Luke chapter 2. I tell you, I heard some good messages this week on the radio about the birth of Christ. I really like them. A lot of them I heard. I've done a lot of reading and things and research and learned some new things this week. It was really a fun week. But it also made a confusing week because I'm like, we're not really going through a book of the Bible right now. I really miss that. I'll be honest with you. I like knowing what I'm doing from week to week. It makes it easier because especially when you teach three times a week, I'll come in this book, this is what I'm doing next. when I'm jumping around, it's harder. And so it kind of made a difficult time this week. Well, what am I going to talk about? You know, usually I end up preaching on something that I'm thinking about that week. But actually, the passage I'm going to look at, actually, I didn't hear any messages about it this week. It's not actually a very popular man we're going to look at in scripture, but one that surrounds the event of the birth of Christ, but you don't hear about this guy very often. Luke chapter 2, we're going to look at this man named Simeon. And this is just a really beautiful account here of him and what the Word of God has to say about him. Luke chapter 2, 25 through 35. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of the Lord. 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. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. and Joseph and his mother marveled at those sayings which were spoken of him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Let's pray. Father, help us this morning as we come unto your word and as we come to this portion. And I pray, Father, that you would just bless us during this time as we look at this account of Simeon and of his character and the promise that he had and the hope that he had. And Lord, I pray that we would see some similarities here and things that we as well, Lord, hope in as he hoped in. And Father, that we too would walk as he walked. and faith in your promise. Father, help us, I pray, as we teach and preach your word this morning, that it would be a great source of encouragement and challenge to us to wait and look for Jesus and to serve him till he comes. In Christ's name we do pray, and amen. I think that Simeon here and that we just read about and Anna who has spoken about in verses 36 through 38 are probably spoken of maybe the least regarding those in the Bible who are mentioned around the account of the birth of Jesus. And it just really came to my mind lately as I was listening to a lot of messages, and I'm going back and reading some things and learning some new things. And I read again here about Simeon and Anna. I thought, well, they're hardly ever mentioned, if you notice, a lot of times around this time of year. We most certainly hear much about the wise men than we hear about these two, don't we? I find that very interesting. I don't know why it is, but maybe it's because wise men, you can dress them up a little better. I don't know. But Simeon here and Annie, we just don't hear about them. The wise men, they came sometime after, according to the Word of God, didn't they? They came sometime after, I would say probably at least a year that they come, and the scripture's talking in Matthew 2 that Jesus, he wasn't a baby, he was actually a young child. And so Simeon and Anna, they seen Jesus long before the Lord. wise men did and so you know we don't hear about them I just find that interesting now I by no means diminished the account of the wise men I've learned some new things about them over the last couple weeks that I've loved possibly how many miles they traveled approximately maybe 800 to 900 miles and so they came a long ways and we don't know how many there were and all those things and there's much to be known about them. I learned over the last month or so that they probably heard about the promise of God in regards to the king of the Jews from possibly Daniel, from Daniel's prophecy. And so I find that interesting because for many reasons. I don't want to get off subject here, but I learned a lot of good things that I've enjoyed this week. And I love hearing about their joy as they brought the gifts and so forth. But Simeon, He saw Jesus before them. And in verses 22 through 24, we really get a clue as to how old Jesus was when Simeon saw Him. Jesus was somewhere between maybe 30 to 40 days old. So it wasn't right out of His birth, but it was soon after. We learn in verse 22, Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, And so it was after that, and they're bringing him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, which by law, he would have had to have been at least 30 days old before she could do this sacrifice. And so Jesus is at least 30 days old. And so we have this single account here of this man named Simeon, who I think there's a lot for us to learn from him. I've read this passage over and over. There's a lot in here for us to learn about him. But let's ask this question as we look at this, as we see the Simeon, and may it cause us to rejoice as he rejoiced. But not just in the birth of Jesus Christ, But in the consolation of Israel, as is mentioned specifically, because, listen, the Messiah, the consolation of Israel that came the first time, He's coming again. And in like manner, that is our hope. And so we want to focus in on that for us today. Let's ask this question as we look at Simeon. What kind of a man is Simeon? What kind of man is this man that God chose to give this very special promise to that he would not see death until he seen the consolation of Israel? Well, this man, as described by the scriptures, first of all, the word of God describes him as a man who was just. A man who was just. The word just is not necessarily speaking here in regards to his legal standing before God. In other words, as being justified by faith, you know, we have peace with God through Christ, and the Scriptures talk about us being justified, and that's a legal standing. That's not what this word is speaking of here. It's talking about his character as a man upon this earth, not necessarily his legal position before God. And so he is a just man of character, a just man. This word just speaks of innocence. innocence and so I think it refers maybe even to his childlike faith possibly this man walked righteously it speaks of righteousness and so he tried to walk right before God he is a man of God that is just who seeks to walk right when we're justified by faith it means we're made right with God that's the position when we are a just person or we have the character of being a just person means we try to do what's right He's a man who tries to do the right thing. And so he has a conscience before God who tries to be right in the eyes of God and how he walked. The word just here also speaks of being holy. In other words, he's a holy man. He's a man that's separated unto God. A man that is set apart unto the worship and the service of the Lord. And so he's a just man, meaning also that he's a fair man. You could depend on him to be fair and right and equal in his dealings before God and man. Now, this word just is used to describe several other men in the Bible that would come to mind. The word just is used to describe Noah and Job and Daniel and Cornelius. And so this Simeon, who we oftentimes don't really speak of very often, is numbered among some of the greats that are mentioned in the Bible. And so I don't want to overlook him. This character trait of being just is found in Simeon because he obviously has a relationship with his God. I mean, what man is truly going to be identified as just if he doesn't have that relationship with the Lord? This same word, just, is not only used to describe the character trait of some of God's finest in the Word, but it's used to describe the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's reflected in a song that we're going to sing one day, by the way, in Revelation, in the song of Moses. And we're going to sing, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of the saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? And so it's safe to say this morning that the Simeon exemplifies the character of Jesus Christ. He is a just man, fair, equal, a man who wants to do the right thing and be holy unto God. Now next in chapter 2 verse 25, we see that the Simeon is described as being just and devout. We don't use that word too often, do we? Devout, it's a good word. We need to be a people that are just and devout. The word devout speaks of one who is solemn and reverential. and their attention to God. No, he's a devout man to the Lord in his religious exercise. In other words, he took his service to God seriously. He took his worship of God seriously. It was a solemn, it was a devout thing. And listen, much of Christianity can learn a lot from this. I see sometimes these videos of church services and what's going on, and it doesn't look devout. It doesn't look solemn or serious. Now listen, we can be solemn and serious and joyful at the same time. He rejoices, doesn't He? Takes up the beloved Jesus in His arms and He rejoices. So don't get this image of being devout and serious-minded, meaning that that means that you've got to be Solemn in the sense of your facial expressions, and you can't express joy. No, we need to be serious and solemn about our religious devotion to God. It's a serious thing to serve the Most High, and we should do it with all faithfulness and duty to our God, but we rejoice at the same time. He's a devout man. You can depend upon this man. One who is devout is devoted. The words are similar. He's devout, he's devoted, meaning he's a faithful man. He's a faithful man. Someone who is devout is devoted and they're sincere and earnest in their commitments. They don't give their word lightly. They seek to stick to their commitments. It was devout men, the Scriptures speak of, who carried Stephen to his burial. I mean, you can count on a devout person. Devout people are solid, they're serious regarding their service to their God. So we see this in Simeon as a just and devout man. I mean, what a testimony to have said of someone by the Holy Spirit, inspired by the Scriptures. This isn't just what people said of him. We may fool people at times and maybe trying to give a false image that we are a just or devout person. But listen, this is the Holy Spirit saying this of someone, a Simeon. And so what can be said of us by the Holy Spirit? Would the Holy Spirit describe us as just and devout? Listen, the Holy Spirit searches our hearts and knows all things and knows when we're really trying to do the right thing. Knows when we're really seeking to be faithful. Knows when we're very reverential in our hearts and our attitudes towards the Almighty. He sees those things, doesn't He? But we need to go a little further here. So we see his description of Simeon, and we need to learn about this man. I mean, what possibly is at his heart? What is possibly moving him to where he wants to pursue this life that is a just and devout person before God? What is it possibly that may else be in his life that might aid in this character? Well, I think we get the answers in the very next thing that is said of him. It says in the Word of God here in Luke chapter 2. I don't know how I lost my place. Luke chapter 2, the very next thing it says of him, he was a just and devout man waiting, waiting for the consolation of Israel. So I think we get a clue here as to what he lived for, as to why he did what he did, why he thought the way he thought, why he was a man who sought to do the right thing when no one else is looking, why he was a man who was faithful in his commitments when no one else would be looking, Why was he so devout to his God? Why was he so solemn and reverential in his spirit towards the Lord God Almighty? What moved this man? What caused this man to live as he lived? Well, this man at the same time was a man who was waiting, waiting for the consolation of Israel. So we know that this is Jesus, because that's who's present. He is Jesus. So Jesus here takes upon himself that title. He is the consolation of Israel. Listen, He's still the consolation of Israel. That's a whole other message. But the waiting of Simeon is the waiting for the Messiah that would bring Israel comfort by His appearing. And so Simeon was waiting for the coming of the Messiah. That's what he's looking for. That's what he's waiting for. So do you think this morning that this waiting for the Messiah, this anticipation, this hope of the Messiah, that this has anything to do in regards to his desire to walk right with God, before God, to walk as just, to walk in a faithful manner, to walk as a holy man of God. Are these two things connected? Are they related? Indeed they are. And of course they are. I mean, if Simeon would have said with his mouth, I am waiting for the coming of the Messiah, as no doubt many did, It was actually a popular saying, as I look back and seeing this, waiting for the consolation of Israel was actually kind of a familiar verbiage. But it wasn't just words to him. It was something that he lived by, something that he was looking forward to, something he hoped in, something that altered his life, something that affected his life, something that affected his decisions. as he would maybe be tempted as a man to do something that was not just. Very possibly, he would think about the coming of the Messiah. As he would be tempted to possibly not be faithful, to not be devout to his God. He would possibly have thoughts about the coming of the Messiah. And so he's waiting and he's looking for the Messiah. But if Simeon would have just said that he was waiting for the coming of the Messiah, but did not seek to live a life that could be identified as one who is just and devout, then we would have good reason, wouldn't we, to believe that Simeon is not looking for the coming of the Messiah. I mean, what if the scriptures wrote He was a just and devout man, but He did not look for the coming of the Messiah, or He did not look for the consolation of Israel? We would say, I don't understand that. How does that fit? How can He be a just and devout man before God, but He was not looking for the consolation of Israel, was not anticipating the Messiah? At the same time, If we looked at him and he was not a just and devout man, and we've seen that he was not a just and devout man, but yet he was just saying constantly, I'm waiting for the consolation of Messiah. We say, I don't understand. Well, you're saying you're looking for Messiah to come, but man, you've got a lifestyle, Simeon, that man, you don't care if you do the right thing. You say you're looking for the coming of the Messiah, Simeon, but your lifestyle is very unholy. You say you're looking for the coming of the Messiah that's going to come to Israel and be its Comforter and Redeemer, but Simeon, just the other day, I mean, you gave me your word. And you're not very devout, Simeon. You didn't keep your promises. You didn't keep your word. I mean, it would be an oxymoron, right? It wouldn't fit. It's not right. It doesn't measure up. When we are truly waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, it has an impact on our life. Not should. It does. When we believe it. When we live in hope of that. Turn with me to Titus chapter 2, if you would. Titus chapter 2. And when you look at this phrase here that says waiting for, this same word that's translated waited for is found in Titus. It's found in Titus in chapter 2. Let's read just a few verses here, verse 11 through 14, Titus 2, 11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, right? That's talking about how we live righteously, like Simeon, and godly, in the present age. And then verse 13, looking for. Same word that's translated waiting for back in Luke. It's translated here looking for the blessed hope. and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Listen, when we have experienced the grace of God, we're looking for the coming of Jesus Christ, it changes us, period. It always does. And if the coming of Christ is not changing you, then you're not looking for it, you're not waiting for it. I'm not saying are we perfect, but it should alter our life, change our decisions. I mean, when we're faced with right and wrong, there's going to be times when we say, I want to please the Lord, I want to honor the Lord with my life. I mean, Jesus Christ is coming, I want to do the right thing. When we're tempted to not fulfill our promises, to not be devout, to not serve the Lord, And to do what he's called us to do. I mean, there's going to be times we're going to think, well, Jesus Christ is coming. I want to do the right thing. I want to fulfill my word. And it affects our life. It always does. Listen, there's much to be said about our spiritual condition if our lives are becoming more like Christ because we're consciously looking and awaiting His return. Listen, I don't think about it enough. And I know that I need to think about it more. Not just think about it, just in the sense of what would be nice to think about, but I need to think about it more because the more I think about it, I know it also changes me. The more I think about it, it affects my decisions. The more I think about it, it affects what I look at, what I think about, what I do, the decisions in life I make, where I go, where I don't go. I want to be serving the Lord. I want to be devout. I want to be just. I want to do the right thing when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back. I want to be honoring Him with my life. And so there's much to be said about our spiritual condition when we live our lives consciously daily looking and waiting His return. beloved John who loved Jesus so much said beloved now we are the children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be but we know that when he is revealed we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is so he's talking about the coming of Christ being changed into his image and then he says and everyone everyone not some of them not part of them not a portion of them, not a remnant of them. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. Listen, why do we want to be like the image of Christ? For many reasons. But one of the reasons is because we have the hope of His return and the hope that one day we're going to be like Him. And because I'm going to be like Him and I want to be like Him, I'm working on it right now. I want to seek to live a life that honors Him, that resembles Him. And so it's healthy for us to think about the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I think one of the greatest things you can do to encourage yourself to live a life of godliness more in the image of Christ is to daily seek to meditate on His return. You see, it affected Simeon, changed Simeon. You can't separate that he was a just and devout man from the fact that he was looking for the consolation of Israel, the coming of Jesus the first time. But we also take notice here as well. In chapter 2 and verse 25, back in Luke, turn back there if you left it. We take notice here that the scriptures say in verse 25, as he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. I mean, there's some crazy definitions today on what it looks like when the Holy Spirit is upon you, okay? Kind of mentioned that a little bit in Sunday school. Things can get crazy in what people think is the Holy Spirit upon somebody. Okay? Listen, the Holy Spirit was upon this man and he just was a just man, he was a devout man, and he was a man just looking and it changed his life because he was looking for the coming of Jesus. You see, the Holy Spirit's job is to what? Glorify Christ. The Holy Spirit's job is to make our eyes look to Jesus. That's what Christ said He would do. He said, He will glorify me. So the Holy Spirit is upon somebody when they are zeroed in on Jesus. They want to think more like Jesus. They want to talk about Jesus. They want to walk with Jesus. They want to look for Jesus. They want to look like Jesus. I mean, it's all about Jesus. It's all about Him. the Holy Spirit was upon him. A sign of God's Holy Spirit upon us is that we would be like Simeon, that we would be holy and just, and that we would look for the coming of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is mentioned several times in reference to the account of the events surrounding the birth of Christ. I found that interesting. It is written, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe limped in her womb, and Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit. We also read that Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, prophesied when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. You see, when the Holy Spirit is moving in our life, He causes us to rejoice in the announcement of Jesus Christ. And He moves us to proclaim the Word of God. And that's what we see in those two instances of Elizabeth and Zechariah. One of the signs that we are looking for the coming of Jesus is that we rejoice at the knowledge of His coming. And we seek to proclaim His coming as we see with them. That's one of the signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life and that we're walking in the Spirit. But Simeon had something very special revealed to him, didn't he? Something that, who had this promise but Him? I love this, in Luke chapter 2 and verse 26, and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you what, when you're walking with the Lord, you're walking in the Spirit, you're in the Word, you're trying to serve the Lord, you're trying to do the right thing, let me tell you what, the Scriptures become much more alive to you. Things become much more revealed to you. I'm not talking about a special knowledge out there that nobody gets but you. I believe we have the fulfilled Word of God. But let me tell you what, you will be surprised at how much of this book will be open directly to you when you just walk with God, do the right thing, you trust the Lord, and you're looking for the coming of Christ. You open up this book and it's like, wow, this thing's alive. Yeah. I mean, it's amazing. And things are revealed to you that you've never seen before. love that. But in this specific instance Simeon had revealed to him that he would not die until he seen the Lord Christ. What an amazing thing, what an amazing promise to be given that specific thing. Could you imagine? Could you imagine? So this man had the Spirit on him, he had the Spirit revealed to him, and he had the Spirit lead him to the temple in verse 27, just as Joseph and Mary came with Jesus. I love that. It's like the Spirit just prompted him to move. He's so walking with the Lord, all about the service of God, working for the Lord, a just, doing the right thing, devout man, serious about the service of the Lord, looking, waiting for the coming of the Messiah. He's all about that. He's all in. It's all about Jesus, okay? And the Spirit of God, He's walking in the Spirit. His life is about the Lord Jesus. His life is about the consolation of Israel that would come. And because of such, He's moved by the Spirit of God. And He's prompted, you know what? I need to go to the temple right now. I need to go to the temple. And lo and behold, there's Jesus. I think it was Jonathan Edwards that I had read about. He was in prison, and he became really good friends with one of the jailers that overlooked him. And this jailer would let him leave sometimes. And he would leave and come back at a certain time, and he would give him some freedom. One time, Jonathan Edwards was gone, and he just felt a prompting of the Spirit of God to go back earlier. He just thought, you know, I just need to go. I need to go back to jail. And he leaves and goes back. Little did he know, right after he got back, some sort, I don't know who it was legally, but somebody who overseen that man, overseen that man, come and was doing a surprise inspection. And had Jonathan Edwards not been in the jail, that guy would have been in big trouble. After that, And so, in essence, because he followed the Spirit's prompting, that man, of course, might have had his life saved, or at least his job saved, at the very least, right? But after that, that man told Jonathan Edwards, he said, don't worry about what time you come back. He said, just come back when you want to. Because he's seen God work in such an amazing way to prompt him to come back when he wasn't even bidding to come back. Listen, the Holy Spirit prompts us. I like to use that word, prompt. And I think we experience those promptings whenever we just think, you know, I just need to talk to somebody. Or let me tell you, you experience that more when you're in the Word, you're committed to Christ, you're following the Lord. You're trying to do the right thing. You're trying to be faithful, trying to serve the Lord. You're looking for the coming of Jesus Christ. I mean, you're walking in the Spirit. And when you're doing all of those things, you experience those promptings more. Now, of course, the Spirit of God is never going to leave us apart from the Word of God. I'm not talking about that. But surely, as a child of God, for any time you understand those nudges, that leadership, that prompting, I need to go here, or I need to say this. I need to speak to this one. I need to give this. Follow those promptings. Follow them. Obey them. He did. And lo and behold, he gets to see Jesus. I love that. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. You know, the Spirit of God will always lead you to a place of worship. Always. Always. That's something to always remember. I just love this. Now, this promise that Simeon had, I need to move on here. This promise that Simeon had, could you imagine having such a promise? Hey, listen, you're not going to see death until after Jesus comes. Wow, right? I remember, I've shared this before, but it fits so well with this. I remember when Will was just a young boy, I don't even know if he remembers this, we were in Illinois, so he had to be very little, and he was scared so much of dying. Scared so much of dying, really at a very young age. He was a very deep thinker. I mean, how old was he, Tracy? Four, five? Three or four, maybe? I mean, such a deep thinker, even then. I don't know what happened to him. Sorry, Will. He's still a deep thinker, deeper than I am, for sure. But even at a young age, he was just concerned about dying. And he would say things like, man, that's deep, the stuff he'd say. But he was so distraught by it. And I just, I felt the prompting of the Spirit just to say this to him, but you know what? You may not die. Well, everybody dies. I said, well, no, everybody don't die. Everybody don't die. He said, what do you mean? I said, well, if Jesus comes back, if Jesus comes back, you don't die. I totally changed him when he realized that. I don't know if he realizes now how much that changed him, but as a, as a, a father and I shared that with him that just like oh yeah that's good news let me tell you what I don't know who will be alive when Jesus Christ comes back but there's a whole host of people that have a promise better than Simeon and it might be us it might be today that we do not experience death. Now Simeon had to die afterwards. He died. He's dead. He's gone. He had to go on. But we may not have to experience death. Listen, I believe we are on the edge of the coming of Christ. The Jews need the coming of Christ. They need the consolation of Israel for the nation. We, the people of God, need Him. Listen, we're so close to the coming of the Lord We are living in the times of Noah. We're living in the times of Job. It is upon us, or not Job, but Lot. We are so much like it was in those days. Of those men, without going into description, we are so close. We could be those that see the Messiah come, that see Jesus Christ come to the eastern gate, and to see Him come and to speak, My children, come forth, and the graves of the saints will open up, and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And 1 Thessalonians 4 says after that, And so what? Comfort, comfort, console, console one another with these words. It's our comfort today that Jesus Christ is going to come. It's our comfort that Jesus is going to come and a grave will bust open and dead in Christ will rise and we will be with the Lord and meet them in the air. It's our comfort. It's our consolation. And we may be that number, a number far greater than one as Simeon. We have that hope. Let us not live like we're going to die. Let us live like Jesus is coming back. You know, some people just, worldly people live like, man, I'm going to die. So they're just going to do whatever. Man, I'm going to die one day, so I'm going to do this and I'm going to do that. I'm going to enjoy this, and if I want to do it, I'm going to do it. I'm going to die, I'm going to be gone. They live like they're going to die. Let me tell you what, the child of God needs to live like Jesus is going to come back right now, today. There's a lot of things about the coming of Christ I do not understand. A lot of things I am very convinced about on end time events. I'm not going to get into that. When Jesus was asked some questions about his return and those signs of which would happen and we see those today. I've seen them for some time. But the thing he stressed the most in Matthew chapter 24 and all of 25 was this one truth. Just be ready. Be ready. Yeah, there's some signs, but he kept stressing this one thing. Be ready, because you know not the day or the hour when the Son of Man comes. Folks, we don't need to live like we're about to die. We need to live like Jesus is going to come back today, awaiting his return. Everyone, everyone on the earth, with any sense at all, believes they're going to die. Everybody believes that. We believe that the Messiah is coming. Do we live like that truth? Lastly and quickly, sheesh, man, I'm not near far along. I will not hold you real long today. Let me just get through this next thing. Simeon says this, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. I mean, he had seen the prince of peace, right? According to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. for my eyes have seen your salvation." The eyes of Simeon. So Simeon knew that this one that he held in his arms. Can you imagine? I can't imagine. Actually, I love that song, Mary, Did You Know, when you kiss your baby boy, you kiss the face of God. Like, okay, that just blows my mind. Simeon, likewise, he takes Jesus up in his arms. Wow. Okay, that's amazing. He says, I've seen the salvation of the Lord. Well, listen, the Word of God as well talks about the coming of Jesus Christ as He's coming again, that that's our salvation that's coming. Paul said this, Now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation. is nearer than when we first believed. And so we have another salvation that's coming. Our Deliverer is coming. Our Consoler is coming. Our Redeemer is coming to deliver us from this body of death and to fulfill His promises that He has given us. Simeon had seen with his eyes the one that he was waiting for and looking for, the salvation of the Lord, Jesus. At that point, really, he had yet to go to the cross, yet to save, as we know he saved, yet to go to the grave, yet to conquer. But Simeon somehow knows all of this is going to take place. We live on the other side. Our hope is not that Jesus will die and Jesus will rise again. That's fulfilled. That's done. He's already done that. Our hope now is in the effect of the gospel in regards to now we're His by faith and He's coming back for us. Our hope is in His next return. That this one that died and rose again for us is coming back to save us. to deliver us from this body of death, to save us from this world, to deliver us up unto the Father as His redeemed people, where we will live eternally with Him. What a hope! What a salvation we look forward to! A most blessed and joyful hope. So our hope is a lot like His in some respects, and it will change us. I want to think about this in closing. Don't let that be your favorite words of any sermon, unless it's a real bad one. During this season, I want to relate this to you. What is most important during the season is not if you celebrate the birth of Jesus. That's not the most important thing. I know good Christians that handle this season very differently. I think we all do. I think the real test to our spiritual condition is not what we do during the season as much as the real test is are we truly waiting for Jesus to come back. If we're waiting for him to come back, that will change every day of our life, not just a season of our life, not just a month of our life. It will change our whole life. Amen? That's the test. Listen, it's not even enough this morning to know that Jesus was born or to rejoice in the manner in which He came to this earth. We must believe so much more than that. We must believe in who He was, the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us. We must believe that He was perfect, our perfect substitute, the Lamb of God who died for our sins, and He died for us and rose again for us, and now we're awaiting His return, and we serve Him, and now we live for Him because of all of that. The real test today is this, is are your eyes looking for the coming of the Redeemer, the consoler of our souls, our comforter? Are we living for Him who died for us? Or are our eyes as Simeon awaiting and looking for our salvation to come? Our Deliverer. Are we looking for Him that is to come? I rejoice and I'm very thankful for all the truth of the birth of Christ. But that's a small part of the story. Are we rejoicing in the full story? Are we looking? for Him to come back, not in a cradle and not on the cross, but as King to rule and to reign. I'm looking for Him. I'm waiting for Him. And that will change me the more I look and the more I wait and the more I believe. When He comes, may we be found faithful. just, devout, doing the right thing, serving the Lord. And may we be able to stretch forth our arms and say, blessed Redeemer, blessed Jesus. Yes, Simeon took the Son of God up in his arms, and what an amazing thing that had to be. But I'm telling you what, I think it's going to be far greater when the Son of God takes me up into his arms. I'm looking forward to that day, aren't you? Amen, hope you know him. Father, use this word today for your honor and for your glory and keep us looking and waiting for the return of Jesus Christ, our Messiah, our hope, the consolation of Israel. And we do pray for Israel's salvation and we await our salvation whereby you come and deliver us and rescue us from this world from this body and you fulfill all the promises in Christ that are yes and amen in his name we pray amen all right we don't have a closing congregation but we do have our song but we do have a closing song men's prayer breakfast a couple weeks ago all right you think everybody can sing this Daniel we're gonna try everybody all the men that want to sing