Christmas Day - is now two days spent
Though, some of us will still be observing family Christmas gatherings
-later this week
-& a lot of us like to keep Christmas alive for a while
-our songs, our scripture messages have had to do with the birth of Jesus
-because that’s what we celebrate with Christmas
-now, Christmas is over, & we’ll be looking forward to New Years
-looking back on the old & looking forward to the new year ahead
-we’ll want to consider the plans, the purposes, the mission that God has for us
“What is God’s will for our lives?” - is a good question to ask at this point
It would be nice if someone pointed the way
Is it possible that God has a special plan for your life?
I think so!
I believe God has a special plan for all our lives
-the very best that life has to offer, is found in God’s plan for our lives
-& that’s true for everyone
There are many good examples in the Bible of God working out His good plans
-in people’s lives
-& we can learn a lot from these examples
-particularly, if we look at such examples with the view in mind
-of knowing & following God’s will & plan for our own lives
-look at how God works out His plans for others
-while thinking about how God works in your life
Now, for a number of weeks, we’ve been anticipating the birth of Christ
-as for our calendars - Christmas is where we put that day
-& so, our themes in our songs & messages have had to do with the events
-of Jesus birth
So, today, a few days after the birth of Jesus
-let’s look at the events of the following week of Jesus’ birth
-& let’s look at a special person for whom God had a special mission
-& may we learn something about God’s special mission for our lives
Luke 2:21-26
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
What was God’s special plan for Simeon?
Was it to deliver God’s people from Egypt - like for Moses?
Was it to conquer the Promised Land - like for Joshua?
Was it to be the king of the nation - like for David?
Was it to father the Messiah - like for Joseph?
It was simply to see the Messiah (The title Christ means Messiah)
-that’s quit simple - isn’t it? Just see the Messiah
-but, this was to be God’s great plan for this man
How, or why did this man fit into God’s plan for this?
What do we know about Simeon?
First, he was righteous
v.25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.
To be righteous, means you are right with God - you are just
-rather than guilty
e.g. in our own society - we can be righteous or unrighteous with the law
-you speed a bit - & the policeman stops you
-checks your identification - your driver’s license
-I don’t know all that they do
(& not that I’m speaking from all that much experience here)
-but they somehow check your record
-if your record is clear, he might give you a ticket
-& you’ll again become “Just” or “righteous” when you pay that ticket
-however, if you are wanted for a crime
-you are “Unrighteous or Not just” in our society
-that policeman might come back to your car & put handcuffs on you
-& put you under arrest
Now, it’s not easy to be righteous with God
-in fact, it’s impossible to become that by ourselves
-you can’t just take out your credit card & pay God
-we’re all very much sinners - & our sin - any sin,
-makes us unrighteous before God
-but praise the Lord, we’re able to achieve a righteous standing with God
-through Jesus Christ
-Jesus died for our sins to make us righteous
How was it that Simeon was righteous? How did he become righteous?
Jesus hadn’t died yet?
Romans 3:19-26
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
God is righteous & just & He will always be that way
-so, justice needs to be served
-since Jesus took our penalty for the guilt of our sin
-righteousness is bestowed on us who trust Him
-we become justified & God remains just
-today - we look back on what Jesus did - & we become righteous
-by trusting in His death for our sin
-but for the many people up through the ages before Jesus
-God patiently left their sins unpunished - waiting for the time of Jesus’ death
-these people needed to trust, looking forward to the Messiah
-who would come for this purpose
-& that’s where Simeon got his righteousness - looking forward in trust
-for the coming Messiah
Well, this is the first step in following God - trusting Jesus to be our Savior
-that establishes us with God
-it puts us in a right or righteous standing with God - our sins are forgiven
-we are now His children & He has a special plan for us
Second, Simeon was devoted
v.25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.
If you want to follow God’s perfect will for your life
-you’re going to need to be devoted to taking that path
e.g. people will say, “Neal, you should try snowboarding!”
-yeah, I’m sure that would be fun & nice - I’d like to be a snowboarder
-but, just going up on a ski hill - strapping on a snowboard to my boots
-& saying, “I’m going to be snowboarder!” - that’s not going to work!
-I know enough, that wouldn’t be all that fun
-I wouldn’t become a snowboarder just by doing that
-in order to really enjoy it & become, truly a “snowboarder”
-I’d have to devote myself to snowboarding
-I’d have to go at least 1-2 x per week or more
-& I’d have lessons & really practice it to become a snowboarder
-I have to become devoted to snowboarding in order to really appreciate it
-in order to appreciate God’s will & special plan for your life
-you really need to be devoted to following God’s will
Luke 9:23-25
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Following God’s will & plan takes devotion!
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Test out God’s will for your life! Take it for a test drive - try it out!
Like a car - take it for a test drive - you like it so much - you need to buy it
-that’s how it will be with God’s will - it’s so good, pleasing & perfect!
-try it out & you’ll really like it - “test & approve it”
-but it’s going to take devotion & commitment
-& it will be worth it
Simeon was:
1. Righteous - through Jesus
2. Devoted - to Jesus
3. Waiting for Jesus - He was ready for the Messiah!
v.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.
The consolation of Israel - was the coming of the Messiah - Jesus
And for us too, we need to be waiting & looking forward to His return
-this is like the finish line in our race course of life
-the destination of God’s journey for us
Luke 12:35-37
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
In order to really fulfill & experience
-God’s good, pleasing & perfect will for our lives
-in order for the Holy Spirit to be really working in our lives
-we need to be looking forward to & living for eternity
-not this world & this life
-eternity
Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Simeon was that type of person - he lived for eternity
-in fact, when he did see Jesus - that was enough - life could be over
-as far as he was concerned
-life was about Jesus
-death was about heaven
-it reminds me of Paul’s declaration about life:
Philippians 1:20-21
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
This is the perspective for God’s will - a perspective of looking forward
-to the coming back of Jesus
-a looking forward to heaven
-a living that makes a difference for eternity more than anything else
When we live for eternity - that makes us live the very best in this life
-right now - in this world
-because - God the Holy Spirit will be working in our lives
-unfolding God’s good, pleasing & perfect will
-for the years God gives us
-it’s so much better to be filled with the Holy Spirit
-than filled with the spirits of this world
e.g.
-I see in the ER late at night, the realities of what this world offers -people who’ve been “celebrating” - having a “good time”
-coming in all beaten up, injured, suffering, sick
-drunk & unable to say a sentence without a swear word
Ephesians 5:15-20
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s so much better to be filled - or controlled & led by the Holy Spirit
-rather than the spirits of this world
-& so we see the example of Simeon - filled & led by the Holy Spirit
1. Right with God - through faith in the Messiah
2. Devoted to God - willing to follow the Messiah
3. Hopeful with sights set on the coming of the Messiah - & eternity
-& so we hear him sing & make music from the heart
-a song of praise to the Lord
vv.27-32
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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 "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."
Simeon represents a sweet example to us of a life lived for God
He’s an example of God working out His good will in his life
-& Simeon realizing & experiencing God’s plan for him
-& what was God’s amazing will for Simeon?
-was it to lead a million people through the Red Sea?
-was it to conquer & inhabit the Promised Land?
-was it to work some great miracles?
-was it to save hundreds of people?
-was it to write a book of the Bible? Or any book?
-it was just to see the Messiah & simply hold Him & praise God
-with a statement of praise & prophecy
-a confirmation of Jesus - the Messiah
-that was quite simple on the surface
-but in God’s plans - it was of profound importance & eternal significance
-God was praised!
-when God is praised - that’s worth our lives!
Let’s live for God
-may we be certain we’re trusting in Jesus to be our Savior
-may we whole heartedly devote ourselves to the Savior
-may we be expectantly looking for His return
-filled therefore, by the Holy Spirit
-may we live out God’s wonderful plans - His will, for our lives
-may it be said of us - To live is Christ - to die is gain!
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