Ascension

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Ascension
" the day in which He was taken up"  Acts 1:2
1:11- " This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Creed says " He ascended into heaven"
Sundays , WED and Fridays during penitential times the use of the Litany prays " By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension- Good Lord, deliver us."
Where did He go?
1.  Luke 24:51 "...and as He was blessing them he was separated from them and was carried up into heaven."
We prayed " Grant , we beseech Thee,  Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our LORD Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell..."
We have an anchor of the soul. Hebrews 6:19 in which we believe it is " impossible for God to lie... a sure and steadfast hope, and which enters the Presence behind the  veil."
A good anchor---the ultimate test being " deep water on a lee shore with nothing between you and the breakers on the beach except dependable gear"
He went into heaven a. a place where there is " no more crying , neither sorrow"
                                   b. & total happiness " at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore"
                                    c. where we keep our personal id - Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration
                                     d. " His servants serve Him day and night"

2. We are now His witnesses.  1:8  " but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ; and you shall be witnesses to Me..." Acts
Jn 16:7 " It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if I depart I will send Him unto you."
Power to believe
Power to do His work here and now
Power of love " one loving heart sets another on fire" ST Augustine
What would it be if God was in our lives totally?
" God be in my head/ and my understanding
God be in my eyes/ and in my looking
God be in my mouth/ and in my speaking
God be in my heart/ and in my thinking
God be in my end/and in my departing"  a prayer from the Sarum primer 1538
3.  Lastly v 11 of Acts 1 says, " will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven"  GET BUSY!
Alexander the Great once reprimanded a Soldier who was also named Alexander for fleeing from battle. " Either change your name or live up to it."
God is in control. As we look to the Ascension of our LORD, we can remember as we do His will that He never leaves or forsakes us.
" Saviour and Lord, Who , Ascending into heaven, wast pleased to show Thyself in glory to the eyes of the beholders, while Thou didst promise to come as our Judge in like manner as Thou hadst ascended; make us to welcome this feast-day of Thine Ascension with pure and devout hearts; that we may in such wise ascend continually in Thee to a better life, that when Thou comest to the judgment, we may see Thy face and not be confounded. Amen."

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