Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
3 However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready. 3 You are still [b] worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not [c]unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]? 4 For when one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just] ordinary people?
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
The Bible describes new believers as feeding on “milk.”
We need to come to a point where we are no longer “spiritual babies” but mature into “spiritual adults.”
The most important reason is for our lives to reflect the nature of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual maturity is something that should be a priority for every Christian. It’s important in our lives for how we serve God, interact with other people, and take care of our families.
As we get into our topic, I invite you to take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to open your understanding of His word and will. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the word of God to us.
What Is Spiritual Maturity According to the Bible?
Many people claim to be Christians, but there is a difference between being a fan of Jesus and a follower of Jesus.
Our measure of spiritual maturity can define what side of the fence we are on.
To be a follower of Jesus is to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’” (Mark 8:34).
The Gospel of Luke gives us an even more specific reference by saying we must do so on a daily basis.
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. (Luke 9:23)
And the Gospel of Matthew adds statement to this discussion ….
48 You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
The Gospel of Matthew raises the standard even higher by telling us to what exacting measure we are expected to devote the entirety of our lives – Utterly!
Discipleship Is Costly
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].(Matthew 16:24)
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the past.
Do you remember where the Lord met you?
More than likely, he met you in your mess.
God is so good that he pushes beyond the barriers of the world’s rejection to meet his lost sheep wherever and whenever and why ever they may be there.
Here is one thing we must resolve to try harder to understand infinitely better.
Though God meets us in our mess and accepts us as we are, he does not want us to stay that way.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God (Hebrews 6:1).
God’s plan is for us to move beyond the elementary teachings and to grow more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.
This is what spiritual maturity is — for all our characteristics to be more like Jesus in every way.
Why Is Spiritual Maturity Important?
The Bible describes new believers as feeding on “milk.”
We need to come to a point where we are no longer “spiritual babies” but mature into “spiritual adults” (1 Corinthians 3:2).
We need to grow into eating “solid food” and not only feed ourselves but feed others as well.
The most important reason to mature would be for our lives to reflect the nature of Jesus Christ.
There are also many other reasons for maturing such as:
Being able to lead our families like Jesus
Disciple other believers
Being equipped for every good work
To see the kingdom of God
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
What Else Does the Word of God Reveal?
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:21-25).
Only a person who is constantly maturing, being constantly matured by God can effectively lead and serve the family in this way.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:16-20).
So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
To be equipped for every good work and make disciples, we need to have more knowledge of God’s Word, how to apply it and teach it.
This is something that an only come as a result of our growing in the Lord.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).
Spiritual maturity is an expected result when we are born again.
Spiritual Maturity is ever so critically important for edifying the Kingdom of God because we are not called to remain the same sinful person we once were.
If we compare this scripture along with Mark 8:34 from earlier, we will see that in order for us to see the kingdom of God, we will need to do two things:
Be born again and carry our cross, utterly completely, daily and to follow Jesus.
What this combination does is lead us into a new Christ-centered life.
When you are born again, the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling in you and changes you to be more like Jesus.
It is a process known as regeneration.
The Holy Spirit is removing the residue of the world and sin and making you new in Christ.
Carrying our cross as the Word of God expects, to follow Jesus is putting away the whole of our old self with its host of sinful desires, to being obedient to him.
Spiritual maturity places greater and greater importance on our living holy.
It is important to maintain this lifestyle because Jesus says without being born again, we will not see the kingdom of God.
This is the beginning of spiritual maturity.
Our maturity is a reflection of our relationship with God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
If we are not maturing in our relationship with God, we cannot bear fruit of the Spirit.
Our maturity also helps us grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction (Proverbs 16:21).
How to Achieve Spiritual Maturity
I want to leave you with steps you can take to mature spiritually.
These very steps will guarantee spiritual growth when diligently applied.
First, we must build a life of prayer and worship.
Intimacy is what God is looking for and this is how the Holy Spirit will fill you.
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
We also must be reading our Bibles and applying it to our everyday lives.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:22-25).
Last, we need to also congregate with a spirit-filled church family.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Growing spiritually requires growing in prayer, worship, and knowledge of the Bible.
Most importantly, to mature spiritually means to grow in faith and repentance.
I want to make it a point that spiritual maturity is a process.
The grace of the Lord Jesus allows us to grow in our faith and the more we do, the more we will look like Jesus.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace ….
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Jesus, Perfecter of my Faith, my only Savior, You have taught us through Your Apostle Paul that we should leave childish things behind us, and look to You to move forward to a greater understanding of spiritual matters. Part of maturity is learning when to do this, and acting upon the motivation to press forward. Help me to recognize when it is time for me to grow up. Allow me to take on new spiritual challenges, that I may be ever more refined through service to You and my neighbor. In Your precious name.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
3 However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready. 3 You are still [b]worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not [c]unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]? 4 For when one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just] ordinary people?
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
I remember very vividly those moments in my young life when Mama standing in front of me, her hands poised on her hips, her eyes glaring with hot coals of fire and saying in no nonsense tones, “Just what is the big idea, young man?”
Instinctively I definitely knew that my mother was not asking me an abstract question about any theory outside of her own regarding right versus wrong.
Her question was not a question at all—it was a thinly veiled, soul piercing, “wait until your father gets home” accusation.
Her words were easily translated to mean,
“Why are you doing what you are doing?”
She was challenging me to justify my behavior with a valid idea.
Obviously, I had none – and knew better than to even try and offer one.
Some years ago, several “friends” asked myself and a whole “likeminded” group of “interested Christian’s” – in all earnestness – essentially the exact same question with the same exact intensity and purpose of the stare.
It was just the beginning of the New Year ….
They asked, “What’s the big idea of the Christian life anyway?”
They were interested in the overarching, ultimate goal of the Christian life.
To answer his question,
In my lay person’s mind, several thoughts came to the forefront as I just “watched” this group of people espouse their individual thoughts and those of their friends and their Pastors.
I fell back onto the theologian’s prerogative and gave them a Latin term I had just encountered, but not yet began to understand, in my own personal studies.
I said, to myself and to “them” as I read the Facebook conversation unfold:
From my own “youthful” Christian experience, I commented back to them;
“The big idea of the Christian life is Coram Deo – Life in our Savior Christ Jesus.
Coram Deo captures the essence of the Christian life.”
It was not long before that group of “like-minded Christians” had me banned entirely from commenting or posting any further – clearly, I got someone mad.
Clearly, I got a whole bunch of somebodies mad, offended a whole lot of souls.
In all likelihood, I offended people with what they perceived as “my hypocrisy.”
Clearly they were not going to give me any chance of redemption, were not the least bit interested in offering me mercy or forgiveness so to God be the Glory!
Over the intervening years of independent study of the scriptures and also the writing of these devotions, and an abundantly fervent effort at my prayer life,
I have since learned more about “Coram Deo”
It is nowhere near a thorough understanding because it is such a broad term.
It will mean different things to different people based on their experiences.
If you are reading this and you have been academically trained, and educated through Seminary or Schools of Theology and also have your degrees and your ordinations in hand – you will obviously have a higher understanding than I do.
Please feel free to enlighten me further on my “understanding” of this matter if my own “uninformed” and “uneducated” efforts at explaining it here fall a bit short.
What I have “discovered” is briefly this ….
This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God.
To live Coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.
To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are all acting under the all judging gaze of God.
God is omnipresent.
There is no place so remote, so invisible to the naked eye of human kind, that we can escape His penetrating gaze. (Psalm 139:1-13)
To be aware of the presence of God is also to be acutely aware of His complete sovereignty.
The uniform experience of the saints is to recognize that if God is God, then He is indeed sovereign.
When Saul was suddenly confronted by the full refulgent glory of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his immediate question, “Who Are You, Lord?”
He wasn’t the least bit sure who was suddenly speaking to him, but he knew that whomever it was, was abundantly and certainly far sovereign over him.
Our Living under divine sovereignty involves more than a reluctant submission to sheer sovereignty which is suddenly motivated out of a fear of punishment.
It involves recognizing that there is no higher goal than offering honor to God.
Our lives, in that very instant of being in the Presence of our Savior are to be, become living sacrifices, oblations offered in a spirit of adoration and gratitude.
To live all of life Coram Deo is to live a life of integrity.
It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God.
A fragmented life is a life of disintegration.
It is marked by inconsistency, disharmony, division, divisiveness, disunity, confusion, conflict, contradiction, spiritual immaturity, hypocrisy and chaos.
The Christian who compartmentalizes his or her life into two sections of the religious and the nonreligious has failed to grasp the big idea.
The big idea is that either all of our life is religious or none of life is religious.
To divide life between the religious and the nonreligious is itself a sacrilege.
I believe this means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a steelmaker, attorney, or laborer or homemaker Coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as religiously as a soul-winning evangelist who lives to fulfill his vocation.
It means that David was as religious when he obeyed God’s call to be a shepherd and Warrior as he was when he was anointed with the special grace of kingship.
It means that Jesus was every bit as religious when He worked in His father’s carpenter shop, ministered to people, as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane.
There is much truth in our making the statement that integrity and maturity is found where men and women try to live their lives in a pattern of consistency.
It is a pattern that functions the same basic way in church and out of church.
It is a life that is open before God.
It is a life in which all that is done is done as “unto the Lord.”
It is a life lived by principle, not personality or expediency; by humility before God, obedience to the covenant precepts of God not prideful, blatant defiance.
A life lived under the tutelage of conscience, imprisoned by the Word of God.
Coram Deo. . . before the face of God. That’s the big idea. Next to this idea our other goals and ambitions become mere trifles.
Life lived fully, completely, abundantly in the presence of Savior Jesus Christ!
We are each “Sermons in Our Shoes” ….
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
A “Coram Deo” reminder courtesy of the Holy Spirit, that where ever a Christian walks, whenever he or she talks, is expected to share the Gospel news to others.
Whether it be by one’s actions, attitudes, or personal testimony,
Coram Deo – by their baptism, a Christian is always “A Sermon In Shoes.”
Again and again as it is necessary in our immaturity to repeat it It goes along with something American evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) once said:
“The preaching that this world most needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking and talking with Jesus Christ.”
Coram Deo . . . in the presence and under the max authority of Jehovah God ….
Coram Deo … looking square into His eyes and lived before the face of God.
That’s the big idea.
Next to this idea all of our other goals and ambitions become mere trifles.
So, from within your own life experiences what is your understanding of;
“Coram Deo ….”
Is it what you “thought it was?”
Is it where you believed it was?
Be it RESOLVED then, this is what needs to be addressed to make it RIGHT …
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
THE COVENANT PRAYER IN THE WESLEYAN TRADITION ….
“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis, Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
The Life We Now Live is Often A Reflection of the Thoughts We Have Thought, Are Now Thinking.
Yes! I know that statement sounds rather obvious.
But is it one for which we ever stop, take any quality time to think about?
Or does it seem to be too obvious that we take it far too much for granted?
Consider this …..
The Winds go whichever direction they go.
Why?
Who but a weatherman or an airplane pilot or a sailor or a ships captain ever really cares about the “whatever” directions of the speeds it blows or shifts.
The Winds are just “there” and we acknowledge them and move on without a second or third or fourth thought – shrug our shoulders and fly away to glory.
Unless, of course – you are about to be in the middle of a blizzard or a tornado or a hurricane and are about to have your whole life major league rearranged.
Like whitewater rapids rushing you downstream, your thoughts move your life in the direction of their strongest currents.
The thoughts you and I think, believe, hold onto, ruminate, obsess about and use to support your decisions determine your view of everything and everyone around you, up to and including yourself.
You and I probably don’t stop and think about the power your thoughts have over our lives—which only increases the power they have to determine your decisions and shape your actions, determine the shifting sands of our life.
Simply put, what you and I think determines what you and believe.
Every thought in our brain produces a neurochemical change in your mind.
And these thoughts shape your life.
Once our thoughts determine what you believe, these beliefs then determine how you and I behave.
In many ways, you become what you think about.
Therefore, the better you and I grasp the importance of our thoughts, the better equipped you and I will be to change our lives in powerful kingdom of God ways.
Drawing on what the Word of God tells us about the power of our thoughts as well as what we can learn from modern psychology, particularly an area called cognitive behavioral therapy, we have the ability to change lives for the better.
We can live according to the principles and promises God gives us and enjoy being all that he created us to be or live according to cultures shifting winds.
Otherwise, our thoughts will continue to sweep us away in dangerous currents of clever deception, wild misinformation, and lies from our enemy, the devil.
God told us this truth more than 1,500 years ago: “For as thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).
God knows better than we can ever know, what we focus on mentally affects every single aspect of our lives because He created us that way. Isaiah 55:7-9
But, still, God calls us out of our day to day thoughts, our day to day obsessions over ourselves, our families, our friends, our finances, our health situations.
God is always ever more aware of what it is our lives are being challenged by.
Despite whatever the magnitude of whatever it is we are challenged by, we are still summoned to go forth “in the midst of these things” to be God’s witnesses.
We are summoned away from the great winds of our thoughts which blow us about in every which direction, by our Baptism we are still “Sermons in Shoes.”
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
Think of it, about and upon it and believe mightily upon it, “a sermon in shoes.”
Psalm 139:23-24English Standard Version
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts![a] 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting![b]
If you will recall, these very familiar verses, of the context of this psalm is David expressing his thoughts of his confidence that the Lord who knows all, and who thinks of, knows him intimately, can vindicate him in the midst of his accusers.
God knows that David is without blame–at least in terms of the accusations fired against him.
In these closing thoughts from, David is baring his soul, very willing to have the sum total of his very deepest, most intimate thoughts laid bare before the Lord.
Not only is he confident that such an examination will demonstrate that he is innocent of the crimes ascribed to him, but that he may also be made aware of any sinful thoughts which remain unacknowledged, that need to be dealt with.
In other words, David not only sought complete vindication before men, but also a complete sanctification, a complete healing of his soul before his God.
Verse 23 is not so much David granting the Lord permission to search his heart–the Lord hardly needs, nor asks, nor demands, for such permission.
He knows our hearts whether we want Him to or not.
Rather, David declares himself completely willing and utterly welcoming of such an indescribable magnitude of scrutiny by his Creator.
So sure is he of his innocence, that he knows the Lord will find nothing to hold against him with regard to the matter at hand.
We do not know exactly what this matter is, but David’s words challenge us: are we so sure of the truthfulness and sincerity of our words and the magnitude of our own “wildly windy” thoughts, we too would welcome the Lord’s examination of them?
As we have repeatedly noted, the Lord already knows our hearts, our motives, our worry and anxious thoughts and the honesty (or lack thereof) of our speech.
Is the thought of this something that makes us uncomfortable, or at peace?
If by our thoughts we feel at all uncomfortable, then maybe we are harboring additional thoughts and hidden, covert, and discrete motives we shouldn’t.
David’s “disquieting thoughts” are those thoughts which cause him to be troubled, or anxious.
Again, the challenge is whether we are at peace with our thought life.
Psalm 19:11-14The Message
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
When the light of God’s truth is shone upon our lives, do we squirm and hide, become disquieted, or do we stand before our Savior Jesus with confidence?
Do we want to bare our thoughts, do we want our sin to be illuminated by our Heavenly Father, so He might lead us away from that path to the eternal path?
Or do we want to stay quiet, stay hidden within wild winds of culture, hide our sin away from everyone, and try to protect it from the Lord’s cleansing grace?
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
Think of it, about and upon it and believe mightily upon it, “a sermon in shoes.”
As we make our resolutions before the Lord, we need to be seriously willing to let go of all that “barely” disquiets us–every sinful thought, desire, and motive.
Our chief desire is not only to have a blameless reputation before men, but more importantly, to have, to live, to walk, to talk, to teach and preach of a character whose #1 goal is that it glorifies God in its reflection of His goodness and purity.
This requires us exposing ourselves to His refining fire, allowing Him to search out the depths of our hearts and draw out of us the remaining sin in our lives.
It won’t be even minimally pleasant, but it’s necessary if we are to be sanctified and even minimally useful and minimally fruitful unto the Lord in His kingdom.
God does know us.
We cannot pretend we are something we are not with him.
He knows us — inside and out, through and through.
This should liberate us to share a remarkable degree of intimacy with him, but most of us will choose to run far from such a close relationship with our Father.
If our desire, however, is to become more like him, more Christ-like, the only certain way to be transformed is by “inviting” him in to look at our hearts, our motivations, our desires – take our prayerfully “fruit laden” resolutions to Him.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
O Lord my God, you are my shield and my strength. Help me to trust you with my decisions and my future. Let me lean on you with all my heart instead of relying on my own understanding. Give me clear guidance in my life Lord. As I submit myself and the magnitude of my thoughts to you, I know that you will direct my paths and I can have confidence that your direction is always the best way to go. Lord, bless me and keep me, make your face shine upon me. Turn your face towards me and give me my just portion of thy everlasting peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
O God, I know you are the one who “searches hearts and minds.” for our disquieted and disquieting thoughts. Yet because of the grace you demonstrated in Jesus, I am confident that you love me and will cleanse me. My heart is sorry for the sin I have committed, but I am really trying to serve you in honor and purity. Please fill me with your Spirit to enable me to become more like Christ. In the name of Your Son I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
7-9 I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God, his great goodness to the family of Israel— Compassion lavished, love extravagant. He said, “Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me.” So he became their Savior. In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn’t send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them and carried them along for a long, long time.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Celebrating God as God is Celebrating Us!
God’s Prophet Isaiah invites us to look back on a year of God’s grace drawing to a close and to look ahead to another year of God’s grace that is just beginning.
Celebrating What the Lord has Done for Us!
In the ancient calendar used by the Romans, from which our calendar was created, the name of each month had a meaning.
For example the month of February was so named because that was the time of the year for a feast called February.
Lupercalia was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility. Lupercalia was also known as dies Februatus, after the purification instruments called februa, the basis for the month named Februarius.
Some of the months were named for the false gods that the Romans worshiped. March was named after Mars, the god of war.
May was probably derived from the goddess Maia.
June was named after the goddess Juno.
The months July and August were named, respectively, after Julius Caesar and his successor, Caesar Augustus. September, October, November, and December were named for the numbers seven, eight, nine, and ten in the Latin language.
That was the order in which those months fell in the Roman calendar.
One month in the ancient Roman calendar that had an especially descriptive name was January.
The Latin word janua means a door or window from which a person may look both ways, in other words, in and out–forward and back.
Historians say that January is also derived from the name Janus, a common household god among the Romans.
He was often depicted facing in two directions.
Basically, he was looking forward and back.
As we stand at the doorway looking back on 2022, to the first month of January and a new year in 2023, we will naturally look back over the way we have come.
We also naturally look ahead to the new year and where we are going.
As we celebrate, prepare ourselves and our families, friends and neighbors later this New Year’s Eve, we have to look at the year just past, the year lying ahead.
May we through our Love of God, through our Love for Word of God share in the coming of the New Year – Celebrate the coming of tonight’s midnight plus One Minute, be moved with anticipation, with confident expectation, to greet, God!
Celebrating the Grace of God in our Lives!
I. Look back on it in appreciation
II. Look ahead to it with anticipation
Our biblical text comes from the end of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Isaiah had just described the miraculous changes the Messiah—the promised Savior, would bring to God’s people in the chapters previous to our text.
Here Isaiah went on to describe the effect His preaching would have on those in Israel who were faithful to God.
He introduces the final section of his prophecy by recalling all of God’s ancient mercies, the ceaseless acts of loving kindnesses bestowed upon His Children.
Isaiah 63:7-9Amplified Bible
God’s Ancient Mercies Recalled
7 I will tell of the loving kindnesses of the Lord, and the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, According to all that the Lord has done for us, And His great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has shown them according to His compassion And according to the abundance of His loving kindnesses. 8 For He said, “Be assured, they are My people, Sons who will not be faithless.” So He became their Savior [in all their distresses]. 9 In all their distress He was distressed, And the [a]angel of His presence saved them, In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them; And He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
To these ancient words, still ever true, we should all say, “Alleluia! Amen.”
It reminds us that throughout all of our days, the Lord has been kind to us.
Tonight, at midnight minus one minute we should all regale each other, tell of the abundance of his kindnesses, deeds, from 2022 which God is to be praised.
Tonight, at midnight plus one minute, we should all proclaim and claim and to hug all of God’s coming mercies and loving kindnesses, His grace in year 2023.
These ancient words from Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us to look back in appreciation of God’s grace in 2022 and to look ahead with anticipation and with confident expectation, for more of God’s miraculous grace in year 2023.
We don’t have to look very far back in the year that is ending to be reminded of God’s undeserved love.
In fact we really only have to look back one week.
A week ago tonight was Christmas Eve.
We were reminded, through the celebration of His Gospel, Christ was born to live the holy life we did not live, to die under the just punishment for our sins.
The clearest and most complete reminder of God’s kindness and love for us.
We rejoice, through the celebration of His Word, that we have had the privilege to once again celebrate his first birthday and speak about his great love for us.
But obviously our spiritual blessings for 2022 weren’t confined to Christmas.
For the last 52 Sundays our God has fed us with his Word when we gathered for praise and prayer and worship.
We followed Jesus to the cross, we shouted, “He is risen!”
We listened to the words and works of our Savior God.
In Bible study, and Sunday school, through the children’s ministries, and too, through our personal time in God’s Word we have found healing and hope.
We have felt God’s presence and been reassured of his love when we sinned.
As we celebrate God’s grace tonight, at midnight minus one minute, we look back in gratitude and appreciation of a whole year of enjoying the Word of God and all of the abundance of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, that it has brought to us.
In 2022 we also often received the pledge that we are forgiven children of God as we received the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper.
There Jesus invited us to eat and drink the proof that full payment for our sins has been made.
At His Passover table we were reminded that too we will eat and drink with him in the Kingdom of heaven.
Although we have many things to be thankful for this New Year’s Eve we are most thankful for those Means of Grace Jehovah God has given us–His Word and Sacraments.
The person speaking in our text from Isaiah acknowledged that the Lord had done many good things for his people.
The Lord had brought his people out of slavery in Egypt.
He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.
He repeatedly defeated their enemies.
Through mighty miracles he had protected his people and prospered them.
He blessed their crops and their other sources of income.
He did all these things because of his compassion and love.
They were God’s people and enjoyed all the benefits of being God’s people..
This reminder of what God did for his people of old reminds us of what God does for his people today.
He still does great things for us.
Who of us can’t tell of the kindnesses of the Lord?
Take a moment to look back in appreciation for all that the Lord has done for us this past year.
Who of us can’t tell of the deeds for which God is to be praised?
Our Lord has given us abundant life, shelter, food, and clothing this past year.
We have enjoyed the blessings of family and friends and neighbors.
We have enjoyed God’s creation for another year.
The Lord provided us with blessings beyond belief, way more than we can use.
But someone might legitimately say not everything in 2001 was all that good.
What about the continued presence of covid19?
Someone might say, “I had troubles and problems from day one of 2022.”
“In fact this year was one of the worst I have ever had. I lost my job. I was sick. My wife and children too. I faced financial problems and other troubles. 2022 was not a good year at all, I really don’t see all that much God has done for me.”
Yes, we face the temptation to feel that way and have those kinds of thoughts.
But when Isaiah recorded these words from verses 7-9, he could have said something similar to that.
He and other believers faced persecution.
Their country was under the threat of foreign invasion.
Outwardly speaking, for him, things were very bad and seemed very uncertain.
Yet, Isaiah knew that no matter how bad things looked God was with him and his people, Isaiah knew that he could only see things from a human perspective.
If he could look at things from God’s perspective he would know that God was gravely concerned about him, doing everything possible for his eternal good.
If this Isaiah were to be reading these ancient words in 2022, from his ancient context and perspective, how might he now reflect back upon the grace of God?
Because of God’s grace great clouds of witnesses can look back at this year with real appreciation – no matter what has happened the Lord has been good to us.
We are reminded that even when things looked bad in 2022 God was with us.
Isaiah 63:9Amplified Bible
9 In all their distress He was distressed, And the [a]angel of His presence saved them, In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them; And He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
In verse 9 we are told, “In all their distress he too was distressed.”
God was distressed with us in our distress.
Through all the trials and troubles we faced in 2022 God was both empathetic and sympathetic to us.
It should always makes us feel better when someone knows what we are going through, when someone understands, when someone can relate to our stories.
Hebrews 4:14-16Amplified Bible
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
We have a great High Priest – Immanuel, God With Us, God Within Us – Jesus, who gives us anticipation of grace, everlasting expectation of faith, hope, love.
That is a reason to celebrate God’s grace. Our God felt the pain we felt. When we were shedding our tears of sorrow our God was watching us, caring about us.
Verse 9 of our text continues, “and the angel of his presence saved them.”
We may never know the full measure of all those ‘close calls’ we had last year.
We may never know how many disasters the Lord protected us from.
We may have repeatedly walked through the valley of the shadow of death and not even known it. But we do know the Lord’s presence saved us from disaster.
He sends his angels to protect us and he shelters us under his protecting hand.
Verse 9 concludes, “In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
Through everything God was there.
As we celebrate God’s grace this New Year’s Eve we look back with appreciation for God’s protection.
The Lord Jehovah said through Isaiah in 46:3-4,
“I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
From our youth to our old age God promises to be with us.
From year to year God will sustain and help us.
Through good times and bad times the Lord carries us.
As we take those few precious moments to look back and reflect at another year of our faithful God’s protection and love, may we look back at it in appreciation.
46 1-3 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says.
7 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
11 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. (
With the utmost expectation and confidence, may we celebrate God’s grace!
What reason did God have for allowing troubles into our lives this past year?
He used all these things to draw us into a much closer relationship with Him.
To remind us that the Lord is our strength and our only way out of trouble.
He teaches us where to go for help.
He teaches us how to be strong and face the attacks of the devil and this world.
Our struggles in 2022 have made us stronger Christians.
Have we learned to rely on God more fully?
I fervently pray the answer to that question is an unequivocal Yes!
I fervently pray we can even look back on the bad things of this past year with appreciation for our God has been with us,. God has carried us and protected us.
II.
The other part of our New Year’s celebration is looking ahead.
We make resolutions.
We make plans.
We look forward to another year of God’s grace.
That gives us a great advantage over many who will celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight.
We go forward with God’s grace. We can look ahead to 2023 with anticipation.
What is the one thing we look forward to with anticipation in 2023?
It is God’s mercy and grace.
We know that we will definitely, decisively fail and fall many times.
We know that we will fall short of God’s perfect and holy will.
But we also know that our Lord’s mercy is new every day.
We know that our God will forgive us through the blood of his Son Jesus Christ.
No matter how badly we stumble next year our God will have mercy on us.
We have blown it many times this past year and will blow it again next year, but our God will continue to extend us His grace and will have mercy and forgive us.
Will we look ahead unto 2023 with anticipation of God’s grace and forgiveness?
Will we also confidently, expectantly, eagerly look forward to 2023 with joy, anticipation because of the blessing of God’s Word for another 52 Sundays?
Will we once again find renewed faith, renewed hope and comfort in the Word?
For another year will we be built up in our faith and find guidance for our life?
In 2023 will we see souls enter the kingdom of God through the sacrament of Baptism?
Will we grow in love for one another as we stand together before an altar and receive the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Will 2023 be a good year no matter what happens or how it happened because we have the one thing we need – the means by which God brings us his grace?
We have his Word and Sacraments.
Reality is, Truth is still that instead of looking ahead to 2023 with anticipation there are many of our neighbors who will look ahead with fear and trepidation.
What will the new year hold?
Will the economy be good or bad?
Will companies lay people off or will many be hiring?
Will taxes go up or down?
Will our investments go up or down?
What about covid19?
What about the ongoing scourge violence and senseless crime in our streets?
How wonderful it is for us to be confident that the no matter what happens God will be with us and care for us.
He promises to provide all that we need.
We may experience setbacks but the Lord will only do what is best for us.
And what about the potential problems we might face in 2023?
What if we lose a loved one or lose our job?
What if we ourselves get acutely sick?
What if our spouse or our children get acutely ill?
What if some physical or natural disaster strikes?
What if economic disaster strikes at our bank accounts?
Perhaps there will be another wave of the pandemic.
Again, I fervently we hear the ancient words of Isaiah from verse 9:
“In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
In any distress which might come flowing down our way in 2023, God will be with us – Jehovah will rescue us and carry us through even the worst of times.
So how does our knowledge of God’s grace and goodness for this new year affect our plans for 2023?
How do we look ahead with confident anticipation in a God pleasing way?
We put all our dreams and goals in the Lord’s hands.
We have to be careful how we look forward with anticipation.
We are given this New Year’s advice in James 4:13-15,
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
As we look forward to 2023 with anticipation, expectation we recognize it will only be by God’s grace and only according to God’s will that we make our plans.
That experience allows me to ‘stand before you’ this day and ‘preach’ this text from Isaiah 63:7-9 with confident expectation of its contemporary fulfillment.
In the good times and in the bad times God is with us.
As God’s children we tell of all the good things he has done for us.
In 2022 we have enjoyed his love, and grace, and blessing.
We have enjoyed his Word and Sacraments.
He has been with us through everything.
He has felt our pain and sorrow.
We look back in appreciation. We also look forward with anticipation.
We also look forward believing God will be with us again in that New Year.
He will provide us with what we need both physically and spiritually.
He will comfort us and share our pain and sorrow.
Today or tonight as we ring in the new year 2023, celebrate God!
Celebrate God’s grace.
Celebrate Grace that moves us to reflect back on God with appreciation.
Celebrate Grace that allows us to look forward to God with anticipation.
Celebrate Grace that allows us to look forward to God with confidence.
Celebrate Grace that allows us to look forward to God with expectation.
Celebrate God EVERYDAY as God Celebrates Us EVERYDAY! Amen.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 19 The Message
19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
5 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 [a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen
Proverbs is one of the most quoted books of the Bible.
Everyone seems to know or has heard those often-quoted words of wisdom and advice.
Did they really work for and during the times they were written for?
But would they really work in our most contemporary of internet times?
Can they be or are they still relevant and effective ?
Are they really wise words to live by as we close 2022 and enter into 2023?
Has anyone ever gotten any real success out of these sagacious verses written thousands of years ago?
Having Proverbs 3:6 During Hard Times
In the Bible, specifically in Proverbs, there is great wisdom concerning how to live a happy and peaceful and successful life – to be able to move through our failures and failings and arrive at a place where faith becomes first, foremost.
So much so one might find it unfathomable that people would not look forward to immersing their hearts and their souls and their lives into reading, studying, praying through, following, the wisdom this well-known Old Testament book.
Of course, not everyone reads Proverbs.
Consequentially, many never follow its prodding.
That is indeed a shame, for as we look at our world today.
Never has it been so necessary, so vital, to get to know the true powerhouse of Proverbs, what Go brings to our table of life and what miracles it has to offer.
God only knows, it is never merely individual humans who need advice and guidance; it is our families, neighbors, neighborhoods, church, entire world.
Today, let us reflect together about our spiritual journey: its beginning and destination, sharp turns, slowdowns, shutdowns, its challenges and blessings.
Today’s Scripture gives us a crucial piece of advice for every successful journey of faith.
Before we can start “driving,” we have to fully trust the Lord.
The Bible often calls the Lord our Shepherd.
In today’s terms, we could say God is our GPS.
God Positioning System ….
Trust in this GPS, and you and I will never get lost – just twisted around a bit!
The Lord warns us against thinking we are smart enough to figure out our own way. He tells us to turn to him in single every part of our life’s spiritual journey.
Acknowledge His GPS, He will make our path straight and will see us through.
As for me, there is one particular piece of advice from Proverbs that has carried me through countless challenges to my faith, through myriads of my failures.
When was the last time (do we remember the first time?) you an I ever noticed when we were on a good smooth road, and things were moving well, that a big bump or even a big pothole comes out of nowhere and messes up everything?
What if we arrived at a point on that “messed up” road where it felt like we were driving on cruise control at 65 mph driving from the eastern most to the most western point then from the most northern point to the most southern point of our country – and driving around in ceaseless circles – on the rims of our tires?
For a long time, I kept asking myself …. are all roads leading away from failure unto any success such ceaseless circles, is failure all I’m ever destined to know?
Is there any pathway which leads me away from such a dark, defeating cycle?
THE PATH TO WELLNESS ……
The grace of God is demonstrated by the fact that He has a plan and purpose for our lives that He wants to reveal to us.
It’s a pathway He’s designed specifically for each one of us, yet some of us may fail to consider this.
We find it too easy to move through life without giving God a second thought.
Instead of wondering whether our lives have counted for anything, we can all choose to believe that the Lord has the best plan for us, discover His path, and get on it as soon as possible.
If we don’t fully trust God, we will be reluctant to follow the path He’s chosen for us.
Even though He always leads us the right way, our fears or uncertainty could cause us to sidestep His commands and opt for following our own course.
Proverbs 3:5-8 tells us what’s required to follow the Lord, what the benefits will be.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (v. 5).
1. GOD COMMANDS US TO TRUST HIM
“Trust in the Lord” ProvERBS. 3:5a NKJV
Trust is a strong belief in someone’s integrity, ability, and character. This is the kind of confidence we are expected to have in the Lord. Then whatever He says or He also requires of us, we will prayerfully know with certainty that it is right.
If we lack that faith, lack that degree or measure of trust, we will not so innately or faithfully follow Him and will find ourselves living outside the will of God.
On the other hand, if we have spent some quantity and quality time, reading, studying, trusting, obeying Him, we can testify that He has never let us down.
Trusting God, is loving God in action. If we love God, we will trust Him.
“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 NLT
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” I John 5:3 NIV
“Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-born. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.” 1 John 5:1-3 The Message
2. THE BASIS FOR TRUST IN GOD IS HIS SOVEREIGNITY.
“Trust in the LORD” Proverbs 3:5b NKJV
LORD = YAHWEH. The One Who Is. The Absolute and Unchangeable One. The Existing, Ever-Living, Self-Consistent and Unchangeable God.
He is the divine Ruler over all things and all people at all times.
His sovereignty is His wisdom, power, and righteousness all wrapped into one.
The Lord’s purpose is always right and good even if it doesn’t look that way from our perspective.
God says: “From the beginning I revealed the end. From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying, “My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.” Isaiah 46:10 GN
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” Isaiah 43:13 NLT
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIV
3. THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE ARE TO TRUST GOD IS WITH ALL OF OUR HEART.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” Proverbs 3:5b NKJV
Instead of so easily and instinctively relying on our own knowledge, perception, or reasoning, we should P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens) ourselves to place our total trust in the Lord.
This requires more than just agreeing with Him. We can actually agree with God about many teachings in the Bible without actually trusting Him. Agreement means we believe something is right, but genuine faith responds to that belief with action—do what God says because we trust Him to guide us the right way.
Wholehearted trust also means we cannot pick and choose areas we entrust to Him while trying to keep other parts of our lives under our control. It’s unwise to rely on our own perception because it is so limited, but God’s understanding is complete and eternal. Even when we do not fully comprehend or like what’s happening, we can still fully rely on His loving wisdom and respond in trust.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:6 NKJV
4. IN EACH SITUATION, WE MUST FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE GOD
“In all your ways acknowledge Him” Proverbs 3:6a NKJV
To acknowledge someone is to recognize him. But when we acknowledge God, we are not merely admitting that He exists but confirming He is our Lord who has authority over us and the right to give us direction in every area of our lives.
In each choice or situation, each success, each failure, failing, we acknowledge His sovereignty over them by surrendering to His will and trusting Him fully.
5. “HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.” Proverbs 3:6b NKJV
When we follow the Lord’s guidance, He protects us from side roads and eliminates obstacles and confusion along the way.
In basic terms, the straight path is the one of obedience. We may slide, stumble and slip into a few ditches along the way or need redirection, but God repeatedly and faithfully brings us back when we confess our change of heart, to obey Him.
His path is not always going to be easy to travel upon, but His forever promise is it is always going to be the best. If we think we can do a better job of plotting our own course for happiness and prosperity, it may look good, but eventually we’ll suffer the wear and tear coming from taking unprotected detours on our rims.
His Master Class after Master Class, after instructing us on what to do, God then gives us a poignant warning for our disobedience and a blessing for obedience;
6. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” Proverbs 3:7a NKJV
“Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” Proverbs 26:12 NIV
Whenever we choose our own way instead of trusting the Lord, we are playing the fool because your life does not belong to you. There are 2 masters in life
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” Matthew 6:24 NKJV
One day we are going to stand before God and give an account of how we lived.
If we’re wise, we’ll seek the Lord, listen to His directions, and trust Him. Since He cannot lie, we know that God will always keep His promises, and whatever He says is true.
7. “Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7b NKJV
To reverently fear God is to recognize and honor Him as not only the sovereign Ruler of the universe, but as the Only Lord and Only Savior of our lives.
If we truly believe this, we’ll turn away from sin and seek to live in obedience to Him.
8. “It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones” Proverbs 3:8a NKJV
Every day we are faced with choices, and what we decide to do is based on whether we or not we believe God, that He has a plan for our lives and has chosen the best possible path for us, or we distrust Him, follow our own ways.
Whether we succeed or we fail, If we are willing to faithfully listen and trust Him, we will discover His faith-filled path leads to healing and refreshment.
Success or Failure, there will 100% be an underlying sense of peace, assurance, confidence, and satisfaction when we follow Him instead of going our own way.
Resolutions, Responses to Consider as we enter upon the New Year
Where do you find the most difficulty trusting God?
Why do you think it’s so hard to trust Him with this?
What promises in His Word could bring you assurance of His trustworthiness?
Does knowing God is sovereign over all the events in your life help you trust Him? Why or why not? Which of His other attributes motivate you to trust Him?
It’s easier to trust someone we know very well than someone we don’t. With this in mind, how well do you know the Lord?
Since the Scriptures are God’s self-revelation, what do you need to do to increase your trust in Him?
Sin has polluted our willingness to submit to the Lord.
The devil tempts us to implicitly trust our own way and intuition.
Our ever faithful God seeks to draw us to back to himself because he knows best.
By our Baptism in Jesus Christ, we are all constantly caught in a faith to failure back to faith tug-of-war, always leaning one way and then leaning the other.
There was a time when I thought I knew it all, but the one thing I did not know, would not acknowledge was God had a better way He was waiting to show me.
God’s Word taught me to more instinctively trust his GPS with the directions.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God, Author of my Life,God of all understanding, you have promised to give wisdom to anyone who asks. Well, I am now asking and indeed, I am pleading and praying. As I walk through life, give me wisdom and understanding in every decision I make. Guide those uncertain thoughts and redirect my misguided steps. When I experience failure, uncertainty and confusion, may I lean on your limitless wisdom. May your divine Holy Spirit be at work in me like a lamp to my feet and a shield to my mind. Help me to think clearly and calmly. Help me to act with confidence and wisdom. Help me to glorify you in everything I do. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, My Lord.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence], Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed; Do not let my enemies triumph over me. 3 Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed; Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).
4 Let me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your loving kindnesses, For they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]? He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose. 13 His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness, And his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning. 15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will bring my feet out of the net.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There’s light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.
To lift up our eyes upon Jesus ….
To look full in His wonderful face ….
To Let the things of this earth grow strangely dim ….
In the light of His Glory and Grace ….
Not in the darkness of my fears ….
Where the things of this earth grow not so strangely magnified ….
Where the things of this world go and grow not so strangely out of control ….
On you, O Lord, we depend; in you we trust, on you we wait and in you we take refuge. O Lord, unless you bless us, we perish.
To lift up our souls to God sets us apart from all who lift up their souls to fear, who look for happiness and refuge not from God, His Son Jesus and Holy Spirit, but, happiness from within dread in their own wisdom or strength or riches.
We lift up our souls unto and into the light of the God of our salvation, not to the dark of these vanities, but to you, O Lord, because you are the center of life.
To you, Immanuel, God with us, God within us, I Lift up my soul ….
You are the great King over all; You are the creator of all things.
This very cosmos that can so astonish us is the robe of glory with which you have clothed yourself.
25 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
From this foundational stance spring two requests.
The first is that we not be put to shame.
We ask that God not abandon us, leave us disgraced, lost, but that instead he prize us and remain always committed to our future for the sake of his name.
Our second request is that we be shown the Lord’s ways.
We plead not only for mercy but for power and wisdom to live holy lives.
If the first request asks God to stay with us and be committed to our future, the second request asks that we stay with God and remain committed to his future.
25 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Can you and I recall a time when a stranger approached us out of the blue and asked what you and I believe about Savior Jesus Christ and the Christian faith?
I easily imagine that you and I have had very few, if any, experiences like that.
I can easily imagine that you and I have a lingering fear about this encounter.
To our shame we have this fear – a shame we may not know the Lord, may not be living the life which the Lord, our Savior calls us to live – “to be His Light.”
“To be His Salt and His Light unto the Gentiles… draw them closer to Immanuel.
Immanuel, God who came to Live with Us ….
Immanuel, God who came to Live within Us ….
Immanuel, God who came to Connect with us ….
Immanuel, God who came to Converse with us ….
Immanuel, God who came to share, shout, one or two Hallelujah’s with us.
Immanuel, God who came to dispel the myth that darkness always wins over.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
His word shall not fail you he promised Believe him and all will be well Then go to a world that is dying His perfect salvation to tell
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
Psalm 25:5-10Amplified Bible
5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
To Live, Be Alive and Be Living the Truth
The ever living and always active Word of God calls Christians be alive in God, to live with God, to live in such a way that the truth of Christ is evident in our lives.
The power of our ever alive, living God’s abundant life through the Gospel is displayed, magnified, in the life of a believer by the transformation it brings.
One of the most common metaphors for truth in the Scripture is ‘light.’
In John 8, verse 12 Jesus says:
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus says that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness.
His truth will illuminate their path.
The apostle John writes in 1 John 1:5-7,
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
What do these ancient passages seek to teach us in these contemporary times?
They tell us God still matters, Immanuel still matters, Holy Spirit still matters!
They tell us we still matter just as much as God, Immanuel, Holy Spirit matters!
It means to be a Christian is to live a life that accords with the truth of God.
Jesus says that whoever follows Him, those are the ones who will have light.
John says the ones who walk in the darkness are not truly born again, no matter what they might say or believe about the nature of their relationship with God.
What this means is that if someone walks in the darkness (i.e. not according to God’s truth), they are not fully following Jesus, because if they were following Jesus fully and completely they would have the light, because Jesus is the light.
The good news is that Christians have truth to live by.
John 14:1-3Amplified Bible
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (be afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
As you and I follow Jesus, as you and I grow in your relationship with Him, you and I will learn truth, you will live truth, and little by little, or lot by lot, we will be living by the truth and your life, my life too will be completely transformed.
It is a glorious thing to live the truth, to walk in the light of God’s Word, to learn practical biblical principles of everyday life, and to grow in your love for God.
I have discovered that it’s a rather curious thing: that many people fear coming unto Christ because they think or believe that they will have to make all kinds of radical changes in their life; they will have to utterly obey this rule or that rule.
Maybe because of this Christmas season we now find ourselves in this position.
Perhaps, blessedly, new worshippers, worshippers who were never introduced to Immanuel, curious neighbors, worshippers who left the church because of some disagreement or because life’s overwhelming circumstances, come in.
The truth is that yes, when you and I turn away from our sin, you and I will have to definitely give up some “many treasure things,” but it is also true when we live the truth of God’s word, and turn away from those things which anger God, He changes our desires so that we’ll desire Him more than we do those things.
That’s because when we are living the full truth, we are living life the way that God always meant for it to be lived, the way which God created life to be lived.
1 Peter 3:8-15Amplified Bible
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit; 9 and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection]. 10 For,
“The one who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not], Must keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from speaking guile (treachery, deceit). 11 “He must turn away from wickedness and do what is right. He must search for peace [with God, with self, with others] and pursue it eagerly [actively—not merely desiring it]. 12 “For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), And His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer), But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.”
13 Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition]. 15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
We ought to be prepared for such encounters, to be sure; the apostle Peter tells us to be always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).
But opportunities to explain what we believe most often result not from these random encounters with strangers but from the way we live day in and day out before those who know us well.
How we live and what we believe ought to reflect our attachment to Christ.
This is one reason why Peter says Christians are “a people for [God’s] own possession” (1 Peter 2:9).
Our Koinonia, our intimate connection to Jesus as those who are in Him and belong to Him and Live for Him is comprehensive.
That means we are not at liberty to believe whatever we want; we are not free to form our own views of marriage, of sexuality, of finance, or of anything else.
Our view is now to reflect that of our Messiah and Teacher, Jesus.
But He is not content with His disciples simply knowing the truth.
They also need to be living the truth:
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Believing must lead to doing. We are not free to behave in any way we like either, then. Our conduct is to reflect that of our sacrificial Savior, Jesus.
Many contemporary religions and secular creeds require nothing of your lifestyle; they leave you free to live as you please.
In fact, many make their guiding principle: you do what seems right to you.
But the call to Christian discipleship is utterly different, for at its heart it is a call to follow a King who is not you.
Psalm 25:10-15Amplified Bible
10 All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]? He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose. 13 His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness, And his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning. 15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will bring my feet out of the net.
God has strewn our path with hopeful, hope-filled, faithful, faith-filled and joyful and joy-filled, encouraging promises, scattered throughout His Word.
He has pledged to lead us in the paths of righteousness and make the way we take straight and secure.
But can we trust His promises?
Can we be certain that His Word is true?
Can we be certain that His Word is faithful?
Can we be certain that His Word is Grace filled?
Indeed we can and this truth is expressed in many of the early psalms of David.
Often in the Book of Psalms, we see David lifting up his heart to the Lord in prayer and praise and calling out to Him for guidance and pardon.
His prayers often contain a request for God’s help in the face of his enemies, which demonstrates a quiet and expectant confidence which declares that God is trustworthy, God is graceful, faithful to His Word and will not let him down.
The promises of God are founded on nothing less than the perfection of God’s holy nature.
They are rooted in the eternal faithfulness of His everlasting Word, and His Word is securely anchored on the rock of our salvation which is Jesus…
Whose name is ‘Faithful and True’ – “for Faithful is He who hath promised, Who also will do it.”
It was David who knew this to be true in his own life, and we find him reflecting on the wonder of the Lord as he prayerfully considers the goodness of God and His faithfulness in meeting sinners and teaching them the way of truth.
“All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth,” he writes,
“His ways lead to gracious love, and He shows His fidelity towards those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”
The faithfulness, joyfulness, peacefulness, mercy, goodness, and grace of God, are no less true today than during that time when David discovered the Lord was his Shepherd, Who yet gently leads him beside the still waters, faithfully guides him into the way of peace, guards him in the valley of the shadow, and still he prepares a plentiful table of good things in the midst of all his enemies.
Only as we remain in Christ, rest in His love, walk in the path He has planned for us, we will discover all His paths are strewn with joy, goodness and grace.
O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There’s light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
Immanuel, God within us, is working in our lives with an eternal perspective, and it is only as we walk in harmony with the Lord, remain in accordance with His revealed plans and purposes that we will remain in harmony with His truth.
The way we travel may not be the path of our choosing, we expected to trudge.
The path we take will be covered with difficulties and dangers… but His truth is sufficient, His faithfulness is sufficient for every eventuality we may encounter.
He is the ONLY One who knows exactly, exactingly, the best way for each of us to take for He is the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE and we need to trust Him to lead us aright, even when the route is overshadowed by dark and thunderous clouds.
As we trust His Word, carry out His will, abide in Him, and He is us, we will bear the fruit of patience and hone our faith in Him.
His Way, Truth, Life will lead us deeper into fellowship with Himself, enable us to mature in the faith, grow in grace, and gain a deeper knowledge of the holy… for He desires us to enjoy a satisfying and unbroken communion with Himself.
The Lord knows that only as we Koinonia, commune with Him and obey His new commandment to, “love as I have loved,” will He be able to fully, joyfully faithfully pour His streams of living water through us, equip us to be channels of peace, comfort and refreshment to all those with whom we come in contact.
The call to the Christian life is not merely to believe the gospel but to “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).
We all fall short.
Do you have someone helping you, and whom you can help, in identifying areas of behavior which are not yet worthy of the gospel?
Lock arms with a brother or sister in Christ, shine the light of God’s Word on one another, and seek to bring the truth to life!
The church is God’s primary appointed means of reaching His world. You are part of that. But do not expect those around you to ask about the gospel—still less to repent and believe the gospel—if you are not living out that gospel:
You are writing a gospel, A chapter each day, By deeds that you do, By words that you say. Men read what you write, Whether faithless or true, Say! What is the gospel According to you?
Anonymous
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Immanuel, as we now look back on an old year, anticipate a new one, may we look to you at all times to uphold us and make us strong, that we not go down to defeat.
Lead me, Immanuel, in the path of Your choosing. Lead me I pray, along a level path, for Your name’s sake… for Your grace, peace and faithfulness are without measure. Thank You, ABBA Father, that You are a wise, and truthful and faithful God and the One who leads and guides, and You are the One Who corrects and trains, so shepherd Your Children along the path of Your choosing. I trust You to lead us along the path of grace, truth, and righteousness all the days of my life. This I ask in Jesus’ name!
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
146 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help). 4 When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts and plans perish. 5 How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel), Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever, 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets free the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the [a]righteous [the upright in heart]. 9 The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow; But He makes crooked the way of the wicked. 10 The Lord shall reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
This beautiful Psalm is a song of praise that rejoices in the unalterable character and eternal beauty of the Lord.
It extols, it glorifies, it magnifies the greatness of His character, and it rejoices over the unalterable, unchangeable glories and indescribable majesty of our Creator God as, verse after verse, Psalmist reflects on the wonder of His name.
The author reminds us that the Lord is very great and highly to be praised.
The Lord our God is clothed with majesty and honour and brings justice to the oppressed. The Lord provides food for the hungry, sets the prisoners free, cares for His people, opens the eyes of the blind, lifts up those that are bowed down, and He is a righteous God Who loves the righteous, who loves justice and mercy.
The psalmist meditates on the greatness of his God and encourages us all to do the same.
He rejoices in the eternal faithfulness and gracious wisdom of the Lord and ponders over the majestic works of His hand.
The thoughts and the meditations of the Psalmist build into a crescendo of praise as he centers on the steadfastness of the Lord his God, Who is from everlasting to everlasting.
And finally he bursts forth from his joyful meditation on the insurmountable wonders of the Lord his God, by crying out.
“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!”
The joy of the Psalmist is inescapably contagious, for when we spend our days reflecting on the eternal faithfulness of the Lord and turn our hearts, souls to meditate upon the beauties of His name, we will also rejoice in His wonderful works, His grace and mercy, His wisdom and might, His faithfulness and love.
As like the Psalmist we will blend the noisiness of our joyful, joy-filled voices with the heavenly choir that proclaims, “Holy, holy, holy.” Hallelujah! Amen.
Isaiah 9:6-7 Amplified Bible
6 For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There shall be no end to the increase of His government and of peace, [He shall rule] on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From that time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Immanuel, God with us and within us!
Jesus – our Wonderful Counselor!
Immanuel, God with us and within us!
Jesus – our Mighty God!
Immanuel, God with us and within us!
Jesus – our Everlasting Father!
Immanuel, God with us and within us!
Jesus – our Prince of Peace!
Say it over and over and over again ….
Sing it over and over and over again ….
Shout it over and over and over again ….
All of heaven needs to be shaken …. needs to reverberate …. Hallelujah!
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, existed long before he was born on this earth. As God, He does not have a beginning; He IS the source of all things.
Before the world existed, he lived in eternal glory and had perfect communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
He was the Word that was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2).
He was coequal, coeternal, and consubstantial with God.
He was not created; He is one with the Creator. “Through him all things were made,” and nothing that was made was made without him (John 1:3).
The universe was in God’s mind before the foundations of the earth were laid.
The starry worlds were created by him.
He measured the waters of the seas in the hollow of his hand and weighed the dust and the sands, all the rocks and trees of the earth on his precision scale.
He called by name each and every one of the stars in the heavens, and none of them is lacking in splendor. He brought into existence the things that did not exist and created everything from nothing, for his glory and our enjoyment.
As our ultimate provider and protector, the Son born to us is called Everlasting Father; Wonderful Counselor; Prince of Peace! He loves us and came to save us!
Psalm 146:1-2Amplified Bible
The Lord an Abundant Helper.
146 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 146 is a rousing song of praise that celebrates God’s faithfulness.
And today, as we say “Merry Christmas,” as we sing “Merry Christmas,” as we shout “Merry Christmas” back into the heavens we celebrate the birth of Savior Jesus, reminded within this psalm to praise the Lord, put our trust in him alone.
For the name of God and God alone alone is worthy to be exalted, deep into the deepest and furthest depths of the infinite expanse of all of the heavens above.
For God and God alone is worthy to be glorified and praised!
For God and God alone is worthy to be honored, magnified, worshiped!
For God and God alone “reigns forever . . . for all generations.”
“A Christmas Alleluia”
is a contemporary song by Chris Tomlin celebrating the day of Christ’s birth.
It recalls the scene and song of the angel hosts of heaven, singing,
“All glory to our God and King!”
And it calls us to sing “Alleluia,” which means “Praise the Lord!”
We give praise because “Christ, the Savior of the world . . . has come!”
We sing “Alleluia” because Christ’s is the highest name of all.
Joy to the World (Sir Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love.
With joy and expectation, with highest anticipation, we are reminded in Psalm 146 that God is the Maker of all things and that “He remains faithful forever.”
With the coming of Immanuel, God fulfills his promises to send the Messiah, the Savior; to be forever with us and forever within – us he is faithful forever.
Immanuel – our Mighty Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace …
Jesus, Christ our King is born!
And because of his birth, life, death, and resurrection, He demonstrates his supremacy over all. He comes to uphold “the cause of the oppressed” and to give “food to the hungry.” He “sets the prisoners free . . . gives sight to the blind,” and “brings justice and mercy,” “lifts up those who are bowed down.”
And because Christ Jesus Lives,
And because Christ Jesus Reigns forever,
we sing “Alleluia” to our Eternal King; we “Praise the Lord all our life!”
we shout “Alleluia!” to our Eternal King; we “Praise the Lord all our life!”
we PRAY “Alleluia!” to our Eternal King; we “Praise the Lord all our life!”
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!”
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
Mortals, join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; love divine is reigning o’er us, binding all within its span. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music leads us sunward, in the triumph song of life.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
21 At the end of eight days, when He was to be circumcised, He was named Jesus, the name given [to Him] by the angel [Gabriel] before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time for their purification came [that is, the mother’s purification and the baby’s dedication] according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [set apart as the Firstborn] 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy [set apart and dedicated] to the Lord)” 24 and [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord [to be appropriate for a family of modest means], “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the [a]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 (the Messiah, the Anointed). 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [b]to do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] 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 [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for [c]a sign that is to be opposed— 35 and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the [area of the] temple, but was serving and worshiping night and day with fasting’s and prayers. 38 She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
A giddy old man stands chuckling in the temple with a baby in his arms.
Chuckling with giddy joy, or lost in wonder?
Then he announces that he has seen God’s salvation and he can die in peace.
But what has Simeon’s eyes, heart and soul seen, really?
It is just a little child in his arms, a speechless newcomer to the world.
Whatever salvation this baby might work is still only a promise and a hope. But Simeon stands there in grateful anticipation at the future he holds in his hands.
Then also working in the Temple, there is the prophetess Anna, also old and approaching the end of her days. She adds to the joy and praise of the moment.
38 She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.
And then the brief surprising moment of their joy and song comes to a close.
Mary and Joseph do what is required of them for their son in the Temple.
They go about living their lives – watching their son grow up to be very wise.
By the time Jesus becomes a grown man, Simeon and Anna will have died.
Both Simeon and Anna will never be able to see with their own eyes what Jesus does as he grows up, as he ministers unto Israel as the Savior of the world.
But in their patient faith they saw enough to know God is true to his promises.
Today we know more than they did, for we have the rest of the gospel story.
And now, we like Simeon and Anna, try to wait patiently, hoping for more.
Waiting patiently to sing our own songs, having tasted the kingdom’s presence, we wait in hunger and thirst for its coming completely when Jesus comes again.
But for now, may we stand here in patient faith, like Anna and Simeon, and say,
“We have seen him, and we have briefly experienced Him and that is enough for us for now. So, we will wait! We know and trust that the Lord will keep his promises.”
While we wait, we Pray the Holy Spirit to remind us of what we are waiting for.
Luke chapter 2 reveals five individuals who obeyed God’s Word and were truly blessed because of it.
The first two were Mary and Joseph.
They obeyed the law of God.
They were poor, and yet they obeyed.
Sometimes, their obedience was inconvenient for them, and yet they obeyed.
In Luke 2:25-38, we learn about Simeon and Anna who also obeyed God’s Word.
Let us please begin with Simeon who obeyed God’s Word in waiting for Jesus.
Simeon Obeys God’s Word in Waiting for God to Reveal his Promised Consolation.
Waiting.
We all do it.
How long will we all do it?
And do it EXPECTANTLY?
And do it PATIENTLY?
We spend half our life waiting.
We have waiting rooms, and waiting lines.
We wait to be seated, and we wait on the phone to speak to the operator.
Sometimes it seems that all we do is wait.
Our life is one mad rush to get from one waiting line to another, just to get from one line to only wait to get into another ridiculously long waiting line.
A report from a few years ago said on average, in our lifetimes, we devotedly will spend six months sitting at stoplights—and over 5 years waiting in lines.
Five years of your life and Five years of my life—devoted to waiting in lines!
That’s why I always try to keep my Kindle app active to carry a book with me.
You can get a whole lot of reading done in five years.
And there are sayings which we have all heard:
“Good things come to those who wait”
“Some things are worth waiting for.”
If good things come to those who wait, is there anything genuinely “that good” you and I would be willing to wait expectantly, patiently, our entire lives for?
It would have to be something absolutely, really miraculously good, right?
What about if someone offered you uncountable piles of money if you agree to wait for something they “say” it is absolutely miraculous, for your entire life?
Would you be willing to wait your entire life for hundreds of million dollars?
Maybe the prospect of seeing that miraculous pile of money has you thinking, has you tempted to shove everything you have aside to say “You bet I would?”
But what good is hundreds of million dollars going to be to you if at the exact moment you see it and you hold it, you only get it one minute before you die?
The prospects of that circumstance probably does not do much for you at all.
I do not think, seriously believe I would wait for my entire life for any one of those hundreds of million dollars – my time is truly more valuable than that.
But there are things I am waiting my entire life for.
And I’m not alone in this waiting line.
Many of you are probably waiting for pretty much the same miraculous thing.
But before we talk about what that is, I want us to look at Simeon who waited his entire life for something he hardcore believed was genuinely miraculous.
And I think it was definitely something worth waiting for.
If I was given the offer to wait my entire life for the miraculous same thing he miraculously waited his entire life for, I would expectantly, gladly, “just do it.”
We are introduced to Simeon in verse 25 with…
A. Two physical characteristics (Luke 2:25a)
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,
So here we meet the man we are looking at today, and right away we learn two physical truths about him.
First,
he was living in Jerusalem, which was the political and religious center of Israel at that time – and is still today.
Simeon was where all the action took place.
But more importantly, we learn that his name was Simeon.
The name Simeon means “JEHOVAH has heard.”
And we will see today Jehovah God truly did hear Simeon’s prayer (and also the myriad and myriad of prayers of many others during this time) and was sending to them, for their own personal witness song the greatest answer to prayer ever.
Those are his physical characteristics.
More intriguing still are Simeon’s spiritual characteristics.
B. Three spiritual characteristics (2:25b-26)
and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
The first spiritual characteristic was that he was just and devout or righteous and devout.
The word “just” or “righteous” reveals his witness and testimony, shows his obedience of the Word toward other people.
The word devout expresses his obedience of the Word toward God.
He read and studied Torah, He knew what the Torah said, and he did it.
Again, such obedience is a prerequisite for being used greatly by God.
Now, it was the hope and prayer of every Jew that the Messiah would come, and bring peace and comfort to the people of Israel.
And Simeon was like all other Jews in this regard.
For we see secondly, in verse 25, he was waiting for the Consolation of Israel.
The Consolation of Israel is a reference for Jesus and is a frequent theme found in Isaiah 40-66.
Isaiah says the Messiah would come and so Simeon was waiting for him.
Sometimes, that’s what God calls us to do.
To wait.
It’s not a glamorous task.
It’s not one that gets anyone a lot of attention.
But sometimes, all God wants for us to do…is wait.
In fact, I genuinely believe that waiting, waiting in expectation, is an essential, and very much necessary element, of every single Christian’s maturing process.
Of feeling like we have been put on the backburner, or forgotten backstage.
We know God has gifted us with every good and perfect gift and called us to do something great, but it doesn’t seem like anything is happening in that singular direction.
That might be because God is calling you to wait.
It is God teaching you patience.
God is teaching me patience.
And all too often, if we do not wait, if we try to step out and do what we want, or even what we believe God wants for us, but we do not long wait for His timing, we will fall flat on our collective faces.
We know, these times of waiting can be incredibly fruitful times for us.
So why not anticipate that we will expectantly, innately, enjoy them.
Romans 12:1-2Amplified Bible
Dedicated Service
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Why not, while are waiting with high eagerness and with greatest expectations anyway, read, study, ponder, learn, as much about the Word of God as we can.
Become as much like Jesus Christ as you can.
A mushroom matures in a few days, but an oak tree takes hundreds of years.
Which would you rather be?
A mushroom, or an oak tree?
If you and I choose to wait for God’s timing, you and I will become like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season (Psalm 1:3).
And as you and I wait, we might remember that God has not forgotten you.
And as you and I wait, we might realize that God truly hears all of our prayers.
And as you and I wait on the Lord, we might just figure out He will renew our strength, you and I will mount up with wings like eagles, you and I will run and you and I will not grow weary, you and I will both walk, we will both not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
That’s what Simeon did.
God wanted him to wait for Jesus, and he did.
Patiently waiting is a wonderful spiritual characteristic to have.
The third spiritual characteristic of Simeon was that the Holy Spirit was upon him.
This is significant because at this time in God’s history, not all believers had the Holy Spirit upon them.
The Holy Spirit could come upon a person for a while, and then could leave later.
That’s why David prayed in Psalm 51, “take not your Holy Spirit from me.”
Prior to Pentecost in Acts 2, not all believers had the Holy Spirit.
He only came upon a few, and sometimes, only for a short while.
But now, today, in the church age, the Holy Spirit dwells within all believers.
Before Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit only came upon certain individuals for certain tasks and responsibilities.
Now, after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is within all believers permanently.
Simeon, however, was one of those privileged saints prior to Pentecost who had the Holy Spirit.
This means that Simeon was specifically, specially chosen by God to do something specific for God.
We learn what this task was in verse 26.
Luke 2:26. 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.
Simeon had been told by God that he would not die until Messiah came.
This is quite a promise of God to Simeon!
We don’t know exactly how old Simeon was here, but tradition suggests he was as much as 115 years old, but again, that is only tradition.
And so Simeon had been waiting for God for much of his life, and he knows that he will see the Messiah before he dies.
If I was alive at that time, and I knew this about Simeon, I would have hung out with Simeon all the time.
I never would have left his side.
I would have wanted to be there when he saw the Messiah.
The question though is, why would God tell Simeon this?
Why did God think it was important that someone be there to see Messiah?
Why is it so important for Simeon to spend his whole life waiting, just to see the Messiah?
That’s incredible, but what’s the point?
The point is found in Deuteronomy 19:14-15.
Laws of Landmark and Testimony
14 “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the forefathers [who first divided the territory] have set, in the land which you will inherit in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.
15 “A single witness shall not appear in a trial against a man for any wrong or any sin which he has committed; [only] [a]on the testimony or evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be confirmed.
We read and we learn from God’s Word, the Laws of Landmark and Testimony that on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a matter then be confirmed.
Simeon was one of three witnesses that God used to confirm that Immanuel, the Messiah, had come to Israel in the flesh.
The shepherds were the first, Simeon is the second, and Anna is the third, whom we will look at in a bit.
But before we look at Anna, Simeon needs to do his witnessing.
Witnesses speak what they have seen and heard, and Simeon needs to speak.
So this is what he does in Luke 2:27-35.
The wait is over, and God has called upon Simeon to speak, and Simeon, though he has been on the sidelines for so long, obediently steps forth to be a witness.
C. The Wait is Over (Luke 2:27-35)
His witnessing was about two things. First, he blesses God. He thanks God for sending the Messiah.
Luke 2:27-32. 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 (they were coming to redeem Jesus with five pieces of silver), 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.”
Simeon recognizes from verse 29, that his life of waiting for the Messiah was according to the Word of the Lord.
Everything we do needs to be according to the Word of the Lord.
If God’s Word has not said it, you most likely cannot trust it.
Simeon did have the Word from God that he would live to see the Messiah, and so now he says he can depart in peace, he can die now, his devout life, complete.
Are you and I at that place in our own lives?
If we discovered we were going to die tomorrow, would we be ready to go?
Would we be able to depart in peace?
That is an important question to ask of ourselves.
God can take us at any time, and we all need to be ready to go at any time.
This means being at peace with God, and peace with one another all the time.
Do we need to confess something to God?
Do it today.
Do we need to restore a relationship with someone, but we have been putting it off?
Do not delay any longer.
In verse 30, Simeon is ready to depart because he has seen his, our, salvation.
Whenever we see the word salvation, or save, in the Bible, we each need to ask ourselves, “Salvation from what?” or “Saved from what?”
Recall in Luke 1, we saw that both Mary and Zacharias, but especially Zacharias, looked upon the infant Immanuel as the coming Messiah who would soon deliver them from Roman rule, and who would conquer the enemies of Israel.
They thought Jesus was coming to conquer.
And Jesus will do that when He comes the second time, but His first coming was to defeat sin and death.
His second coming is to rule and reign; His first was to come, serve and die.
Simeon sees the truth.
We know this for two reasons, first, because of what he says in verses 31-32.
This salvation, Simeon says, has been prepared before the face of all peoples, and is
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Simeon is showing that he understands that Christ is coming, not to deliver the Jews from their enemies, and place Israel at the head of the nations over all the Gentile nations, but instead, that this salvation is for all people and will bring light and revelation to the Gentiles.
You see, most Jews, when they thought of the Messiah, thought He was coming just for them, and just to crush the Gentiles under His feet.
But in contrast to this, there were some in Israel who were known as
“The Quiet in the Land.”
They had no dreams of violence and of power [or] of armies and banners; they believed in a life of constant prayer and quiet watchfulness until [the Messiah] should come. All their lives they waited quietly and patiently upon God.”
Simeon was one of these Jews called The Quiet in the Land.
He understood from the Word of God what most Jews in that day had missed.
He understood that Jesus came to be a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the Gentiles, to reveal himself to the Gentiles.
And that He would do this through suffering as a servant, dying on the cross, and then raising from the dead.
And how thankful all of us should be that this is why he came the first time.
I believe that Simeon partially understood this purpose of Christ’s first coming, and he reveals this purpose here by what he says in thanksgiving to God.
But Simeon is not done.
He next turns to bless Joseph and Mary in Luke 2:33-35.
Luke 2:33-35. And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things 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.”
This isn’t much of a blessing, is it?
Well, actually, it doesn’t appear that the blessing of Simeon to Joseph and Mary is recorded here.
We should read this passage as saying that Simeon blessed them, and then after he was done, he then speaks to them what we read in Luke 2:34-35.
The words of Simeon to Mary about a sword piercing her own heart is a prophecy about Christ’s coming crucifixion on Calvary’s cross.
It would be the most tragic event in the life of Mary, and yet, at the same time, the greatest salvation event of all time.
Mary’s soul would be pierced, and so will ours when we innately understand the suffering of Christ, that Jesus did it all to save us.
And if people get saved, God, in, through, Christ Jesus, considers it all worth it.
The rest of Simeon’s words to Joseph and Mary are again an indication that Simeon knows what Jesus has come for.
Not to raise up Israel and deliver them from Roman rule, but to cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and to be spoken against.
The result will be that many hearts would be revealed.
This is exactly what happens in the life of Jesus.
Most of the leaders of Israel reject him, and so they fall from their positions.
Many of the poor accept him, and so are risen to leadership in the church.
Jesus was definitely spoken against by many.
And ultimately, the thoughts of many hearts were revealed.
Most people wanted a Messiah for selfish reasons.
They wanted to profit from the Messiah, or gain power from the Messiah.
The Gospel of Luke will show all of this to us as we go through it.
Simeon also reveals the thoughts of his own heart here.
He knew what kind of Messiah Jesus would be, and he had waited his whole life for this event, and now that it had come, he could finally depart in peace.
Simeon was the second of three witnesses.
Before we move on to Anna, let me just ask you, what are you waiting for?
What are you and I looking forward to?
Is it that next vacation?
Is it getting married?
Maybe having a child…or a grandchild?
Getting that promotion at work?
Any or All of those hundreds of millions of dollars someone promised us?
Hey, all of these things are good things to wait for.
All of these things are good things to accomplish in life.
All of these things are blessings from God.
But real contentment in life comes from knowing what to look forward to, from knowing what to wait for, from knowing exactingly who we are waiting for.
Simeon knew what to wait for. He waited for and looked forward to Messiah’s first coming.
And similarly, we are to wait for Christ’s Second Coming.
The New Testament tells us over and over that we should eagerly wait and anxiously look for the blessed appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:23-25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Titus 2:13).
Living with this in mind, knowing that Jesus could come today, or tomorrow, causes us to live with the right priorities.
It causes us to live with eternity in focus.
It causes us to do things that ultimately will matter for eternity, rather than just for the next moment, the next minute, hour day, next week, next millennium.
And furthermore, if we eagerly look for Christ’s coming, we will do everything we can to speed his coming.
In Matthew 24:14, it says that the end will come only after the whole world has heard the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Waiting for Jesus should cause us to be witnesses just as Simeon’s waiting for Jesus caused him to be a witness.
Let us turn now to see the third witness, Anna.
Simeon Obeyed God’s Word in Waiting for Jesus.
Anna Obeyed God’s Word in Worshiping Jesus.
III. Anna Obeyed God’s Word in Worshiping and Devoutly Serving God (Luke 2:36-38)
Just as with Simeon,
the account of Anna begins with a description of her characteristics.
A. Anna’s Characteristics (Luke 2:36-37a)
Luke 2:36-37a. Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,
First, we learn that her name was Anna.
Her name comes from the Hebrew word for grace.
And the grace of God was definitely upon her as we see in the rest of these verses.
The grace of God was upon her first of all, in that she was a prophetess.
There are several women in the Bible who have this privilege and distinction; Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) and of Philips daughters (Acts 21:9) are examples of others.
Anna’s work as a prophetess was to speak the Word of God, and share what she knew about Jesus with all who would listen to her.
This is what we will see her doing in Luke 2:38, and this was the basic ministry description of all prophets in the Bible also.
The next evidence of the grace of God in her life is the fact that she was of the tribe of Asher.
You say, “What does that have to do with the grace of God in her life?”
Well, Asher was one of the northern tribes of Israel that rebelled against God, and so was carried away into captivity by the Assyrians.
God has always kept a remnant of each tribe safe for himself. We can read the accounts in 1 and 2 Chronicles and other places in Scripture which clearly show the existence of other members of the other tribes of Israel. This is an example right here in Luke 2. Anna was of the tribe of Asher. She knew who she was, and so did everyone else. She did not go to Ethiopia. She did not come to America. She was not lost. She was in Israel. And that is an example of the grace of God. Though her ancestors had rebelled and been carried off into captivity, God had nevertheless raised her up to be one of these witnesses.
A final sign of the grace of God being upon her is her age. We learn here that she was married for seven years and a widow for 84 years. This either means that she was a widow who was 84 years old, or that she had been a widow for 84 years. If we go with the second possibility, which I think has the stronger case. She would then be about 104 years old.[9] But either way, she had been a widow for a very long time. And rather than grow bitter and resentful that she had been a widow so long, she became better.
Sorrow can do one of two things to you. It can make you hard, bitter, resentful and rebellious against God, or it can make you kinder, softer, more sympathetic. It can spoil your faith, or cause your faith to take deeper root. It all depends on how you choose to respond to the sorrow and trials in your life.[10] Anna chose the better path. She chose to reveal the grace of God in her life. And I think that is one reason God gave her a long life.
Do you know what she did with her long life? She served God with it. Look at the last half of verse 37.
B. Served God (Luke 2:37b)
Luke 2:37b. [she] did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
This tells us that Anna, like Simeon, was another one of those who were known as The Quiet in the Land.
She served God first of all by staying in the temple.
It says she didn’t even depart from the temple.
This means that she went to the temple as much as possible.
Nobody, not even the priests lived in the temple.
The High Priest alone had chambers there, but even He did not live there.
So it means that she was there as much as possible.
And while there, she served God by fasting and praying night and day.
This is a wonderful blessing to pour out upon God’s church and God’s people if you are able to do it.
It is sometimes true, not always, but sometimes, that those who are older do not need as much food and sleep as they did when they were younger.
So some of them, some of you, take the opportunity to become prayer warriors for God. You fast and pray. You pray during the night, and pray during the day.
There are many things that go into a healthy church and fruitful ministry,
but here we see two of the most important factors of becoming a healthy Christian and a healthy church.
If you and I want to become a healthy Christian, and we want this church to become healthy, you and I need to follow the example of Anna.
First, spend as much time as possible in church, worshipping God, serving God, fellowshipping with other Christians, learning the Word of God.
That’s the first thing. It will help you; it will help the church.
But secondly, spend as much time as possible praying.
Prayer is the lifeblood of the church.
Prayer is what keeps a church and it’s ministries supported, moving forward.
Prayer is what keeps you in communication with God.
Prayer is what holds back the spiritual forces of darkness.
Prayer is how you can support the pastor and the other laity leaders of your church – the elders and the Sunday school teachers and the music team and everybody else in anointed, voluntary and appointed leadership positions.
And we see this in Anna.
She was a prayer warrior.
Not only did she pray, but she fasted and prayed, and she did it night and day.
Oh, may God give every church many people like Anna who serve God with fasting and praying night and day.
Finally, in verse 38, we read of how Anna was the third witness for Christ coming as the Messiah.
She spoke of Jesus.
C. Spoke of Jesus (Luke 2:38)
Luke 2:38. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Like Simeon, she gave all her thanks to God for sending the Messiah, and then, not stopping there, she went out and spoke to everybody who was looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
She went around telling people that their Savior, their Redeemer had come.
She was the third witness.
What are some lessons from the lives of Simeon and Anna?
Both of them would be considered elderly by today’s standards, and yet neither one of them thought that being old meant that God was done with them.
Sometimes, in our modern interpretation and understanding the standards of our culture, those of us who are younger seem to think that those who are older have nothing to teach us, and sometimes, those of us who are older, believe it.
Other times, those who are older know they have a whole lot to teach those who are of the younger generations, but they would much rather spend the bulk of their hard earned retirement years fishing and golfing and playing card games.
Both of these views are wrong.
The Bible says those who are younger should learn from those who are older.
Titus 2, for example, encourages older woman to teach and train and disciple younger women how to be mothers and wives.
Older men also, can pass on great skills and truths to younger men.
Those who are older have priceless lessons and years of wisdom to pass on to those who are younger.
And these are not just lessons about cooking and gardening and parenting, but truths from the Bible and lessons on how to pray, or resist temptation, that you and I have hardcore learned over the years – all these things can be passed on.
Even in the church, there are hundreds of things that can be done by those who are older that younger people cannot and are not able to do.
You see, I believe that retirement is often God’s way of releasing the believer from daily responsibilities in order to allow him or her to devote more time and effort to a ministry.
Maybe we shouldn’t call it retirement anymore, but transition.
We transition from working for the world at your job to working for God in the church.
I believe that actually, the years we spent working in the world could actually be God preparing us for the real work of the ministry He wants you and I to do once we have matured in our years, we are reclassifying ourselves as being “retired.”
What skills, what lessons, what truths have you learned which we ourselves can pass on to the next coming generations?
How can we encourage?
How can we help our neighbors?
How can we minister to the needs of others?
Consider the maximum measure of brevity of the Kingdom of God ….
Consider the immeasurable dimensions of God’s entire Neighborhood ….
Consider the ultimately measurable dimensions of our Neighborhoods ….
For believers, the latter years can be the richest in all of life if they become a blessing and a blessed and fruitful part, an example, a mentor, of other lives.
The gentle touch of a seasoned life alive in Jesus Christ brings mutual enrichment.
The elderly should not be great social outcasts, but a living “overpass” between generations; not just a lonely dead end but a visible well-lighted avenue to lead younger people to the riches of a superlative time of living God’s abundant life.
Contentment is not a matter of age or energy level, neither is it a function of how many possessions you have accumulated.
Contentment and significance in life is measured by how open you are to serving God and sharing Him with others.
Even though death is imminent for Simeon and Anna, they have found the meaning of life, and what makes life significant.
They did not wait around for the next vacation, or the next toy, or the next adventure, nor for riches which would, in all probability, never materialize.
No, they waited for their Messiah Jesus Christ, and as they waited, they served God, they honored and worshiped God in any and every single way they could.
What are you and I waiting for?
Who are you and I waiting for?
I hope you and I are waiting for Jesus Christ.
And as you and I do, I hope you and I are wisely using the time and abilities and talents God has given to you and me.
The entirety of our lives has meaning when we spend it all waiting for Jesus.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Angels Shepherds Tourists Magi Except for Simeon… Expectantly waiting for consolation of Israel Righteous, Devout, Spirit filled Promised no death until…Messiah seen Temple duties… Mary, Joseph, Jesus divinely bump into Simeon Simeon sees, shakes, spirit soars, secures Savior skyward Shouts Spirit filled Simeon “Nunc Dimittis!” – NOW! I can depart… In peace, Perfect, pacific peace! Eyes see salvation! Light to Gentiles Glory to Israel! Family returns…Nazareth bound How bout us? We came, sang, prayed Did we see shining Savior’s salvation? Like Simeon depart in peace? From the pew, church, life? “Nunc Dimittis”!! Now! Depart Return in Peace!
God, our shepherd, you continue to blaze our paths and point to who and what’s best for us. You said in your Word that though the human mind plans the way, you direct our steps. We can plan all we want but nothing is out of reach for you. We pray that we surrender our pride, by your Spirit, and wholeheartedly follow your direction so that we may have a better understanding of our calling in Jesus Christ. In the exalted name of Jesus, your Son, and the power of your Holy Spirit,
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum!
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 