The Father Himself Loves You

What if the way you've been approaching God in prayer has been all wrong? This sermon, rooted in the glory of the Ascension, challenges the idea that we come before God as distant beggars hoping to be noticed. "For the Father Himself loves you" (John 16:27) changes everything about how we pray, how we see ourselves, and where we stand before God. This sermon explores: The Ascension as the culmination of Christ's saving work, bringing human nature into heaven for the first time What it means that God "seated us with Him in the heavenly places" right now Why Jesus says He no longer needs to pray to the Father on our behalf Shifting from a beggar's mindset to the identity of a beloved son or daughter Praying "in Christ's name" as one who is in Christ, not just someone who knows Him How the structure of the Orthodox church itself reflects the meeting of heaven and earth Keeping our minds on things above and asking for what Christ would ask 00:00 - Introduction and the overlooked glory of the Ascension 01:04 - Christ conquered death and brought human nature into heaven 02:06 - "He seated us with Him in the heavenly places" and what that means for us 03:06 - St. Cyril of Alexandria on the Ascension being for our sake 03:37 - You are seated in the place of power, victory, and belovedness 04:07 - Today's Gospel: asking the Father in Christ's name 05:07 - The best verse in the Bible: "The Father Himself loves you" 06:07 - Understanding your new status and position before God 07:07 - You are no longer a beggar, you are a son or daughter 08:38 - Speaking to the Father as though you are Christ 09:42 - Elevate your mind and pray as a beloved child, not a beggar 10:42 - Praying "in the name of Jesus" means praying from within Christ 11:46 - What would Christ ask? Fellowship, glory, unity, love 12:48 - The church as the place where heaven and earth meet 14:21 - Stop being earthly and be heavenly in all things Coptic Orthodox sermon, the Father Himself loves you, Feast of the Ascension, seated in heavenly places, Ephesians 2:6, John 16:26-27, praying in Jesus name, identity in Christ, St Cyril of Alexandria, Orthodox church symbolism, sonship in Christ, heavenly minded, Coptic liturgy #CopticOrthodox #Ascension #TheFatherHimselfLovesYou #IdentityInChrist #SeatedInHeavenlyPlaces #CopticSermon #PrayerLife #StCyrilOfAlexandria #ChristIsRisen #Ephesians2 #John16 #OrthodoxFaith #SonsAndDaughters St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Washington, D.C.