Faithfulness & Obedience: Keys to a Great 2007, part 2- The Stories of Simeon and Anna
A sermon for Christ’s Church at Monticello January 7, 2007
Gregg A. Nydegger



Luke 2:25-32 (NIV)
25    Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26    It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27    Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.  When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28    Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29    "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30    For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31    which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32    a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
33    The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34    Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35    so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

WHO WAS SIMEON?

He was righteous and devout


Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
4    Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5    Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
18    " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the LORD.


WHO WAS SIMEON?

•    He was a man of the Word
•    He was waiting on the promises of God;
a man of faith and hope


Isaiah 40:1-5 (NIV)
1    Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2    Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
3    A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
4    Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5    And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 49:6 (NIV)
6    he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.  I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 60:1-3 (NIV)
1    "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2    See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3    Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.



WHO WAS SIMEON?

He listened to the LORD

Isaiah 1:2a (NIV)
2    Hear, O heavens!  Listen, O earth!  For the LORD has spoken:

Isaiah 6:9-10 (NIV)
9    He said, "Go and tell this people: " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'
10    Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."


WHO WAS SIMEON?

He was full of the Holy Spirit


WHO WAS SIMEON?

He was near the Lord


Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
1    "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.


Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)
36    There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37    and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38    Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

WHO WAS ANNA?

She was a very old widow who lived in the joy of the LORD


WHO WAS ANNA?

She was a prophetess
    Like Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
    Like Deborah (Judges 4:4)
    Like Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:22)


Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)
28    "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29    Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.


WHO WAS ANNA?

She was devout;
a worshipper in Spirit and in truth



Joel 2:12-14a (NIV)
12    "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
13    Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
14a    Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—



    GOD USES ANYONE WHO SUBMITS TO HIS WILL


    BE EXPECTANT

Romans 4:18-22 (NIV)
18    Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
19    Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
20    Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21    being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
22    This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

    BE THANKFUL

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV)
16    Be joyful always;
17    pray continually;
18    give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


    BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE (SPIRITUALLY) WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE


    DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU

James 4:8a (NIV)
8    Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
13    I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14    Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.


    Copyright 2007 Gregg A. Nydegger