27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 01 01-05 THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 03 Acts 01 01-02 Jesus was taken up
📖 Acts 01:01-05
03 – 06Jun2022 – *Jesus was taken up* - _Acts 01:01-05_ - THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Bible reading: _John 17:13-18_
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have done everything for us to live a life that is pleasing to You. Through our actions and words, we are to sow the seed of Jesus into the lives of people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
*_Acts 1:1-2 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,_*
Jesus did and taught and this was the harmony of His life, here on earth. This is the life that is expected of us, as we represent Jesus and we sow Him as seed into the lives of people.
Jesus lived this harmonious life and then *He was taken up to the Father*. Jesus to be taken up, has immense significance for us.
_John 17:13-18 *But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves*. (14) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (18) As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world._
The Lord Jesus is praying for us that His joy must be fulfilled in us. We have been speaking of harmony in our lives through our actions and words. What does this harmony sum up to? *This harmony sums up, JOY*. Joy is what must be evident in us, both through our actions and our words.
*Is joy being evidenced in you? Joy is what Jesus left for us, as He was taken up*.
This life of joy cannot be worked up by our effort. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Joy happens in us because our eyes are lifted up to Jesus and our hope is in Him. The Holy Spirit gives us His joy.
This life of joy in the Holy Spirit also makes us be those who are in the world but not of the world. We are separated from the world by the word of God. It is the Holy Spirit who works in us, through the word of God, to separate us from the world. This is the basis for our life of joy.
Jesus is praying to the Father for us that we should not be taken out of the world. *We are sent into the world by Jesus to demonstrate the life of joy*.
*_Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;_*
Jesus was taken up to heaven to appear in the presence of God for us, because our alienation from God, had heavenly ramifications. Man’s sin was not just man’s personal problem for which man needed a solution but *our reconciliation with God was necessary* because man, was intended to be a co-ruler with God, over things on earth and things in heaven. Jesus being taken up resulted in heavenly solutions for man and all of creation.
*_I Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him._*
When Jesus was taken up, He once again assumed power and authority over all dominions. All angels, powers, dominions and names are now subject to Jesus.
This position into which Jesus has come has huge implications for the church. We are the bride of Christ. He is our Husband. If our Husband has all the authority and all forces are subject to Him, then, we too are in that same place, alongside Jesus.
*_Ephesians 1:20-23 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (22) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all._*
The church, in Christ, must take authority over dominions and powers.
All authorities are conscious of the place of the church. They do not want the church to become mindful of her, vast position and start exercising the purposes of her Husband, Jesus, here on earth, where all these authorities are ruling with abandon.
When we see wickedness, galloping on the earth, let us realise that the church is not exercising the power and position of her Husband, for which He was taken up from the earth and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
*Our confession*
```Jesus, we are ashamed that though You have lifted us to a high position, our perspectives are self-focused. Please forgive us.```