2022 Advent Sermon Series
“Can Jesus shake up your Christmas?”
Luke 2:25-40
Introduction
- The Advent season is a wonderful time of year!!
-- Not only does it signify the celebration of Jesus’ arrival to this world
-- But it gives us opportunity to pause and celebrate all that God has done
- Today, want to begin by saying preaching Advent gets challenging each year
-- Been preaching for over 20 years now, and even in the joy of this service …
-- Finding fresh angles for this glorious season still gets harder and harder
- Prayerfully, this morning you’ll tune in with me and see what God says
-- Likewise, it’s my prayer that I would not be remembered for saying anything
- I’d like to take a look at a story that happen shortly after Jesus’ birth
-- It is a story of prophecy, dependency on God, and (IMP) witnessing to others
- Truly, I believe this is what God is calling His people to press into today
- And … (spoiler) it will be something we’ll tackle even deeper in 2023!
- Read Luke 2:25-40 / Pray
Point 1 – What will you celebrate this Christmas?
- On Christmas morning, what will be your greatest thing you celebrate?
• Will you marvel at the latest technological gift?
• Perhaps you’ll be excited to get that new kitchen appliance?
• Or maybe it will be that long awaited opportunity to get away with family?
- All of these are good things to celebrate, but we must celebrate Jesus, first!
-- I would be irresponsible if I did not say: Jesus is the reason we celebrate!
-- His birth, His redemption, His love gives us purpose to find joy every day!
- Simeon was a reverent/faithful man who was led by the Spirit to the temple (v25)
-- He has been given a revelation that before his death he would see the Messiah
-- Greek: chrématizó; to transact business (loosely: promise of something later)
- And it was on the very day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple
-- It is not revealed when Simeon received this promise - only that it guided him
-- As you can see, his life was led by knowing the Messiah would come
-- And, that before he died, he would be able to see this promise of God
- IMP: This promise, this revelation, focused his life to obey God
-- He knew that God was faithful, and he was devout in following God’s Word
- Let me give you two scriptures to have in your hip pocket:
-- Habakkuk 2:3, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (APP: When God gives you a word, hold onto it!)
-- Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (APP: What we have to do isn’t completed until we see Jesus)
- Might ask: Why are these verses important to this message?
-- BIG: We can be assured that if God says it will happen - then it will happen!
-- It’s why we should have a devo. time, time of prayer, time of personal growth
-- APP: Hearing from God is how we grow in faith and trust of His promises
- Yes, celebrating Christmas is an important part of the Christian faith
-- But do we celebrate and rejoice because God has given us a Son to redeem us?
- Simeon led his life knowing that one day he would see God’s promised Messiah
-- Take a look at Simeon’s praise as he rejoices in what God has done
- Re-read v29
-- Notice his words (re: he is an old man) “… let your servant die in peace”
-- He has seen God’s salvation, and knows that this is for all people (imp, “all”)
-- Jesus is the glory of His people … it’s a wonderful declaration of faith
- IMP APP: Once you “see” Jesus, it ought to change your purpose
-- Your focus, desire, your wants begin to look for ways to worship/serve Him
-- Amazing Grace is a perfect example of this: “I was once blind but now I see!”
- ACTION: Once we have seen the Lord, we then have to (must) respond
- Have you seen Jesus? Deeper: Have you worshiped His arrival? Will you?
- TR: In each of our lives, there is a call to obedience much like Simeon has
-- It really is what ought to lead us, and draw us closer to God (esp. at Christmas)
-- But … consider this …
Point 2 – How can Jesus’ birth affect YOUR testimony this Christmas?
- Notice how Mary and Joseph marveled at what they were saying
-- Greek: thaumazó; wonder or marvel at (verb); loosely: amazed or speechless
-- Get this: Hearing these words (about Jesus) strengthened their faith!
- Let’s recall: What was their faith based on?
• Mary rcv’d a promise: Luke 1:35, “The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”
• Joseph was told to trust: Matthew 1:20-21, “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
- Certainly, as they heard these words, it confirmed the responsibility they both had
-- And as they heard strangers glorify God in their presence, they were astonished!
- But there is a key here that we must grasp this morning …
-- It’s the revelation of Jesus’ true role and what He has come to this Earth for:
-- Tune in with me: He’s come to redeem God’s creation … and to transform those that would receive Him!
- v34: “Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but (truth bomb) many will oppose him.”
- The Bible records that Mary’s heart will be pierced (or changed)
-- But Jesus will pierce and reveal the condition of all hearts around Him
-- His coming will change the way we think, eat, talk, and act in this life
-- Don’t miss this: Men’s views and decisions regarding Christ are a mirror in which the very "reflection of their heart" is seen by everyone
- APP: This is why our testimony is so critical!!
-- Our testimony shows others who we say Jesus is (personally), and,
-- Our response to Jesus says how we truly feel about His Lordship in our life
- TR: So if even our testimony is affected, how do we live knowing Him?
-- Simple, we go and do the one thing that He has clearly given us to do!
Point 3 – Who will you minister to this Christmas?
- Let’s consider Anna for a moment and her place in this story
-- Anna was a prophet; she was also a widow who was 84 years old
- But look what she did - spent her time at church: “stayed there day and night”
-- She was a woman faithful to minister at the church b/c it was important to her
-- Her faith, and her place of worship, was where she felt she needed to be
- Now, don’t let this take you down a path about needing to be here every day
-- But we are encouraged to fellowship and draw together often for strength
-- The NT writer of Hebrews strongly encouraged the church to draw together (10:24-25), “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
- BUT …. being constantly at the temple, she showed others how to be faithful
-- Look at how her days were spent: Worship and Fasting in prayer (v37)
-- Her life displayed a heart that lived obediently to testify about God
- And when she encountered Jesus, she began to praise God (v38)
-- She too prophesied that a child would come to rescue/save Jerusalem
- When you consider the message of Advent, shouldn’t we minister to others?
-- Aren’t we encouraged to share what we know or what He has done?
-- Shouldn’t we be willing to testify and proclaim that He has come?
- Anna and Simeon are great examples of testifying about God
-- They also taught and lived examples of Godly lives; ones who were faithful
-- Something that each of can strive towards the longer we walk with the Lord
- Through their teachings and ministering they give us a wonderful example
-- BIG: There is always ministering to do / showing someone who Jesus is to you
Big Idea
- When we live the life Christ has called us to - we are testifying about His birth
-- We testify because we are joyful of what He has done for us
- What has Jesus given you that you can celebrate? For starters: FREEDOM!
-- It is a complete “circle of life”: He rescues us, we celebrate, He rescues others
- The freedom we share began at Christmas – but it doesn’t end there
- These two people (Simeon and Anna) lived to see the Messiah
-- Today, we have the Messiah already given … do you know Him?
-- I want you to know that you can receive Him if you do not know Him!
-- In order to do that you have to accept what He has done for (repent from sin)
-- His death and resurrection gives you independence from sin & eternal separation
- But, in order to be free, you have to choose
- Want to shake up your Christmas this year? Pick one of these options:
1. Will we live lives gladly (or freely) sharing what we know?
2. Or will we decide that Jesus should be kept a secret and testify to no one?
- Pray for:
• Receive Jesus
• Surrender to God’s will
• Peace to accept and share Christ
• Wisdom to know what people truly need
