Christmas! What does it mean to you? Does it mean Santa and gifts or the Christ child? As I sat in church yesterday I was amazed at the Pastor's sermon on Luke 2 and Simeon. As he read the passage stopping along the way he asked us to visualize the entrance of the Christchild in the Temple. But, that was not his focus; instead it was Simeon. Who was this man? What do we know about him? Why was he there in the temple? How did he recognize Jesus? Why did God allow him to see Jesus as the Messiah who would die for our sins? These are questions that lay unanswered but we do know some details that help fill in the blanks:
1. he was old
2. he must have lived in the vicinity of the Temple or at least in the city of Jerusalem
3. he was righteous
4. he was devout
5. he was looking...note that...looking for the consolation of Israel...aware of God's promises from the OT...that means he was educated in some way about them
6. he was anointed by the Holy Spirit
7. he had been given a special revelation by the Holy Spirit
8. he had been given a promise: no death until he had seen the one for whom he had been looking...longing.
9. he came into the Temple...in the Spirit. Remember what Paul said...be ye filled with the Holy Spirit
10. he noted and stopped Mary and Joseph and took the child
11. in the Spirit he prophesied
12. he blessed God
So what is it about Simeon that we should "take away" for our lives? Are we too looking for Him? are we filled with the Spirit? Are we righteous? Are we devout?
Are we in God's house so we can be aware of His presence when He comes? Do we know the promises of the OT? OR
Are we so busy with the trappings of Christmas that we are not looking for Him "in the temple" but instead we are looking for Santa? Where are we today in our preparation for Christmas?
Looking for Jesus? Start here...in His house...in His Word...and receive the promises that are awaiting you.
Perhaps this song will inspire you to think: where's the line for Jesus?
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OExXItDyWEY&vq=medium
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Veracity of Light
The Veracity of Light
Anyone who has lived in Florida or Texas for any time knows the impact of lightning as it illumines the sky for a fraction of a moment. If it happens at night the illumination is startling and revealing as happened recently when there was thunder, lightning and then hail which was hidden to the naked eye until the illumination occurred.
It revealed what is hidden in the darkness. Just as physical illumination reveals the good, the bad and the ugly so spiritual illumination reveals the same. Think of it this way. Within the heart of man likes a big black gem that is hidden from the eye of man but is seen through the lens of the Creator and the created one, Satan, that stepped away from Him in days long ago. This evil one knows of the darkness and seeks to keep it hidden from the illumination that will not only reveal it but cause it to be eradicated. He blinds (2Cor 4:4) the mind of the one who has had a glimpse of his darkness lest he turn from his evil ways and turn to the Creator/Christ. Into this scenario steps the Light of the World to not only reveal this darkness but also to give the human his opportunity to turn and be illuminated. But as scripture tells us that men loved darkness rather than light, (Jn 3:19) but to those who love the light He gives them the right to become the children of God (Jn 1:12) with all of the rights and promises such as are listed in Ephesians 1 (saint, blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen before foundation of the world, holy, unblemished, redeemed, forgiven, God’s own possession, sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit).
The veracity of our decision to throw off the darkness and yield to the light is when we either do as the wicked servant by hiding his talent or gift it in the ground or we proclaim the message of these gifts to others who are still walking about wrapped in the cloak of darkness. To the world we stand unchanged or changed; they are watching and listening. Should we hide our gift in the ground one day we will hear “thou wicked and slothful servant” or if we share these gifts we will hear “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord”. Whether you are a sower or a reaper we will rejoice together (Jn 4:36). Should you not be growing through study and meditation upon His Word, not proclaiming nor hungering for the Word there is to the world and Christendom alike a real question of your state.
Will your light shine or be hidden under a bushel?
2Cor 4:4 the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God
John 3:19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.
John 1:12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children
John 4:36 The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together
Anyone who has lived in Florida or Texas for any time knows the impact of lightning as it illumines the sky for a fraction of a moment. If it happens at night the illumination is startling and revealing as happened recently when there was thunder, lightning and then hail which was hidden to the naked eye until the illumination occurred.
It revealed what is hidden in the darkness. Just as physical illumination reveals the good, the bad and the ugly so spiritual illumination reveals the same. Think of it this way. Within the heart of man likes a big black gem that is hidden from the eye of man but is seen through the lens of the Creator and the created one, Satan, that stepped away from Him in days long ago. This evil one knows of the darkness and seeks to keep it hidden from the illumination that will not only reveal it but cause it to be eradicated. He blinds (2Cor 4:4) the mind of the one who has had a glimpse of his darkness lest he turn from his evil ways and turn to the Creator/Christ. Into this scenario steps the Light of the World to not only reveal this darkness but also to give the human his opportunity to turn and be illuminated. But as scripture tells us that men loved darkness rather than light, (Jn 3:19) but to those who love the light He gives them the right to become the children of God (Jn 1:12) with all of the rights and promises such as are listed in Ephesians 1 (saint, blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen before foundation of the world, holy, unblemished, redeemed, forgiven, God’s own possession, sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit).
The veracity of our decision to throw off the darkness and yield to the light is when we either do as the wicked servant by hiding his talent or gift it in the ground or we proclaim the message of these gifts to others who are still walking about wrapped in the cloak of darkness. To the world we stand unchanged or changed; they are watching and listening. Should we hide our gift in the ground one day we will hear “thou wicked and slothful servant” or if we share these gifts we will hear “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord”. Whether you are a sower or a reaper we will rejoice together (Jn 4:36). Should you not be growing through study and meditation upon His Word, not proclaiming nor hungering for the Word there is to the world and Christendom alike a real question of your state.
Will your light shine or be hidden under a bushel?
2Cor 4:4 the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God
John 3:19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.
John 1:12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children
John 4:36 The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together
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