It's almost difficult to stop the worship because it's so
powerful today to reflect on the Incarnation of the Son of God.
So thankful for the worship, team for the children, for the
choir, that will be singing after the message.
We're so thankful for all the practice and the prayers that
have gone into this to this meeting.
And oftentimes the Christmas time service is focused and
planned around being Evangelistic.
You know, there are people that come to church Come to church
only for this time of the year and maybe Easter if they feel
like it. But I'm praying that this
morning or this afternoon. Rather this service would be a
Revival. Not just Evangelistic but it
would be a Revival in our hearts and so I praise God that were
able to sing around the truth and the the revelation of God
becoming a man and what might even encourage you more.
This afternoon is that this idea this tradition of the people of
God coming together and Focusing on this one aspect of what our
God has done and who he is, is not something that the church
has developed over the years. No, it's actually something that
was expressed and experienced at the actual event.
Meaning there are people singing and rejoicing and blessing God
right there and then when Christ was made known as a child.
And so all we're doing today is what we see in the scriptures
all were doing is We are continuing what was exemplified
in the Bible that when there are those a certain group there are
different individual who had the privilege of understanding that
this child is no ordinary Jewish child.
He is, in fact, God coming to this world.
Oh, they adored him. They adored him.
And the purpose of this meeting together is that we would look
at one of the Spirit. Led Outburst of adoration
concerning a man who was exposed who is given that wonderful
opportunity to realize that this is, in fact, the Christ.
And so I encourage you today with your Bibles to turn with me
to the Gospel of Luke in chapter 2.
And since this past Friday, we dedicated our meeting to unpack.
The supernatural birth of Jesus Christ.
This afternoon, we will look at And consider the Adoration of
the Child, Jesus at his dedication. so, as you're there,
in the Gospel of Luke, please meet me in verse 20, 22, And we
read here in the Gospel of Luke and Luke's telling of the early
days of Jesus in verse 22. And when the time came for the
purification according to the law of Moses, they being Joseph
and Mary brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord.
Every male, who first opens the womb Shall be Called, holy to
the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is
said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons. Now, there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous.
And devout waiting for the consolation of Israel.
And the Holy Spirit was upon him and had been revealed to him by
the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen
the Lord's Christ and he came in the spirit into the temple.
And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him
according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms
and blessed. God and said, Lord now you are
letting your servant depart in peace according Ting to your
word. For my eyes have seen your
salvation that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples,
a light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your
People Israel. The first couple of verses of
our text today. I have a feeling that a lot of
people would be tempted to ignore such details and move on
in order to get to the meat of the matter.
But when we read, what we see here in verse 22 to verse 24,
about the, the legal parents of Jesus, coming into the temple
with that child in their arms to perform a specific Duty.
We have to be a people that believe that every inclusion in
the scripture, Is meant for our instruction and for Revelation
every part of the Bible, God waste no ink God wastes, no
Pages, God waste, no sections. And as we come to this, we
realize that Joseph and Mary want to come to the house of God
and it wasn't a spontaneous decision.
It wasn't something that they wanted to do like some Christian
parents today do after they have a child.
We want to dedicate our child to the Lord and they figure out a
perfect. I mean they organized it and
it's a beautiful celebration. No no no this isn't spontaneous.
This is according to the law. This was demanded of them.
This was an observance of an ordinance.
And this ordinance is found in an unfairly treated book in the
Bible, and that's the Book of Leviticus.
And in that book, we read that God has given certain ceremonial
instructions and certain laws for the Civil Life of the nation
of Israel. Which is why many Believers when
they attempt to read through the Bible, find very little
motivation to pull through and Leviticus but I want to show you
today why it's important that you and I cannot afford to miss
out on even one part of the Bible because I want you to see
just as an example, how we forfeit Revelation when we do
that. We forfeit the harmony of the
Bible, when we see things connect from one book to the
other and then we believe that scripture interprets scripture.
Do we not? And so we realize that there's a
section in The Book of Leviticus that is targeted towards
parents. And there's a protocol that they
were called to observe once they gave birth to either a boy or a
girl. And if it was a boy then those
parents have to Faithfully circumcised that boy on the
Eighth Day, many people speculate why the eighth day if
you want to go the science Rebel scientists believe that the
eighth day is the best day concerning bleeding and
infection being the Just consequential thing that would
occur but if you want to go in the biblical understanding, the
number eight means new beginning and we realize that there's new
life New Beginning here. But why circumcisions you know
what I hope circumcision because number one that thing would be a
symbol. It was a marked a national
identity of Israel in order for them to be able to rehearse and
remember that they have made a covenant with the true and
living God that was established with their other Abraham.
But secondly circumcision because it was also an
illustration. It was a demonstration It was a
foreshadowing of the circumcising of the heart.
That God would perform at Salvation.
And it was in a sense, a cutting away of the flesh, a removal of
the flesh. A work, a surgery to be done on
the human nature because we've inherited Adam sinned.
And so as they would circumcise their sons, it was to foreshadow
what God has said many times in the Old Testament, circumcise
your hearts Circumciser. Let there be a surgery done on
your soul. So, even that act had a
spiritual meaning. And as Jesus was coming into the
world. He was granted parents that
obeyed God. God chose these parents knowing
that they would obey God. but after the circumcision, That
mother would have to weigh 33 days, aren't you?
Glad you're in the New Covenant. 33 days where she could not
touch anything. Holy and she cannot enter into
the sanctuary of the Lord. And those days were known as the
days of purification, she would have to be purified.
Why? Because not only was the child
in that act of circumcision being told to the parents, and
to this nation, that it has a sin nature, but also the mother
herself need to be reminded that she needs to be cleansed as
well. And so she would be in that
state of days of purification. And after those days were
completed, turn your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 12.
In verse 6. We read in, Leviticus 12, verse
6. And when the days of her
purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she
shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting
a lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, and a pigeon, or a
turtle dove for a sin offering. So, at the end of those days,
she would have to come and she would have to honor a ceremony
that would symbolize her purification.
It would Eliza a sin offering there is an atonement for her
sin and she would bring this child to dedicate him to the
Lord. But it's in verse 8 where we see
how this connects with what we just read in Luke verse 8, and
if she can't afford a lamb, Then she shall take two turtledoves
or two, pigeons one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin
offering and the priest shall make atonement for her.
And she shall be clean. See what happens when you miss
Leviticus What do we read earlier in?
Luke Chapter 2, we read that Joseph and Mary came into the
temple. And what did they bring?
Did they bring a lamb? No.
No they brought two. Pigeons.
Revealing to us that they were not a wealthy couple, they can
only afford the very bare minimum of their offering to the
Lord. And you would think that if this
child, that's coming to the ceremony to be dedicated to
Lord, if this child is really God himself.
That there would be something prepared, the greatest offering
that you can offer on behalf of this child and the parents that
would supervise them in his Humanity.
But no God chose to Crown this young couple with the honor to
be able to raise the Son of God in his Humanity because our king
is not attracted to wealth. And he is not attracted to fame
and he's not attracted to Ability what draws the heart of
God is a heart of obedience. Is a heart that really Revere's
him and loves him and fears him. And God saw this couple and, and
he recruited this couple and part.
Yes. Because of his Sovereign will
but because he saw a couple that were willing to obey even in the
smallest of things. This is what draws God's heart.
This is more valuable and precious to him than mountains
of gold or palaces of pearls or Prestige or pedigree.
Just a simple heart that loves his word just a humble hard that
honors his commands and God could entrust this couple with
the great privilege because he saw in them a willful surrender
to the word and that's all he required.
Can you visualize it this afternoon?
This precious beautiful young virgin.
With the Child Jesus press on her chest.
Protecting him with whatever strength she had, while her
husband was walking on her side with two pigeons in his hands.
And all people on that day who might have walked by or seen
them would have known. According to the law will,
here's a poor couple just trying to do their best to honor God.
They couldn't afford a lamb, so they brought to birds.
But they did have a lamb. They were the richest people
there. He is God in his wisdom in his
design, made sure that they would come in with two pigeons
because they were holding the Lamb of God.
The Lamb of God, who would come and put an end to all the
ceremonial laws that could never cleanse the Lamb of God.
Who would come in to make one sacrifice that body that was
prepared? That would Usher in a New
Covenant in which we don't have to rehearse these things, but
look back and by faith, connect to that blood and it be applied
to us though. They did have a lamb.
But it was the Lamb of God. and as they came into that place on
the surface of the site, most of those people in there could not
understand what was occurring, but we see through the
scriptures that we have commentary and what was
happening. Let me emphasize this again.
This afternoon, God in his perfect wisdom selected Mary and
Joseph because they were surrendered vessels, that's all
it was and you see from his infancy.
Jesus Christ wanted to and needed to fulfill the law by
willing to go through all of this.
Jesus Christ, didn't need to be circumcised, an infant.
Like the other Jewish kids had to there was no cleansing
needed. There was no sin nature to
cover, but Jesus Christ through the surveillance of these
parents underwent even that, because even from his infancy he
identified with Sinners just like why Jesus Christ got
baptized people wonder, it was a baptism of repentance if Christ
is perfect. Why did he allow John to baptize
him? Well to identify with sinners.
Fulfill the law. And the same way you get
baptized in order to identify with Christ Christ, got baptized
to identify with you. And here he is willing to go
undergo circumcision. Willing to go through the
ceremonial purification. Why not?
Because he needed it. But because he identified with
us, he was obeying God perfectly even from those years and God in
his wisdom, selected to parents to make it happen.
And what's a beautiful here is by this simple.
Obedience, Mary. And Joseph are about to meet a
man. Are about to face someone who is
going to further. Glorify Christ.
The simple thing of observance, the simple thing of circumcising
and going through the ceremonial law, I'm sure they did not have
it in mind that it would lead to this Christ being further,
praise and adorned with Glory because that's what's about to
happen. And I believe that is for
instruction. It is for our instruction today,
don't you? Dare minimize, and don't you
dare be little small acts of sacrifice and small acts of
obedience. You just may be walking into
something that will further glorify Christ.
As this couple would. And we read here, haven't we in
verse 25? That there is a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon. And all were told about him, is
that he was righteous and devout.
What a description for a man. Righteous and devout.
Why is God telling us this about this man?
Because he would qualify as an appropriate witness about this
baby. He would qualify someone who
would be able to have authority to say this child is no ordinary
child. He's a light to the Gentiles.
He's the glory of Israel. And so, this men of good repute
would be given the opportunity to testify of this baby and
prophesy over this child, and his mother.
But more importantly, we're told not just that he was righteous
and devout, but he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.
I pray that this point would revive you.
I pray that this point would shake you out of your
lukewarmness. I pray that this point would
awaken you from the familiarity of the celebration.
Waiting for the consolation of Israel that waiting speaks of
expectation and desire. This man Simeon God sought to to
write about him out of all the things that he too, could have
wrote about him. That there is something in him
that consumed them and it was the longing and the waiting for
the Messiah to enter in. And to bring restoration to his
people, the Solace, the piece, the rest, and I'm sure Simeon in
light of the Roman oppression of his day, had a greater ache for
the things that he's learned ever since he was a child and
the things that he has studied in the Scrolls of the scriptures
to come about in his own lifetime.
I want to see the Messiah come. This was the beat of his heart.
This was his dream in the night. This is a theme of his
conversation. The Bible tells us by the
spirit, Simeon was a man who are waiting for the consolation of
Israel. Why do you think God wrote that
for us to know? Why do you think God included
this? I believe one reason is because
God looks at our desires. He looks at what we desire and
he honors US based on what he discovers about them.
Because you got many Christians today that are old Covenant
Believers that are so focused on the outward that they don't
think God can see beyond your bone, and your skin, and your
words and your hands and your money.
Jesus came not to lighten up the law, he intensified it.
You think that your holy because you didn't commit adultery with
your body if you've done in your mind, you've already done it in
your heart. Oh, you're not a murder, that's
why you don't deserve hell. Yeah.
You are a murderer. If you've hated your brother and
you're angry at him for no reason, God saw this desire.
He didn't just see the righteousness and his devotion.
He saw his desire. He saw his affections.
An impressed. God, it moved God, the Holy
Spirit. Included it here about this man.
And if you're not convinced today that God sees this and God
honors us and God does Things based on this, then go to the
gospel of Mark and I want you to see another man and the gospel
of Mark chapter 15. Be convinced today of the
consistent character of God. And Mark 1543, we read of
another man and this man was not at the infant stages of Jesus
Christ. This man was at the death of
Jesus Christ. And we are told and Mark 1543
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was
also himself looking for the kingdom of God.
To courage and went to pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Oh, here's another man. A man who is perhaps different
age different class. Different opportunities,
different accomplishments. One thing in common with Simeon,
they both long for the kingdom of God.
They both longed for see this man.
Are you a member of some important Council this
afternoon? Are you someone special?
Do you have you have letters after your name?
Welcome. You have great.
Great digits in your bank account.
Welcome, we're told in Matthew that this man was rich welcome,
but I want to ask you today. Does your position distract you.
There's your wealth fog, your interpretation of life.
This man had position this man had wealth this man had respect,
but this man, the eyes of his heart were set on the kingdom.
He longed for it, he yearned for it, he desired it and I see
Simeon, when Jesus was six weeks old and we read that he was able
to hold the Messiah. And I see Joseph.
At the prime of this messiah's life slain holding his body.
And even given the privilege of fulfilling that prophecy in
Isaiah, where the grave of this Messiah would be shared with a
rich man's tomb. I see it here.
I see that God saw two men and he saw their affections, he saw
their passions, and he honored them.
To come so close to his son to hold such great reward and
responsibility for this son. Maybe you're not convinced,
maybe you're not convinced, maybe, maybe we got to do more
to get out of the mechanical Christianity, that plagues
America this afternoon. So let's do it in the book of
Hebrews chapter 11, we read something quite amazing about
how God views desires and in Hebrews 11 16 and not Hall of
Faith. After speaking about the
Patriarchs, we read in verse 16 of Hebrews 11 But as it is, they
desire a better country. They desire a better country.
That is a Heavenly one. Therefore not pause.
Pause. Therefore whenever you see the
word therefore, ask the question.
What is there for there for What is therefore, therefore, and
therefore, as there as what we just heard, as a result of what
we just heard that because certain men had a desire for a
Heavenly country. Desire does not say desire.
Desire. The same word used and First
Timothy 3:1 where it says, if any one aspires to be an
overseer, he desires a noble task, it's a desire.
So intense that you want to see it come to reality that you want
to see it. Manifests the same word, the
same way. A man who desires to be an
elder, who desires to be a pastor.
Who desires to fulfill that same word?
These people had another Faith, you believe in heaven.
Wonderful. You believe that you're going to
heaven, great. It's not talking about faith,
it's talking about longing. Yearning.
Are you treading lightly in this world brothers and sisters?
Are you treading lightly? They desire a better country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for, he has
prepared for them a city. Based on desire.
Based on affection, based on passion God, who sees what our
desires are set on when he sees his children, who desire, his
kingdom to come his rule to be known his dwelling to be with,
man. He says, I'm not ashamed to be
called their God. Can you imagine a greater gift
than that? That in the presence of Angel
host and Heavenly Creatures that if you were to see them, you
would probably melt out of fear. He can say, I'm not ashamed to
be called his God. I'm not embarrassed to be called
her God. So desire alone magnetizes God
in a certain way, this shows that he's personal, this shows
that he's real. This shows that he actually
cares about what you feel and what you think and what you
desire, and what you dream about oh that God would find in us a
desire for a Heavenly country. Oh, that God would be able to
save Maranatha Bible Church? I am not ashamed to be
associated with this church, because they desire is not
wonderful. It's nothing to do with
performance. Nothing to do with how great of
a minister you are, how powerful your preaching is.
No one simple thing. That Woos his heart, your
desire. This man.
Simeon had a desire. He waited for the consolation of
Israel. And then we are told That the
Holy Spirit had revealed to him. I mean, this is a unique
privilege, the Holy Spirit had revealed to him.
That he was not going to die until he would see the Messiah.
Now I can't imagine how this altered his life, we're not told
when the Holy Spirit told him this but even if it was a week
before I'm sure that week look different from every other week.
Can you imagine what it would be like?
This is what you longed for your whole life.
This is what you desired. As early as you can even imagine
and all for sudden, somehow some way the Holy Spirit reveals to
Simeon audibly, we don't know how Simeon.
You will not die. Until you see the Messiah.
What do those mornings look like?
As he woke up in his bed? Is it today?
Lord is it today? Well, I see him today.
Will he enter in today? Will you were to me be fulfilled
today. When will it come?
Is it now? God left them in that
spontaneous state, but assured by one thing, this man was not
going to die. Even if all of Hell came against
him, even if Rome came against him, he was not going to die
until he saw the Messiah and one day, something happens,
something marvelous he wakes up. And there's a strange sense of
the leading of God in an unusual way.
And there is the sense in which he had to go to the temple and
God's leading was so perfect. That every step, every
Interruption on the way, whatever took place was
perfectly orchestrated by the spirit of God for him to arrive
at the moment, where he would see Mary and Joseph with the
Messiah in their arms. I read that this morning and I
thought to myself, Lord, won't you just lead me like that?
All the experiences. I would know the time that I
would save the energy, all these things that could be reserved
that you can just speak to me. So clearly and tell me, get up
and go stop, no, yes, maybe, no, I need it, I want it.
Why just Simeon. I'm sure there's an innocent.
See about that. That God honors.
But I'm also refreshed to know here that there is another
person in the same Temple. Who did not have the same
experience as Simian leading up to this moment but she did have
the same blessing of realizing the Messiah.
Another woman, older woman, her name is Anna.
We're often familiar with henna, but this is Anna.
Another Prophet s. She's found in the same chapter
here and all were told about Anna, is that she was a
prophetess, she was a widow, she only had seven With her husband
before her husband died. Tragedy.
Heartbreaking. And we are told here in Luke 237
about Anna. and then, as a widow, until she was 84, She did
not depart from the temple worshiping with fasting and
prayer night and day. I love that because I see a
woman who experienced the tragedy early in her marriage.
She lost the love of her life. And I'm sure that shattered, her
dreams and her hopes of living long and old with her husband.
And yet this woman. Did not have bitterness in her
heart against God did not walk away from the house of God.
Did not say this prayer thing doesn't work when I prayed for
my husband while he was sick. God didn't hear me?
No, she devoted herself more to God.
She came to the house of God daily and she prayed and she
fasted, and she was a worshipper and elderly woman.
Not a princess, not a queen, not a beauty.
Pageant winner and elderly woman who, lost her husband who just
devoted herself to the house of God even more After a tragedy.
And she comes here and she worships God.
And there's an interesting phrase in verse 38 and coming up
at that very hour. She began to give thanks to God
and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the Redemption
of Jerusalem. Did you see the phrase?
And coming up at that very hour, the King James would say at that
instance. What are you seeing there?
Not wasted words. My brother and my sister what
you are seeing there is the Providence of God.
Simeon was led by the spirit to go to the temple, in a very
Supernatural real and Rahway. Anna was led to the temple.
By Providence, just another day, going to the temple.
Just another day to go worship my God, just another day to
pray. Just another day too fast.
But on this day it would be an extraordinary day.
She came up at that very moment where Simeon and that couple met
and we're Simeon. Grab that child and praise God,
and prophesied over him. And guess who was there to hear
all about it, Anna? Maybe that doesn't move you but
be encouraged to know that this is how God often leads his
people. Do you want God's Providence to
be in favor of your life in the New Year?
Can I encourage you to do something be devout?
Be serious, about the things of God.
Be consistent in your walk with Christ.
You want Providence in your favor, love him, no matter what
he takes from you. Serve him.
No matter who doesn't serve him? Don't let disappointment in
life. Don't let heartache, don't let
betrayal, don't let things in life make you waver, I believe,
and we can debate it over lunch. I believe that.
God honored, Anna, because Anna honored, God, call me
legalistic. All you want.
This woman was devout and God saw this woman and he Allowed by
his, providential leading to have an exposure that the priest
in the same Temple did not have. That the high priest did not
have. if you desire to God's Providence, Give him your
undivided devotion and watch him lead your life in spectacular
ways. What's amazing about Simeon
here? Is that by the Holy Spirit?
He was led. And he comes here and let's read
it. One more time and verse 27, he
came in the spirit into the temple, and when the parents
brought in the Child Jesus to do for him according to the custom
of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed.
God and said, can you imagine it?
Simeon is blessing God while he's holding God, what a
thought. Simeon is worshiping God while
he's holding God. Behold the humility of God.
Behold The Wonder of this moment.
And we see here that he was able to bless God, that was his first
response is first. Reaction was to worship.
God was to worship. I pray that you came this
afternoon to worship, God to worship God, and let of the
Revelation, that he became a little baby.
And guess what? If you're here today?
Because it's Christmas and you have to be here, And because
it's tradition and that's what traditionalist do.
But you're not here. Because you're moved by the
revelation of what Christ has done.
Then I want to encourage you today that what you need is what
Simeon had and that was the Holy Spirit controlling his mind and
his heart. That's what you need and that's
what I need. Every time this heart is able to
grow cold and doll with any truth concerning Christ.
Even as Incarnation, I need the Holy Spirit to fall upon me
afresh. Because he was able to bless
God. And this is one of the most
incredible things because he declares one of the most
complete Prophecies of Christ before he even became a man,
think about this before Christ, uttered one Miracle before, he
uttered one Parable before he done one miraculous Supernatural
thing before before any sermon he heard.
He understood the gospel and its completion.
He understood the work in the extent of what Christ would do.
He had a revelation and an insight to the work of Jesus
Christ that no average Jew had that no priest?
Had that no Rabbi had because what what Simeon had in this
moment is what you and I need every single day and that's the
leading work of the spirit. The Holy Spirit was his teacher.
The Holy Spirit was the one who opened his mind and his eyes to
Christ. It is.
No wonder that the holy spirit is known as the gift of God.
What talk about gifts today? You want to gift?
Ask for a greater feeling of the Holy Spirit.
Because I'm going to tell you today, doesn't matter what
Seminary you go to doesn't matter what preachers, you sit
under it doesn't matter how many books you buy and how many
highlighters you go through those books unless you have the
Holy Spirit, you will be nothing but a traditionalist void of
True. Praise and void of true
revelation. Because with Simeon hot in this
moment and the temple. Is what many people fail to have
in that. Very same Temple.
He saw what other people could not see because he had what they
did not have the enabling work of the spirit of God.
So, the Holy Spirit reveals this to him.
And now he begins to open his mouth after He blesses.
God, he took him up in his arms and blessed, God and said, 29.
Lord. Now you are letting your servant
depart in peace. According to your word.
This man holding this child. I don't know if he looked up.
I don't know if you looked into the eyes of that little baby.
But he began as the first thing out of his mouth To Boldly
declare the faithfulness of God. That's what he said.
The first thing he was able to say is God keeps his word. no
matter if it's declared to the whole human race, Or even if it
was promises concerning one, people group through the Psalms
through the prophets, through the law or even if he promises
one man about a thing concerning his own life.
God keeps his word. You said it Lord and it came to
past here is your promise for Israel, here is the light for
the Gentiles and here is your goodness and your faithfulness
to me, I can now die. I can now die.
He is faithful. He's perfect.
He never never disappoints. He's wonderful.
His character is immovable. He is trustworthy.
He is your stability in mine. And we see that Simeon declares
that but notice also that Simeon even expresses his Readiness to
depart in peace. I'm ready to go.
I'm ready to go because I've
seen the Messiah. I have seen your salvation.
You can call me home. Now God I believe that this
verse hints at the satisfaction that Jesus brings into a life.
Simeon here receives a, a glimpse of the Messiah.
He's not going to see the restoration of the nation of
Israel. He's not going to see the
Revival among the Gentiles. I would come in and bow before
this Messiah. All he is seen, is a glimpse of
the Salvation of God and it's so moved his heart.
It's so filled his soul that he is essentially saying, life has
nothing more to give to me. I'm ready to go.
I wonder if that's what you feel about your relationship with
Christ. Take Christ away, there's no
life to live. Give me Christ.
And I have all. This man is saying, I've seen
Christ. I've seen the Salvation.
I'm ready to go into Glory. I'm so blessed.
I am so filled with hope and joy, and peace that I'm ready to
depart now, Because I want you to be reminded Christmas.
Is not just about Jesus. Life is about Jesus.
The theme of Our Song is Jesus. The theme of our Salvation is
Jesus. The theme of Heaven is Jesus.
The theme of your satisfaction is Jesus.
Nothing else. And if it is anything else, I
pity you this afternoon because all I see is a desperate man.
A desperate woman drinking at a filthy water because you're
going to a broken cistern that's promising.
You something that will never ever ever satisfy.
This man was So Satisfied. I just decide of the infancy of
the Messiah that he said, take my life because I have now lived
I have now lived and the psalmist said, whom have I in
heaven but you and there is nothing on Earth.
I desire besides you he's the theme in heaven.
He's anathema Earth. You Heaven is about you.
Earth is about you. The person just the person of
Jesus Christ. Let me say it again.
He was not rejoicing here because he saw something
happened. No, no.
Just the person of Jesus alone, satisfied.
Is that true for you Christian? Where are your desires this
afternoon? Are you bored right now?
Is this not moving you? What are your plans for the new
year that is Christ? Included there?
Or did you get your fire insurance and you're going to
heaven? This man's Simeon, bless God.
Bless God to the degree that he says.
You can kill me now and I can welcome death with a smile.
Because I'm So Satisfied With This Moment.
And because Simian has this revelation.
The parents, the legal parents of Jesus are going to react in a
way but just for the sake of seeing in a verse 31 he goes on
to say that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples, a
light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your
People, Israel, there's the gospel.
Jesus, own disciples. How to go through.
So much to understand. The fact that Gentiles can be
saved, they had to have Council meetings about it.
And yet Simeon In This Moment, understood it, he saw it, he
knew it because the Holy Spirit does that he heals your
thinking? He does such an incredible
Supernatural thing in US. We celebrate the fact that the
Holy Spirit can make nothing into something.
He can bring God and do some weaving work into a random
woman. Create flesh.
They're not interfering with the Divine element of who God is.
But the miracle doesn't stop there in the Incarnation.
God, the Holy Spirit can do a work in you.
He can do a work in me, he can create something in us, he can
change us, he can heal us, he can renew us.
And I want you to see the reaction of these parents and
verse 33. And his father and his mother
marveled at what was said about him.
They marveled. They were an all.
They were stunned. May be stunned by the fact that
this random man. Is saying such things about
their boy, because their reaction here, interjects and
simeon's about to go on to prophesy, which we're not going
to touch this afternoon. I just want to park right here
as we close with this application.
They see, they hear and they Marvel.
Can I ask you something? Is this the first time that
they've heard something about this son?
Is this the first time that they receive Revelation?
No. No, they've received Angelic
visitation. No, no Joseph has received
dreams. Shepherd's have come to announce
something of this birth. This is not the first time that
they heard about, who this baby is and what this baby will
accomplish. But you know what, they still
marveled. Are you marveling today or is
this all familiar to you? You got used to, right?
It's just common knowledge now, right?
Another year, another Christmas service.
Another sermon. Maybe this time.
We'll cry. Maybe he'll move us.
Emotionally. Maybe the worship will be
better. I just have one question for you
today. Do you still Marvel?
Are you still in awe? This couple who had already seen
so much up to this point, could still lose their breath.
Could still lose. Their sleep could still worship
and, and give God glory, even though this is not the first
time they heard it. That's why I'm saying this today
because of what I said earlier, in the announcements, my prayer
for this morning service or this afternoon, rather is that we
would be revived. Into the new year.
I don't want to be able to hear a message about it and I'm sure
there is a responsibility upon the preacher to be filled with
the Holy Spirit and to expound on the text as a man who is
connected to God. I'm sure of that because some
people can talk about the gospel as though they're reading an
obituary. But there's still yet something
on our part. There's still an indicator of
the sensitivity of our hearts when we can still hear about
this and many things about who God is and be moved and still
Marvel and leave here and not immediately think what am I
going to eat? But at least be impressed.
At least be touched at least be stirred.
They marveled. Because Simian preached, a
sermon that lasted 13 seconds. and I want to tell you today,
that if you've lost, I'm not concerned, if you can't go to
your favorite restaurant anymore, I'm not concerned if
you lost the privilege of going on for vacations a year, instead
of one, Did you lose your Marvel?
Did you lose your Wonder? Did you lose your?
Aw, that's more concerning to me as a brother in Christ than what
we are being stripped from in America.
And my prayer again. Is that God by the Holy Spirit?
Can do a work like he did in this couple at work Beyond this
or work that we read later on about Mary when she hurts her
and things. It says she treasured these
things in her heart. Do you think that happens after
Sunday morning messages? Do we treasure what?
We heard in our heart that we meditate on it, we discuss it or
just She treasured them in her heart.
She relished she digested. She contemplated The mother of
the Lord Jesus Christ and his Humanity.
And so, that's what I'm leaving you with today.
Ask God to cause you to Marvel again.
Because only he can do it, this poor preacher can only go so
far. My stammering lips can only
suggest so much, but there is one who can impress you and move
you and reveal things to you and he's called the gift of God.
The Holy Spirit, can we ask him to help us today?
And can ask the choir to join us?
Before we sing, let's pray and ask God to help us Lord.
We thank you for this afternoon where you've gathered us
together. And we ask Lord that, you would
renew that sense of wonder. Lord.
We admit that our hearts are capable of being hardened, even
in a setting like this that we can be unmoved unchanged, but we
ask that you would rescue us. That you would rescue us even
though if it's something that we've heard over and over again,
that it would never fail to revive us.
Lord, we leave that to you. What we have we have done in
this moment. We've done prayerfully but we
trust in your sovereignty. Only, you can touch and save
souls. In this place.
Only, you can revive a heart that has been calloused.
And so we now worship you asking that even in this moment, even
in this brief moment as we close, you would make an
impression on our hearts and Jesus name, we pray.
Amen.