A Gift Worth Receiving
Luke 2:21-33
December 23, 2001
Intro:
A. [Prayer and God’s Sovereignty, Citation: Mark Ashton, A Voice in the Wilderness (OM Publishing); submitted by Owen Bourgaize, Guernsey, United Kingdom
A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. "I’ve been good for six months now," he wrote.
But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three."
After a pause, that was crossed out, and he put "two weeks."
There was another pause, and that was crossed out too.
He got up from the table and went over to the little nativity scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph.
He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his writing and started again: "Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again…"
1. That’s probably not the best way to approach God at Christmas!
2. Today we will try to find a better way to approach God this Christmas.
B. I want to begin this sermon a little differently than I usually do…
1. Today I want to give someone a gift [pick a person].
2. I have this pen that says "Somerset Christian Church" all over it.
3. "[], this is your pen. You can have it; you can write with it; you can give it away; you can throw it away; you can do whatever you want with it because its your pen."
4. [Person will probably just say, "OK," but will not come and get it.]
5. [Set the pen down and proceed with the sermon.]
C. Let’s stand (if you are able) and let’s read our scripture text together. [Read Luke 2:21-31.]
D. Today, I have five things that I believe we can learn from Simeon that will help us this Christmas; first…
I. Like Simeon, those who want to see Jesus will find Him.
Luke 2:25, Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
A. Simeon was a priest living in Jerusalem.
1. Simeon was righteous and devout. The Holy Spirit was on Simeon.
2. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.
3. The consolation of Israel is the promised Messiah.
4. Simeon was a priest and he knew the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah.
5. Simeon was looking for the promised Messiah. Simeon wanted to see the Messiah.
B. Simeon wanted to see Jesus and Jesus came to Him.
1. Simeon was one of hundreds of priests living in Jerusalem.
2. Simeon was chosen by lots to serve on this particular day.
3. Out of the hundreds of priests living in Jerusalem, Simeon won the lottery of priests and got to serve in the temple on this day.
4. He wanted to see the Messiah.
5. He was a devote and righteous man and the HS was upon Him.
6. He was chosen out of hundreds of priests to serve on this once-in-a-lifetime chance and on that once-in-a-lifetime day, the Christ child was brought to the temple to be circumcised and to have everything done for Him that was to be done for the child in accordance with the law. Simeon wanted to see Christ and Jesus came right to him!
C. And absolutely nothing has changed today.
1. This is not just an isolated event for lucky priests!
2. Its a promise that is made to anyone and everyone!
3. The Bible makes it very clear that all who seek the Lord will find Him!
4. If you and I earnestly seek God, we will find Him!
5. (Heb 11:6) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. God rewards those who earnestly seek Him!
D. Do you want to see Jesus?
1. Do you want to see Jesus? Do you really want to see Jesus?
2. Hebrews says that without faith it is impossible to please God.
3. It says that if we are to see Jesus, we must first believe that He exists.
4. And then we must EARNESTLY seek Him.
5. And if we EARNESTLY seek Him, we will be rewarded.
6. How bad do you want to see Jesus?
7. Does Christmas mean anything to you, or is it just another holiday?
8. Do you really want to see the Christ child?
9. If you EARNESTLY seek Him, just like Simeon, you too shall find Him!
II. Like Simeon, those who have the Holy Spirit will often receive assurance before the answer.
Luke 2:26, It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
A. The Scripture says that Simeon had already been assured by the HS that He would see the Christ before he died.
1. The HS had assured Simeon that he would see Jesus before he actually saw Him.
2. Simeon received assurance before He actually got the answer.
3. The Spirit of God had revealed to Simeon what was going to happen before it actually happened.
B. Simeon is running around saying that He was going to see the Messiah.
1. Simeon was confident that he was going to see the Messiah, so he just kept running around saying that He was going to see the Messiah.
2. He never forgot about it and it was always on his mind.
3. He probably didn’t understand all the detail of how it would all come about, but he was sure that it was going to happen.
4. He really wanted to see Jesus and the HS had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah before he died.
5. It had been over 400 years since any prophecies had come about the Messiah, but Simeon knew that he was going to see the Christ.
C. And this is not limited to priests or pastors either!
1. The HS does not limit His ministry to just priests or pastors.
2. The Scriptures assure us that the HS is available to anyone and everyone!
3. ALL who are saved receive the HS.
4. And all who receive the HS can exercise and work on that relationship that they have with the HS and the HS will come upon them more and more often and in more and more powerful ways.
5. And when we get to know the HS and how He communicates with us, we often receive assurance of things before they actually happen.
6. The HS is God’s Spirit and God surely knows what’s going to happen before it happens.
7. And God’s Spirit often lets us know what is going to happen before it happens.
8. The Spirit often gives us assurance that God is in fact working things out.
9. Those who have the Spirit will often have assurance before anything actually happens.
10. Those who have the Spirit will often have assurance before the answer.
III. Like Simeon, those who have the Spirit will go to church.
Luke 2:27, Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
A. The Scripture says that the Spirit moved Simeon to the temple.
1. The Spirit of God was upon Simeon,
2. And the Spirit of God moved Simeon to the temple.
B. It only makes since that this is what the Spirit would do.
1. This is where God dwelt at that time.
2. This is where God’s people worshipped God at that time.
3. This is where people got themselves right with God at that time.
4. It would only make sense that the Spirit of God would move a devout and righteous man towards God.
C. And the Spirit still does the same thing for devout and righteous men and women today.
1. The Spirit of God still moves devout men towards God.
2. The Spirit of God still moves righteous women towards God.
D. The Church is the place where these things happen today.
1. The church is not a building though.
2. The building is simply a gathering place.
3. The church is people who are filled with the Spirit of God.
4. The church is a community of believers.
5. God’s Spirit moves people with God’s Spirit together.
6. God’s Spirit does not move people towards isolation.
7. God’s Spirit moves people with God’s Spirit together.
8. God is one; there is only one God. God’s Spirit is one; there is only one Spirit.
9. God’s body is one; there is only one body: the church.
10. God’s Spirit doesn’t move people to find other things to do.
11. God’s Spirit doesn’t move people to have family functions instead of assembling together.
12. God’s Spirit doesn’t move people to sleep-in instead of worshipping God with others.
13. God’s Spirit does not move people to "get some work done around the house" instead of gathering with other Spirit-filled people to pray to God.
14. NO! God’s Spirit moves people to church!
15. God’s Spirit moves people to assemble together and worship God! That just makes sense, doesn’t it?!!
16. God’s Spirit moves people to get together with other believers to encourage one another! That just makes sense, doesn’t’ it?
17. Those who have the Spirit will go to church.
IV. Like Simeon, those who receive Christ will praise God.
Luke 2:28, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
A. The Scripture says that Simeon took Christ into His arms and praised God.
1. Simeon received the consolation of Israel.
2. Simeon received Christ into his arms.
3. And when Simeon received Christ into his arms, he praised God.
B. And that is what happens to those who receive Christ today!
1. When people receive the Lord Jesus into their hearts, they praise God!
2. When people truly receive the Christ-child, they praise God!
3. They know what a difference Christ has made in their lives and they can’t keep their mouths shut about it!
4. It wasn’t just Simeon or priests who praised God when they received Christ—there were countless people who did.
5. There were countless people who received Christ and they were walking and leaping and praising the Lord!
6. Some sang! Some cried! Some danced! Some shouted! Some preached! Some witnessed!
7. But they all praised God!
8. Some felt the difference Christ had made immediately; some didn’t notice the difference until later.
9. But they all noticed a difference and they praised God!
10. And people still today praise the Lord when they truly receive Christ.
11. I’m not talking about being thankful for the church—I’m talking about praising God for Christ!
12. When we receive Christ, we can’t help but praise God!
13. We can’t help but tell others what Christ has done for us!
14. We may shout; we may sing; we may weep; we may dance; we may raise our hands; we may fall down on our knees; we may do some somersaults; but some how or other we will praise God!
15. We just cain’t hep it!
16. Those who receive Christ will praise God!
V. Like Simeon, those who receive Christ will be ready to die.
Luke 2:29-32, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
A. What Simeon was telling God that he was ready to die!
1. He had received the HS.
2. The HS had revealed to him that he would see the Christ before He died and now that he had seen Christ, he was ready to die.
3. He was ready for God to dismiss him from his priestly duties.
4. He was ready for God to dismiss him from all of his duties as a human being.
5. He was ready to die.
6. God had done what He had promised and he was ready to die.
7. Simeon had seen God’s salvation with his own eyes.
8. Simeon had seen the light for the Gentiles.
9. Simeon had seen the glory of Israel and he was ready to die!
B. And only when we have received Christ, are we ready to die.
1. Only when we have received Christ can we live at peace.
2. Only when we have received Christ can know that we are prepared for death.
3. Only when we have received salvation can we be ready to die.
C. Are you ready to be dismissed?
1. Are you ready to be dismissed from your earthly duties?
2. Are you at peace with your eternity?
3. Have you received your salvation?
4. Have you received the baby Jesus into your heart?
5. Are you ready to die?
Conclusion:
A. [Goodness That Lasts, Citation: Vance Harrier in The Vance Havner Quotebook. Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 14.]
A little girl said she liked Santa Claus better than Jesus because "you have to be good for Santa only at Christmas but for Jesus you have to be good all the time."
Much of the Christmas observance at church is not far removed from that attitude.
B. [Pick up pen and talk about it.]
1. "Remember, [], this is your pen."
2. "Have you been a good person?"
3. "Have you done a lot of good deeds in order to get the pen?"
4. "Have you done some extraordinary thing that will earn you the pen?"
5. "Friends, what does [] need to do in order to receive the pen?"
6. "He just needs to come and get it, doesn’t he?"
7. "[], will you come up here and receive this pen right now?"
C. Friends, Simeon was a preiest, but that did not earn him the right to receive Christ in his arms.
1. No, he simply wanted to see Christ and saw him.
2. He simply allowed the HS to work in his life.
3. He didn’t have to be a good person.
4. He didn’t have to do a lot of good deeds in order to receive Christ—He just had to take Him into His arms and praise God!
5. You and I must receive Christ in our hearts and lives the same way Simeon did.
6. Its not about being a good person—its just about God’s love for us!
7. Its not about doing good deeds—its just receiving God’s gift to us!
8. We don’t do good deeds in order to earn God’s gift; we do good deeds because we have received God’s gift!
9. Have you received the Christ child into your heart?
10. Are you ready to die?
11. The song says, "Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!"
12. Won’t you receive Him today as we stand and sing #62 "Just As I Am"?
