Sermon preached on Sunday, December 25, 2011 at Garden Valley Chapel; Luke 2:25-35.

Take your Bible if you will and open it to the second chapter of Luke´s Gospel. Luke chronicles in this important portion of Scripture the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, to whom was given the name Jesus, for "He will save His people from their sins" (Mat 1:21).

Luke´s Gospel begins with a small, believing remnant in Israel who were prepared to recognize the Messiah when He arrived.

After 400 years of silence, you have a small, believing remnant that hangs on to all the promises foretold in the OT.

Among them was an old couple, a common priest named Zacharias and his barren wife, Elizabeth, who became the parents of Messiah´s forerunner (Luke 1:5ff.).

Also a part of that small believing remnant was a young couple just beginning their life together, Joseph and Mary, Jesus´ earthly father and the virgin in whom He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34-35).

All of them were humble people, far from the elite circles of Jewish thought, education, or religion. Yet they were chosen by God for monumental service in connection with the birth of the Messiah.

Here in Luke´s Gospel, specifically in vv. 25-35, Luke introduces to us one more member of the believing remnant. A man named Simeon.

It is while Joseph and Mary are in the temple, that they meet an Israelite whose life exemplified both godliness and faith.

Read Luke 2:25-35.

CONTENT

Our Lord reveals five things about Simeon.
1. Simeon´s Character (v. 25a)
2. Simeon´s Theology (v. 25b)
3. Simeon´s Anointing (vv. 25c-27)
4. Simeon´s Proclamation (vv. 28-33)
5. Simeon´s Warning (vv. 34-35)

I trust that in looking into this man´s life, Simeon, that as we consider the 1st advent of our Lord, that we view Christmas as a time to develop character, a time to adopt and apply theology, a time where the Holy Spirit is at work, anointing/empowering each one for service, a time of proclamation, and lastly as a time inbuilt with warning.

Join us as we conclude this two-part study on a man named Simeon on this Christmas Day 2011.