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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/brandon-doll/four-people-waiting-for-the-kingdom/
Gospel of Luke, please, chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. We're going to read together verse number 25. We shared these thoughts with some here today, but we'll make no apologies. It fits right in with everything we've heard this afternoon as far as waiting for the coming of the Lord and waiting for the kingdom and the comfort of God's people.
And so to close this ministry session off, we're going to look at four people that were waiting for the kingdom of God. Luke chapter 2, verse 25. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.
And the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let us thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
We'll just take them one at a time and just make a couple comments on each one. I want you to think this afternoon and ask yourself this question, how am I waiting for the Lord? Whether it's the rapture that you're looking forward to, or whether it's the kingdom that you're looking forward to, we're looking forward to both really, aren't we?
How am I waiting? How am I waiting? We're going to look at these four different people. We're going to look at Simeon. We're going to look at Anna. We're going to look at John the Baptist. We're going to look at Joseph of Arimathea.
And we're going to learn different aspects of his coming that they were waiting for. Here we've got Simeon, and it says here that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He was waiting for the comfort for the solace of his people.
And isn't that what we just heard? Comfort ye, comfort ye my people. This man, as we look at his description of his life, it says that he was a just man, that he was a devout man. Three times the Spirit of God is mentioned in leading this man, so he is a spiritual man.
He is a man who is living on the promises of God, for the promise was that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. And so that takes this man up in his character and how he is waiting.
We've heard a lot of talk in the intervals in this conference, and I guess all the conferences this fall. God's people notice the awfulness that the world is in, and the turmoil and the strife, and many of God's people are anticipating what might come down the road for we the believer.
This is food for thought. Could it be possible that God is allowing us to see the condition of this world? That we might be ready to let go? That we might be sick of it? Things have been very very easy, haven't they, for us.
And if we're living in the last days, and we are the church of Laodicea, and we are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing, and just for something to think about, maybe God is allowing us to see what is taking place so rapidly, and the evil that is coming to the forefront so quickly, that we might be tired of this poor groaning world.
Simeon wasn't so much interested in the world, was he? He was looking for the comfort of God's people, the consolation, and it is going to be a great comfort to us to leave this conference and to meditate and to dwell upon the prospect of his coming, not only to the air, but the kingdom, when he's going to reign in righteousness, as we've already heard this afternoon.
And Simeon was a man who waited. Notice this, as he waited he was just. He was just. That means he did what was right as he waited. I know Christians aren't accustomed to cutting corners, are we? But always remember this, as we're waiting for him to come, we must wait justly.
What does God require of us but to do what's right, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God? And so as we are waiting, we must wait in a way that is just, that is an acceptable way to wait to God, a pleasing way to wait.
I have to confess sometimes I might whine too much. I don't mean complain or murmur. Is that how God wants me to wait? Complaining about this and complaining about that? No, Simeon was a man who was waiting patiently for the comfort of Israel, and he was waiting in a just way.
He was devout. Brethren, there's no time to be anything less than devout. He was absolutely devout to his God. He was devout toward the Messiah. He was looking. He was waiting, and he was watching. And you'll recognize very quickly that one day that he would wait would be one more less than he had to wait.
We often say that little cliche, don't we? One more day, yet one less day. Well, the Messiah must come during this man's lifetime. He knew that it would be in his lifetime. We don't know it'll be in our lifetime for the rapture, but it very well could be.
Very well could be. And this man, he is a man is entirely devoted to his God. The Holy Ghost was upon him. He was a spiritual man. He was not a carnal man. He was not one that was taken up in his thinking of all about this world, and what I can get next, and what I can do next.
He was a spiritual man. The Holy Ghost was upon him. The Holy Ghost led him into the temple at the right time. It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death. The man was filled with the Spirit of God.
That's why he was just. He was doing what was right. He was devout, and he was waiting for the comfort of God's people. He was resting on the promises of God. We'll go to the next one right in our same chapter here, verse number 36.
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. The Spirit of God gives us a woman, an old woman, who was waiting for the kingdom.
She particularly is waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem, waiting for God to come and to redeem the nation and redeem the people and bring about the kingdom. And she was waiting for that because that's what she spoke of.
And she spoke of it to others. And has not this afternoon been a thrill to your soul? It has been to mine to listen to our brethren teach us about the redemption of Israel, about the kingdom that is coming.
And it would be a good thing to talk about, wouldn't it? To talk about Him. Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one that is going to come and bring in the redemption of Israel, the one who is going to rule in righteousness and peace.
And this dear woman, Simeon, he seems to get what he's looking for and he's off the page. But this dear woman, she comes in at that instant and she goes on to tell others about Him. How are you waiting for the coming of the kingdom?
You see, they preach the coming in the book of Acts, didn't they? Acts chapter 8, Philip is preaching the things concerning the kingdom. Yes, he's preaching concerning the kingdom. The parable is about the kingdom.
The Lord Jesus teaches of the kingdom. The Old Testament is about the kingdom. The Psalms are about the kingdom. It's about the kingdom. And this dear woman now, she's waiting. Notice where she's waiting.
She's day and night in the temple. Why is she day and night in the temple? What would keep her there day and night in the temple? Only one thing. You see, this woman was a broken woman. God broke this woman's heart when she was just a young woman.
Her husband died after seven years of marriage. God had her heart. Are you going to end your days until the Lord comes in God's assembly? And not unless He has your heart. Because in the last days, there's going to be a great falling away, isn't there?
And because iniquity is going to abound, the love of many is going to wax cold. Wasn't that, that was her day, wasn't it? God hadn't spoken to the nation for 400 years through the prophet. And now what do they have?
They have a prophetess. I thought that was sweet. Here's a woman. And God has her heart. Because God has broken her heart. And God has satisfied her heart. She was entirely satisfied in the temple night and day.
Fastings, denying herself of food likely, and other things of life. Perhaps she decided, denied herself of another husband and a family. And that she might serve God. Because God had her heart. And she's waiting.
And in that very instant, right after simming is done, the Spirit of God brings her in. This dear widow, this dear widow, dear older one in the ministry this afternoon. God's not done with you yet. God is not done with you yet.
Many here have heard the little story that the, that the Lord used this man in Iowa many years ago. We were having meetings and it was a six and a half week. And Brody had to go home for a reason. And I was there by myself.
And I wanted to go home on Friday night. It's been a long time. And I asked the Lord to show me what his will was. And a couple hours later, a dear man called me. And he wasn't from the assembly. And he asked if the meetings were still going.
I said, yes. He said, well, I'm 90 years old and I won't be out here meetings. I can't get out well. But he said, I've just been compelled this morning to call you and to tell you you're doing a good thing.
Keep going. Brody come back and we looked the dear man up. Got to talk with him. And I introduced myself and asked him if he was the man who made the call. He said he was. And I said, I need to tell you the rest of the story.
And I told him, this is what I told you. And tears welled up in his eyes. I told him, dear sir, the Lord's not done using you. And he started to weep and I started to weep. I don't want to Brody thought a bunch of wimps, maybe.
I don't know. This is what he said. He said, Brandon, keep preaching the gospel. Hell is real. And tears running down both of our cheeks. Reminded that hell is real. As you leave this conference, dear believer, does the Lord have your heart?
Does he have your heart? He had Anna's heart and she waited for the redemption in Jerusalem. Chapter seven of this book, we'll go look at John the Baptist verse number 20. John's in prison. He's in prison for calling out the sin of Herod.
He's discouraged. He's persecuted. He's in a dark place. And some of God's people are that way today, maybe. We're discouraged and persecuted. And he sends his disciples and he says, go ask Jesus if you're really the one or if we're waiting for another.
So they come and they talk to the Lord Jesus. Will this break in for the sake of time? Well, at verse 20, when the men were come, that is John's disciples come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee saying, art thou he that should come or look we for another?
And in that same hour, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of evil spirits. And unto many that were blind, he gave sight. Then Jesus answered and said unto them, John's disciples, go your way and tell John what things ye have seen and heard.
You know, he's given a fulfillment of Isaiah 61 here. How that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.
John's thinking in prison, do we have the right man? Oh, John was the one who baptized the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jesus had no sin to confess. It's interesting to picture that in your mind. John was baptizing for the repentance of sins for the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
And these people would come confessing their sins, but the Lord comes and there's nothing to confess. And when the Lord comes up out of the water, the dove descends upon him and God verifies that the Lord Jesus impeccability, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
And John knew because the dove came that this was the one. There was no doubt in his mind. And he went forth in boldness and he went forth in power and he saw God do great things, but now it's different.
He's seen nothing done for God and he's discouraged and he's persecuted and he's waiting. I thought it was interesting that the Lord gives him Isaiah 61 for John knew who he was by the book of Isaiah.
John chapter one, you remember they say, who are you? And he says, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. As the prophet Isaiah said, John knew what to say from the prophet Isaiah. He knew what to preach from the word of God.
He knew who he was from the word of God. And now here he is. He's had better days, but notice verse number 23, the Lord Jesus gives John something specific to live with and to die with really for John's not coming out alive.
And this verse will do us good in the day and age in which we live. He says this and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. Dear believer today, take courage in this verse. The day may come where we may be tempted to be offended by him, not by him, but because of because of him, we might be tempted to deny the faith.
We might be tempted to deny his name. He says, John, blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. And did not the great shepherd know exactly what that man needed? That is exactly what that man needed.
And I can see him restored in that prison cell that day. As his heart would start to warm again to the one who knew exactly what he needed and met his need that day. And so that is a man who's waiting in his discouragement, but he is giving something by the Lord Jesus Christ himself to finish his time in waiting.
The last one is in chapter 23, 23 verse 50. Lord Jesus has now been crucified. He dismissed his spirit. Verse 50 and behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor, and he was a good man and just. The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them.
He's speaking of there of the Sanhedrin that called out for his death. Joseph would have been a member of the Sanhedrin. He had no part in their actions, no part in their thoughts. He did not believe that the Lord Jesus should have been put to death.
And he says this. He was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate and begged the body of Jesus, and he took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on. Joseph. The Spirit of God is careful to maintain this man's character, that he was a just man. He was just. He was a counselor. He was a good man.
And that's God's description of him. He was a secret disciple. There may be a secret disciple here today. And secretly you're waiting for the kingdom. And no one knows that you're a disciple. No one knows that you're a Christian.
What would draw this man out of his secrecy? What would draw him out to identify himself with the Lord Jesus Christ? The king had been rejected. His king had been rejected. His king had been despised.
And it drew him out by him coming forward from the Sanhedrin to identify with this man, to defile himself the day before the Sabbath by touching a dead body, to take all of the persecution that he and Nicodemus are going to take for this action.
It's evident that the only thing that this man cared about was a rejected king. He didn't care what people thought. He didn't care what people said. He didn't care how it was going to affect his position in life or in society.
It didn't matter anymore. And he's drawn out. How would you have taken the body down? Would you have had the boldness to go to Pilate and crave the body of Jesus? How would you have taken him down from the tree?
I've wondered about that a lot. You're not just going to go there and pull his hands out over the nails. That'll never work. Are you going to get some sort of a first century pry bar and start working away?
Are you going to bear the cross and pick it out of the ground and lay it down? You're going to be stained with blood. And I can see this man coming and taking that cross, picking it out of that shallow socket and laying it down upon the ground.
In my mind, and this is just my imagination, I don't know how they took men down from the cross gently. This is probably the only one that was ever gently taken down from the cross. But I can see him taking that maul and tapping that nail and working that nail back and forth gently, finally get it to the point where you could pull it out of the wood.
But he handled him gently. He handled him reverently. It could have been he handled him weeping. How are you waiting for the king to come? Are you handling the things of God reverently? Are we handling the person in Christ with all gentleness and with all reverence as though we're on holy ground?
For we are. We are on holy ground when we talk of him. And then he wraps him and he anoints him and he wraps him. He spared no cost for the king. And he lays him in his own new tomb. And I often wonder this.
I wonder when did he realize that he died for me? Maybe it was when he laid him in his own tomb. Oh, he took my place in death. I wonder when Mary realized that he died for her sin. And that arrow, that sword would pierce through her own soul also as she would see her perfect son upon the cross of Calvary and John would take her away.
When did it ever dawn on her? When did she realize that what he died there was for me? And is that now how we're not how we're going to wait for our Lord to come? A fresh appreciation of the man who died for me and is coming again for me to be with him and to be like him and to reign with him.
How are we waiting in his coming?