1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church Podcast, 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480 where we are proclaiming the truth to the world. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,720 My name is Pastor Josh and I want to thank you for listening to 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:10,480 this podcast. 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,680 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,080 you in the word of God. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Now come along, let's look into the Bible and see what God has 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,440 for us here today. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,200 You've been with us on our Wednesday nights or Sunday nights. 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,540 We've been talking about prophecies and specifically prophecies 11 00:00:29,540 --> 00:00:32,740 that have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 12 00:00:33,140 --> 00:00:36,420 One of the things that we could find confidence in our pages 13 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:39,780 to look at what would then to come true. 14 00:00:39,860 --> 00:00:44,299 And obviously God fulfilling that comes true in the first l work 15 00:00:44,299 --> 00:00:44,980 of Jesus Christ. 16 00:00:44,980 --> 00:00:47,860 And so we've looked at some of the more popular ones. 17 00:00:47,860 --> 00:00:50,340 One that you might be aware of, Isaiah 7:14. 18 00:00:50,980 --> 00:00:54,990 Isaiah 7:14 is the prophecy that born of a virgin. 19 00:00:55,310 --> 00:00:57,710 And then we know of Isaiah 96. 20 00:00:57,950 --> 00:00:59,470 Unto us a son is born. 21 00:01:00,510 --> 00:01:05,150 The Bible calls was called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, 22 00:01:05,630 --> 00:01:07,710 the everlasting Mother, the Prince of Peace. 23 00:01:07,710 --> 00:01:12,070 So those are some of the more popular prophecies filled with Jesus 24 00:01:12,070 --> 00:01:13,470 Christ, among many others. 25 00:01:14,030 --> 00:01:17,230 One of my favorites is all the way back in Genesis 3:15. 26 00:01:17,950 --> 00:01:20,910 And most commentators believe that that's the first mention of 27 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:21,470 the Gospel. 28 00:01:21,470 --> 00:01:25,180 Just the demons of God speaking to Satan. 29 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:30,060 And he at one point in time, because the seed of the woman would 30 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:36,460 come and he would crush, which speaks of Jesus lead victory in the 31 00:01:36,460 --> 00:01:36,980 gospel. 32 00:01:37,300 --> 00:01:39,860 And when we use the word gospel, we're talking about the good 33 00:01:39,860 --> 00:01:40,980 news, Jesus Christ. 34 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:44,180 And that's mentioned all the way back in Genesis, Genesis 3. 35 00:01:44,340 --> 00:01:47,420 And so I'm a firm believer in the fact that Genesis all the way 36 00:01:47,420 --> 00:01:51,690 to Revelation is the story of Jesus and a story of our need for 37 00:01:52,890 --> 00:01:53,690 our Savior. 38 00:01:54,010 --> 00:01:56,930 And so throughout Scripture, the Bible tells us the proper way 39 00:01:56,930 --> 00:01:58,370 to respond to prophecy. 40 00:01:58,370 --> 00:02:01,650 And that is to believe the truth of God and to trust in the 41 00:02:01,650 --> 00:02:04,250 truth of God and to give God. 42 00:02:04,890 --> 00:02:08,210 And so we're going to see two individuals here this evening, Luke 43 00:02:08,210 --> 00:02:12,290 2, that lived trusting that God would keep his word. 44 00:02:12,290 --> 00:02:14,010 And that's really what the Christian life's all about. 45 00:02:14,650 --> 00:02:18,230 When we think about the Christian life, we think about really 46 00:02:18,230 --> 00:02:20,150 one word, and that is the word faith. 47 00:02:21,590 --> 00:02:26,150 Faith is, as it said in Hebrews, chapter 11, necessary for 48 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:29,390 the Christian because if we have no faith, it's impossible to 49 00:02:29,390 --> 00:02:29,870 please God. 50 00:02:29,870 --> 00:02:33,750 So everything that we do is working under the umbrella of faith. 51 00:02:34,150 --> 00:02:36,830 I know there are certain things that God has made to us and 52 00:02:36,830 --> 00:02:39,750 we can reason, but there's certain things in our Christian life 53 00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:40,870 that we can't reason out. 54 00:02:40,870 --> 00:02:44,440 There's certain things that we might not be able to understand. 55 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:45,440 Why? 56 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,160 Because God is bigger than us. 57 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,280 The Bible says that God is not only bigger than us, but he's infinite. 58 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,520 He's beyond our comprehension when it comes to his grandeur, his 59 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,560 mighty power, his all doing me the fact that he's not bound by time 60 00:02:58,560 --> 00:02:59,160 or space. 61 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,560 And so we come here to Scripture and we see individuals 62 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,920 that are trusting that God will keep his word. 63 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,680 And that's really one of these days. 64 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,980 Hebrews chapter 11 tells us verse one, the definition. 65 00:03:11,780 --> 00:03:14,380 And I think it's important for us to note what the definition of 66 00:03:14,380 --> 00:03:14,980 faith is. 67 00:03:15,060 --> 00:03:18,340 Hebrews chapter 11 tells us that essentially it's believing without 68 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:18,900 seeing. 69 00:03:19,220 --> 00:03:22,060 It says now made this the substance of things hoped for, the 70 00:03:22,060 --> 00:03:23,540 evidence of things not seen. 71 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:27,860 And so another word that we can link to is hope. 72 00:03:28,260 --> 00:03:32,660 Now when we use the word hope many times in our English language, 73 00:03:32,660 --> 00:03:35,340 in our culture, that word hope means well, I don't know what's going 74 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:35,660 to happen. 75 00:03:35,660 --> 00:03:40,390 I hope want to come to like for example this past weekend I was 76 00:03:40,390 --> 00:03:43,350 hoping and praying that it wasn't going to snow and full of 77 00:03:43,350 --> 00:03:43,590 service. 78 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:45,830 But obviously God had bigger plans. 79 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:48,110 But I didn't know what that outcome would be right. 80 00:03:48,110 --> 00:03:48,870 It was just hope. 81 00:03:48,870 --> 00:03:49,670 I I bold. 82 00:03:51,270 --> 00:03:54,070 But biblical hope is, is a word that's a little bit different. 83 00:03:54,070 --> 00:03:57,590 It actually means I'm confidently expecting that God is. 84 00:03:58,150 --> 00:03:59,190 I have confidence. 85 00:04:00,550 --> 00:04:03,810 And we talk about that word confidence quite a bit within our 86 00:04:03,810 --> 00:04:07,810 Romans were sending along with us on Sunday mornings that word confidence 87 00:04:07,810 --> 00:04:09,290 just means to be with faith. 88 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:12,930 So the point I'm trying to make here this evening is that the 89 00:04:12,930 --> 00:04:16,170 Christian life is full of decisions based on faith. 90 00:04:16,570 --> 00:04:18,690 Ultimately our salvation is based on faith. 91 00:04:18,690 --> 00:04:21,290 But as a decision that we make, trusting the Lord is based. 92 00:04:21,610 --> 00:04:22,010 Why? 93 00:04:22,330 --> 00:04:24,770 Because God has said something and we have to believe that he's 94 00:04:24,770 --> 00:04:25,690 going to keep his word. 95 00:04:26,410 --> 00:04:28,930 So when it comes to the area of prophecy, when we look at the 96 00:04:28,930 --> 00:04:32,060 Old Testament or even the New Testament, when we see prophecies 97 00:04:32,060 --> 00:04:35,380 in the New Testament, it's believing that God is going to do 98 00:04:35,380 --> 00:04:36,900 what he says he's going to do. 99 00:04:37,380 --> 00:04:41,580 So for example, Genesis tells us that he's going to send the Messiah, 100 00:04:41,580 --> 00:04:43,380 the seed of the woman to come crush the house. 101 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:48,260 So for centuries, individuals were looking for that promise to 102 00:04:48,260 --> 00:04:51,620 be fulfilled in someone they understood that he found in Jesus 103 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:55,260 Christ and that's what but they were believing that God would 104 00:04:55,260 --> 00:04:56,020 sense them. 105 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,740 And so what the Bible tells us In Hebrew chapter 11 is all of the 106 00:05:00,740 --> 00:05:05,780 individuals that come before the birth of Jesus Christ were trusting 107 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:07,140 him or salvation. 108 00:05:07,220 --> 00:05:10,540 Even though they might not have known it, they knew that the 109 00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:11,660 faith would be in the Messiah. 110 00:05:11,660 --> 00:05:12,700 That is the console. 111 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:16,660 They had the opportunity to look forward to a Savior where we 112 00:05:16,660 --> 00:05:20,100 as believers today have a chance to look to a Savior, to know 113 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:21,220 that he's going to continue. 114 00:05:22,610 --> 00:05:25,490 And so the Christian life is about believing in the word of God 115 00:05:25,490 --> 00:05:27,730 and believing that what God says he will do. 116 00:05:28,290 --> 00:05:32,650 So chapter two, because here this evening we're going to talk 117 00:05:32,650 --> 00:05:36,770 about two individuals trust that God is Lord. 118 00:05:36,770 --> 00:05:41,130 Even if they didn't seem to be making sense or to come to pass in 119 00:05:41,130 --> 00:05:43,010 the timing that they expected it to be. 120 00:05:43,410 --> 00:05:44,610 And so Luke chapter two. 121 00:05:44,610 --> 00:05:47,530 Most of you know chapter two, least two. 122 00:05:47,530 --> 00:05:49,310 This story in Jesus's birth. 123 00:05:49,310 --> 00:05:53,790 And there in Bethlehem and the angels come and announce the shepherds 124 00:05:53,950 --> 00:05:55,230 the birth of Jesus. 125 00:05:56,590 --> 00:05:59,870 But someone will stop at verse number 20. 126 00:05:59,870 --> 00:06:02,230 The shepherds returning, glorifying, praising God for all 127 00:06:02,230 --> 00:06:03,470 the things that they had heard and seen. 128 00:06:04,109 --> 00:06:07,830 But then in verse number 21, the Bible tells us that Jesus was 129 00:06:07,830 --> 00:06:12,110 taken by Mary and Joseph to the temple for, for this process 130 00:06:12,430 --> 00:06:13,390 to make cultural. 131 00:06:13,390 --> 00:06:14,350 It was, it was a. 132 00:06:14,510 --> 00:06:19,230 A way for Mary's purification and for Jesus being dedicated there. 133 00:06:19,230 --> 00:06:22,710 And we're going to see in verse number 25 an individual named 134 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:23,230 Simeon. 135 00:06:23,310 --> 00:06:27,030 This time, Simeon was looking toward a Messiah. 136 00:06:27,030 --> 00:06:28,830 He was looking toward a Savior. 137 00:06:29,310 --> 00:06:33,030 And here we see the beautiful moment in which Simeon to see his 138 00:06:33,030 --> 00:06:34,270 faith come to light. 139 00:06:34,750 --> 00:06:37,430 He gets to see what he's been trusting to come right before his 140 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:37,790 eyes. 141 00:06:38,510 --> 00:06:41,190 And the Bible tells us in verse number 25 and behold, there 142 00:06:41,190 --> 00:06:43,890 was a man at Jerusalem whose name was. 143 00:06:44,690 --> 00:06:47,170 And the same man was jumped in the mouth. 144 00:06:47,170 --> 00:06:47,890 We'll stop there. 145 00:06:48,530 --> 00:06:50,970 Basically what it's saying is man loved the Lord. 146 00:06:50,970 --> 00:06:55,090 This man is living the life of being just and dedicated to God. 147 00:06:55,170 --> 00:06:58,530 Not perfect because no one is, but he was just in the mouth of the 148 00:06:58,530 --> 00:06:58,770 Lord. 149 00:06:58,770 --> 00:07:00,730 And it says what he was waiting for. 150 00:07:00,730 --> 00:07:01,490 Why, what. 151 00:07:01,490 --> 00:07:05,290 What was his he placed wasn't in his good works. 152 00:07:05,290 --> 00:07:08,810 It wasn't necessarily in the. 153 00:07:08,810 --> 00:07:11,850 The thought of someone bringing something that he wanted. 154 00:07:11,850 --> 00:07:14,570 But it was trusting in what God had already said. 155 00:07:14,570 --> 00:07:18,930 It says he was waiting for the consolation of his meaning, the comfort 156 00:07:18,930 --> 00:07:19,610 of his people. 157 00:07:19,770 --> 00:07:21,330 He was waiting for the Messiah. 158 00:07:21,330 --> 00:07:22,570 That's what it's telling us here. 159 00:07:23,050 --> 00:07:26,890 And so he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. 160 00:07:26,890 --> 00:07:32,130 Essentially it's explained that he might not know exactly when 161 00:07:32,130 --> 00:07:36,130 it was going to happen, but he did know that God was going to and 162 00:07:36,770 --> 00:07:37,330 a child. 163 00:07:37,330 --> 00:07:38,010 He knew that. 164 00:07:38,010 --> 00:07:39,410 He knew the Old Testament. 165 00:07:39,410 --> 00:07:42,850 He knew Isaiah, he knew Zachariah, he knew Micah. 166 00:07:43,010 --> 00:07:45,770 And ultimately what we're seeing here is that he believed that 167 00:07:45,770 --> 00:07:50,210 God would do what he said, consolation or comfort or salvation 168 00:07:50,210 --> 00:07:51,170 to Israel. 169 00:07:52,130 --> 00:07:54,730 And so it says here that he was weighty. 170 00:07:54,730 --> 00:07:56,810 And I think that's something that we have to do sometimes in our 171 00:07:56,810 --> 00:07:59,530 faith is obviously there are certain things that we have to trust 172 00:07:59,530 --> 00:08:02,050 in that are not necessarily materializing right now. 173 00:08:03,170 --> 00:08:08,210 I'm not in heaven right now, but I believe that one day God will, 174 00:08:08,210 --> 00:08:09,170 will take me there. 175 00:08:09,330 --> 00:08:09,730 Why? 176 00:08:10,850 --> 00:08:12,170 I've never been to heaven. 177 00:08:12,170 --> 00:08:15,730 I've never seen the streets of gold, but I'm believing what God 178 00:08:15,730 --> 00:08:19,490 says in his word, believing that what he says is true. 179 00:08:19,490 --> 00:08:22,450 And, and that's what a lot of times people struggle with Christians. 180 00:08:23,010 --> 00:08:25,170 Well, I'm not going to trust God unless he shows me. 181 00:08:26,370 --> 00:08:28,330 I'm not going to believe that he's going to give me who this trial 182 00:08:28,330 --> 00:08:29,570 until he gets the trial. 183 00:08:29,780 --> 00:08:32,340 Well, the reality of that is that we're not trusting the faith. 184 00:08:32,660 --> 00:08:35,900 If I say, God, I'm going to love you and worship you after you 185 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:37,980 do all these things for me, we're missing the point of faith. 186 00:08:37,980 --> 00:08:40,020 Okay, Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 6. 187 00:08:40,020 --> 00:08:43,260 I would encourage you to at least memorize that verse in your 188 00:08:43,260 --> 00:08:46,500 mind, the second part of it, because it says, without faith, it's 189 00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:47,820 impossible to please the Lord. 190 00:08:47,820 --> 00:08:50,220 So if I want to please God, I have to believe in things that I 191 00:08:50,220 --> 00:08:51,060 have not seen yet. 192 00:08:51,460 --> 00:08:53,300 And that's essentially what Simeon's doing here. 193 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:57,900 Simeon's saying, I believe that God is going to a consolation, 194 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:01,220 a comfort, a sacrifice, a savior for Israel. 195 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:04,540 And then he goes on to say this, it says, and the Holy Ghost 196 00:09:04,540 --> 00:09:05,380 was upon him. 197 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:09,900 And so this type of belief cannot happen outside of the Holy 198 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:11,780 Ghost guidance, the Holy Spirit guidance. 199 00:09:12,740 --> 00:09:15,860 Now at this time this is a little bit different because even 200 00:09:15,860 --> 00:09:20,740 though that this story is in the New Testament, it's not necessarily 201 00:09:20,740 --> 00:09:21,380 the Church. 202 00:09:21,540 --> 00:09:21,860 Right. 203 00:09:21,860 --> 00:09:22,900 That doesn't come till later. 204 00:09:22,900 --> 00:09:26,230 So this is, this is prior to the indwelling of the Spirit. 205 00:09:26,460 --> 00:09:31,020 This, the value of this happens an agnostic problem. 206 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:34,580 So before that time, what would happen is the Holy Ghost would 207 00:09:34,580 --> 00:09:35,340 come upon people. 208 00:09:35,340 --> 00:09:36,940 And that's mentioned in the Old Testament. 209 00:09:37,260 --> 00:09:40,460 But the Bible clearly teaches that this type of belief comes through 210 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:41,660 the Holy Ghost guidance. 211 00:09:41,660 --> 00:09:44,740 And so it says that the Holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed 212 00:09:44,740 --> 00:09:46,300 unto him by the Holy Ghost. 213 00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:48,980 So this is the only illumination, this is only teaching. 214 00:09:48,980 --> 00:09:51,500 This is the only belief that come through the Holy Ghost. 215 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:55,010 God, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord. 216 00:09:55,010 --> 00:09:55,330 Christ. 217 00:09:55,330 --> 00:09:57,250 So God had made him another promise. 218 00:09:57,650 --> 00:10:01,250 And the promise was he would not die until the Messiah came. 219 00:10:02,050 --> 00:10:03,730 So, so God gave him a promise. 220 00:10:03,730 --> 00:10:05,010 Now he's up in years. 221 00:10:06,450 --> 00:10:10,290 I would venture that there were more, maybe times in Simeon's 222 00:10:10,290 --> 00:10:12,130 life where he doubted that that might come to pass. 223 00:10:12,130 --> 00:10:14,050 He's like, I've been older, what's going on? 224 00:10:14,050 --> 00:10:16,930 But no, he trusts that God will keep his foot. 225 00:10:17,820 --> 00:10:18,900 And so it says in verse 20. 226 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:22,740 And then he came by the spirit of the temple again speak to the 227 00:10:22,740 --> 00:10:23,740 guidance of God. 228 00:10:23,980 --> 00:10:26,060 He speaks to how he's obeying God. 229 00:10:26,140 --> 00:10:27,580 They speak to his sacrifice. 230 00:10:27,580 --> 00:10:30,700 And it says, and when the parents brought him the child Jesus 231 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:35,100 to do for him after the custom of Allah, then took him up in his 232 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:39,060 arms and blessed God and said, so this is, this is the result of 233 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:41,980 his experiencing God's promise being fulfilled in his life. 234 00:10:42,540 --> 00:10:43,820 So God makes a promise. 235 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:45,200 He trusts in the promise. 236 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,160 He waits in God's timing with the promise. 237 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,400 He lives in obedience to follow God to be where he needs to 238 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:50,560 be. 239 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:52,960 And here is the culmination of that promise. 240 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,920 And this is the result of him experiencing that promise. 241 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,520 It says it right here in verse number 29. 242 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,720 It says, Lord, now let us down, my servant, that aren't peace 243 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,000 according to thy word. 244 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:08,760 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared 245 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,000 before the beat of all people. 246 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,000 And so what does he do here? 247 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:16,130 He worships the result of God's promise being fulfilled in 248 00:11:16,130 --> 00:11:19,770 his life is a result of gratitude and a result of worships 249 00:11:19,770 --> 00:11:23,250 and praises God for what he has done for him. 250 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:27,570 And then he says this, at this point in time, he can now live in 251 00:11:27,570 --> 00:11:27,849 peace. 252 00:11:27,849 --> 00:11:29,530 He's now depart from peace. 253 00:11:29,770 --> 00:11:31,930 So we know that Jesus is the prince of peace. 254 00:11:31,930 --> 00:11:36,130 And we know that walking, living our lives think big brings 255 00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:39,030 us that sense of peace as flipping for says the peace that 256 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:40,310 passeth all under see it. 257 00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:44,550 So he says, I have peace according to thy work. 258 00:11:45,110 --> 00:11:49,070 And I think it's an important point as well to, to know because 259 00:11:49,070 --> 00:11:52,630 I think a lot of times we're trying to find peace in all the wrong 260 00:11:52,630 --> 00:11:53,110 places. 261 00:11:53,590 --> 00:11:56,950 And remember I, I talked about this, it was last week. 262 00:11:57,190 --> 00:12:01,270 We can't have the peace of God unless we have a peace. 263 00:12:02,390 --> 00:12:06,130 And if we're here last week and kind of recap it for you just 264 00:12:06,130 --> 00:12:06,730 a little bit. 265 00:12:06,970 --> 00:12:09,330 But a lot of times people are looking for the peace of God that 266 00:12:09,330 --> 00:12:11,410 has them all understanding I want that type of peace. 267 00:12:11,410 --> 00:12:12,650 I don't have that type of religion. 268 00:12:12,650 --> 00:12:13,690 I want that type of thing. 269 00:12:13,930 --> 00:12:15,570 But they're not at Peace with God. 270 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:17,010 What does it mean to be at peace with God? 271 00:12:17,010 --> 00:12:19,850 It means to be in him and salvation trust in him. 272 00:12:20,090 --> 00:12:21,290 That's Romans chapter five. 273 00:12:22,170 --> 00:12:25,170 We can find peace with God because before we come to Christ 274 00:12:25,170 --> 00:12:28,570 in faith we are not as peace, we're actually, the Bible says, enemies. 275 00:12:29,290 --> 00:12:33,750 But when we come to Jesus faith and we trust him, he now welcomes 276 00:12:33,750 --> 00:12:36,350 us into the family of God, we're justified. 277 00:12:36,670 --> 00:12:39,030 And then the Bible says we can have peace with God. 278 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:42,750 And so with the peace with God comes the peace of God in our lives, 279 00:12:43,070 --> 00:12:44,710 so we're able to snap peace. 280 00:12:44,710 --> 00:12:48,590 And so Timothy was only able to find the peace of God here is 281 00:12:48,590 --> 00:12:50,350 because he had peace with God. 282 00:12:51,710 --> 00:12:54,590 And so he says, lord, now let us down my servant, depart peace 283 00:12:54,590 --> 00:12:55,550 according to thy word. 284 00:12:55,550 --> 00:12:57,310 And so where do we find peace? 285 00:12:57,310 --> 00:13:00,240 Oh, find peace obviously guidance of the Holy Spirit, the 286 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:01,400 comfort of the Holy Spirit. 287 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,920 But we can't know the promises of God to trust him unless we're 288 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,240 in his word because that's where we get the promises. 289 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:09,520 He says it right there. 290 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,920 He says, this is where I can find peace because have kept your 291 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:14,280 word. 292 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,560 So the challenge for us as Christians is to know promises of 293 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:22,240 God and to trust in the promises of God and rest in his peace 294 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,790 as he answers those promises and gives us those things that he 295 00:13:25,790 --> 00:13:26,870 has promised us in our life. 296 00:13:26,870 --> 00:13:30,870 So verse number 30 says, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. 297 00:13:30,870 --> 00:13:34,310 So the culmination of all the promises of the salvation that Jesus 298 00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:37,830 brings and I think that that's something for us to note as well 299 00:13:37,830 --> 00:13:40,949 as Christians is at the core of all the promises of God is the 300 00:13:40,949 --> 00:13:41,950 promise of salvation. 301 00:13:43,390 --> 00:13:45,990 We trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 302 00:13:45,990 --> 00:13:50,630 We can find that peace with God and the peace of and the Simkin 303 00:13:50,630 --> 00:13:54,200 is a great example of someone who was looking to the prophecies 304 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,560 and trusting in the prophecies of God, trusting in the word of God 305 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,280 so that one day he could find that peace and so that one day he 306 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:01,880 could find that ultimate salvation. 307 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,880 And then he gives a prophecy himself. 308 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,720 He says, Verse 31, which Thou hast prepared before the feast of 309 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:13,760 all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy 310 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:14,600 people Israel. 311 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:20,570 So what does this salvation that this Messiah is bringing is 312 00:14:20,570 --> 00:14:24,090 not just for his people, even though it is the consolation of Israel, 313 00:14:24,410 --> 00:14:27,610 but this time of salvation is going to be extended to all Isis 314 00:14:27,690 --> 00:14:31,770 to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. 315 00:14:32,250 --> 00:14:36,650 And so the beauty of Jesus salvation is it's not just for one 316 00:14:36,650 --> 00:14:39,290 people, it's for all and that goes all the way back. 317 00:14:39,290 --> 00:14:42,930 If some of you know the Abrahamic covenant, the Abrahamic 318 00:14:42,930 --> 00:14:46,470 covenant, God's promise to Abraham was the Messiah that would 319 00:14:46,470 --> 00:14:50,750 come for his family, would cover his bloodline, would not only 320 00:14:50,750 --> 00:14:53,390 bless his family, but bless all the nations of the world. 321 00:14:53,390 --> 00:14:54,430 That's the message. 322 00:14:55,710 --> 00:15:00,230 And the Europe, that might not seem revelatory into you here you 323 00:15:00,230 --> 00:15:03,950 might be like, yeah, Jesus names Jews and Gentiles, but for 324 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:07,550 where Simeon was at this point in time, where's the act? 325 00:15:07,630 --> 00:15:09,390 A temple in Jerusalem. 326 00:15:09,870 --> 00:15:12,430 And the Jews believed that they were the only ones that wouldn't 327 00:15:12,430 --> 00:15:12,910 be saved. 328 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:14,120 That's what they thought. 329 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,120 They thought the Messiah was coming just for them. 330 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,720 But for singing, to say, yes, he's coming to save Israel, but he's 331 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,640 also coming to offer salvation to all nations. 332 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:28,120 Done really big and one that they would have certainly been in 333 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:28,600 some ways. 334 00:15:29,239 --> 00:15:32,920 We know that Jesus's salvation is not limited to one group of people. 335 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:34,720 It's limited to all who come in faith. 336 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,080 And so the amazing thing about saint's prophecy is that it shows 337 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,380 that the light on who Jesus Christ is is for everyone. 338 00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:45,180 The salvation of Jesus begins with Israel, as we know In Romans 339 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:48,500 chapter 1, verse 16, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. 340 00:15:48,660 --> 00:15:50,100 And so it's extended to all. 341 00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:53,460 That's an amazing, amazing truth that he mentions here. 342 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:56,180 And we see that Joseph and his mother mar. 343 00:15:57,060 --> 00:15:58,100 That's verse 33. 344 00:15:58,820 --> 00:16:00,340 So they bring this child. 345 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:05,220 Ultimately they know we, we know that Mary knows this. 346 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:09,880 There's that song out there, Mary did you know, and it's an awesome 347 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:10,280 psalm. 348 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,800 But the answer to that is yes, she did know who Jesus was because 349 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,840 Gabriel told her that and she trusted and leave him faith. 350 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,480 But at the same time, they didn't know everything. 351 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,360 They didn't know all the meaning behind it, obviously, and 352 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,520 they didn't know all the implications. 353 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,440 So verse 33, Joseph and his mother marvel and those things which 354 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:28,120 were spoken. 355 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,480 And Simeon blessed him and said unto Mary his mother, behold 356 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,840 now his seeking into the life of Mary. 357 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,260 Simeon is here and this is interesting. 358 00:16:36,340 --> 00:16:39,780 He says, behold, this child is for the fall and rising again of 359 00:16:40,180 --> 00:16:40,820 Israel. 360 00:16:42,340 --> 00:16:43,220 It's true, right? 361 00:16:43,380 --> 00:16:47,060 Jesus commonly he presents the message of hope, the message of salvation. 362 00:16:47,220 --> 00:16:48,820 Some believe, some don't believe. 363 00:16:49,220 --> 00:16:51,860 I mean, you can even look at his obedient followers. 364 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:54,860 Think about someone like Peter. 365 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:56,460 Peter believed was Peter perfect? 366 00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:59,780 No, Peter denied Peter hatch troubles. 367 00:16:59,780 --> 00:17:01,540 But ultimately he found salvation in Jesus. 368 00:17:01,930 --> 00:17:03,610 But think about who else was in Judas. 369 00:17:04,490 --> 00:17:06,730 Judas Bible says he did not believe. 370 00:17:06,730 --> 00:17:09,370 The Bible says he's the son of a Perdition. 371 00:17:09,370 --> 00:17:12,930 And so the Bible tells us that there will be people watching the 372 00:17:12,930 --> 00:17:16,330 same Jesus, the same message, the same miracles. 373 00:17:16,490 --> 00:17:18,250 Some would believe and some would not. 374 00:17:18,250 --> 00:17:20,410 And so there would be the rise of some, all others. 375 00:17:20,410 --> 00:17:21,290 And same thing. 376 00:17:23,290 --> 00:17:25,530 We preach a message, we live in the Christian life. 377 00:17:25,530 --> 00:17:27,530 And there's people that see the same evidence. 378 00:17:28,429 --> 00:17:29,389 I was thinking about this recently. 379 00:17:29,389 --> 00:17:33,829 There are people that I don't believe in Jesus because there's 380 00:17:33,829 --> 00:17:34,429 none. 381 00:17:35,389 --> 00:17:38,749 Okay, that's one way to think about it. 382 00:17:39,869 --> 00:17:42,269 But I would venture to say that there's a lot of people that 383 00:17:42,269 --> 00:17:46,749 even if they saw the evidence of Jesus, they still would you say, 384 00:17:46,989 --> 00:17:47,909 I don't know about that. 385 00:17:47,909 --> 00:17:50,269 If we just thought Jesus walk in this room and perform miracles, 386 00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:51,069 we would all believe. 387 00:17:51,389 --> 00:17:52,829 Well, why didn't everyone. 388 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:54,680 The time of Jesus life. 389 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,200 There were people that watched the miracles that did not believe. 390 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,760 There were people that were eyewitnesses of Jesus ministry that 391 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,880 they got and they didn't. 392 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,360 And that goes to the point of it's not just about singing and seeing 393 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:11,960 what's around us, but it's also about believing in what he says, 394 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:13,320 believing in what he does. 395 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:14,600 And so it's a step of faith. 396 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:15,000 It's. 397 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:15,560 It's a. 398 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,800 It's a belief that I don't understand all of this, but I know 399 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,240 that and will save me. 400 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:26,600 And so Simeon says, this child is sent a bald rising again of many 401 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,400 in Israel and a sign which shall be spoken against, meaning 402 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,920 there's going to be people that come against them, that once 403 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,880 they're actually in the original Greek, meaning to be a target, 404 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,640 basically, that Jesus would be a target for people to attack. 405 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:43,160 We know that's the case. 406 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,840 We know that even in his own earthly ministry, there are people 407 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,310 that attacked him falsely for what he was doing. 408 00:18:49,310 --> 00:18:52,390 And we know that Jesus did everything with grace and humility 409 00:18:52,710 --> 00:18:53,790 and holiness. 410 00:18:53,790 --> 00:18:55,710 But there were some that still accused him. 411 00:18:55,710 --> 00:18:59,790 And there's still some today that use Jesus as a target to be 412 00:18:59,790 --> 00:19:00,470 spoken against. 413 00:19:00,470 --> 00:19:04,230 And then he said in verse 35, Yea, a sword shall appear through 414 00:19:04,550 --> 00:19:06,150 thy own soul. 415 00:19:06,150 --> 00:19:09,830 Also the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 416 00:19:09,830 --> 00:19:16,320 So he says, mary, you're going to feel pain, just as Jesus is going 417 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,640 to feel spiritual, emotional and physical pain. 418 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,880 So you will be able to overlook this. 419 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,800 But think about Mary was still Jesus's mother. 420 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,560 And for Mary to involve the things that Jesus experienced in 421 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,240 that history, ultimately all the way into the crucifixion, it 422 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:34,680 certainly appears Mary's heart. 423 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:39,160 And so we know just as Jesus had a spirit his side, so Mary would 424 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,070 also feel physical Torment. 425 00:19:41,790 --> 00:19:45,910 We see Jesus being rejected, but he says there's a purpose for 426 00:19:45,910 --> 00:19:46,190 it. 427 00:19:46,670 --> 00:19:49,630 Obviously the thoughts on many hearts may be revealed. 428 00:19:49,630 --> 00:19:53,150 So, and so Jesus is one who's going to reveal the hearts of many. 429 00:19:54,190 --> 00:19:57,030 And, and we even see in the New Testament that the Bible says 430 00:19:57,030 --> 00:20:02,750 that Jesus is a, He's a rock, he's for many, he's the rock, he's 431 00:20:02,750 --> 00:20:03,910 the cornerstone of faith. 432 00:20:03,910 --> 00:20:07,070 Like what we place our faith in for others he used as a stumbling 433 00:20:07,070 --> 00:20:07,470 block. 434 00:20:07,870 --> 00:20:09,310 There's a lot of people that like religion. 435 00:20:09,310 --> 00:20:14,030 But then you mentioned so, so Jesus is going to lead many people 436 00:20:14,030 --> 00:20:17,190 to salvation, but many people because of their pride and because 437 00:20:17,190 --> 00:20:19,910 they're rebellion are going to come to Jesus and they're going to 438 00:20:19,910 --> 00:20:23,470 want all of these things but then can't get past that faith. 439 00:20:23,630 --> 00:20:29,390 Faith is the, the connection piece between salvation and what 440 00:20:29,390 --> 00:20:32,030 is being offered to us in the grace of Christ. 441 00:20:32,270 --> 00:20:34,630 So I want you to see that in the life of Simeon. 442 00:20:34,630 --> 00:20:39,830 Then we see another lady here, well, another person, Simeon. 443 00:20:39,830 --> 00:20:41,630 And then we have Anna, verse 36. 444 00:20:41,630 --> 00:20:44,470 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, which means essentially 445 00:20:44,470 --> 00:20:50,030 that word prophetess, a daughter venue of the tribe of Asser. 446 00:20:50,510 --> 00:20:55,390 She was a radiant, lived with husband seven years from her virginity. 447 00:20:55,390 --> 00:20:58,310 Meaning after seven years of her marriage her husband passed away 448 00:20:58,310 --> 00:21:01,430 and she was a widow of about four score four years. 449 00:21:01,430 --> 00:21:04,520 And so she's, she's up in years, she's 84 years old, which 450 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:05,680 departed not from the temple. 451 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,600 So it's this quote to her clinging unto the Lord, trusting 452 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,480 in him because she could have after losing her husband in that 453 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:18,080 culture, even across the day, but even more so in culture, the 454 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,760 husband lost her income and lost her security. 455 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,880 That lost pretty much your hope of having children. 456 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:26,800 Therefore your children were supposed to take care of you. 457 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,280 Back then they didn't have nursing homes to go into. 458 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:34,340 And so Anna couldn't have had a lot of reaction to this loss in 459 00:21:34,340 --> 00:21:34,860 her life. 460 00:21:35,980 --> 00:21:37,540 But what was her reaction? 461 00:21:37,540 --> 00:21:39,700 It says right here, to dedicate her life to the Lord. 462 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:44,180 She departed not from the of worship, but served God with fasting 463 00:21:44,180 --> 00:21:45,260 and prayers night and day. 464 00:21:45,980 --> 00:21:49,940 I think that Anna is among many things is a good example for 465 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:53,540 individuals who go through loss in their life to how to properly 466 00:21:53,540 --> 00:21:53,980 respond. 467 00:21:54,140 --> 00:21:57,200 So instead of responding in bitterness and anger and turn into 468 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,520 who knows what, she turns to the Lord in the midst of pain and 469 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:00,840 loss. 470 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:02,560 That's an amazing thing. 471 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,720 And I think that's one of the major reasons why God selected her 472 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,600 to find this blessing in seeking the Messiah. 473 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,360 So when she served God with fasting and Prayer and day and she 474 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:13,960 coming in the instant gave thanks. 475 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,080 Likewise, Lord, again, her response to Jesus's thankfulness 476 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:23,530 spake of him to all that that look for redemption in so what was 477 00:22:23,530 --> 00:22:25,290 the response of her life to the Messiah? 478 00:22:25,290 --> 00:22:28,370 The response to the Messiah was number one, faith. 479 00:22:28,770 --> 00:22:31,570 Number two, worship, thankfulness, gratitude. 480 00:22:31,810 --> 00:22:34,450 Number three, what proclamation to those around. 481 00:22:35,330 --> 00:22:39,250 So we can't say that we believe in Jesus, we're thankful 482 00:22:39,250 --> 00:22:41,770 for him, and then say, well, I'm not going to share that with 483 00:22:41,770 --> 00:22:42,170 other people. 484 00:22:42,170 --> 00:22:45,610 There's that correlation between her thankfulness and her 485 00:22:45,610 --> 00:22:46,930 joy and her love, right? 486 00:22:47,660 --> 00:22:49,340 Or telling others about him. 487 00:22:49,340 --> 00:22:53,260 And so they're big up into all of them that look for redemption 488 00:22:53,260 --> 00:22:57,340 in and there's people today that are looking for redemption. 489 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:02,420 Maybe they can't vocalize exactly what they're looking for. 490 00:23:02,420 --> 00:23:05,060 When they're looking for hope, they're looking for some kind of 491 00:23:05,060 --> 00:23:05,980 substance in their life. 492 00:23:05,980 --> 00:23:07,780 They're looking for sufficiency, they're looking for 493 00:23:07,780 --> 00:23:08,300 salvation. 494 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,260 We as Christians get the opportunity to claim redemption. 495 00:23:12,260 --> 00:23:15,690 All those that are sin doesn't mean that everyone's going to believe, 496 00:23:15,770 --> 00:23:20,250 doesn't mean that everyone's going to like us or we do this. 497 00:23:20,330 --> 00:23:23,050 The more we come across people we don't like the message that we 498 00:23:23,050 --> 00:23:23,370 bring. 499 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:27,690 But the Bible tells us nonetheless to preach the truth, 500 00:23:27,690 --> 00:23:29,970 to proclaim what Jesus has done for us. 501 00:23:29,970 --> 00:23:33,690 And that's what verse 39 and when they had performed all things 502 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:36,530 according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to 503 00:23:36,530 --> 00:23:37,650 their own city, Nazareth. 504 00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:41,050 And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom 505 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,120 and the grace of God was upon him. 506 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,800 So I thought that was a different look from the idea of prophecy. 507 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:54,640 The Simeon Anon Seeing them that, seeing that prophecy, building 508 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,280 their life gives us to the rest in what God has given us. 509 00:23:58,280 --> 00:23:59,000 His Word. 510 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:03,720 And, and I would encourage you to think about what what first of 511 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,040 all, what does it mean to have the promise to God in my life? 512 00:24:07,730 --> 00:24:10,090 I've mentioned this before, but if you don't know what the promises 513 00:24:10,090 --> 00:24:12,690 of God are, there's no way to address them. 514 00:24:13,410 --> 00:24:16,690 Like if I don't know what's given to me as a believer, I'm going 515 00:24:16,690 --> 00:24:20,930 to struggle with walking in faith because most people that are 516 00:24:20,930 --> 00:24:24,410 struggling to walk in faith something contrary to what the Bible 517 00:24:24,410 --> 00:24:24,770 says. 518 00:24:26,130 --> 00:24:27,170 Are you following me here? 519 00:24:27,250 --> 00:24:29,890 Thinking biblically means trusting in what God says. 520 00:24:29,890 --> 00:24:32,610 Thinking unbiblically means I'm not trusting what God says. 521 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:35,140 So let's say he wants to use a hypothetical situation. 522 00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:38,660 Let's say there's someone here I don't believe that God loves me. 523 00:24:39,940 --> 00:24:41,300 Where are you getting that truth? 524 00:24:42,340 --> 00:24:45,220 Well, I'm getting that truth because today it has happened. 525 00:24:46,740 --> 00:24:48,820 For example, I went a really bad day today. 526 00:24:49,060 --> 00:24:50,500 So I don't believe that God loves me. 527 00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:54,900 Well, if take that line of thinking that's contrary to the Bible 528 00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:56,980 because the Bible says that God's never going to leave me, nor 529 00:24:57,460 --> 00:24:59,820 the Bible tells me that nothing's going to separate me from 530 00:24:59,820 --> 00:25:00,610 the love of God. 531 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:03,480 The Bible tells me for God so loved the world that he gave his 532 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:04,280 only begotten son. 533 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,240 The Bible tells me that God commended his love toward us in that 534 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,360 while we were against sinners, Christ, I forced love. 535 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,440 So to think biblically about that struggle would be I'm not going 536 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,000 to go off of what I feel because what I feel can change day 537 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:18,440 to day. 538 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,640 Some of us understand, some of us know that today I might be having 539 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,640 a good day, tomorrow I might not be having a good day. 540 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,280 Today I might be feeling great, feeling bad. 541 00:25:26,940 --> 00:25:32,060 So if we base our belief thinking of how we feel, we're basing 542 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:33,340 it on a moving target. 543 00:25:34,780 --> 00:25:36,420 We're basing it off of, well, whatever. 544 00:25:36,420 --> 00:25:37,220 I appeal to me. 545 00:25:37,220 --> 00:25:42,379 But if I base my belief and my, my trust in something that never 546 00:25:42,379 --> 00:25:45,740 changes, we believe the Bible never changes, then I'm not going 547 00:25:45,740 --> 00:25:49,940 off of how I feel, even though what I feel is valid when I'm going 548 00:25:49,940 --> 00:25:50,860 off of what I know. 549 00:25:50,860 --> 00:25:53,220 And so what I know should have the way that I believe. 550 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:54,180 It's. 551 00:25:54,180 --> 00:25:57,900 It's the most simple advice, but it's sometimes the hardest to 552 00:25:57,900 --> 00:26:00,260 follow, is when we're dealing with something, we need to think 553 00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:02,900 about it biblically because when we think about it biblically, 554 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:05,700 we begin to believe biblically it works in the word of God. 555 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:10,380 So I don't know if there were times in Simeon's life where they 556 00:26:10,380 --> 00:26:13,980 doubted, like if they were human, probably were sometimes where 557 00:26:13,980 --> 00:26:14,620 they struggled. 558 00:26:14,620 --> 00:26:15,700 Maybe God isn't going to. 559 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:18,820 Maybe the messiahs come in a different time period. 560 00:26:19,550 --> 00:26:21,230 Maybe the Messiah is going to come in a different way. 561 00:26:23,070 --> 00:26:24,270 And that's a lot of what we said. 562 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:27,790 We started to try to like humanly rationalize some of the promises 563 00:26:27,790 --> 00:26:31,310 of God and says, well, maybe God's that person, but maybe he's 564 00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:31,830 not with me. 565 00:26:31,830 --> 00:26:35,550 Or maybe God is all powerful, but maybe he's limited in this area, 566 00:26:35,950 --> 00:26:37,790 have to go back to the promises of God. 567 00:26:37,790 --> 00:26:41,750 So to trust in the prophecies of God means to trust in what God's 568 00:26:41,750 --> 00:26:42,390 word has to say. 569 00:26:42,390 --> 00:26:44,590 Now why are the prophecies of the Old Testament so important? 570 00:26:45,650 --> 00:26:49,090 Well, the prophecies of the Old Hebrew are equally important 571 00:26:49,490 --> 00:26:51,930 because there's things that we're going to see in the Old Testament 572 00:26:51,930 --> 00:26:53,250 that still have not come to pass. 573 00:26:54,290 --> 00:26:57,450 Some of you may be going too far to leave, but there's the book 574 00:26:57,450 --> 00:27:01,090 of Zechariah that talks about things that are to come and have 575 00:27:01,090 --> 00:27:01,890 not happened yet. 576 00:27:02,290 --> 00:27:04,210 And so what we know is this. 577 00:27:04,370 --> 00:27:07,090 Everything that God has promised about Jesus at least is 578 00:27:07,090 --> 00:27:07,370 coming. 579 00:27:07,370 --> 00:27:09,250 His first coming has come to pass. 580 00:27:09,250 --> 00:27:12,330 Therefore everything that he says about a second coming will come 581 00:27:12,330 --> 00:27:15,400 to pass because of the who God is. 582 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,840 The fact that he has to keep his wording, that's part of his character. 583 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:19,960 That's who he is. 584 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,320 The Bible says that God cannot lie. 585 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:23,720 That's the book of Titus. 586 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,360 I want you to think about those things when it comes to prophecy. 587 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:29,440 Because I'm not just talking about things that are coming, even 588 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:30,680 though that really part of it. 589 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,560 But also I'm talking about things that God confesses when it 590 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:34,680 comes forth. 591 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,920 Because the word prophecy has two means. 592 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,930 Deceit about the future for. 593 00:27:39,930 --> 00:27:43,450 But then also just so when there's anything in the word of God 594 00:27:43,450 --> 00:27:45,010 that's for the truth. 595 00:27:45,730 --> 00:27:46,930 God loves you. 596 00:27:48,290 --> 00:27:49,250 God is all power. 597 00:27:49,410 --> 00:27:50,650 God is with us. 598 00:27:50,650 --> 00:27:52,290 He's never going to leave us nor forsake us. 599 00:27:52,370 --> 00:27:56,290 That's, that's a prophecy of God, meaning He's proclaiming Himself 600 00:27:56,290 --> 00:27:57,970 and whether or not we're going to believe. 601 00:27:58,850 --> 00:28:01,170 And so I know that that might be something that. 602 00:28:01,410 --> 00:28:02,930 Of course, of course that's what it is. 603 00:28:02,930 --> 00:28:06,330 But I think that many Christians who struggle in trusting 604 00:28:06,330 --> 00:28:09,660 God are struggling in trusting in His Word and believing that he's 605 00:28:09,660 --> 00:28:10,660 going to do what he says He's. 606 00:28:11,460 --> 00:28:14,900 I mean, if I tell you like, hey, I'm going to be there for you, 607 00:28:15,380 --> 00:28:18,180 I might have really good intention, like I might say, okay, 608 00:28:18,180 --> 00:28:21,540 I'm going to be there to help you move, you know, your house this 609 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:25,220 Saturday and what time you want me to be at 10 o', clock, I'm 610 00:28:25,220 --> 00:28:25,780 going to be there. 611 00:28:25,780 --> 00:28:27,780 And then I have something come up in my life. 612 00:28:27,780 --> 00:28:34,670 Maybe my car breaks down or maybe I dissed, or maybe I the calendar 613 00:28:34,830 --> 00:28:35,870 in wrong. 614 00:28:36,110 --> 00:28:39,070 There's a lot of things that could cause me not to keep my word, 615 00:28:39,070 --> 00:28:40,110 even though I wanted to. 616 00:28:41,310 --> 00:28:45,110 And so the beauty is with God is that when he says something, he's 617 00:28:45,110 --> 00:28:50,630 not limited by sickness and pain or confusion or traffic or whatever 618 00:28:50,630 --> 00:28:51,070 it is. 619 00:28:51,070 --> 00:28:53,950 So when God says something, if we believe that he's all powerful, 620 00:28:53,950 --> 00:28:57,390 we believe that he's all knowing that there's no limitations 621 00:28:57,390 --> 00:28:58,510 to his love. 622 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:00,360 When he says he's going to do something. 623 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,160 And when we don't understand, when it doesn't make sense to us, 624 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,720 what we have to do is say, lord, you're not the problem. 625 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,640 We saw this in a couple different passages in the. 626 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:13,720 In the Old Testament. 627 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,120 But I would say that one of the things that we have to do is 628 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,120 go back to this idea that, Lord, when I don't understand, it's 629 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,200 not your problem, my problem. 630 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,680 I need to figure out why I can't see it actually. 631 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:25,920 The Book of Africa back again. 632 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:26,960 Know that story. 633 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:30,600 Habatics like, lord, I don't understand what's going on, but help 634 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,960 me get right to where I can understand what's going on, because 635 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:34,720 I know you're not. 636 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:36,720 And that's where we have to go to. 637 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,640 We have to go to a complete trust in faith. 638 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,519 And so faith is something that's difficult. 639 00:29:41,519 --> 00:29:43,080 It's actually, I'm going to say this one. 640 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,760 Faith is impossible without the Holy Spirit. 641 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:48,840 I don't just believe because I'm really smart. 642 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:50,880 I don't really believe because I'm a good person. 643 00:29:51,490 --> 00:29:54,970 I believe because God has me and he's given me hope and he's. 644 00:29:54,970 --> 00:29:56,730 He's allowed me to see the truth of God. 645 00:29:56,730 --> 00:29:59,890 And the Bible says, faith cometh by hearing. 646 00:30:00,690 --> 00:30:01,970 And this is important to know. 647 00:30:02,130 --> 00:30:03,570 Romans, chapter 10, verse 17. 648 00:30:03,810 --> 00:30:07,650 Don't know this passage again, another verse that gets memorized. 649 00:30:07,810 --> 00:30:08,850 Romans 10:17. 650 00:30:09,170 --> 00:30:13,490 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 651 00:30:14,050 --> 00:30:16,130 So if I'm lacking in faith, what do I do? 652 00:30:16,130 --> 00:30:17,090 I go as anywhere. 653 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,120 And if I don't have the Word, so I want to have more faith, God, 654 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:22,520 I want to have more faith, what am I going to do? 655 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:24,360 I'm just going to try harder. 656 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:26,120 Come up next year. 657 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,080 So if I'm struggling, struggling to believe in what God 658 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,640 has said, I go to his work because that's where the source of 659 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:34,720 Being is. 660 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:38,720 Knowing what he has said and believing in him, and so wants to 661 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:39,400 think about that. 662 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,440 I certainly don't have all the answers. 663 00:30:42,850 --> 00:30:44,210 Simeon didn't have all the answers. 664 00:30:44,210 --> 00:30:45,490 Anna didn't have all the answers. 665 00:30:45,490 --> 00:30:47,090 But they knew who he did. 666 00:30:47,090 --> 00:30:50,850 And so their faith in the Lord allowed them to see the culmination 667 00:30:51,170 --> 00:30:53,010 of the promises of God on their life. 668 00:30:53,250 --> 00:30:54,530 We might not see all these. 669 00:30:54,770 --> 00:30:55,650 This side of it. 670 00:30:57,010 --> 00:30:57,450 There's. 671 00:30:57,450 --> 00:31:00,930 There's been times in my life I've looked at a situation. 672 00:31:01,010 --> 00:31:04,210 I've said, lord, I don't know why, and I don't have an answer for 673 00:31:04,210 --> 00:31:04,530 why. 674 00:31:06,050 --> 00:31:07,330 But I truly believe. 675 00:31:07,410 --> 00:31:08,770 I truly believe that one. 676 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:12,380 When we breathe Our last on this planet. 677 00:31:12,460 --> 00:31:16,660 We go on with our Savior one day that we will understand what 678 00:31:16,660 --> 00:31:19,940 God is doing and we will see the big how that's revealed to us. 679 00:31:19,940 --> 00:31:22,980 We don't exactly know all the details of how that will be, but 680 00:31:22,980 --> 00:31:25,660 the Bible does clearly teach that one day we will be with him 681 00:31:25,660 --> 00:31:28,140 and we will understand his plan and his purpose. 682 00:31:28,380 --> 00:31:29,900 And it's all said in Romans 8. 683 00:31:29,900 --> 00:31:30,940 It'll all be worth it. 684 00:31:31,340 --> 00:31:32,380 It'll all be worth. 685 00:31:34,870 --> 00:31:37,590 Maybe you've never heard this before from a pastor, but I'm. 686 00:31:38,630 --> 00:31:40,310 There's times in my life where I struggle. 687 00:31:40,470 --> 00:31:42,310 There's times in my life where I look at a situation. 688 00:31:44,070 --> 00:31:48,150 I. I want to believe you, but I'm not seeing all the things add 689 00:31:48,150 --> 00:31:48,430 up. 690 00:31:48,430 --> 00:31:49,270 So what does that mean? 691 00:31:50,230 --> 00:31:53,430 It means I've got to grow in my faith and understanding. 692 00:31:53,430 --> 00:31:55,510 I have to go to cling to him, work. 693 00:31:55,670 --> 00:31:56,150 I know. 694 00:31:56,150 --> 00:31:56,470 I. 695 00:31:56,470 --> 00:31:57,910 One thing I can't deny. 696 00:31:57,910 --> 00:32:00,470 The one thing as a believer I can't deny is the goodness and the 697 00:32:00,470 --> 00:32:00,710 power. 698 00:32:01,980 --> 00:32:02,620 So when we question. 699 00:32:02,940 --> 00:32:03,540 So it's. 700 00:32:03,540 --> 00:32:04,620 I did a whole slept service. 701 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:07,580 It's okay to ask God questions. 702 00:32:07,580 --> 00:32:09,180 It's not okay to question God. 703 00:32:09,660 --> 00:32:10,940 I hope you understand what I mean. 704 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,860 Like, it's okay to ask God why, but it's not okay to ask God. 705 00:32:14,860 --> 00:32:17,660 And the questioning form, like, who are you to do this? 706 00:32:18,060 --> 00:32:20,620 And when question is character you're now lacking. 707 00:32:20,940 --> 00:32:23,900 When you have faith, you might say, lord, I don't know why, but 708 00:32:24,140 --> 00:32:25,900 please give me a. 709 00:32:26,630 --> 00:32:27,630 And so I think that there's a. 710 00:32:27,630 --> 00:32:30,870 There's a distinct difference between asking God questions and 711 00:32:30,870 --> 00:32:32,390 questioning God's character. 712 00:32:32,630 --> 00:32:35,150 I think that's what we have come down the lines to what we're 713 00:32:35,150 --> 00:32:38,590 looking at things in this world and trusting and so the pastor 714 00:32:38,590 --> 00:32:40,390 yeah, I'll be completely transparent. 715 00:32:41,030 --> 00:32:45,110 I place it to my life where I don't understand why or I don't understand 716 00:32:45,270 --> 00:32:47,630 how and I'm tempted to doubt. 717 00:32:47,630 --> 00:32:50,470 But then the Bible tells us to go back to him, cling to him. 718 00:32:50,950 --> 00:32:52,990 He will give us that clarity and understanding. 719 00:32:53,140 --> 00:32:59,180 So many of us, many of us have seen God's hand over and over and 720 00:32:59,180 --> 00:33:00,180 over again in our lives. 721 00:33:00,980 --> 00:33:05,420 God continues to prove himself to us and I hope that he continues 722 00:33:05,420 --> 00:33:06,660 to do that in your life. 723 00:33:06,660 --> 00:33:10,820 But ultimately the promise of salvation is a promise that will. 724 00:33:11,220 --> 00:33:13,340 It's initially understood through the. 725 00:33:13,340 --> 00:33:16,620 The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is our down payment, but we 726 00:33:16,620 --> 00:33:19,540 will not completely understand salvation. 727 00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:21,380 So one day we are glorified and we are. 728 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:26,660 And, and so in time, in our waiting period, we just trust in 729 00:33:26,660 --> 00:33:26,820 him. 730 00:33:26,820 --> 00:33:30,140 And like Simeon, Simeon says, hey, look, I'm going to fight the 731 00:33:30,140 --> 00:33:30,660 good fight. 732 00:33:30,820 --> 00:33:31,660 That's what Paul says. 733 00:33:31,660 --> 00:33:32,980 Paul says I'm going to run the race. 734 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:36,780 And at the very end of Paul's life, if you want to read about that, 735 00:33:36,780 --> 00:33:38,500 in second Timothy, he said, I fought with. 736 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:39,460 I fought the fight. 737 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:44,020 I run the race, finished the course, kept the fate. 738 00:33:45,230 --> 00:33:45,390 Really. 739 00:33:45,390 --> 00:33:45,950 That's what it is. 740 00:33:45,950 --> 00:33:46,990 It's keeping the faith. 741 00:33:47,150 --> 00:33:49,670 Now, you can't lose if you're trusting in Jesus Christ as your 742 00:33:49,670 --> 00:33:50,030 Savior. 743 00:33:50,190 --> 00:33:52,110 And the Bible says that he has saved us. 744 00:33:52,830 --> 00:33:57,590 I firmly believe that our salvation but at the same time, there's 745 00:33:57,590 --> 00:33:59,350 times in my life where I could struggle with faith. 746 00:33:59,350 --> 00:34:01,830 And there was the fellow that's in the, in the New Testament 747 00:34:01,830 --> 00:34:02,510 talking to Jesus. 748 00:34:02,510 --> 00:34:03,550 I mentioned this on Sunday. 749 00:34:03,870 --> 00:34:04,990 He says, lord, I believe. 750 00:34:04,990 --> 00:34:06,350 Help what helped my unbelief. 751 00:34:06,350 --> 00:34:07,350 Meaning, lord, I believe. 752 00:34:07,350 --> 00:34:10,920 Well, there's something help me the healing process. 753 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,040 And that's a priority of all of us, to some degrees. 754 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:16,080 Lord, help me believe more. 755 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:17,320 Help me trust me more. 756 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:21,600 And when we do that, we can really experience what the Bible 757 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:21,880 says. 758 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:28,920 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 759 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:29,560 podcast. 760 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,120 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 761 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:35,040 If you would like to find out more information about our church 762 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,530 or this sermon, you can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 763 00:34:38,850 --> 00:34:41,410 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 764 00:34:42,130 --> 00:34:47,010 You can also email me directly at Josh Massaro@middletownbaptistchurch.com 765 00:34:47,570 --> 00:34:51,050 if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 766 00:34:51,050 --> 00:34:53,890 along for future podcast and updates. 767 00:34:54,530 --> 00:34:55,490 Thank you so much. 768 00:34:55,650 --> 00:34:56,450 God bless. 769 00:34:56,690 --> 00:34:57,970 Have a wonderful day.