Luke chapter 2 verse 21 on page 1028.
On the eighth day when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus.
The name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses had been completed,
Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
As it is written in the law of the Lord, every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord.
A pair of doves or two young pigeons.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who was righteous and devout.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.
When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying,
The child's father and mother marveled at what had been said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel
and to be a sign that will be spoken against so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your own soul too.
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher.
She was very old.
She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage
and then was widowed until she was 84.
She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.
Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong.
He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
So, I'm going to ask Michael, he's going to come and speak this morning.
Well, nice to be back with you again in Cargilline.
Enjoyed a few days over here at Christmas, being well looked after.
And now it's time, payback time as I say, but it's nice to be here.
It's the time of the year, isn't it, when we are looking back and remembering what has happened.
And we're all looking forward now to the future.
Perhaps, like me, you sent out circular letters.
But certainly I'm sure everybody here received presents.
And now you can look forward to January, to cold, to dark nights, to water charges.
And some of you may have already said, I hate January.
Because there doesn't seem to be too much to look forward to in January.
Not like December when we're coming up to Christmas.
But as Christians we face the new year.
And we face that new year which is unknown to us.
And I want us to look at two characters this morning
who face the future with great confidence and with a great sense of peace.
And I hope that we can learn from them.
They're two old people.
It's surprising what you can learn from old people.
And here is something to teach us this morning from these older folk.
Simeon, it seems, when we read his story,
was reaching the end of his life.
For he's now ready to die.
He'd been told that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Verse 26.
So he's coming towards the end.
But he's still following the Lord.
And then in verse 37 we have the story of Anna.
Just a few verses.
She's an 84 year old widow.
And each of them teach us how to live facing the future.
And I trust it will be a help to us this morning
as we look at their two lives of how we are to live in 2015.
Now the first thing I think that we need to remind ourselves
that we should face 2015 by living a holy life.
It seems that that is something that is essential
if we're to enjoy the year that lies ahead.
And certainly it's true of Simeon.
It's true also of Anna.
That Simeon was living a holy life.
We're told in verse 25 that he was righteous and devout.
Now you've all heard the expression, haven't you I'm sure,
which says that some people are too heavenly minded to be any earthly use.
But I would suggest the more heavenly minded we are,
the more earthly use we will be.
And we find that Simeon is showing his usefulness
as he goes into the temple and prophesies
regarding the child, the infant Jesus.
And this man's life speaks to us down through the ages.
And I would want to say about Simeon
that he faced the future by being ready to be different.
He showed that he was different
by living this righteous and holy life.
Let's remember the times that he was living in.
Times were far from good.
There was oppression from the Romans.
The religious scene was very bad.
All through the Gospels we read about the scribes,
the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
People who fastened heavy yokes on the necks of the populace.
Who altered the law to suit themselves.
And it's in a setting like this
that this man lived out his life
as one who was righteous and devout.
One who was different.
Here is a man who walked with God
as God would have him walk.
People could say of Simeon
that he not only knew God
but he showed it by his behaviour
in a world that was rotten.
His righteousness was by faith.
But his righteousness
was also shown by his actions.
His religion wasn't skin deep.
It was deeply embedded.
He was ready to stand out from the crowd.
Ready to be different.
And that's how we're to face 2015.
By being ready to be different.
Different to those around and about us.
Different in the way that we act.
Different in the way that we communicate.
Sometimes even different in the way that we dress.
And I don't mean that everybody should put a tie on.
Different so that we are marked out
as being those who are different.
Different from the crowd.
And how was Simeon enabled to live this kind of life?
Well it is because he lived his life
under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit.
We find reference to him
walking in the Spirit
in verses 25, 26,
verses 27.
And in verse 28
he speaks in the power of the Spirit.
Verse 25 says
the Holy Spirit was upon him.
He wouldn't live to see Pentecost.
But like others who lived before him
he knew the work of the Holy Spirit
in his life.
On this particular day
he would speak as an Old Testament prophet.
He didn't know the full story.
And he wouldn't know the full story.
But he spoke as he was moved
by the Spirit.
And I would say to you this morning
that true holiness of life
can only happen
through the working of God's Spirit
within us.
Simeon's holiness
didn't come by making some
New Year resolution
as people do
at the beginning of a new year.
That so often would end in failure.
Simeon, no,
walked by the Spirit.
He lived by the Spirit.
He was moved by the Spirit.
One could say
that he was born again
of the Spirit of God.
And that's where it must begin.
If we haven't been born again
of the Spirit
we will never live a holy life.
But when there's been
that transaction
between God and man
where God comes down
and works in the life
of an individual
he begins to change.
He begins to lead
a sanctified life.
He begins to take notice
of what the Scripture
has to say.
He becomes, if you like,
a new creation.
Sanctification, of course,
isn't passive.
It isn't let go
and let God.
But when God is at work
within us
we work.
We begin to work out
our salvation
with fear and trembling
for it is God
who works within us
both to will
and to do
of his good pleasure.
So as we face
the new year
we do not face it
in our own strength
in our own righteousness
but we face
the future
by the power
of the Holy Spirit
within us
enabling us
to live
as we ought to live
in a world
that is rotten.
So as we face
2015
let us be ready
like Simeon
to be different
to present
our bodies
as living
sacrifices.
The same
could be true
of Anna.
I think
if I would want
to put a word
over her
I would want
to say
that she was
consistent.
Look at verse 37
We have her
worshipping
we have her
fasting
and we have
her praying.
We are told
she never left
the temple
but worshipped
night and day
with fasting
and with prayer.
It was seen
that this widow
had devoted
her life
to the service
of God.
what she did
was for the
glory of God.
She had
right
priorities.
She sought
first
the kingdom
of God
and his
righteousness.
Now as you
look at her
life such as
it's given
to us
you may say
to me
well that's
not living
in the
real world.
I have
my job
I have
my home
I have
my children
I have
parents
to take
care of
but I
would say
to you
live
your life
wherever
you find
yourselves
to the
glory
of God.
Remember
that if
you're a
Christian
this morning
you're
living
with
God.
Your
very
bodies
have
become
the
temple
of the
Holy
Spirit
so you're
to live
your life
to the
glory
of God
as
Anna did
and be
consistent
in living
your life
to his
glory.
None of
us must
become
Sunday
Christians
whether we
find ourselves
in our
places of
work
in our
jobs
in our
homes
with
unbelievers
sometimes
whether
we're
children
at school
whether
we're
at
university
or
college
whether
we have
responsibility
as
parents
we're
to live
to the
glory
of God
consistently
again
it's
the
whole
idea
of
being
living
sacrifices
like
Anna
we're
not
to
miss
out
on
our
private
worship
we're
not
to
miss
out
on
our
worship
with
our
brothers
and
sisters
in
Christ
and
we
are
ready
as
Christians
to give
up
even
that
which
is
legitimate
for the
sake
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
continuous
right
to the
very
end
of
our
days
Anna
was
getting
towards
the
end
of
her
days
but
she
wasn't
slackening
up
there's
some
dear
ladies
that I
knew
in
the
past
and
sometimes
they would
say
I feel
I've
done
my
bit
and
I
would
say
to
them
there's
still
more
for
you
to
do
than
there
is
whether
we're
young
then
or
whether
we're
old
we're
to
be
consistent
and
live
for
the
Lord
to
the
end
of
our
days
continually
don't
slacken
off
live
lives
of
holiness
so
be
ready
to
be
different
beware
of
worldliness
beware
that the
world
doesn't
squeeze
you
into
its
mold
a
Christian
writer
said
I
looked
for the
church
and I
found
it
in
the
world
and
then
I
looked
for the
world
and I
found
it
in
the
church
let's
be
careful
that we
don't
become
so
user
friendly
that we
lose
our
identity
as
those
who
are
called
to be
saints
of the
living
God
so
as we
face
2015
let's
hold the
challenge
of Simeon
and Hannah
before us
and live
lives
of
holiness
the
second
thing
that I
think
we
have
here
is
that
Simeon
and Hannah
looked
for Christ
and looked
to
Christ
if you
look at
verse
25
you read
about
Simeon
that he
was
waiting
for the
consolation
of
Israel
so
here was
a man
who was
versed
in the
Old
Testament
scriptures
he
was
looking
for
that
comforter
he
knew
what
the
Old
Testament
had
to
say
he
had
the
law
he
had
the
Psalms
he
had
the
prophets
they
were
all
there
before
him
and
he
knew
them
and
he
waited
for
the
one
that
had
been
promised
the
seed
of
the
woman
that
were
crushed
Satan's
head
he
knew
that
a
promise
had
been
given
to
Abraham
that
from
the
seed
of
Abraham
would
come
one
who
would
bring
a
blessing
to
the
nations
he
knew
of
David
and
all
that
was
promised
of
his
seed
that
one
from
his
family
would
rule
eternally
he
knew
the
promises
that
were
given
by
the
prophet
Isaiah
that
a
virgin
would
conceive
and
of
the
increase
of
his
government
and
peace
there
would
be
no
end
and
he
knew
Psalm
40
what
does
Psalm
40
say
well
Psalm
40
Isaiah
40
says
this
not
Psalm
40
Isaiah
40
comfort
my
people
says
your
God
speak
tenderly
to
Jerusalem
and
proclaim
to her
that her
hard
service
has been
completed
that her
sin
has been
paid
for
that she
has received
from the
Lord's
hand
double
for all
her
sins
he
was
looking
and
waiting
for that
consolation
that
comfort
that
would
come
and
he
was
looking
for
the
Savior
constantly
now
we
live
in a
later
generation
we
have
the
fullness
of
revelation
the
promises
have
been
fulfilled
we
believe
do we
not
that
Jesus
is
the
Christ
the
Son
of
the
living
God
but
are
we
looking
for
Christ
with
the
same
intensity
with
which
Simeon
looked
are
we
looking
for
him
to
be
our
comforter
in
all
things
no
one
else
can
be
our
comforter
as
the
Lord
Jesus
can
be
our
comforter
do
we
read
the
scriptures
looking
for
the
Lord
Jesus
are
we
thrilled
with
Christ
and
all
that
he
is
oh
dear
friends
face
the
coming
year
looking
for
comfort
in
him
you
see
it's
so
easy
to
look
for
comfort
in
other
things
in
increased
opportunity
in
a
better
job
a
better
house
but
only
true
comfort
can
come
with
knowing
Christ
and
knowing
him
personally
and
walking
with
him
day
by
day
to
feel
the
closeness
of
fellowship
with
him
I like
those
words
of the
old
Scots
preacher
who said
this
I live
my life
as though
Christ
died
yesterday
rose
again
from
the
dead
today
and
is
coming
again
tomorrow
so
I urge
you
look
for
Christ
in
his
word
look
for
him
in
your
personal
reading
look
for
him
in
your
worship
seek
to
proclaim
him
to
a
needy
world
look
for
Christ
in
the
law
look
for
Christ
in
the
prophets
look
for
him
in
the
gospels
in
the
epistles
in
revelation
in
their
place
of
worship
and
long
to
know
him
more
if
you
look
at
Simeon's
life
you
don't
get
a
picture
of
a
man
who
could
take
or
leave
the
Christ
he
longs
for
Christ
verse
26
tells us
it had
been
revealed
to him
by
the
Holy
Spirit
that
he
would
not
die
before
he
had
seen
the
Lord's
Christ
and
moved
by
the
Holy
Spirit
he
goes
into
the
temple
with
a
longing
to
see
Christ
and
isn't
that
the
task
of
the
Holy
Spirit
to
glorify
Christ
that's
his
chief
task
and
here
is
Simeon
looking
with
expectation
with
anticipation
he
knew
the
promised
Messiah
but
he
longs
to
look
upon
Christ
and
can
you
imagine
his
face
as
he
goes
in
that
particular
day
and
sees
in
this
infant
sees
this
infant
in
the
arms
of
Mary
and
he
recognizes
him
as
the
promised
one
he
takes
Christ
into
his
arms
this
devout
this
righteous
one
he
lays
hold
of
Christ
the
saviour
of the
world
the
promise
becomes
the
reality
veiled
in
flesh
the
Godhead
he
sees
and
he
hails
the
incarnate
deity
and
now
he
is
ready
to
depart
for
his
eyes
have
seen
the
salvation
that
the
Lord
had
prepared
now
how can
we
apply
this
to
ourselves
as
we
enter
2050
well
surely
it is
to
live
our
lives
in
the
light
of
eternity
and
we
can
only
do
that
successfully
as
we
have
this
same
longing
for
Christ
are
we
then
hungering
and
thirsting
for
him
are
we
finding
our
satisfaction
in
him
who
loved
us
and
gave
himself
for
us
and
is
coming
again
for
us
psalm
42
and
verse
1
says
as
the
deer
pants
for
the
water
so
my
soul
pants
for
you
oh
God
can
you
see
that
timid
creature
hiding
away
through
the
heat
of
the
day
longing
that
it
might
go
to
the
water
hole
to
take
a
sip
of
water
to
slack
its
thirst
longing
do we
have
that
same
kind
of
longing
for
Christ
to
know
him
better
to
know
him
as
perhaps
we
have
never
known
him
before
the
apostle
Paul
certainly
had
that
longing
hear
him
praying
for
the
Ephesian
Christians
in
chapter
3
of
Ephesians
in
verse
14
he
says
for
this
reason
I
kneel
before
the
father
from
whom
the
whole
family
in
heaven
and
on
earth
derives
his
name
I
pray
that
out
of
the
glorious
riches
he
may
strengthen
you
with
power
through
his
spirit
in
your
inner
being
why
so
that
Christ
may
dwell
in
your
hearts
through
faith
and
I
pray
that
you
being
rooted
and
established
in
love
may have
power
together
with
all
the
saints
to
grasp
how
wide
and
long
and
high
and
deep
is
the
love
of
Christ
and
to
know
this
love
that
surpasses
knowledge
that
you
may
be
filled
to
the
measure
of
all
the
fullness
of
God
is
that
your
longing
for
2015
a
longing
for
Christ
William
Cowper
the
hymn
writer
says
this
Lord
it
is
my
chief
complaint
that
my
love
is
weak
and
faint
yet
I
love
thee
and
adore
oh
for
grace
to
love
you
more
so
as
we
face
the
new
year
let's
live
the
holy
lives
that
we
ought
to
be
living
and
let's
look
for
Christ
with
a
longing
that
we
might
know
him
more
and
more
certainly
that's
what
Amma
did
for
we
read
in
verse
38
that
she
spoke
to
all
of
those
who
looked
for
redemption
in
Israel
she
was
looking
and
she
found
may
we
also
find
him
in a
way
that
in
2015
that
perhaps
we
didn't
know
him
in
2014
and
there's
one
thing
further
I
want
to
say
before
I
sit
down
as
we
face
the
new
year
as
we
face
it
let's
look
beyond
our
personal
boundaries
we
live in
a
sinful
world
and
it
was
a
sinful
world
that
Christ
came
into
the
world
to
save
and
Simeon
knew
this
hear him
speak
in
verses
30
to
32
for
my
eyes
have
seen
your
salvation
which
you
have
prepared
in
the
sight
of
all
people
a
light
for
revelation
to
the
Gentiles
and
for
glory
to
your
people
Israel
it's
a
remarkable
statement
isn't
it
let's
remember
who's
making
the
statement
he's
a
Jew
and
the
average
Jew
would
have
looked
down
his
nose
at
the
Gentile
nations
but
there's
no
prejudice
with
this
man
here
he
announces
the
good
news
that
in
this
child
was
salvation
for
all
who
would
believe
for
Jew
and
for
Gentile
eyes
would
be
open
and
blessing
would
come
to
the
Jews
what
faith
as
he
holds
a
scrap
of
humanity
in
his
arms
this
fragile
infant
he
sees
salvation
for
a
lost
world
and
he
looks
out
and
sees
salvation
for
that
world
isn't
it
the
tendency
of us
all
to
look
in
to
be
concerned
about
our
own
problems
to
be
concerned
with
the
water
charges
etc
instead
of
focusing
our
eyes
beyond
our
personal
boundaries
to
Christ
for
the
nations
see
Anna
coming
at that
very
moment
she
gives
thanks
to
God
and
spoke
about
the
child
to
all
who
are
looking
forward
to
redemption
of
Israel
John
Wesley
penned
the
lines
happy
if
with
my
latest
breath
I
might
but
gasp
his
name
preach
him
that
is
Christ
to
all
and
cry
in
death
behold
the
lamb
Christ
for
Syria
Christ
for
those
who
are
suffering
and
going
through
so
much
in
Nigeria
salvation
for
North
Korea
for
Ukraine
for
Israel
salvation
for
our
neighbors
and
families
salvation
to be
found
in
Christ
look
beyond
that
Christ
might
be
known
to
the
nations
that
people
might
be
brought
face
to
face
with
Christ
and
here
Simeon
this
child
is set
for the
falling
and
rising
of
many
in
Israel
verse
34
and
to
be
a
sign
that
will
be
spoken
against
so
that
the
thoughts
of
many
hearts
will
be
revealed
don't
concentrate
on
yourself
but
concentrate
on
him
and
making
him
known
what
will
happen
as
people
are
brought
face
to
face
with
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
well
there
will
be
a
division
that
takes
place
some
will
reject
him
some
by
grace
will
turn
to
him
there
will
be
rejection
or
acceptance
but
we're
to
point
to
him
he
is
the
sign
who
points
the
way
to
life
some
will
reject
the
sign
and
call
for
his
crucifixion
others
will
see
that
Jesus
is
indeed
salvation
for
a
lost
world
so
as
we
face
the
new
year
yes
live
those
lives
of
holiness
let's
be
ready
to
be
different
let's
be
consistent
let's
look
to
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
let's
long
after
him
let's
be
whole
hearted
in
our
devotion
and
let's
look
away
from
ourselves
that
we
might
make
the
saviour
known
to
the
nations
that
they
might
be
brought
like
Simeon
to
be
face
to
face
with
the
Lord
Jesus
is
not
our
responsibility
if
people
reject
but
it
is
our
responsibility
if
we
don't
make
him
known
but
as
we
make
him
known
some
will
accept
is
there
a
cost
involved
in
all
of
this
yes
there
is
if
you
live
differently
in
a
world
of
so
much
sin
if
you
live
differently
in
your
street
in
your
home
in
your
place
of
work
in
your
school
in
your
university
your
college
wherever
you
find
yourself
there
will
be
a
cost
remember
what was
said to
Mary
by
Simeon
a
sword
will
pierce
your
own
soul
too
I
know
they
were
words
that
were
specific
to
her
she
would
see
her
son
die
upon
the
cross
of
Calvary
and
what
went
through
her
mind
at
that
time
must
have
been
awful
it
wouldn't
have
been
easy
to
watch
her
son
dying
on
the
cross
but
it's
a
reminder
to
us
all
that
if
we
follow
the
Lord
Jesus
there
will
always
be
a
cost
to
true
discipleship
but
God
grant
that
we
will
be
ready
to
take
up
our
cross
and
follow
him
who
first
loved
us
and
gave
himself
for
us
so
that
we're
no
longer
our
own
but
his
purchased
with
his
precious
blood
God
grant
us
the
grace
that
we
will
be
whole
hearted
in
our
devotion
during
2015
let's
pray
together
oh
father
we
thank
you
for
Simeon
we
thank
you
for
Anna
these
old
folks
who
lived
their
lives
as
they
should
have
that
we
all
should
live
help
us
oh
father
we
pray
by
the
power
of
your
holy
spirit
to
be
as
they
were
and
help
us
to
see
oh
lord
that
we
have
so
much
more
to
go
on
than
they
did
for
we
have
the
fullness
of
revelation
we
have
seen
the
death
of
the
lord
jesus
we
have
seen
his
resurrection
we
have
seen
his
ascension
on
high
we
have
the
epistles
we
have
the
book
of
revelation
that
reminds
us
of
the
life
that
is
to
come
oh
father
knowing
all
of
this
as well
as
those
old
testament
scriptures
may
we
be
so
well
burst
in
them
may
we
so
take
them
to
our
hearts
that
we
might
be
enabled
to
live
as
we
ought
to
live
in
2050
lord
we
love
you
and
adore
oh
for
grace
to
love
you
more
amen
we're
going to
stand
together
as we
sing
our
song
we
rest
on
thee
our
shield
and
our
defender
as
we
go
into
the
year
that's
ahead
we
go
strong
in
his
strength
and
safe
in
his
keeping
tender
let's
stand
together
as
we
sing
our
shield
and
our
defender
we
will
not
fall
alone
again
alone
strong
in
thy
strength
in
thy
keeping
tender
we
rest
from
thee
and
in
thy
name
we
All
east
in
thy
name
ahead
Amen.
One more.
Please do take your seats.
As we close one year and begin another year, a good place to do that is together around the Lord's table.
And thinking of what we've looked at this morning, to live a holy life,
it is Christ is the one who has called us,
the one who has made us holy through his own death on the cross.
If we want to see Christ in all his goodness, if we want to look to Christ,
then we look to this meal as a reminder of who he is and what he has done.
And to look beyond the boundaries, this is a meal that reminds us that Christ came for the salvation of the whole world.
So let's share in this meal together for all those who love the Lord Jesus,
for those who know him, who trust in him, to take part in this meal,
to come to ask for his forgiveness afresh,
and to know his goodness and forgiveness in our lives.
Let's look to him as the one who loves us and gave his life for us.
So let's share in this meal together.
As the bread is being passed around,
we will eat it together, take a piece, and then we will eat together.
But in the time, in the quietness,
let's bring our own confession to the Lord
and ask for his forgiveness afresh.
Let's do it together.
Let's do it.
Let's do it together.
Thank you.