A Fast for a New Year

A Fast For a New Year

Next week, we are going to begin a new series of messages for the new year. But this morning, on the very FIRST Sunday of a new year. As we enter the 2020’s, I want us to take stock of where we are and where we’re going. I want to encourage you with hope and I want to challenge you with something we looked at, during the Advent season. Challenge you with fasting.

To that end, let’s read . Going to focus on vv. 36-38, the brief story of Anna.

1 ANNA’S PRACTICE

At the time Jesus is born, the Jews are under Roman rule. The Promise Land is under the foot of foreigners … HEATHENS, with no regard for the God of Creation - the God of Abraham … The God of the Exodus … Israel’s God. This is NOT a good time to be a member of the people of God, if dignity and hope are what you’re after.

How much was 1st Century Israel like 21st century Canada. Obviously Canada was never a fully ‘Christian’ country. But there was a time when lip service, at least, was paid to the God of the Bible. Canada’s official motto, which is on the Canadian Coat of Arms to this day, has the Latin for ‘From Sea to Sea’, which is taken directly from ,

“He shall have dominion from sea to sea”.

In our day - mention of God in the public square is met by rolling eyes, or angry hostility. There is a decision to be made, more and more so as the days go by: Will I live for the applause of the crowd? Or will I live by faith in the God who has revealed Himself in this book? Will I live according to the twists and turns of the spirit of the age? Or will I live according to the Word of God?

And for those of us who have chosen the latter – “The Word of God is the only foundation solid enough to build a life on. All other ground is sinking sand”. For those of us who want to live under the authority of God’s Word – it’s tempting to feel alone in this world.

But there is a remnant. God ALWAYS keeps a remnant.

The remnant may seem to be very small. At the end of the Gospels - the beginning of the book of Acts - When the whole ministry of Jesus was over and all the believers in Jerusalem gathered in the upper room, there were only 120 of them.

At the beginning of Jesus’ life, the group was even smaller. But among that little remnant that took their Bible, took the Old Testament seriously and believed it was an old couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth — he was a priest and she even came from the priestly line as well — there was a young couple, Joseph and Mary, who were righteous teen-agers, there were some shepherds, working the night shift, watching their sheep out on the hillside in Bethlehem. And here, in Luke chapter 2, we meet a couple of more people in the remnant, namely Simeon, an old man, and Anna, an old lady.

None of them seem important. I mean, there were thousands of priests in Israel and certainly Zacharias was not a particularly distinguished one. He, in fact, lived in a little Judean village, not in the mainstream of things at all. Joseph and Mary were from that lowly and despised place called Nazareth which was up there by where Gentiles lived and far away from religious feelings that were generated around Jerusalem. And the shepherds were the commonest of the commonest and the lowest of the low. And Simeon and Anna - both of them are nobodies - Senior citizens way past their prime, with nothing in either of their pasts that marks them out as anything special.

But God doesn’t look at people the way the world does.

So here we are in the Temple of Jerusalem. According to the Old Testament Law - - 40 days after the birth, Joseph and Mary bring the tiny child Jesus into the temple. It is the time for purification AND presentation.

This is THE TEMPLE … OF JERUSALEM. This is the bustling center of spiritual activity that is so crucial for the people – this is the heart the identity and the hopes of Jewish identity – Now Jesus, the Son of God is here … and almost NOBODY notices!

Amidst the hum of prayers – lost in the busy-ness of that place- - there are two people - - both with faces marked by the years … both of them recognize the identity of this extraordinary infant.

First, verse 25 introduces us to a man, whose name is Simeon. Verse 25 says he is ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel - and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Here is a man whose heart is in tune to the things of the Lord. He’s concerned for the reputation of Israel’s God … and aware that God’s reputation is bound up with the situation of His people.

Simeon lays eyes on this baby - recognizes THIS is the One he was promised that he would see … takes the baby in his arms, and out of his mouth comes the overflow of a heart filled with praise: (verse 29), “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; (30) for my eyes have seen your salvation (31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples. (32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

“My waiting has not been in vain!”

In verse 36, we read of another aged intercessor - - her name is Anna. What a remarkable woman. Hers is a life touched by tragedy. She was married for only seven short years - when her husband dies. That’s a tragic, heartbreak in any culture, in any historical time. But in first-century Judea, it’s also a devastating blow - - where your husband is not just your companion … If you are a woman - your husband is also your security. The existence of a widow in Anna’s day … is a hard, precarious one.

For year after year, decade after decade - - - probably 60 years - - she has lived the difficult widow’s life. It’s a hard life. In fact, when the text tells us, in v. 27, that Anna was a widow UNTIL she was 84 - the wording leaves the meaning a little ambiguous here. It could mean that she was a widow until she was 84. It could also mean that she was a widow for 84 years. Take your pick. She wouldn’t have been married until she was 13 and the text does make it clear that she lived with her husband for 7 years. So, if she was a widow for 84 years, that would make her 104 years old, when she’s in the temple with Jesus. Either meaning is possible.

But what is very clear is where Anna’s energies and desires are directed over all these years.

Verse 37, “… She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”

Anna lived for many years in this world - - but her eyes are firmly fixed above. There is no doubt. Her heart is fixed on God and moved by a concern for his glory. So she WORSHIPS and also SHE FASTS.

THAT IS NO COINCIDENCE ...

It seems to me that the more comfortable we become in the warm embrace of God’s material blessings,

.... the more content we become in this world.

..... The more content we become in this world, the less we yearn for the next. The less longing we have for heaven and the revealing of the Glory of Jesus Christ as King of Kings for all to see. And something’s wrong with that kind of picture.

In , remember Jesus is talking to the disciples of John the Baptist. John’s disciples can’t understand why everyone else who cares about the glory of God, seems to be fasting. They are fasting. Even the Pharisees (and John sees right through them) - they are fasting for the coming Messiah. ..... So why aren’t JESUS’ disciples fasting?!

Jesus answers that this is a wedding celebration. He is the bridegroom: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” Obviously the answer is no - there’s no sadness while the groom is at the party. But Jesus goes on, in v.15, “The days will come with the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Jesus takes for granted that, when He ascends into heaven, His Church - His BRIDE - WILL mourn for His return - - and that the people of His Church will show their longing by fasting.

I want to challenge you to make fasting a part of your spiritual life in 2020.

Before Christmas we saw that fasting is not just an OT practice – it’s very much NT. Jesus, in “And WHEN you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites ...”

Not IF you fast, but WHEN you fast …

Acts Chapter 13 is where the church in Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. , tells us how that first missionary trip came about … “While they were worshiping the Lord AND FASTING, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ (3) Then AFTER FASTING and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

Let me remind you that fasting is more than simply food. Some people aren’t able to fast from food for physical reasons. You aren’t left out of the fun. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Sermon on the Mount): Fasting, if we conceive of it truly, must not … be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose. There are many bodily functions which are right and normal and perfectly legitimate, but which for special peculiar reasons in certain circumstances should be controlled. That’s fasting.

Food, electronics, digital fast … the list is long.

2 ANNA’S PURPOSE

Anna’s purpose in fasting is made clear by her response to the arrival of Jesus at the temple. Verse 38, she comes at just the right moment to see the infant Messiah, and what does she do? “… she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Anna gives thanks to God and makes her rounds, throughout the temple area - sharing the news with everyone else who is straining to see God’s redemption of Jerusalem … GOD’S CITY - - because she’s lived in this temple long enough to know the people who come and go … and she knows the people who share her heart … her longing … she knows the people who are hungry for God to Act.

Anna knows the promises of the prophets, hundreds of years before. She clings to the hope that discipline and exile are NOT the end of the story for God’s people. That, after disciplining His people - God didn’t throw them onto the trash heap and move on … but that He would come with a rescue mission. That He would forgive their sins, would send His Messiah and through Him bring justice and JOY to His people. KNEW His name would be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father – that the Government of the World would be on His shoulders …. And Anna wants that!

She has lived her life, looking forward to the day when God would EXALT His glory, by lifting High his people.

And on this day - at the sight of this baby in the Temple - this aged widow knows that God has honored her longing. He has given her a glimpse of his coming. What a gift!

But how much more have we seen. You see, Jesus doesn’t begin his public ministry until he’s 30 years old. Anna is at least 84 when he’s born - maybe over 100. There’s NO WAY she is going to still be around when Jesus steps onto the public stage as a grown man. All Anna sees of the King - is this infant in Mary’s arms.

She doesn’t have the privilege of hearing his words that stun the audience with amazement - - unlike anyone they had ever heard before … “He speaks as one with authority!”

She never saw his tenderness - - never saw him reach out His pure hand to risk contamination — - to TOUCH a body, twisted and contaminated with cruel leprosy.

Anna never saw the dead and buried - days in the grave, only to be brought back to life, by word from His precious lips. Never heard the sweetest words ever spoken by human lips to a dying sinner: “Today, YOU will be with me in Paradise”; or the words of confident triumph, with final breath: “IT is FINISHED”. Anna’s eyes didn’t see Jesus rise VICTORIOUS over death - - nail-scarred hands, pierced side - coming back in love to the very followers who deserted Him at his time of greatest need.

Anna saw none of it.

And WE - we have heard it all. He was here .... but now he’s gone. We have received His Holy Spirit, living inside of us, shaping us into His image, bearing witness with our spirits that we are Children of God. But we are waiting. We are waiting for His return. And in the meantime, we walk by faith … NOT by sight.

Imagine you are a bride - - - your groom is in the armed forces. Your wedding day comes - - you have exchanged our vows - - - He has pulled you close in a sweet embrace. He has told you of His love .... that He will always love and cherish and protect you .... that everything will be alright now. But just then, the call comes in - - your groom has to ship out immediately. The banquet will have to wait; the honeymoon will have to wait. Now he’s gone overseas.

How will you live while you wait for your groom to come back home? Lose yourself in eating candy and binge-

BIBLE READING - IMPACT. Study that I want to share with you as we begin the new year. There was a study done by the CENTER FOR BIBLE ENGAGEMENT. 400 k people were surveyed, in 24 countries, people from 8-80 years of age. This was a survey done of the general population in these countries, just looking to see how people engage with the Bible.

In the study, the surveyors made a profound discovery that they weren’t even looking for ...

When people are in Scripture 1x per week - that could be in church on Sunday, when the pastor says, ‘Open your Bible’ or you hear a message from the Bible … people who are in the Scripture 1x per week - the Bible had a negligible effect on life.

2x per week - negligible effect. 3x per week - there was a heartbeat - a little blip of difference made, but still not much. But FOUR TIMES Per week of engagement with the Bible and the impact literally spikes off the chart. You would expect more incremental growth. Not what the study showed.

Let me give you some specifics of how the impact manifests itself. Four times per week in the Bible and people report that Struggles with loneliness - drops 30%

Anger issues - - drop 32%; Bitterness in relationships - marriage, kids - drops 40%; Alcoholism - drops 57%; Feeling spiritually stagnant - if people are in the Scripture 4x per week - drops 60%; Viewing pornography - drops 61%.

On the flip side - on the positive - sharing your faith - jumps 200%; Discipline others jumps 230%.

Isn’t that what you want for your life? Isn’t that what you want our kids’ lives to be marked by - - this longing for your Savior - for His voice - - that drives into God’s Word?

3 OUR PART

Here we are, on the other side of the King’s coming. We’ve seen and tasted the glorious power and love of the King. Will you long LESS for His second coming than Anna did for His first coming?! Of COURSE NOT! We have seen His glory.

We are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in just a few moments. Have you ever thought that fasting is a partner for the Lord’s Supper? Jesus said, “Do THIS in remembrance of me.” And by EATING, we remember that Jesus HAS come and died for our sins.

But, by NOT EATING - - by fasting … we say, “YES - He has come - He has finished the work, He has proven His love … but the bridegroom isn’t here like He once was.” … And we miss him deeply. The sin and misery of the world is painful. The people of Christ are weak and despised … like sheep in the midst of wolves.

You are here this morning - and you know this world is not right. Maybe you’re walking wounded, hurting from the injustice, the evil done to you by the hands of others - someone you trusted.

You’re here, trying to keep a brave face, as your loved one’s body is being ravaged by sickness or disease.

You’re grieving at the suffering that buffets the people you care about, because of the selfish, sinful choices of others .... and you feel so helpless to do anything to rescue.

And then you turn your gaze onto yourself and see yourself soberly. You know what it is to cry out with Paul: “Wretched man that I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?!”

And then you look at our kids - children, young people, young adults .... you see the world that they are coming of age in ...

FEAR that seems to dominate - - - Being told there’s 12 years left for this planet.

TEMPTATION that is so hard to avoid – comes at them inside what used to be the safety of home.

DESPAIR that results

From 2010-2015, depression, anxiety and suicide have spiked among teens - as smartphones have taken over.

Talk about sheep, in the midst of wolves … that’s our kids’ generation. This creation is groaning for redemption and what do you do?

There is only one sure and true hope … that Jesus Christ, the risen LORD, will return in glory, turn the wrong to right and bring his kingdom of peace and Joy.

Our church has a great name, do you realize that? MARANATHA Baptist Church. I have to admit, I haven’t always loved it. It’s very long. I do get tired of spelling it out for people. But oh, the depth of meaning. ‘Maranatha’ is an Aramaic word. It’s one of the few Aramaic words that the church kept from the language Jesus spoke. It shows up a few times in our New Testament. And it’s a plea: It means, literally, “Our Lord, Come!”

MARANATHA - it was the constant cry of the early church.

, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (23) And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (24) For in this hope we were saved.”

Paul, near the end of his life:

, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

And in the closing words of the Bible - -

, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. ‘COME LORD JESUS’ (Maranatha!).”

Question: Do you have that same, biblical longing for the joy of Jesus’ second coming? The longing shared by Anna and Paul and John?

Seniors: Can you taste the glories of Jesus’ presence more and more sweetly, because you are getting nearer and nearer to seeing him face to face? Does that ever-growing anticipation turn into a fasting for his coming?

What about you younger people? Maybe you have been saved - you’ve put your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ - maybe you’ve been baptized already - - you have no problem telling others that you belong to Jesus Christ. You come here and sing the songs of praise. But, do you think about it mostly on Sundays … at church? You know that He’s coming back. That’s GOOD -

… but you’re looking for that coming to be way on the distant horizon. Truth be told, you don’t really want him to interrupt the plans you have for your future. You want to have your 2.5 children and your trinkets to buy and retirement leisure to enjoy.

Or is your love for your Savior growing into a deeply rooted oak tree of hope - and longing. So that his coming would be the greatest thing you can possibly imagine?

How about those of us in the middle? Have you ever thought about fasting being a reflection on how badly you want your bridegroom to come back? Anna’s passion for the Messiah’s arrival - is it at all attractive to you? Would you really RATHER have Jesus than SILVER OR GOLD? Do you want him to come back more than you want to climb the ladder of your career? OR keeping up to date on social media? Or eating lunch?

Fasting by its very nature, is me expressing to God - “I need you MORE. I need MORE OF YOU.”

In , Jesus says, “And will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (8) I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Do you see that? Jesus has given us a way to prepare for his coming – cry to him day and night. See Anna - there in the temple, day after day after day after day. Year after year after decade after decade - - - crying out to the Lord - ‘day and night’ … fasting and praying.

I see the Word of God here - and it gives me hope. I hope it gives hope to you, too.

As we begin this new year of life together, our kids are especially on my mind. Anybody here love your kids? You don’t even need to respond - because I know you do. I love all of the kids in our church family. This is a family. And I know that you love your kids more than I ever could - - - you would do anything for your kids.

You’d let them live at home until well into their 20s. You’d let them eat your food … you would put up with going to the fridge to get that special treat you’ve been looking forward to all day - - only to find out that one of your kids got there first and now you have to go without. You would do anything for your kids. You would DIE for your kids.

But for most of us - there will NEVER be that one crisis moment - where a car is hurtling towards the child and we can sacrifice our life by pushing them out of the path of the car and taking the hit ourselves – showing love in one, single, heroic act.

Giving everything for the children of this church - children of any age … newborn to senior citizen - some of you have kids that old … Giving everything for them comes in the thousands of little choices we make, day after day, week after week. And loving them with all you have means your greatest priority for them is that they will come to see and to savor Jesus Christ as their great satisfaction. My heart’s desire for all of our kids is NOT that they will just get a good job, financial stability and a spouse to love .... that alone is a desire too small. My heart’s desire for our kids is that, in the middle of this upside down world - they will find their delight in Jesus Christ - and they will live in longing for His coming - with eternity’s values in view.

And I know that I’m not the only parent here who lives with a constant awareness of my own failures … how many times my life example has fallen short of the words I say - the lessons I teach with my mouth.

With all of that in mind - I want to begin this year with a challenge. I want to challenge you to commit yourself to fast for the coming of our Lord - and for us older adults, that He would come with power, into the lives of our children. Once a week, in 2020, I will set aside a meal, or two, or I will set aside non-essential electronics - smartphone, social media, tv, radio .... anything that I receive as a good gift from God, but that can be a distraction - - - I will set it aside once per week for this whole year, so that I can spend THAT time in prayer that “Lord, YOU WOULD COME - - COME TO THIS NEEDY WORLD - - Come in power … Return in Glory .... and until that day arrives .... would YOU show Your Glory - would you bring Revival to Your Church at Maranatha - - and to our children.

Insert in your bulletin. Nice picture - you can throw it away, or leave it behind, on the floor with the rest of your bulletin. But, if you want to respond to this challenge - if you are willing to make that commitment .... let me encourage you - take the insert home. Put it on your fridge, or on your bathroom mirror - - somewhere that is visible and will remind you, once every week: “This is the day of my fast. This is how I am going to fast.” And then start praying. Like Anna.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Sermon on the Mount): Fasting, if we conceive of it truly, must not … be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose. There are many bodily function which are right and normal and perfectly legitimate, but which for special peculiar reasons in certain circumstances should be controlled. That’s fasting.

Going to focus on verses 36-38. Going to focus on the brief story

1 Anna’s Practice

At the time Jesus is born, the Jews are under Roman rule. The Promise Land is under the foot of foreigners … HEATHENS, with no regard for the God of Creation - the God of Abraham … The God of the Exodus … Israel’s God. This is NOT a good time to be a member of the people of God, if dignity and hope are what you’re after.

How much was 1st Century Israel like 21st century Canada. Obviously Canada was never a fully ‘Christian’ country. But there was a time when lip service, at least, was paid to the God of the Bible. Canada’s official motto, which is on the Canadian Coat of Arms to this day, has the Latin for ‘From Sea to Sea’, which is taken directly from , “He shall have dominion from sea to sea”.

In our day - mention of God in the public square is met by rolling eyes, or angry hostility. There is a decision to be made, more and more so as the days go by: Will I live for the applause of the crowd? Or will I live by faith in the God who has revealed Himself in this book? Will I live according to the twists and turns of the spirit of the age? Or will I live according to the Word of God?

But there is a remnant. There is ALWAYS a remnant.

The remnant may seem to be very small. At the end of the Gospels - the beginning of the book of Acts - When the whole ministry of Jesus was over and all the believers in Jerusalem gathered in the upper room, there were only 120 of them.

At the beginning of Jesus’ life, But among that little remnant that took their Bible, took the Old Testament seriously and believed it was an old couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth — he was a priest and she even came from the priestly line as well — was a young couple, Joseph and Mary, who were righteous teen-agers, were some shepherds sitting on their haunches, as it were, watching their sheep out on the hillside in Bethlehem whom the angels came. And here, in Luke chapter 2, we meet a couple of more people in the remnant, namely Simeon, an old man, and Anna, an old lady.

None of them seem important. I mean, there were thousands of priests in Israel and certainly Zacharias was not a particularly distinguished one. He, in fact, lived in a little Judean village, not in the mainstream of things at all. Joseph and Mary were from that lowly and despised place called Nazareth which was up there by where Gentiles lived and far away from religious feelings that were generated around Jerusalem. And the shepherds were the commonest of the commonest and the lowest of the low. And Simeon and Anna - both of them are nobodies - Senior citizens way past their prime, with nothing in either of their pasts that marks them out as anything special.

But God doesn’t look at people the way the world does. So here we are in the Temple of Jerusalem. According to the Old Testament Law - - 40 days after the birth, Joseph and Mary bring the tiny child Jesus into the temple. It is the time for purification AND presentation.

But, life goes on. So, according to the Old Testament Law - - 40 days after the birth, Joseph and Mary bring the tiny child Jesus into the temple. It is the time for purification AND presentation.

This is THE TEMPLE … OF JERUSALEM. This is the bustling center of spiritual activity

that is so crucial for the Amidst the hum of prayers in this bustling center of spiritual activity that is so crucial for the identity and hopes of the people - - there are two people - - both with faces marked by the years … both of them recognize the identity of this extraordinary infant.

First, verse 25 introduces us to a man, whose name is Simeon. Verse 25 says he is ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel - and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Here is a man whose heart is in tune to the things of the Lord. He’s concerned for the reputation of Israel’s God … and aware that God’s reputation is bound up with the situation of His people.

Simeon lays eyes on this baby - recognizes THIS is the One he was promised that he would see … takes the baby in his arms, and out of his mouth comes the overflow of a heart filled with praise: (verse 29), “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; (30) for my eyes have seen your salvation (31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples. (32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

“My waiting has not been in vain!”

In verse 36, we read of another aged intercessor - - her name is Anna. What a remarkable woman. Hers is a life touched by tragedy. She was married for only seven short years - when her husband dies. That’s a tragic, heartbreak in any culture, in any historical time. But in first-century Judea, it’s also a devastating blow - - where your husband is not just your companion … If you are a woman - your husband is also your security. The existence of a widow in Anna’s day … is a hard, precarious one.

For year after year, decade after decade - - - probably 60 years - - she has lived the difficult widow’s life. It’s a hard life. In fact, when the text tells us, in v. 27, that Anna was a widow UNTIL she was 84 - the wording leaves the meaning a little ambiguous here. It could mean that she was a widow until she was 84. It could also mean that she was a widow for 84 years. Take your pick. She wouldn’t have been married until she was 13 and the text does make it clear that she lived with her husband for 7 years. So, if she was a widow for 84 years, that would make her 104 years old, when she’s in the temple with Jesus. Either meaning is possible.

But what is very clear is where Anna’s energies and desires are directed over all these years.

Verse 37, “… She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”

Anna lived for many years in this world - - but her eyes are firmly fixed above. There is no doubt. Her heart is fixed on God and moved by a concern for his glory. So she WORSHIPS and also SHE FASTS.

THAT IS NO COINCIDENCE ...

It seems to me that the more comfortable we become in the warm embrace of God’s material blessings,

.... the more content we become in this world.

..... The more content we become in this world, the less we yearn for the next. The less longing we have for heaven and the revealing of the Glory of Jesus Christ as King of Kings for all to see. And something’s wrong with that kind of picture.

In , remember Jesus is talking to the disciples of John the Baptist. John’s disciples can’t understand why everyone else who cares about the glory of God, seems to be fasting. They are fasting. Even the Pharisees (and John sees right through them) - they are fasting for the coming Messiah. ..... So why aren’t JESUS’ disciples fasting?!

Jesus answers that this is a wedding celebration. He is the bridegroom: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” Obviously the answer is no - there’s no sadness while the groom is at the party. But Jesus goes on, in v.15, “The days will come with the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Jesus takes for granted that, when He ascends into heaven, His Church - His BRIDE - WILL mourn for His return - - and that the people of His Church will show their longing by fasting.

2 ANNA’S PURPOSE

Anna’s purpose in fasting is made clear by her response to the arrival of Jesus at the temple. Verse 38, she comes at just the right moment to see the infant Messiah, and what does she do? “… she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Anna gives thanks to God and makes her rounds, throughout the temple area - sharing the news with everyone else who is straining to see God’s redemption of Jerusalem … GOD’S CITY - - because she’s lived in this temple long enough to know the people who come and go … and she knows the people who share her heart … her longing … she knows the people who are hungry for God to Act.

Anna knows the promises of the prophets, hundreds of years before. She clings to the hope that discipline and exile are NOT the end of the story for God’s people. That, after disciplining His people - God didn’t throw them onto the trash heap and move on … but that He would come with a rescue mission. That He would forgive their sins, would send His Messiah and through Him bring justice and JOY to His people. Anna has lived her life, looking forward to the day when God would EXALT His glory, by lifting High his people.

And on this day - at the sight of this baby in the Temple - this aged widow knows that God has honored her longing. He has given her a glimpse of his coming.

But how much more have we seen. Yous see, Jesus doesn’t begin his public ministry until he’s 30 years old. Anna is at least 84 when he’s born - maybe over 100. There’s NO WAY she is going to still be around when Jesus steps onto the public stage as a grown man. All Anna sees of the King - is this infant in Mary’s arms.

She doesn’t have the privilege of hearing his words that stun the audience with amazement - - unlike anyone they had ever heard before … “He speaks as one with authority!”

She never saw his tenderness - - reaching out His pure hand to risk contamination — - to TOUCH a body, twisted and contaminated with cruel leprosy.

Anna never saw the dead and buried - days in the grave, only to be brought back to life, by word from His precious lips. Never heard the sweetest words ever spoken by human lips: “Today, YOU will be with me in Paradise”; or the words of confident triumph, with dying breath: “IT is FINISHED”. Anna’s eyes didn’t see Jesus rise VICTORIOUS over death - - nail-scarred hands, pierced side - coming back in love to the very followers who deserted Him at his time of greatest need.

Anna saw none of it.

And WE - we have heard it all. He was here .... but now he’s gone. We have received His Holy Spirit, living inside of us, shaping us into His image, bearing witness with our spirits that we are Children of God. But we are waiting. We are waiting for His return. And in the meantime, we walk by faith … NOT by sight.

Imagine you are a bride - - - your groom is in the armed forces. Your wedding day comes - - you have exchanged our vows - - - He has pulled you close in a sweet embrace. He has told you of His love .... that He will always love and cherish and protect you .... that everything will be alright now. But just then, the call comes in - - your groom has to ship out immediately. The banquet will have to wait; the honeymoon will have to wait. Now he’s gone overseas.

How will you live while you wait for your groom to come back home?

BIBLE READING - IMPACT. Study that I want to share with you as we begin the new year. There was a study done by the CENTER FOR BIBLE ENGAGEMENT. 400 k people were surveyed, in several countries, people from 8-80 years of age. This was a survey done of the general population in these countries, just looking to see how people engage with the Bible.

In the study, the surveyors made a profound discovery that they weren’t even looking for ...

When people are in Scripture 1x per week - that could be in church on Sunday, when the pastor says, ‘Open your Bible’ or you hear a message from the Bible … people who are in the Scripture 1x per week - the Bible had a negligible effect on life.

2x per week - negligible effect. 3x per week - there was a heartbeat - a little blip of difference made, but still not much. But FOUR TIMES Per week of engagement with the Bible and the impact literally spikes off the chart.

Here’s how the impact shows itself. Four times per week in the Bible and people report that Struggles with loneliness - drops 30%

Anger issues - - drop 32%; Bitterness in relationships - marriage, kids - drops 40%; Alcoholism - drops 57%; Feeling spiritually stagnant - if people are in the Scripture 4x per week - drops 60%; Viewing pornography - drops 61%.

On the flip side - on the positive - sharing your faith - jumps 200%; Discipline others jumps 230%.

Isn’t that what you want for your life? Isn’t that what you want our kids’ lives to be marked by - - this longing for your Savior - for His voice - - that drives into God’s Word?

3 OUR PART

Here we are, on the other side of the King’s coming. We’ve seen and tasted the glorious power and love of the King. Will you long LESS for His second coming than Anna did for His first coming?! Of COURSE NOT! We have seen His glory.

We are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in just a few moments. Have you ever thought that fasting is a partner for the Lord’s Supper? Jesus said, “Do THIS in remembrance of me.” And by EATING, we remember that Jesus HAS come and died for our sins.

But, by NOT EATING - - by fasting … we say, “YES - He has come - He has finished the work, He has proven His love … but the bridegroom isn’t here like He once was.” … And we miss him deeply. The sin and misery of the world is painful. The people of Christ are weak and despised … like sheep in the midst of wolves.

You are here this morning - and you know this world is not right. Maybe you’re walking wounded, hurting from the injustice, the evil done to you by the hands of others - someone you trusted.

You’re here, trying to keep a brave face, as your loved one’s body is being ravaged by sickness or disease.

You’re grieving at the suffering that buffets the people you care about, because of the selfish, sinful choices of others .... and you feel so helpless to do anything to rescue.

And then you turn your gaze onto yourself and you see yourself soberly. You know what it is to cry out with Paul: “Wretched man that I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?!”

And then you look at our kids - children, young people, young adults .... you see the world that they are coming of age in ...

FEAR that seems to dominate - - -

TEMPTATION that is so hard to avoid

DESPAIR that results

Talk about sheep, in the midst of wolves … that’s our kids’ generation. This creation is groaning for redemption and what do you do?

There is only one sure and true hope … that Jesus Christ, the risen LORD, will return in glory and turn the wrong to right and bring his kingdom of peace and Joy.

Our church has a great name, do you realize that? MARANATHA Baptist Church. I have to admit, I haven’t always loved it. It’s very long. I do get tired of spelling it out for people. But oh, the depth of meaning. ‘Maranatha’ is an Aramaic word. It’s one of the few Aramaic words that the church kept from the language Jesus spoke. It shows up a few times in our New Testament. And it’s a plea: It means, literally, “Our Lord, Come!”

MARANATHA - it was the constant cry of the early church. , “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (23) And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (24) For in this hope we were saved.”

Paul, near the end of his life: , “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

And in the closing words of the Bible - - , “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. ‘COME LORD JESUS’ (Maranatha!).”

Question: Do you have that same, biblical longing for the joy of Jesus’ second coming? The longing shared by Anna and Paul and John?

Seniors: Can you taste the glories of Jesus’ presence more and more sweetly, because you are getting nearer and nearer to seeing him face to face? Does that ever-growing anticipation turn into a fasting for his coming?

What about you younger people? Maybe you have been saved - you’ve put your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ - maybe you’ve been baptized already - - you have no problem telling others that you belong to Jesus Christ. You come here and sing the songs of praise. But, do you think about it mostly on Sundays … at church? You know that He’s coming back. That’s GOOD -

… but you’re looking for that coming to be way on the distant horizon. Truth be told, you don’t really want him to interrupt the plans you have for your future. You want to have your 2.5 children and your trinkets to buy and retirement leisure to enjoy.

Or is your love for your Savior growing into a deeply rooted oak tree of hope - and longing. So that his coming would be the greatest thing you can possibly imagine?

How about us in the middle? Have you ever thought about fasting being a reflection on how badly you want your bridegroom to come back? Anna’s passion for the Messiah’s arrival - is it at all attractive to you? Would you really RATHER have Jesus than SILVER OR GOLD? Do you want him to come back more than you want to climb the ladder of your career? OR keeping up to date on social media? Or eating lunch?

Fasting by its very nature, is me expressing to God - “I need you MORE. I need MORE OF YOU.”

In , Jesus says, “And will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (8) I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Have you ever seriously considered that Jesus has given us a way to prepare for his coming ? See Anna - there in the temple, day after day after day after day. Year after year after decade after decade - - - crying out to the Lord - ‘day and night’ … fasting and praying.

I see the Word of God here - and it gives me hope. I hope it gives hope to you, too.

As we begin this new year of life together, our kids are especially on my mind. Anybody here love your kids? You don’t even need to respond - because I know you do. I love all of the kids in our church family. This is a family. And I know that you love your kids more than I ever could - - - you would do anything for your kids.

You’d let them live at home until well into their 20s. You’d let them eat your food … you would put up with going to the fridge to get that special treat you’ve been looking forward to all day - - only to find out that one of your kids got there first and now you have to go without. You would do anything for your kids. You would DIE for your kids.

But for most of us - there will not be that one crisis moment - where a car is hurtling towards the child and we can sacrifice our life by pushing them out of the path of the car and taking the hit ourselves. Loving

Giving everything for the children of this church - children of any age … newborn to senior citizen - some of you have kids that old. Giving everything for them comes in the thousands of little choices we make, day after day, week after week. And loving them with all you have means your greatest priority for them is that they will come to see and to savor Jesus Christ as their great satisfaction. My heart’s desire for all of our kids is NOT that they will just get a good job, financial stability and a spouse to love .... that alone is a desire too small. My heart’s desire for our kids is that, in the middle of this upside down world - they will find their delight in Jesus Christ - and they will live in longing for His coming - with eternity’s values in view.

And I know that I’m not the only parent here who lives with a constant awareness of my own failures … how many times my life example has fallen short of the words I say - the lessons I teach with my mouth.

With all of that in mind - I want to begin this year with a challenge. I want to challenge you to commit yourself to fast for the coming of our Lord - and for us older adults, that He would come with power, into the lives of our children. Once a week, in 2020, I will set aside a meal, or two, or I will set aside non-essential electronics - smartphone, social media, tv, radio .... anything that I receive as a good gift from God, but that can be a distraction - - - I will set it aside once per week for this whole year, so that I can spend THAT time in prayer that “Lord, YOU WOULD COME - - COME TO THIS NEEDY WORLD - - Come in power … Return in Glory .... and until that day arrives .... would YOU show Your Glory - would you bring Revival to Your Church at Maranatha - - and to our children.

Insert in your bulletin. Nice picture - you can throw it away, or leave it behind, on the floor with the rest of your bulletin. But, if you want to respond to this challenge - if you are willing to make that commitment .... let me encourage you - take the insert home. Put it on your fridge, or on your bathroom mirror - - somewhere that is visible and will remind you, once every week: “This is the day of my fast. This is how I am going to fast.” And then start praying. Like Anna.

John Wesley talked about the ‘sensualizing’ of the soul as a great hindrance to our longing for Jesus to return.

“Fullness of bread (increases) not only carelessness and levity of spirit, but also foolish and unholy desires, yea, unclean and vile affections … Even a genteel, regular sensuality is continually sensualizing the soul, and sinking it into a level with the beasts that perish. It cannot be expressed what an effect a variety and delicacy of food have on the mind as well as the body; making it just ripe for every pleasure of sense, as soon as opportunity shall invite. Therefore, on this ground also, every wise man will refrain his soul, and keep it low; will wean it more and more from all those indulgences of the inferior appetites, which naturally tend to chain it down to earth, and to pollute as well as debase it. Here is another perpetual reason for fasting; to remove the food of lust and sensuality, to withdraw the incentives of foolish and hurtful desires, of vile and vain affections.”