Don’t take your Lights Down Yet!

Now that Christmas is over we start taking down the decorations, the tree, the stockings, it all goes back in the boxes and down to the basement until next year.

We also take down the lights, the beautiful bright, colorful lights. The lights are up only when the darkness is the longest and the nights are the coldest.

Even though that’s the right thing to do after Christmas, it’s wrong for us to let our lights go down on our faith.

When it comes to our faith in Jesus it’s important that we keep our lights up.

Don’t take your lights down yet because we are still in a world of darkness that needs colorful, beautiful lights in our families, our workplace, our community, our church.

I know, Christmas is over but as we reclaim Christmas for Jesus… as Jesus takes over all of our lives, in every season, through every moment, as Jesus consumes us we will shine bright bright bright in our dark dark dark world.

When things are at our darkest we need light to be able to see. Without light we live life without purpose, aimlessly guided by whatever feels right, or how people respond or react based on personal opinions and perspectives.

Jesus is that light that will continue to shine and when we follow Jesus and reflect HIS light by holding on to our faith in Christ. Throughout the years HE will show HIMSELF to be faithful.

This morning as we close out the Christmas season and wrap up our series on Reclaiming Christmas for Jesus, we will be examining 2 Godly individuals who came after the Christmas nativity.

2 individuals who where holding on to God’s promise, who were holding on to there faith, believing that they will see the Lord’s Christ before they see death.

Simeon and Anna are both mentioned in Luke’s Gospel because they were holding on to God’s promise in faith. They were waiting and believing that God’s Word would be fulfilled in there lifetime.

Luke 2:21–38 (ESV)

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

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, 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.”

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.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

PRAY

They waited on the Lord, they waited in faith, and they waited in prayer.

Anna and Simeon waited on the Lord, they waited in faith, and they waited in prayer.

Just like God did not disappoint Simeon and Anna, God will always come as HE promises every single time.

We are called to be faithful and keep seeking Jesus.

To know God’s promise and to be grounded in HIS Word.

We are called to anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises according to HIS timetable.

We are called to surrender our timetable so that we can have an awakened faith to Jesus’ promised return.

If we are going to keep our lights up throughout the year, faith doesn’t just happen, it requires effort. Faith without works is dead.

Faith requires preparation

We start off with Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the Lord. According to the Law of Moses, Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day and then presented to the Lord as there first born son.

They believed and so they dedicated Jesus back to the Lord according to the law of Moses which says “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”

Mary and Joseph brought there son up to Jerusalem to present HIM to the Lord acknowledging that the Lord alone has the power to give life.

Then they would go through the purification ceremony of the mother. For forty days after the birth of a son and eighty days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was considered ceremonially unclean and could not enter the temple. So when the time came for their purification, they went to the temple to present Jesus to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law; a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare the woman to be clean.

If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second dove or pigeon instead and that is what Mary and Joseph did.

As they were fulfilling the ceremonial requirements at the temple Simeon showed up.

We don’t know Simeon’s occupation or title was.

Luke 2:25 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.

All we know is that he lived in Jerusalem, he was righteous and devout, he was waiting for the Messiah (“the consolation of Israel”), and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Luke 2:26 ESV

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.

It says that the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death until he saw the Messiah, the Lord’s Christ.

He believed that God will provide HIS coming deliverer in his lifetime.

Anna was another who was prepared in her faith.

Luke 2:36–37 ESV

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Anna was a prophetess, her father was Phanuel, she was from the tribe of Asher, she was 84 years old, she was a widow for most of her life but she committed herself to being in the temple, worshiping God. She committed herself to fasting and prayer night and day.

Simeon and Anna both recognized the importance of preparing there faith.

Anytime you see people praying and fasting God uses them because they are prepared in there faith.

These 2 were prepared… they were praying and fasting, worshiping the Lord, being constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, and seeking God’s promises.

Their faith was well prepared so when Jesus arrived even as a little baby they knew it.

Strong faith requires preparation.

Faith requires patience.

Both Simeon and Anna were old. Even though they were very old, they had never lost their hope that they would see the Messiah.

They were led by the Holy Spirit, and because of that they were among the first to bear witness to Jesus.

They had many years behind them which means that they had much to ponder, many painful moments, many disappointments, lots of regrets but instead of dwelling on life’s rough ride, they looked to God’s future promise with brightness and hope… even at the end of there lives.

We must learn to be patient in every season so our faith can develop.

Our faith will be energized by prayer as we worship and praise the Lord through the waiting.

Simeon and Anna recognized this baby as the Lord’s Messiah. They recognized that this was God ordained meeting.

As Simeon recognized this moment, he was able to gave a prophetic message to encourage Mary and Joseph…

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.”

Simeon witnessed what the Lord had promised, acknowledging that he was now ready to die in peace because he had seen God’s salvation.

To see Jesus is to see salvation. This salvation has been prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

Jesus Christ is the fullest manifestation of God’s “glory” that his people had ever seen.

Luke, pointed out that from the very beginning God’s plan was to offer salvation to Gentiles as well as to Jews.

Simeon referred to Jesus as “a light for revelation.” Don’t take your lights down. Be patient in your faith. Keep looking to Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Light makes the stillness come alive; light settles fear; light reveals mystery; light enables relationships.

Jesus is God in the flesh, eternal light breaking into a spiritually dark world.

Jesus is your light. He is not a distant sun, remote and driven by the laws of physics.

Jesus is the light of your life—your encourager, your enabler.

Luke 2:33 ESV

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

Then he speaks to the parents and encouraged them to be patient in your faith.

Yes, your son is the Messiah but he will not be accepted and appreciated by all yet be patient in your faith.

Simeon told Mary…

Luke 2:34–35 ESV

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.”

At a young age, as a young mom, Mary would have to recognize the pain she would have to endure raising Jesus.

Right not treasure these moments take in these words of encouragement and words of prophesy because the future will be full of pain but the pain is all a part of God’s plan.

Salvation would be costly. Loneliness and rejection will be what your son Jesus will have to endure but don’t let that discourage your faith.

Be patient in your faith because God’s promise will be fulfilled.

Faith requires perseverance.

God’s promise is still going to happen because HE is not finished. Jesus will come back for a church that is ready just as HE promised.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus talks a lot about HIS return and that will require perseverance.

We may not know when but we do know that HE will.

Mark 13:32–37 ESV

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

We are stewards of what belongs to the Lord, take that calling seriously, don’t give up and don’t get distracted when everyone else does. Jesus is telling us to persevere, stay awake, be ready, don’t let your guard down but let your faith in Jesus persevere through the distractions.

Getting distracted in this life is easy. When we allow our love for this world to be greater then our love for Jesus the enemy will take advantage. He will use that as a foothold to keep us out of HIS Kingdom business.

Jesus came as a baby in a manger just as HE promised, HE lived a sinless life, HE came to heal, to save, and to deliver us from sin. But we cannot forget that Jesus promised that HE will return and we must persevere.

As we head into a new year persevere so your faith in Jesus becomes stronger and stronger.

Take Away:

Faith Requires Preparation

Faith Requires Patience

Faith Requires Perseverance