His Resurrection, Ascension, & Return
In this message, Stephen emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical Jesus and the Christ revealed through the Holy Spirit. He reminds listeners that knowing Christ begins in eternity past, acknowledging Jesus as the Word that was with God in the beginning. He then journeys through key moments in Jesus' life—His birth, hidden life, manifestation before men, and ultimately His death and resurrection. Stephen stresses that Jesus' death was all-inclusive and universal, signifying our death to sin and the world. However, the core message centers around Jesus' resurrection as the essence of the Gospel and our new relationship with Him. This resurrection life empowers us to live in newness, minister effectively, and experience daily victory. He then delves into Jesus' ascension, emphasizing our ascension with Him and His position of authority above all things. Finally, Stephen addresses Christ's second coming, reminding listeners of His eager anticipation and the need for the Church, His bride, to prepare for His return.
Outline of Main Points:
- Knowing Christ:
- In eternity past
- Through prophecy
- In His birth, life, death, and resurrection
- Jesus' death:
- All-inclusive and universal
- Our death to sin and the world in Him
- Jesus' resurrection:
- Essence of the Gospel
- Establishes a new, inward relationship with Christ
- His resurrection is our resurrection
- Empowers us to walk in newness of life
- Manifested in daily life through death to self
- Jesus' ascension:
- Received power, dominion, authority, and rule from the Father
- Our ascension with Him
- Entered heaven as the worthy Son of Man
- We are seated with Him in heavenly places
- His victory and authority become ours
- Jesus' return:
- He is eager to return for His bride
- The Church must prepare for His coming
- Will culminate in eternal union with God
1 The former treatise have 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 that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
