Adoration of The Child Jesus | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

It's almost difficult to stop the worship because it's so

powerful today to reflect on the Incarnation of the Son of God.

So thankful for the worship, team for the children, for the

choir, that will be singing after the message.

We're so thankful for all the practice and the prayers that

have gone into this to this meeting.

And oftentimes the Christmas time service is focused and

planned around being Evangelistic.

You know, there are people that come to church Come to church

only for this time of the year and maybe Easter if they feel

like it. But I'm praying that this

morning or this afternoon. Rather this service would be a

Revival. Not just Evangelistic but it

would be a Revival in our hearts and so I praise God that were

able to sing around the truth and the the revelation of God

becoming a man and what might even encourage you more.

This afternoon is that this idea this tradition of the people of

God coming together and Focusing on this one aspect of what our

God has done and who he is, is not something that the church

has developed over the years. No, it's actually something that

was expressed and experienced at the actual event.

Meaning there are people singing and rejoicing and blessing God

right there and then when Christ was made known as a child.

And so all we're doing today is what we see in the scriptures

all were doing is We are continuing what was exemplified

in the Bible that when there are those a certain group there are

different individual who had the privilege of understanding that

this child is no ordinary Jewish child.

He is, in fact, God coming to this world.

Oh, they adored him. They adored him.

And the purpose of this meeting together is that we would look

at one of the Spirit. Led Outburst of adoration

concerning a man who was exposed who is given that wonderful

opportunity to realize that this is, in fact, the Christ.

And so I encourage you today with your Bibles to turn with me

to the Gospel of Luke in chapter 2.

And since this past Friday, we dedicated our meeting to unpack.

The supernatural birth of Jesus Christ.

This afternoon, we will look at And consider the Adoration of

the Child, Jesus at his dedication. so, as you're there,

in the Gospel of Luke, please meet me in verse 20, 22, And we

read here in the Gospel of Luke and Luke's telling of the early

days of Jesus in verse 22. And when the time came for the

purification according to the law of Moses, they being Joseph

and Mary brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the

Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord.

Every male, who first 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 turtledoves or two young

pigeons. Now, there was a man in

Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous.

And devout waiting for the consolation of Israel.

And the Holy Spirit was upon him and had been revealed to him by

the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen

the Lord's Christ 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 Ting to your

word. For my eyes have seen your

salvation that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples,

a light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your

People Israel. The first couple of verses of

our text today. I have a feeling that a lot of

people would be tempted to ignore such details and move on

in order to get to the meat of the matter.

But when we read, what we see here in verse 22 to verse 24,

about the, the legal parents of Jesus, coming into the temple

with that child in their arms to perform a specific Duty.

We have to be a people that believe that every inclusion in

the scripture, Is meant for our instruction and for Revelation

every part of the Bible, God waste no ink God wastes, no

Pages, God waste, no sections. And as we come to this, we

realize that Joseph and Mary want to come to the house of God

and it wasn't a spontaneous decision.

It wasn't something that they wanted to do like some Christian

parents today do after they have a child.

We want to dedicate our child to the Lord and they figure out a

perfect. I mean they organized it and

it's a beautiful celebration. No no no this isn't spontaneous.

This is according to the law. This was demanded of them.

This was an observance of an ordinance.

And this ordinance is found in an unfairly treated book in the

Bible, and that's the Book of Leviticus.

And in that book, we read that God has given certain ceremonial

instructions and certain laws for the Civil Life of the nation

of Israel. Which is why many Believers when

they attempt to read through the Bible, find very little

motivation to pull through and Leviticus but I want to show you

today why it's important that you and I cannot afford to miss

out on even one part of the Bible because I want you to see

just as an example, how we forfeit Revelation when we do

that. We forfeit the harmony of the

Bible, when we see things connect from one book to the

other and then we believe that scripture interprets scripture.

Do we not? And so we realize that there's a

section in The Book of Leviticus that is targeted towards

parents. And there's a protocol that they

were called to observe once they gave birth to either a boy or a

girl. And if it was a boy then those

parents have to Faithfully circumcised that boy on the

Eighth Day, many people speculate why the eighth day if

you want to go the science Rebel scientists believe that the

eighth day is the best day concerning bleeding and

infection being the Just consequential thing that would

occur but if you want to go in the biblical understanding, the

number eight means new beginning and we realize that there's new

life New Beginning here. But why circumcisions you know

what I hope circumcision because number one that thing would be a

symbol. It was a marked a national

identity of Israel in order for them to be able to rehearse and

remember that they have made a covenant with the true and

living God that was established with their other Abraham.

But secondly circumcision because it was also an

illustration. It was a demonstration It was a

foreshadowing of the circumcising of the heart.

That God would perform at Salvation.

And it was in a sense, a cutting away of the flesh, a removal of

the flesh. A work, a surgery to be done on

the human nature because we've inherited Adam sinned.

And so as they would circumcise their sons, it was to foreshadow

what God has said many times in the Old Testament, circumcise

your hearts Circumciser. Let there be a surgery done on

your soul. So, even that act had a

spiritual meaning. And as Jesus was coming into the

world. He was granted parents that

obeyed God. God chose these parents knowing

that they would obey God. but after the circumcision, That

mother would have to weigh 33 days, aren't you?

Glad you're in the New Covenant. 33 days where she could not

touch anything. Holy and she cannot enter into

the sanctuary of the Lord. And those days were known as the

days of purification, she would have to be purified.

Why? Because not only was the child

in that act of circumcision being told to the parents, and

to this nation, that it has a sin nature, but also the mother

herself need to be reminded that she needs to be cleansed as

well. And so she would be in that

state of days of purification. And after those days were

completed, turn your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 12.

Leviticus 12 · chapter mention

In verse 6. We read in, Leviticus 12, verse

Leviticus 12:6

6. And when the days of her

purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she

shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting

a lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, and a pigeon, or a

turtle dove for a sin offering. So, at the end of those days,

she would have to come and she would have to honor a ceremony

that would symbolize her purification.

It would Eliza a sin offering there is an atonement for her

sin and she would bring this child to dedicate him to the

Lord. But it's in verse 8 where we see

how this connects with what we just read in Luke verse 8, and

if she can't afford a lamb, Then she shall take two turtledoves

or two, pigeons one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin

offering and the priest shall make atonement for her.

And she shall be clean. See what happens when you miss

Leviticus What do we read earlier in?

Luke Chapter 2, we read that Joseph and Mary came into the

Luke 2 · chapter mention

temple. And what did they bring?

Did they bring a lamb? No.

No they brought two. Pigeons.

Revealing to us that they were not a wealthy couple, they can

only afford the very bare minimum of their offering to the

Lord. And you would think that if this

child, that's coming to the ceremony to be dedicated to

Lord, if this child is really God himself.

That there would be something prepared, the greatest offering

that you can offer on behalf of this child and the parents that

would supervise them in his Humanity.

But no God chose to Crown this young couple with the honor to

be able to raise the Son of God in his Humanity because our king

is not attracted to wealth. And he is not attracted to fame

and he's not attracted to Ability what draws the heart of

God is a heart of obedience. Is a heart that really Revere's

him and loves him and fears him. And God saw this couple and, and

he recruited this couple and part.

Yes. Because of his Sovereign will

but because he saw a couple that were willing to obey even in the

smallest of things. This is what draws God's heart.

This is more valuable and precious to him than mountains

of gold or palaces of pearls or Prestige or pedigree.

Just a simple heart that loves his word just a humble hard that

honors his commands and God could entrust this couple with

the great privilege because he saw in them a willful surrender

to the word and that's all he required.

Can you visualize it this afternoon?

This precious beautiful young virgin.

With the Child Jesus press on her chest.

Protecting him with whatever strength she had, while her

husband was walking on her side with two pigeons in his hands.

And all people on that day who might have walked by or seen

them would have known. According to the law will,

here's a poor couple just trying to do their best to honor God.

They couldn't afford a lamb, so they brought to birds.

But they did have a lamb. They were the richest people

there. He is God in his wisdom in his

design, made sure that they would come in with two pigeons

because they were holding the Lamb of God.

The Lamb of God, who would come and put an end to all the

ceremonial laws that could never cleanse the Lamb of God.

Who would come in to make one sacrifice that body that was

prepared? That would Usher in a New

Covenant in which we don't have to rehearse these things, but

look back and by faith, connect to that blood and it be applied

to us though. They did have a lamb.

But it was the Lamb of God. and as they came into that place on

the surface of the site, most of those people in there could not

understand what was occurring, but we see through the

scriptures that we have commentary and what was

happening. Let me emphasize this again.

This afternoon, God in his perfect wisdom selected Mary and

Joseph because they were surrendered vessels, that's all

it was and you see from his infancy.

Jesus Christ wanted to and needed to fulfill the law by

willing to go through all of this.

Jesus Christ, didn't need to be circumcised, an infant.

Like the other Jewish kids had to there was no cleansing

needed. There was no sin nature to

cover, but Jesus Christ through the surveillance of these

parents underwent even that, because even from his infancy he

identified with Sinners just like why Jesus Christ got

baptized people wonder, it was a baptism of repentance if Christ

is perfect. Why did he allow John to baptize

him? Well to identify with sinners.

Fulfill the law. And the same way you get

baptized in order to identify with Christ Christ, got baptized

to identify with you. And here he is willing to go

undergo circumcision. Willing to go through the

ceremonial purification. Why not?

Because he needed it. But because he identified with

us, he was obeying God perfectly even from those years and God in

his wisdom, selected to parents to make it happen.

And what's a beautiful here is by this simple.

Obedience, Mary. And Joseph are about to meet a

man. Are about to face someone who is

going to further. Glorify Christ.

The simple thing of observance, the simple thing of circumcising

and going through the ceremonial law, I'm sure they did not have

it in mind that it would lead to this Christ being further,

praise and adorned with Glory because that's what's about to

happen. And I believe that is for

instruction. It is for our instruction today,

don't you? Dare minimize, and don't you

dare be little small acts of sacrifice and small acts of

obedience. You just may be walking into

something that will further glorify Christ.

As this couple would. And we read here, haven't we in

verse 25? That there is a man in Jerusalem

whose name was Simeon. And all were told about him, is

that he was righteous and devout.

What a description for a man. Righteous and devout.

Why is God telling us this about this man?

Because he would qualify as an appropriate witness about this

baby. He would qualify someone who

would be able to have authority to say this child is no ordinary

child. He's a light to the Gentiles.

He's the glory of Israel. And so, this men of good repute

would be given the opportunity to testify of this baby and

prophesy over this child, and his mother.

But more importantly, we're told not just that he was righteous

and devout, but he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

I pray that this point would revive you.

I pray that this point would shake you out of your

lukewarmness. I pray that this point would

awaken you from the familiarity of the celebration.

Waiting for the consolation of Israel that waiting speaks of

expectation and desire. This man Simeon God sought to to

write about him out of all the things that he too, could have

wrote about him. That there is something in him

that consumed them and it was the longing and the waiting for

the Messiah to enter in. And to bring restoration to his

people, the Solace, the piece, the rest, and I'm sure Simeon in

light of the Roman oppression of his day, had a greater ache for

the things that he's learned ever since he was a child and

the things that he has studied in the Scrolls of the scriptures

to come about in his own lifetime.

I want to see the Messiah come. This was the beat of his heart.

This was his dream in the night. This is a theme of his

conversation. The Bible tells us by the

spirit, Simeon was a man who are waiting for the consolation of

Israel. Why do you think God wrote that

for us to know? Why do you think God included

this? I believe one reason is because

God looks at our desires. He looks at what we desire and

he honors US based on what he discovers about them.

Because you got many Christians today that are old Covenant

Believers that are so focused on the outward that they don't

think God can see beyond your bone, and your skin, and your

words and your hands and your money.

Jesus came not to lighten up the law, he intensified it.

You think that your holy because you didn't commit adultery with

your body if you've done in your mind, you've already done it in

your heart. Oh, you're not a murder, that's

why you don't deserve hell. Yeah.

You are a murderer. If you've hated your brother and

you're angry at him for no reason, God saw this desire.

He didn't just see the righteousness and his devotion.

He saw his desire. He saw his affections.

An impressed. God, it moved God, the Holy

Spirit. Included it here about this man.

And if you're not convinced today that God sees this and God

honors us and God does Things based on this, then go to the

gospel of Mark and I want you to see another man and the gospel

of Mark chapter 15. Be convinced today of the

Mark 15 · chapter mention

consistent character of God. And Mark 1543, we read of

another man and this man was not at the infant stages of Jesus

Christ. This man was at the death of

Jesus Christ. And we are told and Mark 1543

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was

also himself looking for the kingdom of God.

To courage and went to pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Oh, here's another man. A man who is perhaps different

age different class. Different opportunities,

different accomplishments. One thing in common with Simeon,

they both long for the kingdom of God.

They both longed for see this man.

Are you a member of some important Council this

afternoon? Are you someone special?

Do you have you have letters after your name?

Welcome. You have great.

Great digits in your bank account.

Welcome, we're told in Matthew that this man was rich welcome,

but I want to ask you today. Does your position distract you.

There's your wealth fog, your interpretation of life.

This man had position this man had wealth this man had respect,

but this man, the eyes of his heart were set on the kingdom.

He longed for it, he yearned for it, he desired it and I see

Simeon, when Jesus was six weeks old and we read that he was able

to hold the Messiah. And I see Joseph.

At the prime of this messiah's life slain holding his body.

And even given the privilege of fulfilling that prophecy in

Isaiah, where the grave of this Messiah would be shared with a

rich man's tomb. I see it here.

I see that God saw two men and he saw their affections, he saw

their passions, and he honored them.

To come so close to his son to hold such great reward and

responsibility for this son. Maybe you're not convinced,

maybe you're not convinced, maybe, maybe we got to do more

to get out of the mechanical Christianity, that plagues

America this afternoon. So let's do it in the book of

Hebrews chapter 11, we read something quite amazing about

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

how God views desires and in Hebrews 11 16 and not Hall of

Faith. After speaking about the

Patriarchs, we read in verse 16 of Hebrews 11 But as it is, they

desire a better country. They desire a better country.

That is a Heavenly one. Therefore not pause.

Pause. Therefore whenever you see the

word therefore, ask the question.

What is there for there for What is therefore, therefore, and

therefore, as there as what we just heard, as a result of what

we just heard that because certain men had a desire for a

Heavenly country. Desire does not say desire.

Desire. The same word used and First

1 Timothy 3:1

Timothy 3:1 where it says, if any one aspires to be an

overseer, he desires a noble task, it's a desire.

So intense that you want to see it come to reality that you want

to see it. Manifests the same word, the

same way. A man who desires to be an

elder, who desires to be a pastor.

Who desires to fulfill that same word?

These people had another Faith, you believe in heaven.

Wonderful. You believe that you're going to

heaven, great. It's not talking about faith,

it's talking about longing. Yearning.

Are you treading lightly in this world brothers and sisters?

Are you treading lightly? They desire a better country.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for, he has

prepared for them a city. Based on desire.

Based on affection, based on passion God, who sees what our

desires are set on when he sees his children, who desire, his

kingdom to come his rule to be known his dwelling to be with,

man. He says, I'm not ashamed to be

called their God. Can you imagine a greater gift

than that? That in the presence of Angel

host and Heavenly Creatures that if you were to see them, you

would probably melt out of fear. He can say, I'm not ashamed to

be called his God. I'm not embarrassed to be called

her God. So desire alone magnetizes God

in a certain way, this shows that he's personal, this shows

that he's real. This shows that he actually

cares about what you feel and what you think and what you

desire, and what you dream about oh that God would find in us a

desire for a Heavenly country. Oh, that God would be able to

save Maranatha Bible Church? I am not ashamed to be

associated with this church, because they desire is not

wonderful. It's nothing to do with

performance. Nothing to do with how great of

a minister you are, how powerful your preaching is.

No one simple thing. That Woos his heart, your

desire. This man.

Simeon had a desire. He waited for the consolation of

Israel. And then we are told That the

Holy Spirit had revealed to him. I mean, this is a unique

privilege, the Holy Spirit had revealed to him.

That he was not going to die until he would see the Messiah.

Now I can't imagine how this altered his life, we're not told

when the Holy Spirit told him this but even if it was a week

before I'm sure that week look different from every other week.

Can you imagine what it would be like?

This is what you longed for your whole life.

This is what you desired. As early as you can even imagine

and all for sudden, somehow some way the Holy Spirit reveals to

Simeon audibly, we don't know how Simeon.

You will not die. Until you see the Messiah.

What do those mornings look like?

As he woke up in his bed? Is it today?

Lord is it today? Well, I see him today.

Will he enter in today? Will you were to me be fulfilled

today. When will it come?

Is it now? God left them in that

spontaneous state, but assured by one thing, this man was not

going to die. Even if all of Hell came against

him, even if Rome came against him, he was not going to die

until he saw the Messiah and one day, something happens,

something marvelous he wakes up. And there's a strange sense of

the leading of God in an unusual way.

And there is the sense in which he had to go to the temple and

God's leading was so perfect. That every step, every

Interruption on the way, whatever took place was

perfectly orchestrated by the spirit of God for him to arrive

at the moment, where he would see Mary and Joseph with the

Messiah in their arms. I read that this morning and I

thought to myself, Lord, won't you just lead me like that?

All the experiences. I would know the time that I

would save the energy, all these things that could be reserved

that you can just speak to me. So clearly and tell me, get up

and go stop, no, yes, maybe, no, I need it, I want it.

Why just Simeon. I'm sure there's an innocent.

See about that. That God honors.

But I'm also refreshed to know here that there is another

person in the same Temple. Who did not have the same

experience as Simian leading up to this moment but she did have

the same blessing of realizing the Messiah.

Another woman, older woman, her name is Anna.

We're often familiar with henna, but this is Anna.

Another Prophet s. She's found in the same chapter

here and all were told about Anna, is that she was a

prophetess, she was a widow, she only had seven With her husband

before her husband died. Tragedy.

Heartbreaking. And we are told here in Luke 237

about Anna. and then, as a widow, until she was 84, She did

not depart from the temple worshiping with fasting and

prayer night and day. I love that because I see a

woman who experienced the tragedy early in her marriage.

She lost the love of her life. And I'm sure that shattered, her

dreams and her hopes of living long and old with her husband.

And yet this woman. Did not have bitterness in her

heart against God did not walk away from the house of God.

Did not say this prayer thing doesn't work when I prayed for

my husband while he was sick. God didn't hear me?

No, she devoted herself more to God.

She came to the house of God daily and she prayed and she

fasted, and she was a worshipper and elderly woman.

Not a princess, not a queen, not a beauty.

Pageant winner and elderly woman who, lost her husband who just

devoted herself to the house of God even more After a tragedy.

And she comes here and she worships God.

And there's an interesting phrase in verse 38 and coming up

at that very hour. She began to give thanks to God

and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the Redemption

of Jerusalem. Did you see the phrase?

And coming up at that very hour, the King James would say at that

instance. What are you seeing there?

Not wasted words. My brother and my sister what

you are seeing there is the Providence of God.

Simeon was led by the spirit to go to the temple, in a very

Supernatural real and Rahway. Anna was led to the temple.

By Providence, just another day, going to the temple.

Just another day to go worship my God, just another day to

pray. Just another day too fast.

But on this day it would be an extraordinary day.

She came up at that very moment where Simeon and that couple met

and we're Simeon. Grab that child and praise God,

and prophesied over him. And guess who was there to hear

all about it, Anna? Maybe that doesn't move you but

be encouraged to know that this is how God often leads his

people. Do you want God's Providence to

be in favor of your life in the New Year?

Can I encourage you to do something be devout?

Be serious, about the things of God.

Be consistent in your walk with Christ.

You want Providence in your favor, love him, no matter what

he takes from you. Serve him.

No matter who doesn't serve him? Don't let disappointment in

life. Don't let heartache, don't let

betrayal, don't let things in life make you waver, I believe,

and we can debate it over lunch. I believe that.

God honored, Anna, because Anna honored, God, call me

legalistic. All you want.

This woman was devout and God saw this woman and he Allowed by

his, providential leading to have an exposure that the priest

in the same Temple did not have. That the high priest did not

have. if you desire to God's Providence, Give him your

undivided devotion and watch him lead your life in spectacular

ways. What's amazing about Simeon

here? Is that by the Holy Spirit?

He was led. And he comes here and let's read

it. One more time and verse 27, 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, can you imagine it?

Simeon is blessing God while he's holding God, what a

thought. Simeon is worshiping God while

he's holding God. Behold the humility of God.

Behold The Wonder of this moment.

And we see here that he was able to bless God, that was his first

response is first. Reaction was to worship.

God was to worship. I pray that you came this

afternoon to worship, God to worship God, and let of the

Revelation, that he became a little baby.

And guess what? If you're here today?

Because it's Christmas and you have to be here, And because

it's tradition and that's what traditionalist do.

But you're not here. Because you're moved by the

revelation of what Christ has done.

Then I want to encourage you today that what you need is what

Simeon had and that was the Holy Spirit controlling his mind and

his heart. That's what you need and that's

what I need. Every time this heart is able to

grow cold and doll with any truth concerning Christ.

Even as Incarnation, I need the Holy Spirit to fall upon me

afresh. Because he was able to bless

God. And this is one of the most

incredible things because he declares one of the most

complete Prophecies of Christ before he even became a man,

think about this before Christ, uttered one Miracle before, he

uttered one Parable before he done one miraculous Supernatural

thing before before any sermon he heard.

He understood the gospel and its completion.

He understood the work in the extent of what Christ would do.

He had a revelation and an insight to the work of Jesus

Christ that no average Jew had that no priest?

Had that no Rabbi had because what what Simeon had in this

moment is what you and I need every single day and that's the

leading work of the spirit. The Holy Spirit was his teacher.

The Holy Spirit was the one who opened his mind and his eyes to

Christ. It is.

No wonder that the holy spirit is known as the gift of God.

What talk about gifts today? You want to gift?

Ask for a greater feeling of the Holy Spirit.

Because I'm going to tell you today, doesn't matter what

Seminary you go to doesn't matter what preachers, you sit

under it doesn't matter how many books you buy and how many

highlighters you go through those books unless you have the

Holy Spirit, you will be nothing but a traditionalist void of

True. Praise and void of true

revelation. Because with Simeon hot in this

moment and the temple. Is what many people fail to have

in that. Very same Temple.

He saw what other people could not see because he had what they

did not have the enabling work of the spirit of God.

So, the Holy Spirit reveals this to him.

And now he begins to open his mouth after He blesses.

God, he took him up in his arms and blessed, God and said, 29.

Lord. Now you are letting your servant

depart in peace. According to your word.

This man holding this child. I don't know if he looked up.

I don't know if you looked into the eyes of that little baby.

But he began as the first thing out of his mouth To Boldly

declare the faithfulness of God. That's what he said.

The first thing he was able to say is God keeps his word. no

matter if it's declared to the whole human race, Or even if it

was promises concerning one, people group through the Psalms

through the prophets, through the law or even if he promises

one man about a thing concerning his own life.

God keeps his word. You said it Lord and it came to

past here is your promise for Israel, here is the light for

the Gentiles and here is your goodness and your faithfulness

to me, I can now die. I can now die.

He is faithful. He's perfect.

He never never disappoints. He's wonderful.

His character is immovable. He is trustworthy.

He is your stability in mine. And we see that Simeon declares

that but notice also that Simeon even expresses his Readiness to

depart in peace. I'm ready to go.

I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go because I've

seen the Messiah. I have seen your salvation.

You can call me home. Now God I believe that this

verse hints at the satisfaction that Jesus brings into a life.

Simeon here receives a, a glimpse of the Messiah.

He's not going to see the restoration of the nation of

Israel. He's not going to see the

Revival among the Gentiles. I would come in and bow before

this Messiah. All he is seen, is a glimpse of

the Salvation of God and it's so moved his heart.

It's so filled his soul that he is essentially saying, life has

nothing more to give to me. I'm ready to go.

I wonder if that's what you feel about your relationship with

Christ. Take Christ away, there's no

life to live. Give me Christ.

And I have all. This man is saying, I've seen

Christ. I've seen the Salvation.

I'm ready to go into Glory. I'm so blessed.

I am so filled with hope and joy, and peace that I'm ready to

depart now, Because I want you to be reminded Christmas.

Is not just about Jesus. Life is about Jesus.

The theme of Our Song is Jesus. The theme of our Salvation is

Jesus. The theme of Heaven is Jesus.

The theme of your satisfaction is Jesus.

Nothing else. And if it is anything else, I

pity you this afternoon because all I see is a desperate man.

A desperate woman drinking at a filthy water because you're

going to a broken cistern that's promising.

You something that will never ever ever satisfy.

This man was So Satisfied. I just decide of the infancy of

the Messiah that he said, take my life because I have now lived

I have now lived and the psalmist said, whom have I in

heaven but you and there is nothing on Earth.

I desire besides you he's the theme in heaven.

He's anathema Earth. You Heaven is about you.

Earth is about you. The person just the person of

Jesus Christ. Let me say it again.

He was not rejoicing here because he saw something

happened. No, no.

Just the person of Jesus alone, satisfied.

Is that true for you Christian? Where are your desires this

afternoon? Are you bored right now?

Is this not moving you? What are your plans for the new

year that is Christ? Included there?

Or did you get your fire insurance and you're going to

heaven? This man's Simeon, bless God.

Bless God to the degree that he says.

You can kill me now and I can welcome death with a smile.

Because I'm So Satisfied With This Moment.

And because Simian has this revelation.

The parents, the legal parents of Jesus are going to react in a

way but just for the sake of seeing in a verse 31 he goes on

to say that you have prepared in the presence of All Peoples, a

light for Revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to your

People, Israel, there's the gospel.

Jesus, own disciples. How to go through.

So much to understand. The fact that Gentiles can be

saved, they had to have Council meetings about it.

And yet Simeon In This Moment, understood it, he saw it, he

knew it because the Holy Spirit does that he heals your

thinking? He does such an incredible

Supernatural thing in US. We celebrate the fact that the

Holy Spirit can make nothing into something.

He can bring God and do some weaving work into a random

woman. Create flesh.

They're not interfering with the Divine element of who God is.

But the miracle doesn't stop there in the Incarnation.

God, the Holy Spirit can do a work in you.

He can do a work in me, he can create something in us, he can

change us, he can heal us, he can renew us.

And I want you to see the reaction of these parents and

verse 33. And his father and his mother

marveled at what was said about him.

They marveled. They were an all.

They were stunned. May be stunned by the fact that

this random man. Is saying such things about

their boy, because their reaction here, interjects and

simeon's about to go on to prophesy, which we're not going

to touch this afternoon. I just want to park right here

as we close with this application.

They see, they hear and they Marvel.

Can I ask you something? Is this the first time that

they've heard something about this son?

Is this the first time that they receive Revelation?

No. No, they've received Angelic

visitation. No, no Joseph has received

dreams. Shepherd's have come to announce

something of this birth. This is not the first time that

they heard about, who this baby is and what this baby will

accomplish. But you know what, they still

marveled. Are you marveling today or is

this all familiar to you? You got used to, right?

It's just common knowledge now, right?

Another year, another Christmas service.

Another sermon. Maybe this time.

We'll cry. Maybe he'll move us.

Emotionally. Maybe the worship will be

better. I just have one question for you

today. Do you still Marvel?

Are you still in awe? This couple who had already seen

so much up to this point, could still lose their breath.

Could still lose. Their sleep could still worship

and, and give God glory, even though this is not the first

time they heard it. That's why I'm saying this today

because of what I said earlier, in the announcements, my prayer

for this morning service or this afternoon, rather is that we

would be revived. Into the new year.

I don't want to be able to hear a message about it and I'm sure

there is a responsibility upon the preacher to be filled with

the Holy Spirit and to expound on the text as a man who is

connected to God. I'm sure of that because some

people can talk about the gospel as though they're reading an

obituary. But there's still yet something

on our part. There's still an indicator of

the sensitivity of our hearts when we can still hear about

this and many things about who God is and be moved and still

Marvel and leave here and not immediately think what am I

going to eat? But at least be impressed.

At least be touched at least be stirred.

They marveled. Because Simian preached, a

sermon that lasted 13 seconds. and I want to tell you today,

that if you've lost, I'm not concerned, if you can't go to

your favorite restaurant anymore, I'm not concerned if

you lost the privilege of going on for vacations a year, instead

of one, Did you lose your Marvel?

Did you lose your Wonder? Did you lose your?

Aw, that's more concerning to me as a brother in Christ than what

we are being stripped from in America.

And my prayer again. Is that God by the Holy Spirit?

Can do a work like he did in this couple at work Beyond this

or work that we read later on about Mary when she hurts her

and things. It says she treasured these

things in her heart. Do you think that happens after

Sunday morning messages? Do we treasure what?

We heard in our heart that we meditate on it, we discuss it or

just She treasured them in her heart.

She relished she digested. She contemplated The mother of

the Lord Jesus Christ and his Humanity.

And so, that's what I'm leaving you with today.

Ask God to cause you to Marvel again.

Because only he can do it, this poor preacher can only go so

far. My stammering lips can only

suggest so much, but there is one who can impress you and move

you and reveal things to you and he's called the gift of God.

The Holy Spirit, can we ask him to help us today?

And can ask the choir to join us?

Before we sing, let's pray and ask God to help us Lord.

We thank you for this afternoon where you've gathered us

together. And we ask Lord that, you would

renew that sense of wonder. Lord.

We admit that our hearts are capable of being hardened, even

in a setting like this that we can be unmoved unchanged, but we

ask that you would rescue us. That you would rescue us even

though if it's something that we've heard over and over again,

that it would never fail to revive us.

Lord, we leave that to you. What we have we have done in

this moment. We've done prayerfully but we

trust in your sovereignty. Only, you can touch and save

souls. In this place.

Only, you can revive a heart that has been calloused.

And so we now worship you asking that even in this moment, even

in this brief moment as we close, you would make an

impression on our hearts and Jesus name, we pray.

Amen.