[0:00] All right. John found the recording I was doing on my phone. Matt told me, he said, I'm not going to be here, but I'm going to listen to it online. John said, I forgot the recorder.
[0:11] So he'd be like, okay, sorry, sorry. So, Luke chapter 2. I'm going to start reading in verse 22.
[0:23] And I'm reading out of the King James. And so you'll be able to see some differences as you're reading it at whatever. Translation you have. And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
[0:40] He's talking about Mary and Jesus. 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 in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
[1:00] 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.
[1:10] And the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
[1:21] All right. You guys have done a lot of talking this morning. And I was thinking while ago, all the praises is for such a small group. We had a lot of praises this morning.
[1:32] So I'm going to make this kind of an interactive thing right now for to see how well you were listening and how much you're thinking about the scripture. This guy, what's this guy's name?
[1:44] Simeon. Simeon. Give me some characteristics of Simeon. What are some of the characteristics that... God-fearing. He's a God-fearing man.
[1:55] Holy Spirit. He's righteous. Righteous means that he obeyed the laws. Devout. Devout. A devout man, which means what? What does that mean, he's devout?
[2:06] He's dead fast. Right. He has a deep reverence for the things of God. So he's devout, careful observance of religious practices.
[2:19] Anything else that you gather about sin? The Holy Spirit was upon him, which was something that was... You know, this Holy Spirit hasn't been distributed yet.
[2:31] That was on the day of Pentecost. So we only see a few instances in the Bible prior to the day of Pentecost where the Spirit was upon someone.
[2:44] But it happened. And it's mostly prophets that that happened to. So the Spirit was upon him. What else?
[2:56] He was eagerly expecting the Messiah. Is that in those words? In the church version, it is. Oh, okay.
[3:07] Alright. I'm just waiting for the consolation. Waiting for the consolation, which... He was waiting for the Messiah. He was promised that he would not die until he saw it.
[3:20] And he was promised he wouldn't die until he saw it. So evidently, he has conversations somehow. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that you're not going to die until you see the Messiah.
[3:34] Or at that point. How... That would be wonderful. That would be kind of dangerous for me. Because I thought... I would be thinking, what a daredevil I would be. If I knew I would...
[3:45] There's nothing... You know, I can... Yeah, I'm going to jump off this building and see if I can fly. I don't know. You know, or do something. You know, my wife would say, you're going to kill yourself doing that.
[3:56] Well, no. No. Not unless I see God's one before. But yeah. So he knew that he wasn't going to see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
[4:08] I'm going to skip down to verse 36 now. And we're going to look at another person. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher.
[4:27] She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers day and night, or night and day.
[4:47] What are some characteristics of Anna? She was old. She was old. Now, how old was she? Now, some translations say that she was about 84, the way it's written.
[5:01] But the way that King James writes, it says she was a widow of about four score and four years. So if she was married seven years, plus the 84, yeah, she was probably a teenager.
[5:22] You know, they got married early. Maybe she was up to 20. So she could have been over 100. I don't know, but even 84 is pretty old. Not as old to some of you as...
[5:36] But yeah, 84. I mean, she's an old lady. Anything else about her? It says she never left the temple and stayed there worshiping God with fasting and prayer day and night.
[5:49] Yeah, she was serving God. Now, she probably didn't have a really easy life. But she didn't give up. She had a purpose. She had something.
[6:01] I mean, it doesn't tell about her struggles. You know, being a woman in that day wasn't easy anyway. But to be in a widow with no husband, it was really bad for a woman.
[6:19] But she kept going. She was doing what she thought was right. And she was serving the Lord. Both of these people had something in common.
[6:36] And that they had hope. Hope is something that's extremely important in our life. If you don't have hope, you know, it's hard to live.
[6:50] But they had hope. Let's look at what happened when they saw Jesus.
[7:02] Or saw the baby. Starting in verse 27, we'll look at what Simeon did. It says, And he came by the Spirit into the temple.
[7:16] And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him what was after the custom of the law. Which, by the way, let's back up. What was the custom of the law?
[7:28] Given the man that now circumcised us. Yep. Well, the circumcision happened on the eighth day. Anybody know about how old Jesus was at this point?
[7:40] When she brought him to the temple to dedicate him? He's basically coming for a baby dedication. Okay, if we look back in Leviticus, at the law that's required so that she, the days of her purification, that was 40 days.
[7:59] The days of purification were 40 days. So that was the, you know, because of blood. She was bleeding and all that stuff. That's their custom.
[8:10] The day of, so, this was probably day 41 maybe. 40 or 41. But the days of her purification were over. And they were bringing two turtle doves.
[8:20] Now, if you look back in Leviticus, it says that you can bring a dove, or turtle dove, and a pigeon, and a lamb. If you could afford it.
[8:31] And it says if you can't afford it, two turtle doves or two pigeons. So, they probably couldn't afford a lamb. So, she didn't have a lamb to bring, but really you and I both know that she was bringing the lamb.
[8:48] She was bringing the lamb that was going to be the sacrifice for us. But she brought these, they brought these two turtle doves to be sacrificed as part of the ceremony for purification and all that.
[9:09] Anyway. Anyway. So, when Simeon saw him, in verse 28, then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
[9:37] 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.
[9:50] And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken to him. I liked what Gretchen said this morning about the whole story, you know. She said, we don't, there's so much that, well, if you had all of you who have had children know, there's a whole lot of stuff going on, you know.
[10:10] Things happen. And Gretchen's like, I want to know the, I want to know the story. Tell me, tell me about, you know, these different things.
[10:21] So, Mary and Joseph, they were young people. They didn't know. they knew there was going to be a Messiah.
[10:34] And they knew, we have the Messiah, but what did that mean? They didn't really know that most, well, even the disciples thought that the Messiah was going to lead a great army and he's going to deliver us from, you know, Rome.
[10:53] It's going to make us great again. They didn't realize. So, certainly, Mary and Joseph didn't know what it meant. What all of this meant.
[11:04] and when, they probably thought, what in the world is he talking about the Gentiles for? The Jews didn't have anything to do with the Gentiles.
[11:16] You know, they were, they weren't part of us. Simeon, obviously, was having a relationship with the Holy Spirit because it was revealed to him that this, this Jesus was going to bring like, like to the Gentiles.
[11:31] He was bringing the, it was salvation for the world, not just for the Jews. And, of course, it says that Mary and Joseph, oh, oh, and he said to, I'm sorry, he said to 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.
[12:05] Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. He was, she didn't know what that meant because she didn't know about the crucifixion.
[12:19] Although, you know, the Bible does talk a lot of prophecy. There was a lot of prophecy about Jesus' birth where he was going to be, where he was going to be born of a virgin and there was prophecy about his, his manner of death.
[12:35] But, perhaps, most people didn't really know what all of that meant. So, let's take a look at, what Anna did when she saw it in verse 38.
[12:50] And she, coming in in that instant, gave thanks likewise to the Lord and spake and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
[13:04] So, she too, like I said, was looking. They both had that hope. and all they had was the promise from God that there was going to be a Messiah.
[13:20] They didn't have that much. I mean, they didn't have much to go on, but they were actively living out the hope that was within them. They had faith in what God said.
[13:32] they both believed that God was going to send a Messiah. And they were both actively looking for the fulfillment of that promise.
[13:45] One person that I was reading about, well, let me tell you that biblical hope, they had biblical hope. Biblical hope is a confident expectation rooted in faith in God's promises, distinguishing it from mere wishful thinking.
[14:02] Christmas just passed. What I was hoping for was a all-wheel drive vehicle. I've been up in the mountains now.
[14:16] There was snow up there. The last time I went, and I got stuck three times with my front-wheel drive vehicle that I had to get somebody to help me out.
[14:27] It just wouldn't go. I think, I'm just going to have to get an all-wheel drive vehicle. So, yeah, Subaru, that's one of the things I'm looking at. But anyway, I was there, I hope I get an all-wheel drive vehicle.
[14:40] Well, that wasn't biblical hope because it was based on nothing. It was just a wish. And, you and I, when we talk about hope in Christ, it's based on something.
[14:54] It's not, it's not just a wish. You tell somebody, were you going to go to heaven? You think, well, I hope so. I hope so. Well, it depends on what kind of hope that is.
[15:06] If it's just a wish, you know, it's not the right kind of hope. If it's a biblical hope, because we have hope that we're going to go to heaven, but it's a hope.
[15:17] It's not a hope of wishful hope. It's a hope based on anticipation of a promise. We know for sure that we're going.
[15:29] So that's the hope. That's why the Bible tells you to be always ready to give an answer for the hope that's in you. Because we can be confident in knowing that it's going to happen.
[15:40] If God said it, it's going to happen. Amen. So these guys were living out their hope, demonstrating their hope.
[15:55] There was evidence of the faith that's in them based on the hope that they demonstrated. Now look at us. I was thinking of, well, what do we have to hope for?
[16:10] Well, there's hope of the resurrection. There's the hope of, you know, of living in heaven one day. Hope of salvation. But there's so much more.
[16:23] We have so much more. I've looked up some scriptures, some different scriptures. And Matthew 6, 31, 33, 33 says, so do not worry saying, what shall we eat?
[16:37] Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you.
[16:50] So, if you're hopeless without food, without clothing, without, you know, things that you're, I just don't know, God says, don't worry about it.
[17:03] I take care of the birds. I take care of things. Seek, just seek me. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all those things will be added to you.
[17:14] So that can bring hope to someone who hasn't, who has nothing. Romans 8, 39 says, no power in the sky above or in the earth below.
[17:25] Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed Christ Jesus our Lord. Think nobody loves you? God loves you.
[17:37] There's nothing that can separate His love from you. He's going to love you. Matthew 11, 28 through 30 says, come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
[17:52] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
[18:05] We can take hope and just follow God. God, it's going to be alright. John Lennon, that's one of the things I ran across when I was, you know, John Lennon was one of the Beatles.
[18:25] He had a bunch of sayings that's interesting. One of his sayings was, in the end, everything will be alright. If it's not alright, then it's not the end.
[18:40] And, what a profound statement. We know that Romans 8, 28 says, and all things work together for good. It's going to be alright.
[18:51] No matter how bad it looks, it's going to be alright. And if it's not alright, then it's not the end yet. God's going to take care of it. Let's see.
[19:05] Another one. John 14, 1-3 says, Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms.
[19:17] If it were not so, I would have told you. And I'm going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that where I am there you may be also.
[19:29] What a blessed hope we have knowing that God is coming back for us. He promised it. And what God says happens. It's going to happen.
[19:42] 1 Peter 1, 3-4 says, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
[19:58] The resurrection of Christ Christ. Which is something that Simeon and Anna didn't know anything about. But you and I do because it's happened.
[20:11] We can look back on it and see. That resurrection as He said He was going to raise gives us hope of a resurrection because He tells us that one day you will rise again.
[20:25] Titus 2-13 says, While we wait for the blessed hope which is the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
[20:41] That's the next great thing. While we're waiting for this great thing the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ then we can look at all the other scriptures that we have to give us hope so that the journey is palatable or joyous.
[21:05] It can be joyous. So let me ask you if you were on trial today being accused of being hopeful is there enough evidence to convict you?
[21:25] There is. Sometimes we let all the problems in this world just wear us down.
[21:38] We see things happening that are wrong and we're like God where are you? There's several places in the scripture where prophets and stuff say God how long are you going to allow these things to happen?
[21:55] God do something look can't you see God's timing is perfect. We can rest on the hope that he's got it.
[22:09] I don't know where the Mathises are but there's one of them. something that I always like like your husband whatever his name Mark Mark will say God's got this God's got this what a blessed hope God's got it it's okay you don't need to worry about it God's got it and then the resurrection for me to know that one day I'll see my father again I'll see my mother and my beautiful sister that I just lost this year you'll see your sister again I was thinking Kenny you'll see Kenny again what a blessed hope that is how how wonderful it is that that God has given us this so this year is about over we're entering the new year now will you join with me and being deliberate in expressing your hope being deliberate and knowing that and demonstrating that I know it's going to be okay
[23:37] I know that God's in control and refuse to get your feelings hurt just live your life in the blessed hope that God's got it and that I'm his child and I'm going to rise again choose to forgive choose to love and just choose to express hope be like Simeon and Anna they were just going on another characteristics I meant to say a while ago Simeon was probably old doesn't say how old he was says Anna was old which is kind of rude really women don't like to talk about their age Simeon was probably an old man because he was ready to die he said let me go in peace now but when we're ready to die
[24:44] I pray that the journey between here and there is one that's filled with joy and hope let's pray father father I thank you for this short message that you have given us lord I pray that we'll be like Simeon and Anna lord busy doing what it is that you've given us to do not losing sight of the hope that's in front of us help us lord to not get bogged down with the world help us to love each other to be kind and hopeful in Jesus name amen