Six and younger may now be excused. And, of course, the workers. Luke, Chapter 2. Luke, Chapter 2. I preached from Luke, Chapter 2 last Sunday morning, and Luke, Chapter 2 last Sunday evening, and I'm going to preach from Luke chapter 2 again this morning. I feel like I'm not even scratching the surface. There's such a wonderful chapter here, so many wonderful stories surrounding the birth of our Lord. This morning, we'll start in verse 21. Luke chapter 2, verse 21, And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of a child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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 it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said. in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves 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 in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine 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 sent him to marry his mother. Behold, this child is sent for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against you. Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also. that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Let's stop for a moment and pray. Heavenly Father, help me do my best now to expound the Word of God. May the Spirit of God speak to hearts today. May the Spirit of God direct my thoughts and words. If anybody in this room is not saved, we pray you'll save them today. And for those that may be saved, but discouraged, sad, backslidden, defeated, whatever it may be, Lord, I pray the Spirit of God speak to their hearts and encourage their hearts today. Give them the joy of the Lord. We know many people are at Christmas time rather than be happy or sad. It's a very happy time for some people, a very sad time for others. A very emotional time for many people. And I pray, Lord, that we wouldn't be controlled by our emotions, but by the Spirit of God. And I pray, Lord, the Spirit of God will administer the hearts through His Word today. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Now, we are introduced to this interesting man named Simeon here in Luke chapter 2 verse 25. I want to speak on Simeon this morning. Simeon, by the way, was a popular name back in Bible times. It was a popular name. Simeon was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, going way back to the second son of Jacob and Leah. In Acts 13.1, we meet another Simeon, Simeon that was called Niger. He's mentioned as one of the leaders of the church in Antioch. But the Simeon we're looking at this morning is found only here in Luke chapter 2. And we know very little about him. He appears in the temple in Jerusalem. when Mary and Joseph were there to present the baby Jesus to the Lord. We just read that in Luke chapter 2 verses 21 to 24, the background to our story. Why were Mary and Joseph and Jesus in the temple? And why was Simeon there to meet them and greet them? Well, the Bible says that, back in verse 24, Luke 2.24, that Mary and Joseph went to the temple to offer a sacrifice. Now, people read that and don't really think about what it signifies. They might have heard that story, read the story, heard about it, but never really gave it much thought. It was a sin offering. Mary and Joseph brought a sin offering to the temple. An offering, we're told, for the purification of Mary. of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, verse 24. By the way, that's all they could afford. That's the kind of offering a poor couple would bring. A couple couldn't afford anything better. We're able to bring a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. This reminds us how poor Mary and Joseph were. Now, the fact that Mary had to offer a sin offering reminds us that Mary was a sinner. Now, I shouldn't even have to say that, because the Bible says, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3.23. But some people, particularly Roman Catholic people, will say, well, all have sinned but not Mary. The Bible doesn't say that. The only exception would be the Lord Jesus, because He's God. God cannot sin. and Jesus Christ is God. But with the exception of the Lord Jesus, the Bible is very clear, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And so the Roman Catholic Church says, well, Mary was sinless. Well, that contradicts the Bible. And in fact, she was in a temple offering a sin offering. Now, there's so much confusion over this, but a lot of this confusion would be eliminated if folks would just read the Bible. Unfortunately, most of our Roman Catholic friends don't know the Bible very well, and don't really go by the Bible very much. They go by their traditions. In fact, when they say Mary was sinless, they're really trying to make some sort of goddess out of her. Which is why you see all the statues of her, and who's praying to her, and so on. All of that is contrary to the Bible. Now, I don't want to preach a message on Mary this morning. I heard that someone went to a Catholic Church for a Christmas program, and the focus was on Mary, not Jesus. And he said when he left, they ought to call it Mary Christmas instead of Merry Christmas, because everything was about Mary. Now, Mary herself said that she rejoiced in God her Savior, which means she recognized she needed a Savior. If you look at chapter 1, Luke 1 verse 47, Luke 147, Mary says, My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Let me just say this, only sinners need a Saviour, amen? And thank God we have a wonderful Saviour. And thank God, though a lot of people are running to and fro, shopping, and now it's exchanging gifts, you see? Boy, what a waste of time, eh? They spend so much time shopping and then a lot of time returning gifts. Exchanging it then they're waiting on line forever to buy something and wait a life of eternity But with all this commotion and all this partying and all this hoopla. Let's not forget what this is all about We have a wonderful savior and he came into this world for one specific purpose to die in the cross for our sins and That's what we're going to look at this morning now We don't know a whole lot about Sidney the one who were We meet here in Luke chapter 2 in verse 25. But apparently, from what little we know, we know this. Apparently, he was much different than the other rabbis in Israel. The other leaders, he was different. We know from Matthew chapter 2, for example, that Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes together and demanded of them where Christ should be born. Are you familiar with that? Matthew 2, Herod felt threatened when he heard that this king of the Jews was going to be born, or had been born, and he didn't know anything about it, but he was concerned about that, and he demanded of these religious leaders, these chief priests and scribes, and he wanted to know where Christ should be born. You remember that they knew where he would be born. They were familiar. with Micah chapter 5 verse 2, and they told Herod that Micah 5.2 predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But if you know that story, you'll know that those chief priests and rabbis had no interest in going to Bethlehem. They had no interest in going to seek for themselves and go there to worship the baby Jesus, the coming Messiah. They had no interest in that. But Simeon was different. Luke chapter 2 verse 25 says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, eagerly anticipating the coming of the Messiah. And by the way, just as Simeon, and there were a few others like him, in the same chapter later on after Simeon we meet Anna, another godly believer. But just as those believers were eagerly anticipating the first coming of Christ, We should be eagerly waiting for the second coming of Christ. Now, the reason Simeon was different from these other religious leaders, these other rabbis, is the Holy Ghost was upon him. Look in Luke 2.25. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just. That means he was a righteous man. And devout means he was a godly man. Waiting for the consolation of Israel, that means he was waiting for the coming Messiah. Waiting for Jesus to be born. And then it says, and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Now again, you can read that without maybe that signifying anything to you. It signifies a lot to me. In fact, three times Three, in three consecutive verses, verse 25, verse 26, and verse 27, we see that the power of the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon. And that made him, that set him apart right there. You see? The others were religious, but there was no reality, no substance to their religion, you see. They were just going to the motions, like many churchgoers today. See? People today go to church, go home, their life is not much different than anybody else. You can't tell them apart from another saved person. In fact, many of them aren't even saved. Right? Their names are on the church rolls, but their names are not recorded in the lands of other life. You see? When the roll is called up yonder, they're not going to be there. But they're good members down here. In fact, some churches, they'll let anybody join. The person's obviously not saved. i think that we're right it is what we saw without being married they've got a bad hung on a piece of paper or don't know where to be the crop but i thought i was hurt especially because if they have a job and got some of it what's the car that i've tried to sign up to become a bit of a but it's important to go ahead and say it was difficult We're told three times that the Holy Spirit was upon him. We're told verse 25, the Holy Ghost was upon him. Verse 26, it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost. So the Holy Ghost reveals this information to him. And then verse 27, he was led by the Holy Spirit. He came by the Spirit to go to the temple. He didn't decide to go to the temple, the Holy Spirit was guiding him. That's important too. And the Holy Spirit revealed to him. And what the Holy Spirit revealed to him is highly unusual. Look at verse 26. It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he hath seen the Lord's Christ. Christ, of course, means Messiah. Christ would be the New Testament term from Christos, the Greek word, and Messiah would be the Old Testament term. Christ was the Messiah, the Jewish Messiah, the Christ, and he was waiting for Christ, and the Holy Spirit told him, you're not going to die until you see Christ. So, he got older, and now he's an older man, but he said, I'm not going to die yet. Not until Christ comes. And then, I'm going to leave this world. And under the power of the Holy Spirit, Simeon prophesied. Look at verse 34. Luke 2.34, and Simeon blessed them, that means he blessed Joseph and his mother, and he sent her to marry his mother. Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against them. Now, that wasn't just an idea that popped into his head. Holy Spirit led him to say that, you see? He wasn't just giving some kind of, you know, that sounds like the right thing to say, and that sounds like something spiritual, I'll say that. No. Holy Spirit led him to say that. And then verse 36, I mean verse 35 rather. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. Now, he's saying that to Mary. Notice in verse 34, he said unto Mary, his mother. By the way, verse 33 is referring to Joseph and his mother. Why did it say his mother and father? Because Joseph wasn't his father. Mary was a virgin when Christ was born. And I mentioned some problems the Catholics have about Mary. Another problem they have is they teach Mary was always a virgin. She was a virgin up until Christ was born. The Bible says He knew her not until she gave birth to a firstborn son. Then Joseph and Mary had other children. But in any event, here we're told that Simeon said to Mary a sword, verse 35, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. that the thoughts of many hearts may be released. So Simeon prophesied under the power of the Holy Spirit. He was led to the temple by the Holy Spirit, verse 27. He came by the Spirit into the temple. And see, he might have had other plans, but the Holy Spirit led him to go to the temple just at the right time. I mean, if he was there earlier, they wouldn't have been there. If he would have came later, he would have missed them. You follow what I'm saying? He came at God's appointed time. He was led by the Holy Spirit. You see? Many times, perhaps you found yourself at the right place at the right time, and you could sense God's presence. God led you there at that right time, right? And we thank God for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Now, he was led by the Holy Spirit, and what the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him, after the custom of the law. And, of course, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Verse 26. It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So, Simeon not only had the privilege of seeing the Messiah, it says he wouldn't die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Not only did he see the Lord's Christ, he held Him in his arms. What a great privilege that must have been, huh? you think about that now here's the creator of the universe king of kings and lord of lords god manifested of flesh and you're able to hold him in your arms what a great privilege that was for simeon he had the joy of holding the christ child the messiah lord of lords king of kings lord of lords he had the privilege the joy of holding him in his arms in verse 28 Then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. The Lord said, now I'm ready to go home to heaven. Now your promise has been fulfilled. You told me I'm not going to die until I see the Christ child. And now, Lord, let thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation. Now look at this, too. In verse 26, he was told he would see the Lord's Christ. In verse 30, when he's praying, he says, My eyes have seen thy salvation. What does that tell you? Salvation is only in Christ. See? Now, that sounds so simple and so basic, but so many folks just seem to miss that. They think salvation is in joining the Church, and getting baptized, and doing this and doing that. And all these things. Some of these things might be good things. It's good to get baptized. But if you're getting baptized thinking you're going to get to heaven because you're baptized, then you're mistaken, you see. If you get baptized because you've already trusted Christ as your Savior, you're born again, and now you want to take that stubborn obedience, you get baptized and join the church, praise God, that's the right way to look at it, amen? Some people say, I'm going to give a lot of money to the poor, and I'm going to give a lot of money to the church building program, and God will be pleased with me, and I'm going to get to heaven because of that. If you think like that, you're not going to get to heaven. Because the Bible says, by grace are you saved through faith. We're not saved by what we do. We're saved by what Christ already did. Amen? He died for our sins on the cross, and we're saved by trusting in Him. So Simeon said, my eyes have seen thy salvation. Not just my eyes have seen thy Savior, thy only begotten Son. My eyes have seen the Messiah. My eyes have seen thy salvation. Christ is our salvation. And we thank God for that. Now, there's some other things I want to pull out of this that I think are very important and practical and helpful. Simon, we're told, was just and devout, in verse 25. We say he's a just man, he was a righteous man. We say he's a devout man, a godly man. See? Just and devout means he had a right relationship with God and with others. Right? That's the idea when we talk about him being a just and devout man. And he was just, he was devout, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was led by the Holy Spirit. Now, I said a lot to say this. Therefore, he was undoubtedly a good student of the Word of God. A person cannot be just and devout and filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit unless he or she knows the Word of God. Amen? It's just not going to happen. Some people think, well, I want to be a good Christian, and I want to grow in the Lord, but I don't want to read the Bible. That's impossible. It's not going to happen. In fact, the way it's supposed to be is, I want to be a good Christian, and I want to read the Bible, and study the Bible, and I want God to show me things from the Bible. Amen? That's how we grow, through the Bible. In fact, right now, it's what? December 26th? A few more days, it's going to be what? January 1st. If you haven't already done this, now's a good time to make up your mind for the new year. I'm going to start reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. And I'm not going to stop. I'm going to read verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Because you know, there are many people, I've been saying for quite a while, who still haven't read the Bible in its entirety. I've told the story many times that one of my favorite Bible preachers was Harry Ironside. And I read all his books and all his sermons and they made a great impact on me when I was a young preacher. I remodeled a store. It's not there anymore. These two Korean brothers. When I say brothers, not only were they brothers in Christ, but they were literally brothers. These two brothers had a bookstore, and they actually helped with remodeling. They built shelves in the desert. And they said, how much money do you want? I said, just give me some books. And they gave me the complete set of Ironside commentaries and many other books. I read them up, man, like a hungry man eating a good meal. And he was a tremendous Bible teacher and preacher. But what I said, I said a lot to say this. He used to travel around preaching, and he'd say, how many here have read the Bible in its entirety? And he was discouraged because so few hands went up. And let me tell you, he used to preach at some good churches, too. It wasn't like he was going to some dead churches, illiquid churches. He'd go to good Bible-preaching churches, fundamentalist churches, and only a few hands went up. He said, later on, he got so discouraged by the response, he stopped asking that question. I never asked that question because it was discouraging. What I like to say is don't raise your hand. Let God speak to your heart. Make up your mind. If you haven't read the Bible through, read it through this year. Amen? Several people have come to me and said to me, I'm so glad you challenged us that way. Just now read the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book, and what a blessing it's been to find all these hidden treasures in the Bible. Amen? So let me encourage you. Read the Word of God. Sinning anew the Word of God. And let me say this, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God. Do you remember how the Lord revealed to Elijah the prophet that it wouldn't rain for three years and six months? You're familiar with that story, right? And he boldly went before the king, old wicked King Ahab, and declared that. Now, how did he know that? You know, a lot of folks don't realize it, but Elijah would know from Deuteronomy chapter 11 verses 16 and 17 that if God's people turned to other gods, he would shut up heaven and there wouldn't be any rain. And in his day, Elijah's day, the people were worshiping Baal. So Elijah had the authority of God's word when he prayed and when he went before Ahab and said that, you see. Let me quote to you from Deuteronomy 11, verses 16 and 17. And keep this in mind when you think about Elijah's boldness and that certainty that God gave him that it wasn't going to rain. Take heed to yourselves that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside and serve other gods and worship them. That's exactly what they were doing. Many years later now, In the days of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, they're worshipping Baal. In fact, if it wasn't for Elijah, had God raised up Elijah, that whole country might have gone to Baal. That's how bad things were. Baal worship might have become the official religion in Israel. And by the way, things are getting so bad in America, it might become the official religion in America too. It's getting pretty bad. Here in the good old USA. So much unbelief. So much ungodliness! How dishonoring to God! That a country's blessed in so many ways! Consume their nose on Him! With such impudence that we see now in this country. Well, let me continue reading from Deuteronomy. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside and serve other gods, and worship them. And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit, unless you perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you." Hey, Elijah knew that. Look at the book of James. The book of James. And the very last chapter, chapter 5. James, chapter 5. And verse 17. Elias, that's the New Testament way of saying Elijah. Elijah was a man subject to life passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. Now, I don't have the time to really talk much about Elijah this morning. I want to get back to Simeon. What I'm trying to point out is Men of God, like Simeon, Elijah, Daniel, and others, Apostle Paul, they knew the Bible. And when Elijah prayed, he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, because he knew what the Word of God said. And if you want to pray more effectively, like Elijah, read your Bible. In fact, I think it's a good habit to read your Bible and pray together. They say, well, Pastor, Elijah was a great prophet. Hey, he was probably the greatest prophet in the Bible. Look what it says in verse 17. He was a man subject to like patterns as we are. What does that mean? Just a man. That's all. We tend to think Moses and Elijah and Father Paul would be super-heroes! They're just men and women like you and me, amen? We can read our Bibles and pray like they pray. If we have a desire to. If we want to. Well, Simeon was someone like that. And I mentioned Daniel. You know, Daniel the prophet. understood by reading Jeremiah the prophet that the 70 years captivity in Babylon had nearly run its course. Look at Daniel chapter 9 verse 2. Keep your place in Luke. We will get back there soon enough. But Daniel chapter 9 and verse 2. In the first year of his reign, that's in the reign of Darius, In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, 70 years, by the way, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish 70 years of his desolation of Jerusalem. So Daniel understood by reading Jeremiah that the 70 years' captivity had just about run its course. Here's a man who knew the word of God. And if you take a note, that would be Jeremiah 25, verses 11 and 12. And Jeremiah 29, verse 10 to 14. And of course, there's other references as well. And Daniel would be familiar with those references as well. Daniel knew the Word of God. Elijah knew the Word of God. Simeon knew the Word of God. Do you know the Word of God? That's the question. You know, when God saved me, I made up my mind, I'm going to learn this book, amen? And then when I started studying it, God called me to preach. And then I say, now I really better learn this book. Because how in the world can I preach to others if I don't know the book myself? Amen? A preacher ought to know the Bible if he's going to be an effective preacher. And I think all Christians ought to know the Bible, but especially the preachers. In fact, you'll find churches where the preacher knows the Bible pretty well and preaches the Bible, the members tend to know the Bible pretty well. On the other hand, some churches, the preachers just preach that well, but the Bible, the folks know the Bible pretty well. That's regrettable, but that's just what I've observed. Now, in that same chapter, Daniel chapter 9, Daniel made a fascinating prophecy regarding the Messiah and the last days. Time will not allow us to go into that prophecy in any kind of detail in Daniel chapter 9, verses 24 to 27, but I believe Simeon would certainly be familiar with that great messianic prophecy. You say, how do you know that? Well, think about it. Those backslidden priests that went before King Herod were familiar with Micah, chapter 5, verses 2. Don't you think a godly man like Simeon would be familiar with Daniel's prophecy? Sure he would. Sure he'd know that. And Daniel's prophecy involves 70 weeks of years. 490 years. And the 490 years began with the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, Daniel 9.25. This took place in 445 B.C. when the Persian king, Artaxerxes, gave a decree allowing and authorizing Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. Daniel 9.26 says, and listen carefully, it's so important, Daniel 9.26 says, after three score and two weeks, that would be after 69 of the 70 weeks, shall Messiah be cut off. Simeon could then deduce that the Messiah would be cut off 483 years after the King's decree, King Artaxerxes' decree. Furthermore, Simeon would conclude that if the Messiah would be cut off as a young man, which he was, about 33 years old, then he would have to be born very soon. You follow me? So if he was familiar with Daniel's prophecy, he knew, you know what, according to my calculations, the Messiah should be born right around now. And then furthermore, he thinks, if he's born around now, and I was told by the Holy Spirit I'm not going to die until I see the Messiah, and I'm getting to be pretty old, hey, he's coming real soon, amen? You follow me? It is not possible to say how much Sidney would understand about the Messiah being cut off, but I believe that's what Luke 2.35 is referring to. Look at Luke 2.35. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. What did he mean by that when he said it to Mary? A sword. A sword is going to pierce through thy own soul because the Messiah will be cut off. You see? Think about how heart-wrenching that must have been for Mary to stand there by the cross and see her son being nailed to a cross. Big spikes driven through his hands and his feet. A crown of thorns on his head, being whipped and scourged. So Simeon knew all that. He knew the Messiah was going to be cut off. And he said, a sword shall tear through thy own soul also. You see? And Mary, of course, was there by the cross when Jesus was crucified. She was there when they drove those spikes, those big heavy nails through his hands and his feet. She was there when one of the soldiers took a big spear and thrust it, pierced his side, and forthwith came out blood and water, John 19.34. So Simeon said, Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also. Simeon didn't know how long he had to live, but he knew he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ, Luke 2, 26. Well, I spent a lot of time with that part of the story, the Holy Spirit upon Simeon and his prophecy, his understanding of these spiritual things, which most people apparently did not understand. Even the chief priests and rabbis didn't really comprehend all this. It seems like they knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and I think the reason they didn't go there, they really weren't expecting the Messiah to come, weren't eagerly anticipating the Messiah to come, but Simeon was. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, chapter 2, verse 25, Luke 2, 25. Now what is that term, the consolation of Israel? The only time we see this expression in the Bible. The only time. It was the promise of the long-awaited Savior, the Messiah. The promise of the Messiah is the consolation of Israel. Look with me, please, at Luke 2.11. Luke 2.11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Christ, of course, is Messiah. That is the consolation of Israel. Now, way back, way back in the Garden of Eden, the Lord said unto the serpent, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3.15. That was the first promise of the Messiah. Way, way back. Way back in the Garden of Eden, we're given this first messianic prophecy. Then later on, Jacob prophesied that the Messiah would come through the tribe of Judah. In fact, even before then, we're told it would come through the lineage of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. And Jacob narrows it down a little further. and points out it would come through the tribe of Judah. That's Genesis 49, 10. Later, it was revealed that it would come through the lineage of King David. 2 Samuel 7, 13. Jeremiah 23, verses 5 and 6. And there are other references that the Messiah would come down through the line of King David. So you see, it's getting narrower and narrower. First, the seed of the woman. Then through Abraham. Then through Isaac, and through Jacob, and through Judah, and then through King David. And it's getting more and more narrow. And David himself wrote many prophetic scriptures regarding the consolation of Israel. Many of these Psalms are what we would call the Messianic Psalms. One of the most well-known of the Messianic Psalms is Psalm 22. Psalm 22 verse 1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? A thousand years after that psalm was written, a thousand years before the cross, David wrote in Psalm 22 verse 16, they pierced my hands and my feet. A thousand years after David wrote that, our Lord hung there on the cross and cried out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And David wrote 1,000 years before the cross, they pierced my hands and my feet. By the way, I said this many times before, when David wrote that, the Jews did not crucify people. That was unknown in David's day. In fact, nobody did it. Of course, if you read your Bible, you know back in those days, they stoned people to death. That was the common way of execution. Nobody was crucified. The Romans developed that many, many years later. Well, how did David know that? The same Holy Spirit who revealed it to Simeon, that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Lord's Christ, is the same Holy Spirit who revealed to David, they pierced my hands and my feet. Another one of the many infallible proofs the Bible is the Word of God. No other book can make such amazing prophecies. Predicting that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Predicting he'd be born of a virgin. Predicting they would pierce his hands and his feet. and so many other many, many prophecies. By the way, these prophecies are wonderful and there are many of them and it's good to study them and be familiar with them. But you know what? There are even more prophecies regarding the second coming of Christ. And if all of these prophecies regarding the first coming were so literally fulfilled, then you can be certain all these prophecies regarding the second coming of Christ will likewise be literally fulfilled. So look up! The redemption draweth nigh. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. Now, we're talking about the consolation of Israel. Simeon knew the Bible. He was a just man, a devout man, filled with the Holy Spirit. A leader. And he went to the temple regularly. And here he was in the temple, led by the Spirit of God, and he sees Mary and Joseph, and he holds the Christ child in his arms. And we mentioned that way back in the Garden of Eden, we were told a consolation of Israel would come. And all these other prophecies were given. And Isaiah the prophet said he'd be born of a virgin. And all these prophecies were actively fulfilled. And now Simeon was waiting to see the Lord's Christ. And if you look at Luke 2.31, Verse 30, I already mentioned, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. Did you notice that? Not just for Israel, not just for the Jews, but for all the people. Aren't you glad Christ is the Savior of all people? All people. You know, Islam is basically an Arabic religion. Judaism is a Jewish religion. Hinduism is an Indian religion. And all these different religions appeal to certain parts of the world. I'm glad Christ died for the sins of the whole world. I'm glad to save you for all people. You see? And that's why you can travel around the world, different cultures, different languages, people still worship Jesus Christ. Amen? It's not a regional religion. Christ, child of God, said, Behold the Lamb of God, who has taken away the sin of the world. You see? And we thank God for that. That he came into this world for all people. Now look at verse 32. a light to lighten, who? The Gentiles. Simeon said there in the Jewish temple, in front of Jewish parents and all the other worshipful Jews, he said this child, this Christ child is a light to lighten the Gentiles. So it was God's plan all along for Christ to be the Savior of the whole world, not just the Jews, and of course the glory of thy people Christ, the consolation of Israel, is the glory of Israel, and he's also a light to lighten the Gentiles. And if you're saved today, thank God you've been enlightened by this light which has lightened the Gentiles. Praise God, you've received the light of Jesus Christ, the Gospel light. Now let's move on here. I want to say a few more words about Simeon's prophecy. before we conclude this launch day. Now Simeon predicted. He made a very interesting prophecy here. And in verse 34, he predicted the fall and rising again of many in Israel. Now that's a very, very fascinating statement. A very, very fascinating prophecy. He predicted the fall and the rising again of many in Israel. Now normally, usually people would say rise and fall, am I right? That's the way normally people would use that expression, to rise and fall. But Sidney had put the fall before the rise. Now, referring to himself, the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 21 and verse 44, "...and whosoever shall fall..." Jesus put the fall first also. He said, "...whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken." He was talking about himself. He's the stone of stumbling. He's the rock of ages. He said, "...whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." That's what Jesus said in Matthew 21, verse 44. And by the way, when Jesus said that, the chief priests and the Pharisees understood that our Lord was referring to them, that He was going to grind them to powder, because they stumbled and fell. They refused to acknowledge Him, refused to believe Him. And they understood that He was talking about them. Look quickly at that. Matthew 21. Matthew 21. Simeon talked about the fall and the rising of many in Israel. And our Lord Jesus said the same thing later on. Look at Matthew 21, verse 45. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parable, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. In other words, they would have laid hands on him and killed him right there. But for two things. One, they feared the people. And secondly, it wasn't God's timing. See, God has a perfect schedule. And Christ couldn't have died at that time. He died during the Passover, at God's appointed time. Now many in Israel fell, just as Simeon predicted, because they disobeyed the law, they despised the prophets, and finally they even crucified their Savior. So many fell. In Matthew 10, verse 34, Jesus said, Think not that I have come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword. Last Sunday night we were contemplating that passage of scripture in Luke, chapter 2, when the angel said, peace on earth and good will toward men. And why is there no peace on earth? Because people have rejected the Prince of Peace. That's why. You see, that's the problem. And Jesus said, think not that I come to send peace. They did not come to send peace on earth. They came not to send peace, but a sword. And this statement has puzzled certain people, because the angels proclaimed our Lord's birth by saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men, Luke 2, 14. But what Simeon said in the temple that day is that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to divide men. He's still dividing men. There's only two, basically, groups of people in this world. They that believe on him and those that don't believe on him. They that believe on him, the Bible says, are not condemned. But they that believe not are condemned already. The Bible is very clear about that. Either believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or you don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He divides men. And that's what Simeon was trying to say in the temple. And that's what the angels were saying in their proclamation. It's peace on earth for those who know the Prince of Peace. And, of course, there will be peace on earth when the Prince of Peace comes back to establish his kingdom. Now, those who receive Christ will rise, but those who deny him will fall. Now, with that in mind, go back to Simeon's prophecy, Luke 2.34. Luke 2.34. He said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall, those who reject him are going to fall. And the rising again of many in Israel. and for a sign which shall be spoken against." I'll say more about that, too. People are always speaking against the sign. People say, give me a sign! Well, God's given plenty of signs, but they don't want to believe the signs. Let's see. Those who receive Him will rise. Those who deny Him will fall. The prophet Isaiah, back in chapter 8 and verses 14 and 15, the prophet Isaiah said the Lord would be a sanctuary to those who believed. But for those who did not believe, he would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and a gin and a snare. And that prophecy of Isaiah is quoted several times in the New Testament. And we see an allusion to it here in Simeon's prophecy. Peter referred to it. Peter referred to it in 1 Peter 2 when he said, Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those which stumble at the Word. Therefore, Simeon was describing two groups of people. Those that fall are those who don't believe. Those that rise again are those who do believe. Those who don't believe are lost. Those who do believe are saved. It's that simple. It's that simple. I remember when we first purchased this old fish store. In fact, I have many, many happy memories of those days. And I often had to run down the street to purchase supplies at the hardware store. It's not there anymore. Now it's a 99 cent store. Used to be a hardware store. And oftentimes, like one time, the man said to me, you know, pastor, he said, these nightclub people aren't too happy that you're there. I said, really? Why is that? He said, hey, They're going down, and you people are going up. I said, that's pretty good theology for an unconverted man, eh? For an unsaved Catholic fellow, that's pretty good doctrine, right? I said, you got a point there, buddy. You're right. And he mentioned how he had that big Bible sign outside, you know? I am the way, the truth, and the life. He goes, you know, they're out there committing sin. Look at that Bible sign. They don't feel too happy about that. I said, yeah, you got a good point. They might get a lot of conviction, you know. Maybe some of them were brought up in Sunday school. Maybe some of them have a praying mother somewhere. They look at that sign, and they're there with their bottle of booze, and who knows what other mischief they're doing? Drugs, immorality. Yeah? Many are going to fall! But thank God, many are going to rise again. Amen? We thank God for that. Well, Simeon said to Mary that Christ would be a sign we shall be spoken against. Luke 2.34. All Lord's birth was a sign. The prophet Isaiah said that over 700 years ago. I mean 700 years before Christ, which would be 2,700 years ago now. The prophet Isaiah said, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel. A sign which shall be spoken against. Do you know people speak against that sign? Do you know there are so-called ministers who claim to be Christian who deny the virgin birth of Christ? Yes, there are many of them. Many of them. And professors at some of these liberal schools who deny the virgin birth of Christ. A sign which shall be spoken against. The angels told the shepherds, and this shall be a sign unto you. Luke 2.12. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. The shepherds looked for that sign, and they believed the sign, but many people have rejected the sign. I mentioned the religious leaders who went to see Herod to see priests and rabbis. They weren't looking for the sign, even though they were familiar with the prophecies. Simeon said that Christ would be a sign which shall be spoken against, Luke 2.34. Christ was spoken against time and time again while he ministered here on earth. And Christ was spoken against when they crucified him. The Bible says that passers-by spoke against our Lord as he hung there dying on the cross. What a vivid picture of sinful men, right? There's the Messiah nailed to the cross, dying for our sins, and people walk by and revile him, laugh at him, mock him. Matthew 27 verse 39 says, and they that pass by reviled him, wagging their heads. The idea is wagging their heads like, ha ha ha ha, wagging their heads. And there's our Savior dying for their sins. The chief priests and the scribes and elders mocked him. The religious leaders mocked him as he hung there on the cross, Matthew 27, 41. The two thieves also The thieves also which are crucified with him cast the same in his teeth. What a vivid way of saying how they just mocked him, ridiculed him. Matthew 27, 44. We thank God one thief repented though and was gloriously saved. He rose up! The other thief didn't repent. He went down. You see? It's that division again, right? That division we see right there at the cross. Our Lord is hanging between two thieves. Both of them wicked sinners, both of them mocking him and reviling him. One repents and is pardoned, forgiven, saved. The other, impenitent, goes to hell when he dies. Unforgiven, unpardoned, unsaved. Yes, he's a sign which shall be spoken against. Jesus was spoken against during the Apostolic Era. The book of Acts tells how the early Christians were persecuted and put in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ. Jesus has been spoken against all throughout history. Every year at Christmas time, you'll see some newspaper article, a magazine article, questioning the virgin birth, and questioning the Christmas story, and putting doubts in people's heads, and saying some scholars say it's all a myth, and so on. And then people question whether Mary was really a virgin, questioning this, and they're attacking! our Lord, attacking the Word of God. It's a sign which shall be spoken against. Public schools allow the Muslims to celebrate their Ramadan holiday, but Christmas is no longer allowed now in many schools. They call it now a holiday break or a winter break. When I was a kid, it was a Christmas break. And years ago, they sang all the Christmas songs. Now they can only sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. You can't sing Silent Night now in most of these public schools. Not allowed. Separation of church and state. Listen. We do believe in separation of church and state. But God help us, we have now separation of God and state. That's no good. Separation of church and state means no one church should have any kind of favored position. And the church should not tell the government what to do and the government shouldn't tell the church what to do. But to say God is left out of the schools, that's terrible. And we're seeing the results of that now. We're reaping what we sow. Young people coming out of school now, no morals, no ethics, this anything goes. If they even manage to get an education, which many don't, they're uneducated, miseducated. If they even have any kind of education, they have no kind of ethics, they're dishonest, they're greedy. We're reaping what we sow. He's a sign which shall be spoken against. Yesterday was Christmas Day. I glanced through the newspaper, curious, let's see if there's any kind of special Christmas program on TV. You know Channel 13? The public broadcasting network? You know what they were showing for Christmas special? Elmo Gantry. A movie about a crooked, phony preacher. A hypocrite. See? That's their way of celebrating Christmas. Hey, let's put on a movie that mocks Christianity and mocks preachers. That shows a preacher as a real hypocrite and a rascal. a movie based on St. Clair Lose's book, which attacked Christians. That's their idea of an uplifting Christmas special. A sign which shall be spoken against. And then notice also in verse 35 that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. You see? We can't tell what's in people's hearts often times. But the hearts of many people are revealed by their attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. That's how the hearts of many are revealed. Heavenly Father, we're thankful to be in God's house on this Lord's Day, especially this special Lord's Day, the day after Christmas. Christmas time is a joyful time. And Lord, we know the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus died for our sins on the cross, Lord, you loved us so much, you sent your only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins. And Lord, we're thankful that you saved us and gave us eternal life. But we are concerned that there are many others who haven't received Christ. Oh, they might believe certain things about the Bible, they might go to church, they might be good people in many ways, but yet they've never truly humbled themselves and received Christ. They've never truly been born again. I pray, Lord, if there's anybody in the room like that today, you'll save them. And for Christians, maybe they've been discouraged. We know Christmas can be a challenging time for some people. Maybe they're away from loved ones, going through a trial, going through some trouble. They're discouraged. Whatever it may be, I pray the Spirit of God will encourage them, not just now, but all day today and every day. May they have the joy of the Lord.