In the heavenlies Ephesians 1_20-21 Phil Hamm Sermons

The One in the Heavenlies

Ephesians 1:20b,21

Who is the most powerful person on the planet? We could try to argue that the President of the United States (the wealthiest nation in the world) or the leader of the United Nations ( the international leader) or the leader of China (the most populous nation of the world) but each of these men are not the most powerful, they owe their position to one above them who died before them. Our passage this morning tells us that Jesus is above all authority in this world and the next.

We want to look at the resurrection of Jesus by God and the ascension of Jesus into heaven and his current position in glory.

Paul has just told the Ephesians that he would like to see them filled with God's power. To prove to them that God is all powerful, Paul links his words to the resurrection of Jesus. There are many philosophies in the world which man calls religions or cults. These are man's attempts to explain what they see happening in the physical and spiritual realms. Christianity is not a religion. It is a way of life and is so different from other belief systems that we cannot compare it to other religions. In Christianity we have a risen and resurrected Saviour. Something which no other belief system can claim. We have proof from the writings of the times of Jesus that he did in fact rise from the dead and the scriptures tell us that he is at the right hand of God awaiting the time when he will return to earth a second time to come and rule with believers for 1000 years. This time will be a time of peace. A time when Jesus bring harmony and love to this planet. People have attempted to control the world but man's greed and desire for power has destroyed peace and harmony. Only Jesus can bring peace and right now until He returns, He wants us to be bringing peace by sharing the story of His forgiveness and love with others and telling them about the peace that they will have when they trust their lives to Jesus.

Only a belief in Jesus will bring joy and peace, it is not found in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or any other religion or cult. Stories of people who have searched for peace and happiness in other parts of the world can be produced by the thousands. Only when they trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, the one who would remove all sin, did they find real peace.

In Colossians 1:16 it gives us the reason for his supremacy. Jesus is the creator of "all things in heaven and on earth, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him." Because he is such an awesome and wonderful creator, and because Jesus was obedient to the Father even until his death on the cross, Paul writes in Philippians 2:9, 10 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Are you giving Jesus praise and glory for being such a great God who cares for us and guides us and helps us? Jesus is seated at the right hand of God in heaven. This is the place of honor. Whenever the scriptures speak of someone sitting at the right hand it is the place of honour. We too can share the throne as Revelation 3:21 says, "to him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my father on his throne." Although there are a number of verse which speak to Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, Acts 7:56 says, " Look, he said, I see haven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." One bible expositor explains that Jesus is giving Stephen a standing ovation for being such a powerful witness and Jesus is giving his approval just like when we enjoy a symphony or a play and everyone rises to their feet to give a standing ovation. Here Jesus is seen standing for Stephen - a sign of approval - perhaps an invitation to Stephen to go home to be with Jesus forever. What is Jesus doing up there now? Scripture indicates that Jesus is waiting until the time when he will return to earth to reign with his followers for 1000 years. But Jesus is not just sitting back and doing nothing until he returns, according to Romans 8:34,35, 37 he is busy interceding on our behalf. "Who is it that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Jesus loves us so much that he died to forgive every sin than mankind would commit so that we could be made righteous and go to heaven to be with him forever. That is why he is such a great and loving Lord. Are you following him, are you serving him? Next time we want to look at what it means to be a part of his body, the church. Jesus is wanting to empower you and me to tell others about his great love. He is talking to the Father on our behalf when there are things which we bring before Him which will make us a better follower. Jesus pleads with the Father to grant our requests. Jeremiah 33: 3 says, "Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."

One of the things we do not know about is what will happen in the future. The Bible does not give us a very clear picture of future events but the book of Revelations and the book of Daniel show us some of the events of the future. The scriptures teach that there will be a great persecution of all peoples. Some believe that Christians will escape this great tribulation. After this tribulation, Jesus will come with his followers to reign for 1000 years on this earth before the final battle with Satan and the last judgement. At that judgement all peoples will come before Jesus' throne and the books which have recorded what we have done here on earth will be opened and the book of life will be opened. If any one's name was not found written in the book of life he was thrown into the lake of fire. ( Revelation 20:11 - 15.) Has your name been written in the Lamb's book of life? We get our name written in there when we believe that Jesus died for our sins and ask Jesus to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we become rebellious and reject Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, our name can be blotted out from the book of life. Only as we remain steadfast and true to the Saviour can we be sure of our eternal hope, to live with Jesus forever and ever and ever, Amen. As long as we remain true and faithful to Jesus we have no question as to our eternal destiny. What is your position in Christ this morning? Are you ready to meet Him?

The bible says that Jesus will return with a shout, with the blast of the trumpet to gather up his followers to be with him. Are you ready to meet Him? Are you a part of the bride of Christ who has been cleansed, whose lives are spotless and pure. Have you been washed by the blood of the Lamb of Calvary?

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Dec 10, 2000
Leamington Lao Christian Fellowship