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Less is More: LimitLESS  Luke 2:25-32

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  1. LESS IS MORE: LIMITLESS

  2. Luke 2:25-32

    Luke 2:25–32

  3. Everyone loves the word unlimited.

  4. Unlimited refills.

  5. Unlimited data.

  6. Unlimited talk and text.

  7. Unlimited internet.

  8. But we all know the truth—unlimited never really means unlimited.

  9. Unlimited refills… as long as you don’t leave the restaurant.

  10. Unlimited data… until it slows to a crawl.

  11. Unlimited plans… but “some restrictions may apply.”

  12. Have you ever actually talked to your phone company about that? They always sound confident… until you ask questions.

  13. It reminds me of that classic Seinfeld episode where Jerry rents a car. He has a reservation—but no car.

  14. Jerry says, “I know why we have reservations.”

  15. The agent says, “I know what a reservation is.”

  16. Jerry says, “I don’t think you do.”

  17. Because a reservation doesn’t matter if there’s nothing behind it.

  18. That’s one of the paradoxical things about Jesus coming to this world. The limitless God (truly LIMITLESS) allows himself to be born into this world as a baby. Hemmed in by time, space and dimensions.

  19. Max Lucado. “God Came Near.” It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable. But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierce-able. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.”

  20. This morning for just a few minutes I would like for us to wrap up our thoughts about Jesus’ birth by considering…GOD’S UNLIMITED PLAN

  21. If you have your bibles turn to Luke 2. As you turn to Luke 2:25… let me set the scene…40 days after the birth of a son, Jewish families were required to go to the temple and offer two sacrifices. The first sacrifice was a lamb for a burnt offering, the second was a pigeon or turtledove as a sin offering. If the family were poor, instead of offering a lamb, they could offer a turtledove or a young pigeon. The price of both birds was less than a quarter Luke tells us Mary and Joseph brought “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

    Luke 2:25

  22. That tells us something important:

  23. Jesus did not enter the world through wealth or power—but through humility and poverty.

  24. Exodus13:2-12 describes the consecration, or setting apart, of the firstborn sons of Israel. This was a reminder of how God freed Israel from Egypt and from the tenth plague which was the death of the firstborn of those who did not put the blood on the doorposts in Egypt. This tenth and final plague of Egypt was the tipping point in the showdown between Moses and Pharaoh.

  25. Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the Temple to be consecrated…

  26. Luke 2:25-28

    Luke 2:25–28

  27. Simeon, a righteous and devout man that God told would live to see the messiah. He takes the child in his arms and blesses him at the time of “presentation.” Due to his purity and patient hope for the Messiah. The Holy Spirit came upon him like the prophets of old and revealed to him that the Messiah would come in his lifetime.

  28. That would be the equivalent of God revealing to one of us that we would not die before He comes again. For thousands of years the people of Israel had waited, expectantly, for the coming Messiah. And God says to Simeon, “You will get to see him.”

  29. And listen to what Simeon says as he holds the newborn Messiah…

  30. Luke 2:29-32

    Luke 2:29–32

  31. Simeon acknowledges that Jesus would be the Messiah and he introduces God’s Unlimited plan…

  32. The first part of God’s Unlimited Plan that we see is His UNLIMITED SALVATION.

  33. Luke 2:30

    Luke 2:30

  34. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

  35. Have you ever seen one of those sweet deals which are for the first 100 consumers? I’m sure it’s a marketing ploy, but we all like to be on the forefront of new ideas and products.

  36. It’s fun to be on the cutting edge. To get out ahead of things. To be an early adopter.

  37. But the best unlimited deal ever is available to everyone. Notice something incredible: Simeon doesn’t say salvation is coming. He says, “I have seen it.”

  38. 1 Timothy 1:15

    1 Timothy 1:15

  39. 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—

  40. Timothy Keller said, “[Jesus coming into the world] means not just hope for the world, despite all its unending problems, but hope for you and me, despite all our unending failings.

  41. Maybe you remember this familiar verse…

  42. John 3:16

    John 3:16

  43. 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

  44. Friends God’s unlimited salvations is for everyone. That word whoever does a lot of work.

  45. It means:

  46. • No background requirements

  47. • No moral prerequisites

  48. • No past that disqualifies you

  49. Everyone means anyone. And anyone means you.

  50. We as Journey Church want to everyone discover their relationship with Jesus. And we say everyone because we know that God’s salvation is for everyone. No matter who you are… Whoever believes… Yes even you… Because Jesus has saved even me… Jesus came to save sinners. That’s you. That’s me.

  51. God’s unlimited salvation is for everyone including you.

  52. God’s unlimited plan is for UNLIMITED NATIONS.

  53. Luke 2:31-32

    Luke 2:31–32

  54. which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

  55. 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

  56. and the glory of your people Israel.

  57. Simeon reveals that this plan was not just for Israel, but for all nations.

  58. This is a new concept for Israel. Since the time of Abraham, Israel had been God’s chosen people. And God had been faithful to the promise he had made to Abraham. That his offspring would be as many as the sands on the shore and the stars in the sky. And that through his offspring all nations would be blessed.

  59. Although it had been foretold, the reality was that Israel thought of itself as the only ones who had the connection with God. But now through Jesus, not just everyone in Israel, but all nations would have the opportunity to receive salvation.

  60. Simeon says: The light is on. The doors are open. The delay is over.

  61. This salvation is not just for Israel. It’s for every nation, tribe, and tongue.

  62. Most of us are here today because that promise came true.

  63. But here’s the question:

  64. If Jesus is the light… how will the nations see unless we reflect it?

  65. Jesus is the hope of the world—not just Israel. Not just America. All nations.

  66. When we think of this promise it also comes with responsibility. It is our job to make sure that the light gets turned on… to reveal God to the nations.

  67. Here’s a question…. What responsibility do we have to make sure others see the light of Christ?

  68. Matthew refers to Jesus when he quotes from Isaiah.

  69. Matthew 12:20-21

    Matthew 12:20–21

  70. 20 A bruised reed he will not break,

  71. and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

  72. till he has brought justice through to victory.

  73. 21In his name the nations will put their hope.” p

  74. Jesus is the hope not just of Israel. Not just of the US. But the hope of all the nations. Unlimited hope for all the world.

  75. God’s Unlimited plan is for unlimited salvation, for unlimited nations, for His UNLIMITED GLORY.

  76. Luke 2:32

    Luke 2:32

  77. 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

  78. and the glory of your people Israel.”

  79. The word glory in the Greek is dóxa—meaning honor, dignity, praise, worship.

  80. It’s where we get the word doxology.

  81. Maybe you grew up at a church singing:

  82. Praise God from whom all blessings flow…

  83. A doxology is simply an expression of glory—spoken or sung praise to God.

  84. Simeon says Jesus is the glory of Israel.

  85. He is Israel’s honor.

  86. He is her hope.

  87. He is the One worthy of praise.

  88. And what Simeon saw in a baby, John later saw in heaven.

  89. Revelation 5:11-12

    Revelation 5:11–12

  90. 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

  91. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

  92. Simeon saw it. John saw it. And we join it. As Journey Church we want to not just sing praises and glory to Jesus but we want to live lives that are pleasing to Him. By Every day joyfully giving God the best of everything we are and everything we have. We trust that Jesus is all we need, being transformed by who He is and what He has done.

  93. Here’s the key:

  94. Glory doesn’t end in heaven—it continues through the church.

  95. We don’t just sing about Jesus’ worth—we live it.

  96. Worship is not only our words on Sunday.

  97. It’s our trust on Monday.

  98. It’s daily surrender.

  99. It’s joyfully giving God the best of who we are and what we have.

  100. Every life lived for Jesus adds to the song:

  101. “Worthy is the Lamb.”

  102. God’s unlimited plan leads to unlimited glory—

  103. glory given to Jesus

  104. by His people

  105. for all generations.

  106. God’s unlimited plan.

  107. God’s limitless power, and limitless love means…

  108. Unlimited salvation. to Unlimited nations. for His Unlimited glory.

  109. God’s unlimited plan doesn’t just mean salvations for the nations. It means salvation for you. Jesus came born to die, not just to save the world but to save you. Whoever will believe can mean you. If you will put faith in Jesus today, repenting of your sins and being united with Jesus in baptism today.

  110. Ephesians 3:16-21

    Ephesians 3:16–21

  111. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.