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Mini-Worship
May 7-12, 2024
Enter the Presence of the Lord
(All)God reigns over the nations.
(Men)God is seated on his holy throne.
(Women) He is greatly exalted.
(Men)Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
(All)who daily bears our burdens.
(Women)Our God is a God who saves;
(All)from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
(Psalm 47:8-9; Psalm 68:19-20, NIV)
Prayer
Our God who is exalted, is seated on the holy throne, and reigns over the world, thank you for reminding us that you are the most high in the universe through your word. So we can breathe in hope. Truly, you are our Savior. Thank you. Amen.
Scripture reading
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:49-51,NIV)
Thoughts to share- Jesus was taken up into heaven
Speaking of Jesus’ ascension, we must confess that it is hard to understand for us at our scientific age. So how do we understand this event? Is there any implication to us today?
We recall that in the Old Testament, Elijah was about to complete his career on the earth. He decided to pass his mission to his disciple Elisha. He mentored him diligently. Then one day came. While they walked and talked, Elijah was taken up to heaven in whirlwind. What is that whirlwind? Tornado? Probably not. Otherwise, he would be thrown back to the earth. By Acts 2, we can guess this whirlwind was the Holy Spirit.
Now let us return to Jesus’ ascension. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gave the final commission and instruction to his disciples and completed his earthly mission. While he was blessing his disciples, he was taken up into heaven. Jesus’ ascension demonstrates God’s might overcoming sin and death, gravity, and natural forces.
Jesus pointed out one purpose of his ascension: to ask Father send believers the Holy Spirit to grow, to live, to witness, to serve, and to be church. So that Jesus could ensure that his saving work on the cross would touch all people on earth. Meantime, he intercedes for us at his heavenly and holy throne.
Jesus’ ascension suggests that it is entirely possible that the believers of Jesus Christ would be taken up to heaven one day. Paul tells Thessalonian Christ’s followers that -
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17, NIV)
Jesus revealed further that heaven to his beloved disciple John-
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. (Revelation 4:1-2)
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth… 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2)
When our world gets messy and our life burdens get weighty, it is so easy for us to lose vision. Jesus’ ascension reminds us that Jesus sits on the heavenly throne. He still watches over us, praying for us, strengthening us, and preparing his eternal purpose for us. When we finish our life road on earth, we have an even better home to go and dwell. All these possible because Jesus ascended. He lives forevermore.
Prayer suggestions
Risen, ascended, sitting on the throne, and reigning Jesus, we are in awe when we survey your thorough work in order to complete the salvation which our heavenly Father has had in mind long ago. We worship you and praise you! In your name we pray, Amen.
Prayer Request
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