May it please Almighty God to bless us together this morning as we meditate in His Holy Word. Let's turn to the Gospel of Mark, the chapter we read, chapter 16, and we'll read the 19th verse. The 19th verse of the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Mark. So then, After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.

This was an amazing time, an amazing day. an amazing occurrence. And yet it was in the all-wise plan of God right from before when the world was created, that this occasion, the exact time when it would happen, occurred. And perhaps we can think that if we were on the earth, if we were with Jesus at that very time, and we were listening to his words that he spoke and then suddenly he was taken up from us and vanished into heaven. Well that was an amazing occasion.

No doubt the disciples were wondering what would happen and the reality of it and that's why we see how gracious God is and how gracious God was, because there were those two men standing there. And what did they do? They said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? It's not surprising, is it?

This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. That is of course a promise from God that Jesus will return and we're told when Jesus returns every eye will see him. Every eye no one will be omitted. You and I will see him in his great and glorious return and of course he will come as a conqueror, he will come as the king of kings and the lord of lords and if we are on the earth then and if we are his people We know that the Word of God tells us we shall be caught up from the earth to join the Saviour and the immense throng of believers. And we're told, and thus shall we be, forever with the Lord.

It is really an amazing consideration to think that we are utterly unworthy sinners can look forward to such a wonderful occasion. Because when that occasion comes, and time will be no more, it'll be a wonderful and glorious time for those who know the Saviour, for those who believe, and yet a most awful time for those who do not believe. There will be a great separation, a separation which will never be joined, a vast chasm between those who believe and those who do not believe. earlier in this 16th chapter we read and he said unto them go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature that's a divine commission that God gave and it's still true today for us today and preach the gospel to every creature and then we're told He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

It's a very stark and clear statement, isn't it? And yet, what a vast difference there is between those who believe and those who do not believe. Often perhaps we read these things and they don't seem to stick in our minds. They just seem something which is not important.

Well what a blessing it is if the Holy Spirit implants that concern in our souls to know that you and I are indeed amongst those who do believe, and what that means is this, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And what does that mean? That means to believe that Jesus Christ came into this world and he lived that perfect life in order to pay the price to free us from that death penalty, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. What a wonderful work was accomplished by the Saviour and how relevant it is still for us today. And so the Lord spoke those words and they're so important and often we pass perhaps pass them by by none of us pass them by he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned my friends we all need to be blessed with that grace to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did come into this world to fulfil His Father's will and to pay the price to atone for all our sins. Of course, believing is not just a simple as perhaps many people make out and we have a wonderful example of this in the Word of God and we're thankful that we are blessed with such grand and glorious truths which the Word of God contains. And we have an example of a man who brought his son to be healed. And we read this, he answered and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?

Bring him unto me. and they brought him unto him. That's the son. And when he saw him, straightway the spirit tear him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, how long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, of a child.

And oft times it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him, but If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us. That's the Father speaking to Jesus. And Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And what was the response? The response of the father. And straightway. He didn't hesitate. Straightway, the father of the child cried out and said. With tears, Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief.

What does that mean? It means that he really wanted to believe that he was battling with an evil heart of unbelief. Sometimes we find ourselves there. But what a mercy, then we can understand what this father said and what he was thinking. and how he was feeling. And so we're told he cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. Well, sometimes we may feel like that.

And therefore, it's wonderful that God and his love to his church recorded A detail like that occurs in the ninth chapter of Mark, and that's the verse 24 I've actually read to you. But it is so encouraging to perhaps those who desire to believe, but don't seem able to. It seems that the devil comes in and crowds out. the ability to believe. Well, we have a wonderful example then in this father. May we recognize the wonder of it and the favor of it and bless God that it is so wonderfully true because the Lord did heal this man.

And we're told, and the Spirit cried, and rent him, and saw, and came out of him. And he was as one dead in so much, many said he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.

So it's good to have such a testimony set before us in the Word of God to encourage us today. And therefore, as we read this grand statement, which it is, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. It's a very positive statement. It comes from God. It's very true.

And if perhaps we may feel that we're not able, we don't seem able to grasp such a grand and glorious truth, well, just refer to the ninth chapter in verse 24 and see the evidence and the wonderful goodness that God gave to that father who really wanted to believe. And sometimes we may really want to believe, but somehow it seems out of our reach. Well, remember, nothing is impossible with God. And God can give you and me that faith to believe. as we may come to seek for his favour and for his mercy.

Well, we're thankful today that our blessed and glorious Saviour is seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven, there to intercede for us. And it's glorious to think that he never sleeps. He's always alert, always ready, to hear and to answer our prayers.

Well, I've spoken a little about the Ascension. I wanted to also join in the account that we have in the Gospel of Luke. The Ascension is spoken by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Gospel. And it's spoken also about Mark, which I've also referred to, speaks about it. But let me just read the relevant part in Luke 24. It's the last chapter of Luke. You may remember it's a wonderful chapter. It's where those two I spoke to Jesus on the immersed road. Jesus came and spoke to them and he was revealed to them in the breaking of bread as the great and glorious savior.

And so we read, and he said unto them, these are the words which I speak unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me. That's a great succinct statement that Jesus was referred to and his sufferings throughout the word of God. And here he is, the Lord speaks about it specifically because he opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem. until ye be endued with power from on high."

Well, that was a very succinct statement that the Blessed Saviour made to his disciples. And then he goes on to tell us, and he says, and he led them out as far as to Bethany. There were the disciples with him. He led them out. And he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

Well, that was a glorious end to his ministry on the earth. and how wonderful it was that he was able to declare so clearly the truth of himself referred to throughout the Word of God. It wasn't just something that was hatched up. No, it was a record of it and how strengthening that should be to our faith to realise the grand and glorious truth that the Word of God contains to strengthen our faith.

And really, I love those words which I've already quoted to you in the first chapter of Acts, when the angel came and spoke and said, why stand ye gazing up in heaven? This same Jesus, this same Jesus that was on the earth, this same Jesus, that walked on the earth, that same Jesus that was crucified, that same Jesus that rose from the dead, that same Jesus is today in glory, seated on his father's right hand. And that same Jesus will one day return to take his ransomed people home. What a mercy, my friends, if you and I are there for favour to be amongst those who, when the Lord returns in all his glory, we shall be found amongst those who are caught up to be forever with the Lord.

It's a wonderful blessing and a wonderful favour. Apostle Paul, who had a wonderful revelation of so many things, but he tells us when he wrote to the Ephesians, sorry, the Thessalonians, he just gives us an insight into the situation there. And he tells us, he says, but I would not have you to be ignorant, this is in the fourth chapter of the first epistle, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe, you see how vital it is that you and I amongst those who believe.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Of all those who are dead, the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them. With them, those who rise first, who have died in the earth, they will rise, and then those who are alive on the earth, who are the Lords, will also rise again. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we be ever with the Lord.

And then the apostle encourages us. We must never be morbid about these situations because they are glorious to the church of God. And therefore, the apostle says, wherefore comfort one another with these words. There is a wonderful and glorious prospect for the Church of God and therefore it's good to encourage one another with these truths and to speak about them because they are soul strengthening And then the Apostle goes on in the fifth chapter and he says, But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction, cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape. But, and of course he's speaking to the church of God, but ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness, Because if we are amongst those who are given that grace to believe, we shall walk in the light, not in darkness. Ye are the children of light, and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of the darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep as to others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night. And they that be drunken are drunken in the night, but let us, who of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and from helmet the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him and that is eternally it's not just for a short time and so he goes on wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also ye do. What a wonderful picture that is. What a wonderful situation there is for the church of God. And we should desire to think upon these things, to concentrate upon them, because they are strengthening to our soul, especially as we find ourselves in this sad world and battling with the evil one, the devil, and yet to be able, by God's grace, to look beyond the things of time to that glorious state of eternity.

And to realise then, we shall be, as the Word of God tells us, to be then forever with the Lord. Not just for a short time, but to be forever with the Lord. But let us not forget that those who do not believe will be forever without the Lord. They'll be forever in that place of utter darkness and utter misery, which will never change. So you see, come back to the vital requirement that God gives you and me. Grace to believe, to believe and be saved.

Saved from ourselves, saved from the many temptations that Satan puts in our way. And to look forward to that grand and glorious time when we shall go to be with Christ, which is far better. We read together those verses in this 16th chapter. And it's very wonderful, really.

And these signs shall follow them that believe. Yes, what a wonderful thing to have signs following, encouraging signs to know that God is with us, that God hears and answers prayer. God does hear and God does answer prayer. And it is a very encouraging sign to know that God lives God is alive forevermore and God does hear and answer our prayers so let us not think that these things don't occur today We have the Word of God.

And just remember the Word of God. And just remember the blessed words of the Saviour Himself when He prayed to His Father. There's a record of that in the 17th chapter of John. And He makes this grand statement, Thy Word is Truth. There's many liars in the world today. And my friend, Satan is the biggest liar. And he comes into our hearts and tries to tempt us and turn us away from the truth of God.

But do remember that he's a vanquished foe. Do remember that Lord Jesus conquered. He conquered the devil. And we're told, and we are more than conquerors through him. not our strength, not our ability, but through Him, the great and glorious Saviour. My friends, there are no failures with Jesus.

There are many failures otherwise, but may you and I receive that God-given faith to come and to trust in our God, trust all that is said in the Word of God. And trust the simple statements that refer to the need to be a true believer. You see, the devil will tempt you and me to say, well, of course, that's not really necessary. Or, of course, you have to wait for that.

Well, never believe the lies of Satan. Always turn to the truth of God's Word. God's Word is complete. God's Word is true. And may you and I rest upon it. It is a resting place. It's a place of comfort. And the Word of God tells us, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith my God. Oh, friends, what a strength. What a support to poor sinners traveling through this world with burdens perhaps upon their back.

You remember the case of Christian. He had this burden of sin upon his back, was struggling on, and he couldn't get rid of it. And how did he get rid of it? He came to the cross. He looked to the cross. He looked to the finished work of the Saviour and his burden fell off to be seen no more. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to come to the cross, to view the suffering Saviour, to view what he endured to redeem our soul.

What it cost. Never underestimate the cost of your salvation. Recognize it cost the only forgotten son of God, his life. And he endured the agonies of the hiding of his father's face. He endured the agony of suffering that death or crucifixion all because he came to seek and to save that which was lost. It's very humbling, isn't it?

And surely it's very wonderful to think that this same Jesus is alive forevermore. And at this very moment, he's seated with the right hand of the Father in glory. To hear and to answer our prayers, and to strengthen us with might in our inner man. All things are possible to those that believe. And my friends, it's not our own strength. It's God-given strength. And how wonderful it is to think that God has called us out of darkness into the glorious light of the gospel.

Because that God-given light never goes out. It never goes out. It may sometimes become dim. It may become dim because it's dimmed by the poor things of time. But if God has given to you and me that spiritual light, it would never go out. and it would take us safely home to glory.

Well, may God help us to think upon these things, to think upon the wonder of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed, was a wonderful occasion. And there were the disciples as witnesses. All those witnesses there to see Jesus go up into glory. and to believe that one day He will return. What a wonderful prospect for you and me to be found looking, looking for that glorious return. How wonderful it is, isn't it, to be found in that situation.

In the short little book of Titus, we read some beautiful, encouraging words in the second chapter. And well, let me read this 12th verse first. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Well may we all be looking for that blessed hope who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Look how good it is. if God gives us that grace to be found looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Well, may God help us to ponder and consider these things so that we may have that good hope through his grace that it is well with our soul. And he has given us that faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Amen.