WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.120 My gracious master and my God, assist me to proclaim, assist me to proclaim. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:49.100 To spread through the earth the broads, the honors of thy name, the honors of thy name. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:51.119 Amen. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:25.120 And secondly, you may have noticed that half our church are still away on holiday. 00:01:25.820 --> 00:01:31.740 Peter, our youth worker, is not here this morning and therefore the kids' church is not on. 00:01:32.240 --> 00:01:35.540 The children are going to remain with us for the remainder of the service. 00:01:36.080 --> 00:01:37.300 But we haven't forgotten them. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:42.140 Just to say we've printed off a colouring sheet and a kind of puzzle sheet. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:44.140 I see the boys excited down there. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:51.280 If you want one of these, then just put your hand up at the start of the sermon and we'll come and deliver these to you. 00:01:53.180 --> 00:01:58.140 Lawrence, if you want to come and read Luke chapter 2, verses 22 to 35. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:13.280 If you'd like to follow along with me, you'll find the reading in the Pew Bible on page 1028. 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:17.420 And we're going to begin at verse number 22. 00:02:18.139 --> 00:02:19.819 If you'd rather not follow on the screen. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:23.639 But I'm going to read from the screen so that we all get the same reading. 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:31.219 When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses had been completed, 00:02:32.539 --> 00:02:36.379 Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 00:02:37.839 --> 00:02:44.479 As it is written in the law of the Lord, every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:50.280 And to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord, 00:02:50.799 --> 00:02:53.839 a pair of doves or two young pigeons. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:02:58.759 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:01.079 who was righteous and devout. 00:03:02.079 --> 00:03:04.759 He was waiting for the constellation of Israel, 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:07.939 and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:17.400 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he'd seen the Lord's Christ. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:22.479 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:29.060 When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:32.680 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:33.560 saying, 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:39.780 Sovereign Lord, as you promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 00:03:40.760 --> 00:03:43.500 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:46.400 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.840 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.740 and for glory to your people Israel. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.260 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:03.199 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:09.959 This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:14.620 and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.300 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, 00:04:19.099 --> 00:04:22.659 and a sword will pierce your own soul too. 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:26.939 There was also a prophetess, Anna, 00:04:27.520 --> 00:04:30.540 the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. 00:04:31.200 --> 00:04:32.400 She was very old. 00:04:33.460 --> 00:04:36.660 She'd lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 00:04:37.280 --> 00:04:39.700 and then was a widow until she was 84. 00:04:40.940 --> 00:04:44.040 She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:45.520 fasting and praying. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:48.440 Coming up to them at that very moment, 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:52.019 she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child 00:04:52.019 --> 00:04:55.980 to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:02.500 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law of the Lord, 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:07.939 they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth, 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:10.800 and the child grew and became strong. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:12.959 He was filled with wisdom, 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:16.040 and the grace of God was upon him. 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:17.159 Amen. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:19.439 Amen. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:24.959 Thank you, Lawrence. 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:28.459 So just before Ian comes and speaks to us, 00:05:28.540 --> 00:05:29.860 we're going to sing two songs. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:32.220 Firstly, we're going to sing Tell Out My Soul, 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:35.139 and then we're going to sing Ten Thousand Reasons. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.920 So let's stand if you're able for both. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:58.980 Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord, 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:04.980 Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:11.660 Tender to me the promise of his word. 00:06:11.660 --> 00:06:16.759 In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:25.000 Tell out my soul the greatness of his name. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.000 Make known his might. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:28.000 Make known his might. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:31.519 The deeds his arm has done. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:37.680 His mercy sure from age to age the same. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:43.199 His holy name the Lord the mighty one. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:51.199 Tell out my soul the greatness of his might. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:57.659 Powers and dominions lay their glories by. 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:03.840 Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight. 00:07:03.840 --> 00:07:09.540 The hungry fed, the humble lifted high. 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:16.540 Tell out my soul the glories of his word. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:23.680 Firm is his promise and his mercy sure. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:29.939 Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:35.060 Through children's children and forevermore. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:57.579 Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul. 00:07:57.579 --> 00:08:02.579 Worship his holy name. 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:07.579 Sing like never before. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:18.579 O my soul, I'll worship your holy name. 00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:25.579 The sun comes up. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:30.579 It's a new day dawning. 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:36.579 It's time to sing your song again. 00:08:36.579 --> 00:08:44.579 Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:45.580 Let me be singing when the evening comes. 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:57.580 Let me be singing when the evening comes. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:03.580 Pastor Lord, O my soul, O my soul. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:10.700 Oh, my soul, worship His holy name. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:16.060 Sing like never before. 00:09:16.780 --> 00:09:25.259 Oh, my soul, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:37.759 You're rich in love and you're slow to anger. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:44.679 Your name is great and your heart is kind. 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:52.179 For all your goodness I will keep on singing. 00:09:52.179 --> 00:10:00.939 Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:10.120 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul. 00:10:10.739 --> 00:10:18.939 Oh, my soul, worship His holy name. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:23.700 Sing like never before. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:31.700 Oh, my soul, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:51.700 And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near and my time has come. 00:10:51.700 --> 00:11:00.460 Still, my soul, will sing Your praise unending. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:09.220 Ten thousand years and then forevermore. 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:13.980 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul. 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:22.980 Oh, my soul, worship His holy name. 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:28.740 Sing like never before. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:37.740 Oh, my soul, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:42.500 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul, oh, my soul. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:46.500 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul, oh, my soul. 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:51.860 Worship His holy name. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:56.500 Sing like never before. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:06.500 Oh, my soul, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:14.259 Lord, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:21.740 Yes, I'll worship Your holy name. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:27.500 Good morning, everyone. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:27.899 Good morning, everyone. 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:31.100 Thanks very much to Graham for his introduction and welcome. 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:36.860 I'm not going to read the passage again, but if you have a Bible, be handy if you return to Luke chapter 2, 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:41.240 because we will be referring to it as we go along this morning. 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:48.600 I've called this final song, final hit that we're thinking about the song of a fulfilled life, 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:53.120 and I hope that you'll see the relevance of that as we go along. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:56.879 This is John Glenn. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:02.879 John Glenn was the first American astronaut to circle the Earth in 1962. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:11.639 He then went on to become a senator for 24 years and was at once a candidate to become Democratic Party nomination for president. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.399 He didn't get there. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:23.399 But then in 1998, John Glenn became the oldest person ever to go into space when he was 77 years old. 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:26.399 He's now 92 and I believe still going strong. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:34.959 After John Glenn went on his 1998 expedition, he held a press conference, and one of the things that he said was this, 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:40.439 old folks have ambitions and dreams too, like everybody else. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.079 So why don't they work for them? 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.360 Why don't they go for it? 00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:48.919 Don't sit on the couch someplace. 00:13:48.919 --> 00:14:00.319 I suppose when we come to look at Simeon and Anna, we have a good example of old folks who weren't just sitting on the couch and waiting for the end of life. 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:09.439 Simeon was waiting for the end of his life, but he was waiting with a purpose that he knew he was going to see the Messiah before he died. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:12.620 We assume that Simeon was an old man. 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:14.959 We're not told, but I think it's reasonable to assume it. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:20.180 Anna certainly was old, depending on which version of the Bible you read. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:27.600 You could read that she was 84, or you could read that she'd been a widow for 84 years, which would have made her well over 100 years old. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:32.680 Probably the former is the case, but certainly a very old woman. 00:14:33.780 --> 00:14:39.620 And yet Simeon and Anna, as elderly people, they weren't just sitting around aimlessly. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:47.659 They were still eagerly serving the Lord and still looking for the Lord's blessing on their lives. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:59.600 They had ambitions and dreams, but their ambitions were all to do with God and with the promises that he had made and with seeing them fulfilled. 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:07.100 Now, it's not the main theme of what we're going to talk about this morning, but I think for a few minutes, just if I can talk to those who are slightly older, 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:10.639 you can decide yourself whether you're slightly older or not in this morning, 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:16.840 I just encourage you to keep going in your Christian faith. 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:21.659 Very easy as we get older to think, well, there's not very much I can do. 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:23.700 It's all about the young people. 00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:25.460 They're the ones who are the future. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:27.480 Let's them get on with it. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:35.340 And I'll just sit back a bit, enjoy the fellowship and the worship, but not be very actively involved. 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:44.480 Even if you're older, even if you're not generally that active, there are many, many things you can be doing for the Lord. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:47.100 You can have real ambitions and dreams. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:50.720 You can have a real purpose in your life. 00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:54.920 Whether it's visiting others, whether it's giving a word of encouragement, 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:58.960 whether it's simply being a witness to those you come into contact with, 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:03.060 or if nothing else you can do if you can just spend time in prayer, 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:09.400 then you can still be very much part of God's work and active in Christian service. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.660 I know we have many people at this church who are exactly like that, 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:19.080 who are still in their older years, are still very active for the Lord and serving him. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:22.900 I had a bit of a reminder recently, I don't consider myself really old. 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:28.980 My son-in-law tells me I'm old, but in general, I don't think of myself as being particularly old. 00:16:29.459 --> 00:16:35.740 But one of the highlights of this year at the church has been the mission rescue clubs that we've had for the children. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.299 I've been a kind of a bit of a bit part player in mission rescue, 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:42.980 a kind of fetch and carrier and tidy her up and all that kind of stuff. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:48.220 And I was reflecting that if this had been 30 years ago, I would very much have been in there, 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:50.439 I might indeed have been leading the whole of the mission. 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:56.000 That was what I did, that was how I learned in a practical way about Christian leadership. 00:16:56.680 --> 00:17:00.100 Now my time in that, in working with children, I recognise has gone. 00:17:00.880 --> 00:17:06.440 But I can still be involved, and I think particularly having been there and done it, 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:11.180 I should have some kind of understanding of what is involved in the kind of issues and problems 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:18.620 those leading and those working among the children face and encountering their work. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:22.019 I also should be able to pray intelligently for them. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:27.259 And again, if you're older, you may have been a leader in the church, 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:31.539 or you may have brought up a family, or you may have lived throughout your lifetime with singleness, 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:41.659 or you may have lots of experiences that you can look back on and draw on and be able to help and encourage those who are younger. 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:46.579 Don't think because you're older that there's nothing you can do. 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:50.240 And for the younger people, don't despise age. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:55.599 Don't think it's all about you and that you're the ones who know everything and can do everything. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:00.740 There's an enormous amount of experience and wisdom around our church. 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:03.079 Do get talking to the older people. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:10.119 Find out about the kind of things, experiences, and knowledge of the Lord that they can pass on to you. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:15.859 Together, younger and older, we can serve the Lord in our church. 00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:20.699 That's slightly incidental, but I thought it was worth saying to begin with, 00:18:20.699 --> 00:18:23.659 because we are talking about two older people. 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:28.340 Let's go back to the pastors and let me just give a bit of background into what's happening. 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:31.240 So Jesus has been born in Bethlehem, 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:35.860 and we had the activities of the first night when the shepherds came and visited him. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.560 The wise men would come quite a lot later. 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:41.180 And then the practice of the Jews, the law of the Jews, 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:44.100 where there were a number of things that his parents had to do. 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:47.460 They had to have him circumcised on the eighth day, 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:49.400 and Luke records that they did that. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.560 It wasn't in the passage you read, verse 21 of chapter 2. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:58.740 And then after around 40 days, there were two things, two duties that his parents had. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:02.099 One was that they had to take their firstborn son, 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:05.679 and they had to present him at the temple to the Lord. 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:10.079 They had to dedicate their firstborn son to God's service. 00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:13.559 Now that goes back to Old Testament time, to the Passover, 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:18.379 when the firstborn sons of everyone in Egypt were slain, 00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:21.440 except for the firstborn of the Jews. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:26.880 And following on from that, the firstborn of every family should have been dedicated to the Lord. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:29.559 A good example of that way was Samuel from the Old Testament. 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:33.480 Now by the Lord's time, the practice has slightly changed. 00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:36.920 In general, the parents would make a payment into the temple treasury, 00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:41.700 and that would kind of release them of their obligation to dedicate their firstborn to the son. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:46.640 And it was the Levites who did looking after the temple and all that kind of stuff. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:48.360 So that was one thing the parents had to do, though. 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:51.480 They had to dedicate their son to the Lord. 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:55.420 And the second thing they had to do, because Mary had been pregnant, had a baby, 00:19:55.560 --> 00:20:00.800 she was considered unclean under the law, and they had to make sacrifices for that. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:06.140 The sacrifices they made indicate they probably were relatively poorly off, 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:09.000 because those who were better off would have sacrificed a lamb, 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:12.440 and they sacrificed two turtle doves. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:15.420 So they came to the temple to do these things, 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:18.820 and while they were there, they met Simeon. 00:20:19.520 --> 00:20:23.060 Simeon, as I said, probably an old man, certainly a good man. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.240 He was righteous. 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:26.960 That has something, I think, to say about how he dealt with other people, 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:30.520 that he was someone you could trust, someone you could rely on, 00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:32.240 someone who did what is right. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.700 And he was devout. 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:36.559 That certainly says something about his relationship with God, 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:41.579 that he spent time with God, that he wanted to follow God. 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:45.720 And as they were there, we have this song of Simeon. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.579 I just want to make three points about that, 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:51.880 and we won't be too long this morning. 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:56.160 The first thing is that Simeon was filled with what I've called 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:58.500 a spirit-filled anticipation. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:04.000 He was waiting for God's Messiah to come. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.819 The word that's used here for waiting, 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.980 it says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:11.539 The word that's used there is used of three people, 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.200 or three groups of people, in the Gospel of Luke. 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.880 First of them is Simeon. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.200 The second one we read later in the passage, 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:21.140 it is Anna and those who are around her who are waiting 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:24.900 for the Messiah, the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:27.400 And then right at the end of Luke's Gospel, 00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:28.620 we have a third person. 00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:32.060 It's Joseph of Arimathea who buried the body of the Lord Jesus, 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:36.540 and it says he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 00:21:37.300 --> 00:21:41.160 The sense of the waiting is very much it was waiting with anticipation. 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:45.460 It was really looking forward to something that was going to happen 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:48.560 and waiting to welcome it. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:53.339 Now, it has to be said, there weren't that many people in Israel at that time 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:55.319 who were waiting in that way. 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:59.059 The religion of the nation had become largely sterile. 00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:06.419 It had become largely just following a series of laws set by the Pharisees and others. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:12.659 And there were relatively few who were eagerly anticipating the Messiah who would come. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:15.839 Perhaps not very surprising, given that it had been 400 years 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:19.619 since God had last spoken to the nation of Israel. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:23.399 But Simeon was one who was waiting for God's time, 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.759 waiting for, it says, the consolation of Israel, 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.059 the one who would come to provide comfort and solace to Israel, 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:32.980 which I remember was then under Roman occupation. 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:39.039 And it isn't there, I think, for us, about waiting for God's time. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:43.279 We have a schedule sometimes of how we think things should happen, 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:45.159 how we think things should be. 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:48.279 It's not necessarily God's schedule. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:51.420 God knows what's best for all of us. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:54.960 And we need, if we're Christians, if we know the Lord Jesus, 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:59.619 we need to wait patiently for his time. 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:04.180 If it doesn't come quickly, it doesn't mean it's not coming. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.700 If we pray for something we don't seem to get an answer, 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:10.299 it doesn't mean we should stop praying if we're convinced 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.940 that this is something that would be God's will. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.980 It means we should pray all the more 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:18.799 and wait for God in his time to give us the answer. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.360 Second thing I put up about the Spirit-filled anticipation 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:25.340 was it was about responding to the Spirit. 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:28.779 You notice in the account that two, three verses describe Simeon 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:32.299 three times the Holy Spirit is mentioned. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.660 Verse 25, the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:38.340 In verse 26, it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:41.000 that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:45.759 Verse 27, moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple court. 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:47.140 And indeed, there could have been another one 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:52.360 because I'm sure that his song was also inspired by the Spirit. 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:55.740 Here was someone who had the Spirit of God 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:58.800 and was being guided, was being led by it, 00:23:58.800 --> 00:24:02.040 was being obedient to the Spirit. 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:04.779 And as we wait for God's time, 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:08.359 as we look for God's answers to our prayers, 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:14.700 it's important that we also allow ourselves to respond to his Spirit. 00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:18.579 The Spirit is in all of us if we are Christians, 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.920 if we know the Lord Jesus, 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:25.200 and we need to be sensitive to the leading and guiding of the Spirit. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:28.259 Unlikely we'll get the same kind of revelation that Simeon got 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:31.819 about not seeing death before the Messiah appeared. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:34.119 But if we are sensitive to the Spirit, 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.779 then he will lead us, 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:41.059 and he will help us through all the circumstances of our lives. 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:44.720 So Simeon was a man who was waiting for God's time, 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:48.420 and he was responding to the Spirit. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:53.220 The second thing I want to think about was specifically in his song, 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:56.700 and I've called it the worldwide salvation. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.039 Verse 30, 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.880 My eyes have seen your salvation, 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:03.579 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:06.240 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:10.059 and for glory to your people Israel. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:14.420 I think Simeon had been meditating on the prophecy of Isaiah, 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:17.200 because the words that he brings out 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.819 are very similar to those in Isaiah chapter 42, 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:24.720 when Isaiah is looking forward to the servant of the Lord who would come. 00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:26.179 This is what he says, 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:30.200 I will keep you and make you to be a covenant for the people 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:32.879 and a light for the Gentiles, 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.899 to open eyes that are blind, 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.439 to free captives from prison, 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:41.279 and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.700 And of course, 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:44.119 the last part of that was what the Lord was preaching on 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:47.539 a little bit later on in Luke's Gospel, 00:25:48.199 --> 00:25:52.719 as he preached what was the first recorded sermon that we know of his. 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:55.119 So Simeon had been reading the Scriptures, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.839 he'd understood what God was saying, 00:25:58.239 --> 00:25:59.739 he saw that the one who had come, 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.659 this little baby, 00:26:00.979 --> 00:26:03.339 was the one who would bring God's salvation, 00:26:03.979 --> 00:26:06.500 and his mind went back to the prophecy of Isaiah 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.459 that he'd been studying, 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:10.819 and he was able to echo that in his song. 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:13.439 Now the song is all about seeing, 00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:15.399 and it's about light. 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.480 So the first thing he says, 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.099 my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:25.379 which you have prepared in the sight of all the people. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.619 I've seen your salvation, 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:31.599 it's prepared in the sight of all the people. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:35.819 Now the Lord Jesus came to give us sight. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:41.179 The Bible tells us that we are walking around blind to God, 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:43.579 and the Lord Jesus came as the light of the world 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:45.220 to reveal God to us, 00:26:45.439 --> 00:26:46.619 to open our eyes, 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:50.379 so that we can see what God is like, 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:53.679 so that we can see the way to God. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.359 And Simeon says, 00:26:55.439 --> 00:26:57.059 my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:58.119 just a little baby he saw, 00:26:58.379 --> 00:27:00.099 wasn't anything particularly spectacular, 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:03.980 but he knew that through that baby salvation would come. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:06.079 And my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:11.420 which you have prepared in the sight of all people. 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:15.980 Simeon knew that eyes were going to be opened by the Lord Jesus, 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:18.880 that those who were receptive would see him, 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:22.480 and would find salvation for themselves. 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.660 And then says Simeon, 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:26.460 he looks at the Jews, 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:28.140 and he looks at the Gentiles. 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.380 So this is verse 32, 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:32.180 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:36.480 and for glory to your people Israel. 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:40.320 This is the first time in Luke's Gospel 00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:42.280 that it says explicitly 00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:46.300 that Jesus came to be saviour of Gentiles, 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:48.320 as well as Jews. 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:50.740 When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:53.100 he talked about Jesus being a king 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:55.740 on the throne of David forever. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:59.720 When the angels came to the shepherds, 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:01.099 they said it was good news, 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.519 which would be for all people, 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.440 or all the people, 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:05.400 but the shepherds may well have thought 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.980 that is just for the Jews, 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.799 for all the Jews, 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:10.400 because they are God's people. 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.599 Here Simeon says, 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:15.319 no, it's not just for the Jews. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:18.539 It is something that will reveal God 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:20.799 to the Gentiles. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:24.099 This one who has come to be the light of the world, 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:26.379 this one who has come to show us 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:28.359 what God is like. 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.399 He's not going to be restricted 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:32.719 to one nation in the Middle East. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.019 He is the saviour who is here 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:36.399 for all the world, 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.699 for all who will believe in him. 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.659 That's a fantastic message, 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.500 that Jesus is there, 00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:46.439 not just for any kind of select group of people, 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:49.779 not just for a few privileged folk. 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:51.659 He is there for anyone 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:53.620 who will put their trust in him, 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:56.420 who will believe that through his death on the cross, 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:59.320 that they can have forgiveness for sin, 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:02.019 they can enjoy his salvation. 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:04.720 The revelation was to the Gentiles 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:07.140 as well as to the Jews. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.860 It doesn't mean that the Jews weren't special, 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.940 and aren't special, 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.460 because Simeon goes on and says, 00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:15.779 for glory to your people, Israel. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.640 And it is still special. 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.900 The Jews were for God's, 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:22.080 who are God's people throughout the Old Testament times. 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:26.320 They are still a very special people in God's sight, 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:29.660 because out of that nation of Israel 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:34.400 came the one who is the Messiah of the whole world. 00:29:35.800 --> 00:29:38.440 And Jesus is, in a very real sense, 00:29:38.820 --> 00:29:42.320 one who brings glory to that nation. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:45.819 Israel is still seen in our world as being special, 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.419 perhaps a slightly different nation, 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:49.259 obviously caught up in the tensions 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:51.899 and turmoil of the Middle East, 00:29:52.179 --> 00:29:55.740 but it is still the nation that God called to be his own. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.960 It is a nation that we read about 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:00.279 that has a future with God. 00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:04.200 It is a nation from which the Messiah came, 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:08.099 and for that, he is the glory of Israel. 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:10.500 The salvation that God gives, 00:30:10.959 --> 00:30:15.879 that Simeon saw in that baby in the temple in Jerusalem, 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:18.199 it is for all of us, 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:20.919 all of us who will receive it. 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:26.179 And finally, Simeon doesn't just stop at the end 00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:27.959 of what I suppose we may think of as his song, 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:30.619 but he has something more to say specifically 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:33.339 to Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:35.859 from verse 33 onward. 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:38.819 And I've called this a heart-rending revelation, 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.919 a heart-rending revelation. 00:30:41.459 --> 00:30:42.559 Heart-rending for Mary. 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:45.559 Mary had the joy of being a new mother. 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:48.419 She knew that this baby who had been born to her 00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:49.559 was very special, 00:30:50.179 --> 00:30:52.219 and Simeon is the one who has to point out to her, 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:54.559 yes, the baby is very special indeed, 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:57.259 but it's going to cause great pain for you 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.539 and looking forward undoubtedly 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:01.799 to the death of the Lord Jesus. 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:05.219 So for Mary, there was something, 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:07.539 Simeon says, a sword will pierce your own soul, 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:10.660 that she would have to suffer the anguish 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:12.100 of seeing her son crucified, 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.579 and perhaps at that point not realising 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:17.380 that he would be raised again gloriously. 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:20.579 So it was heart-rending for Mary. 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:24.100 But I think heart-rending goes a bit beyond that. 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:26.720 Because the Bible tells us that the word of God 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.819 is like a sword, 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:31.900 and that it pierces between the bone and the marrow. 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:34.259 So it is something which reveals 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:36.900 the hidden things of our hearts. 00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:39.280 And Jesus says, Simeon is someone 00:31:39.280 --> 00:31:41.420 who is going to reveal the hidden things, 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:43.660 the things that people would rather keep secret 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:47.700 and would differentiate between one and another. 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:51.640 So he says in verse 34, 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:54.580 this child is destined to cause the falling 00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:58.380 and rising of many in Israel 00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:02.080 and to be a sign that will be spoken against. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.240 When it says falling and rising, 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:06.580 it may mean falling and rising of one person 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:09.460 in the sense that they would be brought to their knees 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:11.539 as they realised their sin and then raised again 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:14.600 as they saw the salvation through Jesus. 00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:16.740 I think more likely it's talking about 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.359 two different groups of people. 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:20.859 One whom it would be cause to fall 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:23.779 and one who would be cause to rise. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.439 So for some people, 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:27.159 Jesus would be a stumbling block. 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:29.419 He would be someone they would see, 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.459 they would witness what he was doing, 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:33.459 they would hear what he was saying, 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:35.659 and they would turn away from him. 00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:38.000 It would be unacceptable to them, 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:40.079 and particularly for the Jews, 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.480 when he went to the cross, 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.000 when he was crucified there, 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.579 that was, says Paul, 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:48.539 it was a stumbling block for the Jews. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:52.079 And as Jesus forced people to make a choice 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.420 about who he was 00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:56.019 and to think how that affected their lives, 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:58.880 for some it would be something that made them fall, 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:02.200 that turned them away from God in a sense 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.640 as they saw the goodness and the holiness of God 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:06.640 and how far short of it they were, 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:10.039 Jesus would be the one who would make them fall. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:13.440 But for others, he would be the one who would make them rise. 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:15.019 The word that's used here for rise, 00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:17.859 everywhere else that's used in the New Testament 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:19.879 is translated resurrection. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.720 And I think that's appropriate, 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.779 that Jesus would be the one 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:28.359 who would raise those who trust in him to life, 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:32.240 that they would rise from the deadness of their sin 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:34.900 and their failure before God. 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.460 And they would rise, 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:40.079 they would be resurrected in newness of life. 00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:42.039 It's what's symbolized when we have a baptism, 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.579 when someone goes down into the water 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:45.000 and comes up again, 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:48.599 they're raised to walk a new life. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:52.599 And Jesus is one who divides us into two. 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:56.539 Either we accept him or we reject him. 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.519 If we reject him, 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:59.000 it means that we fall, 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:03.079 that we have to face the consequence 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:05.299 of our own sin for ourselves. 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:07.079 If we accept him, 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.340 then we're raised, 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.199 we're resurrected. 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:12.599 We come through his death and his resurrection 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:15.219 to know that he is our savior. 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:18.280 The salvation that Simeon talked about is ours. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:21.280 Not because we've done anything particularly good, 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.239 but because we've looked at Jesus, 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:25.079 we've seen him as the son of God, 00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:27.139 we've seen him as the savior of the world, 00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:29.819 and we've put our trust in him. 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:33.000 And as well as falling and rising, 00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:35.659 there is this thing of uncomfortable disclosure 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.960 that I've said. 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:41.279 The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:43.059 And ultimately, 00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:45.079 it's our attitude towards Jesus 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:48.179 that reveals where our hearts are. 00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:50.099 If we accept him, 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:52.000 if we recognize him for who he is, 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:55.039 then our hearts are in the right place. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:56.340 Our thoughts are in the right place. 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.360 If we reject him, 00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.460 then our thoughts are in the wrong place, 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:03.679 and we will have to suffer the consequences for that. 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:06.019 So to sum up, 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:07.800 let's take these three in reverse this time. 00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:09.599 The three main problems we've talked about, 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:12.219 anticipation, salvation, and revelation. 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:13.119 Let's, as we summarize, 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.699 take them the opposite way around. 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:17.039 The first thing that Jesus does 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.639 that we learn from Simeon's song 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:22.799 is that he reveals the inner thoughts of our hearts. 00:35:23.939 --> 00:35:24.899 That God's word, 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.639 as we read it, 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:28.119 as we understand what God is saying through it, 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:30.179 it reveals to us 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:31.299 our failure, 00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.879 our inadequacy, 00:35:33.419 --> 00:35:36.000 and it then either draws us to Christ, 00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:39.019 or it leads us to reject him. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.679 But it reveals who we are, 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.519 it reveals what we are 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.820 before God. 00:35:44.820 --> 00:35:46.079 Then there is salvation. 00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:49.099 If we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:50.800 if we believe that he took our place 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:52.079 on the cross at Calvary, 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:54.440 then we are saved. 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:57.639 If we believe he died and rose again, 00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.619 then we know for ourselves 00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:01.579 God's salvation. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.139 The challenge this morning 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:06.940 is do we know the salvation of God? 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:10.940 Do you know God's salvation in your life? 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:13.420 And then there's anticipation. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.659 400 years, we said, 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:17.720 between the end of the Old Testament 00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:20.500 and when the Lord Jesus was born. 00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:23.119 Nearly 2,000 years now 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.780 between when the Lord Jesus 00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:26.519 was taken up into heaven, 00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:27.679 when he ascended into heaven, 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:30.000 and where we've got to now. 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:33.639 Do we still live in anticipation 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:37.119 that the Lord is coming back? 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:38.759 If we know him, 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:40.199 is this something that affects 00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:42.099 our thoughts and our actions? 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:44.679 That Jesus is returning. 00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:46.299 We don't know when. 00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.559 It will be unexpected. 00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:50.000 But he is coming back. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:52.839 Are we prepared for him to come back? 00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:54.960 Are we looking forward 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:57.339 to him coming back? 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.480 Let me finish by reading you 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:01.719 some verses from Paul's letter to Titus. 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.500 Now again, the word wait 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.359 is used in this. 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.319 It's used in connection 00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.720 with the Lord's second coming, 00:37:07.140 --> 00:37:08.080 but there are also a number 00:37:08.080 --> 00:37:08.840 of other themes 00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:10.559 that we thought about this morning. 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.880 Titus chapter 2, 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:12.820 Paul writes, 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:13.960 for the grace of God 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.720 has appeared 00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:16.519 that offers salvation 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.019 to all people. 00:37:19.120 --> 00:37:20.660 It teaches us to say no 00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:21.600 to ungodliness 00:37:21.600 --> 00:37:22.420 and worldly passions. 00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:23.800 It reveals these to us, 00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:25.200 teaches us to say no, 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:27.059 and to live self-controlled, 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:27.960 upright, 00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:28.980 and godly lives 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.240 in the present age 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:31.559 while we wait 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:33.000 for the blessed hope, 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.979 the appearing of the glory 00:37:34.979 --> 00:37:36.599 of our great God 00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.219 and Savior, 00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.639 Jesus Christ, 00:37:39.279 --> 00:37:40.839 who gave himself for us 00:37:40.839 --> 00:37:42.099 to redeem us 00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:43.259 from all wickedness 00:37:43.259 --> 00:37:45.539 and to purify for himself 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:48.000 a people that are his very own, 00:37:48.859 --> 00:37:49.739 eager to do 00:37:49.739 --> 00:37:51.939 what is good. 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:53.939 The grace of God 00:37:53.939 --> 00:37:54.639 has appeared 00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:56.179 that offers salvation 00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:57.739 to all people. 00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:59.759 And those who have accepted 00:37:59.759 --> 00:38:00.579 that salvation 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:02.639 wait for the blessed hope, 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.679 the appearing of our great God 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:05.259 and Savior, 00:38:05.919 --> 00:38:06.639 Jesus Christ. 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:08.599 Do you know that salvation? 00:38:09.459 --> 00:38:11.000 Are you waiting eagerly 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.339 for the Lord to come 00:38:12.339 --> 00:38:13.199 and to take you 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:15.019 to be with himself? 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:17.219 Simeon wasn't afraid of death. 00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.739 All that he wanted 00:38:18.739 --> 00:38:20.479 was to see the Lord's salvation, 00:38:20.919 --> 00:38:21.579 the Lord Jesus, 00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:23.299 before he died. 00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.879 He could then go 00:38:24.879 --> 00:38:26.079 knowing that his life 00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:27.079 had been fulfilled, 00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:29.559 that he had achieved, 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:31.639 all that he wanted to achieve. 00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:33.019 He could go peacefully 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:35.099 to his death. 00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:36.319 Are we ready 00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:37.639 to meet the Lord? 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:39.199 Are we looking forward 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:40.619 to being with him? 00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:42.000 Let's pray together. 00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.299 Our Father, 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:44.739 we thank you 00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:45.400 for your word to us 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:45.860 this morning. 00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:47.460 We thank you for Simeon, 00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:49.719 for this probably elderly man 00:38:49.719 --> 00:38:51.279 who had this one ambition 00:38:51.279 --> 00:38:51.840 in life 00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:53.860 to see the Messiah 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:55.319 before he died. 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:56.720 we thank you for the way 00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:57.980 you had revealed that to him. 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:59.700 We thank you for the patient 00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:02.160 and way in which he anticipated 00:39:02.160 --> 00:39:02.940 the Lord's coming. 00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:03.800 Thank you for the way 00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:05.440 he walked in the Spirit. 00:39:06.200 --> 00:39:07.280 And thank you for the way 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.600 that you did indeed reveal 00:39:08.600 --> 00:39:10.360 your son to him. 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.760 We pray that you'll help all of us 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:14.420 to examine ourselves, 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:15.320 to look at that revelation 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:16.680 of ourselves 00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:18.260 that your word brings, 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.960 to ensure that we know 00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.700 the salvation 00:39:20.700 --> 00:39:23.220 that comes through Jesus Christ, 00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:24.719 and then to live 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.399 in anticipation 00:39:25.399 --> 00:39:27.279 of the Lord's return 00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:29.199 or of going to be with him 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:30.219 through death. 00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.739 We thank you for your word. 00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:32.639 We thank you for the time 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.879 of worship we've had this morning. 00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:35.279 And we just commit ourselves 00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:35.919 to you now 00:39:35.919 --> 00:39:37.139 in Jesus' name. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:38.259 Amen. 00:39:39.939 --> 00:39:40.619 Back to Graham. 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:59.199 John 8 verse 12 says this. 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:02.880 Again, Jesus spoke to them saying, 00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:05.799 I am the light of the world. 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.639 Whoever follows me 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:09.359 will not walk in darkness, 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:12.620 but will have the light of life. 00:40:13.200 --> 00:40:14.480 Let's close our service 00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.200 and let's sing, 00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:16.220 In Christ alone, 00:40:16.660 --> 00:40:17.640 my hope is found. 00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.880 He is my light, 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:19.980 my strength, 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:20.900 my song. 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:33.240 In Christ alone, 00:40:33.240 --> 00:40:37.059 my hope is found. 00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:38.920 He is my light, 00:40:39.059 --> 00:40:40.800 my strength, 00:40:40.900 --> 00:40:42.180 my soul, 00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:44.559 this cornerstone, 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:48.099 this solid ground. 00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:51.940 firm through the fiercest drought 00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:53.539 and storm. 00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:56.539 What heights of love, 00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:59.299 what depths of peace, 00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:02.539 when fears are stilled, 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:04.980 when strivings cease, 00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:07.159 my comforter, 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:11.039 my all in all, 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:14.880 here in the love of Christ 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.880 I stand. 00:41:15.880 --> 00:41:16.760 I stand. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.880 In Christ alone, 00:41:22.260 --> 00:41:25.000 who took on flesh, 00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:26.940 for this of God 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:30.180 in helpless faith, 00:41:30.660 --> 00:41:33.079 this gift of love 00:41:33.079 --> 00:41:34.940 and righteousness, 00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:38.099 scorned by the ones 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:41.319 He came to save. 00:41:41.319 --> 00:41:44.319 Till on that cross, 00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:46.319 as Jesus died, 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:49.319 the wrath of God 00:41:49.319 --> 00:41:52.319 was satisfied. 00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:55.539 For every sin 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:58.699 on Him was laid, 00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:00.659 neither the death 00:42:00.659 --> 00:42:04.579 of Christ I live. 00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:17.960 There in the ground 00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:21.059 His body lay, 00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:23.019 light of the world 00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:26.380 by darkness slain, 00:42:26.840 --> 00:42:29.360 and bursting forth 00:42:29.360 --> 00:42:32.440 in glorious day, 00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:34.340 but from the grave 00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:37.500 He rose again. 00:42:38.019 --> 00:42:40.820 And as He stands 00:42:40.820 --> 00:42:42.320 in victory, 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.519 sin's curse 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:48.679 has lost its grip on me, 00:42:49.159 --> 00:42:51.700 for I am His, 00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:54.780 and He is mine, 00:42:55.260 --> 00:42:58.619 bought with the precious blood 00:42:58.619 --> 00:43:00.639 of Christ. 00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:05.599 No guilt in life, 00:43:06.019 --> 00:43:08.720 no fear in death, 00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:10.679 this is the power 00:43:10.679 --> 00:43:13.900 of Christ in me. 00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:16.760 From life's first cry 00:43:16.760 --> 00:43:19.940 to final breath, 00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:24.119 Jesus commands my destiny. 00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:27.699 No power of hell, 00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:30.639 no sleep of man, 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:34.359 can ever block me 00:43:34.359 --> 00:43:36.339 from His hand. 00:43:36.339 --> 00:43:39.339 Till He returns, 00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:40.599 from course, 00:43:40.739 --> 00:43:41.699 behold, 00:43:42.779 --> 00:43:44.500 here in the power 00:43:44.500 --> 00:43:47.839 of Christ I stand. 00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:50.659 No power of hell, 00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:53.379 no sleep of man, 00:43:53.379 --> 00:43:57.039 can ever block me 00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:59.019 from His hand. 00:43:59.399 --> 00:44:02.119 Till He returns, 00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:05.199 or calls me home, 00:44:05.739 --> 00:44:07.359 here in the power 00:44:07.359 --> 00:44:10.819 of Christ I stand. 00:44:10.820 --> 00:44:25.320 Do you please have a seat? 00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:26.120 And let's finish 00:44:26.120 --> 00:44:28.140 by reading those words again 00:44:28.140 --> 00:44:29.240 from Isaiah 40 00:44:29.240 --> 00:44:29.920 that we read 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.980 at the outset, 00:44:31.200 --> 00:44:31.780 and in light 00:44:31.780 --> 00:44:32.820 of everything 00:44:32.820 --> 00:44:33.960 that Ian's brought to us 00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.580 from God's word 00:44:34.580 --> 00:44:35.160 this morning. 00:44:35.159 --> 00:44:37.119 Why do you say, 00:44:37.379 --> 00:44:37.739 O Jacob, 00:44:38.279 --> 00:44:38.980 and speak, 00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:39.599 O Israel, 00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:40.759 my way is hidden 00:44:40.759 --> 00:44:41.599 from the Lord, 00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:42.899 and my right 00:44:42.899 --> 00:44:43.739 is disregarded 00:44:43.739 --> 00:44:44.639 by my God? 00:44:45.299 --> 00:44:46.480 Have you not known? 00:44:47.299 --> 00:44:48.519 Have you not heard? 00:44:49.299 --> 00:44:49.980 The Lord 00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:52.059 is the everlasting God, 00:44:52.379 --> 00:44:53.199 the creator 00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:54.119 of the ends 00:44:54.119 --> 00:44:55.059 of the earth. 00:44:55.639 --> 00:44:56.759 He does not faint 00:44:56.759 --> 00:44:57.579 or grow weary. 00:44:58.319 --> 00:44:59.279 His understanding 00:44:59.279 --> 00:45:00.639 is unsearchable. 00:45:01.319 --> 00:45:02.139 He gives power 00:45:02.139 --> 00:45:02.980 to the faint, 00:45:03.359 --> 00:45:04.000 and to him 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.940 who has no might, 00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:06.900 he increases strength. 00:45:07.739 --> 00:45:08.599 Even youths 00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.420 shall faint 00:45:09.420 --> 00:45:10.320 and be weary, 00:45:11.019 --> 00:45:12.059 and young men 00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:13.739 shall fall exhausted. 00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:15.300 But they 00:45:15.300 --> 00:45:16.159 who wait 00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:17.000 for the Lord 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.099 shall renew 00:45:18.099 --> 00:45:18.880 their strength. 00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:20.579 They shall mount up 00:45:20.579 --> 00:45:21.579 with wings 00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.539 like eagles. 00:45:23.139 --> 00:45:24.000 They shall run 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:25.059 and not be weary. 00:45:25.619 --> 00:45:26.559 They shall walk 00:45:26.559 --> 00:45:28.360 and not faint. 00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:30.619 And all God's people 00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:31.260 said, 00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:32.360 Amen. 00:45:33.320 --> 00:45:33.800 Folks, 00:45:33.800 --> 00:45:34.560 that is the end 00:45:34.560 --> 00:45:35.380 of our service. 00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.120 Thank you so much 00:45:36.120 --> 00:45:36.600 for coming. 00:45:37.200 --> 00:45:38.519 Please do hang around 00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:39.400 for tea and coffee, 00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:40.820 which is to my right 00:45:40.820 --> 00:45:41.680 and to your left. 00:45:42.380 --> 00:45:43.320 And all that's left 00:45:43.320 --> 00:45:43.800 to say is 00:45:43.800 --> 00:45:44.800 have a great afternoon 00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:45.900 and a very happy 00:45:45.900 --> 00:45:46.400 new year 00:45:46.400 --> 00:45:47.200 when it comes. 00:45:47.460 --> 00:45:47.860 Thank you. 00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:47.920 Thank you. 00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:49.559 I'm going to go over to began 00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:51.320 by each node. 00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:51.659 Bye. 00:45:51.680 --> 00:45:52.519 Bye. 00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:53.860 Bye. 00:45:57.139 --> 00:45:57.680 Bye. 00:45:58.440 --> 00:45:58.599 Bye. 00:45:58.599 --> 00:46:00.599 Amen. 00:46:28.599 --> 00:46:30.599 Amen. 00:46:58.599 --> 00:47:00.599 Amen.