← Back to sermon library

good morning to everyone just a few announcements before we begin worship this morning the first is that Elise Rempel has applied for a church membership a number of lords days ago we announced that Jonathan and Elise were engaged jonathan jones and now Elise has applied for membership so that's a wonderful thing you can talk to her and and congratulate her talked to her encourage her pray for her and it's always nice to bring new Christians into membership here at free grace secondly the church workday is this upcoming saturday so may the 14th is the church work day it starts it starts at eight-thirty but you can come at any time if you want to just pop in and at whenever you're available if you're doing something in the morning if you can accommodate 30 and then you have to leave early that's fine too but we will be starting here at the church at eight-thirty we have a list for anybody who hasn't done it before we just try and clean up the church it's well-kept already but we do certain projects around the church building both inside and outside to upkeep this gift that God has given to us so if you're able to come again Saturday May fourteenth at eight-thirty or anytime afterwards that would be great the last announcement is next Lord's Day is the fellowship luncheon we don't have slips this morning we're going to send email out so we have everyone we have most everyone's email addresses an email will go out tomorrow with some suggestions or requests for food to bring and that sort of thing so you can expect an email if you don't get one then you can email Tracy Porter if you need email addresses i believe the directories are at the back of the church well let's begin the worship of our great triune God then if you'll turn in your Bibles with me to Psalm 24 so we begin worship now with the reading of the word of the living and true god psalm 24 a psalm of David the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness the world and those who dwell therein for he has founded it upon the Seas and established it upon the waters who may ascend into the hill of the Lord or who may stand in his holy place he who has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the god of his salvation this is Jacob the generation of those who seek Him who seek your face seyla lift up your heads o you gates and be lifted up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle lift up your heads o you gates lift up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord of Hosts he is the king of glory seyla amen let's stand together and sing our first hymn will be 2 12 and your Trinity hymnals that's the larger hymnal in front of the UH in front of you let's stand and sing as a church to 12 you you you please be seated let us pray our righteous and our Heavenly Father we rejoice now that we can gather together as the saints of Christ to sing your praises to come into this place to worship you and we do pray that you would help us again to do so and we do pray first that your name would be hallowed here in this gathered assembly and throughout the entirety of the earth we pray Lord God that from the lips of your creation there would be praises sung we pray that your gathered assemblies around the world would rejoice in you our God they would sing your praises for truly you are worthy of honor and praise and we rejoice in you our Creator who created all things in the space of six days and all very good by the word of your power we rejoice that you have that you have redeemed men from the earth that you have caused sinners by your grace to be made alive in Christ Jesus that throughout the ages that there have been our fellow brothers and sisters who have faith in the Redeemer of God's elect the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for redemption for the history of it and for the fact that you continue to bring men and women boys and girls from the deadness of sin to light in life in Christ Jesus by your grace by your gospel and for your glory and we do pray God that we would sing the praises of redeeming Grace this morning we know that we have been saved not by deeds of righteousness which we have done but according to your mercy you saved us we know that we contribute nothing to salvation save for the sin that makes it necessary and we know that salvation from first to last midst and throughout is from a triune God who saves without a helper and we rejoice in Father Son and Holy Spirit we do pray that you would cause us to have our praises raised to to heaven that they would come except ibly to you through our mediator the Lord Jesus Christ that our praises that our worship today would come to you through him as a sweet-smelling aroma Lord God that you would be pleased to to look upon your gathered Saints here and around the world and knowing that you are honored knowing that you are praised and Lord God knowing that Christ Jesus is rejoiced in we would pray that you would wash us a fresh in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ we know that in him and in him alone is their forgiveness of sins and we rejoice in that blessed truth and we do pray knowing that we're saved by grace through faith in Christ alone that you would cause us by that grace to be conformed daily unto the image of Christ that we would conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that your word may not be blasphemed and so that the gospel may be adorned we do pray God that you would help us as we have gathered now for worship we would ask that you would help us to not be hindered by thoughts that would steal steal us away from proper focus upon the worship of our God we do pray that you would keep our minds attentive that we might be active in worship joyful and earnest in our worship and Lord God that we might be focused upon that preached word we might take it in that we might rejoice in your revelation to men and that we might be all the more equipped to rejoice in Christ and to live for your glory we do pray God that you would be with those that we prayed for this morning in our hour of prayer we do pray for the many sick the many injured the many that are healing Lord we do pray that you would watch over those who are traveling whether they are now or looking forward to travel watch over them strengthen them and just guard them as they are away from their homes we pray for the those recently born we rejoice in the gifts of babies to the families in this church we do pray that you would watch over them continue to to heal them to strengthen them we pray where there are issues that you attend that you would heal and Lord God that you would strengthen these little ones and we look forward Lord or we do pray that in due time you would by your grace bring them forth that they might at a young age rejoice in our Creator and own the name of Redeemer we do pray that you'd be with parents of these children and all parents here Lord God in our church we pray that you would help us to watch over our children to care for them to love them to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord we do pray Lord God that you would do that mighty act of salvation in our midst that young and old Lord God would be brought forth from the deadness of sin to life in Christ by your grace and for your glory we do pray for the persecuted churches around the world the persecuted Christians around the world in countries where there is much opposition we do pray that you be near to them that you would strengthen them God that you would give them daily that measure of spirit and grace to endure the threatenings of opposers we would pray that they would have that grip upon the hope of their calling that they would not waver in that but would rather remain steadfast and the things of our blessed Savior we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them that you would save some that those who would remain in opposition you would take them out of the way God we do pray that your people would be protected that your name would be honored and that you would vindicate your name in all the earth we pray for those who rule over us governments of the world we pray that you would cause them to do so righteously inequity and injustice we pray that you would take away the power from those who would seek to pervert the the land who would seek to propagate wickedness and we do just pray God that you would raise up men and women who would rule over the nations of the world and that they would do so according to your will according to your law even Lord God and that they would cast off all things that are an abomination in your sight we do pray that you would now be with us and be with the preacher Lord as a pastor Butler comes up here to preach we do pray that he would know the presence of his God the strength and the aid of his God in this pulpit we do pray God that the preaching of your word would go forth from this place with much power your Saints would be edified that sinners would be saved and that you would be glorified continue now then to be with us as we pray sing as we read your scriptures like this day of worship truly be that a day of worship where you are Lord God the recipient of all honor and praise and we do pray in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen let's stand and sing together our second hem it will be 477 as a church let's all rise and sing 477 you you could turn in your Bibles to Matthew 8 our new testament scripture reading it's a reading of Matthew 8 you'll remember that we read verse 12 verse 15 last Lord's Day morning so we'll pick up in Matthew 8 at verse 16 Matthew 8 beginning in verse 16 the word of the living and true God when evening had come they brought to him many who were demon-possessed and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying he himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses and when Jesus saw great multitudes about him he gave a command to depart to the other side then a certain scribe came and said to him teacher I will follow you wherever you go and jesus said to him foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head then another of his disciples said to him Lord let me first go and bury my father but jesus said to him follow me and let the dead bury their own dead now when he got into a boat his disciples followed him and suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea so that the boat was covered with the waves but he was asleep then his disciples came to him in a woke him saying lord save us we are perishing but he said to them why are you fearful o you of little faith then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm so the men marvelled saying who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey him when he had come to the other side to the country of the gurgles there met him two demon-possessed men coming out of the temple excuse me coming out of the tombs exceedingly fierce so that no one could pass that way and suddenly they cried out saying what have we to do with you Jesus you son of God have you come here to torment us before the time now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding so the demons begged him saying if you cast us out permit us to go away into the herd of swine and he said to them go so when they had come out they went into the herd of swine and suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water then those who kept them fled and they went away into the city and told every and told everything including what had happened to the demon-possessed men and behold the whole city came out to meet Jesus and when they saw him they begged him to depart from their region amen well just just an observation here we have something that the Gospel writers are doing when they write is that they're seeking to stress the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ who is this one called the Christ who came who lived who died who rose again send it to the right hand of the Majesty on high we see oftentimes that they stress the prophetic fulfillment of the doings of the Savior and here we have that in verse 16 when evening had come they brought to him many who were demon-possessed and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying he himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses we've noted many times at the end of miracles wonders and signs was not the dazzling of the audience or too dazzled the audience but rather it was to testify to the audience that the one performing these miracles is the promised Messiah that he is the promised Savior that he is the promised Redeemer in this case we see that all of these things were done so that Isaiah 53 might be fulfilled that this one healing that this one casting out demons that this one doing many many miracles is the promised servant of God who would come to lay down his life for guilty sinners we see a blessed contrast after that if you've ever read Matthew 8 perhaps you've marveled at this contrast in the text we see in 20 Jesus saying foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head it's a amazing condescension the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ and coming from the praise of angels being that Isaiah 6 son of god lord of lord of hosts the king of kings and coming down from the praise of angels to be found in in such a such a state of the old boys would say ignominy such a state of shame he comes and he condescends and he's found without a place to lay his head but you see right after that we have this wonderful instance of his deity displayed of his power displayed in the calming of the sea Matthew stressing the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ not just as a regular man though he had humanity but as God from God light from light true God from True God begotten not made one in being with the father notice he calms the storm he his disciples are fearful and he says why are you fearful o you of little faith then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm you should read 10 Psalm 107 specifically the latter versus I think I believe I should have made a note of it but i believe around verse 30 we're speaking of the lord the psalmist says he raises the stormy winds which lifts up the waves of the sea he calms the storm so that it's waves are still make no mistake matthew is stressing the unrivaled unmitigated deity of the lord jesus christ this same one who had nowhere to lay his head because he came to redeem the sons of men let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your revelation to us in the New Testament we thank you and the old we thank you for your word to us and we rejoice in what it testifies concerning our blessed Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we do pray that you would help us now as we continue to worship that we would honor him that we would serve him that we would rejoice in him and Lord God that we would daily sing the praises of redeeming race we pray that all that is done this morning excuse me this morning and this evening Lord God would be done unto the praise of your Most High name and it's in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we pray amen well let's stand and sing our final him before the preaching will be 217 let's stand and sing a 217 together please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 1 we will return to our exposition of Matthew's Gospel next Sunday this morning we're going to look at Acts chapter 1 in several other passages as we treat the doctrine of the Ascension of Christ kids the word ascension or ascend is going to be said many times throughout the course of this message it simply means to go up if you had a bunk bed and you climbed up to the ladder or climbed up the ladder to the top of the bunk bed you would have ascended you would have gone up you would have engaged in Ascension and that's what the word means so as I say it several times this morning please understand that's what I'm talking about but I want to read acts chapter 1 verses 9 to 11 the former account I made oath Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after he threw the Holy Spirit had given Commandments to the Apostles whom he had chosen to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and being assembled together with them he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father which he said you have heard from me for John truly baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now therefore when they had come together they asked him saying Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel and he said to them it is not for you to know times or seasons which the father has put in his own authority but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth now when he had spoken these things while they watched he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel who also said men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven this same Jesus who has taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven amen will let us pray our Father in Heaven we thank you for this lord's day we thank you for this place where we can gather to worship the triune God we want to come to the Father through the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit so that God may be all in all in this place we would ask that you would be exalted that you would be praised that you would be worshiped and we would ask as well that you would return blessing upon your people she would encourage our hearts as we consider the fact that Jesus Christ was taken up into heaven that he's enthroned at the right hand of God most high and that he will come again in glory to judge the living in the dead may you as you as well use this word by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction for sin to those who are unbelievers we pray that today you would exercise your sovereign will and bring forth sinners and call them out of darkness into marvelous light so they may taste and see that the Lord is good we ask that you would wash us all in the blood of the Lord Jesus that you would cleanse us from all sin and transgression how we thank you and how we praise you that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared we pray God that we would know that even now please send your Holy Spirit as we study scripture and we pray through Christ Jesus our Lord amen well as we all know in the history of the Christian Church we have believed and confessed that the Lord Jesus after the resurrection of Christ forty days later he ascended on high the Westminster Shorter Catechism as well as the larger catechism highlight that the resurrection the Ascension and is called the current session of Christ from the Father's right hand this is all or these are all elements involved in what is called the exaltation of Christ so Christ went from a state of humiliation that pastor Porter just reminded us of this ignominy this place where he did not have a place to allow to rest his head we define that or we describe that as the state of humiliation well after he renders that sacrifice after he dies on the cross he is buried and on the third day he is raised from the dead and thus enters into the state of exultation there's a world of practical benefit in this doctrine of the Ascension that I hope we will consider this morning I want to look at three things as we gather together first look at the historical reality of the Ascension secondly the theological significance of the Ascension and then thirdly the practical benefits of the Ascension now kids if I were to ask you what does Ascension mean would you be able to answer I would hope so remember if you have a bunk bed and you ascend the ladder and go to the top what we find in the book of Acts Luke describes it in two places as Christ being taken up he was taken up from earth into heaven so let's look first at the historical reality of the Ascension the Old Testament prophesied that this would indeed take place the Old Testament foretold of the coming Messiah and that that Messiah would be a man of sorrows he would be acquainted with grief he would be cut off for his people but that self-same Messiah would ascend again he would return back to heaven in Psalm 68 specifically in verse 18 Paul the Apostle quotes that Ephesians 4 and he applies it to Christ he said that he a lead kappa he ascended on high he led captivity captive and he gave gifts to men Psalm 110 verse 1 david says the Lord Yahweh said to my lord jesus sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that everywhere in the New Testament that song that verse is either coated or alluded to but as well the prophet Daniel foretold the come of the Ascension of Christ you can look there Daniel 7 specifically verses 13 and 14 we ought to see and observe that what happened in acts 1 verses 9 to 11 was according to the promise of God that the man of sorrows the acquainted one with grief the one who would die for our infirmities would be raised from the dead and would ascend on high note Daniel 7 13 and 14 the Prophet says I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the Son of Man you see we often refer to Jesus as the Son of Man and we often associate it with his humanity but that's not what's in view here son of man isn't a dot as an identifier of the Lord Jesus speaks of his glory it speaks of his majesty it speaks of his most highness in fact son of God as applied to Jesus in Niall in the New Testament Scriptures more often than not points to his humanity but in this instance notice he sees one light the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven he came to the Ancient of Days I think this is a passage that is misunderstood when it comes to the doctrine of the end times or eschatology or what's going to happen when Jesus returns we often marshall 713 from daniel into the discussion and described it as a coming to Earth passage the word Jesus is going to come from the father to the earth in these clouds of heaven now I certainly do not discount that Jesus will come to the earth I do not discount that the Lord Christ has a second comment but that's not what's in view here what's in view is the Ascension notice the direction of his ascent he came to the Ancient of Days Christ goes from Earth he comes to the Ancient of Days and when he sits down at the right hand of the majesty of God on I note what happens in verse 14 then to him was given Dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples nations and languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed you see there are those again with reference to eschatology that teach that Jesus must return to earth before he begins his kingdom no according to the to the scriptures Jesus at his ascension sits at the right hand of the Father where he receives this kingdom where he exercises this Dominion where he rules with utter and absolute authority the king is in brethren the king is enthroned at the right hand of his father now as we come to the New Testament we're not going to exhaust all of the passages but Jesus oftentimes spoke of returning to his father how would jesus return to the Father it would be through this ascension it would be through this going up it would be through what is recorded there for us in Acts chapter 1 verses 9 to 11 Jesus spoke of the benefits the privileges the blessings involved in his going to the father when he goes to the father he goes to prepare a place for us don't forget John 14 verses 2 and 3 what does Jesus say is one of his missions when he returns to heaven when he returns to the Father it is to prepare a place for us it is to carve out in this this mansion of God these places for our eternal abode the Lord Christ has for us great blessings and great privileges and he speaks to this but as well he says that I will send my father will send another comforter and in John 16 7 he says it is to your advantage that I go away could you imagine being as disciples in the upper room and hearing him say that it is to your advantage that I go away I think my heart would have dropped and it would have sank and I would have said there could be no advantage and you going away Jesus the only advantage I can ever envision is you being with me you being close to me you being always present but Jesus says it is to your advantage that I go away because if not the Holy Spirit will not come we mustn't devalue we mustn't limit we mustn't denigrate the power and the influence of the Holy Spirit brethren the lord christ says it is to our advantage that he goes away so Christ spoke of his ascension in the gospel records Luke speaks of the Ascension in Luke 24 verses 52 53 and then here in acts 19 2 11 which we'll look at in more detail now so if you're not in acts 1 you can turn to acts 1 first thing we ought to appreciate is that nine to eleven the doctrine of the Ascension is somewhat bracketed by references to the Ascension you know what brackets are right you've got a stack of shelf full of books and you put brackets on either side so they don't fall or you might think of the end pieces and a loaf of bread you've got all those you know beautiful pristine slices and then that sort of end piece that you know will eat it but it's not our first choice we're not really into that much crust those are the end pieces those are the brackets those are the things that sort of include everything in between Luke does that to show us into highlight for us the centrality of Ascension in acts 19 1101 nine to eleven notice in acts 12 Luke says until the day in which he was taken up there's our word ascension he's taken up and then note in acts 1 22 we did not read this but notice verse 21 therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us he c for loop the doctrine of the Ascension was important for Luke the doctrine of the Ascension was essential Ford for Luke the doctrine of the Ascension was something that the christian church needs to get their minds wrapped around now note that the Ascension is reported to us in verse 9 now when he had spoken these things while they watched he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight there's several observations we ought to make here in the first place the Ascension was real it was real this isn't mass hysteria this isn't the disciples checking out engaged in some sort of smoking and experiment and then having this mystical experience it was a real experience there's no other way that Luke could highlight the reality of it then as he does when they watched they saw they looked the angel spoke to them to interpret the event it was a real event it really took place the historical accuracy of the of the Ascension is something the church must confess and something the church must insist upon of course in the history of the church there had been those who have said no you know it wasn't really that it wasn't really what is written here well we don't listen to those people who say what wasn't really there we'll listen to the disciples under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that they saw they look they watched they gauged everything about the screams historical reality note as well it was visible some have taught that it wasn't this visible local relocation some have taught that he sort of just disappeared and he became an idea or some called the ubiquity Rian's that means that Jesus flashes everywhere present Lutheran's believe this yet the Ascension wrong to some degree or other but this was a visible thing they looked they saw they had to be sort of gently reproved by the Angels themselves I mean they're still looking up at this cloud and the angel said why do you continue to gaze the Angels essentially say get busy the Lord has told you what you must do Terry at Jerusalem until you receive the Holy Spirit and then go and preach the gospel first in Jerusalem and then in Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth Christ had finished showing him showing them all the particular proofs concerning his resurrection he had instructed them and all the particular things that they would have needed to hear and so the Angels again gently chide them why do you stay in gazing he's going to come back you need to occupy and you need to fight and you need to go forward and be that soldier we just sang about and do the work that has been given to you it was visible one commentator says the use of the the greek word blehh pain which is see places the Ascension in the same category of events as any other happening in the story of Jesus we ought to understand that when he had spoken these things while they watched while they looked while they saw while they gauged it was a visible relocation of the Lord Jesus Christ a third thing we ought to observe is that it was bottling it was bodily the very Christ that had risen from the dead the very Christ they had seen on the cross the very Christ that they saw crucified in fact when the Angels get to interpretation they say this same Jesus the same Jesus you knew prior to the cross the same Jesus you saw hanging on the cross the same Jesus you saw on the third day who had risen from the dead this same Jesus is the one who has bodily ascended on high remember in the beauty of the Incarnation the second person of the tribe triune God took to himself our nature he took to himself all of the properties and common infirmities accepting sin to be sure but he identifies with us and he is in that state presently both God and man two natures divine and human in one glorious person forever so it was a bodily ascension he went up in the flesh and then notice or our confession says rather on the third day second London confession 84 on the third day He arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered so we need to understand that there were persons that denied the physicality of our Lord they said that the spiritual is what really matters the physical not so much that's why John and his First Epistle is insisting upon the fact that Christ came in the flesh this is why Christ heading off at the past what would later be called Gnosticism says to his disciples look and touch and he has flash and he has bones he eats fish and broiled broiled fish and honeycomb as i said to the brothers yesterday he doesn't eat honeycomb if you have the ESV he eats honeycomb and the New King James and the King James translation he liked a little sweet with his fish you see he wasn't a phantom he wasn't an apparition he wasn't this head with wings that would eventually go and strum a harp on a cloud that's not it it was a bodily resurrection it was a bodily ascension that's what the confession says on the third day he rose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered with which he also ascended into heaven another observation that it was local local means it was a movement from one locale to another it was a movement from Earth to heaven from one location to another location it was a local ascension of relating to or characteristic of a particular place Jesus in his body was seen by these men scanning upon the earth while he talked to them and then when they saw her when they watched or when they gazed he was taken up he went to another location he went to heaven he sits enthroned on high turret ins summarizes all that I've been trying to say here he says we maintain that Christ went up locally visibly and bodily from earth into the third heaven or seat of the Blessed above the visible heavens he says not by a mere withdrawal of his visible presence or familiar intercourse but by a true and local translation of his human nature there he will remain until the day of judgment so that although he is always present with us by His grace and spirit and divinity yet he is no longer with us by the bodily presence of his flash so the one hand it teaches us the absence of his humanity but it does not teach us the absence of Christ this is what turret and highlights he is with us by His grace and spirit and divinity when John the seer in Revelation one sees the Son of Man scanning in the midst of the lab stand we are to understand it terms of that vision is present with his church and by extension he's present with this church by his grace by his spirit by his divinity he's not locally present in terms of his humanity but brethren that does not mean he's absent Sunday morning you ought to rise from the sack saying I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord not because I'm going to hear Porter not because i'm going to hear butler not because i'm going to see that friend i haven't seen for several days but because Christ is there Jesus is present Jesus grace Jesus spirit Jesus divinity the Lord the Lord God or the Lord of glory himself dwells in the midst of the lampstand and I want to add one final observation concerning this it was glorious for those students of the Old Testament what does the cloud more often than not represent Jesus ascends he has taken up and what is he enveloped in or what is he received into a cloud how many times in your studies in the Old Testament have you seen God's glory with the cloud how many times have you seen that Shekinah in the cloud this glory cloud envelops the Lord Jesus Christ such that these men are gazing on they were not foolish they were not men that didn't understand they knew what was going on this same Jesus was taken up and then the Angels now come to interpret for that look at what they say and I take these as angels while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel who also said men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven I love this isn't this the church you know we're just standing there looking up and angels come and say get busy it's not wrong to gaze into heaven put one island heaven and one eye on your task I hope you don't make widgets at the factory and your boss walks to the factory floor sees you doing this and you say but I'm a believer in Jesus and that's what I do well if I were your boss I'd say you know put one I up there and one eye on your widget and make it to the glory of God the exaltation of the Christ for the blessedness and the holiness and the majesty that is his these men gays and look what the Angels say why do you stand gazing up into heaven this same Jesus notice again Luke couldn't be more conspicuous to tell us that the Jesus that went into the grave the Jesus that comes up out of the grave is the Jesus that has taken up into heaven this same Jesus now there were certainly changes we talked about this yesterday there's continuity and discontinuity when we go into the grave we will come out glorified on that day of judgment that day of resurrection so I said that the brothers yesterday that doesn't mean we're all going to look like Brad Pitt you know the men aren't going to be Schwarzenegger with guns and you know back muscles and all that what goes into the grave comes out of the grave you may not like that but that's the lot that you have but there's the glorification that takes place when they saw Jesus when Jesus appears to Thomas what does he say to him he shows him the Pierce marks in his hands he shows him the side the same Jesus that went into the grave comes up out of the grave yes he is glorified yes he is different in one sense but he not different in the sense that he's someone else we need to understand that this same Jesus who went into the grave comes up out of the grave ascends into heaven and this same Jesus will return it's not glorious it's not amazing it's not what the Angels affirm here the promise of the second coming he will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven other words if any of you out here have this idea that you know maybe Christianity isn't true you know maybe my parents have just been weaving this tale all along or maybe my friends at school you know with their 15 years of maturity and intellect all right there is no God or maybe your college professor who's an atheist and a rebel against the living into chuga you might say from alaya it he might be right listen to my words this morning and pay attention to what Luke is saying you will stand before this Jesus to give an account you will face this Jesus you will face this one it will be real it will be visible it will be local it will be bottling you in your flesh you will stand before the judge of all the earth who always does what's right this is the affirmation of our text if we affirm and confess the Ascension we are equally affirming and confessing the second coming of the Lord Jesus the judgment of all men the righteous judgment of all men again this is a doctrine this is something we don't like to think about if we're believers I hope we like to think about it but unbelievers don't like to think about the reality that someday I'll stand before the judge of all the earth you know they're sort of like David David fell into sin in second samuel chapter 11 David engaged in gross immorality David committed adultery and instead of David making good and confessing it and forsaking it repenting of it David went into cover-up mode you see there's nothing new Under the Sun brethren politics then were much like politics now so David first invites Uriah so that your royal will lie with his own wife and once it's found out that Bathsheba's pregnant then David will be off the hook jiraiya is a godly man Uriah is the quintessential Israelite in second samuel 11 so then David tries again well I'll have him over and I'll ply him with wine I'll get him drunk and certainly then he'll be feeling amorous and he'll return home and and engage with his wife but again when the alcohol didn't destroy the integrity of Uriah so instead of just seeing the writing on the wall and realizing you know what this is just a full a foolish thing I ought to repent I ought to confess I ought to forsake no David goes into further cover-up mode and he hands a letter to Uriah tells him to take it to Joab which says to Joab to put your ayah into the battle so that he dies what happens Joab follows the direction Uriah dies in battle nine months pass the very beginning of the chapter he gets Bathsheba pregnant the chapter ends nine months later with the birth of a baby boy what do you think think what do you think persons are thinking there in that nine month period something that I think you might think I got away with it no one detected me the gossips in the court managed to keep their mouths silent no one saw I'm scot-free Uriah's gone everybody knows that Bathsheba's my wife so when she sees or when she's visible with that bun in the oven everybody will know that it's legit you see this is what happens to you you sin and immediately God doesn't send lightning bolts out of heaven to destroy you so what happens you get a little cocky and arrogant don't you let's be honest I'm not trying to you know make anybody raise their hands and walk the aisle and say that's me pal no just think about it you get away with sin and it emboldened you for further occasions have set you begin to think like an atheist you may not be an atheist you may assume there is a God you may even assume the Bible is His Word you may even think I should go to church but you're not a believer you're functioning like an atheist and you think well God's not zap me thus far God's not brought me into hell thus far perhaps I've got away with it the curious thing about second Samuel 11 it's a godless chapter until verse 27 be godless in two ways David's conduct and the fact that God isn't there no reference to Yahweh in second samuel 11 12 27 a so one might surmise that David got away with it you might hit your melon and say wow it just goes that way for some people boy they're lucky I hope we don't say it that way but verse 27 B tells us that vine comment but the thing that David did was evil in Yahweh's eyes you see I think there's connection here you live like a pagan you live like an atheist you live like a Ethan and you put out of your mind the thought of a coming judgment you put out of your mind the thought that one day you will stand before the Lord Christ and give an account of deeds done in the body whether good or ill look at what they say this same Jesus whom you saw taken up and I think involved this same Jesus whom you saw live die rise again this same Jesus will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven so let's just suppose you live a life of 80 years of rebellion against God and 80 years you think I got away with it you're going to find out on that day that the things you have done were evil in the eyes of Yahweh don't play games with the second coming I have often thought that the doctrine of evolution at least in its practical import is to deny the second coming you see it makes sense at least on a devilish scale you take God out from the beginning you certainly get rid of him in the middle and he's not present at the end that makes sense if I deny the presence of God in the doctrine of creation it becomes far easier for me to deny the presence of God in the doctrine of Providence I don't have a god to think of in my day-to-day life and I certainly don't need to worry about what happens when I die because this massive collection of atoms will just dissipate and do whatever a massive collection of atoms does people everywhere today are denying the reality of the second coming of our Lord Jesus don't make that mistake now notice what is the theological significance of the Ascension this is in no order it's not like this is everything that we can exhaust from the the doctrine of the Ascension but these are just some thoughts in the first place it is the fulfillment of Scripture I've already said Psalm 68 Psalm 110 Daniel 7 13 and 14 the New Testament authors are meticulous to record for us that Christ does fulfill scripture it's not haphazard it's not random it's not chance it's according to the prophetic word that Christ conducts himself in this world because the prophets wrote according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit it is recorded for us to highlight yet again the reality of God's inspired Word secondly it is the completion of Christ's earthly ministry you can turn to Hebrews 9 where I think this is brought out so in the first place theological significance the fulfillment of Scripture secondly the completion of Christ's earthly ministry John Gill links the priestly office of Christ with the Ascension often because the high priest enters into that Holy of Holies the high priests goes into that chamber to have dealings with God and that's what the author of Hebrews Paul so I believe brings out notice in Hebrews 9 12 well verse 11 but Christ came as high priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is not of this creation not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood notice he entered the most holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemption that beautiful the Old Covenant high priest went into that holy of always one day a year on the Day of Atonement but it never fulfilled the purposes of God it pointed forward to the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world but the Apostle here highlights that he enters into the most holy place once for all notice in 10 12 but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God you know what you did not find on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 you did not find the high priests sit down in the Holy of Holies you didn't find that he went in three or four times and he got out he didn't chill he didn't hang out didn't sit in a chair and put his feet up he got out of there rapidly but Christ conversely because he fulfills all that the father gave him in his active obedience to the demands of the law in his passive obedience and yielding himself up as a sacrifice for said Christ satisfies divine justice so Christ sits at the right hand of God most high Birkhoff says the Ascension clearly embodied the declaration that the sacrifice of Christ was a sacrifice to God I need to get that somebody reminded me recently we are saved by God from God it is his wrath and his vengeance and his judgment against sin but he says it clearly embodied the declaration that the sacrifice of Christ was a sacrifice to God which as such had to be presented to him in the inner sanctuary that the father regarded the mediatorial work of Christ as sufficient and therefore admitted him to the heavenly glory so you see when we look at this doctrine of the Ascension the theological significance yes the fulfillment of Scripture yes as well the completion of Christ's earthly ministry but then thirdly we ought to think of the enthronement of Christ at the right hand of the Father you can turn back to acts one turn back to acts one just to see this particular observation the enthronement of Christ at the right hand of the Father there is a strong connection between acts 1 and 2 we are reminded three times in acts 1 of this day the day that Jesus was taken up the day that Jesus was taken up well at least two times I don't know if day is used in the 911 911 but we assume it's the day what's the next day the day of Pentecost isn't it what's Jesus demonstrating on the day of Pentecost you see our charismatic friends and Pentecostal friends are wrong to see in acts that the primacy is upon the holy spirit certainly the holy spirit is to be seen the holy spirit is to be adored the holy spirit is to be glorified worshiped and honored because He is God but the spotlight in acts 2 is upon Christ he ascends on high he leads captivity captive and he gives gifts to man what's the gift that he gives to man the Holy Spirit this is a demonstration that he is enthroned this is a demonstration that he has that power of kingly Authority note specifically Peter's argument when he preaches in Acts chapter 2 he highlights the resurrection of Christ acts 2 25 to 32 then noticed the Ascension and enthronement of Christ in verses 33 to 36 therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit he poured out this which you now see in here and Peter even uses the language of Ascension in verse 34 for David did not ascend into the heavens just going up this taking up doesn't refer to David it refers to Jesus David's greater son and the note the application of Psalm 110 verse 12 our Lord the Lord said to my lord sit at my right head till I make your enemies your footstool you see on the one hand chapter one teaches us the the absence of christ in his humanity but it teaches us as well the presence of Christ at the right hand of the Father where he overrules all things by his grace by his spirit by his divinity such that he is always present with the church in fact look at acts 1 verse 1 there's an interesting observation here Luke refers to the first letter that he wrote of course acts is written by Luke notice in Luke what are acts 11 the former account i made a Theophilus that's Luke that's his gospel of all that Jesus began don't miss the significance of this word of all that Jesus began both to do teach so Luke records in Luke all that Jesus both began to do and to teach you know what acts does it demonstrates how Jesus continues to do and to teach by the power of the holy spirit and throned at the Father's right hand where he overrules all things for the good of his church we ought to think in thrown meant when we think ascension Paul touches on this notice in Ephesians chapter 1 I hope you get happy looking at these texts I hope that you get encouraged and i hope you get fired up this is the staff of the church militant this is the kind of stuff we need to believe when we go to prayer when we go to preach when we go to worship this is the stuff that fueled the early church as I've said on many occasion from this pulpit the most quoted or alluded to Psalm in all of the Newtown the most quoted or alluded to Old Testament verse in the New Testament is Psalm 110 one you see under the authority and under the tyranny under the reign of the Roman Empire the Christians didn't just lie down the Christians didn't just go about with their knees knocking in a pathetic and men unmanly sort of a way now they say the Lord he always said to my lord jesus sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool they never lost sight of the fact that the king of kings and the Lord of lords was on his throne he had ascended on high he led captivity captive he gave gifts to men this encouraged the church it caused her to fight through those things not physically but according to her spiritual arms she took up prayer and preaching under the guy under the reality that christ the king was overall notice Paul in Ephesians 1 verse 20 well 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power know which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and Dominion and every named that his name not only in this age but also and that which is to come you see the emphasis that I mentioned before we're not waiting for Christ to rain we're not waiting for Christ to set up his kingdom we're not waiting for some earthly millennial period the king is in he has this Authority in this age Paul says and in the age to come listen to Johnny D when he comments on this passage in Ephesians he says the head that once was crowned with thorns is now crowned with universal sovereignty ah this quote from Ed is gold listen if you haven't listened to anything up to this point please listen now the head that was once that once was crowned with thorns is now crowned with universal sovereignty the hand that was once nailed to Calvary's tree now wields the scepter of unlimited dominion the feet that were washed by the harlots tears and carried the Savior up the hill Calvary are now over everything that is he who lay in the tomb has now ascended to the throne of unbounded empire you know what you think when he went up you think he sat at the right hand of the Majesty on high you think that the king is in you think that he has all authority in heaven and on earth and that he wields that scepter he wears that crown he is most glorious and most excellent he is the all-powerful what Paul says this is well in Philippians chapter 2 we will look at that one but you can compare that later and then the final thing we ought to consider in terms of the theological significance of the doctrine of the Ascension is the glory given to Christ as a result of his mediatorial work you say why should I be concerned with that because Christ is you're altogether lovely in chief among ten thousand and when he's crowned with glory by the father you rejoice you praise you ever asked yourself what do I think concerning the resurrection from the dead I think it's nice I think it's good I think it warms my heart occasionally you know what God thinks of the resurrection therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name the father was pleased with the work of his son such that he raised him from the dead he stationed him at his right hand and he gave him this unmitigated glory you say well the Lord Jesus always had glory is the second person of the triune God this is as mediator this is as God man this is as second person united with our our flesh it is the glorious hypostatic union of christ it is him currently enjoy that glory given to him by the father and the people of God rejoice in that first timothy three sixteen Paul says God was manifested in the flesh he was justified in the spirit he was seen by angels he was preached among the Gentiles he was believed on in the world and guess what he was received up in glory I should make the believer happy especially in the world like ours where persons blaspheme is holy game then they curse when we read these passages of Ephesians 1 we read these passages in Philippians 2 and we see that that God has given in the name which is above every name we must realize that this this season this period of blasphemy it will end it will not continue into the eschaton in that New Jerusalem in that place where in righteousness dwells there's no more blasphemy there is no more misuse of the name of our holy Lord it will be praise glory honor majesty given to the king who is altogether worthy of it well brethren as we come to a conclusion what is the practical benefit of the Ascension the practical benefit of the Ascension what he mentioned in the first place the gift of the Holy Spirit we've been blessed by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit now I believe the spirit was present in the Old Testament David after his repentance says take not thine Holy Spirit from me which implies that the Holy Spirit was with David what we find in the New Covenant is a more quantitative outpouring of the Holy Spirit in line with Joel's prophecy such that what we see in Acts chapter 2 was told by God through the Prophet Joel and it's applied in the day of Pentecost it's not the absence of the spirit in the Old Covenant but in the New Covenant we've come to a day where there's greater effusion greater outpouring of the power of the holy spirit and the Spirit is given to the church to empower her from Mission how does the church do what the church does in acts 2 2 28 how does Peter do what he does how does Paul do what he does how do the disciples take the sort of persecution and the beatings and the onslaught that they do apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit how do 12 men turn the world upside down are they excellent man I certain uncertain to say they are excellent men but that's not how they turn the world upside down it's the power of the Holy Spirit it's the Holy Spirit and the missionary enterprise you see we we set up these parachurch sort of mission board agencies that's not what the Spirit demonstrates an axe 30 the Spirit comes to the church and says separate to me Barnabas and Paul for the work that I have for them it is the spirit who enables it is the Spirit empowers it is the spirit who blesses the preaching of the word for the saving of the center you see brethren the church is empowered because Jesus is enthroned at the right hand of the majesty of God on I that's Peters point in acts 2 33 to 36 he poured out this which you see and hear therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ it is the power of Christ at the Father's right hand who sends or by which the Spirit of God comes to the church and consider this not only in the corporate sense but in terms of the of the individuals who make up the church we get discouraged don't we are not mean brother I'm just a happy camper 24 7 only anyone say that you get discouraged don't you what does Jesus tell his disciples in the upper room I'll pray my father and he will send you what another comforter the word another there means one just like the one in other words it's not heterodoxy you've heard Hatter it means a different type of dots a different type of doctrine this is another of the same kind the father and the son send another of the same kind the spirit is of the same kind of the father in the Sun and he comes to us and what is he doing he comforts us he encourages us he strengthens us he helps us he causes us to reflect on glorious passages of truth he causes us to reflect on those portions of holy scripture that we need at particular times if you ever been in that situation it's Thursday and you feel miserable and you go to your scriptures and it's as if that particular point was written just for you it's not mysticism it's not you know wow all I got to do is you know do what those old boys used to do open the Bible and just put my finger there and take that as my test no but we ought to realize that the Spirit is real spirit knows how to comfort his people the spirit knows how to encourage his Saints the spirit knows how to move us along the spirit knows what we need in our times of need and our Lord Christ sends him to us it's truly a blessing reality and a blessed thought the second thing we ought to appreciate with the reality that Jesus has ascended on high is the intercession of Christ what does Jesus doing in heaven yes he's raining and ruling at the right hand of the majesty of God he has absolute neither other authority he has unbounded Empire to know what he's doing for us I mean these are passages brethren that men could have never made up sometimes think passages like these are passages that truly affirm the triune God the doctrine of justification by faith alone the work of christ and the gospel i mean who would make up this romans 8 34 who is he who condemns we deserve condemnation don't we in light of our sins in light of our wickedness in light of our evil but Paul is challenging anyone who would ever condemn one for whom Jesus died Paul is saying to the church dune not let them get you down do not let them bind you do not let them even the devil himself who is an accuser of God's people resist him because it is Christ who died he says and furthermore is also risen who is even at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us it is the case we can say to the condemn as you're right I am guilty I am a wretch I am miserable there's nothing that you can ever say that would surprise me or convince me otherwise but I've got a savior who lives I got a savior who died and who lives and who stands and throned at the right hand of the Father on high and he intercedes for me what about Hebrews 725 therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him since he always lives to make excuse me intercession for them I think about that when I read Isaiah 6 you know the angels are standing before the throne of god and the Seraphim they they have these wings and with two they cover their face with two they fly with two they cover their feet and what do they do at the throne of God they say holy holy holy is the lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory I think in our Western minds we read Isaiah 6 and we think oh they punch in at 6am and they make their confession and they punch out by 601 now this is their job this is what they do they attend the throne of God to exclaim holy holy holy is the lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory that's what they do well according to the apostle this is what Jesus does he makes intercession for us he stands for us he advocates for us visa vie first John 21 my little children I write these things so that you may not see it but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ righteous that make you happy and encourage you listen to Calvin's comment here he says as faith recognizes it is to our great benefit that Christ resides with the father you see we might read John 16 7 as I Sun so how in the world could it be to our advantage that you depart Jesus Calvin makes the observation as faith recognizes it is to our great benefit that Christ resides with the father he says for having entered a sanctuary not made with hands he appears before the father's face as our constant advocate and intercessor he says thus he turns the father's eyes to his own righteousness to avert his gaze from our sins now just in case you missed that let me read it again he says thus he turns the father's eyes to his own righteousness to avert his gaze from our sins we sing it 5 bleeding wounds he bears received on Calvary's tree they pour effectual prayers they strongly plead for me forgive him Oh forgive him Lord forgive him Oh forgive him Lord forgive him Oh forgive him Lord and let not that guilty sinner die that's a benefit of the Ascension and the current session his enthronement at the right hand of the majesty of God on I Calvin goes on to say he so reconciles the Father's heart to us that by his intercession he prepares away in access for us to the Father's throne he fills with grace and kindness the throne that for miserable sinners would otherwise have been filled with dread this is what Paul speaks of it if in Hebrews chapter 4 I love this statement he says seeing then that we have a great idea breeze who has passed through the heavens ascension language is passed through the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sin thighs with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need brethren do not ever discount or forget the intercession of the advocacy of the Savior on your behalf he always lives to make intercession for us somebody would have say to you this afternoon where is so-and-so well he's out doing this he's out doing that we asked the question where's Jesus he's at the right hand of the Father interceding for us and then finally I've already mentioned but we ought to recur rehearse it one more time this is a promise of the Second Coming a promise of the Second Coming this is a practical benefit for the believer we ought to think in terms of Jesus he's glorified or he's ascended and he's glorified that's going to be the pattern for us we will die eventually our bodies will go into the ground our spiritual Department be with Jesus but when he comes again in glory he will reunite body and soul together we will stand before him he will find us not guilty not because of what we've done but because everything he's done and he will bring us up into that eternal Kingdom we will be glorified as it was with him so it will be with us brother encourage yourself with this bad as your life may be on earth right now there is a day coming where you will go where there is no more sorrow no more pain where God Himself according to the book of Revelation will wipe away the tears from our eyes isn't that beautiful every tier that we shed on this side of the grave every death that we witness every hardship we undergo every problem we encounter in the New Jerusalem they'll be gone they'll be vanquished there'll be no death in the New Jerusalem there'll be no one lost as a result of cancer there will be no one lost as a result of old age there will be no one lost because they've all been blocked blood bought and they are preserved through eternity to worship the father and the spirit and unbeliever you need to consider the reality that Christ is coming again to judge the world according to righteousness the only way to flee wrath the only way to flee hell the only way to flee exclusion from his presence for all eternity is to flee now to the cross to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to look to that one who lived and who died and who rose again you may say well this isn't important right now it will be important you will stand you will face it you will even confess him as Lord to the glory of God the Father but then you will be excluded from his presence forever and cast into the place that the Bible describes as the hell that is prepared for the devil and his angels there is one hope there is one place for forgiveness and that is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ believe and you will be saved will let us pray father we thank you for the Word of God we thank you for the ascension of our beloved Savior to the right hand of the Majesty on high we thank you as well that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead my heart's prayer and earnest desires that each and every one of us on that day would be clothed in his righteousness that we would be ready to stand before the one who is the judge of all the earth that we would hear those most blessed words enter in to your rest God be merciful do what is impossible with men we can plead we can preach we can call sinners to believe the gospel but with us it is impossible it's impossible for them we pray that you Lord God would open hearts and open eyes and give the graces of faith and repentance so that today's sinners may be saved and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well let's stand and close by singing the doxology of praise to our God Almighty grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all you