1 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:16,800 It's almost difficult to stop the worship because it's so 2 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,000 powerful today to reflect on the Incarnation of the Son of God. 3 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:24,000 So thankful for the worship, team for the children, for the 4 00:00:24,008 --> 00:00:26,600 choir, that will be singing after the message. 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,800 We're so thankful for all the practice and the prayers that 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,900 have gone into this to this meeting. 7 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,500 And oftentimes the Christmas time service is focused and 8 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:37,600 planned around being Evangelistic. 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,700 You know, there are people that come to church Come to church 10 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:43,700 only for this time of the year and maybe Easter if they feel 11 00:00:43,700 --> 00:00:46,900 like it. But I'm praying that this 12 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:49,800 morning or this afternoon. Rather this service would be a 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,500 Revival. Not just Evangelistic but it 14 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:56,700 would be a Revival in our hearts and so I praise God that were 15 00:00:56,700 --> 00:00:59,700 able to sing around the truth and the the revelation of God 16 00:00:59,700 --> 00:01:03,000 becoming a man and what might even encourage you more. 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,700 This afternoon is that this idea this tradition of the people of 18 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:12,600 God coming together and Focusing on this one aspect of what our 19 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,800 God has done and who he is, is not something that the church 20 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,300 has developed over the years. No, it's actually something that 21 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:24,800 was expressed and experienced at the actual event. 22 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:31,100 Meaning there are people singing and rejoicing and blessing God 23 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:36,800 right there and then when Christ was made known as a child. 24 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:40,600 And so all we're doing today is what we see in the scriptures 25 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,100 all were doing is We are continuing what was exemplified 26 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:47,800 in the Bible that when there are those a certain group there are 27 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,200 different individual who had the privilege of understanding that 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,100 this child is no ordinary Jewish child. 29 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:57,800 He is, in fact, God coming to this world. 30 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,300 Oh, they adored him. They adored him. 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,600 And the purpose of this meeting together is that we would look 32 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,000 at one of the Spirit. Led Outburst of adoration 33 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:13,100 concerning a man who was exposed who is given that wonderful 34 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,100 opportunity to realize that this is, in fact, the Christ. 35 00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:20,000 And so I encourage you today with your Bibles to turn with me 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,800 to the Gospel of Luke in chapter 2. 37 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:29,200 And since this past Friday, we dedicated our meeting to unpack. 38 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,000 The supernatural birth of Jesus Christ. 39 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,800 This afternoon, we will look at And consider the Adoration of 40 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:43,200 the Child, Jesus at his dedication. so, as you're there, 41 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:57,100 in the Gospel of Luke, please meet me in verse 20, 22, And we 42 00:02:57,100 --> 00:03:02,400 read here in the Gospel of Luke and Luke's telling of the early 43 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,800 days of Jesus in verse 22. And when the time came for the 44 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,100 purification according to the law of Moses, they being Joseph 45 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:15,000 and Mary brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the 46 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,200 Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord. 47 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,600 Every male, who first opens the womb Shall be Called, holy to 48 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,200 the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is 49 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,300 said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young 50 00:03:29,300 --> 00:03:32,200 pigeons. Now, there was a man in 51 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,800 Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous. 52 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:38,900 And devout waiting for the consolation of Israel. 53 00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:43,400 And the Holy Spirit was upon him and had been revealed to him by 54 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,500 the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen 55 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:51,300 the Lord's Christ and he came in the spirit into the temple. 56 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,000 And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him 57 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,000 according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms 58 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,000 and blessed. God and said, Lord now you are 59 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,300 letting your servant depart in peace according Ting to your 60 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:09,000 word. For my eyes have seen your 61 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,300 salvation that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples, 62 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:17,000 a light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your 63 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,000 People Israel. The first couple of verses of 64 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,200 our text today. I have a feeling that a lot of 65 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,200 people would be tempted to ignore such details and move on 66 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,100 in order to get to the meat of the matter. 67 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,600 But when we read, what we see here in verse 22 to verse 24, 68 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,600 about the, the legal parents of Jesus, coming into the temple 69 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:43,600 with that child in their arms to perform a specific Duty. 70 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:48,300 We have to be a people that believe that every inclusion in 71 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:52,200 the scripture, Is meant for our instruction and for Revelation 72 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:57,900 every part of the Bible, God waste no ink God wastes, no 73 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:02,000 Pages, God waste, no sections. And as we come to this, we 74 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,300 realize that Joseph and Mary want to come to the house of God 75 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:08,500 and it wasn't a spontaneous decision. 76 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,300 It wasn't something that they wanted to do like some Christian 77 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:14,700 parents today do after they have a child. 78 00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:18,400 We want to dedicate our child to the Lord and they figure out a 79 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,200 perfect. I mean they organized it and 80 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,800 it's a beautiful celebration. No no no this isn't spontaneous. 81 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,800 This is according to the law. This was demanded of them. 82 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,700 This was an observance of an ordinance. 83 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:37,300 And this ordinance is found in an unfairly treated book in the 84 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:39,300 Bible, and that's the Book of Leviticus. 85 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,600 And in that book, we read that God has given certain ceremonial 86 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,300 instructions and certain laws for the Civil Life of the nation 87 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:51,400 of Israel. Which is why many Believers when 88 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,400 they attempt to read through the Bible, find very little 89 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:01,200 motivation to pull through and Leviticus but I want to show you 90 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,000 today why it's important that you and I cannot afford to miss 91 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,100 out on even one part of the Bible because I want you to see 92 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,200 just as an example, how we forfeit Revelation when we do 93 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,900 that. We forfeit the harmony of the 94 00:06:12,900 --> 00:06:16,300 Bible, when we see things connect from one book to the 95 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:19,300 other and then we believe that scripture interprets scripture. 96 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:23,100 Do we not? And so we realize that there's a 97 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:26,300 section in The Book of Leviticus that is targeted towards 98 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:28,800 parents. And there's a protocol that they 99 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,900 were called to observe once they gave birth to either a boy or a 100 00:06:32,907 --> 00:06:36,400 girl. And if it was a boy then those 101 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,900 parents have to Faithfully circumcised that boy on the 102 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:43,700 Eighth Day, many people speculate why the eighth day if 103 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:46,400 you want to go the science Rebel scientists believe that the 104 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,200 eighth day is the best day concerning bleeding and 105 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,100 infection being the Just consequential thing that would 106 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:57,200 occur but if you want to go in the biblical understanding, the 107 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,800 number eight means new beginning and we realize that there's new 108 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,300 life New Beginning here. But why circumcisions you know 109 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:09,500 what I hope circumcision because number one that thing would be a 110 00:07:09,500 --> 00:07:11,500 symbol. It was a marked a national 111 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:15,900 identity of Israel in order for them to be able to rehearse and 112 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:18,700 remember that they have made a covenant with the true and 113 00:07:18,700 --> 00:07:22,200 living God that was established with their other Abraham. 114 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,600 But secondly circumcision because it was also an 115 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:31,800 illustration. It was a demonstration It was a 116 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,200 foreshadowing of the circumcising of the heart. 117 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,500 That God would perform at Salvation. 118 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:44,000 And it was in a sense, a cutting away of the flesh, a removal of 119 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,300 the flesh. A work, a surgery to be done on 120 00:07:47,300 --> 00:07:51,100 the human nature because we've inherited Adam sinned. 121 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,600 And so as they would circumcise their sons, it was to foreshadow 122 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,100 what God has said many times in the Old Testament, circumcise 123 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:04,800 your hearts Circumciser. Let there be a surgery done on 124 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,400 your soul. So, even that act had a 125 00:08:08,407 --> 00:08:15,100 spiritual meaning. And as Jesus was coming into the 126 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:18,600 world. He was granted parents that 127 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,600 obeyed God. God chose these parents knowing 128 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:28,100 that they would obey God. but after the circumcision, That 129 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:30,800 mother would have to weigh 33 days, aren't you? 130 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:36,200 Glad you're in the New Covenant. 33 days where she could not 131 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,100 touch anything. Holy and she cannot enter into 132 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:42,900 the sanctuary of the Lord. And those days were known as the 133 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:45,900 days of purification, she would have to be purified. 134 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:49,800 Why? Because not only was the child 135 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:55,400 in that act of circumcision being told to the parents, and 136 00:08:55,400 --> 00:09:00,700 to this nation, that it has a sin nature, but also the mother 137 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:03,000 herself need to be reminded that she needs to be cleansed as 138 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,300 well. And so she would be in that 139 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:09,600 state of days of purification. And after those days were 140 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,400 completed, turn your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 12. 141 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:22,400 In verse 6. We read in, Leviticus 12, verse 142 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,800 6. And when the days of her 143 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:30,200 purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she 144 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,700 shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting 145 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:37,700 a lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, and a pigeon, or a 146 00:09:37,708 --> 00:09:42,500 turtle dove for a sin offering. So, at the end of those days, 147 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:46,400 she would have to come and she would have to honor a ceremony 148 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:48,900 that would symbolize her purification. 149 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,300 It would Eliza a sin offering there is an atonement for her 150 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:56,900 sin and she would bring this child to dedicate him to the 151 00:09:56,900 --> 00:09:58,800 Lord. But it's in verse 8 where we see 152 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:04,100 how this connects with what we just read in Luke verse 8, and 153 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:09,000 if she can't afford a lamb, Then she shall take two turtledoves 154 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,900 or two, pigeons one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin 155 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:16,400 offering and the priest shall make atonement for her. 156 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:20,500 And she shall be clean. See what happens when you miss 157 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:23,600 Leviticus What do we read earlier in? 158 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,500 Luke Chapter 2, we read that Joseph and Mary came into the 159 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:28,100 temple. And what did they bring? 160 00:10:29,300 --> 00:10:31,200 Did they bring a lamb? No. 161 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,000 No they brought two. Pigeons. 162 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:41,200 Revealing to us that they were not a wealthy couple, they can 163 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,900 only afford the very bare minimum of their offering to the 164 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:46,900 Lord. And you would think that if this 165 00:10:46,900 --> 00:10:50,000 child, that's coming to the ceremony to be dedicated to 166 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,000 Lord, if this child is really God himself. 167 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,500 That there would be something prepared, the greatest offering 168 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:02,600 that you can offer on behalf of this child and the parents that 169 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,400 would supervise them in his Humanity. 170 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:11,300 But no God chose to Crown this young couple with the honor to 171 00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:17,100 be able to raise the Son of God in his Humanity because our king 172 00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:22,300 is not attracted to wealth. And he is not attracted to fame 173 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,400 and he's not attracted to Ability what draws the heart of 174 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:32,700 God is a heart of obedience. Is a heart that really Revere's 175 00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:37,600 him and loves him and fears him. And God saw this couple and, and 176 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:40,100 he recruited this couple and part. 177 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:41,700 Yes. Because of his Sovereign will 178 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:45,600 but because he saw a couple that were willing to obey even in the 179 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:50,300 smallest of things. This is what draws God's heart. 180 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,800 This is more valuable and precious to him than mountains 181 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,800 of gold or palaces of pearls or Prestige or pedigree. 182 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:04,400 Just a simple heart that loves his word just a humble hard that 183 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,700 honors his commands and God could entrust this couple with 184 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:12,400 the great privilege because he saw in them a willful surrender 185 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,000 to the word and that's all he required. 186 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,100 Can you visualize it this afternoon? 187 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,900 This precious beautiful young virgin. 188 00:12:22,900 --> 00:12:25,500 With the Child Jesus press on her chest. 189 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:29,900 Protecting him with whatever strength she had, while her 190 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:33,000 husband was walking on her side with two pigeons in his hands. 191 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,200 And all people on that day who might have walked by or seen 192 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,600 them would have known. According to the law will, 193 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,900 here's a poor couple just trying to do their best to honor God. 194 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,400 They couldn't afford a lamb, so they brought to birds. 195 00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:56,600 But they did have a lamb. They were the richest people 196 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:01,100 there. He is God in his wisdom in his 197 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:04,600 design, made sure that they would come in with two pigeons 198 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,500 because they were holding the Lamb of God. 199 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:10,800 The Lamb of God, who would come and put an end to all the 200 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,900 ceremonial laws that could never cleanse the Lamb of God. 201 00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:19,600 Who would come in to make one sacrifice that body that was 202 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,600 prepared? That would Usher in a New 203 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,400 Covenant in which we don't have to rehearse these things, but 204 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,600 look back and by faith, connect to that blood and it be applied 205 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,800 to us though. They did have a lamb. 206 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:40,000 But it was the Lamb of God. and as they came into that place on 207 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:44,400 the surface of the site, most of those people in there could not 208 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,400 understand what was occurring, but we see through the 209 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,300 scriptures that we have commentary and what was 210 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:53,500 happening. Let me emphasize this again. 211 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:58,300 This afternoon, God in his perfect wisdom selected Mary and 212 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:01,800 Joseph because they were surrendered vessels, that's all 213 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,700 it was and you see from his infancy. 214 00:14:04,700 --> 00:14:09,800 Jesus Christ wanted to and needed to fulfill the law by 215 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,200 willing to go through all of this. 216 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,100 Jesus Christ, didn't need to be circumcised, an infant. 217 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:19,500 Like the other Jewish kids had to there was no cleansing 218 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,900 needed. There was no sin nature to 219 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:25,300 cover, but Jesus Christ through the surveillance of these 220 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:29,400 parents underwent even that, because even from his infancy he 221 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:33,400 identified with Sinners just like why Jesus Christ got 222 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,600 baptized people wonder, it was a baptism of repentance if Christ 223 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,100 is perfect. Why did he allow John to baptize 224 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:41,700 him? Well to identify with sinners. 225 00:14:42,500 --> 00:14:46,000 Fulfill the law. And the same way you get 226 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,900 baptized in order to identify with Christ Christ, got baptized 227 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:56,000 to identify with you. And here he is willing to go 228 00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:58,200 undergo circumcision. Willing to go through the 229 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,500 ceremonial purification. Why not? 230 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,700 Because he needed it. But because he identified with 231 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:12,400 us, he was obeying God perfectly even from those years and God in 232 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,600 his wisdom, selected to parents to make it happen. 233 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,600 And what's a beautiful here is by this simple. 234 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:23,800 Obedience, Mary. And Joseph are about to meet a 235 00:15:23,808 --> 00:15:28,500 man. Are about to face someone who is 236 00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:31,200 going to further. Glorify Christ. 237 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:36,700 The simple thing of observance, the simple thing of circumcising 238 00:15:36,900 --> 00:15:41,000 and going through the ceremonial law, I'm sure they did not have 239 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:45,300 it in mind that it would lead to this Christ being further, 240 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:49,700 praise and adorned with Glory because that's what's about to 241 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,800 happen. And I believe that is for 242 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,500 instruction. It is for our instruction today, 243 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,600 don't you? Dare minimize, and don't you 244 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,000 dare be little small acts of sacrifice and small acts of 245 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,200 obedience. You just may be walking into 246 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,500 something that will further glorify Christ. 247 00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:11,800 As this couple would. And we read here, haven't we in 248 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,300 verse 25? That there is a man in Jerusalem 249 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:19,100 whose name was Simeon. And all were told about him, is 250 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,200 that he was righteous and devout. 251 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:25,800 What a description for a man. Righteous and devout. 252 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:28,900 Why is God telling us this about this man? 253 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:34,200 Because he would qualify as an appropriate witness about this 254 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,200 baby. He would qualify someone who 255 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,300 would be able to have authority to say this child is no ordinary 256 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:41,800 child. He's a light to the Gentiles. 257 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:45,700 He's the glory of Israel. And so, this men of good repute 258 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:50,300 would be given the opportunity to testify of this baby and 259 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:52,900 prophesy over this child, and his mother. 260 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,800 But more importantly, we're told not just that he was righteous 261 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,200 and devout, but he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. 262 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,500 I pray that this point would revive you. 263 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,000 I pray that this point would shake you out of your 264 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,000 lukewarmness. I pray that this point would 265 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,400 awaken you from the familiarity of the celebration. 266 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:18,700 Waiting for the consolation of Israel that waiting speaks of 267 00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:24,300 expectation and desire. This man Simeon God sought to to 268 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:26,400 write about him out of all the things that he too, could have 269 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,300 wrote about him. That there is something in him 270 00:17:28,300 --> 00:17:32,100 that consumed them and it was the longing and the waiting for 271 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:36,700 the Messiah to enter in. And to bring restoration to his 272 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:42,000 people, the Solace, the piece, the rest, and I'm sure Simeon in 273 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,600 light of the Roman oppression of his day, had a greater ache for 274 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,100 the things that he's learned ever since he was a child and 275 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:51,900 the things that he has studied in the Scrolls of the scriptures 276 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,900 to come about in his own lifetime. 277 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,900 I want to see the Messiah come. This was the beat of his heart. 278 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:03,400 This was his dream in the night. This is a theme of his 279 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,500 conversation. The Bible tells us by the 280 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:10,600 spirit, Simeon was a man who are waiting for the consolation of 281 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,900 Israel. Why do you think God wrote that 282 00:18:13,900 --> 00:18:17,300 for us to know? Why do you think God included 283 00:18:17,300 --> 00:18:20,000 this? I believe one reason is because 284 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:25,800 God looks at our desires. He looks at what we desire and 285 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,700 he honors US based on what he discovers about them. 286 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,400 Because you got many Christians today that are old Covenant 287 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,500 Believers that are so focused on the outward that they don't 288 00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:41,300 think God can see beyond your bone, and your skin, and your 289 00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:43,000 words and your hands and your money. 290 00:18:45,100 --> 00:18:48,500 Jesus came not to lighten up the law, he intensified it. 291 00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:51,800 You think that your holy because you didn't commit adultery with 292 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,200 your body if you've done in your mind, you've already done it in 293 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,600 your heart. Oh, you're not a murder, that's 294 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:57,800 why you don't deserve hell. Yeah. 295 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,600 You are a murderer. If you've hated your brother and 296 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:05,100 you're angry at him for no reason, God saw this desire. 297 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:07,400 He didn't just see the righteousness and his devotion. 298 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,300 He saw his desire. He saw his affections. 299 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:16,600 An impressed. God, it moved God, the Holy 300 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,300 Spirit. Included it here about this man. 301 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,400 And if you're not convinced today that God sees this and God 302 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,200 honors us and God does Things based on this, then go to the 303 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,900 gospel of Mark and I want you to see another man and the gospel 304 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:37,100 of Mark chapter 15. Be convinced today of the 305 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:42,100 consistent character of God. And Mark 1543, we read of 306 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:47,000 another man and this man was not at the infant stages of Jesus 307 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,800 Christ. This man was at the death of 308 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,900 Jesus Christ. And we are told and Mark 1543 309 00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:01,700 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was 310 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:05,700 also himself looking for the kingdom of God. 311 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,400 To courage and went to pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 312 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,700 Oh, here's another man. A man who is perhaps different 313 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:19,700 age different class. Different opportunities, 314 00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:22,900 different accomplishments. One thing in common with Simeon, 315 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:25,100 they both long for the kingdom of God. 316 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,900 They both longed for see this man. 317 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:31,100 Are you a member of some important Council this 318 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:33,000 afternoon? Are you someone special? 319 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,200 Do you have you have letters after your name? 320 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,100 Welcome. You have great. 321 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:39,500 Great digits in your bank account. 322 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:43,400 Welcome, we're told in Matthew that this man was rich welcome, 323 00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:46,500 but I want to ask you today. Does your position distract you. 324 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,800 There's your wealth fog, your interpretation of life. 325 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:57,000 This man had position this man had wealth this man had respect, 326 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,700 but this man, the eyes of his heart were set on the kingdom. 327 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:06,800 He longed for it, he yearned for it, he desired it and I see 328 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:13,300 Simeon, when Jesus was six weeks old and we read that he was able 329 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:19,000 to hold the Messiah. And I see Joseph. 330 00:21:20,700 --> 00:21:25,800 At the prime of this messiah's life slain holding his body. 331 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,500 And even given the privilege of fulfilling that prophecy in 332 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:33,100 Isaiah, where the grave of this Messiah would be shared with a 333 00:21:33,108 --> 00:21:37,500 rich man's tomb. I see it here. 334 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,900 I see that God saw two men and he saw their affections, he saw 335 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:44,800 their passions, and he honored them. 336 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,400 To come so close to his son to hold such great reward and 337 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:56,500 responsibility for this son. Maybe you're not convinced, 338 00:21:56,900 --> 00:21:59,800 maybe you're not convinced, maybe, maybe we got to do more 339 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,000 to get out of the mechanical Christianity, that plagues 340 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,100 America this afternoon. So let's do it in the book of 341 00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:08,700 Hebrews chapter 11, we read something quite amazing about 342 00:22:08,700 --> 00:22:15,200 how God views desires and in Hebrews 11 16 and not Hall of 343 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,000 Faith. After speaking about the 344 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:25,300 Patriarchs, we read in verse 16 of Hebrews 11 But as it is, they 345 00:22:25,300 --> 00:22:30,400 desire a better country. They desire a better country. 346 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,100 That is a Heavenly one. Therefore not pause. 347 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,800 Pause. Therefore whenever you see the 348 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,500 word therefore, ask the question. 349 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:45,700 What is there for there for What is therefore, therefore, and 350 00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:48,800 therefore, as there as what we just heard, as a result of what 351 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:53,400 we just heard that because certain men had a desire for a 352 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:57,000 Heavenly country. Desire does not say desire. 353 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,000 Desire. The same word used and First 354 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,000 Timothy 3:1 where it says, if any one aspires to be an 355 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:10,300 overseer, he desires a noble task, it's a desire. 356 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:14,000 So intense that you want to see it come to reality that you want 357 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,900 to see it. Manifests the same word, the 358 00:23:16,900 --> 00:23:18,700 same way. A man who desires to be an 359 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:20,900 elder, who desires to be a pastor. 360 00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:23,500 Who desires to fulfill that same word? 361 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,800 These people had another Faith, you believe in heaven. 362 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,000 Wonderful. You believe that you're going to 363 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,300 heaven, great. It's not talking about faith, 364 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:36,100 it's talking about longing. Yearning. 365 00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:42,500 Are you treading lightly in this world brothers and sisters? 366 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:49,100 Are you treading lightly? They desire a better country. 367 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:56,800 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for, he has 368 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:02,000 prepared for them a city. Based on desire. 369 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:09,500 Based on affection, based on passion God, who sees what our 370 00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:13,900 desires are set on when he sees his children, who desire, his 371 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:19,100 kingdom to come his rule to be known his dwelling to be with, 372 00:24:19,100 --> 00:24:23,300 man. He says, I'm not ashamed to be 373 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:27,200 called their God. Can you imagine a greater gift 374 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,700 than that? That in the presence of Angel 375 00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:32,800 host and Heavenly Creatures that if you were to see them, you 376 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:37,700 would probably melt out of fear. He can say, I'm not ashamed to 377 00:24:37,700 --> 00:24:43,800 be called his God. I'm not embarrassed to be called 378 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:51,000 her God. So desire alone magnetizes God 379 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:55,400 in a certain way, this shows that he's personal, this shows 380 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,600 that he's real. This shows that he actually 381 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,900 cares about what you feel and what you think and what you 382 00:25:00,900 --> 00:25:04,300 desire, and what you dream about oh that God would find in us a 383 00:25:04,308 --> 00:25:08,400 desire for a Heavenly country. Oh, that God would be able to 384 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,100 save Maranatha Bible Church? I am not ashamed to be 385 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:15,000 associated with this church, because they desire is not 386 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:16,100 wonderful. It's nothing to do with 387 00:25:16,100 --> 00:25:20,200 performance. Nothing to do with how great of 388 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,500 a minister you are, how powerful your preaching is. 389 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:25,400 No one simple thing. That Woos his heart, your 390 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:30,400 desire. This man. 391 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,200 Simeon had a desire. He waited for the consolation of 392 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,800 Israel. And then we are told That the 393 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:43,000 Holy Spirit had revealed to him. I mean, this is a unique 394 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,500 privilege, the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. 395 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:51,900 That he was not going to die until he would see the Messiah. 396 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:57,900 Now I can't imagine how this altered his life, we're not told 397 00:25:57,900 --> 00:26:01,700 when the Holy Spirit told him this but even if it was a week 398 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:06,000 before I'm sure that week look different from every other week. 399 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:08,800 Can you imagine what it would be like? 400 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,400 This is what you longed for your whole life. 401 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:17,600 This is what you desired. As early as you can even imagine 402 00:26:18,300 --> 00:26:21,100 and all for sudden, somehow some way the Holy Spirit reveals to 403 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:25,000 Simeon audibly, we don't know how Simeon. 404 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:31,700 You will not die. Until you see the Messiah. 405 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:35,900 What do those mornings look like? 406 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:38,900 As he woke up in his bed? Is it today? 407 00:26:38,900 --> 00:26:42,900 Lord is it today? Well, I see him today. 408 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:45,900 Will he enter in today? Will you were to me be fulfilled 409 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:47,500 today. When will it come? 410 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,500 Is it now? God left them in that 411 00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:55,300 spontaneous state, but assured by one thing, this man was not 412 00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:57,700 going to die. Even if all of Hell came against 413 00:26:57,700 --> 00:27:03,500 him, even if Rome came against him, he was not going to die 414 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,800 until he saw the Messiah and one day, something happens, 415 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:12,500 something marvelous he wakes up. And there's a strange sense of 416 00:27:12,500 --> 00:27:14,800 the leading of God in an unusual way. 417 00:27:16,300 --> 00:27:20,400 And there is the sense in which he had to go to the temple and 418 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,900 God's leading was so perfect. That every step, every 419 00:27:24,900 --> 00:27:28,900 Interruption on the way, whatever took place was 420 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:33,600 perfectly orchestrated by the spirit of God for him to arrive 421 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,900 at the moment, where he would see Mary and Joseph with the 422 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:41,600 Messiah in their arms. I read that this morning and I 423 00:27:41,608 --> 00:27:44,600 thought to myself, Lord, won't you just lead me like that? 424 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,400 All the experiences. I would know the time that I 425 00:27:48,408 --> 00:27:51,600 would save the energy, all these things that could be reserved 426 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,200 that you can just speak to me. So clearly and tell me, get up 427 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,500 and go stop, no, yes, maybe, no, I need it, I want it. 428 00:27:59,900 --> 00:28:04,600 Why just Simeon. I'm sure there's an innocent. 429 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,400 See about that. That God honors. 430 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,300 But I'm also refreshed to know here that there is another 431 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:16,100 person in the same Temple. Who did not have the same 432 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:21,200 experience as Simian leading up to this moment but she did have 433 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,800 the same blessing of realizing the Messiah. 434 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,600 Another woman, older woman, her name is Anna. 435 00:28:28,900 --> 00:28:31,700 We're often familiar with henna, but this is Anna. 436 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:34,500 Another Prophet s. She's found in the same chapter 437 00:28:34,500 --> 00:28:38,600 here and all were told about Anna, is that she was a 438 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:44,000 prophetess, she was a widow, she only had seven With her husband 439 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,500 before her husband died. Tragedy. 440 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:52,700 Heartbreaking. And we are told here in Luke 237 441 00:28:52,700 --> 00:28:59,100 about Anna. and then, as a widow, until she was 84, She did 442 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:02,900 not depart from the temple worshiping with fasting and 443 00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:06,700 prayer night and day. I love that because I see a 444 00:29:06,700 --> 00:29:10,900 woman who experienced the tragedy early in her marriage. 445 00:29:10,900 --> 00:29:14,700 She lost the love of her life. And I'm sure that shattered, her 446 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:19,200 dreams and her hopes of living long and old with her husband. 447 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:24,500 And yet this woman. Did not have bitterness in her 448 00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:29,100 heart against God did not walk away from the house of God. 449 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,700 Did not say this prayer thing doesn't work when I prayed for 450 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:35,500 my husband while he was sick. God didn't hear me? 451 00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:37,800 No, she devoted herself more to God. 452 00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:42,300 She came to the house of God daily and she prayed and she 453 00:29:42,300 --> 00:29:46,100 fasted, and she was a worshipper and elderly woman. 454 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,100 Not a princess, not a queen, not a beauty. 455 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:56,400 Pageant winner and elderly woman who, lost her husband who just 456 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:01,600 devoted herself to the house of God even more After a tragedy. 457 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:06,800 And she comes here and she worships God. 458 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:11,900 And there's an interesting phrase in verse 38 and coming up 459 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:17,300 at that very hour. She began to give thanks to God 460 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:20,400 and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the Redemption 461 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,300 of Jerusalem. Did you see the phrase? 462 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:28,700 And coming up at that very hour, the King James would say at that 463 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:32,700 instance. What are you seeing there? 464 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,600 Not wasted words. My brother and my sister what 465 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,100 you are seeing there is the Providence of God. 466 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:45,800 Simeon was led by the spirit to go to the temple, in a very 467 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:51,500 Supernatural real and Rahway. Anna was led to the temple. 468 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:57,300 By Providence, just another day, going to the temple. 469 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:00,600 Just another day to go worship my God, just another day to 470 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,500 pray. Just another day too fast. 471 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:07,200 But on this day it would be an extraordinary day. 472 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:13,200 She came up at that very moment where Simeon and that couple met 473 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:16,000 and we're Simeon. Grab that child and praise God, 474 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,400 and prophesied over him. And guess who was there to hear 475 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:26,200 all about it, Anna? Maybe that doesn't move you but 476 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:28,800 be encouraged to know that this is how God often leads his 477 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,200 people. Do you want God's Providence to 478 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,500 be in favor of your life in the New Year? 479 00:31:34,900 --> 00:31:37,700 Can I encourage you to do something be devout? 480 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,100 Be serious, about the things of God. 481 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,000 Be consistent in your walk with Christ. 482 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,700 You want Providence in your favor, love him, no matter what 483 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:52,700 he takes from you. Serve him. 484 00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:56,300 No matter who doesn't serve him? Don't let disappointment in 485 00:31:56,300 --> 00:31:58,100 life. Don't let heartache, don't let 486 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:03,300 betrayal, don't let things in life make you waver, I believe, 487 00:32:03,300 --> 00:32:06,800 and we can debate it over lunch. I believe that. 488 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,800 God honored, Anna, because Anna honored, God, call me 489 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:12,500 legalistic. All you want. 490 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,100 This woman was devout and God saw this woman and he Allowed by 491 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:22,200 his, providential leading to have an exposure that the priest 492 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:27,800 in the same Temple did not have. That the high priest did not 493 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:34,700 have. if you desire to God's Providence, Give him your 494 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:39,800 undivided devotion and watch him lead your life in spectacular 495 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:44,600 ways. What's amazing about Simeon 496 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:48,100 here? Is that by the Holy Spirit? 497 00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:52,900 He was led. And he comes here and let's read 498 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:55,000 it. One more time and verse 27, he 499 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,700 came in the spirit into the temple, and when the parents 500 00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:01,800 brought in the Child Jesus to do for him according to the custom 501 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,000 of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed. 502 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:06,800 God and said, can you imagine it? 503 00:33:07,300 --> 00:33:09,800 Simeon is blessing God while he's holding God, what a 504 00:33:09,808 --> 00:33:14,200 thought. Simeon is worshiping God while 505 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:18,500 he's holding God. Behold the humility of God. 506 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:21,900 Behold The Wonder of this moment. 507 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:28,100 And we see here that he was able to bless God, that was his first 508 00:33:28,100 --> 00:33:30,600 response is first. Reaction was to worship. 509 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:33,100 God was to worship. I pray that you came this 510 00:33:33,100 --> 00:33:36,600 afternoon to worship, God to worship God, and let of the 511 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,300 Revelation, that he became a little baby. 512 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:42,500 And guess what? If you're here today? 513 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:47,600 Because it's Christmas and you have to be here, And because 514 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,600 it's tradition and that's what traditionalist do. 515 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,400 But you're not here. Because you're moved by the 516 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,100 revelation of what Christ has done. 517 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,800 Then I want to encourage you today that what you need is what 518 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:02,800 Simeon had and that was the Holy Spirit controlling his mind and 519 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,800 his heart. That's what you need and that's 520 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,400 what I need. Every time this heart is able to 521 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:13,800 grow cold and doll with any truth concerning Christ. 522 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,500 Even as Incarnation, I need the Holy Spirit to fall upon me 523 00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:21,199 afresh. Because he was able to bless 524 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:23,199 God. And this is one of the most 525 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:25,600 incredible things because he declares one of the most 526 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:29,100 complete Prophecies of Christ before he even became a man, 527 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:33,199 think about this before Christ, uttered one Miracle before, he 528 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:37,600 uttered one Parable before he done one miraculous Supernatural 529 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:41,600 thing before before any sermon he heard. 530 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:47,500 He understood the gospel and its completion. 531 00:34:47,500 --> 00:34:51,500 He understood the work in the extent of what Christ would do. 532 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:55,500 He had a revelation and an insight to the work of Jesus 533 00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:59,000 Christ that no average Jew had that no priest? 534 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:04,500 Had that no Rabbi had because what what Simeon had in this 535 00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:07,100 moment is what you and I need every single day and that's the 536 00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:11,700 leading work of the spirit. The Holy Spirit was his teacher. 537 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:15,800 The Holy Spirit was the one who opened his mind and his eyes to 538 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:16,800 Christ. It is. 539 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:20,800 No wonder that the holy spirit is known as the gift of God. 540 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,200 What talk about gifts today? You want to gift? 541 00:35:25,100 --> 00:35:27,400 Ask for a greater feeling of the Holy Spirit. 542 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,000 Because I'm going to tell you today, doesn't matter what 543 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:33,900 Seminary you go to doesn't matter what preachers, you sit 544 00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:36,600 under it doesn't matter how many books you buy and how many 545 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,100 highlighters you go through those books unless you have the 546 00:35:39,100 --> 00:35:44,300 Holy Spirit, you will be nothing but a traditionalist void of 547 00:35:44,300 --> 00:35:45,900 True. Praise and void of true 548 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:50,100 revelation. Because with Simeon hot in this 549 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:54,600 moment and the temple. Is what many people fail to have 550 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:55,800 in that. Very same Temple. 551 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,500 He saw what other people could not see because he had what they 552 00:35:59,500 --> 00:36:02,100 did not have the enabling work of the spirit of God. 553 00:36:04,100 --> 00:36:05,900 So, the Holy Spirit reveals this to him. 554 00:36:07,100 --> 00:36:09,500 And now he begins to open his mouth after He blesses. 555 00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:14,300 God, he took him up in his arms and blessed, God and said, 29. 556 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,400 Lord. Now you are letting your servant 557 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,500 depart in peace. According to your word. 558 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:23,200 This man holding this child. I don't know if he looked up. 559 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:26,100 I don't know if you looked into the eyes of that little baby. 560 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:32,900 But he began as the first thing out of his mouth To Boldly 561 00:36:32,900 --> 00:36:36,500 declare the faithfulness of God. That's what he said. 562 00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:42,100 The first thing he was able to say is God keeps his word. no 563 00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:47,300 matter if it's declared to the whole human race, Or even if it 564 00:36:47,300 --> 00:36:50,800 was promises concerning one, people group through the Psalms 565 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:54,200 through the prophets, through the law or even if he promises 566 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:58,900 one man about a thing concerning his own life. 567 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:03,700 God keeps his word. You said it Lord and it came to 568 00:37:03,700 --> 00:37:08,600 past here is your promise for Israel, here is the light for 569 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,700 the Gentiles and here is your goodness and your faithfulness 570 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:16,600 to me, I can now die. I can now die. 571 00:37:17,900 --> 00:37:21,500 He is faithful. He's perfect. 572 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,700 He never never disappoints. He's wonderful. 573 00:37:26,100 --> 00:37:30,000 His character is immovable. He is trustworthy. 574 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:35,200 He is your stability in mine. And we see that Simeon declares 575 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,000 that but notice also that Simeon even expresses his Readiness to 576 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:40,900 depart in peace. I'm ready to go. 577 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:47,200 I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go because I've 578 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,900 seen the Messiah. I have seen your salvation. 579 00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:55,700 You can call me home. Now God I believe that this 580 00:37:55,700 --> 00:37:59,500 verse hints at the satisfaction that Jesus brings into a life. 581 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:07,500 Simeon here receives a, a glimpse of the Messiah. 582 00:38:07,500 --> 00:38:10,200 He's not going to see the restoration of the nation of 583 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,300 Israel. He's not going to see the 584 00:38:12,300 --> 00:38:15,000 Revival among the Gentiles. I would come in and bow before 585 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,500 this Messiah. All he is seen, is a glimpse of 586 00:38:19,500 --> 00:38:23,600 the Salvation of God and it's so moved his heart. 587 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:28,200 It's so filled his soul that he is essentially saying, life has 588 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:31,100 nothing more to give to me. I'm ready to go. 589 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,700 I wonder if that's what you feel about your relationship with 590 00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:41,100 Christ. Take Christ away, there's no 591 00:38:41,100 --> 00:38:45,000 life to live. Give me Christ. 592 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:49,400 And I have all. This man is saying, I've seen 593 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:51,400 Christ. I've seen the Salvation. 594 00:38:51,900 --> 00:38:55,700 I'm ready to go into Glory. I'm so blessed. 595 00:38:55,700 --> 00:39:00,100 I am so filled with hope and joy, and peace that I'm ready to 596 00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:06,000 depart now, Because I want you to be reminded Christmas. 597 00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:10,600 Is not just about Jesus. Life is about Jesus. 598 00:39:11,900 --> 00:39:16,800 The theme of Our Song is Jesus. The theme of our Salvation is 599 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,200 Jesus. The theme of Heaven is Jesus. 600 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:22,000 The theme of your satisfaction is Jesus. 601 00:39:23,500 --> 00:39:27,000 Nothing else. And if it is anything else, I 602 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:31,100 pity you this afternoon because all I see is a desperate man. 603 00:39:31,100 --> 00:39:34,500 A desperate woman drinking at a filthy water because you're 604 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:37,100 going to a broken cistern that's promising. 605 00:39:37,100 --> 00:39:40,000 You something that will never ever ever satisfy. 606 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:44,400 This man was So Satisfied. I just decide of the infancy of 607 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:47,600 the Messiah that he said, take my life because I have now lived 608 00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:52,300 I have now lived and the psalmist said, whom have I in 609 00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:55,300 heaven but you and there is nothing on Earth. 610 00:39:55,300 --> 00:39:57,800 I desire besides you he's the theme in heaven. 611 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,100 He's anathema Earth. You Heaven is about you. 612 00:40:01,100 --> 00:40:06,300 Earth is about you. The person just the person of 613 00:40:06,300 --> 00:40:08,800 Jesus Christ. Let me say it again. 614 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:12,400 He was not rejoicing here because he saw something 615 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:13,600 happened. No, no. 616 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,900 Just the person of Jesus alone, satisfied. 617 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:23,300 Is that true for you Christian? Where are your desires this 618 00:40:23,300 --> 00:40:25,300 afternoon? Are you bored right now? 619 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:34,500 Is this not moving you? What are your plans for the new 620 00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:36,100 year that is Christ? Included there? 621 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:38,100 Or did you get your fire insurance and you're going to 622 00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:42,900 heaven? This man's Simeon, bless God. 623 00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:45,200 Bless God to the degree that he says. 624 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:48,200 You can kill me now and I can welcome death with a smile. 625 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,000 Because I'm So Satisfied With This Moment. 626 00:40:55,500 --> 00:40:59,400 And because Simian has this revelation. 627 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,400 The parents, the legal parents of Jesus are going to react in a 628 00:41:04,408 --> 00:41:08,400 way but just for the sake of seeing in a verse 31 he goes on 629 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,100 to say that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples, a 630 00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:14,000 light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your 631 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:15,600 People, Israel, there's the gospel. 632 00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:21,700 Jesus, own disciples. How to go through. 633 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:25,200 So much to understand. The fact that Gentiles can be 634 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:28,000 saved, they had to have Council meetings about it. 635 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:32,100 And yet Simeon In This Moment, understood it, he saw it, he 636 00:41:32,100 --> 00:41:35,900 knew it because the Holy Spirit does that he heals your 637 00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:37,900 thinking? He does such an incredible 638 00:41:37,900 --> 00:41:42,200 Supernatural thing in US. We celebrate the fact that the 639 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:45,200 Holy Spirit can make nothing into something. 640 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:50,100 He can bring God and do some weaving work into a random 641 00:41:50,100 --> 00:41:51,800 woman. Create flesh. 642 00:41:52,100 --> 00:41:55,300 They're not interfering with the Divine element of who God is. 643 00:41:56,500 --> 00:41:58,700 But the miracle doesn't stop there in the Incarnation. 644 00:41:58,700 --> 00:42:01,000 God, the Holy Spirit can do a work in you. 645 00:42:01,500 --> 00:42:05,800 He can do a work in me, he can create something in us, he can 646 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:09,400 change us, he can heal us, he can renew us. 647 00:42:11,300 --> 00:42:14,900 And I want you to see the reaction of these parents and 648 00:42:14,900 --> 00:42:19,100 verse 33. And his father and his mother 649 00:42:19,100 --> 00:42:21,500 marveled at what was said about him. 650 00:42:25,100 --> 00:42:28,100 They marveled. They were an all. 651 00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:32,700 They were stunned. May be stunned by the fact that 652 00:42:32,700 --> 00:42:36,400 this random man. Is saying such things about 653 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:40,400 their boy, because their reaction here, interjects and 654 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:44,000 simeon's about to go on to prophesy, which we're not going 655 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:47,800 to touch this afternoon. I just want to park right here 656 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:49,700 as we close with this application. 657 00:42:51,500 --> 00:42:54,400 They see, they hear and they Marvel. 658 00:42:55,700 --> 00:42:58,300 Can I ask you something? Is this the first time that 659 00:42:58,300 --> 00:42:59,800 they've heard something about this son? 660 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,200 Is this the first time that they receive Revelation? 661 00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:08,600 No. No, they've received Angelic 662 00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:12,200 visitation. No, no Joseph has received 663 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:17,900 dreams. Shepherd's have come to announce 664 00:43:17,900 --> 00:43:22,500 something of this birth. This is not the first time that 665 00:43:22,500 --> 00:43:25,900 they heard about, who this baby is and what this baby will 666 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:28,300 accomplish. But you know what, they still 667 00:43:28,300 --> 00:43:31,800 marveled. Are you marveling today or is 668 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:37,900 this all familiar to you? You got used to, right? 669 00:43:39,700 --> 00:43:41,500 It's just common knowledge now, right? 670 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:45,200 Another year, another Christmas service. 671 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:47,800 Another sermon. Maybe this time. 672 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:49,500 We'll cry. Maybe he'll move us. 673 00:43:49,500 --> 00:43:51,000 Emotionally. Maybe the worship will be 674 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:54,400 better. I just have one question for you 675 00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:57,500 today. Do you still Marvel? 676 00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:05,600 Are you still in awe? This couple who had already seen 677 00:44:05,600 --> 00:44:09,400 so much up to this point, could still lose their breath. 678 00:44:09,400 --> 00:44:11,800 Could still lose. Their sleep could still worship 679 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:16,000 and, and give God glory, even though this is not the first 680 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:21,300 time they heard it. That's why I'm saying this today 681 00:44:21,300 --> 00:44:24,300 because of what I said earlier, in the announcements, my prayer 682 00:44:24,300 --> 00:44:27,800 for this morning service or this afternoon, rather is that we 683 00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:31,000 would be revived. Into the new year. 684 00:44:34,100 --> 00:44:36,800 I don't want to be able to hear a message about it and I'm sure 685 00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:40,200 there is a responsibility upon the preacher to be filled with 686 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:45,100 the Holy Spirit and to expound on the text as a man who is 687 00:44:45,100 --> 00:44:47,700 connected to God. I'm sure of that because some 688 00:44:47,700 --> 00:44:50,000 people can talk about the gospel as though they're reading an 689 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:55,100 obituary. But there's still yet something 690 00:44:55,100 --> 00:44:57,700 on our part. There's still an indicator of 691 00:44:57,700 --> 00:45:02,500 the sensitivity of our hearts when we can still hear about 692 00:45:02,500 --> 00:45:06,900 this and many things about who God is and be moved and still 693 00:45:06,900 --> 00:45:10,300 Marvel and leave here and not immediately think what am I 694 00:45:10,308 --> 00:45:14,200 going to eat? But at least be impressed. 695 00:45:15,300 --> 00:45:19,700 At least be touched at least be stirred. 696 00:45:22,300 --> 00:45:26,600 They marveled. Because Simian preached, a 697 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:34,500 sermon that lasted 13 seconds. and I want to tell you today, 698 00:45:34,500 --> 00:45:38,600 that if you've lost, I'm not concerned, if you can't go to 699 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:42,500 your favorite restaurant anymore, I'm not concerned if 700 00:45:42,500 --> 00:45:46,500 you lost the privilege of going on for vacations a year, instead 701 00:45:46,500 --> 00:45:51,000 of one, Did you lose your Marvel? 702 00:45:53,700 --> 00:45:58,300 Did you lose your Wonder? Did you lose your? 703 00:45:58,300 --> 00:46:04,000 Aw, that's more concerning to me as a brother in Christ than what 704 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:06,000 we are being stripped from in America. 705 00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:12,100 And my prayer again. Is that God by the Holy Spirit? 706 00:46:13,500 --> 00:46:18,000 Can do a work like he did in this couple at work Beyond this 707 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:20,900 or work that we read later on about Mary when she hurts her 708 00:46:20,900 --> 00:46:22,300 and things. It says she treasured these 709 00:46:22,300 --> 00:46:25,400 things in her heart. Do you think that happens after 710 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:29,100 Sunday morning messages? Do we treasure what? 711 00:46:29,100 --> 00:46:31,500 We heard in our heart that we meditate on it, we discuss it or 712 00:46:31,500 --> 00:46:35,700 just She treasured them in her heart. 713 00:46:36,100 --> 00:46:43,800 She relished she digested. She contemplated The mother of 714 00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:46,100 the Lord Jesus Christ and his Humanity. 715 00:46:47,500 --> 00:46:49,100 And so, that's what I'm leaving you with today. 716 00:46:50,100 --> 00:46:52,300 Ask God to cause you to Marvel again. 717 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:56,400 Because only he can do it, this poor preacher can only go so 718 00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:59,900 far. My stammering lips can only 719 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:04,900 suggest so much, but there is one who can impress you and move 720 00:47:04,900 --> 00:47:08,600 you and reveal things to you and he's called the gift of God. 721 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:11,900 The Holy Spirit, can we ask him to help us today? 722 00:47:12,500 --> 00:47:14,400 And can ask the choir to join us? 723 00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:43,700 Before we sing, let's pray and ask God to help us Lord. 724 00:47:43,700 --> 00:47:46,100 We thank you for this afternoon where you've gathered us 725 00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:49,700 together. And we ask Lord that, you would 726 00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:53,600 renew that sense of wonder. Lord. 727 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:58,200 We admit that our hearts are capable of being hardened, even 728 00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:03,800 in a setting like this that we can be unmoved unchanged, but we 729 00:48:03,800 --> 00:48:08,100 ask that you would rescue us. That you would rescue us even 730 00:48:08,100 --> 00:48:10,600 though if it's something that we've heard over and over again, 731 00:48:10,600 --> 00:48:12,500 that it would never fail to revive us. 732 00:48:13,300 --> 00:48:17,000 Lord, we leave that to you. What we have we have done in 733 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,800 this moment. We've done prayerfully but we 734 00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:23,000 trust in your sovereignty. Only, you can touch and save 735 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:24,400 souls. In this place. 736 00:48:25,100 --> 00:48:28,900 Only, you can revive a heart that has been calloused. 737 00:48:30,900 --> 00:48:34,600 And so we now worship you asking that even in this moment, even 738 00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:37,600 in this brief moment as we close, you would make an 739 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:41,200 impression on our hearts and Jesus name, we pray. 740 00:48:41,700 --> 00:48:42,200 Amen.