It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas 2

We are going through the Advent Season which is from December 1 to Christmas Eve and it’s a time prepare for the Birth of Jesus! There was a lot of anticipation and excitement for those waiting for the birth of Jesus. Not like today where we use Christmas as a marketing thing beginning with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which is the start of the Holiday Shopping Season and now refers to the day when retailers operate in the “black “ with profits. This was not the original reason it was called Black Friday. It was originally called that because it was a depressed day for employers and most of their employees called in “sick” the Friday after Thanksgiving. We are in the season where we are eagerly awaiting the birth of Jesus.

Micah 5:2 AMP

2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

The Prophecies Concerning Jesus Were Exact!

Luke 2:21–33 TPT

21 On the day of the baby’s circumcision ceremony, eight days after his birth, his parents gave him the name Jesus, the name prophesied by the angel before he was born. 22 After Mary’s days of purification had ended, it was time for her to come to the temple with a sacrifice, according to the law of Moses after the birth of a son. So Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to be dedicated before the Lord. 23 For it is required in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be a set-apart one for God.” 24 And, to offer a prescribed sacrifice, “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 As they came to the temple to fulfill this requirement, an elderly man was there waiting—a resident of Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He was a very good man, a lover of God who kept himself pure, and the Spirit of holiness rested upon him. Simeon believed in the imminent appearing of the one called “The Refreshing of Israel.” 26 For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he saw the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. 27 For this reason the Holy Spirit had moved him to be in the temple court at the very moment Jesus’ parents entered to fulfill the requirement of the sacrifice. 28 Simeon cradled the baby in his arms and praised God and prophesied, saying: 29 “Lord and Master, I am your loving servant, and now I can die content, for your promise to me has been fulfilled. With my own eyes I have seen your Word, the Savior you sent into the world. 32 He will be glory for your people Israel, and the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!” 33 Mary and Joseph stood there, awestruck over what was being said about their baby. Simeon then blessed them and prophesied over Mary, saying:

Simeon was Waiting With Anticipation!

God made a promise to Simeon that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah and he had waited for this all his life. This is the Advent mindset. Waiting for the coming of the Lord! Are we anticipating the coming of the Lord in the lives of those we love? What about those we don’t love? What about all the people we don’t know? The Messiah came to change lives the way He changed ours. It’s an exciting day!

Luke 2:36–38 TPT

36 A prophetess named Anna was also in the temple court that day. She was from the Jewish tribe of Asher and the daughter of Phanuel. Anna was an aged widow who had been married only seven years before her husband passed away. After he died she chose to worship God in the temple continually. For the past eighty-four years she had been serving God with night-and-day prayer and fasting. 38 While Simeon was prophesying over Mary and Joseph and the baby, Anna walked up to them and burst forth with a great chorus of praise to God for the child. And from that day forward she told everyone in Jerusalem who was waiting for their redemption that the anticipated Messiah had come!

Anna was Waiting With Anticipation!

Anna was stoked! She started singing and praising God and went out and told everyone that the anticipated Messiah had come! That’s the excitement that’s there when we anticipate that God is going to do something awesome awesome!