Heartland Christian Church
Main - HCC Sunday Service - January 15, 2023

      • Matthew 25NIV2011

      • Bible Trivia
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      • Psalm 145HBEHV

  • Do It Again
  • At Your Name
  • Lord I Need You

      • Matthew 25NIV2011

  • INTRODUCTION
    Let’s turn together
    in our Bibles:
    To the gospel of Luke.
    Luke chapter 2.
    & we’re gonna
    read verses 21-39.
    Luke 2:21-39.
    & when you find that
    in your Bible
    Pls stand
    for the reading
    of God’s Word.
    The title of
    today’s teaching is:
    Make Yourself Useful
    to the Lord
    In Luke 2:21-39.
    The Scriptures say:
    Luke 2:21–39 (NIV)
    On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
    When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
    (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
    and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
    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.
    It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
    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,
    Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
    “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
    For my eyes have seen your salvation,
    which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
    a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
    The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
    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,
    so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
    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,
    and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
    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.
    When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
    You may be seated.
    How many of us:
    Want our lives
    to count for something.
    We want to know
    when we leave this earth
    we’ve lived lives
    that are useful
    to the Lord?
    We want God
    to gain glory
    Frm our lives?
    Thru the scenes
    of this story
    Luke give us
    some examples of ppl
    who made
    themselves useful
    to the Lord.
    & we’ll learn
    two things we must
    do to follow
    in their footsteps.
    PRAYER
    Let’s pray.
    Father we thank you
    for your Word.
    We ask you
    to open our ears
    to hear the voice
    of Jesus.
    Give us hearts
    & minds
    that are open
    to receive the truth.
    & give us grace
    to put the truth
    into practice.
    In Jesus name.
    Amen.
    [Transition: The 1st
    thing we must do
    To make ourselves
    useful to the Lord is
    We must...]
    Obey the Lord’s LAW. (2:21-24, 39)
    The Circumcision and Naming (Luke 2:21)
    Luke offers an example
    of what
    this looks like
    thru Joseph & Mary.
    In Luke 2:21
    Luke says:
    Luke 2:21 (NIV)
    On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
    Eight days after
    Jesus was born
    in Bethlehem
    it was time to circumcise
    & name God’s Son.
    Circumcision is
    a religious ritual
    where the foreskin
    of the male member
    is removed.
    Why was this necessary?
    Joseph & Mary
    had Jesus circumcised
    in obedience
    to the Lord’s command.
    We read this command
    in Genesis 17:10-13.
    The Lord says
    to Abraham
    Genesis 17:10–13 (NIV)
    This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
    You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
    For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
    Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
    Like every other male
    born in Israel
    Jesus was circumcised
    eight days
    after He was born
    to officially become
    a part of
    God’s Covenant ppl.
    APPLICATION
    & by the way:
    This everlasting covenant
    is still in force today.
    We’ve still
    gotta be circumcised
    to be a part of
    God’s Covenant People.
    But this circumcision
    now comes in
    a dfrnt form.
    As Paul says in
    Colossians 2:11–12 (NIV)
    In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, [Paul goes on to tell us when this happens in verse 12. He says...]
    having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
    The everlasting covenant
    & necessary nature
    of circumcision
    still stands.
    But the procedure
    is no longer performed
    by human hands.
    Under the New Covenant
    both males & females
    are now circumcised
    by Christ
    in the waters
    of Holy Baptism.
    Our old sinful self—
    which was ruled
    by the flesh—
    is cut off by Christ
    when we’re baptized.
    We come out of
    the water
    a new person.
    Born again
    w/ a new nature
    As a part of a
    the new creation
    in Christ.
    So, Mary & Joseph
    took Jesus
    to be circumcised
    8 days
    after He was born.
    They waited 8 days
    bcs according to
    the Lord’s Law
    A woman was
    ceremonially unclean
    for 7 days
    after she gave birth
    to a male child.
    During this 7-day period
    A woman was excluded
    frm religious
    life & worship.
    & she cld not have
    any contact
    w/ others.
    Bcs anyone
    or anything that touched
    an unclean person
    wld be made
    ceremonially unclean
    thru that contact.
    & they wld need
    to be purified
    Bfr resuming
    religious life
    & worship.
    So Mary was isolated
    for 7 days
    after she gave birth
    to God’s Son.
    & on the 8th day
    either Joseph
    circumcised Jesus
    or someone came
    to where
    the Holy Family
    were now staying
    & circumcised Jesus.
    & on the same day
    as a part of the ritual
    of circumcision
    God’s Son
    was also named.
    But neither Joseph
    nor Mary chose
    the name of God’s Son.
    Luke tells us
    God named His Son
    thru an angel.
    & in Matthew 1.21
    Matthew adds an
    important detail
    abt the name
    God’s Son was gvn.
    The angel told Joseph
    Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
    “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
    It’s impossible
    to overstate
    the importance
    of the name Jesus.
    Bcs the name Jesus means:
    The Lord saves.
    The Lord rescues.
    The Lord delivers.
    The Christian Faith—
    is founded on
    the truth we find
    in the name
    of Jesus.
    The primary purpose
    for Jesus coming
    to this earth
    is to save humanity
    frm our sins.
    Paul puts it this way
    in Titus 2:13-14.
    Titus 2:13–14 (EHV)
    ...our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his own chosen people, eager to do good works.
    Sin & lawlessness
    are synonymous
    in the Scriptures.
    As John says in
    1 John 3:4 (EHV)
    Everyone who commits sin also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
    God’s Son
    came to save the world
    by redeeming us—
    by freeing us—
    frm all lawlessness—
    frm all sin.
    He came to purify us
    & make us eager
    to do the good works
    we’re created to do
    in Christ.
    That’s what we
    shld think abt
    when we hear the name
    Jesus.
    Let me give you
    an easy way
    to remember this.
    Take the name Jesus.
    J
    E
    S
    U
    S.
    & turn that into this
    Jesus
    Enfleshed
    Saves
    Us from all
    Sin.
    That’s why
    Jesus came.
    That’s what
    the name
    of Jesus means.
    Jesus enfleshed
    saves us
    frm all sin.
    Back to Joseph
    & Mary.
    They wait 8 days:
    To circumcise
    & name Jesus
    in obedience to the law.
    But there was
    more thing they had to do
    To obey
    the Lord’s Law.
    The Presentation (2:22-24)
    It’s now
    40 days after
    the birth of Jesus;
    & Joseph & Mary
    have to take
    baby Jesus
    abt six miles
    frm Bethlehem
    to Jerusalem.
    In Luke 2:22-23
    Luke tells us
    why they took
    this trip.
    He says
    Luke 2:22–23 (NIV)
    When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
    (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”)...
    Under the Old Covenant
    the Lord required His ppl
    to consecrate
    or set apart
    their firstborn males
    for the Lord’s service.
    Luke quotes frm
    Exodus 13:2
    where the Lord
    commanded His ppl
    Exodus 13:2 (NIV)
    “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
    & the reason they
    waited 40 days
    to present
    Him to the Lord
    is to obey the Law
    we read in
    Leviticus 12:1-4.
    Leviticus 12:1–4 (NIV)
    The Lord said to Moses,
    “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.
    On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.
    Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.
    After Jesus was circumcised
    they had to wait
    an additional 33 days
    to dedicate Him.
    Bcs
    although after
    The 7-day purification period
    Mary cld be around others
    & touch common ppl
    & common things.
    She was not permitted
    To touch
    anything sacred
    or go to near
    any sacred place
    including the Temple.
    So
    in obedience
    to the Lord’s Law
    Joseph & Mary wait
    until Jesus is
    40 days old
    To take Him to the temple
    & dedicate Him
    to the Lord’s service.
    But that’s not
    the only reason
    his parents took
    Jesus to Jerusalem.
    The Sacrifice
    In Luke 2:24
    Luke says
    While they were at the temple
    Joseph & Mary
    also had to
    Luke 2:24 (NIV)
    ...offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
    This offering wld allow Mary
    to be readmitted
    into religious life
    after giving birth
    to a child.
    & the contents
    of their offering
    reveals an interesting
    detail abt Mary
    & Joseph.
    They offered
    the poor person’s
    offering.
    We read abt this offering
    in Leviticus 12:6-8
    Leviticus 12:6–8 (NIV)
    “ ‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.
    He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. “ ‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.
    But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.
    In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”
    By mentioning
    that their offering
    was two doves
    or two young pigeons
    Luke emphasizes a theme
    we see throughout
    His gospel.
    The gospel
    is to the poor.
    Israel’s King
    was born
    to poor parents.
    The birth of
    Israel’s King
    was first announced
    to poor shepherds.
    The poor are the first
    To have the good news
    of the kingdom
    preached to them.
    Jesus came
    to save the poor
    & oppressed.
    Now
    w/ these
    three ceremonies—
    The Circumcision
    & Naming—
    The Presentation
    of Jesus to the Lord—
    & the Offering
    for Purification—
    w/ these three ceremonies
    Performed over
    a 40-day period:
    Luke wants us
    to see clearly
    what he says in Luke 2:39.
    Luke 2:39 (NIV)
    ...Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord...
    Joseph & Mary
    completely obeyed
    the Lord’s Law.
    APPLICATION
    & they are
    a model
    for all of us
    to imitate.
    Under the
    New Covenant
    the ceremonial aspects
    of the Law
    were fulfilled
    & replaced
    in Christ.
    Physical circumcision
    has been replaced
    by Holy Baptism.
    The Passover
    replaced by
    Communion.
    & the
    animal sacrifices
    for sins
    were all replaced
    when Jesus became
    the ultimate sacrifice
    For sin
    & took away
    the sin of the world
    once & for all
    by the sacrifice of Himself.
    So, the ceremonial
    & temporary aspects
    of the Lord’s Law
    Have been fulfilled
    & replaced
    by better promises.
    But this does not mean
    God’s ppl
    Are now lawless
    under the New Covenant.
    Remember
    Jesus came to
    redeem us
    frm all lawlessness.
    So, God still expects
    His faithful ppl
    to obey the
    eternal
    moral aspects
    of the Lord’s Law.
    Paul calls this
    The Law
    of Christ.
    & the Law
    of the Spirit.
    James calls it
    The Law
    that gives Freedom.
    It’s the Law
    Jesus clarified
    in the Sermon
    on the Mount.
    It’s the Law
    Jesus summed up
    in Matthew 22:37.
    When asked
    Which is the greatest commandment
    in the Law
    Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV)
    Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
    This is the first and greatest commandment.
    And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
    All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
    Every command
    in the Lord’s Law
    teaches us:
    How to love God;
    & how
    to love others.
    & doing this is
    not unattainableble
    for anyone.
    It’s something
    God has commanded
    frm the beginning
    & which
    God’s faithful ppl
    have been doing
    since the beginning.
    Joseph & Mary
    are two examples
    of ppl who
    made themselves useful
    to the Lord
    By obeying
    the Lord’s Law.
    & if we want to
    make ourselves
    useful to the Lord
    We must strive
    to do the same.
    [Transition: & we also
    need to do a 2nd thing
    To make ourselves
    useful to the Lord.
    We must…]
    Obey the Lord’s SPIRIT. (2:25-38)
    In Luke 2:25-38
    Luke introduces us
    to two more
    fascinating ppl.
    One is a godly man.
    The other
    a godly woman.
    & these two ppl
    are an example
    of what it looks like
    to obey
    the Lord’s Spirit.
    First:
    Let’s talk abt
    Simeon’s example. (vv.25-35)
    Notice how Luke
    describes Simeon
    in Luke 2:25.
    He says.
    Luke 2:25 (NIV)
    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.
    Luke says
    Simeon is
    righteous & devout
    & the HS
    is all over Him.
    What this means is
    As Luke says
    of John the Baptizer’s parents
    in Luke 1:6—
    Simeon was
    Luke 1:6 (NIV)
    ...righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
    Is it possible:
    To observe
    all the Lord’s commands
    & decrees blamelessly?
    According to
    the Scriptures:
    “Yes.”
    John’s parents did it.
    Joseph & Mary did it.
    Simeon did it.
    Countless other saints
    have done it.
    But for many years—
    based on a
    bad reading of
    Paul’s letters—
    we’ve been
    wrongly taught
    that it’s impossible
    to obey all the Law
    of the Lord
    blamelessly.
    We’ve been taught
    the Lord’s Law is just
    too burdensome
    for God’s ppl.
    But Luke
    makes it clear
    that ppl can
    & did obey
    all the Lord’s commands
    & decrees blamelessly.
    & we can too.
    But none of them
    did in their own
    strength.
    & neither can we.
    They needed
    God’s grace.
    & we need
    God’s grace
    to empower us.
    Simeon
    was righteous
    & devout
    Bcs he obey
    God blamelessly.
    He obeyed God
    blamelessly
    bcs the HS
    was all over him
    giving Him
    God’s grace.
    & God’s grace
    produced a desire
    in Simeon
    To obey
    God’s commands
    & to see
    God’s kingdom come.
    Concern for God’s Kingdom
    Simeon was waiting
    for the consolation
    of Israel.
    This means:
    He was waiting
    for God’s Messianic Kingdom
    to come.
    He was living
    in obedience to
    the Lord.
    & looking fwd
    to the day
    when the Lord
    wld fulfill
    the promise He
    made to His ppl
    in Isaiah 52:9.
    Isaiah 52:9 (NIV)
    Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
    God’s ppl
    had been ruined
    by their sins.
    They had
    turned their backs
    on God.
    & bcs they
    had forsaken God
    God forsook them
    & allowed their enemies
    to take them captive.
    He said:
    “You don’t want
    “to serve Me.
    “You don’t want
    “to be under My rule;
    “Then get a taste
    “what it’s like
    “to be ruled by
    “your enemies.”
    For many centuries
    God’s ppl
    had been ruled
    by their enemies.
    But God
    had gvn them hope.
    He promised
    to send them a King
    who wld redeem them
    frm all their enemies
    & usher in
    God’s rule on earth.
    Simeon & every other
    righteous & devout
    Jewish person
    were looking fwd
    to this coming King
    & His Kingdom.
    & God gave Simeon
    the incredible promise
    we read in Luke 2:26.
    Luke says
    Luke 2:26 (NIV)
    It had been revealed to [Simeon] by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
    & as Simeon says
    in Luke 2:29
    Luke 2:29–30 (NIV)
    “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation...”
    The Lord promised Simeon:
    He wld send the Messiah—
    The Redeemer
    who wld comfort Israel
    & save them frm
    their enemies—
    The Lord promised
    the Messiah wld come
    bfr Simeon died.
    & this promise
    was revealed to Simeon
    by the HS.
    It’s easy to overlook:
    Just how huge
    this promise is.
    But imagine
    you’re Simeon.
    Since you were
    a young child
    You’ve heard
    all the prophecies
    abt the coming King
    of Israel
    You’ve heard
    this King will come
    & save your ppl
    & bring abt
    God’s reign on earth.
    & one day
    You hear a
    still small voice say:
    “The King is coming
    “in your lifetime.
    “You will not die
    “bfr you see the Lord’s
    Salvation.”
    ILLUSTRATION
    Let’s relate this
    to our day.
    This is the equivalent
    of the Lord telling
    one of us
    We will not die
    bfr we witness
    the Lord’s 2nd Coming.
    What if you knew
    for certain
    King Jesus
    was coming back
    in your lifetime?
    Wld that effect
    how you live?
    What kind of expectation
    Wld you wake up w/
    every day?
    That’s the situation Simeon
    was in.
    The HS told Simeon
    He wld not die
    bfr the Messiah came.
    Now
    the HS may not tell us
    the Lord is coming back
    bfr we die.
    But the HS
    does tell us
    to live every day
    as if we knew King Jesus
    will come back
    bfr we die.
    It’s very possible
    Jesus will come back
    in our lifetime.
    The early Church
    lived like this.
    John
    Peter
    James
    Paul
    All those dudes
    lived as if
    the Lord wld come back
    any second.
    We shld approach
    every day w/
    that same sense
    of anticipation.
    Reminding ourselves
    “Our King
    “is coming today.”
    & that
    will help us
    to live every day
    as Jesus told us
    to live.
    As Simeon was—
    Watching & praying;
    Keeping our lamps burning;
    Being ready
    to meet our Master
    when He comes.
    So, the HS
    gave Simeon insight
    Into when
    the Messiah
    wld be born.
    & in Luke 2:27
    Luke says:
    Luke 2:27 (NIV)
    Moved by the Spirit, [Simeon] went into the temple courts.
    Bcs the HS was “on” Simeon
    & bcs Simeon listened
    when the HS
    spoke to him
    Simeon moved
    when the HS
    said to move.
    Simeon obeyed
    the Lord’s Spirit.
    Now if Simeon
    had not known
    the voice
    of the HS
    & obeyed the HS
    he wld’ve
    missed this.
    Like so many others
    in Jesus’ day
    Who heard all
    the prophecies
    Who saw
    all the signs
    but missed
    the Messiah.
    But bcs Simeon
    knew the Spirit’s voice
    & obeyed
    the Spirit’s direction
    Simeon was led
    to the temple
    to meet the Messiah.
    God does amazing things
    for His ppl
    & thru His people
    when we obey
    the Lord’s Spirit.
    APPLICATION
    Now
    as incredible as
    Simeon’s relationship
    w/ the Lord was
    If we’re born again;
    If we’re children of God;
    Then you & I
    have something
    Simeon did not have.
    The HS is not just
    “on” us.
    The HS is
    “in” us.
    & just like the HS
    led Simeon;
    to where he needed to go
    to meet the Messiah
    The HS
    will also lead us.
    He will move
    us to obey the Lord.
    If we’ll listen
    for His direction.
    The Lord will
    lead & guide us:
    Not just in
    a general way
    But in the specific
    details of our lives.
    Part of learning
    to walk in the Spirit
    is learning to hear
    the promptings
    of the HS.
    If you read the NT—
    As I encourage all
    of you to always
    be doing—
    When you read
    the NT
    you’ll see
    over & over again
    The HS
    gives God’s ppl
    specific direction
    for our lives.
    This is not something
    that was just for
    The Apostles.
    & it was not
    just for NT times.
    If we’ll give the Lord
    full control
    of every area
    of our lives
    The HS will Lead us
    In every detail
    of our lives.
    But it’s important
    you hear me say this:
    The HS
    will never move us
    or lead us
    to do something contrary
    to Gods revealed will
    in His Word.
    The HS
    will not contradict
    the written Word.
    The Law & the Spirit
    agree w/
    one another.
    So, we need to
    know the Word well.
    We need to
    read the Word often.
    We need to saturate
    ourselves
    w/ the teachings of Scripture
    until they become a part
    of our very being.
    So, we can be sure
    we’re following
    the HS’s leading
    & not our own minds
    or deceiving spirits.
    The same HS
    who led Simeon
    He’s here
    w/ us today.
    He will still lead
    our lives today.
    He will lead us
    to be righteous
    & devout.
    He will lead us
    to obey
    the Lord’s Law.
    If we want to be
    useful to the Lord
    Then let’s follow
    the example
    of Simeon.
    Let’s obey
    the Lord’s Spirit.
    & let’s also
    follow the example
    of another saint
    Who obeyed
    by the Lord’s Sprit.
    [Transition: Let’s follow…]
    ANNA’S example (vv.36-38)
    In verse 36-38
    Luke introduces us
    to a female prophet
    named Anna.
    She was a righteous
    & devote women
    who obeyed
    the Lord’s Law.
    She was 84
    years old.
    & Anna was a widow.
    She had become a widow
    just seven years
    after her marriage.
    & after her husband died
    Anna fully dedicated herself
    to the Lord’s service.
    Luke says:
    She never
    left the temple.
    She worshipped
    the Lord
    night & day.
    She prayed.
    She fasted.
    Just like Simeon
    Anna obeyed
    the Lord’s Law.
    & just like Simeon
    Anna obeyed
    the Lord’s Spirit.
    & she was led
    to meet Jesus.
    As Luke says in Luke 2:38
    Luke 2:38 (NIV)
    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.
    When Anna saw Jesus
    she gave joyful thanks
    to God.
    Like Simeon
    She praised God
    for showing her
    God’s salvation.
    & then
    Anna became
    an Evangelist.
    ​
    Well, here we have a humble old woman…
    & she also becomes an evangelist.
    She tells everyone
    who want to listen
    abt this child
    the HS
    had led her to.
    She says:
    “This is the one
    “we’ve been
    “waiting for
    “to redeem us.
    “Our King
    has come.
    “God’s Salvation
    “has finally arrived.”
    APPLICATION
    Now, there’s
    an important truth
    for all of us
    in these verses.
    But especially
    for the widows
    & both male & female
    members of the church
    who are older.
    Satan loves
    to whisper lies
    in your ears.
    He wants you to blv
    your best days
    are behind you.
    He likes to tell you
    You’re too old
    to be useful
    to the Lord.
    But don’t let
    the devil deceive you.
    If you’ll obey
    the Lord’s Law
    & obey
    the Lord’s Spirit
    He will lead you
    into fruitful service
    for Your King.
    No matter how
    or how young.
    Just like He did
    w/ Simeon
    Just like He did
    w/ Anna.
    God will do this
    w/ any of us.
    If we’ll fully dedicate ourselves
    to the service of the Lord:
    Like Simeon did.
    Like Anna did.
    If we’ll give ourselves fully:
    To Worship;
    To Prayer;
    To Fasting;
    To living righteous
    & devout lives.
    If we’ll obey
    the Lord’s Law
    & obey the Lord’s Spirit
    He will make sure
    we spend our days
    in fruitful service
    for the Him.
    CONCLUSION
    Now, as we close:
    I’ll end
    w/ the questions
    I started w/.
    How many of us:
    Want our lives
    to count for something.
    We want to know
    when we leave
    this earth
    we were useful
    to the Lord?
    We want God
    to gain glory
    Frm our lives?
    To have that
    kind of life
    we must follow
    the example:
    of Joseph & Mary.
    of Simeon & Anna.
    Follow the example of every
    Faithful servant
    of the Lord.
    Obey the Lord’s Law.
    Keep the Lord’s
    commands.
    Obey the Lord’s Spirit.
    Follow where
    He leads.
    If you & I will
    do those things
    day in & day out
    faithfully following
    the Lord.
    We will make ourselves
    useful for the Lord.
    & our lives will
    bring glory to Him.
    PRAYER
    Let’s all stand for prayer.
    Father we thank You
    for Your Word
    to us.
    We thank you
    for the godly examples
    you’ve given us.
    The saints
    who went bfr us
    & the saints
    who are among us today
    Who have
    made themselves
    useful to You.
    Lord give us
    the grace to follow
    in their footsteps.
    To obey Your Law.
    & to obey Your Spirit.
    Today & every day.
    In Jesus name……Amen
  • Graves Into Gardens

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Heartland Christian Church
heartlandchristianchurch@gmail.com
513-722-2629
https://hcc-2n.faithlifesites.com
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