*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL (OCTOBER PDF => http://bit.ly/2cuJG6M
*THE ASCENSION AND HIS PROMISED RETURN .*
Wednesday, October 18th .
Pastor Chris
Pastor Chris
_*And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1:9).*_
The ascension of Jesus is one subject that the Church hasn’t emphasized enough around the world. We’ve talked a lot about His resurrection because it’s so important; in fact, the resurrection is the birth of Christianity. But His ascension is a most extraordinary thing that happened after His death. For the first time in human history, a man physically ascended into the presence of God, letting us know that there’s life beyond this earth realm.
He didn’t vanish or disappear. He levitated in his glorified physical body. Up until then, His maternal siblings didn’t quite believe in Him. They heard Him preach and saw the miracles He did, but one thing they couldn’t accept was the fact that He said, _*“I’m from above”*_ (John 8:23). “How could that be, when He’s lived here with us, under the same roof, these many years?” they must have wondered.
But His ascension changed everything! It left no room for speculation as to His whereabouts. His disciples, His mother and siblings were all there and watched Him as He levitated and left this world. Before their very eyes, Jesus went beyond the clouds. It then dawned on them that the man they grew up with was truly the Son of God. Hallelujah!
Acts 1:10-11 says, _*“…while they looked stedfastly 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.”*_ Yes, indeed, one day very soon, the last Church service would have held, and all that we’re doing today in preaching the Gospel will all be over: (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
This is the hope of every Christian: our life with the Lord in eternity. The Bible says, _*“…every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”*_ (1 John 3:3).
*PRAYER*
*Precious Lord Jesus, you left us with a promise that you’ll come back to take us to be with you in eternity. What a day of joy and rejoicing that will be! Thank you for such blessed hope and consolation; I’m overwhelmed with joy as I contemplate the bliss that shall be mine when I shall see you face to face. Amen.*
*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *2 Timothy 4:8* Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. *||*
*||* *John 14:3* And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. *||*
*||* *Acts 1:10-11 AMPC* And while they were gazing intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men [dressed] in white robes suddenly stood beside them, 11 Who said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in [just] the same way in which you saw Him go into heaven. *||*
*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*
*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18,
Jeremiah 3-4
Jeremiah 3-4
*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* John 6:30-40,
2 Kings 4
2 Kings 4
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying: "All Power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Amen. (Matt 28:18-20)
ReplyDeleteAfter the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and SAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. And they went forth, and preached every where, THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM, and confirming God’s Word with Signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:19-20)
Then He said unto them: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that God's Prophets have spoken: ought not the Christ of God to have suffered these things, and TO ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?" And beginning at Moses and all God's Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. [...] And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them: "Peace be unto you. Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My Hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see: for A SPIRIT (A GHOST) HATH NOT FLESH AND BONES, AS YE SEE ME HAVE". And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His Hands and His Feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them: "Have ye here any meat?" [...] And He said unto them: "These are God’s Words Which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, CONCERNING ME". Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved God's Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. AND YE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS. And, behold, I SEND THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER UPON YOU: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with Power from On High. (Luke 24:25-27, 36, 38-41, 44-49)
Jesus saith unto her: "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My Brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father, to My God, and your God". [...] Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them: "Peace be unto you". And when He had so said, He showed unto them His Hands and His Side. Then were the Disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again: "Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you". And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them: "RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained". [...] Then saith He to Thomas: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My Hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My Side; and be not faithless, but believing". And Thomas answered and said unto him: "My Lord and my God". Jesus saith unto him, Thomas: "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen (Me), and yet have believed (that I’m already come back). (John 20:17, 19-23, 27-29)