Christmas in the Words of Simeon

Driving home: A better rendering would be Now art thou releasing thy slave, supreme master, according to thy word in peace. For Simeon does not use the normal word for Lord but he uses the word from which we get our English word despo…

Simeon's words 'Now lettest thou thy servant depart' are likened to a slave master formally releasing his slaves from all legal obligation, illustrating Simeon's release from earthly service to a higher sphere of worship.

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, according to thy word in peace. A better rendering would be Now art thou releasing thy slave, supreme master, according to thy word in peace. For Simeon does not use the normal word for Lord but he uses the word from which we get our English word despot. And this is a picture of a slave being released from his legitimate master to a life of freedom.

14:34 - 15:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: My friend it is not some perverse theological hobby horse that we ride when we emphasize that you dare not look upon Jesus of Nazareth and divorce him and his mission from God's purposes rooted in eternity for Simeon in …

The parable of a king preparing a marriage feast is used to illustrate the meaning of 'prepared,' showing that God's salvation is not an afterthought but a carefully planned and executed provision, with every need anticipated.

king who made a marriage feast for his son and he sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast and they would not come and he sent forth other servants saying tell them that are bidden behold I have made ready my dinner my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready now suppose you came to such a feast where someone is declared everything has been made ready it's the same word everything is prepared what does it mean well it means that someone has thought out clearly all that would be needed to provide a feast for X number of guests they have gone to...

24:24 - 25:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: but the glory of Israel according to the apostle in Romans nine is that to Israel was given the covenants to Israel the promises to Israel the oracles and her crowning blessing was what of whom as concerning the flesh Ch…

The connection between the wise men's gifts and modern Christmas present exchange is dismissed as having 'about as much to do with one another as bananas with Boeing 707s,' emphasizing that the Magi's visit is about God's global mission, not gift-giving rationale.

Gentiles and shortly after this very announcement of Simeon when we fit the chronology of the various gospel records together something that is very difficult to do in some places but not here this is where we fit the record of Matthew chapter 2 there were wise men coming from the east that is from the farthest reaches of the then known world clustered around the infancy of Jesus is this coming of the Magi what are they they are not a feeble excuse for the exchange of presents on Christmas and God's not have mercy on everybody who tries to use the wise men presenting gifts as the rationale for...

34:46 - 36:15 Read in full sermon

The point: The acid test of the Holy Spirit's work in you is your estimation of Jesus: do you see Him as worthy of your trust, confidence, and allegiance?

The 'acid test' of the Holy Spirit's work is described as loving attachment to Jesus and understanding that He is the Savior of the nations, demonstrating that true spirituality leads to both personal devotion and missionary concern.

he received him into his arms the evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit is not chills up and down our spine it's not tongues it's not prophecies it's not extraordinary manifestations the indisputable evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit is this loving attachment to Jesus as revealed in scripture being a man under the influence of the spirit coming by the direction of the spirit into the proximity of the Lord Jesus he embraced him he received him in his arms my friend if the spirit of God is at work in you this will be the acid test what is your estimation of Jesus do you see him worthy...

43:39 - 45:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that God can transport any of us, regardless of our profession or age, to spread the light of the Son of God to other lands.

Examples of a secretary, factory worker, and little boy are used to illustrate how God can use anyone's gifts and circumstances to spread the light of the Son of God to the nations, emphasizing that no one is exempt from missionary application.

well begin to pray it in earnest begin to plead with God in earnest that whatever his being a light to the nations means in your experience in our experience as a congregation that God will give us wisdom to know what that means and grace that to do his holy will and I'm convinced that that's true of us as a congregation by next year this time some of us aren't going to be here geographically and I don't say us editorially God has the right to take any one of us in a place of leadership and transport us to spread the light of the son of God oh but I'm just a secretary God God owns your secreta...

50:35 - 52:03 Read in full sermon