2019-06-02 – Year C – Ascension Sunday – The Rev. Steven Edwards
Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 68:1-20; Revelation 22:10-21; John 17:20-26
God calls us into the fullness of His glory; not into an empty hope, not into a fluff of well wishes; but into eternal witness and life experienced in the joy and power of God!…….glory is granted / is gifted to us, in the NAME & PERSON of Jesus the Christ, who has ascended, to the throne of Heaven, at the right hand of God the Father… and who’s Holiness, who’s worthiness is proclaimed & reverenced in the sound and the power of the praises and prayers offered by all the angels and saints and hosts of Heaven.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts Heaven and earth are full of your Glory Hosanna in the Highest!
Advocate
In awe of the majesty of His Presence, glorified in Heaven, do not turn away or be afraid to turn your hope upon Him, 1 Samuel 12: 20-22 ESV 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. In the Lord you will not be forsaken, nor turned away. He is present with us. We are God’s own people called into His Name. It is only satan who calls you unworthy. For God has fulfilled, in himself, the cost of our/your salvation.
The Israelites asked of Samuel, who was a great judge, prophet and leader of God’s people on earth, in I Samuel 12:19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins And Samuel responded: 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you,
And we now have, given for us, the greater and perfect advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous, who is in Heaven itself (united with the Father), for God has called you to himself, and it is His provision for you, that in Him, you shall be found worthy and will be lifted into his presence, that you may be…. where he is Jn 17:24 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Freewill
We are set free from the limitations of a man in the world, that we may be as one with each other and with the One of Heaven. We are actually given the freedom to choose that gift, to become a part, a witness of the glory to which the Son of man, He alone is destined and worthy, as he is glorified in the presence of the Father. In the midst of the loving expression of the Father’s love for His own- His Son and for us. The power of God’s anointed gift to us in the Son, the gift of Himself for us, that we all may be one.
Rev 22: 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter by the city gates. It is the word of the Lamb who calls us and makes us clean, who assures of His way, His provision. He is the way the truth and the life. None come to the Father except in Him. Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come: let the one who desires take the water of life without price. We are the Lord’s he has paid the price the cost for our redemption, our sanctification/to be set aside/to be made holy; He has called us to be with Him, He has called us into the presence of His glory.
What the Lord wants for us
On earth, Jesus, prepared the way, that He himself would be the gate opened for us. As he awaited the crucifixion, contemplated the assumption of dishonor, the horror of the sins of mankind perpetrated against the love of God, to be taken upon himself, the innocent on behalf of the guilty….. in this setting, Jesus was concerned for and prayed for all his disciples, those present, and us, who were to come. He knows each of us and treasured us in His heart as he prayed to the Father Jn 17 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us. God is in us and we in Him, made one, in perfect unity. This is the will of God: that we know Him, that we see (experience His Glory). To see what He sees, the truth present with us and in us. Allow this to embrace you, that the love, which the Father has for the Son, is found in us! Vs 23
Jesus The Good News
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Fathom the truth, the great mystery, that the love which Father God has for God the Son, is in us! O Lord, we thank you that you are never apart from us and that your incredible love is in us.
Protection & Anointing
Keep your hearts and minds and wills turned toward the Lord, in every circumstance. The Lord will not be defeated, in Him is the victory, the glory, the honor and the truth of life. Consider where we found the disciples, Paul & Silas? ….In jail, not only in jail, but in chains, their feet in stocks. They were bound for the hands of men who wished them harm as retribution, for their zealous love of the work of the Lord, in the community. Yet Paul & Silas were singing hymns and praises to the Lord. So where were their thoughts & hopes set?? They were bound outside the power of man to rescue them, their freedom lost. Yet they seemed as men who had no fear. Acts16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. These men of God were set free through the will of God at work in them, that the sharing of his word would continue for the salvation of men. And, what happened with the jailer? And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. The word of God is not only not defeated; but has succeeded in the furtherance of its power among the hearts of men!
For Others
“for those who will believe in me through their word” And we are called to be a continuation of that word and/of love for others: that they too may come to a knowledge of the glory and saving grace of God who loves them. Jesus desire is that we continue to make him known, through our life and actions and words and sincere compassion. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” If God is for us, nothing can separate us from his love.
Provision God and the power of His word calls us into His provision, His presence, His Love, His Glory, His Name, the right to the Tree of Life. He brings us out of the shame of past guilt and failure; and into the power and provision of His love and Grace.
It is to the glory of God, and man, together; that He is made known to us; and into the blessing, of God who is in our midst, fully revealed. Come Lord Jesus, we seek your will, that we all may be one in you. In the Name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit. Amen!
