at Terminal 5 – I shoot up and a lift load of Japanese
tourists shoots down!
Acts 1:8 They wanted information but what they get is power!
Visiting Ephesus, in Turkey, port now 14 miles from the sea,
isolated. Visiting a church in Romania – isolated, lost touch with the
community around it.
5) Jesus
is still Present – Ephesians 1:22-23
John, taxi driver, negative experience of the church but the
church is still God’s Plan A. There is no Plan B. I’ve looked in the Bible.
There is nothing else!
The Message: 1:20-23 “All this energy issues from Christ: God
raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of
running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no
power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is
in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all
this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the
world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in
which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
In a thousand years time, if Jesus has not returned to make
all things new, there will be no USA, no Eurozone, no Social media, no King or
Queen of England, no Microsoft, no Facebook, no Apple, .... but there will be
the Church!
Bill Hybels: There is nothing like the local then when the
local church is working right!
Every Christian has received a gift from Jesus to serve his
Body (Ephesians 4:7)
Conclusion!
1) Don’t be a Practical Atheist! Connected with the Risen Lord
Jesus Everyday!
2) Ask God for More! Pray for a great infilling of the Holy
Spirit Everyday!
3) Are you Connected to the Local Church?
• Are you giving – worship &
money?
• Are you serving – using your
gifts to bless others
• Are you loving - are you being
discipled by others and are you actively discipling others?
