DO YOU SEE HIM?
Introduction: We’ve all heard the slogan: “Jesus the reason for the season.” But while millions see the tinsel and the holiday lights, few see Him for Whom the holiday is held. When Christ was born in Bethlehem, few saw the Messiah though His coming had been prophesied again and again. It is sad to say but today scores of believers have lost sight of Christ and many have forgotten the reality of His promised imminent return. Simeon was one who was blessed to see the Christ Child. Both his character and desire produced his reward. If we are to see Christ we need to have these qualities in our lives.
I. Simeon’s Character
A. Luke 2:25 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”
B. Just – (Gr.) Dikaios
1. righteous, observing divine laws
2. In a broad sense it meant to be upright and virtuous, keeping the commands of God
3. The righteous person, according to John Wesley: "His heart is ever lifted up to God at all times and in all places. In this he is never hindered, much less interrupted, by any person or thing. In retirement or company, in leisure, business, or conversation, his heart is ever with the Lord. Whether he lie down or rise up, God is in all his thoughts; he walks with God continually, having the loving eye of his mind still fixed upon Him, and everywhere ’seeing him that is invisible.’" - John Wesley
4. Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age”
5. When German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was asked what it would take for him to believe in Jesus Christ, he replied: "His disciples will have to look more ’saved’ if I am to believe in their Savior."
6. "Live so that when you tell someone you are a Christian, it confirms their suspicions instead of surprising them." - Source: Pulpit Helps, 9/1990
C. Devout
1. (Gr) Eulabes - taking hold well , carefully and surely
2. To be devout means to have an exclusive dedication to God
3. 1 Kings 8:60-61 “So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”
4. I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me—my banner will be clear! -ddick@wlgore.com
5. Proverbs 20:25 “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.”
D. Spirit-led – the Holy Spirit was upon him
1. Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
2. Those with a deep passion for God are controlled and led by the Spirit of God. One of the greatest benefits of being saved is the privilege of being led by the Spirit of God.
3. Paraphrasing Ephesians 5:18 we are told “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be controlled, filled and led by the Holy Spirit.”
4. To be “led” by the Spirit is personal term. It means to be led by the hand, to be personally escorted by a tour guide. The Holy Spirit takes your hand and leads you through the difficulties of life. – Keep Believing Ministries
5. He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day;
But step by step my path unfolds,
My Lord directs my way. – copied
II. Simeon’s Desire
A. Luke 2:25 “…waiting for the Consolation of Israel”
B. Simeon had a longing and desire to see the fulfillment of the promise that God had given to Israel of a Redeemer. He longed to see the Lord’s Christ.
C. It is interesting that one of the meanings the word “waiting” is “to expect the fulfillment of promises.”
D. 2 Peter 3:4 “They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
E. A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence.
F. Hebrews 6:12 (WE) “Do not give up. But be like the people who get what God has promised. They believe God and keep on believing for a long time.”
G. God keeps His Word: consider some of the major prophecies concerning the Birth of Christ fulfilled;
1. Would come as the Son of God [Ps 2:7] - [Lu 1:32,35]
2. Would come as the seed of the woman [Ge 3:15] - [Lu 1:26-38]
3. Would be a descendent of Abraham [Ge 17:7 22:18] - [Mt. 1:1-17]
4. Would be a descendent of Isaac [Ge 21:12] - [Mt. 1:1-17, Lu. 3:23-38]
5. Would be a descendent of David [Ps 132:11 Jer 23:5] - [Mt. 1:1-17]
6. Would come at a set time [Ge 49:10 Da 9:24,25] - Fulfilled [Lu 2:1]
7. Would be born a virgin [Isaiah 7:14] - Fulfilled [Mt 1:22,23 Luke 2:7]
8. Would be called Immanuel [Isaiah 7:14] - Fulfilled [Mt 1:22,23]
9. Would be born in Bethlehem of Judea [Micah 5:2] - Fulfilled [Luke 2:4-6]
10. Great persons would come to adore him [Psalms 72:10] - Fulfilled [Mt 2:1-11]
11. Would be slaying of the children of Bethlehem [Jeremiah 31:15] - Fulfilled [Mt 2:16-18]
12. Would be called out of Egypt [Hosea 11:1] - Fulfilled [Mt 2:15]
13. Would be preceded by John the Baptist [Isaiah 40:3 Malachai 3:1] - Fulfilled [Mt 3:1,3]
14. The odds of fulfilling just eight of these prophecies would be one in 100 million million.
H. Jesus Christ keeps His Word
1. John 14:1-3 “"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
2. Romans 10:13 “For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
I. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
J. Larry Kirk in “Authentic Faith” wrote, “The evidence of God’s saving grace in your life is not perfection but it is a new desire, a new direction a new dynamic. There is life where there used to be death. There is desire for God and good works where there used to be apathy and indifference.” – Is there a true spiritual desire evident in your life.
III. Simeon’s Reward
A. Luke 2:25-30 “And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.”
B. Faith believes without seeing. The reward of faith is seeing what you believe.
C. John 1:10-14 “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
D. The world looked at the Incarnate Christ; God robed in humanity, and saw only a man because they did not look with the eye of faith. Simeon believed God and not only believed God but had the opportunity to look into the face of God.
E. He could have become discouraged but he endured and was rewarded.
F. Even in the long endless days of waiting for the second coming, we must, like Simeon, put our trust in the God whose promises are secure, whose word is forever eternally settled in heaven.
G. Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
