Luke 2:25-32 — Todd Atkinson

Thank You Lawrence. Good morning everyone. Really nice to see you be back from my trip. Thank you for your prayers. For Stephen and I when we were in India and Kenya they made a big difference. I went my health was pretty questionable when I began that journey and It made improvements all through the trip.

And it was astonishing to come off a trip as substantial as that and to be healthier when I came back than when I left. So, thank you very much wonderful things happened in India there was a very strong move of God's Spirit and literally hundreds of people a day we saw experiencing the power of God and so Just deeply fulfilling time there.

We went on from there to Kenya first of all to Nairobi there was a group of quite eminent young national leaders who wanted to meet with us interested in via and and again, just something of Real favor was resting on that time within 24 hours.

Those young leaders wanted to move here for training want to plant via churches in in Kenya. They were just so on board. It was a really really splendid time and And again, so thank you that your prayers for helping to make that possible.

When we are finished in Nairobi we went up to the desert region of northern Kenya a place called the Turkana Desert. Which is one of my favorite places in all the world where northern Kenya meets Sudan Somalia and Ethiopia.

Working in a United Nations refugee camp that has now swollen to upwards of 350 ,000 people in that camp. This is probably about my 15th time there each year I try to take people from Lethbridge and especially from our church To go visit that refugee camp because most of the people that come as refugees from East Africa come through that significant camp at Kakama and so I want our people to realize what it's like to live in a refugee camp and To have a sense of not just sympathy but respect for people's journeys both there and when people move here for refugees.

To be able to meet people so all the time I meet people here. And where do you come from. I come from East Africa. Did you come through Kakama. The question is how do you know Kakama? Oh, I was just there last week.

What would you go to Kakama for we spent years trying to get out of that place? And I tell them I went there, so I'd appreciate and respect your journey so that when you come to Canada. There's people here that in a sense have made the efforts to To understand what you have been through.

And so it was good to be there. But I'm also very attuned when refugees come here. That this is God bringing the nation's to our doorstep. So I have went upon my return my my coming home. I have met twice with one of the senior figures in our local immigrant services.

And I said I understand. They know that we've done a lot with Nepali speaking immigrants. And we actually have a kind of a favor there because of that and so I've said I understand we have Immigrants coming from new countries.

I just want to say whatever we can do we want to be there. And when I talked about our heart for refugees. He was quite moved and asked me if I would come and speak to the staff. Which would probably the first time in the history of immigrant services.

They asked a pastor to come and speak to their staff so. It was really I'm really looking forward to that. So if you ever get a chance to study in the Old Testament how many times God? Speaks to people about foreigners who come in from your other countries and how they should be treated.

Go make that a study because it'll affect your life forever. It certainly has affected how I see things. Secondly a little bit of talk about Christmas potluck. You know it's been our custom annually that we we have had a Christmas dinner together.

But like many things sometimes we visited that and said is that still hitting the mark? Because sometimes the people that we have most targeted wanted to come haven't come. We're also very well that we have a very very well connected core.

But if all of our events target the exact same group of people. Then so part of the question is what do we have to do that people who don't yet feel connected? Could feel connected to our core and feel like they're part of our core and moving with us.

The other thing I have to be honest is that when we run some of these things the last couple years. Even the people have come I have just also left and left a tiny little handful cleaning up. And so this is meant to be a community event and when we do those things it doesn't exactly say Community all over it it says here's a little tiny handful of people you're serving us, and and then we'll dine and dash.

And so we need to do something. To kind of change that so that from beginning to end it is an expression of community. So I actually would since coming back from my trip would I'd like to run something.

So we're gonna have something on Thursday evening at 6 p .m.. On the 17th of December. You'll hear more about this. So it could be a little new because I'm running it. But if you belong to three categories if you're new here in the last year and don't really feel connected.

Please come out to that. Number two if you're old here, and don't really feel connected. Because our churches underwent a lot of transition in the last years, and so if that's you then please Come and be there.

Third category if you're like me and want to connect with people that don't feel connected. You actually want to come and be on deck and say who don't I know here and how do I help people feel like like that they're coming to our church is important to us and.

That we want to connect that we've had this kind of slogan all these years that we want to be a community and not a crowd. But if we're gonna keep that up it requires a lot of intentionality on our part, and it's well worth it.

The reason so many of you feel deeply connected as a core is because we started without many years ago. And we worked hard toward that. But we've also got to keep that up. With new people who are coming so we understand that we've transferred a lot of Responsibilities in the last couple years over to our home groups who are doing a wonderful wonderful job, so that's intentional.

So if you're doing something as your community group. And you're already have a get-together and meal then don't feel like you need to replicate. Because the basis for you are probably well covered. You don't have to do both, but I'm especially targeting people that I don't really know I look at some of you worship with you Sunday by Sunday and our core I know deeply I've walked with you for years, but there's all kinds of people I look out you and I don't really know you.

And I want to and so we're gonna set up a very simple evening potluck bring food. So just in case you're thinking someone else will bring food I don't need to just so you know I am a man a man running this not a woman.

That's going to make this different. Because a woman would have would have lots of contingencies. She would know who's gonna bring what and She's gonna know where we're gonna lack and she's gonna know who's gonna come with nothing and so they would have all that figured Out.

I'm just opening the door. Set out a few tables, and and I just want to hang out and so. Anyways if you don't bring food. We're gonna be in a whole lot of trouble. I'm coming to a potluck. So come and come be prepared and looking for some heart connection meaning come and and and ready to engage.

You know in meaningful conversation, and if you're a real introvert come and be prepared to engage in really meaningful awkward silences. And we'll work with that but regardless of your temperament come and.

And we will have a very simple evening and a lovely little potluck and a chance to get and when you leave you'll think I I Know a few people that I didn't know before and I gained some connections that I didn't have.

Simeon and the Promise of the Messiah

And that will be make it all worthwhile. Like to turn my attention now to the Holy Scripture Gospel according to Luke chapter 2 and We're gonna take a reading From the 24th verse 25th verse now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon.

He was righteous and devout. And he was waiting For the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit That he would not die. Before he has seen the Lord's Christ the Messiah Moved by the Holy 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 now dismiss your servant and peace for my eyes have seen your salvation.

Which you have repaired in the sight of all people a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. The child's father and mother marveled that what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to marry his mother this child is Destined to cause the rising and the falling 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 Mary will pierce your own soul to.

May God bless this public reading of his Holy Word. We are here today on the second Sunday of Advent and Advent of course has been thought of as a time of Preparation. Because in some ways we identify in this period With those who were prior to Christ who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

And just like they lived as it were between two times between time it's a promise and times of fulfillment. So the the whole the Old Testament is full of promises that one day a Messiah would come and these people Waited daily for the fulfillment of that promise.

But just like they waited between two times. So also we in the New Covenant also find ourselves Living between two times between the first advent and the second advent between the first coming of our Lord and the second coming of our Lord between partial fulfillment and Complete fulfillment of all God's promises between the now and the not yet.

And as a result, we know two things both a deep thankfulness For what we have received from him, but at the same time a deep longing For more of him and so we will live in that tension of fulfillment and thankfulness but also longing and I want to turn to this man in the New Testament.

He's at the kind of tail end of the Old Testament. He's someone whose entire life had been waiting for the Messiah and he did that so well. That he provides a very fine Example for us in our day. The reading begins with these words now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon.

He was righteous and devout righteous. Right with God he wasn't just playing at his faith where it counts. He was right with God and he was devout. He showed deep devotion he had it where it counts but interestingly What his righteousness and devotion looked like him.

The next phrase is this he was waiting. He was righteous and devout he was waiting. His righteousness showed up in this way. It made him wait. His devotion caused him to wait. We don't have that kind of value on waiting.

We wouldn't think that that's a sign of righteousness that it's a sign of deep devotion that someone would wait. Because we might wait if we have to we would never think of it as a good thing. We we might find it annoying.

Undesirable. Frustrating even angering having to wait. But we certainly wouldn't think of it as a sign of deep devotion. And yet I think it's right. It really is that. Because sometimes what we most love in life is seen in this.

By what we're willing to wait for. So what you most love in life isn't seen by what you can have most quickly at your fingertips. What you most love in life is not measured by that which is most quickly accessible.

Sometimes what you most love in life is seen in this by what you're willing to wait for. More than once I've had a family come to me in the church and maybe their daughter was just getting to dating age and.

Sometimes there's a interesting Interested suitor and sometimes this suitor has been a few years older. And so anyways, I get asked questions. My advice to the young woman has been the same. If this really is God's choice for you.

And if this young man really loves you. Then this is what his heart will say to you you are worth waiting for. So maybe you're a little on the young side for a relationship of that type. Of that kind of commitment and but you'll know you're on to something special when someone says I love you enough to wait for you.

I Think sometimes Jesus is waiting for us to hear those words to hear those words from us. We love you enough that waiting can be pleasurable. Waiting can be an ex an exercise of devotion. It can be a sign of our righteousness by what we're willing to wait for.

I Understand that sometimes waiting produces longing that waiting isn't easy. But the same truth prevails what we most long for in life shows What we most love and so here's Simeon a righteous man a devout man, and it says he was Waiting.

How do you wait? You wait like Simeon because his waiting was not a sign of passive resignation. His his waiting was a sign of eager expectation. God had made him promises and every single day of his life this man woke up and those Promises were as real and fresh to him as if God had made them to him that morning.

Eager expectation he was an older man who had been waiting for the fulfillment of promises for many years and Yet he still has eager Expectation. Sometimes we go well, I guess I'll wait because I have no choice to but really it's resignation.

I'll resign to have to wait. There's no sense of eagerness and anticipation in it, but this man was different. In particular it says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He wasn't even waiting for something for himself.

He could tell that his nation was grieving his nation needed Consoling that they had been waiting for 400 years the 400 silent years and that that waiting had taken a toll on their hearts. And so here's a man who is full of the Holy Spirit.

Here is an old prayerful man. And when he is in prayer, he can pick up the heartbeat of his nation. And so he's saying Lord. I am waiting for the consolation of my nation. You're gonna come and you're gonna console Through the provision of the Messiah.

He's waiting for the consolation of Israel. The scripture goes on to say that he had every reason to wait. This wasn't just wishful thinking. He was waiting because the Holy Spirit had spoke to him and Revealed things to him and especially this that he would not die.

Until with his own eyes he had seen the Messiah and so he's an elderly man Been waiting for probably the majority of his life and he has been clinging to this promise that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Christ and Every single day he rolls out of bed and he asked the Lord a question Lord is today the day.

Not today Simeon. Okay, and This faithful old man rolls out of bed the next day with the exact same question and the same anticipation. Not disappointment is today the day it's not today Simeon, but thanks for asking.

Okay day in day out. Month in month out year in year out with this man. Decade in and decade out every single day. He rolls out of bed on to his knees. It's his father is today the day he's an old man, but he's got the faith of a child.

Today the day. Simeon no, but thank you for believing. Thank you for waiting. Thank you for hoping member. He's praying for the consolation of Israel very few people in the whole nation. We're waiting with that kind of hope but Simeon was.

Until one day he wakes up and he rolls out of bed and he asked that same old question Father is today the day and it's the first day. He hears an answer that is different From what he has always heard is today the day Lord.

You told me I wouldn't die before I saw the Lord's Christ. I believe it with all my heart. I've been waiting for decades is today the day and on this day heaven says Simeon yes. Today is the day. Now do you realize if he hadn't been asking day by day?

He would have totally missed that day If his heart had grown dull. If his expectation had waned. Then when it really counts he would no longer even be asking the question. But because this man was waiting in hope he was full of expectation.

When he asked Lord is today the day? At last the answer come today is the day Simeon. The Messiah is here. He's down in the temple courts and the story doesn't tell us what follows exactly. Between the time he is told that and the time he gets to the temple courts, but I imagine this old man was just the face of a young boy and he gather up his garments and Probably as fast as his old frame would take him that man ran through the streets of Jerusalem.

Muttering he's here. He's here. He's here. He's down here. He's here and everybody wondering where's Simeon going. A couple questions. Number one, what did he expect to see when he got there? Number two, was he disappointed because you take a look at the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah.

It's reasonable that Simeon would have expected some very much larger-than-life figure to be waiting for him there. Someone who is going to vanquish the Romans someone who is going to make everything right and usher in a wonderful new golden age.

Over Christmas or over Advent when you get a chance you look back at the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. What would you have expected if you were Simeon it would have been reasonable for him to expect someone gigantic and so when he Arrives at the temple gates and he looks around and doesn't see anybody gigantic Lord where.

Because it seems like temple life is Continuing like it always did it doesn't seem any different today than it did yesterday. So when he says where? You know what? The Holy Spirit points him to that baby.

The baby Lord that baby you mean that looks like every other baby. Great. I've been waiting all my life, but I have a 20-inch Messiah. I would have been disappointed. I was like really that's what I waited for.

Really. That kid is gonna change this whole thing because I'm not righteous like him. I don't wait like him. I don't roll out of bed every single day like I ought and say It's the day of the day Lord.

And so I I learned from this old righteous devout man who went over Under the Holy Spirit's leading and he took that small infant in his hands and he blessed that infant. So here's a an icon of of a depiction of Simeon as an old man.

Holding that baby in his hands and this is what he cries out. He said Lord Sovereign Lord. It's just like you promised. What would we have said Lord? This is a little disappointing. Simeon didn't say that.

Just like you promised you were faithful to all your promises. Now I can depart in peace. You can take me to heaven because everything you promised me in this life you have done. I'm ready now to go to heaven.

And he blesses that child because he understood things that we don't understand. Is that when God has promised grand things, they are still going to start in small ways. Then when God wants to change the world, he still starts things and gives them a humble beginning.

And if you overlook those small things, they will never grow up to be large things. And he took that small infant in his hands and thought. Everything God has ever promised for the salvation of the world is in this small bundle.

And he actually had the eyes to see it and he blessed that small bundle knowing that if I bless it one day He will grow enough to be a fully blown World-saving life-changing universe ruling Messiah.

Three Lessons from Simeon's Waiting

And he could see it in this infant. Beautiful. Oh I want to be righteous like that man. Three lessons to draw from Simeon number one. Do we know how to wait like he did to show eager expectation not resignation.

That's not biblical waiting. Oh. We'll just have to see how it pans out. That's not biblical waiting. That's just resignation not anticipation. And so for Simeon, we don't know how old he is. We just know he's a very old man who's waited for very long.

Transitioning with the Holy Spirit

But by the way, he acts you think God made him the promise yesterday and I want to be like that. To number two. He was a man who transitioned well. He'd waited for something for all these years. But he knew when the Holy Spirit was signaling that change was in the air and he was able to go with it.

My imagination allows me to see if nothing else that the day that Simeon round down there. There was probably very likely some other people that saw this little crying infant and said this would you shut that baby up?

We're trying to pray here for the coming of the Messiah. How come it's only Simeon saw it that day. How many people were in the temple courts praying for the fulfillment of God's promises and missed them right under their nose?

People who got tired of waiting. Impatient book of Hebrews says faith and patience. Inherits the promises. I used to think it was just faith that inherits promises. Faith and patience. Inherits the promises.

And we have to understand we live in a hugely impatient society and it costs us much more dearly Than we can imagine. He transitioned well. The wind of change come into his prayer room and said you've been here believing for this.

Seeing God's Great Work in Small Beginnings

But now you need to move here and expect the antithesis fulfillment of that and that when you do get there. Don't be disappointed. Simeon. Third lesson. He knew how to see the great and the small. Can we do that?

I've had things that have even happened in the last month. I know they're signs. Are they big signs. They are to me. When you've been waiting for 12 years or when you're waiting for 30 years for something I've been watching for little signs and when I see them instead of going on that's kind of disappointing.

That's all it is. You will never see your promises fulfilled. If you do that, but if you can say that's a small beginning that's God acting in our midst and. And we can see it and be thankful for it and bless it.

That those small blessings will grow up. Until they're bigger than we could ever imagine. So, how how do you wait? I don't wait as well as I'd like number two. How do you transition? Number three, can you see the big in this small right under your nose?

How many people miss the Messiah right under their nose? 2 ,000 years this child is prophesied and there he is right under the nose and there's one man that sees it. So similarly things are happening in our midst.

I've noticed shifts and changes even. Actually since our name change if I had more time I would chronicle them for you, but Todd those are just small. Huh, I know but I have put myself at the feet of Simeon for the last 25 years.

And I learned something from that old man how to appreciate the small signs of God's moving how to bless them when I see them. How to have eyes to see them. When they go indetectable to others. I wish I had the time to unpack the rest of the passage.

The rising and this child will cause the rising and the falling of many. Wow, he was gonna upset kingdoms there would be people in leadership who didn't used to be. People that used to have places of influence that would lose it.

The hearts you'd be a sign that would be spoken against. So here he's prophesied. This is a gift from heaven and people are gonna speak against him. But it will reveal what is in those hearts. There's so much in that passage.

So I always watch what people speak against. Because they think that they are revealing something and they don't realize they are being revealed and so beloved. We are to are in a time of transition. Let us keep our eyes open.

The Lord's Table and the Promise of Fulfillment

For some very very blessed signs. We're gonna go to the Lord's table. This is the very nature of the Lord's table every time we celebrate the Lord's table. It is a partial fulfillment meaning. Every time we celebrate it.

It is a looking forward to the great wedding feast of the Lamb. It is a looking backwards to the Last Supper and at the exact same time. It is a partial fulfillment and a looking forward to the great feast of the Lamb.

When we will gather around that table and what we now know in part we shall then know in full. And so we will gather around his table today. And we will enjoy as much of his presence as he's willing to give.

And we will look forward to that day when we will know it in unlimited ways. Let us go you bow your heads in a word of prayer with me all who truly turn to Christ. And away from your sins all who seek to be reconciled With your neighbors and intend to lead the new life following the commandments of God and walking in his holy ways.

Draw near now with faith and take this Holy Sacrament to strengthen. To console and to nourish you let us make our Humble confession to our Heavenly Father. So first a moment of private confession we bring before him our impatience our despair.

Lord, where have we given up on promises? Where is there some part of our heart that is has just given up? Restore to us the heart of Simeon. Let us live daily eager anticipation holding on to the promises.

Like They were just given to us an hour ago. Father forgive me for my impatience. Forgive me for where I get too easily discouraged when you don't seem to act quickly. Help me to show my love for you in my waiting and in my longing.

Help me transition well not to feel stuck and Backward looking and please give me eyes to see the promises being fulfilled right under my nose in small ways the heart to bless them so that small breakthroughs Might mature into big ones.

Lord. This is your tip. You are our great high priest. So lead us in this meal. Feed us on your very own presence. You are the bread of life. Feed us with hope promise Life and joy. Preside over your table.

I asked that all of heaven would come to earth around this meal. Scripture says who shall ascend? The hill of the Lord. But he who has clean hands and a pure heart so let us Make our confession to him together merciful father.

We confess that we have sinned against you thought word. By what we have done. And by what we have left forgive us where the cares of this world have become our cares. Where we have succumbed to the love of things.

Where we have used our minds and bodies in words in impure ways. Forgive us where we have given way to discouragement and despair self pity false comforts harmful addictions and selfishness. Forgive us where we have neglected your two great commands.

Where we have not loved you with our whole heart and have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Lord, we're truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ would have mercy on us and forgive us so that we might delight in your will and walk in your ways By the power of your spirit and to the glory of your name.

So receive the forgiveness of your sin. Hallelujah. Almighty God our Heavenly Father who of his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins. To all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him.

Have mercy upon you. Pardon and deliver you from all your sins. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and all God's people said You.