My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

It's such an honor to stand before the people of

God this morning. It's Christmas Sabbath. Our pastors should be here,

But I thank Him for giving me this privilege of

preaching the sermon on a Christmas Sabbath. As we begin,

may we seek Lord in prayer first, our Father and

our God in Heaven. You have said my word will

not return unto me void. We claim that promise this morning, Lord,

as we listen to your word, may we find.

And encouragement. This is our prayer to you in Jesus' name. Amen.

There are two important yet often overlooked people in the

story of Christ's birth, and.

These two elderly people were used by.

God to call the attention of those ministering in the

Temple and worshiping in the Temple to the birth.

Of Jesus Christ.

Our passage as the scripture reading was read, is found

in Luke chapter two, starting with verse twenty two. Luke says, now,

when the days of her purification according to the Law

of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to

present him to the Lord. As it is written in

the Law of the Lord, every male who opens the

womb shall be called Holy to the Lord, and to

offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the

Law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or

to young pigeons. So about forty days after Jesus' birth,

we see Mary and Joseph going up to the temple

in Jerusalem with their infant baby Jesus Christ. Their trip

was to serve two purposes. First, it was to fulfill.

The right of purification.

According to the levitical law, a mother who gave birth

to a son remained ceremonially unclean for forty days, and

after the period of forty days was over, she was

required to appear before the Lord in the temple to

offer a sacrifice of purification.

And as an offering.

The law required a lamb for a burnt offering and

a young pigeon or turtle dove for a sin offering.

And it was for this purpose that Mary appeared.

Before the Lord.

And what was the second purpose of their trip to

the temple in Jerusalem. The second purpose was to present him,

as Verse twenty two says, to present him, the baby.

Jesus to the Lord.

So two purposes, one to fulfill the purification right, and

second to present Jesus Christ. Before the Lord. As you know,

every first born male child was consecrated to God, and

the consecration of the firstborn has a long history. While

the children of Israel were in Egypt, God come de

manded Pharaoh through Moses, Israel is my first born son.

Let him go, that he may serve me. But we

know what Pharaoh's reply was. It was one of arrogance

and indifference. He said, who is that God that I

should obey his voice? I will not let Israel go.

And in response, God brought judgment upon judgment upon Pharaoh

and the Egyptians. And we all know that in the

final judgment, in the Final Plague, the Angel of Death

struck down the first born of both men and animal

among the Egyptians. But the Israelites were instructed to apply

the blood of a lamb on their door polls.

And when the Angel of Death passed over.

The land, he skipped those homes that had blood applied

on their door post and they were spared of the judgment.

And after their deliverance from Egypt, God instructed Moses consecret

to me all the firstborn whatever opens the woman among

the children of Israel, both of men and beast, it

is mine. And we know that God later on chose

the tribe of Levi in the place of the firstborn

of Israel. But the first born we're still dedicated to

the Lord, and where to be redeemed by a ransom.

The amount stipulated was five shekels, or the equivalent of

twenty dinari worth twenty days wages of a laborer. The

Spirit of Prophecy says, thus the law for the presentation

of the firstborn was made particularly significant. While it was

a memorial of the Lord's wonderful deliverance of the children

of Israel, it prefigured a greater deliverance to be wrought

out by the only begcotten son of God. As the

blood sprinkled on the door Poles had saved the first

born of Israel. So the blood of Christ has the

power to save the world. So what significance was attached

to Christ's presentation at the temple?

But what was the response of.

Those ministering at the temple and the worshipers at the temple.

As Jesus Christ was.

Presented at the temple, We see that it was met

His presence in the temple was met with indifference. The

Spirit of Prophecy says the priest went through the ceremony

of his official work. He took the child Jesus in

his arms and held it before the altar. After handing

it back to his mother, he inscribed the name Jesus

on the role of the first born, and very sad

little did he think, as the babe lay in his arms,

that it was the Majesty of Heaven, the King of Glory.

What a missed opportunity it was.

Here was.

The desire of all ages, the hope of all ages,

in his arms, but he failed to recognize the identity

of the baby he was holding in his arms. To him,

the presentation of infants was a routine event.

Day after day.

He collected redemption money from parents presenting their babies to

the Lord, and he paid little attention to them unless

they showed signs of wealth. We know that while Jesus

was in the temple, his presence went unnoticed by priests

and worshippers alike. However, God had prepared the heart of

a man to draw the attention of the priests and

the worshippers to the event, the most important event that

was unfolding before them. We read in Luke chapter two,

verse twenty five to twenty seven. And behold, there was

a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

And this man was.

Just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And

the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been

revealed to him by the Spirit that he would not

see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So

he came by the Spirit.

Into the Temple.

As Simeon entered the temple courts that day, he saw

a humble family presenting their firstborn son to the Lord.

But moved by the Spirit, he realized that this infant,

this baby, was the.

Consolation of Israel.

And to the astonishment of the priests, Simeon, realizing the

identity of the baby that was being offered, Simeon looked

like a man who was enraptured, who was seeing the supernatural?

And what did he see?

He knew the only one they had been waiting for

was now finally here, right in front of his eyes,

and taking the infant Jesus in his arms. Feeling an

indescribable bile joy in his soul, he offered adoration to

God with his whole heart. And as he offered adoration

to God with his whole heart. We see another person

in the temple. There was another person who joined him, Anna,

who was at least eighty four years old, who became

a widow after only being married for seven years and

after her husband's death. The Bible says she did not

depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and

prayers night and day, and coming in that instant, she

gave thanks to the Lord and spoke to him to

all those who look for the redemption in Jerusalem. Simeon

and Anna lived just before the Second Advent, and they

waited all their lives for Jesus's first coming. And the

way they waited for Jesus' first coming is a model

of how you and I should be waiting for the

second coming of Jesus Christ, just as they waited for

the first coming in anticipation.

You and I are waiting.

For the second coming of Jesus Christ, and I think

the manner in which they waited. We have so many

things to learn from these elderly.

Two couple who waited all their lives for.

The appearance of the promise Messiah. So for a few moments,

I want to reflect on what can we learn from

these two elderly people serving in the temple as you

and I prepare.

For the second coming of Jesus Christ.

When the birth of Jesus Christ was first for old

to Joseph, the husband of Mary, the Angel instructed him,

you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save

his people from their sins.

You shall call.

His name Jesus, for he will save his people from

their sins.

And if you look at the.

Song known as the nunk Dimittis sung by Simeon, you

have four songs recorded which were sung at the birth

of Jesus Christ, and Simeon's song is one of them.

How does he begin the song? How does the song begin?

He says, Lord, Now you are letting your servant be

depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes

have seen your salvation. Simeon's physical eyes saw only a

helpless baby, but his spiritual eyes saw his savior, his

salvation in that baby that was being offered in the temple,

the one who would deliver the world from the bondage

of sin.

And it was so fulfilling, so satisfying that.

The hope that all the hope that he had put

forth that he had.

Was fulfilled in him, saying.

The Messiah that he said to God, Lord, now you

are letting your servant depart in peace. He said, God,

all my hope has been fulfilled.

Now I can.

Die in peace, because he saw in Jesus Christ, in

the baby Jesus Christ that was offered at the temple,

his savior, his salvation. One of the saddest verses in

the Bible is John chapter one, verse eleven. It says

he came to his own, and his own did not

receive him. Many people, hundreds or maybe thousands of people

saw Jesus Christ, but they did not see Jesus as

dear salvation. When he was brought before the priest to

be offered before the Lord, the priest saw him only

as a helpless baby.

When King Herod heard about the birth.

Of Jesus, he saw him as a rival, one who

could become a threat to his kingship. When the religious

leaders came to know about the birth of Jesus, it

was met with indifference. They saw him as a threat,

someone who take away their power and prestige. During Jesus' ministry,

so many people saw him, They witness him in his ministry.

They saw him as a healer, a rabbi, a miracle worker,

a prophet, but how many really did see him as

the savior of the world. Simeon made a prediction. Under

the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He made a prediction,

and he said, behold, this child is destined for the

fall and rising of many in Israel. Our response to

Jesus Christ, to how we view Jesus Christ, will decide

our eternal destiny. The most important decision we will ever

make centers around whether or not we see and accept

Jesus Christ as a personal savior. We may accept him

as our healer, we may accept him as our comforter.

But this morning I want to ask you, have we

truly accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, as our salvation,

not just as a problem solver, but as our savior

who deems us from our sin and who provides us,

who gives us eternal life. Have we accepted him? Part

of a common Jewish prayer was may I see the

consolation of Israel.

That was part.

Of a common Jewish prayer. They would include may I

see the consolation of Israel, meaning may I live to

see the Messiah. We see Simon in verse twenty five.

He was waiting waiting for the consolation of Israel, and

Anna was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The same thing.

Both were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. They

were waiting and looking for the one to whom all

the Old Testament scriptures point point to the promise one

the consolation of Israel. What does it mean to wait?

What do you mean when we say we are waiting.

For the Lord Jesus Christ? What does it mean to wait?

Waiting means to believe.

In the future fulfillment of something, and in this case,

waiting means for God to fulfill his promises and prophecies

about the Messiah.

So if we look at the.

Lives of both Simeon and Anna, their waiting was active.

It was not passive waiting mark by faith and trust

in God's promises found in the Old Testament scriptures. They

held all to God's promise with confidence, even when it

seemed that their fulfillment was delayed. Let me ask you

a question, do you and I truly believe in the

promise of the second Coming that are found in the Bible?

Do you and I truly believe just as Anna and

Simeon believed in the first advent of Jesus Christ. Do

you and I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ?

And I believe what scriptures say concerning the second coming

of Jesus Christ. In Hebrews chapter nine, verse twenty eight,

Paul says, so Christ, having been offered once to bear

the sins of many, will appear as second time, not

to deal with sin, but to those who are eagerly

waiting for him first his Somonians chapter four, For the

Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command,

with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet

of God. Revelation chapter one verses, Behold, he is coming

with clouds, and every eye will see him, even though

even those who pierced him. Do We hold on two

and trust in God's promises concerning the second coming of

Jesus Christ. In Second Peter's Chapter three, Peter writes, knowing

this first, that scoffers will come in the last days,

walking according to the alass and saying, where is the

promise of his coming? For since the Father fell asleep,

all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

For this they willfully forget that the Word of God,

the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out

of water, and in the water by which the world

then that then exists at perish being flooded with water.

If you look around you, if we look around us,

you have scoffers. Even in the Christian churches there are

scoffers who don't really believe in the second coming of

Jesus Christ. How important it is, just like Anna and

Simeon held on to the promises of the first event,

How important it is for you and for me to

hold on to the promises of the second coming of

Jesus Christ that the Bible has made for us. Luke

also says Simeon was devout what he described Simeon as

just and devout.

And Hannah Anna.

Was worshiping, wait, fasting and prayer night and day.

How did they wait? How did these two elderly.

People wait for the first appearance of Jesus Christ. They

were waiting in faith, and their waiting was characterized by

a lifestyle of devotion.

How are we to wait for the second coming of

Jesus Christ?

What kind of life should you and I live as

we wait for his second appearing. We call ourselves seventh

day advantage people who are waiting for.

The second advent of Jesus Christ.

Thus, our life, our lifestyle reflect what we claim, what

you and I claim to believe in, which is waiting

for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Titus chapter two,

verses eleven and thirteen says, for the grace of God

has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches

us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. How

are we to conduct ourselves? What kind of lifestyle should

you and I have as we await the second appearing

of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says, it teaches us

to say no to ungodliness and world passions and to

live self controlled, upright and godly lives. In the present age,

as he waited for the second coming of Jesus Christ,

we see Simeon living a godly life, just and devout,

and we see Anna worshiping with fasting and prayer night

and day as he waited for the first coming of

Jesus Christ. In Romans chapter thirteen, Paul says, and do

this knowing the time that now it is high time

to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is

nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent,

the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off

the works of darkness, and let us put on the

armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the day,

not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdeness and lust,

not in stripe and envy. And he says, but put

on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for

the flesh to fulfill its lust. Have we put on

Jesus Christ?

Have we put on Jesus Christ? Do we still make

provision for the flesh? Do we fulfill the lust of

the flesh?

Or do we put on Jesus Christ and walk accordingly?

And second last point, Simon was walking in the spirit.

Simon was a spirit filled elderly man waiting for the consolation.

Of Israel.

He was spirit filled, he was spirit controlled. The Bible

says in verse twenty five, twenty six, and twenty seven,

it says the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was

filled with the Holy Spirit. He was spirit filled, he

was spirit controlled. And it says in verse twenty six

it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

that he would not see death before he had seen

the Lord's Christ.

It was the Holy Spirit who made him known.

That he would see the consolation of Israel, the Messiah

before he died. It was the Holy Spirit who made

known to him. In verse twenty seven, it says, moved

by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. Everything

he did was under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

How important it is for you and I to be

filled with the Holy Spirit so that he can dictate,

and so that he can help us in our journey

through life. A reminder of the Ten Virgins which reminds

us of the importance of the Holy Spirit as we

await the second coming of Jesus Christ. In Matthew chapter

twenty five, we see the Ten Virgins. All the ten

virgins went out to meet the bridegroom, all had lambs

and vessels, for all oil. For a time there was

seen no difference between them. So with the church that

lives just before Christ's second coming, all have knowledge of

the scriptures, all have heard the message of Christ's near approach,

and confidently expect his appearing. But as in the parable,

so it is now a time of waiting intervenes, faith

is tried, and when the cry is heard, Behold the

bridegroom cometh. Go out to meet him. Many are unready.

Why they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps.

They are destitute of the Holy Spirit.

And this is.

The condition of the Laudician Church. Jesus Christ said to

the Laudsian church, you are blind, and he asks her

to buy from him I self, he says to her,

annoying their eyes with eyes.

Self, that you may see.

Do you and I take the time to read the scriptures,

to spend time at the feet of Jesus Christ, communing

with him, so that we may be infilled by the

Holy Spirit, that everything we do, everything we say, are

under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Do you and

I have that kind of life? That is what the

Laudosian Church likes.

It speaks of.

Our condition as Christians waiting for the second coming of

Jesus Christ. And if we do not recognize that we

are destitute of the Holy Spirit, and we continue to

remain so, the crime will come. Behold, the bridegroom cometh,

and we will realize that we are not ready to

go in with him.

Last point.

Simeon and Anna where longing for the coming of Christ

the Messiah. They spent all their life anticipating his arrival.

Ask yourself, am I really longing for the second coming

of Jesus Christ? Is that the focus of my life?

That's the second coming of Jesus Christ. The hope of

the second coming of Jesus Christ impact every area of

my life. Am I longing for his coming? It is

enough to wait for the Lord's return. We must earnestly

desire the Lord's coming with all our heart, with all

our soul. We should long and desire for his second coming.

Let's not repeat the mistakes of the people who waited

for him halfheartedly when he first came. I want to

read from the Desire of Ages, page forty five. It says,

with amazement, the heavenly messengers beheld the indifference of that

people whom God had called to communicate to the world

the light of sacred truth. The Jewish nation had been

preserved as a witness that Christ was to be born

of the seed of Abraham and of the Lord's line.

Yet they knew not that his coming was now at hand.

In the temple, the morning and the evening sacrifice daily

pointed to the lamb of God. Yet even here was

no preparation to receive him. The priests and teachers of

the nation knew not that the greatest event of the

Ael of the Ages was about to take place. They

rehearsed their meaningless prayers and performed the rites of worship

to be seen by men. But it says, why weren't

they ready? Why weren't there longing for the coming of

Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Prophecy says, but in their

strife for riches and worldly honor, they were not prepared

for the revelation of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded

the land of Israel, heart, selfish and world and grow

we're untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven, and

she says, only a few were longing to behold the unseen.

To this Heaven's embassy was sent to people like the

wise men.

To people like the shepherds out in the field.

The coming of Jesus Christ was made, noon was made non.

The Bible urges us not just to wait, but to

desire with all our heart to long for the second

coming of Jesus Christ. Peter says, set ya hopefully on

the grace that is coming to you. At the Revelation

of Jesus Christ. He says again in Second Peter, looking

for an earnestly desiring the coming of the Day of God.

In titles, it says, looking for that blessed hope and

the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior,

Jesus Christ.

This is not just.

The blessed hope, but the hope that should burn within

our hearts.

We have our favorite.

Song composed by Wayne Hooper, who says, we have this

hope that burns within our heart, hope in the coming

of the Lord. Is that hope burning in your heart?

Is that hope burning in my heart? Revelation closes with disappeal.

He who testifies to these things says, surely I am

coming soon. May your answer and my answer be come,

Lord Jesus Maranatha.

M h

M.