From Promise to Praise

Simple obedience leads to significance.

Message Notes 22/12/2024 - Amy Nicholson

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As we unpack the Christmas story, we see this BIG, SIGNIFICANT moment in History unfold which will change all eternity.  Yet God uses the unassuming, the unassuming, the insignificant to change the trajectory of all eternity.

And in the midst of the splendor and spiritual hype, God silently speaks to Simeon, no hype at all. God makes him a promise that he will see the Messiah before he dies. S

Luke 2: 25 - 35

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,    you may now dismiss your servant in peace. ( Jesus, you can take me now)

For my eyes have seen your salvation,   (Prophetic - Isaiah 53)

    which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, (Prophetic - Isaiah 49:6)    and the glory of your people Israel.”

 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 

 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,  so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

(Psalm 22 describes the crucifixion - He knows how this could pierce a mothers heart)

Simeon doesn’t base His prophetic word on anything other than the word of God. No fanfare, no hype. He anchors them in the scriptures that speak about Jesus. 

Christ in the midst of Chaos - In the chaos of the season, the truest thing about you is what God says about you.

The Word: Simeon knew the word of God and heard God's words. Power

He sees the Messiah - that’s God's gift to him. 

He could have left it there… but when he sees that the promise keeping God has kept his promise Simeon can’t be quiet and he begins to prophesy. 

His prophecy is not pulled out of thin air, it’s linked and tied in with what Scripture saus

The Walk (in obedience): Simeon didn’t work at the temple, He felt the Holy Spirit tell Him to go there. Maybe he had other plans and important things to do,. But he had chosen to walk in obedience to God and so he did. He went to the temple.

The Wonder: Simeon may not have had an angelic visitation, but God fulfilled a desire in his heart to see the Messiah before he died. He got to behold the wonder of the Saviour who had come and who was going to change everything. He was one of the first to know.

The wonder is not found in the elaborate moment, the wonder is found and treasures in the simplicity of the word and the walk… when we get God's word into our hearts and we walk in obedience to Him, we will see the wonder… and wonder doesn’t mean hype.

This Christmas don’t focus on the hype, 

1. Get the Word of God in you, because when you need it, it will flow out of you.

2. Walk every day in step with the Spirit and walk in obedience to Him.

3. The Wonder of God will transform your life and you will lead a life of simple significance.