The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
December 14, 2025
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      • Luke 2:30NASB95

  • On Christmas Day
  • Angels From The Realms
  • Doxology
  • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
  • Manger Throne
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)

      • Malachi 3:1NASB95

  • Recognition of that Faithfulness

    ILLUST: Stay on this road - you can’t miss it
    You’ll know it when you see it
    It can be difficult to be patient…especially when you know it’s going to be amazing!
    READ Luke 2:21-38
    Joseph and Mary, Simeon, Anna

    1) Offering the Sacrifice

    Joseph and Mary’s obedience shows their faith in their faithful God
    He had set forth His law for their good, to draw them to Him
    Back story: It had been 400 years since God spoke to His people through a prophet, Malachi
    JTB is born a few months ahead of Messiah
    Yahweh is now speaking to them again, in-person!
    First, Jesus is circumcised and named - day 8
    Then, His dedication
    Luke quotes the law
    Exodus 13:12 NASB95
    you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the Lord.
    Dedication of the child requires a sacrifice
    The offering/sacrifice presented indicates their poverty
    Leviticus 12:8 NASB95
    ‘But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”
    This dedication coincides with Mary’s “purification” - so she presents it
    She would have placed her hands on the sacrifice while it was killed, and then the other was a burnt offering
    Placing her hands on the sacrifice was symbolic of her sinfulness being the cause for the death of this sacrifice
    Obedience to the Law - showed their faithfulness
    Their sacrifice - given, knowing that God is faithful
    And…dedication of a child, a baby, is really about the parents dedication to raising the child faithful to God

    2) Waiting for Messiah

    SIMEON
    Simeon - in the temple when Jesus is presented
    He had been waiting for this moment, having been promised he would see Messiah
    What was he truly waiting for? He knows the prophecies, puts it together
    (a few of them here)
    Psalm 98:2 NASB95
    The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
    Isaiah 9:2 NASB95
    The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
    Isaiah 52:10 NASB95
    The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.
    Any of the faithful in Israel should have been waiting (many likely were) - Simeon is just particularly eager
    What was he waiting for? Messiah? Sorta, yeah, but bigger picture?
    He is waiting for: “the consolation of Israel”
    He is waiting for the salvation of the people
    Consolation = comfort, encouragement, especially after disappointment
    Consolation brings hope and strength
    Mankind being sinful is the disappointment
    And Yahweh is consoling, by providing deliverance
    And…Like Mary placing her hands on the sacrifice
    Simeon knows that sin is the reason for the arrival of this Messiah - his sin as well
    God did not leave them helpless, but came back to His people
    Malachi 3:1 NASB95
    “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.
    The LORD came to the temple - and Simeon rejoices
    HE BLESSES GOD! (Nobody else mattered)
    ANNA
    In the temple daily, and long-time widow
    Thankful, speaking of Jesus to anyone who would hear, anyone looking for the same redemption that was promised

    3) The Response

    …to His faithfulness
    Speaking the Word, the Truth
    Luke 2:31–32 “Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.””
    Simeon declares what the LORD has done
    Isaiah 42:6 NASB95
    “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,
    Isaiah 49:6 NASB95
    “He says…I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
    He HAD to share this news
    But…good news is not always “good”
    Jesus would suffer, Mary would suffer
    ALL OF THIS TOGETHER
    Joseph and Mary were taught well, learned well, and now pass that along in raising Jesus
    (WE next see Him in temple at age 12…)
    Simeon and Anna
    When shown His faithfulness, they respond with His Word and thanksgiving, not containing their joy
    That was them, what about us?

    1) Offering our sacrifice

    Romans 12:1 NASB95
    Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
    What do you have to sacrifice? Money, time, effort, priorities?
    YOU! Present yourself, surrendered to Him
    Your sacrifice to Him says you trust His sacrifice for you
    Knowing it is YOUR sin that required His death
    His death allowed your faith.
    His death demands your death to the old ways, working to kill the old self
    And His resurrection guarantees yours!
    He did his part - You do yours
    We do ours

    2) Waiting for Messiah

    Wait on the Lord
    Isaiah 40:31 NASB95
    Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
    To wait = to patiently trust, to actively trust - NOT be idle, just the opposite
    Be in service for Him until He returns
    James 5:7 NASB95
    Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
    You KNOW He is coming
    Just as Simeon did
    Jesus told us to keep busy in His service while we wait
    When He comes, we’ll know it - there is no doubt

    3) Our Response

    (to His faithfulness)
    Bless God!
    What else matters?
    Thank God!
    Tell, proclaim
    Continue to speak of Him
    WHY?
    There are still many who need redemption
    Many are looking for it in the wrong places
    Many need reminders that they need reconciliation
    Beg people - be reconciled to God
    You say you know Jesus
    If we asked others who know you, would they say you did?
    We are not Simeon or Anna
    But there is no mistaking that their lives were DEFINED by their love of God!
    Would that be said of you and me?
    God has promised us eternal life with our trust in Him, our repentance and surrender
    Trust in that promise demands:
    Our sacrificial lives, surrendered to Him
    Waiting, patiently and actively serving Him
    And lives of responding with praise and blessing of our great Savior!
    Your life should praise the King
    Mine, too.

      • Exodus 13:12NASB95

      • Leviticus 12:8NASB95

      • Psalm 98:2NASB95

      • Isaiah 9:2NASB95

      • Isaiah 52:10NASB95

      • Malachi 3:1NASB95

      • Isaiah 42:6NASB95

      • Isaiah 49:6NASB95

      • Romans 12:1NASB95

      • Isaiah 40:31NASB95

      • James 5:7NASB95

  • We Bow Down
  • King Of Kings

      • Revelation 22:20NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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