Acts 1:6-11; Ephesians 1:19-23 (ESV)

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” … 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Intro: Why does Jesus’ Ascension matter?

WHAT WAS GOING ON?
The act of Jesus’ ascension is plain, but its meaning is not.

WHY WAS IT DIFFICULT?
What are the ways we misunderstand, or doubt God’s promise?

BUT WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?
How then is Jesus continuing His original True Mission?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD for His love and delight to redeem lost and sinful people like us! Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for His grace and His eternal purposes to save!

2 - How have you lived as if God’s mission is at odds or irrelevant to your life mission? Confess your pride and self-will to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you and to reconcile your heart to His heart for the lost.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His eternal mission and the beauty of His willingness to come down in order to raise us up. Thank Him for His work, His Person, and His provision to save people like us.

4 - Who do you know that lives with a clear sense of mission in following Jesus? Pray for them, asking the Lord to strengthen them for sustained faithfulness, and to help you to learn from them as best as you can.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to bear in you the fruit of faithfulness. Pray for a sense of your security under Jesus’ rule, and a heart like His for the lost, that His Spirit would equip you for your part in His mission.