Ascension – Jesus returns to Heaven!
Jesus has left His disciples in Acts 1:9-11, and Pentecost is a week away. Jesus has returned to Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus had to leave the earth to allow the Holy Spirit to come upon us. Jesus has promised all believers in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit. What? Why? When? Where? How? You need to ask yourself all these questions and more.
Why do I need a ghost, a spirit, the Holy Spirit?
We need the Holy Spirit because it is God. God in our lives! Wow! How exciting is that! God in our lives.
I needed Jesus because I was chasing money and success. I did not get the full benefit of the Holy Spirit until everything was about God. God first. I needed to chase God!
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to us who are believers in Jesus Christ. Read Acts 1:9-11 or Luke 24:45-53. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. If we do not believe in Jesus, then we will not receive the Holy Spirit or God in our lives. We do not get God in our lives, but we do not get the benefits of a believer in Jesus Christ. The benefits are described in Bible scriptures, but here is the most obvious:
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Who does not want the benefits of the Holy Spirit? I have answered the questions who, what, when, where, when, why in these three scriptures, but is it enough? How about people who do not know Jesus Christ? Can they get the Holy Spirit in their lives?
The Holy Spirit works in all lives of believers and non-believers. The Bible demonstrates this concept in the Old Testament, but we are skipping this concept. We want to stay on how the Holy Spirit will work for Christians.
I am a believer in Jesus Christ, but I do not feel the Holy Spirit. What is wrong? What can I do? Help?
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit in you. You received it the day you believed in Jesus as Lord and savior. It might not be as powerful as in the Pentecost event, but it is in you. What you need to do is feed the Holy Spirit in you. How? You do the regular disciplines of a believer in Jesus Christ regularly.
- Pray
- Repent your sins
- Read your Bible
- Gather in Bible studies and Church
- Worship God in thought and actions – church, music, serve, Christian books, Christian blogs.
- Serve others
- Share the Gospel – Jesus
- Anything to glorify God or to make Him number one in your life.
This is a shortlist of things to do. The key is to do it daily and multiple times daily. The Holy Spirit will grow in you. There is no doubt in my mind.
If you want me to pray for the Holy Spirit to increase in your life, then contact me. If you need more information: ask me, and there are plenty of books about Christian disciplines.
Also, our study. Pentecost occurs 9 days after Passover. This year it falls on May 31, 2020, but we will do our study on May 28, 2020, at 7:30 PM central on Zoom. Visit Seekers – Help Me Believe for more information.
Scriptures
Acts 1:9-11 (NIV)After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” 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.”
Luke 24:45-53 (NIV) 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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.”
Ascension of Jesus
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into Heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
