This recording contains both the morning and evening sermons preached on Ascension Sunday, May 8, 2016. Psalm 68 (preached by Jeff Gregory - 42 minutes long) recounts, as some scholars believe, a historical overview of the movement of the ark, and thus the presence of God, throughout Israel's history until it rests in Zion on high. In Ephesians 4, Paul applies Yahweh's victory in Psalm 68 over the enemies of God's people to the ascended Christ in his cosmic defeat of evil powers and his bestowment of the Spirit and accompanying grace upon each believer. Without the Ascension of Christ our salvation is incomplete, ineffective, and, in reality, non existent and nonsecured. Christ died! Christ resurrected! Christ Ascended! Salvation is won and we have become sons and daughters of the Ascension. The second sermon (by Mark Bahr - 42 minutes long) is an exposition of Psalm 42, "He Has Gone Up With a Shout." This joyful psalm sees God who has come down from heaven to deliver his people now returns to His throne. Such a display of mercy,dignity, and power calls forth public acclamation by all nations - this Psalm was ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Son of God to redeem his people and his return to the throne room of God at his ascension. |