He Ascended into Heaven

May 15, 1988

John 15:26-16:14

Introduction:

THIS IS "PRAYER MEETING SUNDAY"!

(Next Sunday is Pentecost- we make a lot of Christmas/Easter- less of Pentecost)

I. WHY DID JESUS EVER GO AWAY? WHY DIDN'T HE SIMPLY STAY?

  1. The earthly work, passion & death, resurrection of Jesus are sacred and precious to us:
    1. WE'RE GLAD JESUS CAME! Took our flesh! Identified with you and me.
    2. WE'RE GRATEFUL JESUS DIED! In some mysterious yet real way "he took our sins and our sorrows . . .bore the burden to Calvary"
    3. WE'RE GLAD JESUS ROSE AGAIN! The resurrection is the DYNAMO that powers the church!

      But how many times do we say: I'M GLAD JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN?

  2. WE CAN BE GLAD JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN!
    1. BECAUSE THE SENDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE FACT THAT JESUS IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.

      John 16:7: "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the HELPER shall not come to you; but if I do go, I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU."

      The Father gives the Spirit to those who ask in response to the PROMISE and the PRESENCE of the Son!

    2. BECAUSE I AM REPRESENTED AT THE THRONE, AND PRAYED FOR WITH GENUINE SYMPATHY.

      Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

      I know that this planet is just a speck in space, and I am an insignificant atom lost in eternity— except that Jesus is at the center of all things, wherever that may be; and Jesus knows ME, and HE prays for ME! And HE is not lost in eternity— and so neither am I!

    3. BECAUSE I WILL BE WELCOME IN HEAVEN AS LONG AS JESUS IS THERE.

      John 14:3 "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also."

      And also, as He prayed to the Father, Jesus said: John 17:24 "I will, Father, that they also whom Thou hast given me be with me, WHERE I AM!"

      I am sometimes ill at ease in new places, especially when the company is made up of people who seem to know a great deal more than I do. But I may be sure that Jesus will make me 'at home' in heaven.

    4. BECAUSE JESUS HAS PREPARED A PLACE FOR ME IN HEAVEN!

      John 14:1,2 "In my Father's house are many mansions! I go to prepare a place for YOU, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that WHERE I am, THERE you may be also."

      The idea of PLACE has always been a strong appeal to me. I need ROOM. I need PLACE! And because Jesus is ascended into heaven, I shall have my PLACE, prepared by Him!

    5. BECAUSE JESUS IS LORD AND KING, AND JESUS IS GOOD.

      Matthew 28:18 "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and on earth."

      The final Word must come from Jesus. Things SEEM out of hand. But I know and trust Jesus— and HE is Lord! Isn't that enough reason to say: "I am glad that Jesus has ascended into heaven?"

II. THE DISCIPLES TOOK JESUS LITERALLY AT HIS WORD

  1. They went back to Jerusalem and started an open-ended prayer meeting. (It was TEN DAYS, but they didn't know that at the time.) They didn't know what to expect. They began in EXPECTATION and OBEDIENCE.
  2. THE PROMISE CAME, AN EXPERIENCE IN EXACT ACCORD WITH JESUS' WORDS:

    Their ACTIONS expressed a PRACTICAL THEOLOGY OF HOPE!

    1. The FACT of a living Church, the Body of Christ!
    2. The certain knowledge that JESUS IS IN SESSION!
    3. The 'theology of hope's central feature was: JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN! "The church's TIME is limited!"

      So— where does THAT come to bear on the way WE Christians are supposed to live in May of 1988?

III. IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO ACTIVATE THESE SAME PROMISES!

  1. The promises respond to EXPECTANCY (which is another word for living FAITH!)

    Jesus said (Luke 24) "I send the Promise of the Father on YOU!" Peter (Acts 2:39) said: "The Promise is to you- and to those afar off ... EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD SHALL CALL!"

  2. AND OUR EXPECTANCY, OUR FAITH, IS ACTIVATED BY OBEDIENCE!

    WE may expect the PROMISE, the PRESENCE, the POWER, the JOY- when we are ready to obey the directions Jesus gave WHEN HE ASCENDED:

    1. WE are to TARRY until WE are filled. There is no set time limit now. But it is NOT just a matter of cut-and-dried incantation, formula. It is two persons (Person & person) coming to know and trust each other!
    2. In tarrying we are to CONSECRATE. We need to die to SELFISHNESS, and come alive to Christ's Body, THE CHURCH!
    3. If we tarry. we shall receive! The Spirit will give assurance! And THEN we are to continue in faith.

Conclusion:

What would happen if we observed "Prayer Meeting Sunday" faithfully? made it a part of OUR calendar as faithfully as we do our Christmas shopping? What would happen if we prepared for Pentecost the way we prepare for Christmas and the Easter Parade?

Is the fullness of the Holy Spirit- the Promise of Jesus-the Gift of the Father- a first priority in YOUR life this morning?

Prayer:

Let Your Promise Come to US in a new and vital way as we seek to obey YOU from our hearts. AMEN

#272 Breathe on Me