Well, good morning. It's good to see you all. Well, before I begin, I've been asked by Reformation Heritage Books if I would give a little plug for this wonderful book by Pastor Albert N. Martin. Many of us know Al Martin, been very blessed by his ministry.

I've known pastor Martin for about 20 years and was very privileged to take that course in seminary so for any person thinking about pastoral ministry or those who wonder what the Calling for the man of God is all about I strongly recommend getting this book by Pastor Martin. This is the first of three volumes and a really really tremendous material in there. So Pastor Martin's first volume in his pastoral theology. Well dear friends as we come this morning to the topic at hand I ask you please to turn with me in your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3 as we come to consider this matter of Christ's ascension.

Colossians 3 and for this morning we'll just be considering a portion of verse 1. Colossians 3 at verse 1. Here as Paul begins the practical portion of this epistle, he writes the following and says, Colossians 3 verse 1, he writes, if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Let's pray. Our Father we come to you this morning in that great name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Oh, we are so thankful, oh God, that for many of us in this room, we know this Savior. We know this exalted Lord and God. And we confess, O God, that this is all because of your great working in our life. O Father, we realize that salvation is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God who shows mercy. And we thank you, Lord, that For many in this room, you have shown mercy to the likes of us.

We thank you, O God, for making some in this room the very people of God. We know, O Father, that at one time this was not the case, but now it is true by your great doing. We thank you Lord again for these salvific realities in our lives and as we come, O God, to consider this grand topic we're asking, Lord, for help from on high. We're asking, O God, that you would send your spirit to us afresh, O God. I pray for every man preaching this morning, O God, that he would do it in the demonstration and the power of the Holy Spirit.

O God, give us all that we lack. Fill us afresh with the blessed third person of the Holy Trinity. We ask, pray, and plead these things in that wonderful name of Jesus Christ our Lord amen now if I were to ask you here this morning to explain to me the significance of the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ our Lord in the place of his people I bet that many of you here would be able to do that quite easily or if I were to ask you here this morning to explain to me the significance of our Lord's resurrection from the dead. Again, I bet that most of you here in this place would be able to do this also. Ah, but dear friends, having said this, I wonder if I were to ask you here this morning to explain to me the significance of Jesus' ascension.

Now, how many of you here would be able to do this? So yes, I say that while many Christians are very able to clearly explain the first thing, the first two matters rather, that I just mentioned to you. Nonetheless, typically speaking, this is not so with this third issue. Now, Dear friends, please be clear with me when I say that although this is often the case, nonetheless, the ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord is absolutely vital for you and I to be instructed in as the people of God. I mean dear friends, so important is this matter that it's even set forth in the famous Apostles Creed, which although, as I'm sure you know, was not written by the Apostles themselves, nonetheless it's believed by most Christians to be an early record of what the Apostles believed and taught, and so in quoting a portion of the Apostles Creed to you this morning there the writers say that quote, we believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, who on the third day rose again from the dead and then what did he do well the writers say that he ascended into heaven now again dear friends as I said sadly many Christians are not really clear their thoughts are not fully developed with reference to what this whole matter of Jesus' ascension is all about.

Well, I'm sure some people have some general notions for it. Nonetheless, they do not really understand the place of the ascension of Christ in the work of Christ himself or the particular significance that Jesus' ascension has for their own lives as God's people. Well this morning I hope that all of this will become clear to all of you. Today my prayer is that as we consider this matter together which speaks about the culmination of all that Jesus did on earth in the past and connects us to his labors in heaven in the present I pray that this subject will give you a fresh appreciation for its truth and be a rich blessing to your souls now the text that I have chosen to highlight this matter for you is that passage which I read in your hearing from Colossians 3 and verse 1. This is a classic text in this regard if you look at the various commentators and systematic theologies this is the text and since it's in the book of Colossians, dear friends, remember with me for a moment that the main reason that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians was to do what?

Was to set forth the supremacy and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ our Lord over all things. This is Paul's main thrust in this book and he did this over against the errorists who were coming into the church at Colossae who were trying to tell Christians that Christ was not enough for them. Yes, these false teachers, again these errorists, were saying that believers needed more than Jesus Christ our Lord as the joy and the ground of their salvation. And so how then did the Apostle Paul respond to this? I mean, did Paul say nothing about this matter at all?

Well dear ones, as you know, this is not the case. And thus Paul responded very strongly to this matter, just as we should. If false teachers come into our church and say Christ is not enough for the Christian we ought to respond very strongly to them this is what Paul does look at Colossians 2 and verse 8 there he writes saying beware The Greek verb Stresses the continual ongoing nature of the command literally constantly be on guard That's what Paul says here lest anyone cheat you how through what means look at it through philosophy through empty deceit Which is what according to their tradition of men? According to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ. Yes, dear friends, Paul says in The following verses of this chapter that since in the Lord Jesus Christ as we've heard repeatedly in the various messages that have been given that since in the Lord Jesus Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.

Paul says in Colossians 2 and verse 10, look at it there, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, that's 9 verse 10, what's the result? And you are complete in him. The point is you're lacking nothing as a Christian in Jesus Christ. You don't need anything other than the glorious Lord Jesus. And again Paul's been setting that forth in Colossians chapter 1 as he's been setting forth his cosmic Christology.

This Jesus is the God-man and in him we have all things, praise be to his name. And so you see, for the Christian, Christ is more than enough. He's more than enough. You see again, as I said, since he is the God-man, the one who created all things, Colossians chapter 1, the one who is before all things, the one through whom all things consist. As Christians we need no other.

Well, having exalted our Lord in this way, Paul now in chapter 3 tells us what we are to do practically speaking in our lives based upon our spiritual union with this exalted Lord. Dear friends, simply stated, because we have been raised with Jesus Christ and we are in an inseparable union with him as Paul speaks of in chapter 2 and verse 12 of this book the point is as Christians our lives are to be different the point is since we have been spiritually joined to Christ in his death burial and resurrection again Colossians chapter 2 our interests are to be Christ interest That's what that statement is all about in Colossians chapter 2. And therefore in sharp contrast to earthly things that characterize the false teachers which Paul speaks of in chapter 3 or the end of chapter 2 now he says in chapter 3 and verse 1 here's where our perspectives are to be heading towards as the people of God Colossians 3 and verse 1 again Christ is exalted we're joined to Christ our mind is not to be on earthly things, as he says again at the end of chapter 2, so what's our perspective to be?

Where are our minds to be headed? Colossians 3 verse 1, look at the text again, he says, if then. Or, better translated, since then or because, we could say. Because you were raised with Christ, what are we to do? Here it is.

Seek. Or more literally, Keep seeking, present tense verb, keep seeking those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Well having given us this practical exhortation, Paul in identifying our Lord in heaven as he says here. Says in the last part of our verse, Colossians 3 and verse 1, look at the language again, he says that Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Now it is this particular phrase here which will be the focus of our attention for this morning as it connects us to our theme for this morning, namely that of Christ's ascension.

Here as Paul speaks about Jesus at the right hand of God, he's highlighting this matter to us, and so having done this, let's begin for this morning by considering the matter of Jesus' ascension, that is to say what it's all about. And so, by way of definition, if you're taking notes, what's this matter of Jesus' ascension all about? Well, simply stated, Jesus' ascension is that of his going back to heaven in his resurrected body. What's it about? It's about him going back to heaven in his resurrected body.

You see friends, when we're told here in Colossians 3 about Jesus in heaven at God's right hand, what we need to understand is that although his ascension that, rather I should say what we need to understand, is that although his ascension, yes, does not stand out boldly in Scripture as much as his resurrection does, nonetheless, as theologian Louis Berkhoff rightly says, it is quote, the necessary complement and completion of that resurrection. So again, resurrection all over the Bible. But what's connected to it? His ascension into glory. Friends, to state the matter another way, Jesus' ascension is a vital link from his resurrection to his going back to heaven, and it connects us also to all that he's doing right now at the right hand of God as our mediator, and thus I say Jesus' ascension is a central article to our Christian faith.

Yes friends, it's crucial to all that we believe for his ascension is, again as Louis Berkhoff rightly says, quote, his transition to the higher life of glory begun after he rose from the dead, it is, as the Heidelberg Catechism rightly says, his being taken up from earth to heaven. And so come with me secondly then for this morning to note the scriptural truths for the ascension of our Savior. The scriptural truths, or I could say the proofs, for our Lord's ascension. We ask the question, is this matter of Jesus ascending into glory, is it really that which is spoken of in the Bible? We ask, is it actually found in Scripture?

Well friends, it is, and I will just list of several places for you where this is so and then we'll come to look at two places Specifically and so if you're taking notes again Just so that you can categorize these texts. You should note that Jesus ascension was spoken by our Lord himself Secondly, his ascension was spoken by the Apostles, and then thirdly it's that which was prophesied in the Old Testament. So spoken of by Jesus himself, spoken of by the Apostles, and spoken of in the Old Testament itself. And so firstly, Jesus' ascension was spoken of by him, and thus for example, in speaking to Nicodemus there in John chapter 3, our Lord could say to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 in verse 13, no one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven that is the Son of Man. Furthermore, in John chapter 6 in verse 62, In speaking to his disciples, Jesus asked them saying, what then if you should see the Son of Man?

A reference to himself. What then if you should see the Son of Man, Jesus says, ascend where he was before. And then thirdly, just to mention one more text from our Lord's lips, John chapter 20 and verse 17, our Lord there says to Mary Magdalene, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended, there's the language, to my Father, but I go to my brethren and say to them I am ascending to my father." Secondly then, concerning this doctrine, we also see it set forth by the various apostles in the New Testament and so for example as Paul speaks of it concerning Christ he says in Ephesians 4 and verse 8 that when he speaking of Jesus ascended on high what do they do he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Additionally, in Philippians 2 and verse 9, Paul says that God has highly exalted Christ, giving him the name which is above every name. He's highly exalted him.

He ascended above. And then in 1 Timothy 3 and verse 16 Paul makes that great statement concerning our Savior saying, and without controversy, no controversy here Paul says, great is the mystery of godliness. What is it? God was manifested in the flesh, he was justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, received, believed rather, on in the world and quote, received up in glory. Well in addition to these apostolic references there are several others in the book of Hebrews concerning Jesus, for in speaking about him the writer says in Hebrews 4 and verse 14 that our Lord has quote, passed through the heavens, And then in Hebrews 7 and verse 26 the writer says that Christ has quote become higher than the heavens.

Well dear friends in just giving you a sampling of these various texts I trust that you see that in fact this matter of Jesus' ascension is really no small matter in Scripture and I'm just being selective in the text I've given you. Dear ones, this topic is that which is found both in the New Testament and in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament text is seen in connection to that passage that I quoted to you earlier from Ephesians chapter 4 where Paul says that Jesus ascended on high and led captivity captive, and this is because this is a text that comes from Psalm 68 and verse 18, and so again we see it found in the Old Testament. Now the two passages that I want to look at together briefly which highlight Jesus' ascension, the first one is found in Luke 24 and then Acts chapter 1, but first let's look at Luke 24 together, and I ask you please to turn with me there in your Bibles. Luke chapter 24, here as our Lord has already arisen from the dead and has appeared to his disciples, We read now in verses 50 to 51 of this chapter, note the language in your Bibles, Luke 24, speaking of Christ, it says, And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and he blessed them.

Here's the risen Christ, It's the end of his earthly ministry. What's he doing? He's not cursing his disciples He's not yelling at them even though they had failed many times before him though. He loves them. He's blessing them He's blessing his people verse 51 Now it came to pass when he blessed them, just as he blesses us, his followers, that he was parted from them, there is the language, and carried up from, carried up rather, into heaven.

He was carried up into heaven. Now here we have in Luke's words a clear declaration of the ascension of our Lord proper having just given his disciples the global commission of preaching to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem as we're told in verse 47 of this chapter, our Lord having now led them about a mile and a half away from Jerusalem and having pronounced his high priestly benediction upon them. We're told in verse 51 that he was parted from them and again he was carried up into heaven. Well again it is here in these last words of Jesus being carried up into heaven which points to our Lord's ascension. Having fully accomplished the work of our salvation, atonement for his people at the cross of Calvary, and having been raised from the dead, now our Lord was ready to return back to heaven from where he came.

Well so significant was this matter for Luke that he doesn't only narrate it here but he also narrates it again in Acts chapter 1 and then I ask you to please turn with me there in your Bibles, Acts chapter 1. Here as Luke gives us a more detail about this crucial event of our Lord's ascension which he tells us in this opening a section of scripture a fell 40 days after our Lord rose from the dead. He says here, Acts chapter 1, picking up at verse 9, and I'll read to verse 11 in your hearing. Note the language. Now when he that is Jesus had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight." See the language, he was taken up, he ascended.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, look and notice, see, two men stood by them in wide apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus who was taken up from you, " there's the language, "...into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven." Well here again we have a clear statement about Jesus going into glory with a few more details given to us now by Luke here as he sets forth the narrative we see three particular things about it the first being the action in verse 9 because we're told that when Jesus was done speaking he was taken up he was received up into glory he ascended on high second we see the attendance because in verse 10 we're told the two men stood by the disciples in wide apparel. Apparently they were angelic beings. And then third, we see the assurance and I say this because in verse 11 we're told that the two men told the disciples that the same Jesus who had been taken up from them, this same Christ will come back in like manner just as they saw him going into heaven.

Now dear ones here this morning, I believe here that this whole matter of how important the ascension was for Luke, that he repeats it twice again, is really quite striking. It's striking how he was led to do this in two different places. Again, first as we saw at the end of his gospel, and then here again beginning in Luke. And so what do I mean by this? Why do I say it's significant?

Well, perhaps you never thought about this before, but what I mean is that whereas in Luke's gospel we see that Jesus' ascension officially closed his earthly ministry. However, here in Acts we see that it actually commenced his further ministry into the world. Oh brethren, the point is in this double reference of Jesus' ascension, we see that it not only provides a transition from the things that our Lord began to do and teach as we have in Luke's Gospel as he begins to narrate our Savior's life, but in Acts it provides the impetus for the things that Jesus would continue to do and to teach and this as the early church was formed and went forward with the glorious gospel of Christ. And so, having seen so far for today, a definition of Jesus' ascension and then some scriptural references to it There are many I gave you a selected few come with me now thirdly to note the significance of this event from a theological and a practical perspective. You ask, so what's the big deal?

Really, what's the big deal? That after Christ rose from the dead and instructed his disciples for 40 days, that afterwards he was taken up. What's the big deal? You ask, is it really worth us sitting here for 45 minutes giving a sermon on the fact that he was raised to glory? Well friends, let me say that I absolutely believe it is.

And this is because this matter of Christ's ascension has vast significance, both for the Lord himself and for us who are his people. And I want to speak about this matter by saying seven things to you, and so if you're taking notes please get these down. And so first, Jesus' ascension is significant. And I say this because, as I said earlier, it fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. It's significant because the Old Testament spoke about this.

I want to take this point in just a slightly different direction from that which I spoke of earlier. And I want to take it in a different direction just for a moment in reference to what our Lord said in Luke 24 and verse 26. Luke 24 and verse 26. There Jesus said, listen to the words with me, he said, ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and enter into glory. That's what he said.

Ought not the Christ to have done these things. After I suffered, after I died for my people. Jesus says ought not or should not, the Messiah, speaking of himself, having suffered these things afterwards enter into glory. And so what's the point friends? The point is this, in the consciousness, in the mind of Jesus Christ, there was an awareness that he had to ascend on high he spoke about this in his ministry again we saw the various texts speaking there to Nicodemus the Son of Man will ascend from where he came.

But in the consciousness of Christ he knew that this was the case. He realized that his ascension into glory was a vital part of his work. He knew this. He knew from the passage I quoted to you earlier from Ephesians where Paul referenced it in Psalm 68, but he also knew about it from Psalm 24 in verse 9. Perhaps that's a passage that some of you were thinking of, but there the psalmist says Psalm 24 in verse 9, in speaking about this event, lift up your heads, O you gates, lift up your everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in.

What a beautiful Psalm that is. Psalm 24 and verse 9, lift up your heads, open the gates. It's as it were, those who were in heaven are looking down saying, Messiah's coming back home, open the doors, here he comes. Lift up your heads, lift up you everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Secondly, I say that Jesus' ascension is vital, significant for all of us to know about.

Because his high priestly office in heaven demands it, it demands it. We know Christ is our high priest, well he rose from the dead. How did he get there? His ascension. Now friends this is important for all of you to get and I say this because you must always remember that Jesus' ascension from earth to glory is that which inaugurated him into his high priestly work.

This was a very crucial event before this happened and thus after he passed through the heavens we're told in Hebrews 7 and verse 25, that now as our High Priest, he ever lives to make intercession for us. Third, as I said before, but I want to highlight it again now in a different way concerning this matter. I say that Jesus' ascension is absolutely significant to us to be instructed about because it officially closes his earthly ministry and points us to his present ministry above as mediator and high priest. Now as we think about Jesus' ascension we must remember that technically speaking it was not his resurrection which brought an end to his earthly ministry as some think. Friends this is not so.

Rather it's his ascension that officially closed out his earthly ministry. Now why do I say this? Well I alluded to it earlier, because we're told there in Acts chapter 1 and verse 3 that Jesus, after he rose from the dead, he gave a 40-day seminar as it were with his disciples. He still had many things to teach them concerning the kingdom of God as Luke tells us in Acts chapter 1. So he didn't resurrect and go straight to glory, No, he resurrected from the dead, he taught his disciples.

So again, his resurrection from the dead was not the official close of his earthly ministry to the apostles, and Luke makes this point abundantly plain. For when in speaking about Christ's ascension he says in Acts 1 and verse 22 that his earthly ministry extended from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us. That's when his official ministry ended. Fourth, Christ's ascension is so significant because it reminds us that Jesus has gone away in order to prepare a place for us in heaven, " and friends I say that's very encouraging news. His ascension reminds us who are Christians that our Lord has now gone into heaven to prepare a place for us and again I say this is outstanding news, this is encouraging news.

But dear friends I say never forget that Christ's resurrection from the dead and his ascension on high was not a pointless matter. I say never forget that it had you in mind as a Christian, and I say this because he didn't go into glory without a specific task before him, though rather he went back to heaven to prepare a place for us who are his people, or as he says in John 14 verse 2 and 3, in my father's house there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would not have told you. I wouldn't even bother to speak about it, " Jesus said. However, he says, I go to prepare a place for you, for you Christian, for you dear child of God.

Fifth, Jesus' ascension is so significant because it reminds us that we have an advocate in the presence of our Father in heaven, so therefore whenever we sin, whenever we fall short of the glory of God and we confess our sins, we can have comfort knowing that our God forgives us of our sins because at the right hand of God the Father there is the Son of God our advocate even Jesus Christ the righteous that's good news it's good news for people who sin we still sin we still fall short of the glory of God. This is great news 1st John 2 and verse 1 if anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous sex Jesus ascension Into glory is so significant because it shows us how wonderful he is as king overall, how glorious he is, how beautiful he is. And I say this friends because while in his resurrection he conquered hell, death, and the grave, nonetheless, brethren, in his ascension he triumphed over these things. His resurrection, What did he do? He conquers hell, death, and the grave, but in his ascension he triumphs over these things, for as one writer says, quote, as a Roman victor would ascend to his capital city after winning a great battle, or as David in the Old Testament ascended up to Zion after his conquest, so Christ ascended into glory in a similar way.

Think about that, think about that, think about how beautiful that thought is and how wonderfully it brings glory to Jesus. Well, seventhly and finally in this regard, you should note that Jesus' ascension is absolutely significant. It's vital, not only for all the reasons that I've already mentioned, but also because it signifies the success of his earthly work. That is to say, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that God the Father fully, thoroughly, 100%, accepted his work on the cross on behalf of his people. Now friends, I know that you know that if our Lord did not rise again from the grave on the third day, that there would be serious question as to whether or not he actually accomplished the atonement for his people.

We would question it. Something went wrong. Maybe there was sin found in him. He said he would rise again on the third day but if he didn't do that we'd say there's something wrong, something happened. But friends listen, the same thing is true with the Ascension.

This is my point. You'd all say right, the resurrection is what? God's stamp of approval that Christ paid for our sins in full on the cross of Calvary. God's stamp of approval. But so is the Ascension, so is the Ascension.

And so friends my point is is that here we have as it were a double stamp, we have a double surety if you will, that Christ paid our sin debt in full. Glory be to his name. If he didn't pay for our sins God would have never brought him again to life from the dead and if he didn't pay our sin dead in full he would not have gone back to glory. Well here then, here is where we end for this morning, the teaching part concerning the topic of Jesus' ascension. And friends, I say This is a glorious subject.

This is a wonderful topic, which although again as I said in the outset of the message, many people are not informed about. We need to be informed about this subject, amen? And we need to be taught about it, we need to think about it, we need to meditate upon it, really think deeply about it. And so as I begin to wind down for this morning I want to do so by speaking firstly to those of you here who are Christians by way of application and then I will speak to any of you here who are not believers. And so for you, dear Christian here this morning, I don't know many of you but I trust that some of you by God's elect and grace have been converted.

So having discussed this matter of Jesus' ascension after his resurrection from the dead, What can I say to you by way of a practical import? Well there are three things that I want to say that you must always keep in mind regarding this wonderful teaching from Scripture. And the first is this, listen, Christ's ascension into glory in no way diminishes the fact that he is always a very present help in time of need. For all of your trials, for whatever you might be going through, even this day, Christian husband, Christian wife, Christian children, believer, whatever your trial might be, sometimes we could think, oh Christ, he rose from the dead, he ascended on high, he's now sitting at the right hand of Father. Help Lord, you're on high but I'm down below.

But friends, Jesus' ascension in no way diminishes the fact that he is a very present help in time of need. Our Lord says in his word Matthew 28 verse 20, and lo I am with you. How long? Always. Even to the consummation of the age.

This is our Christ. So again, in talking about the ascension, speaking about his resurrection, speaking about his present session at the right hand of God, oh don't think, therefore he's so far away. I've got this burden. I've got this trial at work. I've got this hardship in my marriage.

I've got this rebellious kid. Oh Christ, you're so far away. How could you possibly help me? No, friends. Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Jesus is there for us in our time of need. Lo, I am with you always, even to the consummation of the age. Secondly, Jesus' ascension, by way of application, Christian, not only tells you this, but it also declares to you that you have daily resources flowing from him for all that you need to live a God glorifying Christian life a God glorifying Christian life remember friends this Christ who is at the right hand of God is Immanuel, literally with us God. That's who he is. He's the God-man.

He's with us. And friends, the point is the ascension, in his ascension. Jesus has not left us powerless as his people while living on the earth and this is because Jesus Christ the resurrected and ascended and exalted Lord of glory by his spirit. He sends power to his people to serve him in ways that glorify his blessed and wonderful name. You see it all throughout the book of Acts, right?

The resurrected Christ. He's resurrected. He's ascended. He's on high. The church is in trouble.

What are they constantly doing? Lord, help us, help us, and what's Christ doing? He's meeting the needs of his people, He's sending the Spirit to to them. He's aiding them in their trials. He's with them He's proving his very words there in Matthew 28 and lo I'm with you always Even to the end of the age the resurrected Christ the ascended Christ Jesus who sits right now on his throne ruling and reigning over all things, this Jesus supplies us with all that we need to honor him in our lives.

To be godly husbands, godly wives, to be children who serve the Lord our God. And so for you here today, Christian, you feel yourself weak. You're struggling with this thing, maybe a particular sin, maybe a particular temptation. I say look to Jesus Christ. Call upon this Lord knowing as Paul says that through Christ we can do all things Philippians 4 and verse 15 through the agency of the Lord's working in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We can live lives that honor him. Look to Christ. Look to Jesus. Plead with him, O Christ. Help me in my life.

Help me with this thing. Help me with that thing. You have all power vested in yourself, give it to me oh Lord by your magnificent grace. Thirdly and finally by way of application, dear Christian, Christ's ascension into glory is meant to give you great comfort in all of your difficulties in life because as I said earlier his ascension inaugurated him into his high priestly office and this is why the writer of Hebrews says again Hebrews 4 and verse 14 that we have a high priest who has quote gone through the heavens that's the language of ascension he has gone into the heavens you say okay he's there in heaven so how does that help me well the very next verse Hebrews 4 and verse 15 here's the result Christ has gone into the heavens and thus the writer says, therefore, because he is in heaven, let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need. Because he has ascended, What's the result?

Therefore, go to this ascended Christ. Go to him. Go to him in prayer for the salvation of your children, the salvation of your spouse, the salvation of your neighbor's family, whoever it might be, go to him with all the various burdens that you have. We go to this Christ. He's ascended on high.

He hasn't left us as orphans. He's given us his spirit. He's ascended on high. Result? Call to him.

Call upon his name. Come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Is there any Christian here who needs grace? Any Christian right now in time of need, we're always in time of need. We always need grace.

It's not easy being a Christian in this world. We constantly have a sin, a cell, and Satan on our backs. We have difficulties all the time. Paul could tell us in the book of Acts, through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said, in the world you what?

Will have tribulations. No surprise here. And I love that our Lord was so frank and honest with us in the world you will have tribulations ah but he goes on to say be of good courage for I have overcome the world thus Paul could say in Romans chapter 8 through all of these things, all the tribulations that he lists there for us, he says we are what? More than conquerors. The Greek is we are hyper conquerors, literally super abounding conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It's always through him in the realm of Christ. It's being connected to Christ, drawing from him all that we need, all the strength, all the help. Oh God, we cannot do this on our own. Oh Father, oh Lord, oh Spirit, I feel like I'm sinking. This is way too difficult for me.

We go to the throne of grace. Grace, grace, grace. It's a throne saying come to me. I've purchased your redemption. It's a throne which says, come to me.

I love you. I'm here for you. Call upon me. As the prophet Jeremiah says, God speaking through him, call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know. That's our God, Christian friend, call upon him.

With my burden I begin, Lord take away this load of sin, whatever it is, go to him, Go to this ascended Lord. I end with a word to any non-Christian in this place this morning, whoever you may be, a younger person, older person, I don't know all of your spiritual condition. To you here who have not been truly born again, that's what a true Christian is. To you who don't know the Lord and truth, what can I say to you my dear friend? But simply this, listen, since our Lord has been raised from the dead and since he has ascended on high as the Savior of the world, listen, there's great hope for you.

There's great help for you in this risen, ascended, and exalted Christ. There's no hope for you in a dead Savior, but there's great hope, there is great help for you in this one who came into the world sinners to save. My dear non-christian friends, seek this Lord this day. Seek Christ. We've been talking about him all throughout the conference.

The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well you know one of the main ways did he gets glory? It's in saving sinners like you. What a beautiful thing. He saved sinners.

He came into the world sinners to save. And all who call upon him will be saved. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55, Isaiah says, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord.

Why? For he will abundantly pardon. That's Christ. If you're not a Christian here today, you go to Christ with all your sins, all your lies and your theft and whatever else it might be. What is sin?

Sin is all unrighteousness. Sin is transgression of the law of God, whatever it might be you go to him with your sins. You say, oh Christ forgive me, cleanse me, wash me, make me anew, save me, save me at a young age. Oh children, Now is the time to know the Lord. Know the Lord in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come.

Today is the day of salvation. Today if you hear his voice, heart and not your heart. Seek the Lord, The Savior that mom and dad know. Oh the Savior that the preacher speaking of. He's a wonderful Savior.

He's a glorious Savior. All who come to him he says I won't put any aside come to Christ today you say how he's in heaven you've told me he's ascended on high how do I get to him answer by faith and by faith alone Paul says in Romans 10 it's not like he's got a come down out of heaven we don't have to call him out of heaven We don't have to go down to the abyss to bring him out. No, the word is nigh thee and thy heart and in thy mouth Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved Say oh Jesus save me Make me one of your own and you have the promise from Christ himself the one that comes to me I'll by no means put aside is there anyone here who has sought the Lord and truth who Jesus said nah Not you No You're too bad for me your case. Oh, that's way too much No friends the Bible says the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin all Sin And we have found many in this room that this Savior loves to save sinners and in doing it again he gets all the glory and praise.

Why do Christians worship Jesus? Why do we love to preach him and tell others about him? Because he's like no one else. He is utterly unique. He's the Savior of sinners.

He's the friend of sinners, and we're so thankful that he is, amen. We're so thankful that he receives people like us. May you, if you don't know this Christ today, come to know him, even this morning, that you'll find him to be a loving and gracious redeemer. Let's pray. Our Father, we are so thankful for this Lord and this one aspect of his life, his ascension, this vital link between his resurrection and his session on high, O God.

We could overlook it in Scripture, but we could think that it's not really important, O God, but it is a vital link. May we think on it often, and may we bless you for it regularly. We ask, O God, that you would continue to attend this conference by your spirit. Save sinners, sanctify Saints, and get all the glory to your most worthy and excellent name. We pray this in Jesus' name alone.

Amen.