Embracing The Savior Series

And to let your gentle spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, I needed to hear that once again this morning. I actually reflected on that from my house this morning. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. I pray that your requests have been made known to God this morning, that you've been in prayer, we've been in prayer corporately. I'm so thankful to be amongst you this morning. It's a pleasure to be able to open the word of God and the worship we've already had so far in the Sunday school and to hear your voices singing praises to God has been rejoicing to my soul to even hear.

Well, if you would like to open your Bibles, we will be in Luke 2. We're coming towards the end of the infancy account of our Lord Jesus. We are verse 25 to 35. Recall where we have been. We, most of all, have seen the Savior's birth. Jesus coming into his own creation. Blessing to have been in this passage for so long, for the last weeks and months. We've seen the perfect obedience all according to the law, all according to the word of God that even his parents as they came before and named him the name that was given by God, given by the angel. You probably heard in Isaiah when it says that, I was called from the womb. Did you hear that in the call to worship? It made us think back to the name that was given. to Jesus, his name would be called Jesus. And then the purification ceremony of the mother. Remember, 33 days later, after a male child was born, we looked at that last week, the presentation of the firstborn son in Israel. So much we drew from that last week, the firstborn son, the firstborn of all creation. And in Israel, this was true Israel. This was the one, the long awaited one. We just sang, come thou long expected Jesus. And here he is before us in the pages of scripture.

And so from the presentation of the firstborn this morning, we come to prophetic words of the Redeemer. Really a recognizing of the Redeemer by two very important people in the scripture. A man and a woman, an older man, an older woman, we understand. And they're at the temple, this is 40 days after his birth, 41 days, right in there. So let's read the text this morning. You can read along in your copy as I read the word. Verse 25, hear the word of the Lord.

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to carry out for him the custom of the law, Then he took him into his arms and blessed God and said, now Lord, you are releasing your bond servant to depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. And his father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, behold, this child is appointed for the fall and the rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed. And a sword will pierce even your own soul to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. Amen.

As soon as the reading of his word this morning, I pray that the Holy Spirit will have imparted the word read to your own hearts this morning. Let's pray together once again as we come. before our God, Lord, we desire to hear from you. Lord, I pray as we have heard in the passages of scripture that we come in the spirit to you, that the Holy Spirit will come down to us, that we would even be able to recognize and experience for our own souls as you work in our lives. Lord, may we be a Symbian and may we embrace the Savior by faith. recognize the Redeemer before us in the pages of scripture. Lord, help us, I pray. Help me as your servant to deliver your word to your people, and may your people, all of us, be those desiring to hear from you, and may our hearts be pliable in your hand. May you be praised and may you be exalted. In Christ's name we pray, amen.