Monday, July 4, 2011

The 40th Day, Ascension!” and “Ye shall be Witnesses!


June 12, 2011: “While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  − Acts 1:10-11
Last week was Ascension Sunday, but we had guests so we celebrate it this Sunday. Why, after hundreds of years, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Ascension still celebrated, still talked about, it is in the dictionary, and even on the Calendar??  WHY? Because there were “eye witnesses!”  These are Jesus own Words from Luke 24:48 ─ “Ye are witnesses of these things.”  Forty Days Jesus appeared leaving infallible proof that He came forth triumphant from the Grave! On the fortieth day Jesus took His disciples as far as Bethany and there He gave them this Prophetical Word:  Wait for the Promise of the Father, … ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5  As Jesus concluded this powerful statement of the “coming Holy Ghost, again He stated “ye shall be witnesses of me … and unto the uttermost part of the earth!” Vs8. Then the Ascension occurred, one more infallible proof … right before their eyes He was “taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Angels attended this awesome event and declared to the amazed disciples as they gazed upward;  Vs11 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  O what a glorious Celebration! Jesus was “caught up” into the clouds into heaven to take His position at the Right Hand of the Father, where He would continue to intercede for us.  This is our Comfort, He will come again even as He left … Paul also relates:  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thes.4:16-1  − Loving you, Pastor

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