Make Yourself Useful to the Lord

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

You may be seated.

How many of us:

Want our lives

to count for something.

We want to know

when we leave this earth

we’ve lived lives

that are useful

to the Lord?

We want God

to gain glory

Frm our lives?

Thru the scenes

of this story

Luke give us

some examples of ppl

who made

themselves useful

to the Lord.

& we’ll learn

two things we must

do to follow

in their footsteps.

PRAYER

Let’s pray.

Father we thank you

for your Word.

We ask you

to open our ears

to hear the voice

of Jesus.

Give us hearts

& minds

that are open

to receive the truth.

& give us grace

to put the truth

into practice.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

[Transition: The 1st

thing we must do

To make ourselves

useful to the Lord is

We must...]

Obey the Lord’s LAW. (2:21-24, 39)

The Circumcision and Naming (Luke 2:21)

Luke offers an example

of what

this looks like

thru Joseph & Mary.

In Luke 2:21

Luke says:

Luke 2:21 (NIV)

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Eight days after

Jesus was born

in Bethlehem

it was time to circumcise

& name God’s Son.

Circumcision is

a religious ritual

where the foreskin

of the male member

is removed.

Why was this necessary?

Joseph & Mary

had Jesus circumcised

in obedience

to the Lord’s command.

We read this command

in Genesis 17:10-13.

The Lord says

to Abraham

Genesis 17:10–13 (NIV)

This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.

Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.

Like every other male

born in Israel

Jesus was circumcised

eight days

after He was born

to officially become

a part of

God’s Covenant ppl.

APPLICATION

& by the way:

This everlasting covenant

is still in force today.

We’ve still

gotta be circumcised

to be a part of

God’s Covenant People.

But this circumcision

now comes in

a dfrnt form.

As Paul says in

Colossians 2:11–12 (NIV)

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, [Paul goes on to tell us when this happens in verse 12. He says...]

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

The everlasting covenant

& necessary nature

of circumcision

still stands.

But the procedure

is no longer performed

by human hands.

Under the New Covenant

both males & females

are now circumcised

by Christ

in the waters

of Holy Baptism.

Our old sinful self—

which was ruled

by the flesh—

is cut off by Christ

when we’re baptized.

We come out of

the water

a new person.

Born again

w/ a new nature

As a part of a

the new creation

in Christ.

So, Mary & Joseph

took Jesus

to be circumcised

8 days

after He was born.

They waited 8 days

bcs according to

the Lord’s Law

A woman was

ceremonially unclean

for 7 days

after she gave birth

to a male child.

During this 7-day period

A woman was excluded

frm religious

life & worship.

& she cld not have

any contact

w/ others.

Bcs anyone

or anything that touched

an unclean person

wld be made

ceremonially unclean

thru that contact.

& they wld need

to be purified

Bfr resuming

religious life

& worship.

So Mary was isolated

for 7 days

after she gave birth

to God’s Son.

& on the 8th day

either Joseph

circumcised Jesus

or someone came

to where

the Holy Family

were now staying

& circumcised Jesus.

& on the same day

as a part of the ritual

of circumcision

God’s Son

was also named.

But neither Joseph

nor Mary chose

the name of God’s Son.

Luke tells us

God named His Son

thru an angel.

& in Matthew 1.21

Matthew adds an

important detail

abt the name

God’s Son was gvn.

The angel told Joseph

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

“[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

It’s impossible

to overstate

the importance

of the name Jesus.

Bcs the name Jesus means:

The Lord saves.

The Lord rescues.

The Lord delivers.

The Christian Faith—

is founded on

the truth we find

in the name

of Jesus.

The primary purpose

for Jesus coming

to this earth

is to save humanity

frm our sins.

Paul puts it this way

in Titus 2:13-14.

Titus 2:13–14 (EHV)

...our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his own chosen people, eager to do good works.

Sin & lawlessness

are synonymous

in the Scriptures.

As John says in

1 John 3:4 (EHV)

Everyone who commits sin also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

God’s Son

came to save the world

by redeeming us—

by freeing us—

frm all lawlessness—

frm all sin.

He came to purify us

& make us eager

to do the good works

we’re created to do

in Christ.

That’s what we

shld think abt

when we hear the name

Jesus.

Let me give you

an easy way

to remember this.

Take the name Jesus.

& turn that into this

Jesus

Enfleshed

Saves

Us from all

Sin.

That’s why

Jesus came.

That’s what

the name

of Jesus means.

Jesus enfleshed

saves us

frm all sin.

Back to Joseph

& Mary.

They wait 8 days:

To circumcise

& name Jesus

in obedience to the law.

But there was

more thing they had to do

To obey

the Lord’s Law.

The Presentation (2:22-24)

It’s now

40 days after

the birth of Jesus;

& Joseph & Mary

have to take

baby Jesus

abt six miles

frm Bethlehem

to Jerusalem.

In Luke 2:22-23

Luke tells us

why they took

this trip.

He says

Luke 2:22–23 (NIV)

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”)...

Under the Old Covenant

the Lord required His ppl

to consecrate

or set apart

their firstborn males

for the Lord’s service.

Luke quotes frm

Exodus 13:2

where the Lord

commanded His ppl

Exodus 13:2 (NIV)

“Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”

& the reason they

waited 40 days

to present

Him to the Lord

is to obey the Law

we read in

Leviticus 12:1-4.

Leviticus 12:1–4 (NIV)

The Lord said to Moses,

“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.

On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.

Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.

After Jesus was circumcised

they had to wait

an additional 33 days

to dedicate Him.

Bcs

although after

The 7-day purification period

Mary cld be around others

& touch common ppl

& common things.

She was not permitted

To touch

anything sacred

or go to near

any sacred place

including the Temple.

in obedience

to the Lord’s Law

Joseph & Mary wait

until Jesus is

40 days old

To take Him to the temple

& dedicate Him

to the Lord’s service.

But that’s not

the only reason

his parents took

Jesus to Jerusalem.

The Sacrifice

In Luke 2:24

Luke says

While they were at the temple

Joseph & Mary

also had to

Luke 2:24 (NIV)

...offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

This offering wld allow Mary

to be readmitted

into religious life

after giving birth

to a child.

& the contents

of their offering

reveals an interesting

detail abt Mary

& Joseph.

They offered

the poor person’s

offering.

We read abt this offering

in Leviticus 12:6-8

Leviticus 12:6–8 (NIV)

“ ‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.

He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. “ ‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.

In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”

By mentioning

that their offering

was two doves

or two young pigeons

Luke emphasizes a theme

we see throughout

His gospel.

The gospel

is to the poor.

Israel’s King

was born

to poor parents.

The birth of

Israel’s King

was first announced

to poor shepherds.

The poor are the first

To have the good news

of the kingdom

preached to them.

Jesus came

to save the poor

& oppressed.

Now

w/ these

three ceremonies—

The Circumcision

& Naming—

The Presentation

of Jesus to the Lord—

& the Offering

for Purification—

w/ these three ceremonies

Performed over

a 40-day period:

Luke wants us

to see clearly

what he says in Luke 2:39.

Luke 2:39 (NIV)

...Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord...

Joseph & Mary

completely obeyed

the Lord’s Law.

APPLICATION

& they are

a model

for all of us

to imitate.

Under the

New Covenant

the ceremonial aspects

of the Law

were fulfilled

& replaced

in Christ.

Physical circumcision

has been replaced

by Holy Baptism.

The Passover

replaced by

Communion.

& the

animal sacrifices

for sins

were all replaced

when Jesus became

the ultimate sacrifice

For sin

& took away

the sin of the world

once & for all

by the sacrifice of Himself.

So, the ceremonial

& temporary aspects

of the Lord’s Law

Have been fulfilled

& replaced

by better promises.

But this does not mean

God’s ppl

Are now lawless

under the New Covenant.

Remember

Jesus came to

redeem us

frm all lawlessness.

So, God still expects

His faithful ppl

to obey the

eternal

moral aspects

of the Lord’s Law.

Paul calls this

The Law

of Christ.

& the Law

of the Spirit.

James calls it

The Law

that gives Freedom.

It’s the Law

Jesus clarified

in the Sermon

on the Mount.

It’s the Law

Jesus summed up

in Matthew 22:37.

When asked

Which is the greatest commandment

in the Law

Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV)

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Every command

in the Lord’s Law

teaches us:

How to love God;

& how

to love others.

& doing this is

not unattainableble

for anyone.

It’s something

God has commanded

frm the beginning

& which

God’s faithful ppl

have been doing

since the beginning.

Joseph & Mary

are two examples

of ppl who

made themselves useful

to the Lord

By obeying

the Lord’s Law.

& if we want to

make ourselves

useful to the Lord

We must strive

to do the same.

[Transition: & we also

need to do a 2nd thing

To make ourselves

useful to the Lord.

We must…]

Obey the Lord’s SPIRIT. (2:25-38)

In Luke 2:25-38

Luke introduces us

to two more

fascinating ppl.

One is a godly man.

The other

a godly woman.

& these two ppl

are an example

of what it looks like

to obey

the Lord’s Spirit.

First:

Let’s talk abt

Simeon’s example. (vv.25-35)

Notice how Luke

describes Simeon

in Luke 2:25.

He says.

Luke 2:25 (NIV)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Luke says

Simeon is

righteous & devout

& the HS

is all over Him.

What this means is

As Luke says

of John the Baptizer’s parents

in Luke 1:6—

Simeon was

Luke 1:6 (NIV)

...righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

Is it possible:

To observe

all the Lord’s commands

& decrees blamelessly?

According to

the Scriptures:

“Yes.”

John’s parents did it.

Joseph & Mary did it.

Simeon did it.

Countless other saints

have done it.

But for many years—

based on a

bad reading of

Paul’s letters—

we’ve been

wrongly taught

that it’s impossible

to obey all the Law

of the Lord

blamelessly.

We’ve been taught

the Lord’s Law is just

too burdensome

for God’s ppl.

But Luke

makes it clear

that ppl can

& did obey

all the Lord’s commands

& decrees blamelessly.

& we can too.

But none of them

did in their own

strength.

& neither can we.

They needed

God’s grace.

& we need

God’s grace

to empower us.

Simeon

was righteous

& devout

Bcs he obey

God blamelessly.

He obeyed God

blamelessly

bcs the HS

was all over him

giving Him

God’s grace.

& God’s grace

produced a desire

in Simeon

To obey

God’s commands

& to see

God’s kingdom come.

Concern for God’s Kingdom

Simeon was waiting

for the consolation

of Israel.

This means:

He was waiting

for God’s Messianic Kingdom

to come.

He was living

in obedience to

the Lord.

& looking fwd

to the day

when the Lord

wld fulfill

the promise He

made to His ppl

in Isaiah 52:9.

Isaiah 52:9 (NIV)

Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.

God’s ppl

had been ruined

by their sins.

They had

turned their backs

on God.

& bcs they

had forsaken God

God forsook them

& allowed their enemies

to take them captive.

He said:

“You don’t want

“to serve Me.

“You don’t want

“to be under My rule;

“Then get a taste

“what it’s like

“to be ruled by

“your enemies.”

For many centuries

God’s ppl

had been ruled

by their enemies.

But God

had gvn them hope.

He promised

to send them a King

who wld redeem them

frm all their enemies

& usher in

God’s rule on earth.

Simeon & every other

righteous & devout

Jewish person

were looking fwd

to this coming King

& His Kingdom.

& God gave Simeon

the incredible promise

we read in Luke 2:26.

Luke says

Luke 2:26 (NIV)

It had been revealed to [Simeon] by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

& as Simeon says

in Luke 2:29

Luke 2:29–30 (NIV)

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation...”

The Lord promised Simeon:

He wld send the Messiah—

The Redeemer

who wld comfort Israel

& save them frm

their enemies—

The Lord promised

the Messiah wld come

bfr Simeon died.

& this promise

was revealed to Simeon

by the HS.

It’s easy to overlook:

Just how huge

this promise is.

But imagine

you’re Simeon.

Since you were

a young child

You’ve heard

all the prophecies

abt the coming King

of Israel

You’ve heard

this King will come

& save your ppl

& bring abt

God’s reign on earth.

& one day

You hear a

still small voice say:

“The King is coming

“in your lifetime.

“You will not die

“bfr you see the Lord’s

Salvation.”

ILLUSTRATION

Let’s relate this

to our day.

This is the equivalent

of the Lord telling

one of us

We will not die

bfr we witness

the Lord’s 2nd Coming.

What if you knew

for certain

King Jesus

was coming back

in your lifetime?

Wld that effect

how you live?

What kind of expectation

Wld you wake up w/

every day?

That’s the situation Simeon

was in.

The HS told Simeon

He wld not die

bfr the Messiah came.

Now

the HS may not tell us

the Lord is coming back

bfr we die.

But the HS

does tell us

to live every day

as if we knew King Jesus

will come back

bfr we die.

It’s very possible

Jesus will come back

in our lifetime.

The early Church

lived like this.

John

Peter

James

Paul

All those dudes

lived as if

the Lord wld come back

any second.

We shld approach

every day w/

that same sense

of anticipation.

Reminding ourselves

“Our King

“is coming today.”

& that

will help us

to live every day

as Jesus told us

to live.

As Simeon was—

Watching & praying;

Keeping our lamps burning;

Being ready

to meet our Master

when He comes.

So, the HS

gave Simeon insight

Into when

the Messiah

wld be born.

& in Luke 2:27

Luke says:

Luke 2:27 (NIV)

Moved by the Spirit, [Simeon] went into the temple courts.

Bcs the HS was “on” Simeon

& bcs Simeon listened

when the HS

spoke to him

Simeon moved

when the HS

said to move.

Simeon obeyed

the Lord’s Spirit.

Now if Simeon

had not known

the voice

of the HS

& obeyed the HS

he wld’ve

missed this.

Like so many others

in Jesus’ day

Who heard all

the prophecies

Who saw

all the signs

but missed

the Messiah.

But bcs Simeon

knew the Spirit’s voice

& obeyed

the Spirit’s direction

Simeon was led

to the temple

to meet the Messiah.

God does amazing things

for His ppl

& thru His people

when we obey

the Lord’s Spirit.

APPLICATION

Now

as incredible as

Simeon’s relationship

w/ the Lord was

If we’re born again;

If we’re children of God;

Then you & I

have something

Simeon did not have.

The HS is not just

“on” us.

The HS is

“in” us.

& just like the HS

led Simeon;

to where he needed to go

to meet the Messiah

The HS

will also lead us.

He will move

us to obey the Lord.

If we’ll listen

for His direction.

The Lord will

lead & guide us:

Not just in

a general way

But in the specific

details of our lives.

Part of learning

to walk in the Spirit

is learning to hear

the promptings

of the HS.

If you read the NT—

As I encourage all

of you to always

be doing—

When you read

the NT

you’ll see

over & over again

The HS

gives God’s ppl

specific direction

for our lives.

This is not something

that was just for

The Apostles.

& it was not

just for NT times.

If we’ll give the Lord

full control

of every area

of our lives

The HS will Lead us

In every detail

of our lives.

But it’s important

you hear me say this:

The HS

will never move us

or lead us

to do something contrary

to Gods revealed will

in His Word.

The HS

will not contradict

the written Word.

The Law & the Spirit

agree w/

one another.

So, we need to

know the Word well.

We need to

read the Word often.

We need to saturate

ourselves

w/ the teachings of Scripture

until they become a part

of our very being.

So, we can be sure

we’re following

the HS’s leading

& not our own minds

or deceiving spirits.

The same HS

who led Simeon

He’s here

w/ us today.

He will still lead

our lives today.

He will lead us

to be righteous

& devout.

He will lead us

to obey

the Lord’s Law.

If we want to be

useful to the Lord

Then let’s follow

the example

of Simeon.

Let’s obey

the Lord’s Spirit.

& let’s also

follow the example

of another saint

Who obeyed

by the Lord’s Sprit.

[Transition: Let’s follow…]

ANNA’S example (vv.36-38)

In verse 36-38

Luke introduces us

to a female prophet

named Anna.

She was a righteous

& devote women

who obeyed

the Lord’s Law.

She was 84

years old.

& Anna was a widow.

She had become a widow

just seven years

after her marriage.

& after her husband died

Anna fully dedicated herself

to the Lord’s service.

Luke says:

She never

left the temple.

She worshipped

the Lord

night & day.

She prayed.

She fasted.

Just like Simeon

Anna obeyed

the Lord’s Law.

& just like Simeon

Anna obeyed

the Lord’s Spirit.

& she was led

to meet Jesus.

As Luke says in Luke 2:38

Luke 2:38 (NIV)

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Anna saw Jesus

she gave joyful thanks

to God.

Like Simeon

She praised God

for showing her

God’s salvation.

& then

Anna became

an Evangelist.

Well, here we have a humble old woman…

& she also becomes an evangelist.

She tells everyone

who want to listen

abt this child

the HS

had led her to.

She says:

“This is the one

“we’ve been

“waiting for

“to redeem us.

“Our King

has come.

“God’s Salvation

“has finally arrived.”

APPLICATION

Now, there’s

an important truth

for all of us

in these verses.

But especially

for the widows

& both male & female

members of the church

who are older.

Satan loves

to whisper lies

in your ears.

He wants you to blv

your best days

are behind you.

He likes to tell you

You’re too old

to be useful

to the Lord.

But don’t let

the devil deceive you.

If you’ll obey

the Lord’s Law

& obey

the Lord’s Spirit

He will lead you

into fruitful service

for Your King.

No matter how

or how young.

Just like He did

w/ Simeon

Just like He did

w/ Anna.

God will do this

w/ any of us.

If we’ll fully dedicate ourselves

to the service of the Lord:

Like Simeon did.

Like Anna did.

If we’ll give ourselves fully:

To Worship;

To Prayer;

To Fasting;

To living righteous

& devout lives.

If we’ll obey

the Lord’s Law

& obey the Lord’s Spirit

He will make sure

we spend our days

in fruitful service

for the Him.

CONCLUSION

Now, as we close:

I’ll end

w/ the questions

I started w/.

How many of us:

Want our lives

to count for something.

We want to know

when we leave

this earth

we were useful

to the Lord?

We want God

to gain glory

Frm our lives?

To have that

kind of life

we must follow

the example:

of Joseph & Mary.

of Simeon & Anna.

Follow the example of every

Faithful servant

of the Lord.

Obey the Lord’s Law.

Keep the Lord’s

commands.

Obey the Lord’s Spirit.

Follow where

He leads.

If you & I will

do those things

day in & day out

faithfully following

the Lord.

We will make ourselves

useful for the Lord.

& our lives will

bring glory to Him.

PRAYER

Let’s all stand for prayer.

Father we thank You

for Your Word

to us.

We thank you

for the godly examples

you’ve given us.

The saints

who went bfr us

& the saints

who are among us today

Who have

made themselves

useful to You.

Lord give us

the grace to follow

in their footsteps.

To obey Your Law.

& to obey Your Spirit.

Today & every day.

In Jesus name……Amen

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