A Hollow Hope

Intro

AS we prepare for the Coming of Christ. You say, I thought we were preparing for Christmas, well yes we are, but we are also preparing for the 2nd Christmas. The Second Coming of our Lord and Savoir. So I ask you this first Sunday of Advent. Are you ready to Meet Jesus?

Advent means Arrival. So when we say we are preparing for Advent. We are not preparing for a party. Or gifts,or a dinner. Oh no my friends. If your religious life this season does not drive you to your knees you are missing something vital. The enemy has potentially gotten you to believe that these things are mere decoration. this nativity is just because its pretty. that these candles are simply because I like fire. No my friends these things are all symbols to help remind us that Christ has come. and that yes. He is Coming.

I was listening to a minister ask the question if you knew you were going to die on December 25th. How would you spend December? Think about it? If you were to Die at the end of the month? How would you spend the month?

Do you think you would spend it chasing the latest sale? The latest trend? the latest movie or song? What are you living for today? Don’t feed the church answer, Jesus. Think about? if its Jesus then praise the Lord! but is it Jesus? Or is it something else? someone else?

Luke 2:25–32 ESV

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 it 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 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.”

Pause, Breath, Relax, Continue

Simeons Hope was in God and in Gods Redemption

He was a devout and Righteous Jew. Longing for the redemption of Israel. Longing for the freedom from their captors. Longing to know the Messiah. He hungered after God and longed for redemption.

What do we know: He evidently faced death at some point, for in that moment the Lord revealed, that He would not die before seeing Messiah. What does that tell you?

In his moment of death, he did not fear loss of possessions or even family. He mourned the fact that he never saw messiah. He never saw Israels Redemption. That was his heart. I want Jehovah. I want my God to do what I know He can do. So the Holy Spirit whispers to Simeon, :”this is not your day. You haven’t seen Messiah yet.”

Simeon longed to know Jehovah, He longed to see Jehovah triumph over the enemy. God I want to see you be you! I want to see you power fall.

Some of you long to see Jesus and His power fall. To see His church restored. to See Him Glorified. Hope in Christ and look for Him this Christmas season. Press deeper into the presence of God.

Looking with anticipation, Is today the day, God will fall? Is today the day that I will see Him move like never before? Is today the day? Simeon lived with an active hope.

When times get hard, as they certainly will. when Hope seems to fade, persevere with the Holy Spirit. Like Simeon

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Simeon Persevered with the Holy Spirit.

Simeon walked with Him. He talked with Him. He waited with God. So often we feel waiting is a stupid task. So many Christians have walked away, not because they stopped believing in Jesus but because He asked them to wait.

Now simeon’ waiting was not in vain, while he is waiting with the Lord for the Lord. The Holy Spirit is Moving on Caesar to have a census, impregnating Mary, speaking with Joseph, and the Magi. God was working all these things out to bring about the fulfillment of Simeon’ Hope.

In your life and Mine God is working behind the scenes to bring His redemption for His purpose. Our times waiting are not intended to be waiting as we normally think of it. No. Look at seasons of waiting as seasons of preperation. God was preparing the stage for Jesus. Simeon simply had to waiting and hope with the Lord

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Simeon Learned to walk with the Holy Spirit in the good and the Bad. He learned to persevere with the Lord. In that Perseverance he was brought into maturity.

My friends if you and I want our hope to be realized like simeons we must learn to be faithful with the Lord and persevere in the gaps. When we feel nothing and see nothing happening, we simply need to sit back and say. Glory to God you are in Control. I trust you. Is today the day you will bring my hope to realization?

Pause, Breath, Relax, Continue

Simeon Saw His Hope Realized because He Trusted in God

One Day Simeon is the temple looking for the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit, leads him to the temple courts. Person after person walks in. Simeon is says that messiah, He is big, that Gouy is strong. He must be Messiah. Then the Holy Spirit says, no simeon, here comes messiah, in the arms of that young woman. Right there is your Hope. In that Child lies the hope of Humanity. There lies Messiah. So there in the middle of the middle business. while worship and business and million things are going. off to the side. One man is seeing the hope of His life fulfilled.

Simeon trusted in God, persevered with the Holy Spirit, and in the end. God was faithful. He did what He said He would do.

Simeon’s Hope was placed on the right thing. Because He hoped in Christ. He saw what few see. That is a complete and Whole life.

Luke 2:29–32 ESV

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according 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.”

Simeon Holds up Jesus, and says, Now I can die in peace. For I have seen the Salvation of my God. I have seen God do what He promised. I have hoped in truth, and Truth has not failed.

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Is your Hope Hollow today?

Simeon walked with God, Hoping in and waiting for the things God waited for. Simeons focus was setting His heart on God. Then God’s heart, became simeons. Gods hopes became Simeons, and when God Found simeon. He saw a man who had his heart, like Abraham. So God extended Simeons life, so that He would see Jesus. His hope was in Jesus, before He even knew His name.

Where is your hope? Is it in family? Is it in your money, your career, your whatever? Politics? Is your hope in this church? In the A/G? In Christianity? Or is it in Jesus?

Where are you placing your hope this Christmas season? Are you simply hoping to not be depressed this year? Or to not feel alone? maybe you just don’t want to be discouraaged. Perhaps it is in getting all the right gifts and food for your loved ones. Now none of that bad. but it is all hollow.

Because Jesus is the only one who can make you and I whole.

I ask you again, If you and I knew we were going to die on December 25th. How would you spend this advent season? would you spend hoping your company would be ok, that the gifts were right? Or would you spend it preparing to meet your Saviour? My friends

This Year, may we place our hearts and hopes in Christ alone.