2017-06-04: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Ascension Of Jesus

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Sermon Audio: The Ascension Of Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:50-53
Duration: 22:59
Size: 10.5 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Ascension Of Jesus
Luke 24:50-53

The ascension of Jesus in Luke 24:50-53 shows us the remarkable manner in which Jesus left his disciples.

I. The Benediction at Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:50-51)

What a glorious forty days that must have been for the apostles!

The “Coming” and the “Going:: between them they sum up Luke’s message of salvation.

Jesus’ benediction upon his disciples as he parted from them and was carried up into heaven was intended to remind them of all that he came to do when he came to seek and to save the lost.

They must ever be dismissed in the name of the Lord with the assurance of the power and presence of the Triune God to accompany them always.

II. The Reaction to Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:52-53)

How did this company of weak disciples, now left for the first time like orphans in the midst of a hostile world, not give in to despair but instead react with great joy?

The remedy is to look to Jesus and remind ourselves of who he is and what he has done to rescue us from the world, the flesh, and the devil.

III. The Implications of Jesus’ Ascension

A. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Completion of the Work of Salvation

There is nothing to be added to what Jesus has done to save sinners.

B. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the End of His Limitations

After Jesus completed his work of salvation on earth, he ascended to heaven to be with his Father again, and to return to the glory he had before he left heaven.

C. The Ascension of Jesus Signaled the Sending of the Holy Spirit

D. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Start of His Preparing Believers’ Heavenly Home

E. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Passing of the Work of Evangelism to His Followers

The Acts of the Apostles, describes Jesus’ work that was continued through his apostles, and the rest of the New Testament describes how Jesus’ Church is to continue the work of evangelism until he returns.

2017-05-21: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Jesus Appears To His Disciples

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Sermon Audio: Jesus Appears To His Disciples
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:36-49
Duration: 20:03
Size: 9.17 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Appears To His Disciples
Luke 24:36-49

You can have hope without faith, but you can not have faith without hope!

Jesus’ appearance to his disciples in Jerusalem in Luke 24:36-49 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive.

I. The Reappearance of Jesus (Luke 24:36)

As with most people, they have to be persuaded. The disciples are as skeptical as the rest of humanity.

II. The Reassurance by Jesus (Luke 24:37-43)

A. Their Panic (Luke 24:37)

But this was no spirit that they saw, because Jesus gave proof that he was no spirit.

B. His Proof (Luke 24:38-43)

They were seeing and touching the resurrected, glorified Lord Jesus Christ!

The empirical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is stated briefly: Jesus appears to them, speaks with them, and eats before them. Truly he is raised.

III. The Revelation by Jesus (Luke 24:44-49)

We must understand that one of the reasons Jesus taught them from Scripture was that he did not want them to rest their belief in his resurrection on their personal experience alone.

So, never think that you need to have a certain intellectual ability to understand the gospel.

So, if you have repented of your sins and received forgiveness of your sins, then you are commissioned by Jesus to tell others how they too can find forgiveness for their sins.

So, we have a very good reason to tell others about Jesus: not only is Jesus alive, he has changed us, and we are now empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for him and tell others about him.