This is another liturgical holiday in our church calendar and its often a time that we just remember. We remember what Jesus has done. We remember his sacrifice. We remember that he rose again and is seated in heaven. We read the scriptures and we remember But I think that remembering is often not enough. Or remembering is just the beginning I remember many things that have happened in my life. I remember my first family dog that we named nacho and how my mom gave him away in 2 days because he was too hyper. I remember my days of being a high school cheerleader and falling from a stunt and needing to be airlifted away. I remember marrying Casey and having the most fun day of my life even though I couldnt believe anyone let us actually get married. I remember my first night living in Ocean View and how loud it was. I kept thinking what is everyone whistling at?? Remembering is good, but its often not enough. Its just a thought. Its an emotional stirring in our heart of feelings, but it doesnt change the present. So if we are just remembering the rise of Jesus it wont be enough. It will just an emotional stirring. Jesus wants more than remembering.
Three ways to go beyond remembering the rise o 1. Embrace the mystery. Jesus said it would be BETTER if he were not with us. Why is that? Because when Jesus was there they so often got it wrong. They just followed Jesus but werent allowing their hearts to be connected to God. With the power of the Holy Spirit we are always connected to Jesus. He is closer than a brother. But the only problem is that he is the brother that we never see and can rarely even hear from. We know He is with us in faith. Throughout history Gods people have always wanted signs from God. We love laws of God and we want Jesus to tell us exactly what to do. 2 I think sometimes we like to know what to do so then we can try to make our own way also. For example vitamins seems to be a difficult task for the Prince women. When I was young my parents use to give me vitamins every day and I would hide them away in my desk drawers. Kieren was caught this year doing the same thing. We like to hear the rules, so we can tweak them a little and change them just a bit. So we can follow God but also follow our own path too. But its doesnt work that way. God wants our path to remain a mystery so every single day we have to rely on Him. But its not a scary mystery, its a beautiful and holy mystery. When we die to our own plans and our own ways we are raised to the possibilities of the mystery in Him. But it is a mystery o 2. When we remember the rise we remember for our eyes to rise Psalms 120-134 are called the Psalms of Ascent and they were a group of psalms or poetry that was worship for the Israelites as they literally going up the mountains in Palestine or the Jews who literally ascended the steps of the temple in Jerusalem. Throughout history God has said following Him is a journey and often it is an uphill one. The problem is that we often find ourselves as the bottom of the mountain and we are stuck in the valley or the comfort of our low place We forget that we simply need to look up and then we need to go up. First we need to fix our eyes up on Jesus. He is not around us anymore but He is in the heavenlies. But just as the disciples were stuck glaring into the clouds when Jesus literally went up and two angels snapped them back into reality and said that they needed to get to work to prepare for his second coming. So we need to look up and remember what He has done, and then we need to begin to rise ourselves. Some of this is work that we need to do ourselves Recently I went with friends to hike Lions Head. I had done it before and was full of energy, but 3 minutes into the hike I thought my legs were going to burn up. The climb is hard, but there is nothing that compares to the top. We got to the top and watched the sunset and it was bliss. 3 We have a climb to do with Jesus and remembering the rise means we remember that we have a climb ahead too and we need to rise. We need to stand up in our situations and start to walk out our calling. We need to stand up in our sorrow and start asking Jesus to heal our broken hearts. We need to start a path of discipleship and really start seeking the Lord daily. We need to step out and step up in a place of leadership. And when you first start the hike to rise with Jesus it is going to be uncomfortable and it will hurt, but there is nothing that compares to the top. There isnt a moment to waste. Its not time to get up and get your life together tomorrow, its for today. Today we remember the rise o 3. When we remember the rise, we receive the rise. There is something spectacular about Jesus rise because then it means its time to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it would be better for Him to leave us because then He could send the spirit to be with us. But the spirit isnt just next to us or talking to us or cheering us on. The Holy Spirit comes within us and changes us from the inside out. "No longer do I live but Christ lives in me and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God." (Galatians 2:19, 20) Everything is different with the Holy Spirit. This is the story of Acts, and if you want to be inspiried about what it looks like to receive the rise then start in Acts 1 and read on. After the disciples received the Holy Spirit everything changed and they were transformed into something they never could be as Jesus walked with them They would truly say that it was better to have the Spirit because they had power and courage and strength and peace in a way they could have never imagined But it was always their choice to receive the rise. Its one the to remember the rise, to reflect on it, to enjoy a day at time, but Jesus wants us to receive the rise and that is what we look ahead to today on Ascension day When you look up the word ascension and you look to the words that are the same as it you see these words. Enlargement. Breakthrough. Surge. 4 Addition. Step-up. Acceleration. Do these words describe your Christian faith? That is the purpose of today. We ask ourselves How is it with my soul? Are we just remembering the rise or have we received the rise? If you receive the rise then you will see breakthrough, surge, and enlargement. Paul says to the Corinthians church to test and examine yourselves. Jesus asks the same. Everything changes today. He is risen. Have YOU received the rise?