An Extraordinary Ascension Part 2

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Christ ascended to bring many sons and daughters to glory. His ascension was step one in creating the church, the body of Christ. Only a few saw Jesus rise into the sky, but a multitude no man can number will see him return. From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor Lutzer, does it matter that Christ is now seated in heaven rather than being on earth?

It really does matter, Dave, and one of the reasons is because Jesus told the disciples, it is good for you if I go away, for if I do not go away, I will not send you the comforter. What he was saying is that the Holy Spirit was going to be given to the people after he left, and now the Holy Spirit of God indwells everyone no matter where they are in any part of the world as long as they are believers. If Jesus were here on earth, he'd be localized in one place.

Now he is everywhere. How thankful we are for the ascension of Jesus Christ. And by the way, it is that ascension that gives us hope. I want to thank the many of you who stand with us regularly with your prayers and your gifts. We call these people endurance partners.

I like to think of them as members of the running to win family. If you want more information about the possibility of becoming an endurance partner, go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. I'll be giving you that contact information once again at the end of this message. For now listen carefully to the triumph of Jesus. I want you to know today that Jesus Christ walks with you through that pain. Though he is in heaven, his body is in heaven, he is here by his Spirit, and he is watching us every moment and knows all about us and our need. The ascension of Jesus Christ was proof of his headship. And as I mentioned a moment ago, it was also proof of ownership. But thirdly, it was proof of kingship. Look at Ephesians chapter 1 again, the passage that we read, and sometimes we read these passages all too quickly because there is so much in them. Notice what the Apostle Paul says in verse 21. When Christ ascended, it was far above all rule and authority.

Not just above, but far above. It says in the book of Hebrews that he passed through the heavens. What is it that the writers of the New Testament are trying to convey? Is it a matter of distance?

No, it's not the distance that is important. It is the dominion that Jesus Christ has. It is a matter of triumph.

It isn't just a matter of traveling. What he's trying to say to us is that Jesus Christ is thoroughly and completely above everything else that exists. We read it, didn't we? Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, and that includes the names of other religious teachers and other religions. Jesus is exalted above all of them. It says in the book of Hebrews that he is crowned with glory and honor, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do you realize today that Jesus will never be any stronger than he is today because he is already omnipotent, infinitely powerful? Do you realize that Jesus will never learn anything and he will never have more knowledge someday than he has today because he is already omniscient, and that means that he knows everything and has infinite wisdom? You know that Jesus Christ will never have a dominion that is bigger than the one that he rules over today because he is omnipresent and exists everywhere and through his spirit fills the entire universe? He is king. I know what you're thinking. You're saying, well, is it reverent to even ask the question, is he doing a good job?

Is he doing a good job? Look at the headlines of the newspapers. Look at what some of you have been through. Look at the abuse that some of you have experienced, and Jesus didn't do anything to help you, you think. Look at the misery index among Americans.

I heard of a man who wanted to divorce his wife, so he left, which is usually the first stage of the process, but then he was missing her, and he wrote home to her and said, you know, I'm so miserable without you, I'm as miserable without you as I would be if you were here, he said. What is Jesus doing in heaven? King of kings, Lord of lords, and look at what is happening on planet earth. My dear friend, you need to be able to distinguish between the present rule of Jesus Christ in heaven, which is a rule of divine restraint. I'm going to ask you to turn to one other passage and that is to Hebrews chapter 10, which is going to shed a lot of light on what is taking place on planet earth.

Hebrews chapter 10 verse 13, it says, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God. Now we're at verse 13, Hebrews 10, 13, waiting from that time onward until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. This is a time of waiting, waiting. He is king, he is Lord, but he is waiting. He is giving this planet an opportunity to prove that man cannot rule himself.

God wants to prove that not only can men not rule themselves, but even men who are instigated and led by the devil cannot rule themselves. In fact, with that combination, the mess even becomes worse as will become clear as we hasten on to the time of Jesus Christ's return. So Jesus said, I'm in total control, but this is a time of waiting.

We have to distinguish between the time of waiting and then the time of winning. When Christ returns to this earth and then he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people and they shall beat their swords into plow shears and their spears into pruning hooks and nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. There is a time coming when Jesus Christ will yet rule over this planet and men and women will be brought into subjection to him and no one will ignore him. That time is coming. It is the time when he also is going to come as judge, when there will be that final great separation between those who accepted him and those who rejected him. That time is coming and then throughout all of eternity, the kingdoms of this earth are going to be given to God the Father and they will be ruled with God the Son and he will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the universe forever.

The time is coming. But here's what I want you to remember. Jesus is just as much in control during the time when he is waiting as he is when he is winning. Jesus is just as much in control as he is ascended into heaven as he will be when he descends upon planet earth. What does the text say in the book of Ephesians? That all things have been made subject to him. Whatever name is named in this world and Paul makes sure that we don't think that in the world to come there's going to be a name crop up that will not be in subjection to Jesus Christ. He says throughout all of eternity, all things in subjection to this risen, triumphant, ascended Christ. You say, well Pastor Lutzer, that's fine but what does this mean to me?

Living with the pushes and pulls and the miseries of this world. What should it mean? First of all, believe it or not, it should mean ownership. Ownership.

You know why? Because the Bible says in the book of Hebrews that when Jesus ascended into heaven and went behind the veil, he was the forerunner. He was the forerunner. He ran ahead of us and he said before he left, behold I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also. He is preparing a place for us and because he is there, he is preparing it for his bride that we might be with him. And so we own heaven too.

We really do. In heaven there is a crown that only you can wear. In heaven there is a condominium with your name on it and it says that there is a place reserved in heaven for you. When you get to heaven, you don't have all these long lines as you do when you're at airports or wherever else you may find yourself or efficient banks that we find in our society.

You don't have that problem in heaven. No, we have a place reserved and we march on through and we take up our residence that has been prepared by the forerunner. What does it mean to you and to me? Ownership.

And you're just as sure that you are already in heaven, that you will be in heaven I should say, as you can possibly be because your representative is there and he's making sure that every detail will be taken care of for your arrival. It means ownership. It does not mean for us headship but it does mean partnership and it also means for us kingship. Kingship. Now this is so staggering that I wouldn't even say it unless it was in the Bible. But repeatedly there are passages like those in Revelation chapter 22 where it says, and there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall reign with him forever and ever. Christ's ascension means ownership but it also means for you and for me kingship.

Now get this. That which belongs to Jesus Christ by divine right is given to you and to me by divine grace. And when you stop to think of it we shall never be what Jesus Christ is for he is God.

But we shall be able to enjoy all that Jesus Christ has because we shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ and his death and his resurrection and his ascension are proof that those promises can be counted on. You know that in the series of messages that I have given about Christ among other gods we've pointed out before that one of the serious criticisms that is constantly leveled at Christianity is the very negative view it has of human nature. You remember a few times ago where I emphasized and showed why human beings can have nothing to do with the doctrine of salvation except to receive a gift.

It had to be totally of God because our own righteousness can never in any way reach the righteousness of God and other religions don't believe that. They actually think that through meditation and transformation we can become better and eventually some even say we can become our own God. And so Christianity is severely criticized. They say you know you believe in that terrible thing called total depravity. I mean it even sounds awful.

Well take a look into your heart and you might know why it sounds so awful. But I want you to know today that there is no religion in the world that has such a negative view of human nature but there is also no religion in the world that so eventually exalts man. And the teaching of the Bible is that we are taken from the mud to marble and we are lifted from the pit and we are taken to the palace. No other religion says that someday we shall rule with our God forever and ever in personal contact with him king of kings and lord of lords and he is going to share with us the privilege and the honor of enjoying it with him.

Now let me ask you what have you got going in your life that's miserable? I want you to see it today as under the feet of a triumphant Christ. Oh maybe Jesus isn't doing anything about it or at least not doing what you think he should. He's keeping records. He's got it all under control. He will never know as I mentioned earlier.

He will never know more than he already does because he has infinite knowledge. There was a reformer by the name of Savanarola in Worms, Germany. There is a statue to Martin Luther and Savanarola is one of the pre-reformers who also has a statue along with three others who are known as the pre-reformers. Savanarola lived in Florence, Italy and he instituted reforms at a very, very dark time in the Christian church in the 1400s. And he actually had a burning of all of the various artifacts and sinful things that people were involved in at that time and it was called the bonfire of the vanities. And here in the United States several years ago a movie was made by that name.

I have no idea what the movie was about but I do know that that phrase is right out of Savanarola who had the people bring their lewd books and their gambling devices and everything and they had a bonfire. But eventually Savanarola was executed. Now you know there's something that has never happened to you, right? You've never been executed.

I've never been executed. You know people say well there's a lot of bad news today. Well let me tell you something. There is no such thing as news. What we call news is only the same old thing happening to new people.

There is no such thing really as news. There's nothing that will ever happen to you that hasn't happened to somebody else. Why do I mention Savanarola? Well he was eventually put to death but before he died he said in a sermon and I guess come to think of it that would be rather logical. He would say it before he died.

All of you with me this morning? Savanarola said he who believes that Christ is above need never fear what happens below. King of kings, Lord of lords, God of very God. And we belong to him and will reign with him forever and ever.

And if you believe that he is above, even if you're executed you need not fear what happens below. And if you agree let us pray. Our Father today we want to thank you for the exalted triumphant Christ. And Lord Jesus we confess that during this time of waiting it is so difficult, so difficult.

We wish that this were a time of winning. And yet Lord Jesus we see you there as absolutely triumphant and also triumphant over our circumstances, over our heartaches and our pains. And today Father we thank you for the fact that we belong to you and we pray O God that you'll make us faithful. Now there are some of you here who do not know Christ as your savior and I need to say that this message was not for you but you could participate in its blessings if you received Christ in your heart.

Why don't you talk to him? Why don't you say something like this, Lord Jesus I know that I'm a sinner. You say that in your heart to God I know that I am a sinner. I know I can't save myself but at this moment I accept Christ as mine. That I might belong to him forever and participate in his rule. In his name.

Amen. Well my friend this is Pastor Lutzer. Have you been blessed as a result of the ministry of running to win? When we exalt Jesus Christ and preach the gospel I trust that you are edified and helped but you are helped because other people have invested in this ministry. Have you considered becoming a part of the running to win family so that many more might hear the gospel of Jesus Christ? I hold in my hands a letter from someone who listens in Nigeria. By the way running to win is now in Nigeria thanks to people like you. He writes I learned from the running to win messages that the birth of Jesus Christ was a promise made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.

You have to understand that people are beginning to understand the history of the Bible, its truths and its transforming power. If you'd like to help us get this message out here's what you can do to become an endurance partner. Go to rtwoffer.com.

That's rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Become a part of the running to win family as we share the gospel in more than 20 countries of the world. It's time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. One of the Ten Commandments tells us to honor your father and your mother. This is not always easy. As a running to win listener named Misty tells us she asks how do you honor parents who are not honorable? My father is an alcoholic and my mother was married four times.

Misty first of all let me say that my heart goes out to you. I know how difficult it is for children to be in a home where they cannot be proud of their parents. In fact I venture to say that you probably were brought up with a tremendous amount of shame in your home. A couple of things, you know it's interesting in Matthew chapter 23 verse 2 Jesus was speaking about the religious leaders and he said to the people, he said to honor them. Practice what they say but do not do what they do because they say and they don't do what they say.

In other words they don't practice what they preach. So here's my advice to you. First of all honor your parents as far as possible. When they ask you to do something good you do it. There may be some things that they ask you to do that are wrong that you would be best off not to do but for the most part be obedient to them.

Show them respect but at the same time you have to pity them. I mean just think of how your father must feel as an alcoholic with all of that shame and your mother knows that she has drastically failed in terms of her marriages. They know all that and so there's a sense in which you have to pity them and the direction that they have taken and who knows what kind of parenting they had because it may well be because of their background that this contributed at least in some sense into the brokenness of their lives.

But the bottom line for you is simply this Misty. God will never hold you accountable for doing a poor job of raising your parents. So there's a sense in which as you grow older you have to put boundaries between yourself and your parents and you have to walk away emotionally and spiritually from their direction. Continue to stay in touch with them.

You can connect with them and respect them but at the same time I hope and pray that you are going in a different direction. And Misty God knows your circumstances. He knows your heart. He knows your desire to serve him.

He's going to help you through this and I know that you are going to live a very different life than your parents did. Some wise counsel from Dr. Erwin Lutzer. Thank you Misty for your question and Dr. Lutzer for your answer. If you'd like to hear your question answered you can go to our website at RTWOffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer. Or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337. That's 1-888-218-9337.

You can write to us at Running to Win, 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60614. There's coming a day for believers when life's race will end. That day is the Christian's bright hope the day Jesus returns. The day will be like no other before or since. And because the scripture cannot be broken, that promised day is an absolute certainty. Next time on Running to Win, Dr. Lutzer begins his final message, a look at Christ's extraordinary return. This is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.