PAUSES... Week 6 Ascension Thursday

This 6th Week

is an important week

as we draw closer to

Pentecost

because
Ascension Thursday
is this week.
On this Thursday, it will be the 40th day
since Jesus Resurrection Day
(known as Easter to most)

and the feast day celebrated as the day 
Jesus
ascended into heaven
40 days since He rose from the grave.
John 3:13
confirms that "No one has ascended
into heaven except He (the One) who descended
from heaven, the Son of Man."
the Son of God - Jesus!
10 days from Thursday
will be
Pentecost

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." The Ascension (verses 6-9) Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  Acts 1:4-9 NKJV

Sixth Week of Eastertide Day 36: Power      1 Corinthians 2:4-5 Day 37: Water       John 7:38 Day 38: Drunk       Ephesians 5:18 Day 39: Listen       Revelation 3:6 Day 40: Withdrew (Ascension)                               Luke 24:51 * Day 41: All             Ephesians 4:10 Day 42: Kneel        Ephesians 3:14-15

The One Word "Withdrew" is not used in the verse given from Luke 24:51. In the devotion of the book, near the end, this is beautifully described as a "goodbye moment" - one that many of us can relate to with the loss of a loved one; and it's written as an encouragement to each of us through the disciples experience with Jesus' leaving again.

 

..."His Ascension is the final confirmation of His victory over evil and death. He WITHDRAWS, but from now on His loving & consoling presence will not be localized to one geographical spot. His living presence is now freely & infinitely available to every human being everywhere for all time." ...

[WITHDREW is the past tense of Withdraw]
"Luke tells us that when Jesus WITHDREW from them"they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." (Luke 24:52)
Let's celebrate with the same joy
this
Ascension Thursday
even perhaps with tears in our eyes of goodbye, we know the truth revealed in the above box quotethat His Living Presence is now freely with usand available now & forever
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All of the One Words 
this week are powerful preludes to
Pentecost 
starting with the actual One Word 
POWER
for today from the apostle Paul, 
one who definitely experienced the Spirit's 
POWER

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

a wonderful encouragement for our faith
resting on God's power
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"Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times that I have sought to do things in my own strength or tried to use my own powers of persuasion to lead others to Christ. Help me to share the truth of the gospel of grace, simply and truthfully, as led by the Spirit of God, so that my faith and theirs may be founded on the truth and not influenced by worldly rhetoric, to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN."
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