I praise the Lord for what he's done through this choir, kids, adults, musicians. God is so good to us. And I'm just sitting back there thinking about where we were a year from today. And it was exciting then, but man is God good to us. Praise his name. I also think about a statement that my father-in-law makes frequently regarding hospitality, and he's here tonight. He said that you can show hospitality if you have simple things such as popcorn and water. If you have popcorn and water, you can have anybody over and enjoy time together. In some ways, I feel like we're Offering the platform here for pastor Curtis pop popcorn and water, you know I mean just jamming everybody in up half of the congregation comes up to sing and goes back down again and up and down and so you guys can exhale I Just want to challenge you with a simple thought and I'm not going to take a tremendous amount of time here But take your Bible and turn back to Luke chapter 2 if you would please Luke chapter 2 I want you to reflect with me on the fact that there is no such thing as random encounters, especially when it comes to Christ and his purpose and meaning on this earth. I know there have been times when I've walked around different stores in different states. I was in Pennsylvania just a year ago and I was getting some groceries for my wife and I asked the store clerk if he could help me out. And his response was, Dr. Armiston, what are you doing here? It was a random place in PA. He was a student that I had. I said, that's weird. And then I would reflect back on times when I was at Northland and we had what was called engagement status. That meant that you could go away. You know, if you're not from a Christian college background, this is going to sound really, really weird, but bear with me for a second. They would actually give you the privilege of going out with your fiance without having a chaperone. And so I had that, we finally had that status, and it took some time to arrive at that point. And we finally had the approval, again, from Heather's dad, and my dad, and how it all worked out. But every time we tried to get away, and every time that I was tempted to, you know, hold her hand and whatever, randomly would pop Dr. Les Olala. Seriously, I mean, and maybe you've heard me say this before, but we'd walk by kind of a path around the lake back campus, And Dr. O dropped out of a tree. He was tree topping, and he happened to be there. We drove to Iron Mountain, and I stopped at a grocery store to get some ramen noodles. And who pops in around the corner? Dr. Les Ola. We're going to Green Bay, Wisconsin. And I stop in at Burger King, just random Burger King. Why stop there? It's not good for you. But I did anyway. And who's sitting there at the table but Dr. Les Ola? I just finished telling my youth class about this phenomenon. And I walked into Cuppa Jones on campus at Bob Jones University. It was just a week ago. And yes, in walked in Dr. Les Ola. I said, you would not believe it. In fact, I'm not even going to tell you. But it's so great to see you. Whenever I see him, he always gives me a big bear hug. It's just kind of the, I guess, the Northland way. Why do I bring that up to you? Because I think when we come to the Christmas story, we think that it's just a collection of random encounters. And it really isn't. They're all there for a specific reason. If your Bible open to Luke chapter 2, this is a familiar Christmas story. It's one I hope you read on Christmas Day, and we're going to do that together on the 25th when we have our special Christmas service here at Palmetto Baptist. But the first encounter, the first meeting that Jesus had happened to be with the angels. sharing with the shepherds. And the shepherds came and saw Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Reason for that encounter, that meeting, I think shows us that Jesus Christ came not to the high and lofty, but to the average person, because He loves us and He wants us to bring Him great glory. There is no status in the kingdom. The issue here is whether or not you believe. And then when we come into the story of Jesus born, you have a collection of things that takes place. I want to streamline this over to verse 22. Verse 22 of Luke, chapter two, we have an example of Jesus being presented at the temple. In verses 22 through 24, I'm going to suggest to you that we have Jesus meeting with Moses. In verses 25 all the way to verse 32, we have Jesus meeting with Simeon. And then from chapter 30, verse 34, all the way to the end of the chapter, excuse me, verse 38, you have Jesus meeting with Anna. So he's meeting with Moses, he's meeting with Simeon, he's meeting with Anna. You say, no, meeting with Moses, is this the Mount of Transfiguration? No, no, it's not. But what we have here is a reference to the law. I think there's lessons embedded in each of these encounters that could help us in our own walk with Christ. And I just want to briefly challenge you with those. Look at verse 22 of Luke chapter 2. And when the time came for their purification, according to the law of Moses, law is mentioned five times here in these two verses. They 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 the holy to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what it is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. So here we have reference to the law, Jesus fulfilling every aspect of the law. He came under the law, Galatians 4, 1 through 7. He fulfilled the law, Matthew 5, 17 through 18. He didn't come to abolish the law. He came to fulfill the law. Many will suggest in Barnhouse, the theologian suggests that his circumcision was his first act of suffering on our behalf. In verse 21, conforming himself completely to the law so that we can look to him as the example to follow. He was purified after 40 days, according to Leviticus 12. He was presented to the Lord and here his mom and dad had to present and redeem Jesus for five shekels. The one who would redeem mankind would be redeemed with five shekels and then presented to the Lord in like fashion. He is the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, and he completely fulfilled the law. And if that's any wonder to us, we continue to see the next encounter is with this guy named Simeon. And what we know to be true about Simeon is he's a guy that's been waiting a long time to see Jesus. So first we see Jesus fulfills the law, and a direct application here is that we should strive to obey completely what is revealed to us, as Joseph and Mary did, and as Christ did in totality. He fulfilled the law. He obeyed. Whatever God is calling you to do right now, you need to obey Him. You need to respond to Him. I am so glad that we're no longer under the law, because Jesus Christ put to death the law and has given us freedom, Galatians 5 verse 1. But you still have an obligation to obey what Christ calls you to do. And that is individual and it's specific, but you must be obedient. Don't waste time. When he speaks, you move. But Simeon is an example of the prophets. Anna, an example of the prophets. And I think it's interesting as you look at the end here of chapter two, that here we have Jesus and his first days fulfilling all of the law and the prophets. That's his get started presentation to the world. The same thing he shares with the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets, and he revealed himself in those two formats. So here, how do we see in the prophets? This old guy, Simeon, church history suggests that he was 113 years of age. Now, that's just tradition. No one really knows because I don't see anywhere in this verse where it gives his age. It just says this about him. Now, there was a man in Jerusalem, verse 25, 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 it 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 when the parents brought in the child Christ Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law. He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, and here we have reference to the prophets, because indented there in verses 29 to 32, all sorts of reference to the Old Testament. In this first phrase, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. This is saying, according to your word, you gave me a word through your spirit and I'm believing it now. It's finally time I can let go. I am your bond servant and you are fulfilling what you have called me to do. I see the Christ right in front of me. This hymn here, as I talk to you about five songs, this is the final of the five series of songs. This is a hymn that you would call a song of salvation and a song of mission. The song of salvation is seen in that first two verses. For my eyes have seen your salvation. When Jesus came, He came to offer salvation to all mankind. And Simeon is reflecting on how the prophets talked about Jesus being the answer, the only way, the only truth, and the only life. I want to call you to remember this and to know this. Jesus Christ is the only solution to your struggle. He is the answer. I want to encourage you, if you haven't called out to Him, to ask him to be your Savior, that you would do that tonight. Repent of your sin and turn to Jesus Christ. He is salvation and we can hope in that. And Simeon knew that and he's reflecting back on the Old Testament because we know in this missional sense, he says in verse 31 and 32 that he says, 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. All sorts of reference, Isaiah chapter 42 verse 6, 49 verse 6, Jesus a light to the nations. We have candle lights going on all around us. We're hoping nothing burns down in the process of things breaking around us. But these symbolize the light that Christ is to the nations. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, so let your light shine like a city on a hill and don't hide it under a bushel. But let it be proclaimed in the darkest corners of the world. And we must shine as Christ has shined. And here we have this reference to the fact that Jesus Christ is the light. You have the Moses, the law, you have the prophets, Simeon, and then Anna joins in in verse 33 and his father and his mother marveled at what it was said about him and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your soul, your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. He goes from this song to giving this direct reference to prophecy, and he talks about a stone, a sign, and a sword. And I don't have time to break each of these down, but we have definite reference to the cornerstone that causes people to stumble, the sign, a light to the nations, and a sword that's going to pierce through the heart of Mary as she suffers the loss of her son. And then finally, we see Anna, verse 36. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin. And then as a widow until she was 84, she did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Anna is an example of someone who is ready. There's only 12 widows mentioned in the Bible. Three are mentioned by Luke. And here Luke lifts up Anna and says, Anna has been waiting patiently. And we need to follow her example. So if I was to go back and show you in the big picture of redemptive history, Jesus Christ is the answer. He fulfills all the law. He fulfills all the prophets in a personal way. We can learn from this story at the latter part of the book of Luke that we should, as Joseph and Mary, we should be obedient to what we know we should do right in front of us. We should be patient as Simeon was patient awaiting for the consolation of Israel. And we should be ready. as Anna was. What was she ready to do? Notice the last verse here that we're going to look at, verse 38. And coming up at the very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. This suggests that while Simeon is singing his song, Anna joins in the chorus. Joining in the song. She's ready to proclaim. We must also be ready to proclaim So we have to have that song in our own heart if we're going to sing it out to others. Are you ready to? Realize that Jesus Christ is your answer to the turmoil that you're facing right now or that you may face in the weeks to come Are you ready to share your faith with those around you? Are you prepared? He is the way the truth and the light. He is the one we exalt tonight. I Let's lift up our hearts in prayer, and I'll have Pastor Kurt come on back up, and we will have our ceremonial passing of the candle. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just wait. It's coming. Let's pray. Thank you, God, for giving us Jesus, and thank you that nothing happened by random chance. but everything was laid out for a specific reason to instruct us. Lord, help us to be very hopeful in the fact that You, Jesus, fulfill all the Law and the Prophets, and that You call us to be obedient, to be patient, and to be ready. Lord, help us to apply these principles as we've seen them laid out for us in the book of Luke, and help us, Lord, to seek to serve and worship You as we continue on in this Christmas season. In Jesus' name, amen.