Simeon and Anna portrait of consecration
SERIES: “Christmas Portraits From The Bible”
MESSAGE #:4
TITLE: “Simeon and Anna: Portrait of Yieldedness to God”
TEXT: Luke 2:21-40
ETS: The lives of Simeon and Anna demonstrate what it means to be totally yielded to the Lord.
ESS: A life that is yielded to the Lord will be marked by certain traits.
OSS: Believers will commit to living lives that are totally yielded to Christ.
UW: Marks
PQ: What does a life that is yielded to Christ look like?
INTRODUCTION:
A- The series so far…
1. “Christmas Portraits From The Bible”
a. Message #1: “Mary: Portrait of Commitment”
b. Message #2: “Zacharias & Elizabeth: Portrait of
c. Message #3: “Jesus, Reason For The Season”
B- Today’s message: Simeon & Anna: Portrait of Yieldedness To God”
What does a life that is yielded to Christ look like?
I. A LIFE THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE LORD (VSS. 25,37).
A. Dedicated to an upright walk before the Lord.
1. Involves being obedient to God (v. 25).
”And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout,
waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him.”
a) “Just” = Δικαιος = in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
b) (Exodus 19:5) “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine..”
2. Involves avoiding the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
B. Dedicated to a loving reverence of the Lord.
“…and this man was just and devout…”
1. “Devout”( εὐλαβής) means one who reverences God.
2. Our lives are to exhibit a respectful love for God.
a) We are to love Him completely.
(1) (Mark 12:30)”And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
b) It is to be a respect-based love.
(1) Remembering who He is…
(2) Remembering who you are…
C. Dedicated to a life of faithfulness to the Lord (vs. 25b, 37).
1. We are to walk by faith, not by sight.
(Hebrews 10:38) “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
(2 Corinthians 5:7) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2. Simeon was a man who was living in expectation of the Lord’s Messiah (v. 25b). “this man was… waiting for the Consolation of Israel”
3. Anna served the Lord faithfully day and night (v. 36-37)
“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
D. Dedicated to a service that is Spirit Filled (Vss. 25d, 37).
(vs. 25d) “…the Holy Ghost was upon him.”
(vs. 37) And she…departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
1. Two keys to dedicated service:
a) Control of the Holy Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18) “And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit”
b) Consistency of service
(3) Like Daniel (Daniel 6:16,20)"Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."
II. A HEART THAT IS LISTENING TO THE LORD (VSS. 26-27, 37B).
A. Listening to whatever the Lord reveals (vs. 26).” And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
1. The Holy Spirit revealed something special to Simeon.
2. There are many things the Holy Spirit can’t communicate to us if we aren’t listening!
B. Living under the directorship of the Holy Spirit (vss. 28, 37b).
1. Simeon followed the Holy Spirit to Jesus.
2. We are to be guided by the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 5:25) “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:16) “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
III. A MIND THAT IS FOCUSED UPON THE PURPOSES OF THE LORD (VSS. 28-32).
A. The purpose of the Lord in Salvation (vss. 29-32) "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.".
1. Salvation is for all people.
(John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
(Rom. 10:13) For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
B. The purpose of the Lord in the lives of others (vss. 34-35, 38).
“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
1. In terms of position (v. 34) “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” (1 Corinthians 12: )
2. In terms of pain (v. 35) “(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)”
3. In terms of exposure (v. 35) “…that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
C. The purpose of the Lord for self (vss. 28-30)
1. Focus (Vs.28) “Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God…”
2. Submission (vs. 29) “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word…”
3. Witness (vs. 30) “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation…”
CONCLUSION:
Song: “I Surrender All”
DATES / PLACES PREACHED:
12/19/2004 FBC, Scott