Longing For The Christ

Purpose: To portray what a godly person is really like.

Aim: I want the listeners to determine if they know Christ or not.

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had a dog to welcome you home? A dog has a way of making you feel important. They always seem happy to see you.

This last week my wife saw a young girl lean out the window of her car as they rode through Kensington and she shouted, "It's Christmas. It's Christmas everybody!" That kind of enthusiasm is fun to watch.

Out text today is about a man was also waiting anxiously for something very exciting to happen. For hundreds of years the Jews had been looking for the deliverer and the savior to come that God had promised. Isaiah 9:6--7 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (NAS)

This longing for a deliverer only deepened as the Jews endured the oppression of the Roman Empire. They desperately wanted to be in charge of their own country again. It was humiliating to always have to answer to Rome for everything they wanted to do.

As much as the Jews wanted a deliverer it is surprising that so few of them were actually studying the Scriptures in order to know how to recognize the Messiah when He did come.

Simeon was an exception. He was not only anxiously waiting for the Messiah to come; he was actively looking for the Messiah. He was constantly looking for the Messiah and God had promised him that he would actually see Him in his life time.

The Messiah came to earth over 2,000 years ago, but we should also we looking for Him because He is coming again.

2 Timothy 4:8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NAU)

Vs.25 I. What Kind of Person Longs for Jesus? "looking for the consolation"

Luke uses a Greek word for LOOKING that literally means "alert to His appearance, and ready to welcome Him." Simeon was waiting with expectation for the coming of the Messiah, or Savior.

Simeon was longing for peace and deliverance. His nation was under the heel of the Roman Empire, but he must have sensed a need for personal peace.

We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, insecurity, and even despair. In fact, there is more depression and suicide during the Christmas season than any other time of the year.

But what kind of person longs for God to deliver them?

A. A person who is ordinary "a man in Jerusalem"

Well, who was Simeon? As far as we know he wasn't a religious ruler, a priest, or even wealthy. He was just a man.

1 Corinthians 1:27--29 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. (NAS)

B. A person who loves what is right "this man was righteous"

He makes decisions based on what is right, not on what will make him popular. Following Christ requires that we be unmovable in what we believe about Christ. If we really love and long for Christ then we will want to do want pleases Him. Philippians 3:8 ... I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (NAS)

C. A person who has decided to do right "devout"

DEVOUT means "godly fear." Not only does a Christian have unbending convictions about Christ, but he also has a warm and passionate desire to please Christ. All of that begins with a commitment to follow Christ no matter what.

1 Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (NAS)