Jesus Rules the World
The Ascension of our Lord
We live in the Great Tribulation and it feels like it. With evil events dominating the headlines and Jesus far away having ascended into heaven – our world seems out of control.
Paul, however, tells us the opposite. Because Jesus was raised from the dead and seated at God’s right hand, we know that He has been given all authority over heaven and earth and that He is here with us. Sure, we can’t see him but that doesn’t mean he’s not with us.
Seated at the right hand, Jesus rules the world completely. To our fallen way of thinking, it appears that kings and presidents rule our world with the help of bankers and businessmen. But that’s not right; they only think that they do. Jesus, the Son of Man, rules in the midst of his enemies.
Part of why we don’t understand this is because he rules the world to our benefit. Not to our riches, or to our glory. Our benefit is to be servants alongside Him and share in His inheritance. It’s only because of our sin that we could possibly think it “better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven”.
But the hymns in today’s service remind us of His power, His dominion, and His love for us.
We are never alone. He is always in control.
Christ is risen! Christ is ascended! Alleluia!
Here is today’s sermon text from Ephesians 1:
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 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.
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Announcements
Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study meets on Wednesdays at 7 pm via Zoom and is covering the book of Revelation. Our Sunday morning class meets at 9:45 and is currently discussing the papacy.
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