WEBVTT

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 as we get started on our last Sunday school of 2024.

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 You know, and another year is going to be completed shortly,

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 and you get the anticipation of that new one

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 that's coming around the corner.

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 I mean, it's one of those elements we have to have the break from that,

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 but, you know, some people, when they look at the new year,

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 they're either excited or they're not looking forward to it.

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 But, you know, as a believer, I want to encourage you with this good news.

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 Is the beginning of a new year means we're one year closer to the Lord's return.

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 And we'll be out of here and not have to deal with this mess called this world.

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 And so that's the good news of this, that we're going to celebrate.

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 You know, but as we celebrated Christmas and last week reflected upon his first coming,

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 it's best that we don't forget that each passing year,

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 we ought to reflect on the fact this could be the year.

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 You know, oftentimes one of the Jewish traditions is next year in Jerusalem.

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 As a believer, it ought to be next year in glory.

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 You know, I was thinking about that this week.

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 I'm like, that's a good thought, you know, next year in glory.

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 You know, that's something we ought to look forward to.

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 That we can look forward to what God has done.

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 And every generation of believers has thought they would be the one that would see Jesus come again.

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 And that's the way Jesus made it.

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 And he wanted us to be ready.

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 You know, we just talked about that.

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 But to be ready for it.

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 And so this morning we're going to continue looking over in Luke chapter 2 this morning.

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 We're going to talk about a couple of other individuals here in Luke chapter 2.

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 Because we find two people here that were looking for Jesus.

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 They were looking for the Lord.

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 They had lived their lives looking for the Lord to come.

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 You know, they were present at Jesus' first coming.

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 And they were confident that they would live to see the Messiah.

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 They had been watching and faithfully serving God with the expectation

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 that the Lord's Christ would soon be on the scene.

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 Their hopes were realized one day as they were serving in the temple.

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 Everything they had looked forward to.

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 Everything that God had promised to that point.

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 They had the opportunity to witness.

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 And we're going to talk about two individuals here this morning.

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 That they had a hope of this.

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 And their hopes were realized when one day in the temple,

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 a young couple came with a new baby boy.

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 And this is what we're going to pick up here in Luke chapter 2.

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 Luke chapter 2 is Jesus coming into the temple.

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 And we need to keep in mind this morning that we ought to be optimistic about His coming again,

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 just as these two were optimistic and looking for the Savior to come.

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 And so we see here, just as those here in the first century, we can anticipate it also.

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 Let's look here in Luke chapter 2.

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 Look down at verse 22 this morning.

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 Luke chapter 2 and verse 22 says this,

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 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished,

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 they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

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 As is written in the law,

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 The Lord every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,

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 to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord,

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 a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.

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 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

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 And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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 And the Holy Ghost was upon him.

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 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

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 And he came by the Spirit into the temple.

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 And when the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law,

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 they took him up.

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 Then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

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 Lord, thou lettest thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.

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 For my eyes have seen thy salvation,

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 which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

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 a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.

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 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

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 And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother,

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 Behold, this child is set for the fallen rising against many in Israel,

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 and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

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 Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,

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 that the thoughts of thy heart may be revealed.

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 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanel,

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 of the daughter of the tribe of Asher.

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 She was of great age and had lived with a husband 70 years from her virginity.

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 And she was a widow of about four score and four years,

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 which departed not from the temple,

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 but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.

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 And she came in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,

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 and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

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 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,

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 they returned to Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, as we just take a few moments here to look at these two that were ready,

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 were watching for you, Lord.

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 We pray to be an encouragement to us also to know,

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 even as we've looked at this morning,

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 what it looks and what it means,

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 and the joy that it comes to know that you're coming

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 and what it will mean when that day comes.

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 Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each one today.

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 We might be encouraged and strengthened from your word,

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 and we give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You know, here we have the first one that we have is Simeon.

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 You know, the Bible says that he was waiting for the comfort,

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 the consolation of those things.

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 Mary and Joseph had come into the temple.

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 You know, we know that Mary and Joseph were faithful Jewish parents.

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 You know, they were faithful to do all that the law commanded them to do.

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 They were doing all the things that they had been instructed.

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 The Bible says there just a little earlier that they circumcised Jesus on the eighth day.

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 On the eighth day, they had Jesus circumcised,

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 which was according to the law that he had given to Moses,

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 according to the covenant that God had made with Abraham,

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 to those descendants of Abraham.

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 And he had made that connection there.

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 They circumcised him the eighth day,

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 according to the law.

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 Leviticus chapter 12 in verse 3 is where you find that commandment

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 that they were to be circumcised.

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 The males were on the eighth day.

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 And there's some reasons behind that when you study the scripture.

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 You know, sometimes we ask,

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 well, why did they circumcise the child on the eighth day?

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 We'll test your Bible.

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 Your detailed Bible trivia this morning.

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 I'll give you a little clue.

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 Everything you find in scripture concerning days,

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 God lines out the wise.

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 Seven days, Mary giving birth would have been considered unclean.

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 On the eighth day,

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 she was allowed to enter the sanctuary,

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 allowed to do those things.

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 So they circumcised the child on the eighth day,

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 when the mom was able to participate.

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 Immediately following,

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 a young mom would be declared unclean

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 on her waiting period again of 32 days.

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 Forty days in all,

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 a mom would wait

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 before they would bring the child to the temple.

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 So we know this was 40 days after Jesus was born.

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 Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple

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 to fulfill the next part of their responsibility.

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 They're coming into the temple.

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 There are 32 days.

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 They made that seven-mile walk

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 from Bethlehem to Jerusalem

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 to present Jesus to the Lord.

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 You know, take a look back in the Old Testament for a moment.

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 There are Numbers chapter 3 for a moment.

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 Numbers chapter 3 because, you know,

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 how many times have you read this

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 and really stopped to consider

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 all the things that are being fulfilled here?

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 The things that not only identify,

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 but also allow Jesus to perfectly keep the law.

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 If he was our Savior,

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 if he was sinless,

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 part of that responsibility fell on his parents

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 to do and to keep the law,

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 all the things he was supposed to do.

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 He couldn't get there as a young child by himself,

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 but notice here in verse 13,

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 it says this,

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 and because all the firstborn are mine,

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 for on the day that I smote all the firstborn

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 in the land of Egypt,

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 I hollowed unto me all the firstborn of Israel,

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 both man and beast,

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 mine shall they be,

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 I am the Lord.

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 Now this is just one place

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 as this is repeated to the children of Israel,

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 that they are to bring the firstborn son

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 and dedicate them unto the Lord

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 because they belong to the Lord.

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 Now in this,

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 you'll find that this goes back

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 because who can think of a mom

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 who brought her first son

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 to be dedicated unto the Lord?

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 Hannah brought Samuel.

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 Except in that case,

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 she literally dedicated and gave him to the Lord.

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 But part of this,

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 when you read through scripture,

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 we don't have time this morning,

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 the parents could redeem the child with an offering.

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 We know Hannah,

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 there's no mention of her redeeming Samuel.

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 She gave and dedicated Samuel unto God.

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 And we know that Samuel served God his whole life,

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 that she would bring him clothes,

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 she would bring him all those things.

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 But here Jesus,

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 we find that Mary and Joseph redeem the child.

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 It's a picture that we see.

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 They came to offer the sacrifice

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 that was required by the Mosaic law

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 to purify Mary

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 and to allow her to return to worship in the temple.

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 And the synagogue is also when Jesus

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 would be officially dedicated to God.

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 And really, you might say,

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 for his real father, you know,

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 because Joseph was just his stepdad,

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 if you want to use modern terms.

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 You know, he's the one that took Jesus in

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 and helped provide and to raise.

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 As Mary's husband,

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 he was not the father of Jesus.

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 We know that was the Holy Spirit.

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 You know, the text here we find,

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 because notice as we look back here,

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 in what we were reading here,

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 notice what it tells us, verse 22.

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 And when the days of her purification,

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 according to the law of Moses,

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 were accomplished,

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 they brought him to Jerusalem

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 to present him to the Lord.

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 Because notice, verse 23 tells us that

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 from the Old Testament.

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 As it is written in the law of the Lord,

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 every male that openeth the womb

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 shall be called holy unto the Lord,

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 and to offer a sacrifice

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 according to that which is said

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 in the law of the Lord,

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 a pair of turtle doves

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 and two young pigeons.

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 Now, here's another good little insight

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 that you'll find.

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 This kid tells us the financial status

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 of Mary and Joseph.

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 You know, it's little things in Scripture

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 that really help you understand

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 what was going on

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 and where they were at.

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 What clue gives you here

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 of what their financial status was?

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 Sacrifice.

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 Yeah, the sacrifice,

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 because when we look in the Old Testament,

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 they were to bring

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 two different things.

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 They were either to bring

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 a lamb of the first year

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 and a turtle dove

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 or a pigeon as an offering,

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 one for a burnt offering,

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 one for a sin offering.

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 If they could not afford the lamb,

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 it was permitted for them

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 to bring two pigeons

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 or two turtle doves.

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 One to be the burnt offering,

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 one to be the sin offering.

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 What was that?

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 That was the poor person's offering,

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 you might say,

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 because the bird was cheaper

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 than buying the lamb.

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 So we know from what they bought

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 that they didn't have much means.

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 They were not wealthy.

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 They were not well off.

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 Which, just to ruin your Christmas tale,

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 that means Mary did not ride

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 a donkey to Jerusalem

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 or down to Bethlehem

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 because donkeys were for rich people.

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 You know, that's a rich person's animal

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 to have.

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 So we know certain things

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 that kind of ruin the Christmas story

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 that we have in our mind as kids,

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 you know, and adults,

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 as you always see Mary

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 riding the donkey, you know.

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 I know, kids aren't up here,

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 so I won't spoil it for them, you know.

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 But you know, those are those

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 little details in Scripture.

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 But notice here,

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 they couldn't afford a lamb.

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 It was a poor family sacrifice.

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 It says they were introduced

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 doing these things

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 because they were to bring it

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 to the priest

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 and to offer the sacrifice

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 before the Lord.

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 And while they're there,

00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:05.759
 they come in

00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.740
 and something takes place.

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.980
 We find an old Jewish worshiper

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.080
 by the name of Simeon,

00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.680
 one who had received

00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:16.659
 a revelation from the Holy Spirit

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:18.159
 that he would not see death

00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.180
 until he had personally witnessed

00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.240
 the coming Messiah.

00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:22.740
 Look here in verse 25

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.440
 back in Luke chapter 2.

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:24.659
 It says,

00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.000
 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.960
 whose name was Simeon.

00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.340
 The same man was just and devout

00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:31.160
 waiting for the consolation of Israel,

00:13:31.160 --> 00:13:33.660
 and the Holy Ghost was upon him,

00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.600
 and it was revealed unto him

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.600
 by the Holy Ghost

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.980
 that he should not see death

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:39.780
 before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:43.519
 Now, as we consider in the Old Testament,

00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.920
 the Old Testament times

00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:45.800
 were different from today.

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:49.160
 We need to keep what's being said there

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:49.560
 important,

00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.460
 but it says in the Old Testament,

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.460
 the Holy Spirit would come and go

00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:55.200
 from people.

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:59.160
 The Holy Spirit could come upon a person

00:13:59.160 --> 00:13:59.620
 and depart.

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.000
 Now, what's different about today?

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:03.900
 Today, as a New Testament saint,

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:06.060
 because Christ has paid the price

00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:06.800
 for our sin,

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.800
 the Comforter has come,

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:10.280
 and the Holy Spirit dwells

00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:11.060
 in every believer.

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.860
 That's how Jesus says,

00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:13.840
 I will never leave you

00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:15.519
 nor forsake you.

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.200
 In the Old Testament,

00:14:17.400 --> 00:14:19.000
 the Holy Spirit would come

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:19.840
 and go from people.

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:22.639
 In the New Testament,

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.620
 we have a promise

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.820
 that he will never depart.

00:14:25.780 --> 00:14:27.639
 He is the earnest of our salvation.

00:14:28.660 --> 00:14:30.860
 We have a special promise.

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:31.620
 You know, like I said,

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:33.100
 I'm glad all the promises

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.560
 of Scripture don't belong to me.

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:37.800
 I'm glad that we have specific ones

00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.820
 that do apply to us.

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.300
 Like, once you're saved,

00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:41.899
 you are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.519
 He is our security

00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.360
 of the promise to be fulfilled

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.720
 that we will one day

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.700
 be completely and fully redeemed.

00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:52.980
 Brought out from very presence of sin.

00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:54.180
 You know?

00:14:54.560 --> 00:14:56.440
 And we see here of what took place

00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:58.680
 because when Mary and Joseph show up,

00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.139
 they're offering these things.

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:01.639
 Now, I don't know about you,

00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:03.139
 but I just kind of picture in my mind

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:03.899
 knowing moms,

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:07.320
 that this is one of those weird moments.

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.720
 Because here's Mary,

00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:11.780
 because have you ever been around young moms?

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.560
 How do young moms treat

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.660
 a seven-day-old baby?

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:17.480
 Or excuse me,

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:17.879
 at this point,

00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:18.840
 you'd be 40 days old.

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:20.160
 That's still pretty old.

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:22.080
 How are most young moms at that stage?

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:24.920
 Yeah, they're like,

00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.300
 you know,

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:28.879
 they're in,

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.360
 don't you dare.

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.820
 But I want you to see the picture here.

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:34.139
 Simeon walks over

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:36.740
 and doesn't tell us all.

00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:38.019
 It says he took the baby.

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:40.600
 I imagine that he wasn't a brave enough guy

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.340
 just to take him.

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.759
 I suspect he asked.

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.059
 But he looks at Jesus

00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.220
 and makes a proclamation.

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.659
 Here, Mary and Joseph

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:49.519
 had already seen all these things

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.199
 40 days earlier with the angel,

00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:54.019
 with the shepherds.

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.159
 Prior to that,

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.879
 about 11 months earlier,

00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.740
 the angel had come to them

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.960
 and declared all these things.

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:01.159
 I mean,

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.240
 they had quite a year.

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.039
 They had a lot of things happen in that year.

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:07.159
 So here comes up Simeon

00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.959
 and notice what he says

00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:10.480
 about this child.

00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:11.740
 He says,

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.879
 Lord, thou knowest,

00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:15.219
 thou lettest thou thy servant

00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.219
 depart in peace

00:16:16.219 --> 00:16:17.299
 according to thy word.

00:16:18.079 --> 00:16:18.240
 You know,

00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.620
 here's an old guy that says,

00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:19.919
 Lord,

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.199
 I can go to heaven now

00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:23.439
 because what you've promised me

00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.120
 has been fulfilled.

00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:26.519
 I got to see the Savior.

00:16:26.599 --> 00:16:28.099
 How did he know who Jesus is?

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.099
 What in the text,

00:16:30.219 --> 00:16:31.899
 how do we know he knew who Jesus is?

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.559
 How did he know?

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.559
 He says,

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:36.659
 the Holy Spirit revealed it to him.

00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:40.919
 The Holy Spirit allowed him to know

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:42.079
 and he does this.

00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:43.620
 He comes and he takes the child

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.620
 and he says,

00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:46.799
 for my eyes have seen thy salvation,

00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.399
 which thou hast prepared

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.919
 before the face of all people

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.559
 a light to lighten the Gentiles

00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:53.799
 and the glory of thy people Israel.

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:55.459
 You know,

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.819
 and Joseph and Mary,

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.059
 and Joseph and his mother

00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.319
 marveled at those things

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.320
 which are spoken of him.

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.100
 You know,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.380
 marveled.

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.320
 They were amazed.

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.519
 And I'm thinking in my mind,

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.180
 I don't know about you,

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.360
 but what more could amaze you

00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:09.900
 at that point

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.900
 of all the things

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.820
 that have happened in their life?

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.620
 You had the angel come talk to them.

00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:14.680
 You had the shepherds

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.559
 come make a declaration.

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.840
 And now they get,

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.180
 and Simeon comes up to them

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.519
 and says,

00:17:18.820 --> 00:17:19.340
 hey,

00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:20.640
 I know who the child is.

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.240
 They were caught off guard once again.

00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:23.220
 They marveled

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.460
 at what was being said.

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:28.039
 And then he addresses Mary.

00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.059
 Verse 34,

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:29.420
 it says,

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.600
 And Simeon blessed them

00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:31.759
 and said unto Mary his mother,

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.160
 Behold,

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.039
 this child is set

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.180
 for a fall and rising again

00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.220
 of many in Israel.

00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.060
 For as a sign

00:17:37.060 --> 00:17:38.860
 which shall be spoken against you,

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.060
 a sword shall pierce

00:17:40.060 --> 00:17:42.740
 through thine own soul also,

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.060
 that the thoughts

00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:44.840
 of many hearts

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.759
 may be revealed.

00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.460
 You know,

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:50.080
 he brought some good news,

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.440
 but he also looked at Mary

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:51.800
 and said,

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:51.980
 hey,

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.500
 as a mom,

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.120
 there's going to be

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:54.000
 some struggle coming.

00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.259
 This is a prophecy

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.119
 that's applied

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.440
 when Mary was sitting

00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:00.220
 at the foot of the cross.

00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.579
 Not just as a person

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.359
 witnessing it,

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.099
 but as a mom.

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.700
 Piercing her own soul

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.700
 the reality

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:07.099
 of what was going to come to pass.

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.240
 Preparing her

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.440
 for what was going to come

00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.019
 that God

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.140
 was going to allow

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:13.559
 and what God had

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.960
 prophesied

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:16.259
 was going to come to pass.

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.279
 Because all this

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.000
 was coming about

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.660
 because Jesus

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.500
 was going to save

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.140
 his people.

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.940
 He was going to provide

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.539
 redemption

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.480
 for everyone.

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.759
 You know,

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.880
 notice verse 30.

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.140
 He says,

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.860
 my eyes have seen

00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.079
 what?

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.059
 Thy salvation.

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:30.799
 He says,

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.900
 here's the one

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.500
 that's going to bring

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.160
 salvation

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.519
 not only to the Jews,

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:37.480
 but to you and I,

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.539
 to the Gentiles.

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:41.240
 All these things

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.900
 were revealed

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.400
 and this prophecy

00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.599
 reveals so much

00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:45.279
 and Mary's going to

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.120
 experience that

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.799
 unique sorrow

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:49.220
 because what Jesus

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.880
 is going to face

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.620
 and what she has

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.360
 to go through

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:54.759
 we have Simeon

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.000
 the prophet

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.699
 that comes

00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:57.899
 and does this

00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.500
 but then we have

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.259
 another individual

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.159
 by the name of Anna.

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.899
 Now Anna's another

00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:04.740
 unique individual

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.419
 when it comes

00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:06.159
 to this account

00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:06.939
 because it's another

00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:08.179
 individual unattached.

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.539
 You know,

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.099
 there's no real

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.319
 connection in the story.

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.119
 There's nothing there

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.500
 and Anna is waiting

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.299
 for that forgiveness

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.919
 that God brings.

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.039
 Notice here

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.879
 because she's the one

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.779
 that she's excited

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.460
 to hear

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.879
 what Simeon

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:24.819
 had to say

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.899
 about the salvation

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.119
 of the Lord.

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.259
 Look at verse 36.

00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:28.639
 It says,

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.559
 and there was one Anna,

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.240
 a prophetess,

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.680
 the daughter of Phaniel

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.899
 of the tribe of Asher.

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.559
 She was of great age

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.059
 and had lived

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.059
 with a husband

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.980
 of her husband

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.799
 seven years

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.720
 from her virginity

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.379
 and was a widow

00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.500
 of about four score

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.180
 and four years

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.819
 which she parted

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.519
 not from the temple

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.259
 but served God

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.220
 with fasting and prayer

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.859
 night and day.

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:50.519
 And so we see here

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.259
 that Anna was

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.299
 a godly widow

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:54.399
 who had anticipated

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.579
 God's deliverance

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.199
 would come.

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.399
 You know,

00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:58.559
 think about,

00:19:58.679 --> 00:19:59.179
 read through that

00:19:59.179 --> 00:19:59.699
 for a moment

00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.299
 and what things

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:00.779
 do we know

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.399
 about Anna?

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.259
 What are some things

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:03.819
 we can learn

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.299
 from her

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.579
 from the passage?

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.539
 She was old.

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.479
 How old was she?

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.019
 You know,

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.859
 she was getting up

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.379
 in years,

00:20:10.479 --> 00:20:10.740
 definitely,

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.059
 you know,

00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.839
 at least 84 years.

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:13.339
 Yeah.

00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.579
 She lived upon

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.479
 the temple grounds.

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.480
 What else do we learn

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:17.860
 from her

00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:19.539
 or about her?

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.420
 Yeah,

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.519
 she served God.

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.400
 It was her focus.

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.680
 And we learn

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.420
 lots of things.

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.360
 One is that she had

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:28.880
 nobody else

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.539
 to take care of her

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:29.880
 probably

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.779
 because what would

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.440
 have been a custom

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.039
 of the day

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.059
 is the widows

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.940
 that were widows

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.319
 indeed

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.360
 that they talk about

00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:37.500
 later in the New Testament

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.920
 because there is

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.400
 a difference

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.220
 between a widow

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.200
 and a widow indeed.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.860
 That term there

00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:44.200
 signifies something

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.920
 very important

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.160
 because what it

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.480
 signifies is means

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.960
 because some widows

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.800
 of that day

00:20:49.800 --> 00:20:50.880
 would have had means

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.820
 from the family

00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:53.000
 and others

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.480
 that would have

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:53.960
 been able to

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.880
 take care of them

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:57.620
 which family

00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.940
 is always the first option.

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.220
 But then you're

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.900
 going to have some

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.900
 that have no means.

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:04.580
 You know,

00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:06.460
 who are some widows

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.019
 that didn't have

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.519
 any means

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.140
 that you can think

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.779
 of in Scripture?

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.519
 Who's that?

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:09.900
 Yeah,

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.279
 the widow

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.100
 that was with Elijah

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.620
 there and the kings.

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:16.059
 Remember,

00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:16.879
 she was poor

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.719
 and was what?

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.559
 She was gathering up

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:18.899
 all the,

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.799
 to eat their last meal.

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.679
 The widow

00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:24.439
 with two mites.

00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.279
 What's that?

00:21:26.979 --> 00:21:27.419
 Naomi

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:29.599
 and her daughter-in-law

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.159
 Ruth.

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.659
 I mean,

00:21:32.719 --> 00:21:33.119
 when you read

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.679
 that account

00:21:33.679 --> 00:21:34.099
 that's some

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.859
 of that dynamic

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.459
 and where'd they,

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.379
 where'd Naomi

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.339
 and Ruth

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.000
 go back to?

00:21:38.239 --> 00:21:39.039
 They went to family

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.299
 and the family

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.019
 was beginning

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.899
 to make provision.

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.540
 So we see

00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:45.220
 this pattern

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.840
 in Scripture

00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:46.660
 and that's

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.400
 one of those things

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.560
 that we can learn

00:21:48.560 --> 00:21:49.180
 from that.

00:21:49.280 --> 00:21:50.140
 We can know

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.780
 that she was

00:21:50.780 --> 00:21:52.519
 another term here

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.380
 that talks about

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.540
 her being a prophetess

00:21:54.540 --> 00:21:56.040
 which indicates

00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:56.900
 that she was one

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.620
 that was excited

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.380
 about what God

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.840
 is doing.

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.820
 She was a declarer

00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.920
 of what God's doing,

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:03.040
 of what she knew

00:22:03.040 --> 00:22:04.460
 and we understand

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:06.100
 she was a widow

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.900
 of,

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:08.120
 she'd only been married

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.920
 seven years

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.160
 before her husband died.

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.560
 You know,

00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:12.400
 that's a pretty

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.080
 short time.

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.220
 So she had been

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.300
 a widow quite a while.

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:18.200
 I mean,

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.200
 we look at this

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.500
 and probably 60 plus

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.160
 years she'd been

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.480
 a widow.

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.660
 So this is not,

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.340
 where she was

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:25.620
 wasn't new,

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:26.620
 you know,

00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:28.080
 she was of great age

00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:29.300
 but she was also

00:22:29.300 --> 00:22:29.860
 in the temple

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.640
 night and day

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.720
 and serving God,

00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:32.960
 you know,

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:35.560
 and the priests

00:22:35.560 --> 00:22:36.080
 and what they

00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:36.720
 would have done

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.480
 is the temple

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.000
 would have had

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.519
 an area

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.180
 where the widows

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.799
 could come

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.799
 and stay

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.660
 and to help out

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.559
 and the temple

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.160
 would have helped

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.799
 take care of

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.660
 what came in the temple

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.099
 would have helped

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.660
 take care of

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.460
 some of the widows.

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.180
 It was like a widow

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.640
 housing

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:50.519
 that they would have

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.640
 had around the temple

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.200
 grounds

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.920
 that would have

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.559
 been associated.

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.460
 That's what history

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.380
 reveals to us

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.940
 about how they

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.420
 would have dealt

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:58.859
 with that,

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.180
 you know,

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.380
 if you want

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:02.339
 biblical social programs,

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.039
 that was God's

00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.859
 social program

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:05.240
 is that God's people

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.339
 made sure people

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.079
 were taken care of.

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:09.759
 And that's a whole

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.679
 other discussion

00:23:10.679 --> 00:23:11.379
 for another day

00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:11.919
 to get into

00:23:11.919 --> 00:23:13.079
 of culture

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.879
 and modern day

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:15.279
 dynamics of things.

00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:15.980
 But,

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.519
 so we'll not get

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.240
 down that side

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.000
 trail this morning.

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.599
 But she comes

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.179
 and she starts

00:23:21.179 --> 00:23:22.059
 praising God

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.240
 upon seeing the baby

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.639
 because she's witnessing

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.919
 what Simeon is saying.

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:26.939
 You know,

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.240
 hey,

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.980
 here I've seen

00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.699
 the salvation

00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.359
 of the Lord.

00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:30.419
 You know,

00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:31.220
 she's excited

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.859
 about what she's hearing,

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.039
 that what she's

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.059
 been looking for

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.559
 and what is,

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.759
 that salvation

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.679
 has come.

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.720
 You know,

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.779
 both Simeon

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.359
 and Anna

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.299
 understood

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.899
 what they were

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.500
 looking for.

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.779
 Notice in verse 38,

00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.440
 and she came

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.299
 in that instant

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.619
 and gave thanks

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:49.480
 likewise unto the Lord

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.319
 and spake of him

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.079
 of all them

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.159
 that looked for

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:52.740
 redemption

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:55.339
 in Jerusalem.

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.460
 In other words,

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.019
 this tells us

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.480
 what she did

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.339
 afterwards too.

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.879
 Because what she

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.720
 did after she

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.679
 learned that Jesus

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.700
 was born,

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.859
 that God's salvation

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.539
 had come.

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.500
 All those she

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.059
 came across,

00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:06.459
 she started

00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:07.000
 sharing it with.

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.119
 She was excited

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:09.459
 that God's salvation

00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:10.679
 began sharing it

00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.779
 with others.

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:13.619
 She had declared

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.479
 it to everybody

00:24:14.479 --> 00:24:15.379
 that this baby

00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:15.939
 is the one

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.579
 who will give

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.519
 and provide

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.399
 salvation.

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.479
 You know,

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.799
 to be redeemed

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.599
 is the idea

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.219
 that God

00:24:22.219 --> 00:24:23.199
 has bought us

00:24:23.199 --> 00:24:24.779
 out of sin.

00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:25.659
 You know,

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.799
 given us forgiveness

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.740
 and freed us

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.740
 to serve him

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.740
 willingly.

00:24:30.699 --> 00:24:30.979
 You know,

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.859
 Anna knew

00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.539
 that ever since

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.500
 God had redeemed

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.939
 Israel from Egypt,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.179
 the Passover

00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:37.979
 had been celebrated

00:24:37.979 --> 00:24:39.000
 in anticipation

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.319
 of God's ultimate

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.559
 salvation.

00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.839
 And she's happy

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.500
 to declare

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.479
 what God

00:24:44.479 --> 00:24:45.119
 has promised

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.899
 and what God

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:47.259
 has revealed

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.939
 to them.

00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:49.259
 And we see here

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.979
 that when Jesus

00:24:49.979 --> 00:24:50.559
 arrived,

00:24:50.719 --> 00:24:51.439
 God revealed

00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:52.539
 to them

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.240
 that this was

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:53.839
 the Messiah

00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.519
 they were looking

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.139
 to see

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:56.439
 all their lives.

00:24:57.199 --> 00:24:57.379
 You know,

00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:57.899
 these two are

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.779
 interesting pair

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.599
 of individuals

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.459
 within the temple

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.180
 because they

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.779
 were looking

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.680
 and anticipating

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.220
 for what God

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.059
 was going to do.

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.480
 God revealed

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:06.880
 to them

00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:07.819
 this was the Messiah

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.680
 they'd been looking

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.500
 for.

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.559
 Both of them

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.640
 had waited a lifetime

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.579
 to see the Savior.

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.200
 Both of these

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.620
 were old.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.259
 You know,

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.519
 they didn't just

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.420
 start watching

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:19.299
 the day before.

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.460
 They'd been

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.860
 faithful for years

00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:24.000
 looking

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.799
 and waiting

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.019
 and serving.

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.160
 And we see here

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.180
 that they had

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.860
 both declared

00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:31.220
 Jesus was the one

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.000
 they'd anticipated

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.480
 and they announced

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.240
 it to all

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.600
 that were around

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:35.960
 them.

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:36.840
 You know,

00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.620
 because if we

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.160
 consider

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:40.140
 why is

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.000
 what's going

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.460
 on here

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:41.900
 important?

00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:42.480
 That's another

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.039
 good question

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.519
 to ask

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.960
 when you look

00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.380
 at Scripture.

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.100
 Why is this

00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:46.019
 recorded for us?

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.580
 What's it

00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:47.360
 revealed to us?

00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:47.700
 No,

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.000
 the preacher

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.480
 is making you

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.060
 think on Sunday

00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:49.360
 morning.

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:58.599
 God giving

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.379
 reassurance.

00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.159
 You know,

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:06.699
 understand the

00:26:06.699 --> 00:26:07.059
 promise.

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:18.960
 different

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.279
 responsibilities

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.119
 and different

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.799
 things that God

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.419
 God's orchestrating

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.240
 all this

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.579
 for people

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:25.960
 who

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.299
 up to this

00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.940
 point we don't

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.720
 have any indication

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.359
 even knew one

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:29.659
 another.

00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.319
 But God put them

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.079
 in the right place

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.819
 at the right time.

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:33.899
 You know,

00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.379
 and that's the way

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.520
 God works,

00:26:35.580 --> 00:26:36.160
 that God puts

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.500
 people there

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.200
 and they died

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.820
 in peace

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.460
 knowing they

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.860
 had seen

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.680
 God's Christ.

00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:40.980
 You know,

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.300
 think about that

00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:43.160
 ideal of they

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.680
 were waiting

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.440
 for the Lord's

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.880
 salvation,

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.440
 they were waiting

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.000
 for the Lord

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.500
 to come.

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.200
 And think about

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.140
 Simeon's statement,

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.540
 he says,

00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:50.060
 I can now

00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:50.960
 depart in what?

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.300
 Peace because

00:26:53.300 --> 00:26:54.440
 I've seen

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:56.320
 God's salvation.

00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:57.800
 You know,

00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.500
 what a wonderful

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.620
 promise that is,

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.040
 that when it

00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:00.700
 comes time to

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.140
 depart,

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.180
 when you know

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.660
 the Lord,

00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:03.460
 you can depart

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.000
 in peace.

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.480
 Knowing that

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.000
 you have the

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.500
 peace that

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.040
 passes all

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.640
 understanding,

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.640
 that God

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.660
 is fulfilling

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.680
 and will

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:13.140
 fulfill his

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.700
 promises.

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:14.860
 You know,

00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:16.020
 after all these

00:27:16.020 --> 00:27:16.420
 years,

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.140
 since Jesus

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.820
 was there the

00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.560
 first time,

00:27:18.760 --> 00:27:19.220
 we're now

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.160
 looking just

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.820
 like Simeon

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.660
 and Anna did.

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:22.780
 You know,

00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:23.340
 we talked this

00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:23.860
 morning about

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.640
 watching.

00:27:25.040 --> 00:27:25.780
 Simeon and Anna

00:27:25.780 --> 00:27:26.840
 are great examples

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.680
 of faithful

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.420
 watchers.

00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:30.640
 They were on

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.600
 watch looking

00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.340
 for his first

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:32.620
 coming.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.500
 They're a great

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.100
 example,

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.940
 for us

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:38.040
 to be

00:27:38.040 --> 00:27:38.540
 watching

00:27:38.540 --> 00:27:40.660
 for his

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:40.960
 next.

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.460
 They're an

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.100
 example of

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.340
 that.

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:44.000
 After all

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.040
 those things,

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.440
 we ought to be

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.580
 looking for

00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:46.940
 Jesus.

00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:47.440
 You think about

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.040
 how many

00:27:48.040 --> 00:27:49.040
 generations have

00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:49.620
 just considered,

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:49.940
 well,

00:27:50.020 --> 00:27:50.160
 this,

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.860
 I'm going to

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.620
 see Christ in

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.380
 my generation.

00:27:53.520 --> 00:27:53.740
 You know?

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.100
 I've met a lot

00:27:57.100 --> 00:27:57.860
 of old preachers

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.400
 when I first

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.900
 started getting

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.300
 into this.

00:27:59.600 --> 00:27:59.780
 Oh,

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.860
 I'm not going

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.279
 to die.

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:01.779
 The Lord's

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:01.959
 going to

00:28:01.959 --> 00:28:02.819
 return first.

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.379
 You know?

00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.379
 I think that's

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:06.859
 a hope of

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.500
 every believer

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:07.899
 because,

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.219
 you know,

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.459
 it ought to

00:28:09.459 --> 00:28:09.839
 be a hope

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.299
 because it

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:10.699
 is something

00:28:10.699 --> 00:28:11.359
 exciting because

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.679
 you know what

00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:12.019
 you get to

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.339
 skip?

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.139
 Death.

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:14.919
 You get caught

00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.459
 up to be with

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:15.559
 him.

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:15.959
 You get to

00:28:15.959 --> 00:28:16.659
 skip something

00:28:16.659 --> 00:28:17.740
 that nobody

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.319
 looks forward

00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.559
 to.

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.259
 But you know

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.399
 what?

00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:19.899
 At the moment

00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.319
 of death,

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:20.959
 it's still no

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.519
 different because

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.059
 to be absent

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.639
 from the body

00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.240
 is to be present

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.759
 with the Lord.

00:28:23.979 --> 00:28:24.339
 It's just

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.899
 getting there a

00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.379
 different way.

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.040
 But everybody's

00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.880
 expecting the

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.700
 Lord's return

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.340
 at any moment.

00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:30.260
 You know?

00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:32.980
 We can learn

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.840
 from Anna and

00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.500
 Simeon that

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.500
 today we ought

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.860
 to be doing

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.340
 the same.

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.220
 Being excited,

00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.620
 looking forward

00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.260
 to what God's

00:28:40.260 --> 00:28:40.680
 going to do

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.220
 because we

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.600
 don't know

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.320
 if Jesus is

00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:42.840
 going to come

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.760
 before the

00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:44.420
 year's end.

00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:45.380
 I mean,

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:45.840
 we might not

00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.220
 even have to

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.540
 worry about

00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.020
 2025.

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:47.820
 You know?

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.600
 I ain't even

00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:48.860
 getting an

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:49.440
 amen for that

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:49.600
 one.

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.060
 You know?

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.960
 But we don't

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.180
 know.

00:28:52.260 --> 00:28:52.720
 It may be

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.380
 before we

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.220
 celebrate a

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.680
 new year.

00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:56.620
 It may be

00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:57.200
 next year.

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:57.800
 The reality

00:28:57.800 --> 00:28:58.260
 is it may

00:28:58.260 --> 00:28:58.940
 be 100 years

00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.300
 from now.

00:28:59.540 --> 00:28:59.860
 We don't

00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.120
 know.

00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:00.740
 But we can

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.140
 learn from

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:01.760
 Simeon and

00:29:01.760 --> 00:29:02.500
 Anna the

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.360
 very reality

00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:03.820
 of what we

00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:04.240
 talked about

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.760
 earlier this

00:29:04.760 --> 00:29:05.000
 morning.

00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.440
 Because they

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.020
 weren't sure

00:29:08.020 --> 00:29:09.900
 either, but

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.180
 they were

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:12.800
 excited because

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.100
 they were

00:29:13.100 --> 00:29:13.400
 looking.

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.080
 They were

00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.440
 waiting.

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:15.960
 You know,

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.500
 because after

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.040
 this many

00:29:17.040 --> 00:29:17.660
 years, you

00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:17.980
 know, many

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.620
 people get

00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:20.340
 kind of off

00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:20.800
 track.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.100
 I mean,

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.740
 I think that's

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.160
 the other reason

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.440
 we see today.

00:29:23.760 --> 00:29:24.080
 There's not

00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:25.120
 many, there's

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.539
 fewer and

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.099
 fewer people

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.719
 looking for

00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:27.219
 the Lord's

00:29:27.219 --> 00:29:27.579
 return.

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.419
 You see a

00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:29.939
 shift of

00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:32.119
 society, even

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.799
 amongst people

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.099
 who claim to

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.879
 trust Christ

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:36.719
 and claim to

00:29:36.719 --> 00:29:37.159
 trust the

00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:37.759
 Word of God,

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.099
 that they

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:40.199
 lose sight of

00:29:40.199 --> 00:29:40.939
 the fact that

00:29:40.939 --> 00:29:41.619
 the blessed

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.379
 hope is his

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:42.779
 coming.

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.819
 And they

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.559
 begin to look

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:46.979
 and you see

00:29:46.979 --> 00:29:47.459
 all sorts of

00:29:47.459 --> 00:29:48.199
 weather doctrines

00:29:48.199 --> 00:29:48.879
 starting to fade

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.039
 in.

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.359
 Well, he

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.539
 hasn't returned

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:53.099
 yet, so they

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.059
 begin to scoff

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.379
 at it.

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:54.579
 You know,

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.779
 2 Peter 3

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:57.000
 talks about

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.240
 that.

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.679
 Peter says

00:29:57.679 --> 00:29:58.700
 in the later

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.139
 days there's

00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.419
 going to be

00:29:59.419 --> 00:30:00.039
 scoffers.

00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.159
 And what are

00:30:01.159 --> 00:30:01.399
 they going to

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:02.139
 be scoffing

00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:02.399
 at?

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.639
 Where is the

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.319
 promise of

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.319
 his coming?

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.000
 You know,

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.259
 I think we're

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.899
 seeing some of

00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.480
 that today,

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.599
 that people are

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.460
 scoffing once

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:12.779
 again.

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.059
 You know,

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.619
 the Lord's not

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.179
 going to return,

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.559
 we don't have

00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.019
 to worry about

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.179
 it.

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:15.980
 People lose

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.839
 sight of that

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.440
 importance.

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:18.879
 You know,

00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.259
 I want to

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.759
 encourage you,

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.339
 don't let the

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.039
 scoffers and

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.819
 the pessimists

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.859
 cause you to

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.519
 question the

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.220
 word of God

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.700
 regarding Christ's

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.019
 return.

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.220
 Because what

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.259
 God said is

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.559
 going to be

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:29.859
 so.

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.839
 Just as

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.359
 Simeon and

00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:32.819
 Anna, why

00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.099
 were they

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.599
 looking for

00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.079
 the Lord's

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.559
 salvation?

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.819
 Because God

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.259
 said he was

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.539
 coming.

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.519
 We ought to

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.859
 be looking for

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.599
 our redemption

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:43.000
 because Jesus

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.139
 said it's

00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.379
 coming.

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.439
 We ought to

00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.039
 be excited

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.720
 about those

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.379
 things and

00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:48.779
 not let

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.419
 scoffers detract

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:50.940
 from it.

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.700
 You know,

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.800
 the good news

00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:53.360
 is it could

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:53.680
 be this

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.019
 afternoon.

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:54.680
 You know,

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.660
 we don't

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:55.920
 know.

00:30:57.060 --> 00:30:57.600
 We can be

00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.920
 looking and

00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.720
 excited about

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.500
 those things.

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.519
 And so,

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.740
 what's something

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.320
 we can take

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.620
 away from

00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.259
 this lesson?

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.500
 Well,

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:05.980
 at the beginning

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.500
 of a new

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:06.800
 year,

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.220
 we need to

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.000
 be optimistic

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.820
 that Jesus

00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:09.460
 could come

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.140
 at any time.

00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:11.779
 Because when

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.500
 you live in

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.180
 light of the

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.539
 Savior,

00:31:13.840 --> 00:31:14.420
 it changes

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.060
 your choices.

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.019
 It alters

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.700
 the decisions

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.060
 and the

00:31:17.060 --> 00:31:17.820
 priorities that

00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.200
 you make.

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:20.420
 it gets

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:20.960
 us focused

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.380
 on the

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.039
 right things

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.480
 because,

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.200
 you know,

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.640
 we all

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.500
 face,

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:24.960
 we can,

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:25.720
 as we face

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.360
 the excitement

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:27.019
 and potential

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.539
 of a new

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:27.960
 year,

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.140
 we begin

00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:29.840
 to prioritize

00:31:29.840 --> 00:31:30.759
 things that

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.440
 are important.

00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:32.660
 But the

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.259
 most highest

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.000
 priority we

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.620
 ought to have

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:34.900
 is the

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.360
 consideration

00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:35.980
 that this

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.319
 might be

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.640
 the year

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.140
 that Jesus

00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:37.720
 returns.

00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.000
 To keep

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.580
 our focus

00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:40.940
 on the

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.500
 right things.

00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.100
 Because this

00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:42.640
 time of year,

00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:42.940
 a lot of

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.160
 people,

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:43.759
 you say,

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.100
 what are you

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.480
 talking about

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.080
 priorities?

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.400
 You know,

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.559
 people reprioritize

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:46.920
 things.

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.360
 resolutions.

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.420
 You know,

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.279
 today we

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.680
 call them

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.259
 resolutions.

00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:53.519
 You know,

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.600
 I'm not

00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:54.880
 going to be

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:55.420
 so fat

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:55.920
 in 25.

00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:58.380
 You know,

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:58.840
 I'm going

00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.080
 to eat

00:31:59.080 --> 00:31:59.360
 better,

00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.539
 I'm going

00:31:59.539 --> 00:31:59.920
 to exercise

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.400
 better,

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:00.680
 I'm going

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:02.759
 to take

00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.700
 more responsibility

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.560
 and accountability,

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.180
 you know,

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.080
 and you have

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.600
 all sorts of

00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:07.180
 things people

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.660
 resolve to do

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.240
 and it's

00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:10.320
 ironic because

00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:11.720
 most people

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.200
 don't keep

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.560
 them for the

00:32:12.560 --> 00:32:12.940
 first two

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.240
 weeks.

00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.140
 By January

00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.960
 14th,

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.700
 most resolutions

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.300
 are broken.

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.099
 But as a

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:17.460
 believer,

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:17.859
 we ought to

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.339
 make sure

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.799
 that our

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.480
 focus upon

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:19.919
 the Savior

00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.480
 returning

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.079
 isn't broken.

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.139
 That we're

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:23.659
 living in

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.879
 light of

00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.639
 those things.

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.579
 We ought to

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.299
 be prepared

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.339
 for what

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.859
 God is

00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.279
 doing.

00:32:29.919 --> 00:32:30.059
 You know,

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.319
 to be

00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:30.799
 personally

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:32.059
 prepared for

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.659
 the return

00:32:32.659 --> 00:32:33.379
 of the Lord

00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:33.720
 and why

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.180
 we're waiting

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:34.579
 for His

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.119
 return.

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.180
 We need

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.399
 to be

00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:36.720
 doing.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:37.639
 You know,

00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:37.980
 think about

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.259
 what did

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.720
 we learn

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.759
 from Anna

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.079
 and what

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.279
 did we

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:40.799
 learn from

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.440
 Simeon

00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:44.080
 about what

00:32:44.080 --> 00:32:44.440
 we ought to

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.840
 be doing

00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:45.200
 while we're

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.480
 waiting.

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.100
 I'll give you

00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:46.360
 a clue.

00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:46.799
 Look over

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.640
 in verse 37.

00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:48.539
 Serving.

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.420
 You know,

00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:52.000
 to do those

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.340
 things.

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:52.559
 You know,

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:52.799
 we already

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.380
 talked about

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:53.880
 this this

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.180
 morning,

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.559
 but this

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.980
 is a great

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.759
 example of

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.559
 the application

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:58.080
 of the

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:58.580
 morning's

00:32:58.580 --> 00:32:58.860
 message.

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.559
 We see

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.220
 people actually

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:03.320
 living and

00:33:03.320 --> 00:33:04.160
 doing exactly

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.799
 what Jesus

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.559
 told us to

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:05.759
 do.

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.360
 Giving us

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:07.019
 those things

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.299
 that we

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.880
 ought to do.

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.440
 And they

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.700
 were in

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:09.160
 the temple

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.980
 praying and

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.380
 fasting.

00:33:10.520 --> 00:33:10.860
 They waited

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.220
 for the

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.900
 redemption of

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:13.020
 Israel and

00:33:13.020 --> 00:33:13.480
 the coming

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.040
 Messiah.

00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:14.920
 She was

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:16.000
 actively involved

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.720
 in what God

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.480
 was doing and

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.860
 serving other

00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:19.220
 people.

00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:19.500
 You know,

00:33:19.540 --> 00:33:19.940
 Anna, I

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.120
 believe,

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.640
 gives us an

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.160
 example of

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.440
 someone who

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.180
 was watching

00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:24.540
 and waiting

00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:25.020
 for the

00:33:25.020 --> 00:33:25.820
 coming Messiah.

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.400
 The same

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:28.800
 we ought to

00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:29.200
 be today.

00:33:30.800 --> 00:33:31.400
 We have

00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:33.760
 examples of

00:33:33.760 --> 00:33:34.120
 what God

00:33:34.120 --> 00:33:34.660
 instructs us

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.040
 to do.

00:33:36.260 --> 00:33:36.900
 That it's

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.620
 not outside

00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.259
 the realm

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:40.859
 because if

00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.419
 other people

00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:41.959
 could do it,

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.259
 you know what

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.639
 that tells

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:42.839
 you?

00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:45.039
 That we

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.299
 could have

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:45.699
 that same

00:33:45.699 --> 00:33:46.099
 focus.

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.039
 We have

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.579
 that same

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.219
 accountability.

00:33:50.439 --> 00:33:50.659
 You know,

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:51.539
 and that

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.000
 Anna was

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.579
 quick to

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.339
 tell everybody

00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:53.939
 about her

00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:54.879
 experience

00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.819
 with the

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.279
 Redeemer.

00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.139
 You know,

00:33:57.199 --> 00:33:57.779
 that's another

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.719
 example of

00:33:58.719 --> 00:33:59.839
 those things,

00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.179
 you know,

00:34:00.239 --> 00:34:01.979
 of how we

00:34:01.979 --> 00:34:03.619
 behave while

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:04.699
 we look for

00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:05.479
 Jesus to

00:34:05.479 --> 00:34:06.000
 return.

00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:06.699
 We ought

00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.239
 to be looking

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.620
 for that

00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:07.920
 imminent

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.679
 return of

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:09.079
 Jesus,

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.639
 but while

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.219
 we wait,

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:10.900
 we ought

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.159
 to be

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.139
 busy about

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.679
 the Lord's

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.659
 work and

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.599
 telling others

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.860
 to be

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.260
 prepared.

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.579
 To let

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.300
 others know

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:18.880
 how to be

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.880
 prepared and

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.159
 that they

00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:20.639
 need to be

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.079
 prepared,

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:21.980
 you know.

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.039
 But that

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:24.840
 comes first

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.159
 when you

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.760
 understand it

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.119
 yourself.

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.179
 You can't

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.760
 be excited

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.480
 about something

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.820
 that you

00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.199
 don't have

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:30.719
 any connection

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.039
 with,

00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:31.539
 you know.

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.420
 It's kind

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:32.619
 of like

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.280
 watching Husker

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:33.960
 football fans

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:34.320
 yesterday.

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.960
 They're all

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.800
 excited because

00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.160
 they've been

00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:38.700
 waiting ten

00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.120
 years for

00:34:39.120 --> 00:34:39.320
 this.

00:34:41.080 --> 00:34:41.780
 They had a

00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.180
 connection.

00:34:42.540 --> 00:34:42.700
 You know,

00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.300
 you're excited

00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:43.880
 because there's

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.380
 a connection.

00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:45.000
 When you're

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.760
 not connected,

00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:48.660
 it loses

00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:51.019
 emphasis in

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.380
 your life.

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.220
 And so as

00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.720
 we look at

00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:54.320
 these things,

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:54.700
 I want to

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.260
 just encourage

00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:55.519
 you as we

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.080
 get ready to

00:34:56.080 --> 00:34:57.060
 enter into a

00:34:57.060 --> 00:34:57.900
 new year to

00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:59.060
 be involved

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.440
 and to

00:34:59.440 --> 00:34:59.820
 use the

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.000
 example of

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.619
 even Anna

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.340
 and Simeon

00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.900
 to allow the

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.579
 Spirit to

00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.179
 guide you,

00:35:05.279 --> 00:35:06.019
 direct you,

00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:06.779
 but to be

00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.659
 busy working

00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:09.779
 to do what

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.460
 God wants us

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:10.860
 to do.

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.539
 Because just

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.639
 like Anna

00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:14.539
 in the New

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:14.940
 Testament,

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.840
 let's serve

00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.880
 God and pray

00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.380
 how we can

00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:19.119
 best work for

00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:20.799
 the Lord while

00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:22.099
 we wait and

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:23.900
 watch for

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.440
 His return.

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.440
 Some things

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.139
 to consider as

00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:27.460
 we get ready

00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:27.840
 to enter.

00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.799
 a new year.

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.420
 Let's pray.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:31.940
 Heavenly Father,

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.360
 as we come

00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:32.779
 before you

00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:33.299
 today, Lord,

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.880
 I just thank

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.299
 you for your

00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:34.460
 word.