December 30, 2012
Morning Service

We are going to continue in Luke and look at two people who were at the temple when Jesus was brought in to be “presented” to the Lord. We will look for some encouragement for us as we head into a new year.

 

Luke 2:25-35 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him.  (26)  And it happened to him, being instructed by the Holy Spirit, he was not to see death before he would see the Christ of the Lord.  (27)  And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And as the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do according to the custom of the Law concerning Him,  (28)  even he received Him in his arms and blessed God, and said,  (29)  Lord, now You will let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word.  (30)  For my eyes have seen Your Salvation  (31)  which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples,  (32)  a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.  (33)  And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken by him.  (34)  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this One is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against  (35)  (yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

·         Notice the description of him; just, devout & waiting.  The NLT translates his waiting as “eager expectation.”

·         When we have an eager expectation of something in the future (hope) it tends to supersede whatever troubles we are dealing with.  Hope can make all things pale in comparison or importance to what we are currently experiencing.

·         God also rewarded Simeon’s diligent faithfulness.

 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Luke 2:36-38 and there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in many days, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.  (37)  And she was a widow of eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fasting and prayers night and day.  (38)  And she coming in at that instant gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those in Jerusalem eagerly expecting redemption.

·         Anna, being over 100 years old had not retired yet.  She continued to serve, praise, fast and pray.  As we grow older we often feel left out or pushed to the side.  If we feel that way it is our own fault.  We have great examples here in our fellowship of those who still serve diligently despite their age or short comings.  Our fellowship would be lost without our “mature” members leading us by example.  (Who will fill their shoes?)

·         Anna was one of those people.  Her attitude had to be contagious; joyful, positive, always praising and worshipping her God.  She too was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, embracing and sharing that hope with others.  A hope which brought her joy to her heart and made faithfulness her lifestyle.

 

1Pe 1:3-9  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you  (5)  by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;  (6)  in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in various temptations;  (7)  so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  (8)  whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and full of glory,  (9)  obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

·         Anna was not one to grieve and feel sorry for herself; she experienced that “living hope.”

 

What can we gain from these two God followers who were so blessed to see their Savior with their own eyes?

·         Faithfulness.  Faithfulness.  Faithfulness.

·         In Luke 18:8 Jesus asks the question about His return, “will I really find faith on the earth?

·         That is a great and perplexing question.  I myself can only answer that for me and you must answer it for yourself.  Is my faith growing into faithfulness?

·         Simeon and Anna’s did.  Their lives were “God centered” not “me” centered.  As we “mature” are our lives blossoming into what God has planned (living as a living sacrifice) or are we pursuing what we feel is best for me?  A question that your heart can only answer.

 

Luke 16:10-12 He who is faithful in the least is also faithful in much. And he who is unjust in the least is also unjust in much.  (11)  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?  (12)  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who shall give you that which is your own?

·         What Jesus is saying here is be faithful in the small things and He will bless you with more.  As we are spiritually faithful on the small scale, He will grant us opportunities to see Him work on the grand, even miraculous scale.

·         Control what you can and trust God to handle the rest.

 

Look at some of the promises the book of Revelation offers the “overcomer.”

 

Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

Rev 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

 

Rev 3:5 The one who overcomes, this one will be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

 

Rev 3:12 Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name.

 

Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne.

 

Paul summed up his overcoming journey through life in his last letter to Timothy.

 

2Ti 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.  (8)  Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.

 

What a challenge for us!  Our goal for this New Year should be able to make this statement at the end of it.  Can I do it?  I have real doubts when it comes to me and being that “overcomer” He will reward.    I can’t do it on my own.  He knows that and has made a way.

 

John 16:33 I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

 

Luther said of this verse “that it was worthy to be carried from Rome to Jerusalem upon one’s knees.” the world is a vanquished enemy; Satan is a humbled foe; and all that believers have to do is to put their trust in the Captain of their salvation, putting on the whole armor of God, assured that the victory is theirs, and that the church shall yet shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.