Ascension day 2026
The Ascension of Jesus initiated a faith journey of 10 days, waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promise. The enemy is trying to make ascension day of no significance, as the ascension of Jesus signalled the final blow to the enemy’s domain on earth, when God raised Jesus to a position of authority on His right Hand and the church became the authority on earth to enforce the victory of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:17-23
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The day Jesus ascended into Heaven while the disciples looked upon Him, their doubt were transformed into faith as they witnessed personally what Jesus foretold about His ascension in John 16:7-15 … It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. And in John 16:28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” And inJohn 6:62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
Paul was not one of those who saw Jesus ascending physically, He saw Him in the Spirit as revealed by God, just as Stephen in Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Jesus called us blessed that did not see but believe by faith as He mentioned to Thomas in John 20:29 …“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We are reminded of the story of Elijah and Elisha to encourage us that we need to stand in faith that Jesus ascended and is seated in position of authority on the Right Hand of God, and that He promised to empower us to be His authority on earth to enforce His victory over the enemy.
In the story of Elijah and Elisha we learn that our faith can be challenged by people who will question what you have received by faith. Elisha however focused on the promise more than on the discouragement of the “believers”. It is the same with Christ and His promise for each one of us, that in Christ we have received the forgiveness of sin and being recreated in Him we can now live a victorious life, filled with love, joy and peace. Elisha however had to take a step in faith as he took the mantle he received and used it to open the Jordan river.
2 Kings 2:1-14
And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Likewise as in the story of Elisha, the disciples had to act in faith as they waited with expectation on the fulfilment of the promise of Jesus. It is also illustrated when Peter obeyed Jesus on account of His word, throwing out the fishing nets on the other side of the boat. This time they waited on a promise without knowing how it would manifest. Acts 1:14 “All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers”.
The story of Elijah and Elisha also demonstrated the importance of acting in faith. As in Acts Peter and John walked in faith that they did receive the promise of power from on high. Acts 3:1-8 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
In the days of Moses the people started doubting, based on human reasoning, their doubt led to the establishment of idol worship. They saw the mighty works of God weeks before, but started reasoning amongst themselves, considering the inability of man and not the ability of God. Reasoning based on human ability will always contradict faith in God and His ability.
Therefor we need to stand on the promises of the Word’s of God as our foundation. The truth of Rev.1:6 is that we have been made Kings and Priests and Ephesians 2vers 5 and 6 that we have been raised up with Christ Jesus and seated in heavenly places with Him ruling and reigning with Christ Jesus!
Let us celebrate ascension day as the victory day of Jesus being enthroned over all things as the head of the church. Ephesians 1:22,23 ”And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”