Ascension of Jesus on SermonAudio

The Athanasian Creed devotes relatively little space to the work of Christ simply because that was not where the controversy was at the time. What it says however is vital - Christ suffered and died for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. These things are vital aspects of our faith.

This sermon provides an introductory study of Acts chapter one, emphasizing the historical value and supernatural evidence supporting Jesus' resurrection. The speaker details the 'infallible proofs' of Christ's physical return from the dead and distinguishes between water baptism and the subsequent baptism with the Holy Spirit. Attention is given to the ascension event and the angels' promise of Jesus' future return, while clarifying that the timing of this event remains solely under God's authority. The narrative concludes by examining the early church's gathering and the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot among the apostles.

The coming of Christ to earth brings a heavenly, eternal kingdom for all who trust in Him to come with Him into the new heaven and earth. Jesus is the Way to Heaven.

This sermon addresses the biblical precedent and necessary qualifications for selecting church elders, drawing primarily from 1 Timothy 3 and Ephesians 4. The preacher emphasizes that elder leadership is rooted in Old Testament principles and essential for the church's sustainability, accountability, and versatility. Key pre-qualifications focus on a man's character and conduct rather than mere theological knowledge, highlighting traits such as blamelessness, self-control, and a good reputation. Central to this role is a consuming passion for God and His people, which distinguishes a true shepherd from a hireling. The message urges the congregation to vote with conviction, ensuring they choose men who reflect Christ in their homes and hearts.

ONE ACCORD. Acts 2:1–4:Acts 1:14; 2:42–47; 4:31–33; Philippians 2:1–5 KJV Acts 2:1 tells us that when Pentecost came, the disciples were "all with one accord in one place." This KJV-centered message examines the spiritual power of a church united around Jesus Christ, prayer, the Gospel, and a common mission. Biblical unity does not require identical personalities or preferences; it requires God's people to surrender those differences to a purpose greater than themselves. From Acts 1, 2, and 4, we see believers praying together, serving together, witnessing boldly, caring for one another, and reaching people with the Gospel. As Bethel Crossroads prepares for revival, the challenge is personal: What could God do if we stopped pulling against one another and all pulled in the same direction? Church, maybe we don't need more horsepower. Maybe we need one direction. Maybe we don't need another program. Maybe we need one purpose. Maybe we don't need everybody to become alike. Maybe we need everybody looking toward Jesus.

Jesus taught, preached and proclaimed the message of the kingdom. And that is what His church is to be about doing today. Nothing more, nothing less. The Message of the Kingdom.

General Summary of Main Points • Christ's unique person as the God-Man grounds a priesthood and glory no creature can attain; He ministers in the true, heavenly tabernacle and reigns as priest-king at the Father's right hand. • Earthly priests and sacrifices are copies and shadows; Jesus offers Himself and, through His ascension, conducts the necessary eternal intercession in heaven. • The ascension is indispensable: our problem is fundamentally spiritual; only a heavenly, eternal intercessor secures believers perpetually so that none are lost. • The old covenant's inadequacy lies in human failure; Christ fulfills every type and shadow, thereby obtaining a more excellent ministry as Mediator of the better, new covenant enacted on better promises. • Jesus, unlike Israel, resists temptation, refuses wilderness grumbling, obeys perfectly, defeats Satan, and conquers death—functioning as true Israel and the last Adam. • The new covenant brings a people who truly know the Lord; its membership is constituted by genuine faith rather than merely physical descent or external inclusion. • The church era, empowered by the Spirit, advances the gospel globally; Christ's ascension aligns with God's plan for worldwide mission and ongoing heavenly mediation.

From Christ's ascension at Bethany, this message shows how His blessing moved the disciples to worship, rejoice, and continually praise God. Believers are challenged not merely to receive God's blessings, but to take the life, strength, joy, salvation, and grace He has given and turn those blessings back into worship and praise.

The sermon examines Genesis 8:20-22 to highlight Noah's immediate priority of building an altar and offering burnt offerings upon exiting the ark. It interprets the 'soothing aroma' as a metaphor for God's pleasure with worship that flows from faith and love, rather than literal olfactory sensation. The preacher connects this Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament reality where believers serve as a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. Ultimately, the text points to Jesus Christ as the perfect, final sacrifice whose death on the cross appeases God's wrath and serves as the true soothing aroma to the Father. The message urges Christians to prioritize worship and recognize their identity in Christ as they offer themselves to God.

Jesus Going to the Father I. His Bodily Ascension II. His Present Exaltation III. His Blessings Given Us Scripture: John 17 Text: Lord's Day 18, John 17:5 Psalter #'s: 27A, 51C, 118C, 22E

1. The Idea Of The Ascension 2. The Importance Of The Ascension 3. The Advantage Of The Ascension

MONOGENES is the Greek term translated ONLY BEGOTTEN or uniquely conceived & born...referring to the virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary atoning death, ascension, present session, soon return and eternal rule. All proving who he is the only celebrity and superhero, the sovereign controller and steersman of human and eternal history.

 Central point: Believers have a high priest (Jesus) seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  Contrast with Mosaic/Aaronic priesthood: earthly sacrifices, inability to sit in holy place; Christ ministers directly in God's presence.  Christ's ministry transcends earthly altars; only baptism and the Lord's Supper are prescribed physical elements in worship.  Fulfillment of types: Melchizedek (priest-king), Zechariah 6:13, Isaiah 6; Christ as priest, king, and prophet.  Warning against idolatry of physical forms, modern inventions, medicine, and statues; uphold the second commandment.  Critique of Roman Catholicism and certain Anglican practices for added physical forms and views on mediation/deification.  Encouragement: Christ's ascension and session guarantee hope; His cosmic ministry is not bound by time.

Pastor Mark Hogan teaches on Psalm 110 as the most significant messianic psalm, using Jesus' question to the Pharisees to prove the Messiah is David's Lord, not merely his son. He expounds verses 1-2, showing that the command to "sit at my right hand" signifies Christ's heavenly enthronement, fulfilled at his ascension and exaltation as cited in Acts and Ephesians. The "until" attached to his reign reveals an inaugurated kingdom—Christ rules from heaven now while enemies persist until final judgment, echoing 1 Corinthians 15 and Hebrews 10. God extends Christ's kingly scepter from Zion through gospel proclamation and Church building (Matthew 16, 28; Acts 2), demonstrating his rule even while Satan and persecuting powers remain active. The practical application is that believers should have joyful optimism and confidence in Christ's current enthronement while expecting opposition as normal. He also calls believers to hope, believing that Psalm 110:1's "until" guarantees that all enemies, including death, will ultimately be vanquished.

The Spirit's Work The central truths of this message is that the Holy Spirit makes all the difference between merely hearing about Jesus and truly seeing, receiving, believing, loving, and following Him. In John 14–18, on the final night before the cross, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure by promising "another Helper," the Spirit of truth. Jesus had been their Teacher, Comforter, and Guide beside them; after His death, resurrection, and ascension, the Spirit, who dwelled among them would now dwell within them, continue Christ's work among them, and above all glorify Jesus. The world's problem is deeper than a lack of information. Jesus says the world cannot receive the Spirit because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. Humanity is spiritually blind and hard-hearted. We cannot circumcise our own hearts, remove our own heart of stone, give ourselves spiritual sight, or raise ourselves from spiritual death. Those are works only God can accomplish. The Spirit opens what sin has closed. He reveals Christ, changes the heart, redirects our affections, and enables us to respond to Jesus in faith and repentance. That helps explain Jesus' promise, "The world will see Me no more, but you will see Me." The Spirit makes Christ known to His people. Being part of the Body of Christ is not merely knowing facts about a historical Jesus; it is knowing the risen Christ, being joined to Him, and living because He lives. When the Spirit reveals Jesus, what we see changes who and what we love, and who and what we love changes how we live. Jesus becomes more valuable than family approval, social acceptance, position, comfort, or reputation. John 12 gives a sobering example of th

1. It is a historical fact. 2. It is coherent. 3. It provides blessed benefits.

The sermon explores the theological significance of Jesus's physical scars as enduring proof of His resurrection, ascension, and eternal identity. By examining passages in John, Luke, Acts, and Revelation, the text argues that the nail prints and side wound serve as infallible evidence of His humanity and sacrificial death. These marks connect the earthly reality of the crucifixion with the heavenly glory of the Lamb slain, ensuring believers recognize Him upon His return. The narrative emphasizes that these wounds are not merely historical details but central to the assurance of peace and salvation for all who believe. Ultimately, the scars testify to the price paid for redemption and invite worship through the recognition of the risen Lord.

The sermon examines the prologue of Acts to reveal that the book continues the work Jesus began in his Gospel. It emphasizes that Christ's earthly ministry was only the start of a greater redemptive plan established through his resurrection and ascension. The preacher highlights the command for believers to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit, which empowers the church to spread the gospel globally. This outpouring establishes the Kingdom of God on earth and in heaven, grounded in the factual reality of the risen Savior. Ultimately, the text demonstrates that salvation and the growth of the church are the unified work of the Triune God.

This sermon analyzes Daniel chapter 7 to demonstrate the sovereignty of God over historical empires and the eternal nature of Christ's kingdom. The preacher connects the four beasts representing successive kingdoms with New Testament prophecies regarding the Son of Man receiving universal dominion. Key themes include the ascension of Jesus, the final judgment by the Ancient of Days, and the ultimate inheritance of the kingdom by the saints. The message emphasizes that despite the chaos of human history, God remains in control and has established an indestructible reign for believers. This study serves to encourage faith in Christ's deity and the certainty of His everlasting rule.

The sermon explores the definition of eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing that true glorification occurs through finishing the work God assigns. It highlights Jesus' humility in identifying simply as 'Jesus' even after His ascension, illustrating how believers should manifest God's name through good works rather than self-exaltation. Drawing from Romans 8, the message assures listeners of their predestined justification and future glorification, urging them to claim this promise without false humility. The teaching connects Jesus' finished work on earth with the believer's call to live a sanctified life that points others to God. Ultimately, the transcript encourages a deep reliance on Scripture to understand one's identity in Christ and the certainty of salvation.

The truth of the ascension has the ability to bring the believer great joy

The sermon reorients the understanding of Christian worship from human effort to divine initiative, emphasizing that God serves humanity through grace. By analyzing the Old Testament sacrificial system, the speaker demonstrates how Jesus Christ fulfills the sin, burnt, tribute, and peace offerings in His death, resurrection, and ascension. This theological framework reveals that modern worship elements like confession, preaching, and the Lord's Supper are means by which God cleanses, sanctifies, and communes with believers. The message urges congregants to approach services with a posture of reception rather than performance, recognizing that every act is grounded in Christ's finished work. Ultimately, this covenantal pattern extends beyond Sunday gatherings to shape the believer's daily life and relationship with God.

Ascension blessings.

On the evening of the first Easter, the risen Lord told His disciples that everything written about Him in the Psalms must be fulfilled, and in this final session of our series we take Him at His word. We walk through Psalms 22, 23, and 24, the Cross, the Crook, and the Crown, and behold the Savior who died, the Shepherd who lives, and the Sovereign who reigns right now. We then face the hardest songs in the book, the imprecatory psalms, and discover how the cross of Christ teaches us to pray even these rightly. The session closes with practical counsel for a lifetime in the Psalter, including a verse-by-verse walk through Psalm 23 as a prayer, so that when grief, joy, or guilt leaves you without words, you will know where God has already supplied them.

Jesus Christ is alive and well in Heaven and in the same body that He rose from the dead with. This is a great essential for our salvation that you will see from this quick review. I hope that it's a blessing for you - S

LORD'S DAY 18

Lord's Day 18

1. The Occasion for It 2. The Battle of Words 3. The Heavenly Rejoicing

Live stream is available Sunday mornings at 11am and Wednesday nights at 7pm.

Esther 2:1–18 (LSB) Series: The Book of Esther (Sermon 3) Speaker: Rocky Stevenson Church: Benoni Bible Church Sermon Overview: In Esther 2:1–18, the narrative shifts from the public vanity of Xerxes' palace to the quiet, behind-the-scenes movements of divine providence. Set historically between Xerxes' defeat in Greece (479 BC) and the rise of Haman, this passage details how an orphaned Jewish girl, Hadassah (Esther), is brought into the royal harem and eventually crowned queen of Persia. This exposition examines the complex realities of life in exile. Far from presenting Mordecai and Esther as flawless heroes, the text reveals assimilated exiles navigating a corrupt pagan system. Yet, God's covenant faithfulness is not contingent upon human heroism; it rests entirely on His sovereign grace. Key Theological Themes: The Invisibility and Certainty of Divine Providence: How God arranges secondary causes to accomplish His sovereign decrees. Redemptive History & The Preservation of the Seed: Linking Esther's ascension to the preservation of the Jewish remnant, the lineage of David, and the ultimate arrival of Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4–5). Covenant Promises to Scattered Israel: Demonstrating that God's covenant loyalty (Jeremiah 31:35–36; Romans 11:26) extended fully to the exiles in Persia, not just the remnant in Jerusalem. An encouraging and sobering exposition for all believers seeking to trust God's silent sovereign hand in ordinary, mundane, or difficult seasons.

The sermon establishes that Jesus Christ is currently reigning from the Father's right hand following His ascension, rather than waiting for a future earthly establishment of His kingdom. By analyzing passages from Daniel and the Gospels, the speaker argues that the Church fulfills Israel's original mandate to be a holy nation and royal priesthood under the New Covenant. This present spiritual reality requires believers to engage in active obedience and spiritual warfare against sin while living as citizens of heaven on earth. The message emphasizes that Christians share in Christ's rule now through faith, tasked with putting off the old self and pursuing holiness. Ultimately, the congregation is called to worship and serve the reigning King while awaiting the final restoration of all things.

The Ascended Christ furnishing the Church for its continued work in fulfilment of its commission

1. Crucifixion 2. Resurrection 3.Raising of Lazarus 4. Three Hebrew Children 5. Crossing of the Red Sea 6. Daniel in Lions Den 7. Paul's Conversion 8. Ascension 9. Book of Revelation 10. Feeding of The Five Thousand

The sermon explores the theological significance of Christ's exaltation following his humiliation and death, focusing on Philippians 2:9-11. It emphasizes that Jesus currently reigns with absolute authority over creation, the church, and all nations from his position at the right hand of God. This sovereign rule guarantees the ultimate success of the gospel mission and the expansion of his kingdom across the earth. The preacher encourages believers to find comfort and confidence in this reality, recognizing that Christ's power ensures the fulfillment of his redemptive purposes. Consequently, Christians are called to live with hope and zeal, trusting in the victorious King who controls all history.