Looking for Jesus

as we get started on our last Sunday school of 2024.

You know, and another year is going to be completed shortly,

and you get the anticipation of that new one

that's coming around the corner.

I mean, it's one of those elements we have to have the break from that,

but, you know, some people, when they look at the new year,

they're either excited or they're not looking forward to it.

But, you know, as a believer, I want to encourage you with this good news.

Is the beginning of a new year means we're one year closer to the Lord's return.

And we'll be out of here and not have to deal with this mess called this world.

And so that's the good news of this, that we're going to celebrate.

You know, but as we celebrated Christmas and last week reflected upon his first coming,

it's best that we don't forget that each passing year,

we ought to reflect on the fact this could be the year.

You know, oftentimes one of the Jewish traditions is next year in Jerusalem.

As a believer, it ought to be next year in glory.

You know, I was thinking about that this week.

I'm like, that's a good thought, you know, next year in glory.

You know, that's something we ought to look forward to.

That we can look forward to what God has done.

And every generation of believers has thought they would be the one that would see Jesus come again.

And that's the way Jesus made it.

And he wanted us to be ready.

You know, we just talked about that.

But to be ready for it.

And so this morning we're going to continue looking over in Luke chapter 2 this morning.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

We're going to talk about a couple of other individuals here in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

Because we find two people here that were looking for Jesus.

They were looking for the Lord.

They had lived their lives looking for the Lord to come.

You know, they were present at Jesus' first coming.

And they were confident that they would live to see the Messiah.

They had been watching and faithfully serving God with the expectation

that the Lord's Christ would soon be on the scene.

Their hopes were realized one day as they were serving in the temple.

Everything they had looked forward to.

Everything that God had promised to that point.

They had the opportunity to witness.

And we're going to talk about two individuals here this morning.

That they had a hope of this.

And their hopes were realized when one day in the temple,

a young couple came with a new baby boy.

And this is what we're going to pick up here in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

Luke chapter 2 is Jesus coming into the temple.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

And we need to keep in mind this morning that we ought to be optimistic about His coming again,

just as these two were optimistic and looking for the Savior to come.

And so we see here, just as those here in the first century, we can anticipate it also.

Let's look here in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

Look down at verse 22 this morning.

Luke chapter 2 and verse 22 says this,

Luke 2 · chapter mention

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished,

they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

As is written in the law,

The Lord every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,

to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord,

a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

And the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple.

And when the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law,

they took him up.

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

Lord, thou lettest thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.

For my eyes have seen thy salvation,

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother,

Behold, this child is set for the fallen rising against many in Israel,

and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,

that the thoughts of thy heart may be revealed.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanel,

of the daughter of the tribe of Asher.

She was of great age and had lived with a husband 70 years from her virginity.

And she was a widow of about four score and four years,

which departed not from the temple,

but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.

And she came in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,

and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, as we just take a few moments here to look at these two that were ready,

were watching for you, Lord.

We pray to be an encouragement to us also to know,

even as we've looked at this morning,

what it looks and what it means,

and the joy that it comes to know that you're coming

and what it will mean when that day comes.

Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each one today.

We might be encouraged and strengthened from your word,

and we give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

Amen.

You know, here we have the first one that we have is Simeon.

You know, the Bible says that he was waiting for the comfort,

the consolation of those things.

Mary and Joseph had come into the temple.

You know, we know that Mary and Joseph were faithful Jewish parents.

You know, they were faithful to do all that the law commanded them to do.

They were doing all the things that they had been instructed.

The Bible says there just a little earlier that they circumcised Jesus on the eighth day.

On the eighth day, they had Jesus circumcised,

which was according to the law that he had given to Moses,

according to the covenant that God had made with Abraham,

to those descendants of Abraham.

And he had made that connection there.

They circumcised him the eighth day,

according to the law.

Leviticus chapter 12 in verse 3 is where you find that commandment

Leviticus 12 · chapter mention

that they were to be circumcised.

The males were on the eighth day.

And there's some reasons behind that when you study the scripture.

You know, sometimes we ask,

well, why did they circumcise the child on the eighth day?

We'll test your Bible.

Your detailed Bible trivia this morning.

I'll give you a little clue.

Everything you find in scripture concerning days,

God lines out the wise.

Seven days, Mary giving birth would have been considered unclean.

On the eighth day,

she was allowed to enter the sanctuary,

allowed to do those things.

So they circumcised the child on the eighth day,

when the mom was able to participate.

Immediately following,

a young mom would be declared unclean

on her waiting period again of 32 days.

Forty days in all,

a mom would wait

before they would bring the child to the temple.

So we know this was 40 days after Jesus was born.

Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple

to fulfill the next part of their responsibility.

They're coming into the temple.

There are 32 days.

They made that seven-mile walk

from Bethlehem to Jerusalem

to present Jesus to the Lord.

You know, take a look back in the Old Testament for a moment.

There are Numbers chapter 3 for a moment.

Numbers 3 · chapter mention

Numbers chapter 3 because, you know,

Numbers 3 · chapter mention

how many times have you read this

and really stopped to consider

all the things that are being fulfilled here?

The things that not only identify,

but also allow Jesus to perfectly keep the law.

If he was our Savior,

if he was sinless,

part of that responsibility fell on his parents

to do and to keep the law,

all the things he was supposed to do.

He couldn't get there as a young child by himself,

but notice here in verse 13,

it says this,

and because all the firstborn are mine,

for on the day that I smote all the firstborn

in the land of Egypt,

I hollowed unto me all the firstborn of Israel,

both man and beast,

mine shall they be,

I am the Lord.

Now this is just one place

as this is repeated to the children of Israel,

that they are to bring the firstborn son

and dedicate them unto the Lord

because they belong to the Lord.

Now in this,

you'll find that this goes back

because who can think of a mom

who brought her first son

to be dedicated unto the Lord?

Hannah brought Samuel.

Except in that case,

she literally dedicated and gave him to the Lord.

But part of this,

when you read through scripture,

we don't have time this morning,

the parents could redeem the child with an offering.

We know Hannah,

there's no mention of her redeeming Samuel.

She gave and dedicated Samuel unto God.

And we know that Samuel served God his whole life,

that she would bring him clothes,

she would bring him all those things.

But here Jesus,

we find that Mary and Joseph redeem the child.

It's a picture that we see.

They came to offer the sacrifice

that was required by the Mosaic law

to purify Mary

and to allow her to return to worship in the temple.

And the synagogue is also when Jesus

would be officially dedicated to God.

And really, you might say,

for his real father, you know,

because Joseph was just his stepdad,

if you want to use modern terms.

You know, he's the one that took Jesus in

and helped provide and to raise.

As Mary's husband,

he was not the father of Jesus.

We know that was the Holy Spirit.

You know, the text here we find,

because notice as we look back here,

in what we were reading here,

notice what it tells us, verse 22.

And when the days of her purification,

according to the law of Moses,

were accomplished,

they brought him to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord.

Because notice, verse 23 tells us that

from the Old Testament.

As it is written in the law of the Lord,

every male that openeth the womb

shall be called holy unto the Lord,

and to offer a sacrifice

according to that which is said

in the law of the Lord,

a pair of turtle doves

and two young pigeons.

Now, here's another good little insight

that you'll find.

This kid tells us the financial status

of Mary and Joseph.

You know, it's little things in Scripture

that really help you understand

what was going on

and where they were at.

What clue gives you here

of what their financial status was?

Sacrifice.

Yeah, the sacrifice,

because when we look in the Old Testament,

they were to bring

two different things.

They were either to bring

a lamb of the first year

and a turtle dove

or a pigeon as an offering,

one for a burnt offering,

one for a sin offering.

If they could not afford the lamb,

it was permitted for them

to bring two pigeons

or two turtle doves.

One to be the burnt offering,

one to be the sin offering.

What was that?

That was the poor person's offering,

you might say,

because the bird was cheaper

than buying the lamb.

So we know from what they bought

that they didn't have much means.

They were not wealthy.

They were not well off.

Which, just to ruin your Christmas tale,

that means Mary did not ride

a donkey to Jerusalem

or down to Bethlehem

because donkeys were for rich people.

You know, that's a rich person's animal

to have.

So we know certain things

that kind of ruin the Christmas story

that we have in our mind as kids,

you know, and adults,

as you always see Mary

riding the donkey, you know.

I know, kids aren't up here,

so I won't spoil it for them, you know.

But you know, those are those

little details in Scripture.

But notice here,

they couldn't afford a lamb.

It was a poor family sacrifice.

It says they were introduced

doing these things

because they were to bring it

to the priest

and to offer the sacrifice

before the Lord.

And while they're there,

they come in

and something takes place.

We find an old Jewish worshiper

by the name of Simeon,

one who had received

a revelation from the Holy Spirit

that he would not see death

until he had personally witnessed

the coming Messiah.

Look here in verse 25

back in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

It says,

Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem

whose name was Simeon.

The same man was just and devout

waiting for the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Ghost was upon him,

and it was revealed unto him

by the Holy Ghost

that he should not see death

before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Now, as we consider in the Old Testament,

the Old Testament times

were different from today.

We need to keep what's being said there

important,

but it says in the Old Testament,

the Holy Spirit would come and go

from people.

The Holy Spirit could come upon a person

and depart.

Now, what's different about today?

Today, as a New Testament saint,

because Christ has paid the price

for our sin,

the Comforter has come,

and the Holy Spirit dwells

in every believer.

That's how Jesus says,

I will never leave you

nor forsake you.

In the Old Testament,

the Holy Spirit would come

and go from people.

In the New Testament,

we have a promise

that he will never depart.

He is the earnest of our salvation.

We have a special promise.

You know, like I said,

I'm glad all the promises

of Scripture don't belong to me.

I'm glad that we have specific ones

that do apply to us.

Like, once you're saved,

you are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

He is our security

of the promise to be fulfilled

that we will one day

be completely and fully redeemed.

Brought out from very presence of sin.

You know?

And we see here of what took place

because when Mary and Joseph show up,

they're offering these things.

Now, I don't know about you,

but I just kind of picture in my mind

knowing moms,

that this is one of those weird moments.

Because here's Mary,

because have you ever been around young moms?

How do young moms treat

a seven-day-old baby?

Or excuse me,

at this point,

you'd be 40 days old.

That's still pretty old.

How are most young moms at that stage?

Yeah, they're like,

you know,

they're in,

don't you dare.

But I want you to see the picture here.

Simeon walks over

and doesn't tell us all.

It says he took the baby.

I imagine that he wasn't a brave enough guy

just to take him.

I suspect he asked.

But he looks at Jesus

and makes a proclamation.

Here, Mary and Joseph

had already seen all these things

40 days earlier with the angel,

with the shepherds.

Prior to that,

about 11 months earlier,

the angel had come to them

and declared all these things.

I mean,

they had quite a year.

They had a lot of things happen in that year.

So here comes up Simeon

and notice what he says

about this child.

He says,

Lord, thou knowest,

thou lettest thou thy servant

depart in peace

according to thy word.

You know,

here's an old guy that says,

Lord,

I can go to heaven now

because what you've promised me

has been fulfilled.

I got to see the Savior.

How did he know who Jesus is?

What in the text,

how do we know he knew who Jesus is?

How did he know?

He says,

the Holy Spirit revealed it to him.

The Holy Spirit allowed him to know

and he does this.

He comes and he takes the child

and he says,

for my eyes have seen thy salvation,

which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people

a light to lighten the Gentiles

and the glory of thy people Israel.

You know,

and Joseph and Mary,

and Joseph and his mother

marveled at those things

which are spoken of him.

You know,

marveled.

They were amazed.

And I'm thinking in my mind,

I don't know about you,

but what more could amaze you

at that point

of all the things

that have happened in their life?

You had the angel come talk to them.

You had the shepherds

come make a declaration.

And now they get,

and Simeon comes up to them

and says,

hey,

I know who the child is.

They were caught off guard once again.

They marveled

at what was being said.

And then he addresses Mary.

Verse 34,

it says,

And Simeon blessed them

and said unto Mary his mother,

Behold,

this child is set

for a fall and rising again

of many in Israel.

For as a sign

which shall be spoken against you,

a sword shall pierce

through thine own soul also,

that the thoughts

of many hearts

may be revealed.

You know,

he brought some good news,

but he also looked at Mary

and said,

hey,

as a mom,

there's going to be

some struggle coming.

This is a prophecy

that's applied

when Mary was sitting

at the foot of the cross.

Not just as a person

witnessing it,

but as a mom.

Piercing her own soul

the reality

of what was going to come to pass.

Preparing her

for what was going to come

that God

was going to allow

and what God had

prophesied

was going to come to pass.

Because all this

was coming about

because Jesus

was going to save

his people.

He was going to provide

redemption

for everyone.

You know,

notice verse 30.

He says,

my eyes have seen

what?

Thy salvation.

He says,

here's the one

that's going to bring

salvation

not only to the Jews,

but to you and I,

to the Gentiles.

All these things

were revealed

and this prophecy

reveals so much

and Mary's going to

experience that

unique sorrow

because what Jesus

is going to face

and what she has

to go through

we have Simeon

the prophet

that comes

and does this

but then we have

another individual

by the name of Anna.

Now Anna's another

unique individual

when it comes

to this account

because it's another

individual unattached.

You know,

there's no real

connection in the story.

There's nothing there

and Anna is waiting

for that forgiveness

that God brings.

Notice here

because she's the one

that she's excited

to hear

what Simeon

had to say

about the salvation

of the Lord.

Look at verse 36.

It says,

and there was one Anna,

a prophetess,

the daughter of Phaniel

of the tribe of Asher.

She was of great age

and had lived

with a husband

of her husband

seven years

from her virginity

and was a widow

of about four score

and four years

which she parted

not from the temple

but served God

with fasting and prayer

night and day.

And so we see here

that Anna was

a godly widow

who had anticipated

God's deliverance

would come.

You know,

think about,

read through that

for a moment

and what things

do we know

about Anna?

What are some things

we can learn

from her

from the passage?

She was old.

How old was she?

You know,

she was getting up

in years,

definitely,

you know,

at least 84 years.

Yeah.

She lived upon

the temple grounds.

What else do we learn

from her

or about her?

Yeah,

she served God.

It was her focus.

And we learn

lots of things.

One is that she had

nobody else

to take care of her

probably

because what would

have been a custom

of the day

is the widows

that were widows

indeed

that they talk about

later in the New Testament

because there is

a difference

between a widow

and a widow indeed.

That term there

signifies something

very important

because what it

signifies is means

because some widows

of that day

would have had means

from the family

and others

that would have

been able to

take care of them

which family

is always the first option.

But then you're

going to have some

that have no means.

You know,

who are some widows

that didn't have

any means

that you can think

of in Scripture?

Who's that?

Yeah,

the widow

that was with Elijah

there and the kings.

Remember,

she was poor

and was what?

She was gathering up

all the,

to eat their last meal.

The widow

with two mites.

What's that?

Naomi

and her daughter-in-law

Ruth.

I mean,

when you read

that account

that's some

of that dynamic

and where'd they,

where'd Naomi

and Ruth

go back to?

They went to family

and the family

was beginning

to make provision.

So we see

this pattern

in Scripture

and that's

one of those things

that we can learn

from that.

We can know

that she was

another term here

that talks about

her being a prophetess

which indicates

that she was one

that was excited

about what God

is doing.

She was a declarer

of what God's doing,

of what she knew

and we understand

she was a widow

of,

she'd only been married

seven years

before her husband died.

You know,

that's a pretty

short time.

So she had been

a widow quite a while.

I mean,

we look at this

and probably 60 plus

years she'd been

a widow.

So this is not,

where she was

wasn't new,

you know,

she was of great age

but she was also

in the temple

night and day

and serving God,

you know,

and the priests

and what they

would have done

is the temple

would have had

an area

where the widows

could come

and stay

and to help out

and the temple

would have helped

take care of

what came in the temple

would have helped

take care of

some of the widows.

It was like a widow

housing

that they would have

had around the temple

grounds

that would have

been associated.

That's what history

reveals to us

about how they

would have dealt

with that,

you know,

if you want

biblical social programs,

that was God's

social program

is that God's people

made sure people

were taken care of.

And that's a whole

other discussion

for another day

to get into

of culture

and modern day

dynamics of things.

But,

so we'll not get

down that side

trail this morning.

But she comes

and she starts

praising God

upon seeing the baby

because she's witnessing

what Simeon is saying.

You know,

hey,

here I've seen

the salvation

of the Lord.

You know,

she's excited

about what she's hearing,

that what she's

been looking for

and what is,

that salvation

has come.

You know,

both Simeon

and Anna

understood

what they were

looking for.

Notice in verse 38,

and she came

in that instant

and gave thanks

likewise unto the Lord

and spake of him

of all them

that looked for

redemption

in Jerusalem.

In other words,

this tells us

what she did

afterwards too.

Because what she

did after she

learned that Jesus

was born,

that God's salvation

had come.

All those she

came across,

she started

sharing it with.

She was excited

that God's salvation

began sharing it

with others.

She had declared

it to everybody

that this baby

is the one

who will give

and provide

salvation.

You know,

to be redeemed

is the idea

that God

has bought us

out of sin.

You know,

given us forgiveness

and freed us

to serve him

willingly.

You know,

Anna knew

that ever since

God had redeemed

Israel from Egypt,

the Passover

had been celebrated

in anticipation

of God's ultimate

salvation.

And she's happy

to declare

what God

has promised

and what God

has revealed

to them.

And we see here

that when Jesus

arrived,

God revealed

to them

that this was

the Messiah

they were looking

to see

all their lives.

You know,

these two are

interesting pair

of individuals

within the temple

because they

were looking

and anticipating

for what God

was going to do.

God revealed

to them

this was the Messiah

they'd been looking

for.

Both of them

had waited a lifetime

to see the Savior.

Both of these

were old.

You know,

they didn't just

start watching

the day before.

They'd been

faithful for years

looking

and waiting

and serving.

And we see here

that they had

both declared

Jesus was the one

they'd anticipated

and they announced

it to all

that were around

them.

You know,

because if we

consider

why is

what's going

on here

important?

That's another

good question

to ask

when you look

at Scripture.

Why is this

recorded for us?

What's it

revealed to us?

No,

the preacher

is making you

think on Sunday

morning.

God giving

reassurance.

You know,

understand the

promise.

different

responsibilities

and different

things that God

God's orchestrating

all this

for people

who

up to this

point we don't

have any indication

even knew one

another.

But God put them

in the right place

at the right time.

You know,

and that's the way

God works,

that God puts

people there

and they died

in peace

knowing they

had seen

God's Christ.

You know,

think about that

ideal of they

were waiting

for the Lord's

salvation,

they were waiting

for the Lord

to come.

And think about

Simeon's statement,

he says,

I can now

depart in what?

Peace because

I've seen

God's salvation.

You know,

what a wonderful

promise that is,

that when it

comes time to

depart,

when you know

the Lord,

you can depart

in peace.

Knowing that

you have the

peace that

passes all

understanding,

that God

is fulfilling

and will

fulfill his

promises.

You know,

after all these

years,

since Jesus

was there the

first time,

we're now

looking just

like Simeon

and Anna did.

You know,

we talked this

morning about

watching.

Simeon and Anna

are great examples

of faithful

watchers.

They were on

watch looking

for his first

coming.

They're a great

example,

for us

to be

watching

for his

next.

They're an

example of

that.

After all

those things,

we ought to be

looking for

Jesus.

You think about

how many

generations have

just considered,

well,

this,

I'm going to

see Christ in

my generation.

You know?

I've met a lot

of old preachers

when I first

started getting

into this.

Oh,

I'm not going

to die.

The Lord's

going to

return first.

You know?

I think that's

a hope of

every believer

because,

you know,

it ought to

be a hope

because it

is something

exciting because

you know what

you get to

skip?

Death.

You get caught

up to be with

him.

You get to

skip something

that nobody

looks forward

to.

But you know

what?

At the moment

of death,

it's still no

different because

to be absent

from the body

is to be present

with the Lord.

It's just

getting there a

different way.

But everybody's

expecting the

Lord's return

at any moment.

You know?

We can learn

from Anna and

Simeon that

today we ought

to be doing

the same.

Being excited,

looking forward

to what God's

going to do

because we

don't know

if Jesus is

going to come

before the

year's end.

I mean,

we might not

even have to

worry about

2025.

You know?

I ain't even

getting an

amen for that

one.

You know?

But we don't

know.

It may be

before we

celebrate a

new year.

It may be

next year.

The reality

is it may

be 100 years

from now.

We don't

know.

But we can

learn from

Simeon and

Anna the

very reality

of what we

talked about

earlier this

morning.

Because they

weren't sure

either, but

they were

excited because

they were

looking.

They were

waiting.

You know,

because after

this many

years, you

know, many

people get

kind of off

track.

I mean,

I think that's

the other reason

we see today.

There's not

many, there's

fewer and

fewer people

looking for

the Lord's

return.

You see a

shift of

society, even

amongst people

who claim to

trust Christ

and claim to

trust the

Word of God,

that they

lose sight of

the fact that

the blessed

hope is his

coming.

And they

begin to look

and you see

all sorts of

weather doctrines

starting to fade

in.

Well, he

hasn't returned

yet, so they

begin to scoff

at it.

You know,

2 Peter 3

talks about

that.

Peter says

in the later

days there's

going to be

scoffers.

And what are

they going to

be scoffing

at?

Where is the

promise of

his coming?

You know,

I think we're

seeing some of

that today,

that people are

scoffing once

again.

You know,

the Lord's not

going to return,

we don't have

to worry about

it.

People lose

sight of that

importance.

You know,

I want to

encourage you,

don't let the

scoffers and

the pessimists

cause you to

question the

word of God

regarding Christ's

return.

Because what

God said is

going to be

so.

Just as

Simeon and

Anna, why

were they

looking for

the Lord's

salvation?

Because God

said he was

coming.

We ought to

be looking for

our redemption

because Jesus

said it's

coming.

We ought to

be excited

about those

things and

not let

scoffers detract

from it.

You know,

the good news

is it could

be this

afternoon.

You know,

we don't

know.

We can be

looking and

excited about

those things.

And so,

what's something

we can take

away from

this lesson?

Well,

at the beginning

of a new

year,

we need to

be optimistic

that Jesus

could come

at any time.

Because when

you live in

light of the

Savior,

it changes

your choices.

It alters

the decisions

and the

priorities that

you make.

it gets

us focused

on the

right things

because,

you know,

we all

face,

we can,

as we face

the excitement

and potential

of a new

year,

we begin

to prioritize

things that

are important.

But the

most highest

priority we

ought to have

is the

consideration

that this

might be

the year

that Jesus

returns.

To keep

our focus

on the

right things.

Because this

time of year,

a lot of

people,

you say,

what are you

talking about

priorities?

You know,

people reprioritize

things.

resolutions.

You know,

today we

call them

resolutions.

You know,

I'm not

going to be

so fat

in 25.

You know,

I'm going

to eat

better,

I'm going

to exercise

better,

I'm going

to take

more responsibility

and accountability,

you know,

and you have

all sorts of

things people

resolve to do

and it's

ironic because

most people

don't keep

them for the

first two

weeks.

By January

14th,

most resolutions

are broken.

But as a

believer,

we ought to

make sure

that our

focus upon

the Savior

returning

isn't broken.

That we're

living in

light of

those things.

We ought to

be prepared

for what

God is

doing.

You know,

to be

personally

prepared for

the return

of the Lord

and why

we're waiting

for His

return.

We need

to be

doing.

You know,

think about

what did

we learn

from Anna

and what

did we

learn from

Simeon

about what

we ought to

be doing

while we're

waiting.

I'll give you

a clue.

Look over

in verse 37.

Serving.

You know,

to do those

things.

You know,

we already

talked about

this this

morning,

but this

is a great

example of

the application

of the

morning's

message.

We see

people actually

living and

doing exactly

what Jesus

told us to

do.

Giving us

those things

that we

ought to do.

And they

were in

the temple

praying and

fasting.

They waited

for the

redemption of

Israel and

the coming

Messiah.

She was

actively involved

in what God

was doing and

serving other

people.

You know,

Anna, I

believe,

gives us an

example of

someone who

was watching

and waiting

for the

coming Messiah.

The same

we ought to

be today.

We have

examples of

what God

instructs us

to do.

That it's

not outside

the realm

because if

other people

could do it,

you know what

that tells

you?

That we

could have

that same

focus.

We have

that same

accountability.

You know,

and that

Anna was

quick to

tell everybody

about her

experience

with the

Redeemer.

You know,

that's another

example of

those things,

you know,

of how we

behave while

we look for

Jesus to

return.

We ought

to be looking

for that

imminent

return of

Jesus,

but while

we wait,

we ought

to be

busy about

the Lord's

work and

telling others

to be

prepared.

To let

others know

how to be

prepared and

that they

need to be

prepared,

you know.

But that

comes first

when you

understand it

yourself.

You can't

be excited

about something

that you

don't have

any connection

with,

you know.

It's kind

of like

watching Husker

football fans

yesterday.

They're all

excited because

they've been

waiting ten

years for

this.

They had a

connection.

You know,

you're excited

because there's

a connection.

When you're

not connected,

it loses

emphasis in

your life.

And so as

we look at

these things,

I want to

just encourage

you as we

get ready to

enter into a

new year to

be involved

and to

use the

example of

even Anna

and Simeon

to allow the

Spirit to

guide you,

direct you,

but to be

busy working

to do what

God wants us

to do.

Because just

like Anna

in the New

Testament,

let's serve

God and pray

how we can

best work for

the Lord while

we wait and

watch for

His return.

Some things

to consider as

we get ready

to enter.

a new year.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father,

as we come

before you

today, Lord,

I just thank

you for your

word.