FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Faith Essentials

tell the people the virtues of communism and to take their minds away from religion, which Karl Marx called "the opium of the people." After the communist, had harangued them for a long time, he said to the local Christian pastor rather hatefully: "I will give you five minutes to reply." The pastor replied: "I do not need five minutes, only five seconds." He rose to the platform and gave the Easter greeting: "The Lord is risen!" As one man the villagers thundered back: "He is risen indeed!"

If Christ had not been raised, our preaching would be pointless and our faith futile. Death would reign supreme and we’d still be lost in our sin. The fact is, He not only experienced resurrection, but ascension as well.

CHRIST’S WORK CONTINUES

Forty days after rising forth from the grave, following numerous resurrection appearances to individuals and crowds, Jesus transported from the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem to His rightful place and present location at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Christ’s ascension set many Kingdom occurrences in motion, two of which I’d like to focus upon. The Holy Spirit descended— The Lord told His disciples, “it is to your advantage that I go away . . . if I go, I will send Him , to you” (John 16:7). Ten days later, the Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, came, and the church emerged. An entire chapter on the Holy Spirit is coming up. Christ continues His work— Jesus isn’t sitting on a cloud playing a harp. He continues to minister, interceding on our behalf before the Father (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). Just as the High

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