Ways & Words Of A Devoted Follower

Open: It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?"

"The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself."

Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you; the one who was willing to give himself for me."

In the Christian life there are often 2 types of followers, those who are admires and those who are devoted.

Today I’d like to share with The Ways and Words of a Devoted Follower

I. Simeon’s Ways

A. Way Of His Character (25)

1. He Was Righteous—(Just) This means he was morally up right. He made sure to do as God had set forth. He sought to be obedient to the commands of God.

2. He Was Reverent—(devout). He sought to put God on the throne and worshiped Him there!

His Character led to the…

B. Way Of His Council (25-27)

1. The Residing Of The Holy Spirit—We live under grace today and the Holy Spirit takes up resident in us at the moment of conversion. It is not a matter if we have the Holy Spirit but if the Holy Spirit has us. He had Semeion and therefor residing on Him.

2. The Revealing Of The Holy Spirit—God the Holy Spirit is revealing Himself and if we are in right relationship with Him, He can and will lead us and inform us.

When our character is right and we have the council of the Holy Spirit, it will lead to the..

C. Way Of Comfort (27-29)

1. The Revealing Of God’s Promises—lets us know that God will do what He says and that HE can be trusted.

2. The Resting In God’s Promises—we know that the future will be fine because of the promises that God has made.

ILL: The little girl refusing to sit in her car seat. Your character will lead to God’s counsel which will always bring God’s comfort which will put a smile on your face not matter what’s going on around you!

II. Simeon’s Words

A. Words of Confession (30-32)

1. Concerning The Devine Planner—Your salvation, You prepared, Your people. God has always been and will always be at work. He is the Maker, Designer, and yes, the Planner.

2. Concerning The Devine Plan—It all points to God’s Devine plan to save that which was lost at the fall.

B. Words Of Caution (34-35)

1. For Mary— Simeon revealed to Mary that her Son would be opposed (a sign … spoken against) and that she would be hurt greatly. Her grief would be like a sword piercing her soul. Here Simeon is speaking of the death of Jesus and how Mary would not only be hurt as a mother but seeing her Savior die.

2. For The Many—The rise and fall. Jesus would proclaim (and did proclaim) to be the only way to the Father. Those that chose or choose Him rose and those that reject fall.

C. Words Of Completeness (28-29)

1. His Delight—He Blessed God which means he praised Him!

2. His Departure—He was wafting on this one thing.

Close: When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life I will stand by my mother’s God.”

Simeon’s devotion spoke volumes and even stretched across 2000 years and spoke to us today. Your devotion or the lack thereof speaks volumes about you. Do you possess the ways and word of a devoted follower or are you just an admirer?