The Victorious Christ

8 For it says:

When he ascended on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.

9 But what does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.

Ephesians 4:8-10

Opening Remarks and Scripture Reading

Good evening. It is such a great joy and honor to be with you. I’ve been a friend with you, Pastor Mark Penrith, I think before I even got married. So now that tells you—my son is nine years old. So that tells you how long we’ve been friends. It’s good to see you and to sing together. I was hoping there would be one Zulu song. I remember we were talking about it. I guess no one was there to sing the song, but in heaven it will be there. Don’t be deceived; there will be a Zulu song.

Let me read for us in Ephesians chapter number four, from verse eight to verse number ten. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Prayer

Let us pray. Father, we do come before you and ask for your grace upon grace. As we look your way, it is our desire that you may speak to us as your servants are listening. We do pray, may you help us through the power of the Holy Spirit to understand your word, to love your word, to cherish your word, and to do your word. We ask all this in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Forgotten Ascension Day

Indeed, today is one of those great days where we gather here to celebrate the ascension of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ.

This is one of the days that is sometimes forgotten by Christians. If you were to ask Christians about when Jesus Christ was born and what is happening during that time, everyone knows what is happening and everyone celebrates that day. When we deal with the Easter weekend, you can tell even in the world, those who don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ, they make that a big day. But when we come to Ascension Day, you find even the believers asking themselves, “When is it? Is it next week?” And then they say, “No, it’s not next week,” they are not quite sure. So sometimes it sounds like it is not an important day. Now one may ask this question: What does the ascension of Christ mean or signify for me and you?

The Significance of Christ’s Ascension

My plan this evening is to point you to several points of significance of the ascension of Christ that will encourage us to hold on to Christ until the end. I want us to look at the significance of the ascension of Christ. There are several of them. Let me make this disclaimer: I tried in vain to gather and get all my points from this one particular passage. I failed dismally. So eventually I decided that I will walk with you through the Bible and we will chase all these stories that tell us about the ascension of Christ. I’m hoping as we go around these verses, we will be praising the Lord together. And I’m hoping these passages will help us to see why the ascension of Christ is significant. Why is it significant?

The Ascension Signifies That the Battle Is Won

Number one, the ascension of Christ signifies that the battle is won. Look where we have read. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men.” Paul uses a passage in Psalm 68 verse 18. He wants to argue that Christ is the victorious king. This king, according to Psalm 68, if you were to look at that, this king is an illustration of a king who went to battle and won. As he returns, as proof that he has won, he will be carrying the spoils and he will have the conquered from that battle. They will be bound hand and foot as proof that they are defeated.

So this particular passage tells us that he has liberated or set free those who were captive. So what did Jesus Christ defeat? My friends, Jesus Christ has defeated the enemies of the saints of the church. That is the devil. Paul helps us in Colossians 2:15. He tells us he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. Friends, the devil and his enemies, they are defeated. This means Christ’s ascension is the fulfillment that Satan and the demons are conquered.

So the ascension reminds us that if you are in Christ’s team, you are in a winning team. However, the fact that Christ won does not mean the devil is inactive. Yes, the devil is defeated. He was defeated on that cross. However, he is still wounded and he is dangerous, like a wounded snake or lion. In 1 Peter chapter 5:8, we are told, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He’s still dangerous, but he’s wounded. He’s defeated. Peter tells us that our job, friends, is to resist him. How do we do that? How do we resist the devil? You don’t scream at the devil. The devil is not afraid of you screaming and shouting. No, my friends, Satan is not afraid of noise. There are some people who say, “Let’s make noise hoping the devil will run away.” He will not. But how do we resist the devil? The Bible tells us that we resist him by standing firm in your faith. Stand firm, Christian, in your faith. This means the devil will do everything he can to remove us, to push us from the faith. But we are told, stand firm. Stand firm. Friends, the ascension of Christ signifies that the battle is won. The enemy is defeated. But we need to stand firm.

The Ascension Signifies That the Throne Is Occupied

Number two, what does the ascension of Christ signify? The ascension of Christ signifies that the throne is occupied by Christ. This verse does not mean that Christ was just going to heaven. We probably read a number of those passages. They saw him being taken to heaven. It does not mean Christ went there just for retirement. No, my friends, but it means that Christ was going there to assume his rightful place. Christ not only overcame Satan, but Christ is the reigning king. He is the reigning king. Before Christ went to heaven, he came and appeared to his disciples. You know in Matthew 28, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore.” I’ve got authority in heaven and earth. Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth. There is no place where Christ does not have authority. Therefore, as you go and make disciples, know that there is no place that you as a Christian are not allowed to enter. No, your King has overcome. There is no place that says Christians are not allowed here. No, you enter because Christ the King of kings has overcome.

In Philippians chapter 2:9, we are told about him being this reigning king. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” He has a name that is above every name. Dr. John MacArthur observed that the name that is above every name is that Christ is the Lord of all. Christ is the Lord of all. Christ is the Lord in heaven and is the Lord on earth. Friends, this Christ is reigning. The throne is occupied. Some people try to occupy that throne. You don’t need to try, my friends. We need to learn, even when we pray, to say, “Let your will be done.” Not my will. No matter what is happening in our lives, let your will be done. He is the reigning King. Christ is in control. Things may look unstable and we get worried. Remember who is in control. He is Christ Jesus the Lord of all.

The Ascension Signifies That the Church Is Empowered to Advance the Gospel

Number three, the ascension of Christ signifies that the church is empowered by Christ to advance the gospel. Now again in that verse where we are reading, as he was lifted up, we are told he gave gifts to men. He gave gifts to men. Friends, he gifted men. Now look in verse seven where we have read, “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” We were given grace gifts. As he ascended on high, he gave gifts to men. This is empowering the church. These gifts are Christ’s gifts for the glory of God alone. So these gifts are for the edification of the church.

Now Peter says, “Every member in the church has received a gift from God. At least you should have received a gift from God.” In 1 Peter chapter 4:10, listen to what Peter says: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Friends, we are given these gifts to serve one another. Therefore, the gifts that Christ gave you are not just for you and your family, but they are for us too. Serve one another with the gifts that God has given us. Paul says these gifts, when we look in verses 11 and 12, are to equip the church for the work of ministry. Now in verses 11 and 12, he talks about the gifted men. But in verses 7 and 8, he is speaking about this gracious gift that each and every believer has.

So when Christ went on high, he gave his church gifts to build, not to tear the church down. Therefore, the church—or I should say the universal church—is empowered by Christ to serve each other and to reach its community with the gospel. We are empowered to do this work. Therefore, if the church may unite and each member functions based on their gift that God has given the church, the church will become an unstoppable machine. But you know what is happening? The church is dividing and tearing one another apart. They are busy competing with one another. They have forgotten that they were given this gift to build one another. Friends, we are in the same team.

We have said the ascension of Christ signifies that the battle is won. Secondly, the ascension of Christ signifies that the throne is occupied. Thirdly, the ascension of Christ signifies that the church is empowered for gospel advancement.

The Ascension Signifies That Our Heavenly Home Is Prepared

Fourthly, the ascension of Christ signifies that our heavenly home is prepared. You will remember in John 14:1, Jesus says to his disciples, “Do not be troubled. I am going to prepare a place for you.” He told them that it is for their good that he is going. Although they were probably thinking, like you and me, it is better that Jesus stay. It is better to have Jesus. But Christ, who knows better, who is wiser than you and I, says, “I must go.” Why? He then tells us that he is going to prepare a place for us. In John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you.” Friends, what is Christ going to heaven to do? To prepare a place for me and you. Just imagine. So if you have believed in Jesus Christ, the promise is yours too. Christ went to heaven to prepare a place for us. Friends, there is a better place.

Now John, when he sees this, tells us about this better place in Revelation 21:4. We are told, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” There is a place that Christ went to prepare. A place that is called home. Oh friends, a true home. Maybe you are here and you are missing your home. You are missing your coffee. There is a better home. Oh, but do not be deceived. This place is for believers. It is for those who have believed in the life and the works of Christ. Those who have trusted in him. Oh, maybe you are here and you are saying, “I have not believed.” You are not late. Maybe tonight you can also register for a home. You can register. It is free. It is through faith in Christ and in Christ alone. A free home for you in heaven. What hinders you? What stops you from coming in and registering? Oh, maybe you want to do some good works. My friends, your good works won’t earn you this home. Your good works won’t be good enough. There is only the work of Christ Jesus. Only the perfect work of Christ Jesus is the only one that will earn you this home. Do you have keys for this home? Have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? Oh, there are many who are faking. There are many who have not believed. There are many who will be assigned to hell. There are many who are sitting in the pews and hearing the gospel being preached, but they refuse to register. They have refused. Have you refused? Have you come in? Come in and believe in Jesus Christ. I’m hearing you say, “I want to believe. Maybe tomorrow.” Tomorrow will be too late. Today is the day of salvation. Today, not tomorrow. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I also don’t know. Maybe tomorrow we’ll be burying you. We don’t know. Maybe you’ll be burying me. Tomorrow we don’t know. But my friends, our Lord ascended to prepare a home, a home for all. Maybe you are sitting there thinking, “No, the home is for white people.” No. Even you, the home is prepared for you. Maybe you say, “Maybe it’s for the blacks.” No, it’s for you. It’s for all. It’s not only for the Chinese. Somebody say, “You see, they were sitting up there. Maybe that home is for them.” No, it’s not only for them. It’s the home for all of us.

The Ascension Signifies That Christ’s Sacrifice Is Accepted

Friends, Christ’s ascension not only signifies the battle is won, the throne is occupied, the church is empowered, our heavenly home is prepared, but also that Christ’s sacrifice is accepted. You remember when he was dying on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” It is paid in full. His sacrifice was accepted. Paul is saying, what does it mean that he ascended? He argues that it means that he descended to the earth. He means that Christ lived here on earth. Christ came, he lived, he walked our streets. My friends, John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He became a man. He lived like me and you. Christ was tempted in every way, yet without sin. This Christ is the perfect high priest and he went to heaven. In Hebrews 9:12, we are told he entered once for all into the holy places by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. He is the high priest. Friends, through his blood we receive redemption.

The Ascension Signifies That Christ Is Coming Back Again

Number six, the ascension of Christ signifies that he is coming back again. You may remember where we read in Acts chapter 1, when the disciples were looking up and the angels showed up and said, “Men of Galilee, why are you gazing up into heaven? He will come back.” Friends, Christ is coming back. When we celebrate his ascension, at the same time we are saying he is coming back. The question for me and you: when he comes, what will he find me and you doing? He is coming back, church. Martin Luther said, “Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tomorrow.” D.L. Moody said, “I never preach a sermon without thinking that possibly the Lord may come before I preach another.” He is coming back and he’s coming back very soon. Would he find you ready? Would he find us making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? Would he find us discipling our children in the ways of the Lord? Would he find us leading, shepherding our families? Would he find us evangelizing our neighbors? What will Christ Jesus find us doing? Would he find us with squabbles and so forth? He asked that question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Oh friends, some are slowly but surely drifting away. They are moving away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have already backslidden. They are just coming to impress the pastor. You know church members in their hearts are already done with church. But because the pastor is going to ask them why they did not come to church, they show up. Oh, my friends, maybe you are thinking of taking a break. People come to church and say, “It’s been eight years now. Let me take a long break. I will come back.” Maybe you are thinking of that. Don’t do that. Christ is coming back. What will he find us doing when he comes back? Church, what would he find us doing? He has given us work to do. Remember when he went up, he gave us work to do. Would he find us doing the work, or would he find us doing other things? It is easy as a church to be busy with many things. It is easy not to be busy with the Great Commission. It is easy as a church to compete about many things but not to keep the Great Commission. The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing. May the Lord help us.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray. Our Father and our God, we do thank you. We thank you for just reminding us that indeed, Lord, you went home and you prepared a place for us. The throne is occupied and, Lord God, you are coming back again. You gave us gifts. You gave us a task that, Lord, we need to do. We pray you may revive us again. May you help us as a church to continue faithful to do the work that you have assigned to us. We pray that we may remain faithful until your return. We ask all this in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.