Priorities in perspective
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Introduction
Introduction
Dismiss Children
We are continuing our Christmas list series today and during this series we are looking at our priorities in life.
In todays text we are going to see the role our respective has on our priorities and more importantly God’s priorities.
I don’t know if I’ve shared with you the story of the best Christmas gift I ever game my wife but I know I’ve shared it with some of you. If you hear her tell it, she doesn’t describe it as the best gift.
This was one of our first Christmas’ together as a married couple, if not our very first. We had bought a car and we didn’t opt for the bluetooth music package. This was before it being almost a standard thing. So we still had cd’s that we listened to while carrying around an ipod or our phones.
She had ben wanting a way to play the music on her ipod in the car. So I found the best gift ever. It was exactly what she had asked for. I wrapped it in a nice small box and may have made a bigger deal about it than I should have, afterwards I found out she thought it was jewlery.
She opens the wrapping to see exactly what she had asked for and …does not respond how I expected. I had bought her a 3.5mm aux cord to connect her phone to the car. Now thats not all I got her that year but that was one of the gifts.
Now why did I make such a big deal of this and her....not so much?
Because of our perspectives. Because of what we thought of the gift when we saw it.
We are going to meet a man today that prophesies about Jesus and what He would be and how that description means different things to different people based upon their perspective of Him. It’s my prayer that your view of Jesus and His impact on your life is challenged today.
Let’s hear from a man named Simeon in Luke 2:25and dive deep into his prophesy
Luke 2:25-35
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.
PRAY
Let’s talk about Simeon for just a moment and then we will jump in.
Not too much is known about this man. What we do know is that The Holy Spirit was with him before Pentecost which only happened to a select few in the OT. he was lead by the Spirit to this time and place to give the prophecy that we see in verses 33-35.
That’s where we are going to focus our attention today.
Look first with me at how Simeon saw Jesus as The Stone of Israel
I. The Stone of Israel
I. The Stone of Israel
Simeon said “This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel”
we have to remember that to properly study scripture we have to ask ourselves, what did this mean to those who heard this. Not even read it but actually Mary and Joseph and any other practicing Jews in the temple.
God is often referred to as a stone in the Old Testament.
Jacob speaking of what will happen to his sons in days to come is speaking about Joseph and makes a reference to God
Gen 49:24
24 But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
God as the Shepherd and stone of Isreal would be the one that built up Jospeh and strengthened Him. He would do the same for Israel when they followed after Him.
Joseph would see God has His strength however His enemies would think differently.
Moses alludes to this in
Deut 32:30-31
30 How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had shut them up?
31 For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.
The enemies of Israel knew the Rock, the protector, the stone of Israel was not like their rock.
they saw the God of Israel as a threat yet Jacob, Joseph, and the followers of God knew Him to be a refuge and a fortress.
The Psalmist wrote
Ps 18:2
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
The Psalmist knew God in such a way He saw Him as a blessing, as the deliverer from evil. The enemies of God saw Him differently.
Simeon has declared now that Jesus will be the stone that is set for the rising and fall of people in Israel. It will not only be Israelites and the enemies of Israel that view God differently, there will now be division amongst the Jews about their view of God and His Messiah.
As the Stone of Israel He can either raise up or destroy those around Him. And whether or not the Jews see Him as a deliverer or destroyer will be based on their perspective which is derived from their priorities.
Not only is God referred to as a stone in the OT we find in the NT multiple references to Christ as the stone, specifically a cornerstone.
before we examine those let me ask, what is a cornerstone?
-A stone that forms the base of a corner of a building. It is the first stone laid, marks the geographical direction of the building, and established the orientation of all others stones that come after it.
The Psalmist prophesied of the Messiah in this way.
Ps 118:22
22 The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner.
The builders would see the cornerstone of the Messiah and reject Him because He did not meet their qualifications.
Jesus knew their hearts and how they felt about Him.
Look at
Luke 20:9-16
9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
What has happened in this parable is the farmer that owns the land has left people to work it for them and care for it. Then He send His son back to collect the harvest.
The tenant farmers saw the son coming and killed him to gain the inheritance themselves.
the religious leaders responded to Jesus by saying “This must never happened”
I love how Jesus backs them in a corner with their own thinking.
So Jesus then asks them
Luke 20:17-18
17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
He quotes psalm 18 AND refers to Daniel 2 where Daniel prophesies of the kingdom of God destroying all other kingdoms.
The stone crushed those who opposed the kingdom of God.
As the stone of Israel Jesus will either be the cornerstone that you build your life on , your foundation, your protector in the times of storm, or the stone of destruction that will crush you. The question is what is your perspective on jesus.
Simeon saw Him as the Cornerstone to establish His life upon and then told Mary and Jospeh that he would be a sign that is spoken against.
II. The Sign of God
II. The Sign of God
The word sign here is also used to describe a miracle. And not in the sense of a showing of power from God but in the sense that it is a revelation of divine truth.
Jesus would be the sign of God to the Israelites that he had fulfilled His Word of sending the messiah.
As we observed last week the birth of Christ was a miracle in itself. Mary not knowing a man delivered the Messiah on that night in bethlehem.
The Jews mocked this in
John 8:41
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
We be not born of fornication can be said “we were not born of sexual immorality”
They are refusing to acknowledge the miraculous birth for what it was and accusing Mary of being unfaithful to Joseph.
Then as Jesus would perform miracles they would accuse them of being done in the name of Satan
Matthew 12:22-24
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Jesus’ response was to call them out by telling them a house divided cannot stand. Why would he cast out demons if he was of the devil? It made no logical sense.
Throughout Jesus’ life the religious elites questioned His character and all that He did. Even after His death they slandered Him
Matthew 27:39-44
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
This was all fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Psalm 22:6-8
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Even in the world’s hatred and distaste for Jesus they only prove the Word of God more.
The way they viewed Jesus as the Messiah was evident by their words and actions. The same as us today.
The way a Christian or non Christian views Jesus will be evident in their actions. We can judge a persons love and commitment to Christ based on their lifesyle...
Woah pastor…doesn’t the Bible say only God can judge me or judge not lest ye be judged?
Yup.. So how can we judge a persons heart based off their actions?
Number 1. To understand those verses to mean we can’t make a judgement call of a person based on their actions is to do, what is known in theological circles as, eisegesis.
That means you are putting something into the text that isn’t there.
Matthew 7:1 does say judge not so you won’t be judged.
Matthew 7:2
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
If we are judging a person based off of our own level of maturity and walk with the Lord, because we are viewing ourselves as better or without fault, then yes we are wrong. However, to look at a person carrying a skateboard and saying they are a skateboarder, is perfectly natural. To look at someone who has no semblence of Christianity in their lives and say “I don’t think they are a Christian” it’s normal.
The trap we fall into with judgment is believing we are better because fo ourselves. Forgetting that the only thing that makes us good is Jesus Christ!
People love that judge not verse. You know the BIble says a few more things to we should remember.
Also says be ye holy for I am holy and your lifestyle should be representative of the gospel, the death burial and resurrection of Christ, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
You can’t hold to one and not the other.
believers can’t hold to one and not the other either.
Your perspective of Jesus is what will make you On fire for him or ice cold towards Him. It’s a bad place to be on the fence.
Rev 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Simeon saw Jesus as the stone that would lift up those who believe in Him, the sign of God who would point everyone to Him, and lastly Simeon calls Him a sword.
III. The Sword of God
III. The Sword of God
Luke 2:35
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The Apostle John in His gospel wrote
John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
How do we know that Word is Jesus?
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We have the written Word and Jesus is the Living Word.
Both fit the description given in
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jesus reinforces this in
Luke 12:51
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
How was He dividing? Based on what people believed about Him. Based upon their perspective of Him. Based on the priority they gave Him.
Colossians tells us that He is to have the preeminence in our lives. He is to be first place.
Jesus even said
Matt 10:37
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
He wasn’t mincing words. He made it clear that being his disciple would be a sacrifice.
I will tell you that being saved is as easy as trusting in Jesus as your Savior by faith. Living by faith for Him…well..
Luke 14:25-33
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Counting the costs. have you counted the costs of being a follower of Jesus? What if it cost you the American dream? What if it cost you the job? What if it cost you the car? What if it cost you the admiration of others? What if it cost you the 401k?
OOO…even better…what if it cost you your pride? What if it humbled you to be a disciple? What if you couldn’t flip that guy off anymore that cut you off? What if you had to restrain your jealousy and gossip? What if you had to respect others because of how Christ viewed them instead of how they act?
What if you had to pray for your enemies? Love them who you despise you and use you? What if you had to be taken advantage of?
When Jesus came to be born as a babe in the manger it wasn’t just so we could celebrate His birth with a nice nativity and look at a cute baby as they lay in the hay with a young lady and man looking at him.
He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to minister to people. He came to preach the gospel. He came to glorify His heavenly father.
He knows you can’t do all that on your own. That’s why it was good for Him to go so that the comforter, the HOly Spirit would come.
It’s by our faith in Jesus and our yielding to the Holy Spirit like Simeon that we can have the perspctive of Simeon who found His life’s fulfillment in seeing Jesus.
Simeon said “God I’m ready to go home now. Take me. I ahve seen the Messiah.”
I don’t believe that was Simeon in the flesh. That was Simeon yielded to the Holy Spirit. That is the same Holy Spirit that indwells each of us. We can have that same perspective. We can have that same outlook.
We can look at this Christmas season and see it not as a just a busy time of year where we have to get presents and spend money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like. We can see it as a time when it is easy to serve and tell others about Jesus. We can see our lives for what they are
james 4:14
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Our life is but a vapor but it is a vapor that can have an impact by the grace and power of God as we yield to Him.
Your priorities in life is based upon your perspective. What is you perspective of Jesus? Is he your savior? If he is your savior then He must be your Lord.
Notice I didn’t say you have to make Him Lord.
You see if you beleive John 3:16 then you must believe
1 Timothy 6:15
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Whether you believe in Jesus or not, He is your Lord. The question is are you submitting to His Lordship.
I’m thankful for those of you that just in this past week or two have submitted to His Lordship in areas of serving in the church, becoming church members, It was so encouraging to have a teenager…yes a teenager! tell me last week at the night in bethellhem “Thanks for the message today pastor. I’ve already put a couple things in practice today from it.” AMEN!
Simeon yielded to the Holy Spirit and got to see Jesus in person. We will see Jesus one day but we can show Jesus to others by submitting to Him now and being apart of the great work He is doing in the lives of those around us.
Jesus is a stone, a sign, and a sword that is used by God for the uplifting of His creation or the destruction of those that oppose Him.
What is your perspective of Jesus?
Time of Response
Time of Response