{"id":856,"date":"2016-05-05T13:56:01","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T13:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=856"},"modified":"2016-05-06T14:36:19","modified_gmt":"2016-05-06T14:36:19","slug":"whats-important-about-may-5th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2016\/05\/05\/whats-important-about-may-5th\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Important About May 5th?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today is May 5th<\/sup>. For many in the United States and Mexico, it\u2019s Cinco de Mayo, which is not the Mexican Independence Day. Rather, it commemorates the Mexican Army\u2019s defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.<\/p>\n

But this year, 2016, is also Ascension Day in most of the Western church world.<\/p>\n

I bet more people will know about Cinco de Mayo than Ascension.<\/p>\n

In the long run, Ascension is more important than the military, political, and economic victories of any nation on this planet. The reason? Ascension is when the One who conquered death in His resurrection ascended to His rightful place at the right hand of the Heavenly Father. You can read about it in Acts 1:1-12. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke conclude with the Ascension. The Apostle Paul alludes to its importance in Ephesians and Colossians.<\/p>\n

Ascension brought to a close the forty days that Jesus \u201cpresented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs . . . speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God\u201d (Acts 1:3). It is also a reminder that \u201cthis same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven\u201d (Acts 1:11). The disciples were then sent to Jerusalem to spend ten days in prayer, in certain administrative tasks, women and men together, preparing for the surprise manifestations of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.<\/p>\n

Orthodox Christians and theologians tend to place more emphasis on Ascension than do most of us from the Western church traditions. We Pentecostals tend to use Ascension as a jumping off point to emphasize the Holy Spirit. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that; however, when we jump too soon we miss the significance of Christ\u2019s enthronement in the heavens. We lose the significance of our eschatology and how we live with faith, hope, and love in this present darkness.<\/p>\n

I find this particularly true in the times in which we live. Around the world, Christians are being persecuted in record numbers. Along the tenth parallel in North Africa and Asia, Christians are suffering as Islam seeks to advance. The \u2018religion of peace\u2019 often uses metal swords to advance its kingdom rather than the \u2018Sword of the Spirt\u2019, the Bible, usually used by Christians.<\/p>\n

In the Middle East, Christians are being driven out of lands where they have been for nearly two millennia. Across the Middle East, Christians wonder if the world even knows of their plight. It took the U.S. State Department agonizing delay in finally recognizing the atrocities and genocide against Christian populations. And even then the government did it reluctantly.<\/p>\n

In the United States, conservative Christians are stunned at the rapid deterioration of reason, common sense, and gender confusion manifesting itself in the Sexual Dark Ages of the 21st<\/sup> Century. We live in the Apostle Paul\u2019s world where the powers that be, \u201cprofessing to be wise, became fools\u201d (Romans 1:23). The Western world is so sexually crazed and confused because sexual self-expression has become the idolatry of our time. It manifests itself in greed, in covetousness, and in the destructive behaviors that are promoted by government and celebrated by media.<\/p>\n

I sense we are living in a period of moral, political, economic, and social confusion that has barely a line of light on the darkening horizon. Our political parties are in disarray, and why not? We are tasting the bitter dregs of moral relativity and rejection of God. Sadly, the poor and the young pay the heaviest price.<\/p>\n

So how do we respond? How do I respond? I remember the Ascension! I remember that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is interceding for the world (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). I remember that I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). I remember I hear Jesus praying for the world (Psalm 2:8); I hear Him praying for the poor (Proverbs 22:22, 23); I hear Jesus praying for His followers (John 17:9, 15, 20). I hear the Spirit interceding and thus hear God praying for His creation (Romans 8:20-28).<\/p>\n

That Jesus ascended contains the promise that He will return. Until then, we live by the light of the Word of God. Even in the Dark Ages, the shadow of the Rock of Ages is outlined against the sky. We sing the Lord\u2019s song in a strange land. And we learn the power of intercessory prayer, praying as we hear Jesus praying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[180,329,45,134,46,290,318],"class_list":{"0":"post-856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bishops-blog","8":"category-general","9":"tag-180","10":"tag-ascension","11":"tag-bishop","12":"tag-bishops-blog","13":"tag-doug-beacham","14":"tag-iphc-general-superintendent","15":"tag-may","16":"entry"},"title_es":"Lo que es importante sobre 5th mayo?","content_es":"

Por Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\r\nHoy es 5 de mayo.<\/sup> Para muchas personas en los Estados Unidos y M\u00e9xico, que es el Cinco de Mayo, que no es el D\u00eda de la Independencia de M\u00e9xico. M\u00e1s bien, se conmemora la derrota de los franceses en la Batalla de Puebla en 1862. Sin embargo, este a\u00f1o de 2016 del Ej\u00e9rcito Mexicano, es tambi\u00e9n d\u00eda de la Ascensi\u00f3n en la mayor parte del mundo de la iglesia occidental. Apuesto a m\u00e1s gente va a saber sobre el Cinco de Mayo de la Ascensi\u00f3n. A la larga, la Ascensi\u00f3n es m\u00e1s importante que las victorias militares, pol\u00edticas y econ\u00f3micas de cualquier naci\u00f3n en este planeta. \u00bfLa raz\u00f3n? Ascensi\u00f3n es cuando Aquel que ha vencido la muerte en su resurrecci\u00f3n ascendi\u00f3 a su lugar que le corresponde a la diestra del Padre Celestial. Usted puede leer sobre \u00e9l en Hechos 1: 1-12. Los Evangelios de Mateo, Marcos y Lucas concluyen con la Ascensi\u00f3n. El Ap\u00f3stol Pablo alude a su importancia en Efesios y Colosenses. Ascensi\u00f3n puso fin a los cuarenta d\u00edas que Jes\u00fas \"se present\u00f3 vivo despu\u00e9s de haber padecido muchas pruebas convincentes. . . hablando de las cosas que pertenecen al reino de Dios \"(Hechos 1: 3). Tambi\u00e9n es un recordatorio de que \"este mismo Jes\u00fas, que ha sido tomado de vosotros al cielo, as\u00ed vendr\u00e1 como le hab\u00e9is visto ir al cielo\" (Hechos 1:11). Los disc\u00edpulos fueron enviados a Jerusal\u00e9n para pasar diez d\u00edas en la oraci\u00f3n, en ciertas tareas administrativas, las mujeres y los hombres juntos, la preparaci\u00f3n de las manifestaciones sorpresa del Esp\u00edritu Santo el d\u00eda de Pentecost\u00e9s. Cristianos y te\u00f3logos ortodoxos tienden a poner m\u00e1s \u00e9nfasis en la Ascensi\u00f3n de hacer la mayor parte de nosotros de las tradiciones de las iglesias occidentales. Nosotros los pentecostales tienden a usar la Ascensi\u00f3n como punto de partida de hacer hincapi\u00e9 en el Esp\u00edritu Santo. No hay nada malo en ello; sin embargo, cuando saltamos demasiado pronto perdemos la importancia de la entronizaci\u00f3n de Cristo en los cielos. Perdemos el significado de nuestra escatolog\u00eda y c\u00f3mo vivimos con fe, esperanza y amor en esta oscuridad presente. Me parece particularmente cierto en los tiempos en los que vivimos. En todo el mundo, los cristianos est\u00e1n siendo perseguidos en n\u00fameros de registro. A lo largo del d\u00e9cimo paralelo en el norte de \u00c1frica y Asia, los cristianos est\u00e1n sufriendo ya que el Islam busca avanzar. La \"religi\u00f3n de paz\" a menudo utiliza espadas de metal para avanzar en su reino en lugar de la \"Espada de la Spirt ', la Biblia, por lo general utilizado por los cristianos. En el Medio Oriente, los cristianos est\u00e1n siendo expulsados de las tierras donde han estado durante casi dos siglos. En todo el Medio Oriente, los cristianos se preguntan si el mundo se entere de su situaci\u00f3n. Tom\u00f3 el retraso ag\u00f3nica del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos en fin reconocer las atrocidades y el genocidio contra las poblaciones cristianas. E incluso entonces el gobierno lo hizo a rega\u00f1adientes. En los Estados Unidos, los cristianos conservadores est\u00e1n impresionados por el r\u00e1pido deterioro de la raz\u00f3n, el sentido com\u00fan, y la confusi\u00f3n de g\u00e9nero se manifiesta en las sexuales Edad Media del siglo 21.<\/sup> Vivimos en el mundo del Ap\u00f3stol Pablo, donde los poderes f\u00e1cticos, \"profesando ser sabios, se hicieron necios\" (Romanos 1:23). El mundo occidental es tan sexualmente loco y confuso porque sexual auto-expresi\u00f3n se ha convertido en la idolatr\u00eda de nuestro tiempo. Se manifiesta en la codicia, en la codicia y en las conductas destructivas que son promovidas por el gobierno y celebrada por los medios de comunicaci\u00f3n. Tengo la sensaci\u00f3n de que estamos viviendo en un per\u00edodo de confusi\u00f3n moral, pol\u00edtica, econ\u00f3mica y social que tiene apenas una l\u00ednea de luz en el horizonte oscuro. Nuestros partidos pol\u00edticos est\u00e1n en desorden, y por qu\u00e9 no? Nos son de sabor amargo las dragas de la relatividad moral y rechazo de Dios. Por desgracia, los pobres y los j\u00f3venes pagan el precio m\u00e1s alto. As\u00ed que, \u00bfc\u00f3mo respondemos? \u00bfC\u00f3mo respondo? Recuerdo la Ascensi\u00f3n! Recuerdo que Jes\u00fas est\u00e1 sentado a la diestra del Padre, y \u00c9l est\u00e1 intercediendo por el mundo (Romanos 8:34; Hebreos 7:25). Recuerdo que estoy sentado con Cristo en los lugares celestiales (Efesios 2: 6). Recuerdo escucho a Jes\u00fas orando por el mundo (Salmo 2: 8); \u00c9l escucho orar por los pobres (Proverbios 22:22, 23); Escucho a Jes\u00fas orando por sus seguidores (Juan 17: 9, 15, 20). Escucho el Esp\u00edritu intercede y por lo tanto escuchar a Dios orando por su creaci\u00f3n (Romanos 8: 20-28). Que Jes\u00fas ascendi\u00f3 contiene la promesa de que regresar\u00e1. Hasta entonces, vivimos por la luz de la Palabra de Dios. Incluso en la Edad Media, la sombra de la Roca de los siglos se recortaba contra el cielo. Cantamos el canto del Se\u00f1or en tierra extra\u00f1a. Y aprendemos el poder de la oraci\u00f3n de intercesi\u00f3n, la oraci\u00f3n como o\u00edmos a Jes\u00fas orando.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2016\/05\/Bishops-Blog-2016.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Bx-dO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}