Advent Week 5: Righteousness and Faithfulness that Proclaims Salvation

Good morning. We are in Luke Chapter 2 again assignments the 2nd chunk really we're going to be in Luke Chapter 2 starting with verse 21 this morning.

It'll be up there in sex while sick look for in the first 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. When the time came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord every male who opens who first opens the Shelby called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, and now there was a manager is one whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. Any came in the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in this child brought in the Child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law. He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the present of all the people a light for Revelation to the Gentiles. And for Glory to your People Israel. And as father mother marveled at what was said about him and send me and bless them and said to Mary his mother. hold this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel. And for a sign that is opposed. And a sword will pierce through your aren't your own soul also. So that fought for many hearts may be revealed.

Anna 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. And then as a widow until she was 84, she did not depart from the temple worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day 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. And when they have performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth and the child grew and became strong filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.

spray father we thank you for this word. We thank you for this testimony. Are we seeing the Book of Luke of what happened at the time that Jesus was was presented at the temple to to be recognized as holy unto you we sweet. Thank you for the faithfulness. We see Ian and Joseph and Mary and then also in Simeon and a Nana. Dig into this this bit of scripture today, we dig into this chunk of the word. We pray that you would convict us to look into our own lies. And to reflect are we being as faithful as the examples? We see set before us are we being as devout are we being is righteous? And for not turn us to that convictus and moving us so that we may see you more fully as they saw you do their faithfulness to you. Is in Jesus name we pray amen. This is this is a story that I remember as a kid, like it being around a lot at Christmas time, but then somehow or another sometime in my doll to this. This part of the scripture got left out. I don't know what happened. Sure. He's over here not her head. She grew up in the same Sunday School classes. I did. We we know this is this was just kind of how this work. Like, I don't know if we were literally heard about Simeon and Anna a lot and then all the sudden you became teenagers and nobody talked about him anymore and was like, I don't know what the deal is. This is a really neat part of what happens in this time frame of the birth of Jesus and it and what's going on here. There's some beauty in this is a highlight of the faith in the piety in the righteousness of Jesus family and it shows the faithfulness of God's people keeping the law of God. in anticipation for their savior to come and here it is this story Happening Here. I love it the verse 21 starts out showing. How did Joseph and Mary were observant to the law but but really not just observant to the law that they're going to have him circumcised on the 8th day which was which was part of the laws back in Deuteronomy. This is what you say you do with with babies when they're male babies when they're born to show that they're part of Israel, but just even this idea of naming him. Giving him the name Jesus. Your tradition would say you give the name of somebody in the family that this theoretically he should have been named Joseph. Right? I mean we come saw that with the was Zechariah and in John that he will call him know his name is John had to write it down right to say this is what his name is that he's going to be named this he's being named Jesus Yeshua in in Canada. Poorly transliterated Hebrew, I guess but it's it's it means Yahweh saves. How we got the I am God our Lord saved this this 8 day old baby will live up to this name like no one has ever lived up to that name before. That Our God Saves he is a is the only savior he is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through him at 8 days old and that is the name. They Proclaim in her sister's obedience to God. The angel said we will name him this we will obey what our Lord has said. Verses 22 through 24, continue to show that I had like what I think of this particular section. It's just interesting. So at the end of 40 days So Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day. And can I have to understand how the Jewish calendar works we think of a day like we think a little more harsh and what a day Inns and one a day begins in the western Society than they do these kind of smooshed together, I guess a little bit more and

On the 8th day. They had to wait 30 three more days while they counted that ate today as a day in that 33 it was and so 33 more days post uses a circumcision. They present him to the temple and they take up these necessary offerings to do this, right they take to pigeons.

This the shows how of modest means Joseph Joseph and Mary were when you when you go back and you look in what's called for in Deuteronomy. The law actually calls for a lamb and a pigeon we brought forth to the sacrifice. And this is just this is just the sacrifice you give for your first born son a lamb. and a pigeon this is a lot livestock were important to people this was this was you literally in in biblical times measured wealth in heads of livestock. Not not in finance. I didn't in dollar spot in net value, but in how many head of lamb you had how many head of cattle you had and if you had cattle that was worth more than lamb. But if you couldn't afford a lamb you took pigeons.

And that's what they bring to look so the law cost for lamb and a pigeon to be offered but it does give provision for the impoverished to bring two doves are too big to two pigeons if a lamb could not be provided. Joseph and Mary took two turtle doves or two pigeons. They couldn't provide for lamb.

There's a there's a theology here of just poverty like I could do a whole just in this little chunk about what we see about poverty.

I get it. I'm not going to have time but understand these things what it's showing as clearly poverty is not a sin. It is not a sin against our God to be poor. To Poverty is not God's disapproval on you. If Joseph and Mary were poor. In good company if you're poor or if you're following God in your face on your righteous, and he chooses poor people. To be the host family for his son on Earth. It's not a bad thing. It is definitely not God's disapproval here. I love this this next one that the poverty does not keep a person from worshipping God.

They're still in the temple. They're still worshipping. They're still of modest means they're not prevented to worship because of that stat that status.

Poverty doesn't hold you in that state forever.

That's important. They may or may not ever come out of this. We don't see the Jesus ever lived a wealthy opulent life and that's that's not a bad thing that our savior was humble.

But you don't have to remain poor just because you start out that way.

Jesus is Rich's are beyond our measure. And the riches that will inherit from him are beyond measure. Poverty is not a state you stay in Forever. Poverty does not excuse unrighteousness Joseph and Mary may have been poor and we're going to see a couple other folks here in scripture in the same truck that were not of well-to-do means but they were faithful and they were righteous unto God. It's not an excuse for unrighteous Behavior. Poverty is not shameful in and of itself. There that we don't see any indication that Joseph or Mary felt shamed because they could only take into two the two pigeons the sacrifice. And poverty is a cross that God entrusts some people to bear for a Time. But it's something that God made give you. To show his glory for a timeframe. It's okay for this. That's my side note on that. I don't have I would love to really dig into some of that deeper, but I was just not here time is is not of that for right now. What we do see from this even though they were poor even though they were modest means that Joseph and Mary were righteous and faithful. They were righteous and faithful by obeying Angels instructions to give the child the name Jesus and second. They were righteous and faithful by obeying the law of God. They were obeying everything that they had to do. They were following what God has laid out for them. 3000 years prior to this as they were is being obedient to the Lord, right? We see her that that faithfulness to God is going to be costly and I had never hundred this before. I am even maybe I had but I never really liked sitting down and sat on it Joseph was a man of of meager means to begin with working class guy Carpenter. He was now forced to take a trip that would cost him at least 3 days. Walking from from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about a 36-hour walk. That's what he walks 12 hours a day. Right. That's that's about the time frame. It would take to walk that he's walking remember with a 9-month pregnant wife who could go at any minute. I'll wait she did it could have been all that darn and jiggling. I don't know, but it was all right there three days lost to work just that just in that trip so I can talk about the provisions you need for a 3-Day Walk. But that would costing. right He had to walk that one way for the senses is betrothed delivers a baby while she's there. Kids are cheap. I even if they're just a little they're still not cheap there still a lot of stuff. It's got to be taken care of. How do we get the cost? How do we do this? How do we write we see them verse 39 of this passes that Joseph and Mary stayed in Bethlehem until they perform all that was required of the law.

Relays down time to give birth to the baby. You'll wait 8 days. I'm circumcised you wait another 33 days. Take him to the temple. That's an all day event. Leave out the next morning three more days to walk back home.

My little bit of math that I did hear. Joseph and Mary would have been away from home from Nazareth around 7 weeks for this one trip.

7 week trip at 7 weeks away from Joseph shop and his clients as a carpenter.

You guys been self-employed? 7 weeks away build a career

Be honest, that would kill a career. If you're not. Well well well done for that. All of this shows that Joseph has sacrificed so much more to be faithful to God than just a couple of doves in the temple. He's sacrificing so much more for the sake of this child who is not is but he will raise a Zone. For the sake and for the glory of our God he is sacrificing so much more here.

Is sacrificing so much for the tasks that God has called him to when we are faithful to the calling God has put on our lives. It will be costly Church. It will be costly we will sacrifice much but we will do so with joy knowing that God has used us for his glory for his purposes. But that sacrifice will bring joy and our lives because it's not something for doing for us. It's something that God is doing through us. And will want that.

We never really see Joseph complaining about a situation in scripture and there's evidence that God's okay with putting complainers in Scripture. Moses complained the Hebrews complained in the wilderness David complained there's plenty of times and we see complainers in Scripture. Joseph's not amongst them. Faithful and devout to God and what got it asked him to do. Verses 25 through 35 we see the story of Simeon. Simeon is this beautiful example of a life of faithfulness and dedication to the Lord. I love that. It says he's waiting for the consolation of the Lord meaning that the he was looking and longing for the comfort.

Comfort that would be for God's people. Waiting for this his desire. Was the Messiah of God? I was the one thing you wanted in life. Like it's all I want is is the Messiah I want the massage. He understood what the old scriptures have been saying it and what was happening and they understood this sadly your Yeezys. He's not even though it doesn't indicate at least if he's even a levite or a priest. He's just a devout man and it seems that he understood what people scriptures were saying. Better than those who did it for a living.

Faithfull the vat I love this. If you didn't promise by the holy spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. I can't even imagine getting that kind of a promise like just the how do you tell people that you share that news? I'm not going to die. How do you know Holy Spirit told me I mean, I will eventually but not until I see the Messiah.

Wholesome and getting to be a know. He's up everything like your time. Which they're basically been no prophecy. No prophet in Israel silent from the Holy Spirit except for a small little pockets right here as Jesus. Is born in that first Advent happens? Simeon one of those little pockets the spirit leads him into the temple at the same time that Joseph and Mary were bringing Jesus to make the offerings acquired of them by the Mosaic law.

A picture of man running like there must have been something that said to him I get my head and it says this is just Michael conjecture like picturing him running Iris. I'm not not trying to say anything bad about you, but you and Simeon might be about the same time. Here. You might be about the same age, right? He's an older gentleman. He's been to found He's been Faithful. And I'm just in my head if I had a little Fuller beard Maybe She and Him run towards this baby that had so long waited for his and he couldn't get your most matches. Am out of Mary's arms right takes the baby up not another he snatches but I'm imagining they just see this older gentleman who is wise to them in the spirit must been moving and in Mary Joseph to cos. You don't turn babies over to strangers very often, right? That's just not something we do but they must have just been filled with joy that this man was so happy to see this child and he takes this baby in his arms. It says and he speaks prophecy.

Over the child he takes Jesus in his arms, and he prays and He blesses God in his prayer is just as amazing prayer. He recognizes that his life is fulfilled Lord. You are letting your servant depart in peace cording to your word. I can die happy now. I have seen the one thing that matters. I've seen the Messiah. All I need I'm good.

And die in peace knowing that the Christ has come into the world has seen the salvation of God come to all people and noticed that he sells us that right. My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all people file light for revelation. to the Gentiles and for Glory to your People Israel.

You seen the salvation of God come to all people here. He prophesize about salvation coming to the Gentiles through this thing that has happened in Israel. And Joseph and Mary just marvel it. It just marvel at like this is all confirmation of everything that's been happening to them. This is just bizarre 9-month Journey that Joseph and Mary have been on any just keep getting confirmation and Confirmation and Confirmation again that this is what your life is going to look like. It's going to be this mysterious ball of God doing things you don't get Hold on.

And I just marvel at it. And then send me and then bless his name and he offers Mary some more props. And I don't know if this is just quiet between him and Mary. It doesn't really say.

But it's definitely prophecy that becomes a little heavier of the heart. And this is prophecy about the Messiah his role as a sacrifice. and and Mary Will witness it?

So we think about that. It's kind of answers Simeon By the way answers Mark Lowry's question. Yes, Mary knew right. She knew the stuff get here. If she knew she been told about Jesus Through the angel. She been confirmed about it through Elizabeth. She had been told about Jesus Through The Shepherd's she had been told now through Simeon and she has Trump been told about Jesus Through scripture. Merry new K3 mark. Trevenant I don't know what else to say, brother. But then she comprehend at all.

I don't believe she could have. Even the apostles didn't really comprehend it all after living in ministering with Jesus or for 4 years. How often do you think you're foolish disciples? You know, they didn't really comprehend at all. Put Simeon did in in this one month old baby Simeon saw.

salvation and the cross all at once and a one month old, baby. Set up new baby smell right we can we get some snuggles over Christmas with Brandon are woman told me nephew. He's little he still have that new baby. You don't talk about Mom. Isn't that new baby smell? Right? And so Jesus was had a lot of it is only one month old. There's a lot of new baby smell on Jesus still in and in this Simeon sees the salvation of God in the cross everything. He sees condemnation and salvation come in one save your sacrifice on the cross. Jesus exposes the hearts. Apoke semi Spurs opposition and he's seeing that he's prophesying that to marry here that our sin nature is the biggest source of opposition to Jesus Christ.

It's us our sin nature that does that we in nature and in our nature we are born and Rebellion to Jesus, but Jesus will end that Rebellion. God will not strive with us and our sin forever. If we continue in sin, we will receive what we deserve and that is death and eternal death. Condemnation for it. Sent us a savior to bring us out of that since Jesus this little baby here that we see is that savior? And he's either savior you either love or you hate there's no in-between. There's no I kind of like Jesus. You know, there's there's no there's no middle school cafeteria tables you like him like him. There's none of that. It's you either like you either love Jesus or you hate Jesus. There's no in-between.

The cross says Jesus loves you. You're sending this belief says you hate Jesus.

Repentance and Faith say you love Jesus. And with this love comes life through Jesus. I don't know where folks are at understand this to choose life needs to choose Jesus Christ. Believe in him so that you may be saved. And the word said repent repeatedly as how we come to Salvation through Jesus. Verses 36 through 38 we see Anna. This is another amazing small little chunk of of scripture to me. So it hears Anna a widow who is faithful to God and she was widowed young Skipper said she was only married about 7 years. write 7 years So when you think about that, she was married seven years. I mean she probably lost her husband somewhere in her mid-20s.

possibly early side of his mid-20s

23226 ish he was widowed maybe right so we don't know for sure, but that would be a good estimate for about the time that women were being married off. and instead of remarrying she dedicated her life to worshipping God in the temple. Spent time serving God in his church and his people. And she did this until she was 84 years old. 84 years old this is this is dedication. Right? She was she was dedicated to fasting and praying daily so that she can be used of the Lord. This is just as beautiful story dedication is Imagine doing that for 60 and second of years or more. That kind of dedication. That day is Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to offer up the necessary sacrifices. She here. I'm just like I don't know if she's like, he's dropping or she's just a spirit is leaving that direction. By the way. This is just like let her know she recognizes the child of them as the Messiah. And she Begins proclaiming the Redemption of Israel to all who are waiting and willing to hear out.

I tell you what. We were mentioning this in in small group a little this morning. in an hour instant gratification Society we have forgotten that faithfulness to God through Jesus Christ is a long game.

It's a long game. It isn't. I'm faithful on this Sunday, and then it's gone. Here's an example of a woman before probably close to 60 or more years. Dedicated herself to something. She was not guaranteed she would see.

Do we have that kind of faithfulness a must? 60 years out willing to Proclaim something. I wasn't I mean I know what the word says but I am I'm not sure I'll ever make it to fruition. I'm not sure I'll ever see it to attend. I'm going to be dedicated and faithful to that anyway. 60 years out ladies of the church. We need more Anna's.

We need more Anna's in our church. We need women who are set this example of biblical Womanhood in our churches. This she has as powerful testimony to give to younger women in the face.

She has this experience to comfort widows and guide them through their grief she has This time spent dedicated and fasting and praying and wisdom to offer. young women in the church There are women like Anna in our churches. Their women like Anna in this church. We need to make sure that they're able to be an example like we see Anna being giving them the tools they need men. We need more simians. We need more simoleons in our church men who are dedicated to this. He's an example of that. You never grow too old for being active in the worship in the service of Our Lord. You're never too old to Proclaim. the glories of our God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus we need men to do the Seattle take and encourage young couples is going to be tough raising his baby. But if you raised him in the Lord the glories that you'll see will be so much better. I don't think about that, but we need more simeon's in our church. The gifts that God gives the church family are stability gravity wisdom and faith.

And in this comes from our older active church members teaching us right? I'm going to take it. I don't care that a kid at Five Guys burger joint. Call me pops the other day. I'm still going to claim to be younger. All right. I'm claiming that for a moment or a right but we need Are older active church members teaching us the younger folks?

and young people Hear this you got to keep the instructions cuz they're worthless if you ignore.

Those instructions often are some instructions about salvation in your soul.

Got to hear him. You got to see them. You got to listen to him. It's not just a matter. Yeah. Yeah. I heard you blow it off that takes a straight to hell. What is about your soul? That's that important?

We need that. Vs. 39 of 40 Joseph and Mary take Jesus and his return to Nazareth. And it may begin this process of raising Jesus and in the rest of their family, right scripture says that Jesus was strong was filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was on them. That's it. Wait what we don't hear about Jesus again for another 12 years. I'm in the scriptures, quiet again for about another 18.

I just seem so blase so mundane, so.

After all this time, we had a choir of Angels Above a small town that scripture says you're too little to even be counted as part of the tribe of Judah. Just 40 days prior to this.

How does it just get from this kind of to just Monday? That's the beauty of it. It's real easy for us to be faithful to God when we're on that peak in that mountain top or in that experience. We have all been to a conference or evolve into a worship service. Where was just holy cow. I got my God bumps going on whatever it is a folks say right and and we walk out of there and it's like man, I can be faithful to this and then Monday morning work hits you like Joseph and Mary were faithful and righteous Monday morning at work. Faithful and righteous through the mundane in the everyday. They were consistent. in this

I know it just seems so Bland though right this.

I come there. Seem so ordinary for the king of all creation. Understand this but that's that's part of the beauty of this passage is this passage is an example of us to be humble. in obedience in Humble and dedication because what we see here is a god uses the most humble carry out his plan. Nothing fancy or special about Anna. a little little lady you decided I lost my husband, but I will not lose my God. Dedicated her life to serving him nothing particularly special about Simeon other than it says he was righteous and devout.

I think Joseph had going for him is that he had the right lineage and he was righteous and devout. m4marry who is righteous and devout nothing special about them except that God loves to take the mundane the blase in the ordinary and go watch me work.

And that's what he does. God uses the most humble to carry out his plan to Joseph and Mary were true this poor working-class couple but dedicated and they were obedient. Then they are privileged to serve as Jesus's parents here on Earth. Send me was a righteous and devout man who was blessed to see Jesus brought into the temple and then was able to confirm. Once again, all that Mary and Joseph have been told concerning Jesus. Anna was just this this Widow who dedicated her life to fasting and prayer in Daily Temple worship and she was allowed for claim the Redemption of God. all of those in the temple who adhere they're not priests. They're not Levites. They're not movers and shakers of the time.

30 m of the lowliest of the most humble people that God chose them to do his work. This is how God works over and over again.

what we can see here is that we're not unique. But that will make us unique for his purposes. Joseph and Mary weren't unique Anna and Simeon weren't unique. But they were made unique for God's purposes. How did they get used by God though? faithful and righteous and devout See there's there's nothing nothing that should keep those of us who are called by Jesus Christ from living a righteous and faithful life. There's nothing here when I look at this story Joseph had to relocate his family for 7 weeks. Could have been considered homeless. I don't know.

That didn't keep him from being righteous and faithful and used of God. He was unemployed possibly during that time. I'm sure you pick up work here and there where he could but he had to have relationships with those other carpenters in a town. Our way to do that. Didn't keep him from being righteous and faithful and devout the holy God. Had nothing to do with her poverty.

We see an Anna and Simeon it has nothing to do with age young or old. And nothing to do with marital status whether they were a couple to be married as Mary and Joseph were a widow. We don't know about Simeon if you'd been a widow or not. doesn't really say

What we see in this bit of scripture is it people who lived a righteous and faithful life? No matter what their circumstances in life were They chose God above their circumstances.

They are examples to us of living righteously in Faithfully. The question you're going to ask. This is what's keeping me from that. What is keeping me outside of me living righteously in right living Faithfully. I just answered it for myself. It's me. I'm the one I do not turn over and say Jesus take this junk out of my life so that I can live fully devoted to you remove the things that block me from knowing you better get the scent out of me. So that I may serve you for your glory and for your sake.

What's keeping you today? I have a moment of of time where we open up the altar. all of our altar call we can call it our

call to action. But the question is what is keeping you.

I'm sitting at seeing an example set like this. What's keeping you from living a righteous and faithful life before a holy and Jessica What's blocking you beside yourself? Nothing, what do I got to do? I got to get rid of me.

They can be the day you do that takes some time. We're going to they're going to sing a song. We're going to pass some prayer time, but you need to be thinking and asking God to remove the things that are between you and him. It's one of those things that I've just never established a true relationship with Jesus Christ. I've never done him and said I Repent I know I am a rebel against you. Today, I'm tired of running.

You hear the spirit calling you that this is your moment. This is your time. Take this time to do that. By the way, just come to you. Thank you again for your word. We asked you would continue to convict us even speak our hearts you would. Whatever stupid wedge that we drive between us and you you would remove it.

As we cry out to you knowing we've seen examples that there is nothing keeping us except ourselves from you. Speak to our hearts in this time of invitation continue to work through us. This is our time to do business with you.

Let's not let this be a dress up. A ritualistic thing we do. Let's let this be something we do for the sake of you. We are really truly. Examining our hearts and asking you to fix it. In Jesus name amen.