The Gift of Expectation…

Good morning, Merry Christmas - we are glad that you have joined us for Julotta service…

THIS MORNING I WOULD like to take a few moments to talk about EXPECTATIONS…

… One of my favorite quotes is from William Carey — who was the father of modern missions…

Carey lived in a day when people were unmoved by Gods mission in the world…

He challenged the church live life with expectation..…

He said “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God”

We all have—expectations regardless of our age……

We can call them dreams… aspirations.. or hopes..

But one of the challenges in life is that

sometimes the experience of life… and the realities of life don't always neatly coincide…

And

there is often a gap between our aspirations and realization..……exptecation and realities..

In the gospel of Luke we told the Story of Simeon

..Simeon.. was living with expectation — He was waiting for the promise of the Messiah ..…the consolation of Israel..

Luke tells us this Amazing story of How.…

Simeon and Mary and Joseph … lives intersect at the temple……

According to Jewish Law — There was period of 40 days after the birth of a child of purification — at the end of this .. parents would take their child to the temple to be dedicated.

so..

Mary and Joseph coming travel to the temple in Jerusalem - … … they come with their offering of a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons..because they just didn't have means for anything more

But at the exact time..

God had given Simeon an Awesome promise .

that He would see the Messiah in his life time….…

We are not told exactly Simeon’s age when he received the promise.. but — the scripture implies that he had been waiting along time ……

T/s We learn from Simeon how to live life with Expectation..First we learn the importance to/

1. Hold onto Our Faith.. -Through patience..

In the 1970’s there was a study done called called the “marshmallow test” —

In this study.

-4 children were given certain tasks and each time they did what was asked of them..they got a marshmallow…

then after while

…the researcher came in and said "He had to run an errand. He would leave a marshmallow on the table in front of the child..

If the Marhmellow was still when he returned they would get two marshmallows..

“You can imagine the struggle”..

These kids would develop all kinds of strategies to help them wait. They'd sing songs. They'd tell themselves stories. They'd sit on their hands.

One little guy actually licked the table around the marshmallow, thinking perhaps the flavor had transferred into the wood.

What's amazing about the marshmallow test --

They tracked these kids into adolescence and then into adulthood.

They found that those who were able to EXERCISE RESTRAINT.. grew up to ,better EQUIPED TO cope with stress of life , and WERE ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH under pressure……

What we learn from Simeon is how to hold to Promises with patience…

lets read our text..

Luke 2:25–28 (ESV)

25 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.

26 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.

27 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,

.

We are introduced to Simeon - - SIMEON LIVED at time in Israels history WHEN IT was very dark…

Before this time..

There is what is known as 400 silent years between Ot and NT..

The Last Prophet Malachi said

that the Sun of righteousness would rise with healing in his wings……

400 years later not many people were paying attention to that prophecy… but there was a small group.. … Simeon was one of the men that was WAITING … living life with expectation.…

LUKE SAYS he was a righteous and devout man - that he was

was waiting for the

consolation of Israel..….

The consolation was this promise of the coming comfort of the MESSIAH…

when Israel would be comforted from sorrows..

SIMEON LIVE WITH EXPECTATION..

… He kept showing up to the temple..…

.He didn’t know whether or not that would be the day… but He didn’t want to miss out on the promise..

Part of holding on is simply showing up…

Henri Nowen says..

Patience is the mother of expectation.

Henri Nouwen

secondly.. Simeon..

b. Kept on Being filled up —

The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon—

The H.S had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until He HAD seen the Lord’S Christ!

Simeon DEPENDENT ON THE LORD..

He was living in the power of the Holy spirit.

we told Simeon came in the Spirit to the temple..

SIMEON HAD PATIENT FAITH THAT DEPENDED ON THE H.S..

THE PROBLEM IS WHEN WE TRY AND LIVE ON THE LEFTOVERS..

When we are living on Empty we literally have no resevers and nothing to give..

T/s We learn from Simeon How to live with Joyful expectation..First we learn to

1. Hold onto The Promises with Patience

2. Hold onto the Savior with Faith

When Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple.. it is Simeon who dedicates Jesus.

We told that

— Simeon took up baby Jesus into His arms and He blessed him..and He sung a Song of praise..…

Luke 2:28–32 ESV

28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

IN THE someone's SONG WE SEE SIMEONs faith. … …

b. He Believed - God..

There must have been hard dayS… when he had doubt … when he wondered if He had misheard from the Lord..… …

When He saw MARY AND JOSEPH AND Jesus he KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE LORD..

it was by faith that Simeon BLEIVED AND

saw the faithfulness of God..

Someone declares..

He could live out the rest of his days in peace… because He found completion in Christ.…

He says

“NOW I CAN DEPART IN PEACE… …

BECAUSE .

HE HAD SEEN THE SALVATION OF THE LORD..

In Luke's gospel the word salvation MEANS WHOLNESS

WHOLENESS SPEAKS OF

Our relationship with God..

every part of us that has been damaged, corrupted, hurt, or ruined by sin will someday be healed our relationship with God,

our relationships with each other,

Inner life..

and also our minds, our emotions, and our bodies, which have been hurt and broken and wounded by living in a fallen world.

Simeon saw the Salvation of the Lord..

Expectation means that we can see God’s saving plan at work both in our lives..

Jesus birth, his ministry and his death is going bring light into the darkness.

This past week we went to Sacramento to the Golden one stadum watch the kings play the Wizards… After the game they shone this purple beam into the Sky…

Everyone in the city can see who one.. is pretty cool..

What Simeon saw was the light of the Gospel.. that … demonstrated Christ Victory…over darkness…

That be seen through out the History..

This is what celebrate Joulotta… we come in the dark but we leave in the light..……

T/s We learn from Simeon How to live with Joyful expectation..First we lean to

1. Hold onto The Promises.

2. Hold onto the Savior

3. Hold onto the Wonder and the Mystery…

Have you ever had your breathe taken away from you… I remember visiting Yosimite… and seeing half dome for the first time… It was awesome amazing..……Nature has this way of doing that…

That is wonder does… …When Mary and Joseph heard the words of Simeon — it caused them to marvel..—

Luke 2:33–35 ESV

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary and Joseph Marveled at God plan and timing… God had taken care of all the details .. including the Simeons faithfulness in waiting for this very moment..

But God plan was still

wonder was still wrapped in a mystery…

The life of Christ would unfold..…as child grew up…

Simeon prophecies about how This plan of God was going to unfold —

There is more to come..

Jesus Life would bring a sword… it would be the fall and rise of many in Israel..

People will be polarized...there will those who receive him and his words of etenal life and those who oppose Jesus and his message… …Simeon says that even Mary’s heart pieced…

This was fulfilled at cross.. when …

Mary her self would see Jesus pierced in his side.…]

With the Promise of Jesus … conflict — Because his word would deal with our hearts..

CONCLUSION: Christmas is time of Joyful anticipation…of what Christ has done for us in Salvation..

This morning there are gifts under the tree.. and there is anticipation and expectation……

Carey said “Expect great things from God.

Attempt great things for God”

Jesus comes to you and I with the offer of Joyful Expectation… Gift of expectation… As you end this year…2023 maybe you need to hear To Expect great things… …