Do you really believe this?
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luke
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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 carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end 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 and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
This particular passage blows my mind because if focuses on the dedication of two individuals that were so convinced of a truth it changed their entire lives. Simeon and Anna
Simeon
luke 2:2
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
He was a righteous and devout man. Looking for the consolation of Israel.
Looking for the consolation,
Simeon was looking,.
Looking in the Greek is the word prosdechomai, meaning to receive to oneself
it is also translated accepted(1), accepting(1), cherish(1), looking(3), receive(2), receives(1), waiting(5), waiting anxiously(1).
looking has two senses, (1) "to receive favorably, welcome," and "to look forward to, wait for.
"Why was Simeon Looking?
Remember Abraham?
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Why was Abraham looking ? He had faith in the promise.
He had faith in the promise.
What was Simeon promise? the consolation of Israel
the consolation of Israel
Consolation in the greek is paraklēsis; from 3870; a calling to one’s aid, i.e. encouragement, comfort:—appeal(1), comfort(13), consolation(1), encouragement(6), exhortation(7), urging(1).
Notice, Comfort
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.
paraklēsis; from 3870; a calling to one’s aid, i.e. encouragement, comfort:—appeal(1), comfort(13), consolation(1), encouragement(6), exhortation(7), urging(1).
paraklēsis; from 3870; a calling to one’s aid, i.e. encouragement, comfort:—appeal(1), comfort(13), consolation(1), encouragement(6), exhortation(7), urging(1).
Notice, Comfort
isaiah 40
1 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.”
in essence, Let Israel, Jerusalem know, God hears here. her prayer will be answered. the promises i have made to her i will answer.
Simeon is eagerly looking forward to the time when occupied, weary Jerusalem receives her comfort and relief from the Lord, which was popularly expected to be brought about by the Messiah.
Then act act like it
Then act act like it
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
Often times we say we believe and we don’t do
Simeon believe what was revealed to him was going to happen so he kept looking, expecting believing. for the consolation of Israel.
Looking in the Greek is the word prosdechomai, meaning to receive to oneself
Why was Simeon Looking?
prosdechomai; from 4314 and 1209; to receive to oneself:—accepted(1), accepting(1), cherish(1), looking(3), receive(2), receives(1), waiting(5), waiting anxiously(1).
it is also translated accepted(1), accepting(1), cherish(1), looking(3), receive(2), receives(1), waiting(5), waiting anxiously(1).
looking has two senses, (1) "to receive favorably, welcome," and "to look forward to, wait for.
Now lets look at
Why was Simeon Looking?
"Why was Simeon Looking?
Anna
Remember Abraham?
heb
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
there was a prophetess, Anna
there was a prophetess, Anna
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2
there was a prophetess, Anna
there was a prophetess, Anna
Why was Abraham looking ?
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Ha
Harper’s Bible Dictionary Prophetess
a woman who serves as a channel of communication between the human and divine worlds
He had faith in the promise.
In essence Anna was a praying woman.
and this was in the face of tragedy. her husband dying.
she draws closer to God instead of further away from God.
we live in such a half hearted time. our faith is so easily shaken
Anna serves as an example for us here at Grace
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.
she was devoted to the house of God.
she was devoted to the house of God.
and this was in the face of tragedy. her husband dying.
it was more than Easter, Christmas, and Mother’s Day.
she draws closer to God instead of further away from God.
She NEVER left the temple.
Simeon believe what was revealed to him was going to happen so he kept looking, expecting believing. for the consolation of Israel.
2.she was faithful to the house of God.
we live in such a half hearted time. our faith is so easily shaken
she was faithful to the house of God.
she was faithful to the house of God.
2.she was faithful to the house of God.
2. she was faithful to the house of God.
It was a come ever month or ever other Sunday king of thing.
she served in the house of God.
it was more than Easter, Christmas, and Mother’s Day.
She NEVER left the temple.
she served in the house of God.
she served in the house of God.
,km.he served in the house of God.
She was not just a spectator, she was a participator.
we all play a part
26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
1 cor 14:26
she was committed to praying to God
she was committed to praying to God
in the house of God
Remember Jesus’ words
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther King
17 pray without ceasing;
You might ask, as I did, “how is this possible? How can an individual pray without stopping?”
Well, an individual can’t, but the church can.
“let the fires go out in the boiler room of the church, and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The prayer room is the boiler room for its spiritual life.” Leonard Ravenhill
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?-- Corrie Ten Boom
The Christian cannot survive without prayer, neither can the church. To be a vibrant church, we have to have a vibrant payer culture
The Christian cannot survive without prayer, neither can the church. To be a vibrant church, we have to have a vibrant payer culture
The Christian cannot survive without prayer, neither can the church. To be a vibrant church, we have to have a vibrant payer culture
Anna Valued the place of prayer.
as we should and will
A couple week ago I told you
4 things Grace members do
Grace Members attend.
Grace Members give.
Grace Members serve.
Grace Members are accountable to each other.
Notice both Anna and Simeon response when they encounter Jesus.
Simeon
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna
38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
luk3 2:38
The truth and the promise was so real to them that it change them and challenges us.