[0:00] Let us join together in the worship of God, singing to his praise from Psalm 122.
[0:13] We're going to sing the whole of the psalm. Psalm 122. I joy to enter the house of God, go up, they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates, our feet shall standing be.
[0:29] Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together, and to that place the tribes go up, the tribes of God go thither. To Israel's testimony, there to God's name thanks to pay.
[0:44] For thrones of judgment, even the thrones of David's house, there stay. Pray that Jerusalem may have peace and felicity. Let them that love thee and thy peace have still prosperity.
[0:57] Therefore I wish that peace may still within thy walls remain, and ever may thy palaces prosperity retain. Now for my friends and brethren's sakes, peace be in thee, I'll say.
[1:13] And for the house of God, our Lord, I'll seek thy good all way. The whole of Psalm 122. To God's praise.
[1:23] I joy to enter the house of God, go up, they said to me. I joy to enter the house of God, go up, they said to me.
[1:42] Jerusalem within thy gates, our feet shall stand in thee.
[1:56] Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together.
[2:10] Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together.
[2:26] To Israel's testimony there, to God's name thanks to me.
[2:41] For thrones of judgment in the thrones of demons as they stay.
[2:56] Pray that Jerusalem may have peace and mercy.
[3:09] Let them above thee at thy peace and still prosperity.
[3:26] Therefore thy wish that peace may still within thy walls remain.
[3:40] And ever did thy promises prosper it in return.
[3:55] Now for my friends and brethren's sakes, peace be in thee, I'll see.
[4:11] And for the house of God our Lord, I'll see thy good always.
[4:25] Let us join together in prayer. Let us pray. O Lord our God, as we come before you, help us to pray as we ought.
[4:43] Help us to come as we ought to come. And we cannot do so if it were not for your own help and your own guiding.
[4:55] And we give thanks that your word is that very source of light to us in our darkness. That very word of inspiration that we would need when we are in desperation.
[5:14] We give thanks that we can seek out the face of our God and that you choose to reveal yourself to us.
[5:25] And that there is provision made for us at your food store where we can not only solicit your help but believe that it is sufficient for us.
[5:37] We know that there are occasions when your people find themselves as if they are beating upon the doors of heaven and they complain that there is no answer.
[5:52] That might be how they feel but it is not like it was for another who cried out of his own sense of dereliction.
[6:05] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Because he was in this place that his position as the sin bearer merited.
[6:23] Because he was there bearing the sins of his people before a God who was holy. He was dealing with those in Christ who deserved nothing but the wrath and the curse of a holy God.
[6:40] None of us can understand what that is. Because experientially none of us have yet to meet that.
[6:51] And we pray that it would never be true for any one of us. For your people there is an assurance given that that which awaits them is a declaration coming from the mouth of the Most High God.
[7:10] For your people there is an assurance given that they are his favourite people. And that instead of hearing the words come from his mouth where they are driven away they are invited to come.
[7:26] And we marvel at the fact that you have taken such people to yourself. We give thanks for the provision that you have made for us in Christ.
[7:39] Where that hope can be ours. So enliven it within us and enkindle afresh that certainty that belongs to your people who have put their trust in Christ the Lord.
[7:54] We pray that your blessing would be imparted to all who are his today. That you would remember each one of them wherever the Lord has cast here in this world.
[8:06] We are all fellow sojourners on the scene of time for whatever duration you have decreed for us. And once we have lived our allotted lives we will then be summoned to enter into your presence.
[8:25] We pray that when that appointed time comes that we will be found in him. Not having our own righteousness but the righteousness that he has imputed to his own.
[8:39] Wherein we are covered from head to toe with that unsported veil that covers us.
[8:50] And ensures that all sin is hidden from sight. We pray that you would remember every circumstance of life that marks out your people at this time.
[9:01] As we continue in this world of uncertainty at a time of pandemic. We pray that you would bless all who have succumbed to it.
[9:12] All who are presently needing care. We pray that you would bless them as they receive it. And remember those that have been given that task to deliver it to them.
[9:25] Doctors and nurses and carers in hospital and care homes and in the community. We pray that you would remember all who have a special interest in ensuring that the well-being of their fellow creatures is catered for.
[9:43] We pray for those who have a reason to grieve because you have taken from them loved ones through this means.
[9:56] And we know that there are many occasions arising in this world. Many ways in which death will intrude upon our lives. And remind us that we are but so generous in the world.
[10:08] So we pray for any and all who are grieving today. All who are sorrowful. We pray that you would mercifully undertake for us. And as we bear one another's burdens as we are commanded to do.
[10:23] May we know that love of God constraining us in all things. Remember the world in which we live. Those who govern us.
[10:34] The governments of the lands. We pray that you would hear our petitions for those who even as of yet have no wisdom of their own to plead to the God of heaven to have mercy.
[10:51] We know that you are a patient God. That you are long-suffering and kind. But you are a God who has promised that your patience is not inexhaustible.
[11:03] That the day will come when it will indeed be at an end. And we pray that you would remember the gospel that is preached to blessed. So that all who are sent out by you to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ would do so.
[11:19] That burning desire and that searching urgency that they would seek out and find those that you have purposed for them to preach the word to.
[11:32] Pray for those who are at this time housebound, hospitalized, confined for whatever reason.
[11:44] May your word go out by whichever means you have decreed by which that word will go out. Remember the preaching of the word. And those who have allowed to come back to the churches.
[12:00] And we pray that you would bless their gatherings and keep all who gather safe. Remember those who are unable to meet publicly. May they know that they are, although alone or in their families, in the home, that they have others with them as the spiritual body of Christ.
[12:21] So bless us, we pray. Bless us as we wait upon you and seek your blessing upon your word. May it go home to our hearts with great power, convincing us of our need of Christ above all things.
[12:38] Hear us in Jesus' name. Amen. We're going to read from the New Testament Scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke.
[12:49] We're reading from the second chapter, Luke chapter 2, and we're going to read from verse 21. It's some verses down from verse 21 and down to verse 40.
[13:06] And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
[13:21] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses was accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
[13:33] As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said of the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
[13:52] 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.
[14:03] And the Holy Ghost was upon him, and was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
[14:16] And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in their child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let us thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
[14:41] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
[14:53] And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 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.
[15:16] Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
[15:32] She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. She was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
[15:49] And she coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
[16:01] And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
[16:12] And the child grew, and walked strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
[16:23] And so on. May the Lord add his blessing to our reading of his word, and to his name be the praise. Like us for a short while to turn to the passage that we read.
[16:40] And we're going to consider the account that we have here of Simeon, this man of God who had a promise from the Lord that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
[17:01] The birth and the infancy of the Lord Jesus Christ are recorded for us in the scripture. Maybe it's not recorded in the same detail as his adulthood.
[17:13] Nevertheless, its import is not overlooked. Luke's gospel gives us much of the detail, and some of the detail is exclusive to his gospel.
[17:30] This account we have of Simeon is one such. And here we have one of those individuals whose actions before and after are not recorded anywhere.
[17:41] But this day is recorded as are his words, and they are never to be forgotten. There are a number of things that we can consider from this account.
[17:55] The first thing that we can state with certainty is that Simeon was a man of God. The description we are given of Simeon allows us to state this categorically.
[18:12] He was just. He was devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. From what he says himself, God's salvation for his people, Israel.
[18:27] Finally, he had the Spirit of God, which must be true of every believer. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.
[18:40] So there are a number of things to bear in mind about this description. What is said of him could and should have been said about every professing believer among the Jews.
[18:52] But unfortunately, it was not true. At the time of the birth of Jesus, God's named people were in spiritual slumber. Bishop Ryle writes, The faith of Abraham was spoiled by the doctrines of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
[19:11] Perhaps the clearest indication of this is seen in the nature of the preaching of John the Baptist a couple of decades later when things are clearly no better.
[19:25] John preaches, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. When he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptisms, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
[19:43] You will remember his words, words that were echoed by the Lord when he himself began to preach. But we know that Simeon is not of that number.
[19:55] He lives by the word of God, behaving justly towards his fellow man and obedient to his heavenly father, as some theologians point out, he is careful about his religious duties.
[20:10] Not content with the outward forum, but entirely diligent, as is shown by his presence at God's house and his familiarity with the word of God.
[20:21] We know that the scriptures declared repeatedly promises concerning the redemption of Israel. He would have known about Israel's shepherd and the one Micah the prophet had said whose goings forth had been from everlasting, one who would come from Bethlehem as Israel's ruler.
[20:47] The prophet Haggai describes the looked for one as the desire of all nations, which indicates the longing that was in the heart of the faithful for the fulfilment of prophecy, longing for the one who was to redeem Israel.
[21:04] Just think for a moment how these words redeem Israel, how they sound and what they have meant to different peoples.
[21:17] Many have looked at these words, listened to these words, perhaps used these words, but the true value of them has been undermined.
[21:35] They've been applied, for example, to one oppressor and another who was to be removed by the provision of some valiant champion of the people. Where the real value of the promise is seen in the one who would defeat sin and death on the cross.
[21:52] The words of the evangelical prophet Isaiah are paraphrased. The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light.
[22:03] They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath light shined. The difference between Simeon and the theological doctors of the day is that he understood the significance of what was before him.
[22:18] James Montgomery Boyce in a book entitled The King Has Come deals with the early part of the Gospels and what he calls the true Christmas story. He describes the reaction of Herod to the news of the birth of Jesus as King of the Jews and the tact that he possessed when he approached the various people who should have known of Christ in order to see if he could destroy him.
[22:50] He went to the Jewish doctors of religion who knew from the scripture that the new king would be born in Bethlehem. However, despite the information he possessed from the scripture and the unusual interest of the wise men from the east as well as King Herod, what we find is as Boyce, Montgomery Boyce writes, the Magi went to Bethlehem to find Jesus.
[23:20] But these rulers were too busy or too lazy or too unconcerned to make the short trip. These leaders of Israel would not inconvenience themselves even a little to go and find him.
[23:37] But this was not how it was for Simeon. He had a desire, he had a longing, he had a promise that he wished to see fulfilled.
[23:50] Simeon was a spiritual man. As we said before, Simeon, like every believer, had the spirit of God. Perhaps you think that there are super spiritual people and ordinary people.
[24:04] The important fact to remember is that without the spirit we cannot believe. He is the one who enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ. But what we notice about Simeon is that the Holy Ghost was upon him.
[24:20] Furthermore, the Holy Ghost reveals to Simeon that he will not die before he sees the Lord's Christ. We also read that it was the spirit that led him to the temple when Joseph and Mary take the infant to the temple.
[24:36] And finally, the blessing that he made to Mary and Joseph surely involved the spirit of prophecy. Now it is assumed, although it is not stated, that Simeon was an old man at this point.
[24:55] It seems likely that he had waited for a long time before the promise made to him was fulfilled. Perhaps there were many false dawns waiting for the promised Messiah.
[25:10] But remember, he was not alone in that sense. He is not alone even in the sense that there are many today who have received a promise from God, perhaps, concerning a loved one and they have yet to see it fulfilled.
[25:33] Remember the question that John the Baptist asked from prison. The same John who at one point declared, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him.
[25:53] And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptise with water. The same said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptises with the Holy Ghost.
[26:14] And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. John's question from prison by means of his disciples was, Art thou he that should come or look we for another?
[26:31] Of course many see the question asked for the good of others, not because of unbelief on the part of John, as if it were not possible for this giant of the faith to experience even momentary weakness.
[26:46] I very much doubt if Simeon lived his life in the world even with the promise of God grafts fitably in his breast, free from the testings of the evil one who would have us all believe that God is not true to his word.
[27:03] We are forever reminded of the need that we have to believe the word of God but we are not told of any such experience on the part of Simeon so we are left to conjecture on that point.
[27:21] The Spirit led Simeon to the temple at the very time appointed for Mary and Joseph to bring their firstborn son to be consecrated.
[27:33] We know that Zacharias the priest the father of John the Baptist was in the temple by reason of divine appointment. He was of the course of Abia and we are told it was his turn to minister in the temple hence he was there at a certain time.
[27:51] Simeon however had no such reason for being there but God meant him to be there so by the Spirit he came and it was there that the Spirit opened his eyes to see the glory of the Lord.
[28:06] I suppose it would be good if we could explain exactly what takes place when God the Spirit comes and works in the heart and the mind of God's people but there are many mysteries concerning the work of the Spirit what he does may defy our human reason for me he may have reasons all of his own.
[28:33] There were always renowned Christians men and women throughout the generations who had the ear of the Lord and many of them have left a testimony to their faith in God.
[28:47] Lord O'Campbell for example as one preacher the late Lord O'Campbell of Rizalus as he was known has recorded many accounts of Christians of a bygone generation who lived by faith.
[29:04] One record which is of incredible interest to me anyway is the account we have of Gormilia Maclean. At one time when she was engaged cutting seaweed she was waiting with others for the tide to go out so that she could begin her work but rather than wait where she was or work with the others who were doing something productive with their time she decided to go and visit a Christian elder that she knew nearby and when she arrived at this home she found him and a friend engaged in prayer both of them were old men and both rejoiced at her visit as an answer to prayer their explanation was as follows a few days before the local minister had visited the elder and he had given him a gift of half a crown but that morning of
[30:07] Gormelia's visit the elder had been awoken with the desire or the sense of urgency stirred up by a dream and he had in his dream seen a woman an elderly woman that he knew and she had come to him in the dream and she had requested half a crown and the elder felt compelled to ask Gormelia to carry the gift to this woman who he knew to be on her deathbed as soon as she was able to go because both of the men who were engaged in prayer were incapacitated by their own old age so when
[31:08] Gormelia delivered the message the recipient told her I am soon going home but I owe the merchant half a crown and I have been praying the Lord for help to discharge the debt before I leave the world now when you think of that story a question comes to mind who was more spiritual was it the men who were praying Gormelia for visiting or the minister for bestowing the gift or the old dying woman for laying her cause before the Lord perhaps we would have an answer to that question if there is an answer to the question there is one common denominated and that is the God to whom they all owed allegiance we know that
[32:13] Simeon was a man of faith he was a spiritual man and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel led by the spirit he was given the privilege to see the promise fulfilled in his experience he saw by faith more than just the infant babe he saw the provision of our redeemer by the God of all grace he believed the promises he believed the prophecy of God given to himself and finally he was the source of prophecy to Mary concerning her infant son we read there these solemn words which Mary and Joseph marvelled at when they heard this man other Lord he said now let us thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people
[33:29] Israel Simeon saw there prophecy fulfilled prophecy the word of God to himself and the word of God to the world through his servants the prophets but he was stimulated by the same spirit to speak himself to Mary concerning what the future held for them Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel for a sign which shall be spoken against a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed a true picture of the effect that the Lord would have and continue to have in this world they are words that are not easy to interpret with perfect accuracy but they are words that are the words of
[34:37] God Leon Morris shows that Simeon's words speak of the effect on the world in gender the effects of Christ on his people as well the effects on Mary in particular the sufferings of Jesus will impact upon her the sword that will pierce her soul is the death of Jesus R.C.
[35:07] Sproul the American preacher writes in the New Testament with Christ there is no neutrality when a person encounters Christ he is either former against him he either trips over him or is established by him the day would come when Mary would witness the evil that was in men's hearts and experience in her own soul the tearing grief of a mother witnessing the torments of the cross no one would envy her and yet Simeon was compelled to bring that message to her it may be that in the time appointed she would remember these words as surely as she remembered the day that she took her son to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord service we know that Christ fulfilled that consecration and that he came and was indeed the consolation of
[36:13] Israel and to that end he is proclaimed today are you one who finds that consolation in your own heart and soul as you think of your need as a sinner may God make it so let us pray heavenly father we give thanks for the marvel that your word brings to us concerning the provision made of your son we bless you and thank you that he is indeed the saviour of Israel God's chosen redeemer we pray that you would bless us in his name continue to watch over us cleansing from sin and now may grace mercy and peace from God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you all now and always Amen Do God listen to a fucking Spider In Please ch