A prayer report looking at Covid-19 Hot Spots, Flattening the Curve, and Hopes for a Vaccine with links to resources

As of the May 26, almost 5.6 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally according to ECDC.  Moreover, more than 350,000 have died from the disease based on data from John Hopkins University.

Covid-19 hot spots

The UK has the second highest number of deaths worldwide. And the countries with the most number of confirmed cases are  the US (1.6 million), Brazil (331,22), and Russia (362,342). However, these numbers are inaccurate assessments of the virus' impact on a nation.

For one, US has a population of 330 million people, which is roughly equivalent to that of the five largest Western European countries combined.

If we are to look at a country's case-fatality ratio--the number of deaths per number of confirmed cases--Belgium, France, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands top the charts among the 10 countries most affected by the Covid-19 worldwide, with death rates ranging from 16.2% (Belgium) to 12.8% (Netherlands).

When it comes to deaths per 100,000 population, Belgium, Spain, UK, Italy, France, and Sweden are leading.

According to a BBC article, we should be careful when making international comparisons. There are differences in how countries record Covid-19 deaths. There are different ways of measuring death rates. Different countries are testing in different ways such that a wider testing program can make death rate look smaller. We are not always sure if we're comparing the same things.

Has the curve flattened?

In the US, 50 states have now at least partially reopened, according to The Washington Post. "But many of them don’t meet federal benchmarks on when it’s safe to reopen, sparking fears of new surges of infection."

Moscow is reportedly about to ease coronavirus restrictions starting Monday, June 1. And there are plans to resume flights between Australia and New Zealand in early June.

Compliance to safety measures are not the same in each nation and we must continue to pray for wisdom and grace as governments try to balance between protecting their economies and supporting their healthcare system.

However, there are countries that are succeeding at flattering the curve

Lessons can be from Taiwan, Canada, South Korea, Georgia, and Iceland, with strategies like early response to the virus and exemplary mass diagnostic testing and contact tracing. Graphs form John Hopkins University seem to show too that the curve is levelling off in some countries.

Vaccine update

"A US company has begun vaccine trials on humans in Australia. The results of the first phase of clinical trials in Melbourne and Brisbane are expected to be known in July." This is just one of several companies racing to find a vaccine against the novel coronavirus.

Let us continue to declare that the novel coronavirus is defeated by the blood of Jesus.

We pray for divine intervention and for God's name to be glorified even as each nation and government tries its best to flatten the curve and finally arrest this epidemic. 

We release wisdom, skill, and integrity upon our leaders. 

We pray for protection, wisdom and strength, for those working to bring treatment and comfort to the sick and their families.

We pray special grace and help for the vulnerable population and nations. We pray for refugees and displaced peoples. We pray against domestic violence and other crimes that have become rampant during lockdowns.

We pray for a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine to be released soonest.

We continue to release faith, hope, and love over the peoples of the world. May the Church seize this opportune time to manifest Jesus our Lord and Savior to those who are seeking answers and peace.

Reporting from John Hopkins University: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality

Further data on Europe and the world: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases

Pray: Lord God, the One who has Almighty power, we agree according to your promise in Matthew 18:18-20 that this virus will be stopped in its tracks. That the medical researchers will get a download from Heaven on how to quickly develop a vaccine to counteract COVID-19 and a cure for those who have become infected.

We also agree in prayer, asking that the Body of Christ worldwide will rise up in love and boldness, trusting in your blood to cover and protect us and throwing off fear, so that we can be available to serve, bless, and bear witness to those around us who are terrified and depressed at being infected.

Let us seize this unprecedented opportunity to make you known to those without hope in Christ!

Thank you for your promise that surely, you will be with us "always, even to the very end of the age”  so that we can carry on with the mission you have given us for our world (Matthew 28:20).

Join in Online Prayers:

World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, UK – Virtual House of Prayer
iHop Kansas Prayer Room
247 Prayer Coronavirus Prayer Room

Additional Prayer Resources for Coronavirus

A coronavirus prayer from Pete Greig
19 Things to Do in response to Coronavirus
Prophecy Today UK’s Responses to Coronavirus
PrayerCast Video and Prayer Briefing
CSM Nigeria Article
Lausanne Resources
Operation World EBook on the impact on Mission
WW11 Veteran Gets 180k Praying

Relief and recovery after Cyclone Amphan displaces 3 million in Bangladesh and India

Super Cyclone Amphan, the "strongest storm ever recorded over the Bay of Bengal, hit the border of India and Bangladesh straight like an arrow last Wednesday. Thankfully, Indian and Bangladesh governments had been quick to evacuate some 3 million people to cyclone shelters before the storm made landfall, helping save many lives.

As of May 23rd, the death count was at least 95, around 25 are from Bangladesh and 70 from India. Not discounting the lives that were lost, we are thankful that this super cyclone did not claim hundreds of thousands as is the case with Cyclone Bholo, to which its potential havoc had been compared earlier.

However, despite this win, the cyclone did not depart without first destroying homes, sources of livelihood, and other properties.
 
In Bangladesh and India, around 2 million and 1 million were evacuated, respectively, amidst the challenges of physical distancing and other precautions that needed to be observed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh has 30,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases while India has more than 125,000.

Nevertheless, this tragedy is not yet over. Millions of evacuees are now in make-do communal shelters where physical distancing and hygiene protocols may be compromised. Not to mention, sources of food and provision have been disrupted and damaged.

Agriculture and fishing account for almost half of the jobs in Bangladesh and support more than 70% of the population, according to the Asian Development Bank.

A team from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment. Early findings suggest damage to fisheries especially to smallholder shrimp farmers. Thankfully, most crops had been harvested before the cyclone hit.

Let us pray for the efficient and sufficient deployment of relief for all affected families especially the refugees and most vulnerable among them.

Let us also lift up the UN World Food Program, the Bangladesh and Indian governments, and other humanitarian organizations that are in the position to reach these displaced families with aid.

Protecting Bangladesh

Bangladesh has long known its needs to improve its defences from storm surges like Amphan as these can damage livelihoods in rural areas where more than 80% of its poor live.

In fact, the Bangladesh government started raising funds for its Delta Plan 2100, an eight-decade program that hopes to strengthen its climate resilience, and which had been approved in 2018. Almost a third of Delta's first-phase budget "is earmarked for 23 coastal projects to prevent flooding, including land reclamation and building islands and polders."

However, “The government will have to prioritize the immediate response and recovery effort over longer-term development projects," according to an Asia analyst.

According to Shamsul Alam, the lead author of the Delta Plan, “The coronavirus is one truth we’re facing now and climate change is another,” he said. “We need to handle these two issues in a combined way."

Please pray for the 3 million or more displaced individuals. Many of them are refugees and do not have anyone else they can turn to for help. Pray for hope, healing from trauma, and for God to provide for their every need.

Pray for protection from the spread of the coronavirus. Pray as well for God's intervention for both short- and long-term problems that Bangladesh and India are facing.

Pray for the witness of the Holy Spirit especially to those who are in most need of Him. Pray for opportunities for the gospel to be preached and lives to be touched by God.

Sources:
<https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/19/asia/super-cyclone-amphan-india-banglash-intl-hnk/index.html>

<https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/cyclone-amphan-shows-cost-of-delaying-38-billion-bangladesh-delta-plan/story-SZ40tAZMFvyO33L1vOCwRN.html>

<https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1064832?utm_source=UN+News+-+Newsletter&utm_campaign=933deb7c69-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_23_06_35&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdbf1af606-933deb7c69-107378854>

A challenging article ‘for these times’ written by Pastor Austen Ukachi – Co-ordinator of IPC West Africa and member of IPC’s Exec Team

It is obvious that COVID-19 will permanently alter the way we live, travel and do business and ministry. The economic downturn, the remote working lifestyle, the glaring social and economic needs have raised the stakes for changes in the way people live, travel and work. COVID-19 has ignited spiritual and physical hunger. Spiritual hunger borne out of the desire for God’s help to live; and physical hunger borne out of the dislocation of the global economic system. People’s needs have become much more pronounced due to the threat on our lives, the level of unemployment and the collapse of businesses. As the Guardian Editorial wrote, “Though coronavirus leaves no part of the world untouched, its impact will be harshest in places that were already suffering. Yet the problems it brings with it may prove more deadly than Covid-19 itself. Even in the richest countries, coronavirus has left families in hunger; for the poorest, it could mean starvation." Against this backdrop, the words of Proverbs 22:3 is very timely.

“A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming and prepares himself for it. But the senseless rush blindly forward and suffer the consequences.” (TPT).

COVID-19 caught many leaders and nations unprepared, but certainly not our God. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows how he would achieve the end-time harvest. When danger, misery, and suffering comes knocking; when the high and mighty face the spectre of an unseen virus, people tend to listen and respond to the gospel. When people see all they have worked for and amassed fall apart, their disposition towards the gospel inevitably changes. Because COVID-19 will introduce a level of suffering many have not seen before in the world, especially in Third World countries, we must begin now to think and prepare for post COVID-19 era and all the human challenges it would pose.

What preparations do we have to make as individuals and as a Church to position ourselves to the changes which COVID-19 will inevitably throw up? Our response must be practical and cover such areas as healthcare, food, water, housing, security, counselling for the emotionally traumatized, training on strategies for survival and adapting to changing trends and opportunities. The degree to which these strategies will be applied will vary from region to region and country to country. In Matthew 9:36-39, when Jesus looked at the multitude, he saw them as “confused”, “helpless” and ripe for the harvest, but laborers were lacking. His advice then was, “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers.” We must pray for the people who are traumatized by COVID-19 and for laborers with compassion to minister to them.

The post COVID-era will impose on us the need to care for one another, care for the poor, the unemployed and care for the weak and elderly. The Church, in order to maximize the end-time harvest, must preach a wholistic gospel that addresses the need of the total man. “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:33-40 NKJV).

The Church must proactively think of healthcare related ministries, ways of addressing the healthcare needs of the people, especially in the developing world. The poor, the helpless, the destitute, women and children must be on our agenda. Meeting the felt needs of people will require the attention of counsellors, pastors and social workers. As we think about these, we must pray for the first responders who are the frontier workers and for resources to minister to the felt needs of the people. We must pray for the women and children who are the most vulnerable at such times.

Mission leaders must begin to think through how to do the work of missions with all the innovations and limitations which COVID-19 may introduce. The rise in unemployment will create the challenge of supporting the work of missions. Travel restrictions will affect movement of mission workers.

Like Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon and Solomon in Israel, Christian leaders, more than ever, need the wisdom of God to be able to navigate their followers through the murky waters of the post COVID-19 era. This is the time to heed to Paul’s timely words, “So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. And don’t live foolishly for then you will have discernment to fully understand God’s will” (Ephesians 5:15-17 TPT). 

We must pray for wisdom and a discerning heart to know how to bring the gospel in these times. Like the men of Issachar, we must ask God to give us an understanding of the times so that we shall know what the Church ought to do at this hour (1 Chro.12:32). COVID-19 imposes on us the necessitate for unceasing prayers not only for ourselves, but for the fulfilment of the work of the kingdom. Our Lord Jesus captures what our attitude should be at such a time as this when he said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” (Luke 21:36 NKJV).

Pastor Austen Ukachi
IPC West Africa | IPC Leadership Team
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The secretariat of the Caribbean Prayer Summit were encouraged by the participation of delegates from across the region in their fourth summit, which took place online due to the pandemic. 

The theme was “A United Caribbean Church …a Regional Revival”.

The session recordings can be viewed online now at our website at www.caribbeanprayersummit.org

We will be circulating a report containing current prayer needs from the Caribbean nations shortly.  Please contact us by email for further information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Any gifts towards the overheads of the event can be made using the info online at: https://caribbeanprayersummit.org/give/

Sharon Hermitt/Secretary (for)

Rev. Maria Harbajan

CPS Convener/Member, CPS Secretariat

Member, International Prayer Council
www.caribbeanprayersummit.org

The United Prayer Rising Europe team are planning an inspirational and epic programme of worship, prayer and teaching across three days – 30th June and 1st and 2nd July.  We believe God is going to release something special as we gather online together - in unity this summer.  Prayer is key to any move of God, and we believe our prayers will shake the continent for Jesus once again.

Our vision this year is based on the theme of ‘An Open Door’.  We aim to invite people across nations, generations and denominations - to open the door for a great move of God across Europe. We are expectant of tens of thousands of people being reached and taking part through the online UPRising Europe 2020 livestreams. 

More info is at www.uprisingeurope.org  and on social media at @uprisingeurope

Do join us!

JJ Waters - Event Director

UPRising Europe

2020 a year of evangelism across the UK
https://advance2020.org/

Passover to Pentecost - to 31st May
https://louengle.com/pentecost/

Sound from Heaven 21-31 May
www.facebook.com/praiselivenow
www.globalvoiceofprayer.com
www.jwipn.com

10 days in the Upper Room - 21st May-31st May
www.10days.net

Million Voices for Life  29-30 May 2020
https://pray.millionvoices.org/
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/million-voices-for-life/242238200206424/

Charismatic Catholic ONLINE vigil for Pentecost - 30 May 10pm Rome
www.charis.international/en/pentecost-2020/

GO2020 Celebration and Declaration - 31st May

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalOutreachDay/

International Watchmen Call
1st June 4am PDT
FOCUS:TECHNOLOGY
https://www.facebook.com/watchmenforthenations/

Global Outreach Day – 30th May 2020
www.globaloutreachday.com

One God - One Day - One Africa – 31st May 2020
www.1gda.org

90 Days of HOPE - 1 June - 31 August 2020
www.go2020.world

Global Day of HOPE – 29 August 2020
www.globalvoiceofprayer.com

National Prayer Assembly (USA), Washington, D.C., October 14-15
www.nationalprayerassembly.com

Movement for African National Initiatives – Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 8-12 March 2021
https://maniafrica.com/category/prayers/

UPRising Events Calendar

UPRISING EUROPE (Battle, UK) – June 30 - July 2, 2020
www.uprisingeurope.org
FB: Uprising Europe
IG: @uprisingeurope

UPRISING Chile – November 2020 (Date TBA)

GLOBAL UPRISING Manila, Philippines, Nov 2021
www.unitedprayerrising.com UPRISING MINDANAO (Mindanao, Philippines)-- dates TBA
- UPRISING BUKIDNON (Northern Mindanao)
- UPRISING CARAGA (Butuan, Bislig, and Surigao)
- UPRISING DIGOS (Davao Del Sur)

- UPRISING CENTRAL MINDANAO (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos)
FB: United Prayer Rising Mindanao
FB: United Prayer Rising North Mindanao
IG: @uprisingmindanao

CoVid-19 is proving a disruptive, distressing, and divisive force throughout the world. How do mission-minded Christians respond? What happens to the Great Commission when the world is on lockdown? In this short e-book, Jason Mandryk, the author of Operation World, takes readers through a sweeping overview of the implications of the coronavirus for the global Church, and specifically, its impact on global mission.

Jason Mandryk is a member of IPC’s Council and Exec Team.

In compiling this analysis, the Operation World team interacted with ministry and mission leaders in every region of the world, getting input on how to pray for different nations afflicted by CoVid-19 as well as strategic considerations from a wide array of missiological contexts.

Download the eBook

Download PDF (930kb) http://covid-19.operationworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Global-Transmission-Global-Mission.pdf  Browsers, most readers and devices.

Download Epub (172kb)  http://covid-19.operationworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GTGM-epub-1.zip

Apple iBooks, Nook, Kobo

Download Mobi (380kb)  http://covid-19.operationworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GTGM-mobi-1.zip

Amazon Kindle

More info: http://covid-19.operationworld.org/global-transmission-global-mission/

What Happens When Ordinary People Pray to An Extraordinary God

“God, don’t take my little girl. Please don’t take her. Please, God!”

As Brian Alarid cried out on a hospital floor for his daughter’s life in May of 2016, he had no idea God was about to use him to ignite an international prayer movement.

Today, America Prays has mobilized 24/7 prayer in 1,200 churches in 17 states while World Prays has mobilized 24/7 prayer in 10 nations, in addition to tens of thousands of believers, families, businesses, and ministries, all partnered together in 24/7 prayer for global spiritual awakening.

Join Brian on a journey through the depths of despair to the mountain tops of prayer, where the hard and painful questions are asked, and be inspired to pray and encounter Jesus like never before.

Order When People Pray on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/When-People-Pray-Ordinary-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B086V8HDCL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=brian+alarid+when+people+pray&qid=1587999388&sr=8-1

After the resurrection, Jesus taught his disciples about God’s kingdom for forty days (Acts 1:3) and then he was “taken up” to heaven (Acts 1:2, 11). The cross and empty tomb are at the very heart of the gospel message proclaimed by Jesus’s followers throughout history.  However, for many evangelical Christians and churches, Jesus’s ascension is simply an afterthought to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  

As we prepare for Pentecost 2020, I want to highlight ten aspects of Jesus’s ascension in hopes that this climactic event will be an important bridge of understanding and inspiration for us linking Passover to Pentecost.  Let’s give attention to the Ascension!

First let’s lay the biblical foundation of what we believe concerning our Lord Jesus! We believe and declare that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of his cross he satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting, and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:8).

10 Ascension Aspects

1. Prophecy of Psalm 110

The most frequently quoted Old Testament passage found in the New Testament is Psalm 110! Believers identified this passage as one of the most helpful in interpreting what was happening before their very eyes! 

“The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”  The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!  Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.  The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:1-4).

David’s themes are just as true for us today:

• The Messiah sits down at God’s right hand
• He extends his scepter, making everyone, even his enemies his subjects
• His followers volunteer to join him in his kingdom’s advance
• He reigns on their behalf assuming the role of God’s High King and Priest

2 Jesus continues to work after the ascension.

In Acts 1:1–2 we read, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up...” The small but important word began signals that Jesus’s ascension does not mark the cessation but the continuation of his work as Lord and Messiah.

3. Jesus’ ascension is his heavenly enthronement as King.

At Jesus’s ascension he is installed as the true king of the world. Jesus’s kingdom cannot be destroyed and will not pass away! According to Revelation 3:21 Jesus conquered and sat down with his Father on his throne, where he receives unending praise (Revelation 5:6–13). Jesus will reign at God’s right hand until all enemies are subdued under his feet (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34–35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13). Thus, God’s kingdom has been inaugurated through the enthronement of Jesus, who now sits on heaven’s throne and will return to consummate his kingdom on earth as in heaven.

4. Jesus’s ascension is his return to his Father.

Before and after his death and resurrection Jesus declares that he was sent by his Father and must return to his Father.

“I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father” (John 16:28; cf. 13:1, 3).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Act 1:8-11).  

Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV), “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.  And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Daniel 7:13-14 speaks of Jesus coming to the Father in heaven to receive vindication and authority at his ascension. Jesus Christ, fully God, returns to heaven now fully human as well.  

“The ascension is the story of a body moving to heaven. It is not escape from the bodily realm, but the entry of humanity — in all our physical-ness — into heaven, the sphere of God. Far from diminishing the importance of the body, the ascension is the ultimate affirmation of bodily existence. The Son of God himself has a body — not as an historical convenience, but as a permanent presence in heaven” -David Matthias

He is crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the very middle of history, in fulfillment of John 17:4-5,

“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” 

There has been no sweeter reunion in the history of the world than Jesus’s return to his Father! Perhaps the closest analogy is a courageous, wounded soldier returning to his loved ones after a hard-fought victory. Jesus fully accomplished his mission and glorified the Father on earth, and at Jesus’s ascension the Father glorifies the Son in heaven (John 17:4–5). Take heart that Jesus’s homecoming to his Father prepares the way for our homecoming to be with Jesus forever (John 14:2–4).

5. The ascended Lord Jesus is our heavenly mediator and high priest.

Jesus is the unique mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). His death and resurrection secure our forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation with God (Romans 4:25–5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21). Note also that the exalted Lord Jesus is now in heaven interceding for his people as our true high priest and advocate (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25; 8:1; 1 John 2:1). During his earthly ministry Jesus’s work was geographically limited — he didn’t teach in Ethiopia while healing in China. But now he is at work everywhere and able to hear and respond to his people’s prayers no matter the time or place. He sympathizes with our struggles and promises to do whatever we ask in his name (John 14:13–14; Hebrews 4:15–16).

6. The ascended Lord Jesus will return as King and Judge.

In Acts 1:11 two angels explain to the disciples, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Jesus’s heavenly reign will one day be fully realized on earth (Revelation 11:15; 19:10–16; 22:3). Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). At his return, the Lord Jesus will execute divine judgment, vindicating his downtrodden people and judging his enemies.

7. Jesus is Reigning Now

Jesus Ascended! Not ascended passively but actively  - He went up (Acts 1). Forty days after he rolled back the stone, he ascended to sit on the throne, reigning and ruling Now as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has been exalted above every name in this age and the age to come! Right now, we share in the ascended life of the ascended one.  The ascension validated every aspect of Christ’s redeeming work for us, unleashing his active unrelenting reign over us! On the cross, Jesus offered up himself for our sins. Then in heaven, in triumph he offered up himself as the all sufficient sacrifice whose blood continues to cleanse us from all sin. Exaltation was the Father’s reward for Jesus’ unwavering submission to him for us. 

8. Jesus passion and ascension are linked together forever!

He went from victim to victor, from worm to warrior, from humiliation to glorification, from tortured to triumphant, from degradation to exaltation, from a lowly bleeding Lamb to a glorified Lion-Lamb!  The awful agony he once endured has been vindicated by the awesome dominion he now exhibits.

Jesus went from wearing a cruel crown of thorns to wearing a golden crown of glory, from robes dipped in blood to a kingly robe of splendor, from a mock scepter in his hand to a scepter of authority, from the insults of men to the worship of angels, from the filth of sin to the beauty of holiness.

See his head and hair, once soaked in blood, now dazzling white as snow…See the One whose eyes stung and dripped with blood, now blazing like fire… See his face, once swollen and raw from patches of His beard torn out…now shining brighter than the sun in all its brilliance…See his body, once stripped naked, now clothed in eternal majesty…See his hands pierced, now bleeding infinite splendor, See his feet once spiked to a stake of timber, now gleaming like burnished bronze…See his side once pierced and now hear him say, “This wound in my Heart is for YOU!” 

“Every Wound now Bleeds Glory”

He is the fountainhead of all Glory! The One from Whom Glory flows!  Glory that flows from Him, and through Him, and back to Him!

Revelation 5:6 describes this triumphant Lion of the Tribe of Judah as the Lamb of Glory, standing in the center of the throne, ‘looking as if he had been slain.’  Access has been granted to Behold Glory! The worship scene in Isaiah 6:1-8, shifted from the four living creatures covering their faces and feet to NOW in Revelation 4-5, having eyes all around gazing on the glory of the Holy One! The scene shifts from the prophet Isaiah crying out ‘Woe is me,’ to the redeemed in Revelation 4-5 crying out ‘Worthy are You!’

As disciples of Jesus, we enter into this ceaseless and unending praise, joining with the chorus of heaven night and day,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). 

9. Supremacy of Jesus

It’s the Father’s dream to see all things summed up in his Son!  Gods’ preordained plan and purpose is that Christ would have full supremacy in all things. Paul declares,

“making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph. 1:9-10).

Jesus ascended. This was and remains the climactic outcome, the ultimate destination for which he descended into our world in the first place. As Scripture records:

. . . he also came down to the lower, earthly places.
The one who came down is the same one who went up.
He went up higher than all the heavens.
He did it in order to fill all creation
(Ephesians 4, NIRV, emphasis added).

Note that phrase: “in order to fill all creation.” This will result, ultimately, in every corner of the universe giving full attention to the Ascension.

Jesus Christ is the All-Consuming One, the All-Sufficient One, the All-Satisfying One!   

“He defies all human categories; there is no language that can adequately describe Him.  He is the incomparable One!  He remains in a class by himself…no duplicates, no clones.  His importance eclipses all others.  He outranks every other being in heaven, earth, or hell.  He is the exalted One; for all eternity he holds the primary focus of our praises.  He holds a position of unrivaled distinction, prestige, and majesty. He will be the joy of all peoples, the desire of all nations.  He is the Victorious One.  None of his enemies will prevail, he will defeat all of his foes unconditionally-both human and demonic and will emerge forever unthreatened, unhindered, and victorious over all opposition, permanently and forever.  He is the Preeminent and Supreme One…in time and space and history he lays claim to the universe, it all belongs to Him.  He is the all sufficient One.  Nothing can exhaust his power or resources.  He will forever prove totally adequate for all of our longings, fears, needs or heart cries.  He is faithful and true!” -David Bryant, Christ is All   

Christ sat down at God’s right hand. He assumed the position of greatest power, and authority.  This also privileges the Son with the closest intimacy with the Father, where plans are formed, counsel is taken, decisions are granted, and secrets are shared.

Being seated assumes Jesus’ official installment as King! It was the beginning of a coronation celebration that anticipates the final day when every knee will bow to him and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father (Phil. 2).

“When Jesus sat down, he became permanently and unconditionally the absolute Sovereign of heaven and earth, without restrictions or rivals. Anything now that is incompatible with his reign will be dethroned and is destined to be destroyed. The rebellion of every human heart must be regarded as treason. On the other hand, the submission of every human heart to him will always be received and regaled as worship.” -David Bryant, Christ is Now

10. The ascended Lord Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to his people.

The ascension of Jesus is about his enthronement over all and our empowerment by the Spirit.  God promised in Joel 2:28, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,” and this promise is fulfilled by the exalted heavenly Lord Jesus. The ascended Lord sent the Spirit to be present with his people (John 14:16), to empower them for worldwide mission (Acts 1:8; 4:31), and to transform them to live lives that reflect their king (Romans 8:9–11; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Just before Jesus ascended, he commissioned his disciples to stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on High!

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  And he led them out as far as Bethany and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:49-53).

“And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:13-14).

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:32–36 (ESV).

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.  For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:32-36).

The disciples met together in the ‘upper room’ in one accord, ‘praying and praising’ joyfully for 10 days.  After 10 days of around the clock worship-saturated prayer, the Sound of a mighty rushing wind was released, a “Boom” in the “Upper Room,” as the Spirit of God was poured out upon them!

As John the Baptist earlier stated,

“This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’  I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”  And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes in and with the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:30-33)

God-the-Son in our flesh who came to take away the sin of the world, is also the One who came to baptize in and with the Holy Spirit.  The two works belong together.  When these two titles are kept together the gospel is really ‘good news.’ Jesus-to-the-rescue takes away sin, and then baptizes humans in and with the Spirit of God. 

The term baptize simply means to ‘immerse.’   The Greek text uses both ‘in’ and ‘with,’ the Holy Spirit. The ’in’ relates to that which we are immersed into, and the ‘with’ speaks of that which saturates us or literally, overwhelms us.  Therefore, Jesus the Baptist dunks us in and drenches us with the very life of the Triune God!

Dallas Willard uses the word ‘engulfment’ to describe this experience.  Jesus promises an engulfment in the Spirit of God.  He promises to cloth us or dress us with ‘power from on High.’ Jesus of Nazareth, God-in-flesh, redeems us from the power and grip of sin and then baptizes us, immerses us, soaks us, dresses us, saturates us, drenches us, and marinates us with the very Life of the Living God!

When the text says that Jesus ‘baptizes,’ it is in the present tense.  In New Testament Greek the tenses of verbs speak of the time of action and the kind of action.  The ‘present’ tense speaks of continuous action, literally ‘to keep on.’ Jesus is the one who keeps on baptizing in and with the Holy Spirit. In other words, He comes to keep on soaking us, keep on drenching us, keep on immersing us, keep on filling us with the Holy Spirit, until every fiber of our being radiates with the very presence of the Living God!

We see this confirmed in the story of the early church! Jesus promises, “in a few days you will be baptized in and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5).  On the day of Pentecost, ‘they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).  And then a few chapters later in Acts 4:31, the text says, “the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31).

Paul says that it is God’s will that we ‘be filled with the Spirit.’ Not just once, twice, but over and over again! 

“Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph. 5:17-18).

Whereas wine can ruin one’s judgment leading to debauchery, in contrast ‘being filled with the Spirit,’ leads to empowerment, self-control and a life exhibiting the fruits of the Holy Spirit! It is the nature of Jesus to keep on giving his life to us.  He fills us and keeps on filling us in stages, ‘grace upon grace’ as John puts it, transforming us from, ‘glory to glory’ as Paul teaches us (2 Cor. 3:18).

Summary

As we approach Pentecost 2020, let’s ask the Lord for a ‘greater Pentecost,’ a wave of the tangible presence and power of the Holy Spirit coming upon us with great revelation, with great anointing, and with great provision!

• Let’s expect a BOOM in the UPPER ROOM, the coming sound of the Holy Spirit that brings us into a ‘decade’ of harvest and wholistic discipleship for all nations! As John Robb says, “the book of Acts culture will release the book of Acts breakthroughs!”
• Let’s ask the Lord Jesus for a fresh ‘infilling’ of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. Let’s return to the Holy Spirit, turning away from our own works to a total dependence on the Holy Spirit!
• Let’s meditate on the exaltation and ascension of Jesus and give him his due reward! Let’s return to the place of united worship-saturated prayer, around the throne, around the clock and around the globe all for the Glory of the Lamb!
• And finally, since a primary role of the Holy Spirit is to glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus, let’s partner with him and
  • Seek Jesus more fully for all He is by how we pursue and encounter him through prayer which leads us to…
  • Savor Jesus more fully for all He is by how we praise him and treasure him in worship which leads us to…
  • Speak of Jesus more fully for all He is by how we talk about him with other believers which leads us to…
  • Show Jesus more fully for all He is by how we imitate him in word and deed -which leads us to…
  • Serve Jesus more fully for all He is by how we minister to others for his sake -which leads us to…
  • Share Jesus more fully for all He is by how we introduce unbelievers to him as     Lord and Savior!  

For the Supremacy of Christ in all things,

Dr. Jason Hubbard