Being Led by the Holy SpiritChikamu

THE ASCENSION OF LORD JESUS TO HEAVEN

INTRODUCTION

Pentecost occurred 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, the story was written by Luke in the Book of the Apostles after the Lord Jesus was ascended into Heaven. Acts 1:8 wrote about what had been promised by the Lord Jesus before He ascended into Heaven. The extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit happened to be witnessed by many people. When the Lord Jesus was lifted up to Heaven the disciples were not as sad and frightened as they were when He was crucified. The disciples were stunned and able to see in plain view as the Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven. And when they were looking into the sky out of the blue there were two angels of the Lord who stood and told them that Jesus who was taken up into Heaven and would come back in the same way (Acts 1:9-10).

The Ascension of Christ is not celebrated as Christmas or Easter. Yet the ascension of the Lord Jesus proves that He lives and lives forever. We should also be grateful for this ascension of the Lord Jesus.

Before the Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven, He asked the disciples to wait for Him in Jerusalem, to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Actually, the disciples had had the Holy Spirit when the Lord Jesus breathed His Spirit upon them (John 20:22).

The role of the Holy Spirit is very important in the lives of believers. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot come to worship, to pray, and to believe that the Lord Jesus died on the Cross and became our Savior. And the power of the Holy Spirit is necessary for us to be a witness for Him.

There are two meanings of "power" in Greek, they are Exosia and Dunamis. Exosia is the authority given to a person. Dunamis is the supernatural power of God, the energy of God. When the Lord Jesus says "you will receive power" it means accepting God's energy, the power of the Most High - Dunamis. When a person receives the power of the Holy Spirit, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, his life will be changed. The power of the Holy Spirit transforms his life and makes him able to resist the temptations of evil.

SHARING 

Speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit cannot be separated from the ascension of the Lord Jesus to Heaven.

The aim of the ascension of the Lord Jesus to Heaven are:

1. Prepare a place for us in the House of the Father (John 14:2-3).

The meaning of place here is a dwelling place. Who do you think we are to be reserved by the Lord Jesus in Heaven. The Lord Jesus does not only give us a certificate of salvation and our names are written in Heaven, but also prepares places there. We all have the assurance of having a place in heaven. To get to heaven there is only one way - that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. If we walk with Jesus, we will surely get to heaven.

2. Became our defender (Romans 8:33-34).

The Lord Jesus is the highest priest who intercedes for us. He defends each of our weaknesses and evil accusations of our past. Weak people are easily affected by negative things, so we need a defender, Jesus Christ. Satan will always seek to devastate and destroy , but thank God the Lord has ascended, sits at the right hand of the Father, becomes our defender, and gives us His Holy Spirit as our helper. The Holy Spirit will guide, teach, comfort, and also strengthen us.

3. Led captivity captive and gave gifts (Ephesians 4:8).

There are three levels of place we should know, the first is the place of the spirits of darkness, the second one is the earth and the third is Heaven. The Apostle Paul was once brought to the third level. When Jesus died, for three days, He came down to the deepest level of the earth, the kingdom of darkness. The Lord Jesus defeated the devil, took the key of the kingdom of death, and death was defeated. Jesus ascended to heaven and He promised to give us the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the gifts of Jesus to us (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The captive speaks also of those whose lives are 'confined', 'shackled'. Those who are imprisoned by their fears, their anxieties, past wounds, sickness, etc. Jesus ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to full fill our lives. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be liberated, freed.

4. Send the Holy Spirit to us (John 16:7-8, John 14:16).

The Holy Spirit is given so that we may be witnesses. Testify our experience with Christ wherever we are. If we are still in captivity and imprisoned, in this Pentecost week let us be freed from worry, fear, and all the bonds of bad habits and from the power of evil spirits. The Holy Spirit will be our helper. Would you like to accept the power that has been promised? If we have that power, then there will be a change in our lives.

DISCUSSION

1. What does the Holy Spirit mean in your personal life? Try to share your experiences with the Holy Spirit.

2. We believe that we have received the power of the Holy Spirit, and God has a purpose by giving that power. How to keep them from being wasted? What should we do?

3. For those who have not been baptized by the Holy Spirit let's pray for this. Ask and believe, then you will get it.