TEXT: LUKE 2:22-35.
Simeon was prepared to meet God-Are you? The birth of the Messiah was an event that had been anticipated for hundreds of years as it had been foretold through the prophets.
God had promised a Savior and He gave that Savior is the most significant and most magnificent way.
Despite the prophesies and the scripture promising the savior of the world, many missed it. The reason many people missed the first christmas was that they were not listening and they were not looking.
The Bible tells us that 40 days after the purification on Mary, when Jesus Christ was 40 days old, His parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and to offer sacrifice to God as was prescribed in the law of Moses.
When they arrived at the temple in Jerusalem, they met a man who was waiting their arrival for many years, they met a man who had been listening and looking.
- This man’s name was Simeon-Vs. 25.
- This man was just and devout.
- This man was for years waiting for the consolation of Israel.
- The Holy Spirit was on this man-He was a holy man.
- This man was morally upright and fully consecrated to God.
- This man was religious man, it was his hope to see the savior, the comfort of Israel.
- The shepherds in the field were taught by angels but the prophet Simeon in the temple was taught by the Holy Spirit.
- Simeon saw the Lord before the wise men did.
- Simeon life was marked by devotion to the word of God and faithfulness to the promises of God.
- But who was this Simeon? Some scholars have suggested that Simeon was the son of the famous Rabbi Hellel and the father of Paul’s tutor Gamaliel.
- Simeon was looking forward to the “consolation of Israel.”
- There are four encouraging truths to be drawn from Simeon’s life. May these truths encourage your walk with the Lord as you wait for the second advent of Christ. Let us behold:-
SIMEON ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT-Luke 2:25-27.
- The name Simeon means “hearing.”
- “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”-Romans 10:17.
- Simeon spent much of his time pouring over the scripture.
- The Old Testament Jew revered the scripture, despite the fact that the O.T was full of unattainable precepts, unfilled promises and tedious procedures.
- In Romans 7, Paul tells us about the inability to keep the law.
- The old Simeon understood that these seeming deficiencies could be resolved only in the person of Christ-Daniel 9:24-26.
- Jesus Christ was the answer. Only Jesus could fill in the blanks.
- The spirit of God had made it clear to Simeon that he would see Him when He came.
- Simeon kept on scanning with his eyes every young couple who brought their first born son for presentation at the temple.
- Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit of God, taught by the word of God, obedient to the will of God and therefore was privileged to see the salvation of God.
- A life led by the spirit of God will be a devout life, it is a life that looks for the Lord in every circumstance.
- Simeon teaches us that when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our life, God will reveal Himself to us.
- God is known through revelation not through knowledge-Vs. 26.
- Simeon knew through revelation that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ-John 14:21.
- He knew through revelation of the Holy Spirit that one day the savior’s parents would bring Him then offer Him to the Lord.
- Simeon is asking us this morning, “who is controlling your life today?”
- Is the Lord on the throne of your life?-Luke 2:27-29.
SIMEON WAS PREPARED TO DIE-Luke 2:27-29.
- One day Simeon saw a young man and a young woman. They looked poor, they carried a baby, they were coming to the temple to present Him to God.
- The Holy Spirit moved Simeon “That is Him.” This is the one the prophet had written about-Vs. 28.
- The old man gazed at the face of God manifest in the flesh.
- Instantly, Simeon was ready to die-Vs. 29.
- Death was no longer an enemy, devourer but a deliverer.
- Through this babe boy, salvation had arrived.
- Are you ready to leave this world and are you ready to depart in peace?
- The Bible does not say “Get ready.” It says “Be ready.” Death can come at any time.
- Are you ready to meet our Savior? Simeon was ready to die, to depart in peace and his life encourages us to do the same.
- Only those who have seen the Lord can have courage to see death and look at its face without terror-1st Cor. 15:55.
- The word used by Simeon “Depart”-Vs. 29 means to “set free,” to “release a prisoner,” to “acquit one accused of a crime and set at liberty,” to “release a debtor.”
- The apostle Paul used the same word “depart” in 2nd Tim. 4:6-7.
- Death frees the believer in Christ from the burden of this life and leads into the blessing of the next life.
- Please notice that the one who releases-Vs. 29 “It is the Lord.” He alone is the author and finisher of our faith.
- He alone has set the appointed time for the christian to die.
- The christian serves and simply trusts the Lord who knows best when his time is done.
SIMEON CARED FOR LOST SOULS-Luke 2:30-32.
- Vs. 31-32 Simeon knew Jesus Christ was the light of the world.
- Simeon knew that Jesus Christ is not savior to the Jews only, but for all mankind-Isaiah 42:6.
- Simeon knew by faith what Jesus would tell Nicodemus in John 3:16.
- Simeon knew that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, “for there are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- What are we doing to reach the world with the gospel?
SIMEON BLESSES OTHERS BY SHARING THE WORD OF GOD-Luke 2:34-35.
- Simeon was a source of blessing to Mary and Joseph because he shared the word of God with them.
- Simeon when speaking of Christ Jesus, he used three important images, the stone, the sign, the sword.
- Stone-behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.
- Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the image of God.
- Psalm 18:2, the Lord is my rock.
- Psalm 71:2, thou art my rock.
- Acts 4:11, the Messiah would be a “rejected corner stone.”
- The nation of Israel would stumble over Him-Rom. 9:32.
- Israel would fall in conviction and rise in salvation.
- Today the Jew still stumble over the cross of Jesus Christ 1st Cor. 1:23.
- Sign-And for a sign that shall be spoken against.
- The sign means, “A miracle.”
- Jesus Christ is God’s miracle. Instead of admiring Him, the people attacked Him and spoke against Him-John 8:41; Matt. 12:22-24. Today they say He was not born of a virgin, He did not die, He did not rise from the dead, He is not coming again.
- Sword-The sword was for many alone, Her son suffered-Mary experienced sorrow to see her own son on the cross.
- Let us tell others about Christ-Rom. 10:17; Rom. 10:14.
CONCLUSION
- What do you think of Jesus Christ?
- Are you ready for Jesus Christ?
- Are you ready to die? To depart in peace?
- Have you seen the salvation of God? Are you comforted?
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