The God Who Draws Near for a Purpose

Luke 2:25–35 KJV (WS)

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Text Idea: In the Spirit-led testimony of Simeon at the temple, Luke shows that God draws near by fulfilling His promises in Jesus, revealing Him as salvation for all and the one who exposes every heart.

Sermon Idea: God draws near by fulfilling His promises in Jesus, revealing Him as salvation and exposing the true condition of every heart.

Purpose: The purpose of this sermon is to call hearers to receive Jesus as God’s promised salvation and to respond honestly to His nearness by surrendering their hearts to the truth He reveals.

Interrogative: How does God draw near in Jesus to fulfill His promises and expose the true condition of every heart?

Introduction

Attention

Most of us say we want God close, but what we usually mean is that we want God quiet, predictable, and comforting.

We ask for His presence, but we rarely stop to consider why He draws near at all.

In Luke 2, God does not draw near to impress a crowd or soothe anxious feelings.

He draws near to keep His promises, to reveal His salvation, and to press a decision about Jesus that exposes every heart.

And when God draws near like that, no one walks away unchanged.

Need

If you want God close but are unsure why His presence sometimes brings peace and other times brings discomfort, you need this message.

Luke shows us that when God draws near, He does so with purpose.

And how you respond to that purpose determines whether His nearness becomes peace or exposure.

History

By this point in Luke’s Gospel, God has already announced the birth of the promised Messiah, angels have declared peace on earth, and faithful parents have brought the child Jesus to the temple in obedience to the Law.

Now, in the ordinary setting of worship and sacrifice, God draws near again through a Spirit-led man who recognizes what others cannot yet see.

Sermon Idea

God draws near by fulfilling His promises in Jesus, revealing Him as salvation and exposing the true condition of every heart.

Interrogative

How does God draw near in Jesus to fulfill His promises and expose the true condition of every heart?

Transition

Luke shows us that when God draws near in Jesus, He does so with clear purpose.

He does this by fulfilling His promises, revealing His salvation, and exposing the true condition of every heart.

Body

God draws near to fulfill His promises through the work of the Holy Spirit. (vv 25-27)

Explain

God prepares His servant through righteous waiting

“Just” = righteous in conduct before men

“Devout” = reverent, God-fearing in devotion toward God

Together, they show outward obedience and inward reverence

Parallels

Luke 1:6 — “righteous before God”

Micah 6:8 — “walk humbly with thy God”

Observation: Simeon is not passive; waiting is active faith shaped by obedience.

God sustains hope through promise, not circumstance

“Waiting for the consolation of Israel”

Consolation = comfort, encouragement, messianic deliverance

Rooted in Isaiah’s promises

Background

Isaiah 40:1 — “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people”

Isaiah 49:13 — “The LORD hath comforted his people”

Observation: Simeon’s hope is not political revival but God’s redemptive comfort.

God directs events through the Holy Spirit

“Holy Ghost was upon him” (v.25) — empowerment

“It was revealed…by the Holy Ghost” (v.26) — illumination

“He came by the Spirit” (v.27) — guidance

Parallels

Numbers 11:25 — Spirit resting upon men

2 Peter 1:21 — “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”

Observation: Every movement in this section is Spirit-initiated, not humanly orchestrated.

God binds His promise to Simeon’s life and death

“Should not see death, before…”

Simeon’s lifespan is anchored to God’s word

Parallels

Psalm 33:11 — “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever”

Joshua 21:45 — “There failed not ought of any good thing”

Summary: God draws near first by promise, then by fulfillment, and the Spirit governs both.

Illustrate

Abraham waiting for Isaac (Genesis 21)

Years of waiting

Promise precedes fulfillment

God acts at the appointed time

God draws near first by promise, then by fulfillment, he never acts prematurely, and he is never late.

Argue

God’s promise to Simeon is fulfilled at the exact moment the Spirit leads him into the temple, leaving no room for coincidence.

When God acts in precise alignment with His word, it proves intentional faithfulness.

A God who keeps His promises can be trusted when He draws near.

Apply

Am I truly trusting God’s promises, or am I only waiting for God to act on my terms and timeline?

This week, write down one specific promise of God from Scripture that you are waiting on, and pray it back to God by name every day for seven days, asking the Spirit to align your trust with God’s timing, not yours.

God draws near through promises, and taking this step trains the heart to recognize and trust His purposeful nearness rather than resist it.

Transition

But God does not draw near merely to keep a promise in private.

He draws near to make His salvation visible in Jesus.

God draws near to reveal His salvation in Jesus for all people. (vv 28-32)

Explain

God’s salvation is revealed through a person, not a concept

“Took him up in his arms”

Salvation is seen, held, and identified with the child

Parallels

John 1:14 — “The Word was made flesh”

1 John 1:1 — “which we have seen…handled”

Observation: Salvation is incarnational before it is doctrinal.

God’s salvation brings peace through fulfilled promise

“Depart in peace”

Peace = rest that comes from promise fulfilled

Parallels

Isaiah 26:3 — “perfect peace”

Philippians 4:7 — “peace of God…keep your hearts”

Observation: Peace follows seeing, not waiting.

God’s salvation is prepared by divine intention

“Which thou hast prepared”

Salvation is not reactive; it is preordained

Parallels

Acts 2:23 — “determinate counsel and foreknowledge”

Revelation 13:8 — “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”

Observation: God draws near with a plan already in place.

God’s salvation is universal in scope

“Before the face of all people”

“Light to lighten the Gentiles”

“Glory of thy people Israel”

Background

Isaiah 42:6 — “a light of the Gentiles”

Isaiah 49:6 — “salvation unto the end of the earth”

Observation: Jesus is not Israel’s possession but God’s provision.

Illustrate

Meeting a child after months of pregnancy

The parents have prepared a room, a name, a future.

But peace comes not from preparation, it comes from holding the child.

Everything becomes real in that moment.

Salvation is not an idea Simeon affirms, it is a person he holds.

Argue

God’s salvation is not an idea to evaluate but a person to receive.

Because God Himself prepared and revealed salvation in Jesus, nothing needs to be added and nothing can be replaced.

When salvation is made visible, indecision becomes rejection.

Apply

Have I truly received Jesus as God’s salvation, or am I still treating Him as a religious truth rather than a personal Savior?

Before this week ends, clearly articulate, out loud or in writing, what Jesus has saved you from and what He has saved you to, using biblical language, not vague spiritual terms.

God draws near not to be admired but to be received, taking this step moves salvation from abstraction to confession.

Transition

And once salvation is revealed, it demands a response, because the same Jesus who brings peace also exposes what is in the heart.

God draws near to expose hearts by making Jesus the point of division. (vv 33-35)

Explain

Jesus produces astonishment but not neutrality

“Marvelled”

Wonder does not equal faith

Parallels

Matthew 7:28 — people astonished, yet divided

John 6:66 — many walk away after marveling

Observation: Amazement is often the prelude to decision.

Jesus is divinely appointed to divide

“This child is set”

Set = appointed, fixed by God’s decree

Parallels

1 Peter 2:6–8 — stone of stumbling

Isaiah 8:14 — sanctuary or stone of offence

Observation: Division is not accidental, it is designed.

Jesus brings both fall and rising

“Fall and rising again of many”

Same Christ, opposite outcomes

Parallels

John 3:18 — condemned or not condemned

2 Corinthians 2:15–16 — savour of life or death

Observation: Jesus never leaves people unchanged.

Jesus exposes the inner life through opposition and suffering

“Sign which shall be spoken against”

“Sword shall pierce…thy own soul”

“Thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”

Parallels

Hebrews 4:12 — discerner of thoughts

John 19:25 — Mary at the cross

Observation: God draws near not to conceal hearts, but to reveal them.

Illustrate

A hard but honest conversation

The conversation doesn’t cause the tension

It exposes what was already unresolved

Avoiding the conversation preserves illusion, not peace

God draws near in Jesus to force truth into the open.

Argue

Jesus is appointed to divide, not because He is unclear, but because He is true.

How people respond to Him reveals what was already in their hearts.

When God draws near in Christ, neutrality is no longer an option.

Apply

What response to Jesus have I been delaying because I know it will expose something in my heart?

Identify one area where obedience to Jesus has been postponed, and take one visible step of obedience within the next 48 hours, no discussion, no delay.

God draws near to reveal hearts, this step refuses neutrality and answers Christ’s nearness with submission.

Transition

If Jesus exposes every heart, then the most important question is not what we think about Him, but how we will respond now that God has drawn near.

Conclusion

Visualize

John Newton spent years around Christianity without surrendering to it.

He knew Scripture, prayed in moments of danger, and even believed God was near, yet his life remained divided and restless.

It was only after a violent storm at sea exposed his helplessness that he stopped resisting what God had been revealing all along.

Newton later testified that grace did not merely rescue him from danger but confronted his heart and changed its direction.

Peace followed repentance, not before it.

God’s nearness had been present for years, but it finally accomplished its purpose when Newton yielded fully.

Reiterate

God draws near to fulfill His promises, to reveal His salvation in Jesus, and to expose our hearts so that we will respond to Him without delay.

Action

Since God has drawn near to us in Jesus with purpose, the only faithful response is to stop delaying, stop observing from a distance, and respond to Him in trust and obedience today.

Appeal

If you have never received Jesus as God’s salvation, this is your moment.

He did not draw near to admire you but to save you.

Jesus lived the life you could not live, died the death you deserved, and rose again so that your sins could be forgiven and your heart made new.

Turn from your sin, place your trust in Christ alone, and receive the salvation God has prepared for you.

And if God has been exposing something in your heart through this message, do not resist Him.

Come, pray, and respond now while He is drawing near.