{"id":128968,"date":"2024-05-09T17:41:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T21:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=128968"},"modified":"2024-05-09T17:43:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T21:43:48","slug":"john-stott-on-the-ascension-for-ascension-day-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=128968","title":{"rendered":"John Stott on the Ascension for Ascension Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

The remedy for unprofitable spiritual stargazing lies in a Christian theology of history, an understanding of the order of events in the divine programme. First, Jesus returned to heaven (Ascension). Secondly, the Holy Spirit came (Pentecost). Thirdly, the church goes out to witness (Mission). Fourthly, Jesus will come back (Parousia). Whenever we forget one of these events, or put them in the wrong sequence, confusion reigns. We need especially to remember that between the ascension and the Parousia, the disappearance and the reappearance of Jesus, there stretches a period of unknown length which is to be filled with the church\u2019s world-wide, Spirit-empowered witness to him. We need to hear the implied message of the angels: \u2018You have seen him go. You will see him come. But between that going and coming there must be another. The Spirit must come, and you must go\u2014into the world for Christ.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

–John R W Stott, The Message of Acts:To the ends of the earth<\/b> (Downers Grove, Il.: InterVarsity Academic, 1990), p.2<\/p>\n

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Almighty God,
fill us with a holy joy;
teach us how to thank you
with reverence & love
on account of the #ascension<\/a> of #Christ<\/a> your Son.
You have raised us up with him:
where he, the head, has preceded us in glory,
there we, the body, are called in hope#PrayeroftheDay<\/a> #FeastDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MvLOotVn2L<\/a><\/p>\n

— PrayeroftheChurch (@Neddamred) May 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n