Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
Sunday Morning 12/21

      • 1 John 4:9–10NIV2011

  • Good Morning and Merry Christmas.
    Glad we can gather after having to cancel last week. If you weren’t able to listen to the message online I want to give you a short summary. Last week I shared about the idea of God’s Plan and that he is faithful. God gives us all kinds of prophesies and promises pointing us to Jesus and the fulfillment of scripture. It is this reminder that keeps us going that God is faithful and he fulfills his promises.
    It is his faithfulness that got me thinking about a question for you this morning.
    Have you ever waited a really long time for anything?
    Now I am not talking about a day or two. I am talking have you ever waited months, years for an answer on something in your life.
    Maybe you have worked hard at a job and wanted a promotion but had to wait for years to get it.
    Maybe you know someone who has waited for an organ transplant? Kidney transplant wait can be 3 to 5 years.
    There are so many things we can wait for and wonder about and anticipate.
    Could you imagine receiving a promise from God and having to wait for its fulfillment.
    The Anticipation, the wait, the wonder of sitting there thinking when is this going to happen. That is one of the powerful messages we see after Jesus Birth.
    Luke 2:25–38 NIV
    25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

    Simeon & Anna

    Simeon and Anna both spent their life waiting. Simeon a Righteous man received a promise from God and was waiting patiently.
    Anna was a women who was considered a prophet. She preached and taught and worshipped God even after she became a widow.
    Both good people of of God and waiting for their promise and testimony about who God is and what he had done in sending Jesus.
    Both powerful stories reminding us God is faithful.
    Yet there is more about this story that comes to mind when I think about it.
    We hear about these stories and we see God working in people’s lives who we know and expect God to. I mean both Simeon and Anna were faithful and they were exactly who we would think would receive this kind of blessing from God.
    It makes me wonder is it easy for us to be comfortable with the at that the people around us the people in this room know about Jesus and we are just happy to be with them?

    Promise for All People

    The truth is that we have to be reminded that Jesus came not just to fulfill the promise to the good people like Simeon and Anna. Yes, they deserved their promise but they are not the only ones that Jesus came for.
    Jesus came to the world for all people to bring salvation for the whole world. That is the reason we celebrate this time of year because he came to all of us. Yet, are we quick to share. Are we quick to follow his example. The example that Jesus would set for us.
    John 4:7–15 NIV
    7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

    Jesus Shared Regardless

    It would be easy for us to keep the gospel to ourselves. To protect our families, our church, or all the other things that we think are important. Yet, This is not how Jesus came to the world. He came to bring the good news to all.
    The Shepherds heard the good news and they couldn’t help but share it.
    Simeon knew the promise he had been given and when he finally saw it he shared it with people.
    Anna, spent her whole life worshipping and spreading the news of God.
    Jesus came, he grew and he shared with all who would hear. He even shared with the person that many in his culture and world would say he shouldn’t have.
    He shared with the Samaritan woman. The last person he should have according to many.
    He shared the hope and the living water with a woman who was in sin. A woman who was experiencing shame and guilt. He didn’t concern himself with those things but instead he saw in her what he sees in all the people.

    How will you share the Gospel?

    IT leads us to this question that we have to ask ourselves. We need to be reminded of this more than ever this time of year. Jesus is comign so that we can be saved.
    WE need to be reminded of this because the world and others need us to be willing to share the good news. WE have to break through our reluctance and concerns and share the good news to do the work that he has called us to. To be able to listen and hear the spirit calling us to the people in our lives who need to hear about the hope that is this time of year. That the savior is coming.
    Praise the lord that we can have this privilege. To follow after him to be a people who live for him. To have Gospel conversations with our friends, families, and neighbors.
    Let’s pray this time of year for the opportunity to share the Gospel to spread the joy of the gospel with the world around us.
    Let’s Pray.

      • Luke 2:25–38NIV2011

      • John 4:7–15NIV2011

Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
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