Iliff & Saltillo
May 23, 2004
Ascension Sunday
"Seeing Him Go"
Mark 16:19-20
Acts 1:1-11
INTRODUCTION: Although Jesus had discouraged his followers from expecting an earthly kingdom, the idea was deeply ingrained in them that they couldn’t forget it. After the resurrection, Jesus was seen by them forty days. He showed many proofs that he was alive and talked with them about things pertaining to His kingdom. He let them know that the true task of the believer was not to worry about future happenings but to be witnesses for Christ beginning where they were and reaching out as far as their influences and resources would carry them. Acts 1:8 says, "You shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth." As he finished speaking while others stood by watching, Jesus was taken up into heaven. The onlookers stood in awe and two angels spoke to them. They said, "Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
This message has been preached over and over throughout the centuries.
What does it say to us today?
1. The Fact of Christ’s Coming--Christianity was revealed to the world in a historical setting and spiritual truth was brought into the world within this same historical context. The return of Jesus to earth is not something that people said SHOULD happen someday maybe, but that Scripture says WILL happen. There are many scriptures that we should know about concerning this fact. Many people spend all of their time worrying about the end timesand living in fear of what will happen on the earth. When will He come? Will I have to go through the tribulation? What about the antichrist? Because of this fear, people are failing to do what the scriptures say we should be doing--spreading the Good News in our Jerusalems, Samarias, and throughout the world.
There are many scriptures that we need to be aware of which speaks of His coming so that we will not be deceived. You may want to jot down these references:
1. Matthew 24:30 "And they shall see the Son of man coming IN CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory." Jesus warned his disciples not to believe people who say there he is or say they are Christ.
2. I Thess. 1:10 "And to WAIT FOR his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead which delivered us from the wrath to come."
3. I Thess. 3:13 "To the end he may ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS unblamable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."
4. I Thess. 4:16-18 "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 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.
Story: A Presbyterian lady was listening to a Baptist preacher. He said the Baptists will rise first when the trumpet blows. She said, "I’m offended at that remark. I’ve always been taught the Presbyterians will rise first."
He said, "You’re probably right lady." Scripture says, "the dead in Christ shall rise first!"
Story: In a little country church a member requested to be buried in his four-wheel drive truck because, "I ain’t never been in a hole yet that it couldn’t get me outta."
5. I Thess 5:2 says "for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT."
vs. 6 says "Therefore let us not SLEEP as do others but let us WATCH and be sober.
6. Hebrews 9:27-28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that LOOK FOR HIM HE SHALL appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
7. II Peter 3:10-14 "but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. therefore seeing that you look for such things be DILIGENT that you may BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, without SPOT, and BLAMELESS.
Scripture points to the FACT of Christ’s coming but included with this information some truth about how we should live out our lives.
Titus 2:12 live soberly, self controlled, righteous, upright and godly in this present world.
Looking for that BLESSED HOPE and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. There are Nuggets of HOPE in these verses.
2. The Purpose of His Coming--When Jesus was living on earth He often limited his full power and magisty. He took on the form of man and laid aside some of his power. At his second appearance every eye will see Him in his full divine magesty--the Second Person of the Trinity. At His Second Coming he will:
1. receive his saints in the clouds and forever we will be with Him.
2. the dead in Christ will receive GLORIFIED BODIES and those still living will be CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING of an eye. (I Cor. 15:52).
3. There will be a time of judgment:
Judgment seat of Christ--believers
Great White Throne Judgment-- unbelievers
4. Rewards
Punishment
Wrongs will be made right. Things have to be settled up one day.
3. Preparation for Christ’s Coming--We don’t know WHEN he will come. Brooks have been written and people have tried to pinpoint dates. In the gospels Jesus told his disciples that no one knows the day nor the hour of his coming except the FATHER IN HEAVEN. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knowth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." He gives signs of the times, however:
1. false prophets--deceivers
2. wars and rumors of wars
3. nation rise against nation
4. famines
5. pestilence
6. earthquakes
7. many shall be offended
8. betray one another--children rise up against parents
9. love of many shall grow cold
10. hated for my name and for being Christians
To be ready for his coming what do we need to do?
Repent of our sins and trust in Christ as our Savior. If we receive Him into our lives and strive to live as he would have us to live, we will be one of those who joins him in the sky at his coming.
"KEEP READY SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET READY"
Since we don’t know when He is coming back, how should we live?
II Peter 3:11 says, "seeing then that all of these things shall happen, WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YOU TO BE?
II Peter 1:10 says,
Wherefore give diligence to Make Your Calling and Election Sure: for if you do these things you shall never fall.
CONCLUSION; Have you made preparation for Christ’s coming whenever it is? I John 1:9 says "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Have you done your part to ask him to forgive you and to come into your life? And then are you living as close to the Lord as you can? Are you KEEPING READY so you won’t have to GET READY? Acts 1:11 "this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go."
Shall we Pray:
