Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Exalted and Glorified Christ
Acts 1: 1-11
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(V.7)
After Jesus’ resurrection, He lived with His disciples and other believers for 40 days as convincing evidence that he was back to life and not a ghost. He ascended into heaven in living body and spirit while disciples were watching and He was exalted and glorified as He sits equally at the right hand of God the Father back to the spirit realm.  No other religion can claim that their God came down to earth as a human, suffered, crucified, buried, came back to life to live among His people, and then ascended back to heaven for the love of His creation so that they do not perish.  “No-one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man”.  (John 3: 13). 
Jesus promises us the power of the Holy Spirit: 
Jesus has referred to the Holy Spirit as the “gift” (Acts 1:4) or the “comforter” (John 16:7, 8) and he told his disciples that He had to go away or ascend into heaven in order for us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Today, Jesus may not be physically present, but is alive and dwelling amongst us as the Holy Spirit to all who receive Him and accept Jesus as their personal savior.
 Jesus calls us to be His witnesses:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem.”  When we accept Jesus into our hearts and welcome Him into our lives, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit; then we can realize God’s works in our lives and the world around us. Our eyes will be opened.   God is always available and accessible for us, but we must earnestly seek Him and accept Him into our hearts. When we become a witness to Christ’s work in our lives, we must boldly, sincerely, and publicly declare it for the glory of God and for the hope of bringing others to Christ.
Jesus assures us His second coming:
“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)”  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only”(Matthew 24:36). “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”  There are many verses in Bible that confirms Christ’s second coming “to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him”.  Therefore not another day should pass by that we have not received Jesus into our hearts for we do not know what tomorrow holds.
Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit and becoming a witness of Christ can only be understood by those who have personal experience.  That experience comes often through trials and tribulations in one’s life. It is great comfort for the believer to know that Christ is always present and accessible to guide us and strengthen us in our everyday life when we reach out to Him.    All this may seem foolish for those who are perishing.
Prayer:  Dear merciful, loving, exulted, and glorified Lord Jesus, come into our lives, and transform us by the power of your Holy Spirit.. Amen.
Thought for the Day:  Are we ready and eagerly waiting for Christ’s return?

Jothy S. Varughese, Christos MTC, Philadelphia

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