Things We Have Heard & Seen

I was just sitting there, standing there, singing it, thinking, I love this man. I am so glad he does not change. I cannot wait to see this man and be with this man. We have a wonderful God. Open with me again to Luke chapter 2. It has been a little while since we've been in the book of Luke, but we're gonna continue in it this morning. And we've come to the moment where the shepherds hear the announcement of the birth of our Lord, and they're going to go see him and worship him. That's where we left off. We'll backtrack just a little bit. Look with me at verse 8. It says, There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. The shepherds glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen, and we do too. We do too. All of God's people glorify and praise God for what has been revealed to them. Just so thankful for what has been revealed to them, for what God has caused them. Let me just ask you, are you thankful for what God has caused you to hear and see? So thankful.

What did the shepherds hear of? They heard of a Savior. They heard of a Savior. In verse 10, it says, The angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tithings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. They heard of a Savior. And when they went to see this Savior, what did they see? They saw a sacrifice.

Verse 12 says, And this shall be a sign unto you. This is what you will see. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. It's recorded that that's what the shepherds did with the lambs that were suitable for sacrifice. They would bind them in cloths and lay them in a protective stone manger so they would stay without blemish until the time that it was for them to go to the temple to be sacrificed. So verse 12, the angel said, this shall be a sign to you. You will understand what this means.

And they did. Verse 15, it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen, the word it is in italics, it was added by the translators. When they had seen, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard, the word it is in italics. All they that heard, I mean really heard, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

And this is how it is for every child of God. This is how it is for every sinner who has Christ revealed to him or her. This is how it is for every sinner who has been caused to see who Christ actually is. If we ever see who Christ actually is. It's only going to be by. God given revelation. Only. This is how it is for every sinner who has been caused to see who Christ actually is, why Christ actually came. Let me just tell everybody, the world does not know why Christ came into the world. The world does not know. Why did Christ come into the world? Well, he came to show us the way to heaven.

Nope. Well, you know, they come up with all of these different reasons. Nope. If God ever reveals who Christ actually is, who is Christ? God Almighty. Call his name Emmanuel. Why? God is with us. What did he come to do? You call him Jesus because he, S-H-A-L-L, saved his people from their sins. He didn't come to show us how to be saved. He came to save His people. If it's ever revealed who He really is, why He actually came, what He actually came to accomplish, how successful He was in that accomplishment. How successful was Christ on the cross? Very successful. Did He actually save His people?

Yes. Well, does that mean that we should still go around asking people, now don't you want to be saved? You want to be saved, don't you? This is what you're going to have to do to be saved. No, it does not mean that. It means we now go around and tell people this is who he is. This is why he came. This is what he accomplished in his coming. This is how finished it is. See you later.

Every child of God who has that revelation revealed to them, that realizes it is the exact opposite of man's religion. Once, once, it's called, that's repentance. Preaching repentance. What is repentance? The definition of the word is a changed mind. Yes, you will say, I'm so sorry. You will. But the definition of repentance is a brand new mind from what the whole planet thinks religion is all about. What does the whole planet think religion is all about?

Man doing good, trying to earn his way to heaven. Once the big light is turned on, every child of God will glorify and praise God for what he has heard or what she has heard and seen. Every soul who truly hears and truly sees wonders at this revelation and keeps that means holds to this revelation and only this revelation and ponders the Christ who has been revealed in his or her heart. And with this revelation being truly laid hold of, every soul who hears and sees will say this.

That's the intro to the message, okay? We're gonna move on into our verses here. Every soul who is caused to lay hold of this true revelation, this will be the confession that comes out of the mouth. This will be the confession that comes out of the heart. Every soul that truly sees with eyes of faith and truly hears with ears of faith, every soul will say the same thing that a man named Simeon said. Every soul.

Now we're going to pick up with verse 21. And I just want to say that the first time I ever heard this truly preached, The first time I ever heard it, not that it was the first time I ever heard it truly preached, but the first time the Lord opened my ears.

It was by a man named Dale Simpson. And it was about 25 years ago. And. I wish Dale was standing here preaching it to you now. I think I've been thinking about this quite a bit. I think this is the only occasion where I would wish someone to come back from glory. The Lord has called him home. But I'd love for him to. I wish I was sitting in that view right there listening to Dale. Preach this to us. I heard the sweetness of the cross. So I'm sorry to tell you you don't have Dale this morning. But I pray we have the God of Dale. I pray the same spirit that was with Dale will be with us. Verse 21 it says, ask the Lord to Open your eyes and heart to this, OK?

Verse 21, it says, When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child. His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished. They brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. Everything that the law required Our Lord fulfilled." This is where we start. Everything that the law required of a man or woman, our Lord fulfilled. Every single thing. Every dot of the I, every cross of the T, He fulfilled all of the law. Let that sink in. You can turn to any page in this book. Christ fulfilled it. He fulfilled all of the law.

Verse 23 says, as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. The same man was just and devout.

The word just means righteous, upright, innocent, faultless, guiltless. Now we know that he wasn't in his flesh. We know that for two reasons. Here's why. God said there is none righteous, no, not one. All our righteousnesses are filthy rags. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's the first reason we know that. Number two, we're about to see Simeon confess that he needs salvation. He needs salvation. So Simeon was not just in his flesh and none of God's people are. None of God's people are. But it will be and it is said that every single one of God's people are just in Christ. In the Lord Jesus Christ.

If he was just, then it means he was one of God's elect. who was notified of his justification that was freely given to him in the blood of Jesus Christ. So verse 25 says, he was just and devout. That word devout means he was devoted, committed. He had taken this in hand. This was his hope. This was his all. This was made to be life to him. What was made to be life to him? What was all his hope? What was his all?

Verse 25 goes on to say, the consolation of Israel. The consoling. You ever been consoled? The consoling of Israel, verse 25. 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. Waiting for the consolation. The word means the summons, the calling near, the comfort. Waiting for the comfort. That's what this man was doing, waiting for the comfort. That's what he was committed to, waiting for the comfort.

I thought about the fact that at that particular moment in time, he didn't have the book of Luke. It wasn't written yet. The book of Luke, the New Testament wasn't written yet. He didn't have it. But he did have the book of Isaiah. I wonder how many times he read Isaiah 40. I wonder how many times he read Isaiah 40. Turn with me over to Isaiah chapter 40. Picture him, all right, read this through Simeon's eyes, mind, ears, heart.

Verse one says, comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, that means to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." I can see Simeon reading that thinking, that is my consolation. That right there is my consolation. Verse two, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?

Here it is. All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. Surely the people is grass. I can see Simeon reading that justly crying, Amen. Amen. Verse eight, the grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. Amen. Can you see this man, a man of like passions as we are?

Verse 9, O Zion that bring us good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain, O Jerusalem that bring us good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God, behold the Lord God will come. I can see Simeon crying, how long, Lord?

How long? When? Can anybody enter into that? When? I can see him thinking in his mind, I've received a promise that he would, but will he? Will he? Will he truly? Verse 10, behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand and his arm shall rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young.

I can see Simeon saying, that consoles my heart. I can't wait. I cannot wait. Oh, that that Lord would come to me. Oh, that that shepherd would deliver me from all of my warfare. Oh, that he would rule me and carry me and lead me and feed me. Go with me back to Luke 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 do you know that that has been or it will be revealed to every single one of God's people? What was revealed to Simeon either has been or it will be revealed to every single one of God's people. Not one of God's elect children will physically leave this world in death without seeing the Lord's Christ with the eyes of faith. Every single one of them will be brought to see the Lord's Christ. All that the Father gave to Christ shall see Christ and shall come to Christ with the eyes of faith, with the heart of faith. They shall all be taught of God.

With the eyes of faith, we see Him. Right now, we see Him through a glass very darkly, but we see Him. We see Him. One of these days is going to be face to face. But right now, the revelation of the Holy Ghost with the eyes of faith causes us to see Him. We see Him. Or, through the preaching of the gospel, we will. Our eyes will be opened and we will see Him. And when we do, we'll say the same thing Simeon said. Look at verse 25.

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, as he did time and time and time again. I want you to hear this through the life of Simeon, but I also want you to hear this through the life of you.

This man was devout. This was a devout man. He was devoted. He came to the temple just like he did time and time before. I'm sure when Simeon woke up that morning, he had no idea Today was the day. I'm sure he had no idea. I can envision him routinely getting dressed. Eating breakfast. Going through the motions. That he so devoutly went through. I'm in time again. And he came to the temple. But on this particular day, one day. When it pleased God. And that's what it is for all of us, it's not when it pleases me. It's not when it pleases you. It's when it pleases God. Verse 27 says, 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. Simeon came into the temple. And this time he saw something in the temple he had never seen before. Simeon came into the temple. And this time he saw something in the temple he had never seen before. Simeon came into the temple. And this time he saw something in the temple he had never seen before. Simeon came into the temple. And this time he saw something in the temple he had never seen before.

Shall I continue? Let's put on some spiritual eyes. Let's read between the lines. Simeon came into the temple and came into the temple and came into the temple and came into the temple. And the temple had a lot of things in it. There were things there. There were things that he saw all the time. There were things that he was used to and they looked normal and it was regular. And this is the temple.

And he came into the temple and all of a sudden he saw something in the temple he had never seen before. All of the times before he saw the law, he saw the judgment altar, he saw a priest, he saw just devout religion. But this time he saw something that overshadowed every bit of it. This time he saw Christ.

If you don't know what that means, ask the Lord to reveal it to you. Are you talking about Jesus? I am not. No, I am not. I'm talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. What's the difference? Ask God to reveal it to you. Ask God to let you hear something and let you see something. Only God can do it. I can't do it. You can't do it. Simeon saw Christ in the temple. when he had never seen him in there before.

But today was the day. Verse 27, 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. I can see Simeon seeing that child. I can see him walking in. I don't know if their robes had pockets, but maybe if they did, he walked in with his hands in his pockets. Looking around, I don't know, I don't think they had seats, but maybe there was a seat that he normally sat in. And all of a sudden, he sees something he's never seen before. I can see him seeing that child.

I'm sure he had seen many babies. But the moment he saw that child, In the moment that he saw that child, God's Holy Spirit was with him. The Holy Ghost was upon him. And in the moment that he saw that child, I can see God's Holy Spirit whispering into Simeon's heart.

Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even forever.

Can you imagine the moment? Can you imagine the flooding of Simeon's mind, in his heart, in his soul? The all-consuming confirmation, I have seen. This is it. This is Him. What I've been searching for and looking for and waiting for, the Spirit has confirmed to me. This is it. This is Him. My soul's eternal hope. My heart's eternal desire. There He is. There He is. Simeon was in that temple doing what people do. Being in church.

And all of the sudden, the glory of God walked in. Simeon saw the glory of God in the face of a child. And Simeon walked up to Mary, and he said, excuse me, ma'am, may I see your child? And in that moment, in what most everyone else saw to be nothing more than a helpless child, what everyone else saw to be nothing more than a nativity scene. Simeon saw the Almighty God manifest in the flesh.

He saw the Eternal One bound in time. He saw the Lawgiver made to be under the Law. He saw the just judge made to be the judged one. He saw God's righteousness made to be his sin. He saw the one who came to be his substitute, the one who came to live in his place, the one who came to die in his place. The one who came to suffer the eternal wrath of God on his sin in his place.

And he asked Mary, he said, may I hold him? The one who holds me, may I hold him? The one who laid hold of me, may I lay hold of him? Verse 28, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest 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. Simeon said, now I can die in peace. I can die in peace. I've seen the one who is my peace. I've seen the one who so made peace. As long as I was in all this religion, I was still waiting. I was still looking, but I'm not waiting and looking any longer. I've seen him. He came to me. God's Spirit revealed Him to me. I've seen Him and I'm happy and I'm content. In Him, God is satisfied and so am I. I can die in peace. Content, yes. but in peace with God. I can die in peace with God because I can die in Christ. Verse 29, I'm finished. Lord, now lettest 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.

And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. This is the Savior. And for a sign which shall be spoken against, yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser. She was of great age and had lived with and 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.

She came in and said, this is him at the mouth of two or three witnesses. This is him. This is God's redeemer. This is God's lamb. Verse 39 says, and when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, They returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. The angel said, the Savior has come. Simeon said, he is our consolation and peace. Anna said, look to him for all your redemption. That's the gospel. That is the gospel. Christ is the gospel. And we glorify and praise God for everything we have heard and seen concerning Him. The gospel concerning Him. Lord, reveal it. Reveal it to us for Christ's sake. Amen.

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