1 Cor 6:12-20
I love the story of Samuel and how he heard God’s voice. Of course the story of Samuel begins before he was even in his mother’s womb. It begins with the cry of a woman who wanted a child and God heard her. That reminds us of the Scripture from Psalm 139 verses 13-14 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
At least the Psalmist knew it. I am not sure that most of the world knows this, because if we knew the truth of this Psalm we would understand the sanctity of human life. We would understand the God-givenness of our lives and we would not take them for granted, not treat them as means to an end. We would recognize the beauty and wonder of every life that God has made and know that it was created for God’s glory, not someone’s pleasure.
Our understanding of this shows up in many different ethical issues, from abortion, to euthanasia, to stem-cell research, to sexual ethics. No I know that a lot of people think that I should never mention a word like that, but the Bible discusses sexual ethics for a reason, so that Christians can know that God is concerned about it. I know that in many churches such a discussion is taboo, however, I believe it may be partly for this reason that kids and young adults have a difficult time with churches. We aren’t dealing with the issues they are dealing with. So they go outside the church to find information and guidance. Our silence doesn’t convey anything except, that we have nothing to say about the issue. The truth of the matter is we have a lot to say about the issue, and it is stuff that kids aren’t hearing in their schools. It’s stuff that they are not seeing on TV and in the movies. We have a belief and a teaching about sexuality that they will not get anywhere else, and so often they don’t get it here either.
Now I know I am not speaking to a youth group this morning so I will not spell out the sexual ethic that the Bible teaches but I do want to touch on part of the reason for this sexual ethic. Because as Christians, our Bodies are the Lord’s. This is the reason this is so important, and even though you are not all teenagers or twenty-somethings, your body is still the Lord’s in everything you do. Paul thought this was something worth discussing, so let’s look at what he had to say in 1 Cor 6:12-20.
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
So often the excuse that is given for unethical behavior is “it’s not illegal.” Even though often times it is! However, the larger point that Paul is making is that regardless of the legality of something we should be concerned with its benefits. Is it a good thing to do. Of course the question isn’t does it feel good, but is it something that will benefit my life and the lives of everyone else involved. Are there any negative repercussions. This was a serious issue with Paul as it did not only involve repercussions on oneself, but how it would affect others that witnessed, or heard about it. “How would this affect my witness?” was probably one of Paul’s concerns.
But he goes on to not only discuss whether or not it would be beneficial, but to declare that he would not let anything dominate him. For so often we let our passions dominate us. We let them have control. But as Christians we are to give control up only to God, the Holy Spirit, we may let Him dominate us because that would be beneficial! Amen!
Paul continues
"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. One commentary remarks that this was a common argument by analogy that body was made for sex, therefore, to not have sex was to deny the body of what it was made for. And those who offered this argument where not usually those who restricted their sexual activity to the marriage bed, but would often employ prostitutes and engage in other fornication. That is why Paul answers with,
The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
[14] And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.
This verse almost seems out of place, but he is making the point that our bodies aer not simply vehicles we are traveling in that will go to the junk yard when we are done. Our bodies are distinctly ours and are created by and for God. He will raise up these bodies in the resurrection. Paul tells us later that God will improve upon them a little, but it is clear from Jesus’ resurrection, that the body we have now will be a form of the body we have then. So let us not make light or disrespect our bodies, but treat them Holy. He goes into more detail as he continues,
[15] Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
This might be a good time to tell you that prostitution was legal in the Roman Empire. Some would have thought this an okay thing to do, because as Paul open up the argument, “it is lawful.” Yet Paul reminds them that we are the body of Christ. Not only are our bodies valuable because they were created for God’s glory, but as Christians we represent Christ. Your body is the Lord’s. It is a blasphemous thing to think of joining Christ with a prostitute, yet that is what a Christian with a prostitute is! Paul explains it,[16] Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh."
Paul is of course quoting from Genesis 2, which we usually read at marriages. But as Paul reads the text it should become clear that sex is reserved for marriage for every action of sex is the joining of two into one. There is no room for casual sex. There is no room for sleeping around. Sex is defined as the two becoming one, which is reserved for the covenant of marriage. Sex is a very special gift reserved for that marriage. That’s why we light a unity candle, to show the two becoming one, not just bodily, but in everything. Just as we are united with the Lord in our baptism, so we have become one spirit with him as Paul says.
[17] But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Listen, this is what the Bible has to say regarding sexual ethics-
[18] Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.
Sexual sins are not the same as other sins and this is why. For sexual sin is a misuse of the body, or a sin against your own God-given, made to glorify Him, body. And he explains why.
[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?
So often the answer to this question is “no.” Apparently we don’t know. Our actions seem to say we don’t realize or don’t know what this means, but rejoice to know that you have the Holy Spirit within you. Rejoice to know that you are not your own. Rejoice to know that God is concerned for your body. He is so concerned that he sent his son to pay for you as Paul says,
[20] For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Your Body is the Lord’s. We were bought with the blood of Jesus, worth more than anyone could ever pay. With such a high price, we out to glorify God with our body, and our whole lives.
So often we are tempted to use this Scripture in ways it wasn’t intended, ways that I do not think would be bad. For we often draw the analogy further and say that since our body if the temple of the Holy Spirit we should defile it with alcohol, which is something that often dominates people, and I believe that is a correct statement. I believe we can also say we should not defile our temples with tobacco. Of course the list of defilements could go on, with drugs, with medications, with food, with piercings, or any of a number of things and there is probably validity to all of those. Yet the point Paul is making is of a sexual nature, and so I make the same point. Recognize that your body is the Lord’s and do not mistreat your body for some fleeting pleasure.
As we started with Samuel and Psalm, so let us finish knowing that God has created you, and your body, with a purpose. So glorify him with it.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Sunday, January 08, 2006
What's the Difference?
INTRODUCTION
The world is full of religions. Virtually every tribe and culture that has ever existed has developed some sort of religious belief. Of course in our time, the push is to accept all religions as equally valid. We call that religious pluralism, and what it simply means is that all religious seeking leads to God. All Paths lead to heaven, right? Sounds good, doesn’t it? But if this is true, then disciples of any religion, be it Hindu, or Muslim, or Shinto, or Christian can all come into contact with the mysterious “other”, using whatever name you want to call it. We simply use the term God.
Of course most Christians, especially Evangelical Christians adamantly deny this possibility. But how do we know there is something different in our religion than in others? What is it that sets us apart? Is it the way we worship, or the rituals we follow? Of course not, for our religion is not based on rituals, but on a relationship with the one and only incarnate God, Jesus Christ. The one through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made that has been made. The creator God who became flesh and dwelt among men. The eternal Logos and only Savior of the world! [But how does that show up in our lives?]
Paul understood there was something special about Christians that allowed him to spot a true believer. Something different that sets us apart. This is evidenced in his question to some disciples he encountered in Ephesus as we see in Acts 19, starting in verse 1.While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. [2] He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
The Non-Christian does not have the Holy Spirit.
You see, this is what sets Christians apart, the Holy Spirit! This is what separates us from merely religious people. We don’t simply try to work to get closer to God, we have God in us.
How he knew they hadn’t received the Holy Spirit is open to speculation, but sometimes it may be obvious! It was to Paul. Perhaps he noticed that they had the form of godliness without the power, perhaps he noticed ritual without the fruit of the spirit, whatever he noticed, he knew something was missing. [He knew that being a disciple without the Holy Spirit is not the same as being a Christian so he asked them in verse 3…]
[3] Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism."
There are Different Types of Religious Disciples.
Well that explains it. John certainly had a productive ministry encouraging people to repent of their sins and to live holy lives. That may be what attracted Paul to them in the first place. They acted sort of Christian. They probably lived moral, upright lives, were faithful in worship, kind and generous, yet lost without Christ. This is the same condition that so many lost souls around the world are in. Those who follow their devotion, saying their prayers, and doing their penance, trying to live a life of good moral character and trying to do enough to please God. This is the state of the disciples of Islam, and Hindu and many other religions. They have a form of godliness, yet they “have never even heard of the Holy Spirit.” They are doing exactly what they have been taught, just like John’s disciples, isn’t that enough. [Isn’t it enough to do the religion you have been taught? In our age of religious pluralism, isn’t that enough! … No. ]
The True Disciple will want to Know the Truth about God. All Truth is Found in Jesus.
If there is any truth to any of the other religions, it must point to Jesus. One of my professors at Seminary, Dr. Ragsdale talks about how missionaries use the Koran to point to Muslims to Jesus, because He is in there and revered as a prophet. If anyone is serious about what the Koran says about Jesus, they must become curious about who he really is. In verse 4, Paul reminded the disciples of John that they needed to listen to what John said.
[4] Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus."
Paul reminds John’s disciples what they had probably already heard and known, that John was the precursor to Jesus. He was just the forerunner of the real thing. John was leading people to Jesus, so his followers were supposed to become believers in Christ. That was the point. You see it didn’t matter how sincere they were about what they believed, what mattered is the substance of what they believed. Sincerity is not the issue, truth is the issue. Jesus has declares that He is the truth, the way and the life. He is the issue. He is what must be believed.
[This news was refreshing to John’s disciples for…]
[5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied-- [7] altogether there were about twelve of them.
Everything Changes Through Faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Difference.
This changed everything! These men had been trying to do what wass right yet had been missing the most important part. It’s like trying to drive a car without an engine, or trying to write a book without words, or trying to breathe without air. It’s impossible. They could not be godly or righteous or holy without the Holy Spirit, which only comes through belief in Jesus Christ. But once they believed in Jesus, once Paul baptized them in water and by the laying on of hands, which was a part of the baptismal ritual, then the Holy Spirit came on them with power! It was almost like another Pentecost, for the Holy Spirit came and many were given the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy. God was revealing himself with power. He was showing the difference. You see there is a huge difference between a disciple of a religion and a Christian in a relationship; it is the power of God through the Holy Spirit. This is what they were lacking, the Holy Spirit, for all true believers in Jesus have the power of the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
Now the question comes, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Many of you may say “Sure, I think so.” Some of you may be more assured, “Absolutely!” Yet some of you may say, “I don’t know. How can I tell?” Well let me assure you that Scripture teaches, that those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and believe the truth about his life death and resurrection have the Holy Spirit. You may say, “Well, I have never spoken in tongues, so how do I know?” Paul says in Romans that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Not every Christian has the gift of tongues, but every Christian has the Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit works in you to convict you of sin, to encourage you to do right, and to remind you of the words of Christ. According to Paul’s words from Romans 8, you should know in your spirit that you have the Holy Spirit living within you. If you question this, then this is your opportunity to make it right. Perhaps you have been doing everything you have known to do, you have been going through all the motions, yet you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit. Well just like the disciples of John, it only takes one opportunity to make it right.
John Wesley was like this. Although he was an Anglican Priest, and had served as a missionary, he still felt that he was missing the assurance of faith that comes with the Holy Spirit. Until one night, at Aldersgate chapel he felt his heart strangely warmed. If you want to believe in Jesus tonight, if you feel a warming in your heart, then you can have an assurance of eternal life and the Holy Spirit. If that is you tonight, and you sense Jesus calling out to you, come and see me after the break and we can discuss it. Jesus has been waiting for this time.
However, for most of us, we know we have the Holy Spirit and have a relationship with Jesus. But I want to ask you, do you experience the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you know what that feels like? I am reminded of a story that Mike Breen relates in his book A Passionate Life. He tells the story of he and his family going to a spa while in England. His daughters had encouraged him to try this “Sun Spa” which supposedly was a tanning room where you could stand on what seemed like the beaches of South Carolina. He reluctantly went into this small dark closet, followed the instructions, put the required goggles on and money in, shut his eyes, then just stood there for the three minutes, hearing the sounds of some motor, but seeing and feeling nothing other than boredom and the disappointment of wasting money. When he came out his daughters were disappointed that he didn’t enjoy it as much as they did and assured him that he just didn’t spend enough time in there to get the full effect. So they coaxed him in there again. This time he spent twice as much money and spent twice as much time enjoying nothing. Nevertheless his daughters persuaded him to give it one more try, with even more time. This time, with more time to waste, he decided to open his eyes. Upon looking around he saw a doorknob, and with a twist of the knob he was out into the glorious light and radiant heat of the South Carolina Beaches. He finally could see and experience what he was supposed to have experienced all the while. All this time he had been standing in the changing room.
Here he thought he was having the experience he was supposed to be having, yet he was missing out on the real thing. Is that how your Christian life is? Have you been missing out on the power of the Holy Spirit? Have you been standing in the changing room, so close to the true Christianity, yet not experiencing the Power that you are to have? Perhaps your Christianity is more like the disciples of John than you care to admit. Although you know who to believe in, putting your faith and trust in him is as hard as finding a doorknob in the dark. Put your trust in Jesus, open the door, and let the power of the Holy Spirit transform your life. Let it be today.
The world is full of religions. Virtually every tribe and culture that has ever existed has developed some sort of religious belief. Of course in our time, the push is to accept all religions as equally valid. We call that religious pluralism, and what it simply means is that all religious seeking leads to God. All Paths lead to heaven, right? Sounds good, doesn’t it? But if this is true, then disciples of any religion, be it Hindu, or Muslim, or Shinto, or Christian can all come into contact with the mysterious “other”, using whatever name you want to call it. We simply use the term God.
Of course most Christians, especially Evangelical Christians adamantly deny this possibility. But how do we know there is something different in our religion than in others? What is it that sets us apart? Is it the way we worship, or the rituals we follow? Of course not, for our religion is not based on rituals, but on a relationship with the one and only incarnate God, Jesus Christ. The one through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made that has been made. The creator God who became flesh and dwelt among men. The eternal Logos and only Savior of the world! [But how does that show up in our lives?]
Paul understood there was something special about Christians that allowed him to spot a true believer. Something different that sets us apart. This is evidenced in his question to some disciples he encountered in Ephesus as we see in Acts 19, starting in verse 1.While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. [2] He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
The Non-Christian does not have the Holy Spirit.
You see, this is what sets Christians apart, the Holy Spirit! This is what separates us from merely religious people. We don’t simply try to work to get closer to God, we have God in us.
How he knew they hadn’t received the Holy Spirit is open to speculation, but sometimes it may be obvious! It was to Paul. Perhaps he noticed that they had the form of godliness without the power, perhaps he noticed ritual without the fruit of the spirit, whatever he noticed, he knew something was missing. [He knew that being a disciple without the Holy Spirit is not the same as being a Christian so he asked them in verse 3…]
[3] Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism."
There are Different Types of Religious Disciples.
Well that explains it. John certainly had a productive ministry encouraging people to repent of their sins and to live holy lives. That may be what attracted Paul to them in the first place. They acted sort of Christian. They probably lived moral, upright lives, were faithful in worship, kind and generous, yet lost without Christ. This is the same condition that so many lost souls around the world are in. Those who follow their devotion, saying their prayers, and doing their penance, trying to live a life of good moral character and trying to do enough to please God. This is the state of the disciples of Islam, and Hindu and many other religions. They have a form of godliness, yet they “have never even heard of the Holy Spirit.” They are doing exactly what they have been taught, just like John’s disciples, isn’t that enough. [Isn’t it enough to do the religion you have been taught? In our age of religious pluralism, isn’t that enough! … No. ]
The True Disciple will want to Know the Truth about God. All Truth is Found in Jesus.
If there is any truth to any of the other religions, it must point to Jesus. One of my professors at Seminary, Dr. Ragsdale talks about how missionaries use the Koran to point to Muslims to Jesus, because He is in there and revered as a prophet. If anyone is serious about what the Koran says about Jesus, they must become curious about who he really is. In verse 4, Paul reminded the disciples of John that they needed to listen to what John said.
[4] Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus."
Paul reminds John’s disciples what they had probably already heard and known, that John was the precursor to Jesus. He was just the forerunner of the real thing. John was leading people to Jesus, so his followers were supposed to become believers in Christ. That was the point. You see it didn’t matter how sincere they were about what they believed, what mattered is the substance of what they believed. Sincerity is not the issue, truth is the issue. Jesus has declares that He is the truth, the way and the life. He is the issue. He is what must be believed.
[This news was refreshing to John’s disciples for…]
[5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied-- [7] altogether there were about twelve of them.
Everything Changes Through Faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Difference.
This changed everything! These men had been trying to do what wass right yet had been missing the most important part. It’s like trying to drive a car without an engine, or trying to write a book without words, or trying to breathe without air. It’s impossible. They could not be godly or righteous or holy without the Holy Spirit, which only comes through belief in Jesus Christ. But once they believed in Jesus, once Paul baptized them in water and by the laying on of hands, which was a part of the baptismal ritual, then the Holy Spirit came on them with power! It was almost like another Pentecost, for the Holy Spirit came and many were given the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy. God was revealing himself with power. He was showing the difference. You see there is a huge difference between a disciple of a religion and a Christian in a relationship; it is the power of God through the Holy Spirit. This is what they were lacking, the Holy Spirit, for all true believers in Jesus have the power of the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
Now the question comes, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Many of you may say “Sure, I think so.” Some of you may be more assured, “Absolutely!” Yet some of you may say, “I don’t know. How can I tell?” Well let me assure you that Scripture teaches, that those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and believe the truth about his life death and resurrection have the Holy Spirit. You may say, “Well, I have never spoken in tongues, so how do I know?” Paul says in Romans that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Not every Christian has the gift of tongues, but every Christian has the Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit works in you to convict you of sin, to encourage you to do right, and to remind you of the words of Christ. According to Paul’s words from Romans 8, you should know in your spirit that you have the Holy Spirit living within you. If you question this, then this is your opportunity to make it right. Perhaps you have been doing everything you have known to do, you have been going through all the motions, yet you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit. Well just like the disciples of John, it only takes one opportunity to make it right.
John Wesley was like this. Although he was an Anglican Priest, and had served as a missionary, he still felt that he was missing the assurance of faith that comes with the Holy Spirit. Until one night, at Aldersgate chapel he felt his heart strangely warmed. If you want to believe in Jesus tonight, if you feel a warming in your heart, then you can have an assurance of eternal life and the Holy Spirit. If that is you tonight, and you sense Jesus calling out to you, come and see me after the break and we can discuss it. Jesus has been waiting for this time.
However, for most of us, we know we have the Holy Spirit and have a relationship with Jesus. But I want to ask you, do you experience the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you know what that feels like? I am reminded of a story that Mike Breen relates in his book A Passionate Life. He tells the story of he and his family going to a spa while in England. His daughters had encouraged him to try this “Sun Spa” which supposedly was a tanning room where you could stand on what seemed like the beaches of South Carolina. He reluctantly went into this small dark closet, followed the instructions, put the required goggles on and money in, shut his eyes, then just stood there for the three minutes, hearing the sounds of some motor, but seeing and feeling nothing other than boredom and the disappointment of wasting money. When he came out his daughters were disappointed that he didn’t enjoy it as much as they did and assured him that he just didn’t spend enough time in there to get the full effect. So they coaxed him in there again. This time he spent twice as much money and spent twice as much time enjoying nothing. Nevertheless his daughters persuaded him to give it one more try, with even more time. This time, with more time to waste, he decided to open his eyes. Upon looking around he saw a doorknob, and with a twist of the knob he was out into the glorious light and radiant heat of the South Carolina Beaches. He finally could see and experience what he was supposed to have experienced all the while. All this time he had been standing in the changing room.
Here he thought he was having the experience he was supposed to be having, yet he was missing out on the real thing. Is that how your Christian life is? Have you been missing out on the power of the Holy Spirit? Have you been standing in the changing room, so close to the true Christianity, yet not experiencing the Power that you are to have? Perhaps your Christianity is more like the disciples of John than you care to admit. Although you know who to believe in, putting your faith and trust in him is as hard as finding a doorknob in the dark. Put your trust in Jesus, open the door, and let the power of the Holy Spirit transform your life. Let it be today.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Jump for Joy
Last week we just celebrated the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Now as adults, when we celebrate birthdays we usually try to keep them low key. We try not to get too excited, but we really play up the birthdays for the children. I guess we kind of do the same thing with Christmas. We play it up for the children but as an adult its something we have become accustomed too. It’s old hat to us. Nothing really special anymore, it appears, at least not for us, its all for the children. Let me ask you something, do you think that was God’s intent? For Christmas to be something for children? Are children the only ones who were to get excited about the coming of the Messiah, the Christ?
As I looked through the various Christmas stories in the Scriptures I tried to count all the children that were excited about this baby’s birth and you know how many I found? None. Not even the little drummer boy. But you know how many adults I found excited, shouting, almost jumping in excitement? Nearly all of them, except for king Herod and some of his wise men. Yet in a very real way even he was excited and moved to action at the report of this child being born. Because Christmas is supposed to evoke action, not because of all the toys that need assembled, or the decorations that need to go up and come down, but because the world has been changed by God stepping foot into it. This is a time to celebrate!
Let’s look at one example of this from the book of Luke of a man who realized this was reason to celebrate, Simeon. In the second chapter of Luke, starting in verse 22 we see the story of Simeon. Of course this is after the angels have already appeared and proclaimed the good news, after the shepherds have gone out and told everyone they could find about this savior who was born, after he was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name Jesus, now, Joseph and Mary were taking Jesus to the temple. Luke 2:22-33
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord [23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), [24] and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
There are a few important details here that I want us to make sure we catch. First, Jesus, and his parents were good Jews. They were following the letter of the law as found in Leviticus 12. This took place a when Jesus was a little more than a month old. And notice that the offering that was given was the offering of a poor family, two turtledoves. Why was this important? Because it proves that what was about to happen with Simeon was not tipped off by some pomp and circumstance. That Jesus, Mary and Joseph came as humble poor people to the temple to do what devotion required, as they desired to fulfill all the laws of the Lord. But as the story continues, these were not ordinary poor folk from Bethlehem, for this was no ordinary child. This was the long awaited child, as Simeon was about to announce.
[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. [26] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. [27] Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;
So what do we know about Simeon. He was righteous and devout. He was a good Jew. He was looking forward to the consolation of Israel, which means he was expecting God to do something. He was not one of those who believed things were okay the way the were. He knew that God would do something to change the status of Israel, of God’s people, and he longed for it. I think this is something that our religious fervor lacks today, it lacks the expectancy that God is going to do something. In most places it lacks the possibility that God can do something. Yet even in those places where we believe that God can do something, we really don’t long for it. We kind of hope God holds off for a while. We would really like him to wait until we see our children married, or our grandchildren married, or until we get married. It may be that we hope he waits until we get that job we always wanted, or until we get that house we always wanted or take that vacation we always wanted. It would almost be okay if we were hoping he would hold off so that our friends and relatives could come to salvation, come to know him, and perhaps for some of us that is the reason we would rather he wait. But I wish we could be more like Simeon hope with expectancy and longing such that we would desire to see God’s plan unfold. That we would desire to see the salvation of the world. That we would desire to see the Lord’s Messiah, the Christ, above all other desires.
Of course we also have a clue as to why this was Simeons desire and hope, because he was a man that had the Holy Spirit and was guided by the Holy Spirit. As we have said many times, a person guided by the Holy Spirit, guided by God himself has different desires, different plans and goals than one who is guided by his own spirit. It is so much better to be guided by the Holy Spirit than to be guided by the solely Spirit.
So as he was guided by the Spirit, he went to the temple (v 27b)
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, [28] Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,
As the Holy Spirit led him to be in this place, he led him to have his deepest desire fulfilled. This may be a prooftext for the idea that if you want your deepest desires fulfilled, let them come from the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, look at his reaction. Right away he recognized this child and he wanted to touch him. And when he lifted him in his arms, his face probably filled with so much excitement he couldn’t contain the smile, he began praising God. Listen to what he says…
[29] "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
[30] for my eyes have seen your salvation,
[31] which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
[32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
Now I can go in peace because I have seen your salvation. A light that will reveal you to the Gentiles, and your glory for the Jews. This is who was brought into the temple. This is who this child is. Oh that the world would recognize, both Jew and Gentile who this child we celebrate at Christmas is. If the world would recognize, then perhaps we would spend the day praising God for God has been revealed, salvation has been made possible, God has come to earth. Simeon thought this was something to shout about, something to praise God for. He might have even jumped for joy!
Is that how Christmas makes you feel? Is that how Jesus makes you feel? To know that God has stepped down to earth to be reveal himself to you so that you may know him! Doesn’t that make you just want to shout hallelujah? To know that God has reached down into our hurting, sinful try to be religious as we might, world and said, I am here for you, doesn’t that make you want to jump and shout? You see I don’t think we know who God is if we don’t want to. I don’t think we understand what it means to have a savior. I don’t think we understand what it means to know God if we can just sit back and think “oh that’s God, that’s nice”. None of the people in the Christmas story in the Bible could do it! Except for those that were so awestruck and spellbound that they couldn’t say a thing. Maybe that’s where we are today. And there maybe times for that, but I would rather be jumping for joy at Jesus. Knowing that God loves me so much that he would send himself to come and get me. Wow! That’s better than any hole in one, or any Superbowl victory, that’s better than any straight A report card or clean bill of health. That’s better than anything this world could ever imagine, because God loves you! Hallelujah! Let’s praise him! Let’s celebrate Jesus!
As I looked through the various Christmas stories in the Scriptures I tried to count all the children that were excited about this baby’s birth and you know how many I found? None. Not even the little drummer boy. But you know how many adults I found excited, shouting, almost jumping in excitement? Nearly all of them, except for king Herod and some of his wise men. Yet in a very real way even he was excited and moved to action at the report of this child being born. Because Christmas is supposed to evoke action, not because of all the toys that need assembled, or the decorations that need to go up and come down, but because the world has been changed by God stepping foot into it. This is a time to celebrate!
Let’s look at one example of this from the book of Luke of a man who realized this was reason to celebrate, Simeon. In the second chapter of Luke, starting in verse 22 we see the story of Simeon. Of course this is after the angels have already appeared and proclaimed the good news, after the shepherds have gone out and told everyone they could find about this savior who was born, after he was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name Jesus, now, Joseph and Mary were taking Jesus to the temple. Luke 2:22-33
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord [23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), [24] and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
There are a few important details here that I want us to make sure we catch. First, Jesus, and his parents were good Jews. They were following the letter of the law as found in Leviticus 12. This took place a when Jesus was a little more than a month old. And notice that the offering that was given was the offering of a poor family, two turtledoves. Why was this important? Because it proves that what was about to happen with Simeon was not tipped off by some pomp and circumstance. That Jesus, Mary and Joseph came as humble poor people to the temple to do what devotion required, as they desired to fulfill all the laws of the Lord. But as the story continues, these were not ordinary poor folk from Bethlehem, for this was no ordinary child. This was the long awaited child, as Simeon was about to announce.
[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. [26] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. [27] Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;
So what do we know about Simeon. He was righteous and devout. He was a good Jew. He was looking forward to the consolation of Israel, which means he was expecting God to do something. He was not one of those who believed things were okay the way the were. He knew that God would do something to change the status of Israel, of God’s people, and he longed for it. I think this is something that our religious fervor lacks today, it lacks the expectancy that God is going to do something. In most places it lacks the possibility that God can do something. Yet even in those places where we believe that God can do something, we really don’t long for it. We kind of hope God holds off for a while. We would really like him to wait until we see our children married, or our grandchildren married, or until we get married. It may be that we hope he waits until we get that job we always wanted, or until we get that house we always wanted or take that vacation we always wanted. It would almost be okay if we were hoping he would hold off so that our friends and relatives could come to salvation, come to know him, and perhaps for some of us that is the reason we would rather he wait. But I wish we could be more like Simeon hope with expectancy and longing such that we would desire to see God’s plan unfold. That we would desire to see the salvation of the world. That we would desire to see the Lord’s Messiah, the Christ, above all other desires.
Of course we also have a clue as to why this was Simeons desire and hope, because he was a man that had the Holy Spirit and was guided by the Holy Spirit. As we have said many times, a person guided by the Holy Spirit, guided by God himself has different desires, different plans and goals than one who is guided by his own spirit. It is so much better to be guided by the Holy Spirit than to be guided by the solely Spirit.
So as he was guided by the Spirit, he went to the temple (v 27b)
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, [28] Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,
As the Holy Spirit led him to be in this place, he led him to have his deepest desire fulfilled. This may be a prooftext for the idea that if you want your deepest desires fulfilled, let them come from the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, look at his reaction. Right away he recognized this child and he wanted to touch him. And when he lifted him in his arms, his face probably filled with so much excitement he couldn’t contain the smile, he began praising God. Listen to what he says…
[29] "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
[30] for my eyes have seen your salvation,
[31] which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
[32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
Now I can go in peace because I have seen your salvation. A light that will reveal you to the Gentiles, and your glory for the Jews. This is who was brought into the temple. This is who this child is. Oh that the world would recognize, both Jew and Gentile who this child we celebrate at Christmas is. If the world would recognize, then perhaps we would spend the day praising God for God has been revealed, salvation has been made possible, God has come to earth. Simeon thought this was something to shout about, something to praise God for. He might have even jumped for joy!
Is that how Christmas makes you feel? Is that how Jesus makes you feel? To know that God has stepped down to earth to be reveal himself to you so that you may know him! Doesn’t that make you just want to shout hallelujah? To know that God has reached down into our hurting, sinful try to be religious as we might, world and said, I am here for you, doesn’t that make you want to jump and shout? You see I don’t think we know who God is if we don’t want to. I don’t think we understand what it means to have a savior. I don’t think we understand what it means to know God if we can just sit back and think “oh that’s God, that’s nice”. None of the people in the Christmas story in the Bible could do it! Except for those that were so awestruck and spellbound that they couldn’t say a thing. Maybe that’s where we are today. And there maybe times for that, but I would rather be jumping for joy at Jesus. Knowing that God loves me so much that he would send himself to come and get me. Wow! That’s better than any hole in one, or any Superbowl victory, that’s better than any straight A report card or clean bill of health. That’s better than anything this world could ever imagine, because God loves you! Hallelujah! Let’s praise him! Let’s celebrate Jesus!
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