ASCENSION WORSHIP SERVICE 2014 (CC)
0 (0 Likes / 0 Dislikes)
GOOD EVENING! THIS EVENING WE
HAVE GATHERED
TOGETHER AS WE CELEBRATE THE
ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
BACK TO HIS HEAVENLY THRONE.
AND WE REMIND OURSELVES
OF THE JOY THAT IS OURS
THROUGH THIS WONDERFUL EVENT.
OUR SERVICE FOR THIS EVENING
IS PRINTED IN YOUR SERVICE
FOLDER. LET'S NOW JOIN
TOGETHER IN THE OPENING
RESPONSES.
[INVOCATION]
MINISTER: IN THE NAME OF THE
FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
CONGREGATION: AMEN.
M: CHRIST IS RISEN! C: HE IS
RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!
M: ALLELUIA! THE LORD IS RISEN
INDEED!
C: OH, COME, LET US WORSHIP
HIM. ALLELUIA!
M: ALLELUIA! CHRIST REIGNS AS
KING,
SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD. ALL HIS ENEMIES
HE HAS PLACED UNDER HIS FEET.
C: ALLELUIA. CHRIST SAYS, "I
AM WITH YOU
ALWAYS TO THE END OF THE AGE."
M: GOD HAS ASCENDED WITH
SHOUTS OF JOY, THE LORD
AMID THE SOUNDING OF TRUMPETS.
C: ALLELUIA. CHRIST SAYS, "I
AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
TO THE END OF THE AGE." M: IT
IS WITH THIS CONFIDENCE
WE ARE REMINDED BY THE 'ZION
CHIMERS' THAT WE HAVE
JOY IN OUR LIFE.
[MEDITATIVE MUSIC
"ODE TO JOY"
ZION CHIMERS
LED BY
MRS. CAREY BRYSON
AS WE LISTEN
TO THE BEAUTIFUL
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC ENDS AND
THE ZION CHIMERS RETURN TO
THEIR SEATS]
OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS
EVENING IS RECORDED FOR US
IN LUKE'S GOSPEL WHERE WE READ
FROM CHAPTER 24
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 44. IT IS
HERE
WE HAVE LUKE'S ACCOUNT OF THE
LORD SPENDING TIME
WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND
INSTRUCTING THEM
BEFORE HE IS ASCENDED INTO
HEAVEN.
HE [JESUS] SAID TO THEM,
"THIS IS WHAT I TOLD YOU WHILE
I WAS STILL WITH YOU:
EVERYTHING MUST BE FULFILLED
THAT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN
THE LAW OF MOSES,
THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS."
THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS SO
THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE
SCRIPTURES. HE TOLD THEM,
"THIS IS WHAT IS WRITTEN: THE
MESSIAH WILL SUFFER
AND RISE FROM THE DEAD ON THE
THIRD DAY,
AND REPENTANCE FOR THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS WILL BE
PREACHED IN HIS NAME TO ALL
NATIONS,
BEGINNING WITH JERUSALEM. YOU
ARE WITNESSES
OF THESE THINGS. I AM GOING
TO SEND YOU
WHAT MY FATHER HAS PROMISED;
BUT STAY IN THE CITY
UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN CLOTHED
WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH."
WHEN HE HAD LED THEM OUT TO
THE VICINITY OF BETHANY,
HE LIFTED UP HIS HANDS AND
BLESSED THEM.
WE JOIN TOGETHER IN HYMN 171.
ORGANIST, MRS. JO BOSTEDT
PLAYS INTRODUCTION NOW FOR
HYMN 171: "A HYMN OF GLORY
LET US SING"
[MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
CONGREGATION BEGINS SINGING
HYMN 171, VERSE 1:
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US
SING!
NEW SONGS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
SHALL
RING:
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
CHRIST,
BY A ROAD BEFORE
UNTROD,
ASCENDS UNTO THE THRONE OF
GOD,
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
THE HOLY
APOSTOLIC BAND
UPON THE
MOUNT OF OLIVES STAND,
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
AND WITH
HIS FOLLOWERS THEY
SEE THEIR LORD
ASCEND IN MAJESTY.
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
TO THEM
THE SHINING ANGELS
CRY, "WHY STAND AND
GAZE UPON THE
SKY?" ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
"THIS IS
THE SAVIOR," THUS THEY
SAY. "THIS IS
HIS GLORIOUS TRIUMPH
DAY." ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
"YOU SEE
HIM NOW, ASCENDING
HIGH UP TO THE
PORTALS OF THE
SKY." ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
HEREAFTER JESUS YOU
SHALL SEE
RETURNING IN GREAT
MAJESTY."
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
BE NOW OUR JOY ON EARTH,
O LORD,
AND BE OUR FUTURE
GREAT REWARD.
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
THEN, THRONED WITH YOU
FOREVER, WE
SHALL PRAISE YOUR NAME
ETERNALLY.
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
O RISEN CHRIST,
ASCENDED LORD,
ALL PRAISE TO YOU
LET EARTH ACCORD.
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
YOU ARE, WHILE
ENDLESS AGES RUN,
WITH FATHER,
AND WITH SPIRIT ONE.
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
ALLELUIA!
LET US RISE FOR THE CONFESSION
OF OUR SINS.
M: IF YOU, LORD,
KEPT A RECORD OF SINS,
C: LORD, WHO COULD STAND? M:
BUT WITH YOU THERE IS
FORGIVENESS; C: SO THAT WE
CAN,
WITH REVERENCE, SERVE YOU.
[PSALM 130:3-4] M: LORD JESUS,
C: WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT TO
DEPART
INTO HEAVEN, YOU LIFTED YOUR
HANDS IN BLESSING
AND PROMISED TO BE WITH US
ALWAYS.
EVEN THOUGH YOUR WORD CONFIRMS
YOUR PRESENCE
IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE A SINFUL
PEOPLE,
IN NEED OF YOUR FORGIVENESS.
WE CONFESS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
INDIFFERENT
AND FORGOTTEN YOUR BLESSING.
INSTEAD,
WE HAVE SOUGHT THINGS OF THIS
EARTH. WE HAVE
FOCUSED ON OUR OWN LONELINESS,
THOUGH YOU HAVE
PROMISED TO BE WITH US ALWAYS.
YOU HAVE PROMISED TO RETURN,
YET WE HAVE
GROWN IMPATIENT AND EARTHBOUND
AND FAIL
TO SET OUR HEARTS ON THINGS
ABOVE.
WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN A
PEOPLE OF ANTICIPATION,
AND NEED A RETURN TO JOY.
M: AS THE DISCIPLES RETURNED
FROM CHRIST'S ASCENSION
FILLED WITH MIGHTY JOY, SO,
YOU ALSO ARE RENEWED IN
CHRIST'S SAVING PROMISE.
AS GOD'S CALLED AND ORDAINED
SERVANT,
AND BY THE COMMAND OF MY LORD
JESUS CHRIST, I FORGIVE YOU
ALL YOUR SINS, IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER,
AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
C: AMEN. M: LET US PRAY.
C: LORD JESUS, KING OF GLORY,
ON THIS DAY YOU ASCENDED FAR
ABOVE THE HEAVENS
AND AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND YOU
RULE THE NATIONS.
LEAVE US NOT ALONE, WE PRAY,
BUT GRANT US THE SPIRIT OF
TRUTH
THAT AT YOUR COMMAND AND BY
YOUR POWER
WE MAY BE YOUR WITNESSES IN
ALL THE WORLD;
FOR YOU LIVE AND REIGN WITH
THE FATHER AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT, ONE GOD,
NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.
THE CONGREGATION MAY BE SEATED
FOR HYMN 370.
[ORGANIST PLAYS INTRODUCTION
TO HYMN 370: "ALL HAIL THE
POWER OF JESUS' NAME."
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
[CONGREGATION BEGINS SINGING]
ALL HAIL THE POWER
OF JESUS' NAME!
LET ANGELS PROSTRATE FALL;
BRING FORTH THE
ROYAL DIADEM
AND CROWN HIM
LORD OF ALL.
BRING FORTH
THE ROYAL DIADEM
AND CROWN HIM
LORD OF
ALL.
HAIL HIM, YE HEIRS OF
DAVID'S LINE, WHOM DAVID
LORD DID CALL,
THE GOD INCARNATE,
MAN DIVINE, AND
CROWN HIM
LORD OF ALL.
THE GOD INCARNATE,
MAN DIVINE, AND
CROWN HIM
LORD OF
ALL.
SINNERS WHOSE LOVE CAN NE'ER
FORGET THE WORMWOOD
AND THE GALL.
GO, SPREAD YOUR TROPHIES
AT HIS FEET AND
CROWN HIM LORD
OF ALL.
GO, SPREAD YOUR TROPHIES
AT HIS FEET AND
CROWN HIM
LORD OF ALL.
LET EV'RY
KINDRED, EV'RY TRIBE
ON THIS TERRESTRIAL
BALL TO HIM ALL
MAJESTY ASCRIBE
AND CROWN HIM
LORD OF
ALL.
TO HIM ALL MAJESTY
ASCRIBE AND CROWN
HIM LORD OF
ALL.
OH, THAT WITH
YONDER SACRED THRONG
WE AT HIS FEET MAY
FALL! WE'LL JOIN
THE EVERLASTING SONG
AND CROWN HIM
LORD OF
ALL.
WE'LL JOIN THE
EVERLASTING SONG AND
CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL.
PSALM 47
AND WE WILL READ RESPONSIVELY
AS PRINTED IN YOUR SERVICE
FOLDER.
M: CLAP YOUR HANDS,
ALL YOU NATIONS; SHOUT TO GOD
WITH
CRIES OF JOY.
C: FOR THE LORD MOST HIGH
IS AWESOME, THE GREAT KING
OVER ALL THE EARTH.
HE SUBDUED NATIONS UNDER US,
PEOPLES UNDER OUR FEET. HE
CHOSE OUR INHERITANCE FOR US,
THE PRIDE OF JACOB, WHOM HE
LOVED.
M: GOD HAS ASCENDED AMID
SHOUTS OF JOY,
THE LORD AMID THE SOUNDING OF
TRUMPETS.
SING PRAISES TO GOD, SING
PRAISES.
SING PRAISES TO OUR KING, SING
PRAISES.
FOR GOD IS THE KING OF ALL THE
EARTH;
SING TO HIM A PSALM OF PRAISE.
C: GOD REIGNS OVER THE
NATIONS; GOD IS SEATED
ON HIS HOLY THRONE. THE NOBLES
OF THE NATIONS
ASSEMBLE AS THE PEOPLE OF THE
GOD OF ABRAHAM,
FOR THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
BELONG TO GOD;
HE IS GREATLY EXALTED.
[VERSE OF THE DAY]:
M: ALLELUIA. ALLELUIA. CHRIST
IS RISEN!
HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!
SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,
TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.
ALLELUIA! [MATTHEW 28:20]
OUR EPISTLE LESSON FOR THIS
EVENING IS RECORDED FOR US
BY LUKE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
WHERE WE READ THE FIRST 11
VERSES OF CHAPTER 1. IT IS
HERE
THAT LUKE RECORDS FOR US THE
EVENTS OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION.
IN MY FORMER BOOK, THEOPHILUS,
I WROTE ABOUT ALL THAT JESUS
BEGAN TO DO
AND TO TEACH "UNTIL" THE DAY
HE WAS
TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN, AFTER
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE
APOSTLES HE HAD CHOSEN.
AFTER HIS SUFFERING, HE
PRESENTED HIMSELF
TO THEM AND GAVE MANY
CONVINCING PROOFS
THAT HE WAS ALIVE. HE APPEARED
TO THEM
OVER A PERIOD OF FORTY DAYS
AND SPOKE ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF
GOD. ON ONE OCCASION,
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM,
HE GAVE THEM THIS COMMAND:
"DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT
WAIT
FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER
PROMISED, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD
ME SPEAK ABOUT. FOR JOHN
BAPTIZED
WITH WATER, BUT IN A FEW DAYS
YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT." THEN
THEY
GATHERED AROUND HIM AND ASKED
HIM, "LORD, ARE YOU
AT THIS TIME GOING TO RESTORE
THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?"
HE SAID TO THEM: "IT IS NOT
FOR YOU TO KNOW
THE TIMES OR DATES THE FATHER
HAS SET
BY HIS OWN AUTHORITY. BUT YOU
WILL RECEIVE POWER
WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON
YOU; AND YOU WILL BE
MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, AND
IN ALL JUDEA
AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH."
AFTER HE SAID THIS, HE WAS
TAKEN UP
BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES, AND A
CLOUD HID HIM
FROM THEIR SIGHT. THEY WERE
LOOKING INTENTLY UP
INTO THE SKY AS HE WAS GOING,
AND SUDDENLY
TWO MEN DRESSED IN WHITE STOOD
BESIDE THEM.
"MEN OF GALILEE," THEY SAID,
"WHY DO YOU STAND HERE
LOOKING INTO THE SKY?" THIS
SAME JESUS,
WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM YOU
INTO HEAVEN,
WILL COME BACK IN THE SAME WAY
YOU HAVE SEEN HIM
GO INTO HEAVEN."
[MUSIC ENDING HYMN 213-OMITTED
HERE DUE TO LACK OF SPACE]
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS EVENING'S SERMON TEXT
RECORDED FOR US BY THE APOSTLE
PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE
COLOSSIANS WHERE WE READ THE
FIRST 4 VERSES
OF CHAPTER 3: SINCE, THEN,
YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH
CHRIST, SET YOUR HEARTS
ON THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST
IS,
SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD.
SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS
ABOVE, NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS.
FOR YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS
NOW HIDDEN
WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN
CHRIST, WHO IS YOUR LIFE,
APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO
WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY
THE WORDS
OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION
OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS,
BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE
OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR,
JESUS CHRIST:
PERHAPS MAYBE YOU'VE HAD ONE
OF THOSE DAYS ...
MAYBE EVEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS
RECENTLY THAT IF YOU THOUGHT
YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH ONE
MORE PERSON, YOU WERE
JUST GONNA LOSE IT! YOU DIDN'T
CARE
WHO IT WAS ... YOU DIDN'T CARE
WHO THE NEXT CUSTOMER WAS ...
YOU DIDN'T CARE WHO THE NEXT
PERSON WHO WAS GONNA CALL ON
THE PHONE WAS ... OR KNOCK ON
THE DOOR OR THE NEXT PERSON
WHO WAS GONNA CUT YOU OFF IN
TRAFFIC ... YOU JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO DEAL WITH ANYONE
ANYMORE!
AND YOU JUST THOUGHT HOW NICE
IT WOULD BE
IF I HAD MY OWN LITTLE ISLAND
AND I COULD BE ALL BY MYSELF.
IT WOULD JUST BE WONDERFUL
TO BE AT PEACE. NO ONE TO
BOTHER ME, NO ONE TO ANNOY ME
AND IT REALLY COULD BE
JUST A BEAUTIFUL TIME
WITH MYSELF!
AND FOR A FEW SECONDS WE MIGHT
THINK THAT THAT IS
AN ENJOYABLE THING.
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT WE WANT
IN OUR LIVES. THERE ARE PEOPLE
THAT WE
WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH.
THERE ARE LOVED ONES. THERE
ARE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WE
TRULY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK
WITH.
TO HOLD, TO SEE, TO SPEND
TIME WITH THEM BECAUSE WE'RE
LIVING HUMAN BEINGS
WHO LIKE THAT OTHER CONTACT.
BUT SOMETIMES WE REALLY ARE
EVEN ALL ALONE, IN A ROOM
THAT'S FILLED
WITH PEOPLE.
MAYBE IT'S WHEN WE HAVE AN
ILLNESS, A SICKNESS
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT AND COPE WITH,
AND WE JUST DON'T THINK ANYONE
ELSE UNDERSTANDS.
AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO
BEGIN TO TALK WITH SOMEONE
ABOUT IT
WITHOUT LOSING ALL OF OUR
EMOTIONS.
OR MAYBE IT'S AFTER OUR SPOUSE
DIED.
WHEN WE GET TOGETHER WITH THE
FRIENDS
THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN WITH,
THEN IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ...
THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.
AND WE'RE ALL BY OURSELF
IN A ROOM THAT'S FILLED WITH
PEOPLE.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW OUR MINDS
CAN WORK SOMETIMES. AND WHAT
THEY CAN REALLY TELL US
ABOUT HOW WE'RE FEELING.
I IMAGINE THAT THE DISCIPLES
HAD SOME OF THOSE SAME
EMOTIONS
FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF HOLY
WEEK AND EASTER.
BUT YET JESUS CAME BACK TO
THEM.
HE CAME TO THEM TO REASSURE
THEM
THAT HE WAS ALIVE. HE CAME TO
THEM
TO TALK ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES
WITH THEM.
TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT ALL
OF THESE EVENTS
HAD TO HAPPEN. THAT ALL OF
THESE THINGS NEEDED
TO BE DONE SO THAT GOD'S PLAN
COULD BE COMPLETE.
JESUS CAME BACK
TO HIS DISCIPLES TO SHOW THEM
AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
THAT HE WAS STILL CARING FOR
THEM.
AND HE WAS PREPARING THEM.
PREPARING THEM
EVEN UNTIL THE MOMENT THAT HE
RAISED
HIS HANDS IN BLESSING
AND HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.
HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT
EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED
WAS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PROMISE
... ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE.
HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT HE
WAS STILL GOING TO BE WITH
THEM. THAT HE WAS
GOING TO BE WITH THEM TO THE
VERY END OF THE AGE
IN THE WORK THAT HE HAD TOLD
THEM WAS "THEIR" WORK!
BECAUSE THEY WERE THE
WITNESSES.
THEY WERE THE ONES WHO HAD
SEEN
WHAT GOD HAD ACCOMPLISHED. AND
HE WANTED THEM
TO GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
AND TELL THAT MESSAGE!
BUT HE ALSO WANTED THEM TO
KNOW
THAT THEY WERE 'NEVER' GOING
TO BE ALONE!
THAT 'HE'
WAS GOING TO BE WITH THEM.
THAT HE WAS GOING TO SEND
TO THEM FROM THE FATHER THE
HOLY SPIRIT
TO CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT THEM
IN THE
SCRIPTURES AND STRENGTHEN
THEIR FAITH.
TO EMBOLDEN THEM TO DO THE
WORK THAT HE HAD LAID
BEFORE THEM. TO CONTINUALLY
BE
THAT SUPPORT TO SAY THAT THEY
WOULD NEVER
BE ALONE. AND THE APOSTLE PAUL
CONTINUED TO PROCLAIM THAT
MESSAGE.
HE PROCLAIMED IT TO THE
COLOSSIANS.
HE TELLS IT TO US ONCE AGAIN
THIS EVENING.
WE, AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
ARE NEVER ALONE. WE WERE
'BURIED' WITH CHRIST. WE WERE
'RAISED' WITH CHRIST. AND WE
ARE NOW
'ALIVE' WITH CHRIST.
WHAT CONFIDENCE THAT GIVES US.
WHAT KNOWLEDGE THAT REMINDS US
OF AS WE GO THROUGH OUR DAILY
LIVES AND IN ALL OF OUR
RELATIONSHIPS ...
THAT WE ARE NEVER ALONE ...
BECAUSE
THAT DEATH THAT CHRIST DIED
ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY
WAS 'MY' DEATH! IT WAS
'YOUR' DEATH! HE IS THE ONE
THAT TOOK THAT PUNISHMENT
OF OUR SIN UPON HIMSELF!
THERE HE PAID THAT PUNISHMENT.
THAT PUNISHMENT THAT GOD HAD
SAID WOULD
BE DEMANDED. "THE WAGES OF
SIN IS DEATH" [ROMANS 6:23a]
THAT FEARFUL STATEMENT
FOR ANYONE OUTSIDE OF
UNDERSTANDING WHAT CHRIST
HAS DONE. THAT FEAR OF
THINKING THAT
SINS ARE STILL GOING TO BE
PUNISHED.
THAT GOD DOES NOT FORGIVE US.
THAT
WE ARE UNFORGIVEN. THAT LIFE
THAT IS
LIVED WITH THAT KIND OF FEAR
... THAT KIND OF STRESS,
THAT DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY,
THAT PERSON'S MIND IS CONSUMED
WITH KNOWING THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO BE PUNISHED. AND
PEOPLE THINK OF ALL KINDS OF
ANSWERS TO STOP THAT VOICE.
TO NUMB THAT KNOWLEDGE.
WHETHER IT BE DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL.
TO JUST MAKE THAT VOICE STOP.
OR TO BEGIN TO WORK TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO BE
BETTER, TO MAKE UP FOR EVERY
WRONG THAT
THEY HAVE EVER DONE. BUT YOU
AND I,
BY THE POWER OF GOD'S GRACE,
HAVE KNOWN THAT
JESUS CHRIST CARRIED OUR
PUNISHMENT
TO THE CROSS. AND THERE
HE DIED FOR THE FORGIVENESS
OF MY SINS
AND YOUR SINS. THE FACT THAT
THAT DEATH IS OUR DEATH,
REMINDS US THAT OUR SINS
HAVE BEEN PAID FOR.
WE ARE FORGIVEN. WE HAVE BEEN
BOUGHT
BACK FROM THE POWER OF THAT
SIN.
FROM THE POWER OF SATAN.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
THAT WHAT JESUS CHRIST DID
WAS DONE FOR US TO FULFILL
GOD'S PLAN. AND HIS DEATH,
IS OUR DEATH. WE WERE
BURIED WITH HIM. THAT MEANS
THAT WE NO LONGER
HAVE TO FEAR THAT PUNISHMENT
OF SIN.
WE NO LONGER HAVE TO FEAR
DEATH.
CHRIST HAS ENDURED IT FOR US.
AND WE KNOW THAT, YES,
OUR PHYSICAL DEATH IS GOING TO
COME SOME DAY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW,
THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPARED AN
ETERNAL
SEPARATION FROM GOD IN HELL. A
SPIRITUAL DEATH
BY THE FAITH THAT HAS BEEN
PROCLAIMED
TO US AND THE FAITH THAT WE
TRUST IN AND
BELIEVE IN. SO WE KNOW THAT
WHEN WE FACE THAT MOMENT OF
DEATH, WE ARE NOT ALONE!
THAT CHRIST IS THERE WITH US.
HE DOES NOT LEAVE US OR
FORSAKE US IN
THAT VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF
DEATH.
BUT HE IS THERE; THE ONE
GUIDING US THROUGH IT
AS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD;
AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!
THE COMFORT AND REASSURANCE
THAT WE HAVE
AT THAT MOMENT IS THAT DEATH
HOLDS NO
STING FOR US ANYMORE, BECAUSE
WE KNOW
THAT THAT GRAVE IS NOT GOING
TO HOLD US!
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE WERE
BURIED WITH CHRIST,
WE ALSO WILL BE RAISED WITH
CHRIST.
CHRIST RESURRECTED FROM THE
DEAD
AS THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THOSE
WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP
IS ALSO OUR RESURRECTION.
IT IS OUR LIFE. WE KNOW THAT
THROUGH JESUS' RESURRECTION,
WE TOO WILL LIVE! BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE AND TRUST
THAT HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
AND THE LIFE!
HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS
PROCLAIMED TO US
THAT BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE JUST AS
HE DID TO THE DISCIPLES.
AND JUST AS HE CAME TO THEM
IN HIS RESURRECTED STATE,
CONTINUALLY COMING BACK
TO THEM AND SAYING: LOOK, IT
IS ME!
I AM HERE. IT 'IS' YOUR LORD
AND SAVIOR. LOOK TO THE
SCRIPTURES.
STUDY THOSE SCRIPTURES. READ
THOSE PASSAGES WHICH SPEAK OF
THE GLORIES OF THE RESURRECTED
TO ETERNAL LIFE
IN HEAVEN. AND BE COMFORTED BY
THOSE WORDS.
BE COMFORTED WITH THAT
KNOWLEDGE.
WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE THAT WE
HAVE A GOD WHO
LIVES FOR US.
AND THAT WE WILL LIVE IN HIM.
THAT GRAVE IS NOT GOING TO
HOLD US
BECAUSE OUR DESTINY IS THE
MANSION
OF GOD IN HEAVEN ITSELF.
THERE 'IS' OUR ETERNAL HOME.
THERE IS THE CULMINATION OF
OUR FAITH.
WE KNOW THAT. WE TRUST THAT.
AND WE BELIEVE
IN THAT. AND PAUL TOLD THE
CHURCH
IN COLOSSAE BECAUSE OF THAT:
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN BURIED WITH CHRIST.
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH
CHRIST. STOP THINKING
ABOUT THE EARTHLY THINGS AND
SET YOUR MIND
ON THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE
WHERE JESUS CHRIST NOW IS AT
THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS
TRIUMPHED OVER ALL
OF THE ENEMIES OF OUR FAITH.
HE HAS DEFEATED DEATH. HE HAS
DEFEATED SIN.
HE HAS DEFEATED SATAN.
HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. HE IS THE
VICTOR
OVER THEM ALL! AND HE IS
THE ONE WHO IS WITH US!
WHO NEVER LEAVES US! WHO NEVER
FORSAKES US!
AND WE ARE ALIVE
IN HIM. EACH AND EVERY DAY
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO WALK
WITH HIM.
TO LIVE IN HIS WILL.
TO HEAR HIS VOICE IN HIS WORD.
TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN
PRAYER.
TO REALIZE AND KNOW THAT WE
HAVE A LIVING GOD!
WHO IS CONTROLLING THIS WORLD
FOR THE GOOD OF HIS CHURCH.
THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO
DESTROY HER
UNTIL THE TIME THAT HE COMES
TO TAKE THAT CHURCH
TRIUMPHANT TO BE WITH HIM
IN ALL OF ITS GLORY.
AND WE LOOK WITH ANTICIPATION
FOR THAT DAY.
FOR THAT TIME WHEN WE WILL BE
TAKEN
TO BE WITH HIM.
RELEASED FROM OUR BODIES OF
DECAY AND GIVEN
SAINTLY HOLY BODIES.
TO LIVE IN THAT PURITY
THAT COMES THROUGH CHRIST
ALONE.
IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. PRAISING
HIM AND
WORSHIPING HIM AND DOING HIS
WILL
FOR ALL ETERNITY.
BUT YET WE ALWAYS HAVE TO COME
BACK AND REMIND OURSELF
OF THAT FACT. BECAUSE THE
WORLD COMES
AT US HARD.
SATAN WANTS US AS HIS OWN. AND
HE IS
GOING TO TAKE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY
TO GET US TO THINK THAT WE ARE
ALONE.
THAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THE
WAY WE THINK
BECAUSE NO ONE HAS WALKED IN
OUR SHOES.
AND HOW OFTEN HAVEN'T YOU
HEARD THAT FROM
SOMEONE? UNTIL YOU'VE HAD
BREAST CANCER, YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S LIKE.
UNTIL YOU'VE HAD TESTICULAR
CANCER,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
UNTIL YOU'VE LOST A CHILD, AND
STOOD AT THAT GRAVE SITE,
YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME.
YES, THOSE ARE HORRIBLY
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, BUT WE
HAVE A GOD
WHO IS ALWAYS WITH US.
A GOD WHO ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS
US.
AND HE UNDERSTANDS FIRST AND
FOREMOST
THOSE ATTACKS THAT COME ON OUR
FAITH.
THAT REALIZATION THAT SATAN
WANTS US
TO DO ANYTHING TO DOUBT GOD.
ANYTHING TO DRIVE A WEDGE,
BETWEEN US AND GOD
AND US AND THE CHURCH, HE IS
GOING TO USE.
BUT YET WE ARE REMINDED
SO CLEARLY THIS EVENING THAT
OUR GOD IS WITH US.
HE WILL BE WITH US TILL THE
END OF THE AGE.
HE CONTINUES TO COME WITH US
AND BLESS US.
HE CONTINUES TO COME AND
COMFORT US IN
WHATEVER OUR SITUATION IS.
WHATEVER THE EVIL WE'RE
DEALING WITH, WHATEVER THE
SICKNESS WE'RE DEALING WITH,
WHATEVER THE GRIEF WE'RE
DEALING WITH, OUR GOD
IS THERE AT OUR SIDE.
AND SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO
REMIND OURSELVES
TO LET HIM IN.
TO HEAR HIS WORD.
TO SPEND TIME IN PRAYER WITH
HIM.
TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT OUR
NEEDS.
TO EXPRESS OUR FEARS.
TO CRY OUR TEARS. SO THAT
WE CAN RECEIVE HIS COMFORT.
THAT WE CAN RECEIVE HIS WORD
FROM FELLOW BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN THE FAITH. THAT
WE CAN BE ENCOURAGED
BY GOD THROUGH THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ARE GATHERED WITH US
HERE THIS EVENING.
GOD DOES NOT LEAVE US ALONE.
WE HAVE DIED WITH HIM. HE HAS
TAKEN US THROUGH
THE DEPTHS OF THAT GRAVE. WE
ARE RAISED
WITH HIM. BECAUSE HE LIVES,
WE ALSO WILL LIVE. AND AS WE
LIVE,
WE LIVE IN THE FAITH THAT
TRUSTS HIM.
THAT HEARS HIS WORD. THAT
UNDERSTANDS HIS SCRIPTURES
THAT CONTINUALLY GOES BACK
TO PORE OVER ALL OF THOSE
PROMISES ... AND ALL OF THAT
COMFORT.
BECAUSE WE ARE HIS OWN.
AND HE 'WILL' NOT LEAVE US AS
ORPHANS
IN THIS WORLD.
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US, OR
FORSAKE US.
WE ARE ALWAYS WITH HIM.
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING, KEEP YOUR
HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS, AND
ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE
ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE
EVERLASTING. AMEN.
[ORGANIST PLAYS INTRO TO
HYMN 173:
"ON CHRIST'S ASCENSION I NOW
BUILD"
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
CONGREGATION JOINS IN SINGING
HYMN 173]
ON CHRIST'S ASCENSION I NOW
BUILD THE HOPE OF MY
ASCENSION.
THIS HOPE ALONE HAS ALWAYS
STILLED ALL DOUBT
AND APPREHENSION;
FOR WHERE THE
HEAD IS, THERE AS WELL
I KNOW HIS MEMBERS
ARE TO DWELL
WHEN CHRIST SHALL COME AND
CALL THEM.
SINCE CHRIST
RETURNED TO CLAIM HIS
THRONE, GREAT GIFTS FOR ME
OBTAINING,
MY HEART SHALL REST
IN HIM ALONE, NO OTHER
REST REMAINING,
FOR WHERE MY
TREASURE WENT BEFORE,
THERE ALL MY THOUGHTS
SHALL EVER SOAR
TO STILL THEIR DEEPEST
YEARNING.
OH, GRANT,
DEAR LORD, THIS GRACE
TO ME, RECALLING
YOUR ASCENSION,
THAT I MAY SERVE YOU
FAITHFULLY,
ADORNING YOUR
REDEMPTION;
AND THEN, WHEN ALL MY DAYS
WILL CEASE, LET ME
DEPART IN JOY
AND PEACE IN ANSWER
TO MY
PLEADING.
[ENCOURAGEMENT]
M: I HAVE NOT STOPPED
GIVING THANKS FOR YOU,
REMEMBERING YOU IN MY PRAYERS.
I KEEP ASKING THAT THE GOD OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
THE GLORIOUS FATHER,
MAY GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF
WISDOM AND REVELATION,
SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM
BETTER. I PRAY THAT
THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE
ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT
YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH
HE HAS CALLED YOU,
THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS
INHERITANCE
IN HIS HOLY PEOPLE, AND HIS
INCOMPARABLY
GREAT POWER FOR US WHO
BELIEVE.
C: THAT POWER IS THE SAME AS
THE MIGHTY STRENGTH HE EXERTED
WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST
FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM
AT HIS RIGHT HAND
IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, FAR
ABOVE
ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY, POWER
AND DOMINION,
AND EVERY NAME THAT IS
INVOKED, NOT ONLY
IN THE PRESENT AGE BUT ALSO IN
THE ONE TO COME.
AND GOD PLACED ALL THINGS
UNDER HIS FEET
AND APPOINTED HIM TO BE HEAD
OVER EVERYTHING
FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS
BODY,
THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS
EVERYTHING
IN EVERY WAY.
[EPHESIANS 1:16-23]
M: WE PRAY: O KING OF GLORY,
ON THIS DAY
YOU ASCENDED IN TRIUMPH FAR
ABOVE ALL HEAVENS.
WE ASK YOUR SPIRIT'S ABIDING
PRESENCE
HERE ON EARTH, WITHIN OUR
HEARTS.
EMPOWER US TRULY TO BE YOUR
DISCIPLES IN THIS LIFE
AND TO BE YOUR COMPANIONS AT
THE HEAVENLY FEAST
FOR ALL ETERNITY. THIS WE ASK
FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE.
C: AMEN.
M: "THIS SAME JESUS, WHO HAS
BEEN TAKEN FROM YOU
INTO HEAVEN, WILL COME BACK
IN THE SAME WAY
YOU HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO
HEAVEN."
C: THANKS BE TO GOD. M: THE
LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE
ON YOU AND
BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. THE LORD
LOOK ON YOU WITH FAVOR
AND GIVE YOU PEACE. C: AMEN.
M: & C: OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN,
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME,
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL
BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN. GIVE
US TODAY
OUR DAILY BREAD. FORGIVE US
OUR SINS,
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN
AGAINST US.
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US
FROM EVIL. FOR THE KINGDOM,
THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW
AND FOREVER. AMEN.
WE CONCLUDE OUR SERVICE
WITH HYMN 333.
[ORGANIST BEGINS PLAYING THE
INTRODUCTION
"ABIDE, O DEAREST JESUS"
HYMN 333
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
CONGREGATION JOINS IN SINGING
"ABIDE, O DEAREST JESUS"]
ABIDE, O DEAREST JESUS,
AMONG US
WITH YOUR GRACE
THAT SATAN MAY NOT
HARM US
NOR WE TO SIN GIVE
PLACE.
ABIDE, O DEAR REDEEMER,
AMONG US
WITH YOUR WORD
AND THUS NOW AND
HEREAFTER
TRUE PEACE AND JOY
AFFORD.
ABIDE WITH
HEAVENLY BLESSINGS
AMONG US, PRECIOUS
LIGHT;
YOUR TRUTH DIRECT AND KEEP
US FROM ERROR'S GLOOMY
NIGHT.
ABIDE WITH
RICHEST BLESSINGS
AMONG US,
BOUNTEOUS LORD;
LET US IN GRACE AND
WISDOM GROW DAILY
THROUGH YOUR
WORD.
ABIDE WITH YOUR PROTECTION
AMONG US,
LORD, OUR STRENGTH,
LEST WORLD AND
SATAN FELL US
AND OVERCOME AT
LENGTH.
ABIDE, O FAITHFUL
SAVIOR,
AMONG US WITH YOUR
LOVE; GRANT
STEADFASTNESS AND HELP
US TO REACH OUR HOME
ABOVE.
AMEN.