Prepare Him Room
WORTH THE WAIT
How Simeon Prepared Him Room
Read: Luke 2:25–35
Big Idea: A lifetime of quiet, consistent faith prepares us to see Christ when He comes.
Intro: Have you ever waited for something so long you started to wonder if it would ever happen? Maybe it’s a job offer. Maybe it’s a relationship to heal. Maybe it’s a prayer you’ve prayed for many years. Here’s the hard question: What do you do while you wait? Some give up. Some drift away. But some — like Simeon — stay faithful. This Christmas, our series is called Prepare Him Room, and Simeon is a perfect example of someone who did exactly that. Through years of ordinary days and faithful routines, he kept his heart open so that when the moment came, he was ready.
- Simeon’s Faith Was Steady, Not Flashy
Luke 2:25–26 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Simeon’s godliness had three parts — just (righteous in relationships), devout (God-fearing in daily habits), waiting (patient expectancy). Each one shows that real faith grows through long obedience, not emotional highs.
Psalm 37:3–4 “Trust in the Lord, and do good… Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Steady faith is less about one big moment and more about a thousand small choices to stay in step with God.
illus: Let me tell you a story from church history that feels like it was written in the margins of Luke 2. Andrew Murray — the South African pastor — prayed for revival for more than fifty years. Fifty years! Most of us get discouraged if God doesn’t answer in a week. Murray prayed through dry sermons, quiet pews, and long seasons where nothing seemed to move. Then one night, in a small youth gathering, a teenage girl stood up and simply said, “I love Jesus.” And the Spirit of God broke the room open. People wept. They confessed sins. Prayer meetings ran until morning. Families were restored. Churches were planted. And when they tried to credit Murray, he said, “I only prayed. It was the Lord who came.” Do you hear the echo of Simeon in that? Simeon stayed faithful in the quiet years… so he could see Christ in the fullness of time.”
A.W. Tozer: “It is not the man who runs too fast or the man who runs too slow, but the one who keeps running that wins the race.”
Gal 6:9 “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Simeon prepared Him room by staying faithful in the long wait. His heart remained open to God’s promise.
Application: Ask Yourself…
“Is my faith steady enough to keep showing up even when nothing exciting is happening?”
Steady faith doesn’t depend on fireworks — it’s built on simple obedience done again and again. Simeon wasn’t flashy; he was faithful. That’s what positioned him to see Christ.
1 Cor 15:58 “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles…”
Alternative Reflection Questions:
“If someone watched both my habits and my emotions — would they see faithfulness?”
Consistency in the small things often says more about our walk with Christ than passion in the big things.
Elisabeth Elliot: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
“Do I give up too quickly when God seems silent?”
Charles Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
Encouraging Thought: God doesn’t measure faith by how loud it is, but by how long it lasts.
- Simeon Was Ready Because He Walked with the Spirit
Luke 2:27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law…
One way Simeon prepared Him room was by leaving margin for God to interrupt.
The temple was bustling with activity — priests in their courses, Levites singing psalms, worshippers bringing sacrifices.
Simeon knew it all, but this day was different. The Spirit’s leading cut through the noise and routine, directing him to a divine appointment.
Many priests performed duties mechanically, but Simeon was alert because He pursued God. He had a watchman’s heart.
Like a security guard trained to notice the one unusual detail, Simeon spotted the true King in a crowd of babies.
John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
Between carpool, deadlines, and soccer practice, God still speaks. The question is — are we quiet enough to hear?
Application: Ask Yourself…
“Am I leaving enough space in my life to hear and follow the Spirit when He speaks?”
Simeon didn’t guess his way into the temple — he was guided.
We don’t hear God through rush or noise. We hear Him through a heart that slows down.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…”
F.B. Meyer: “The still, small voice is soft; only the quiet heart can hear it.”
Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
A.W. Pink: “The Holy Spirit guides the believer by means of the Word.”
Alternative Reflection Questions:
“If the Spirit nudged me today, would I even notice?”
“Is the volume of my schedule louder than the voice of God?”
“Do I confuse busyness with fruitfulness?”
Encouraging Thought: The Spirit leads clearly — but it is the silent soul who will hear Him.
- Simeon’s Faith Blessed the Next Generation
Luke 2:28–32 He took Him up in his arms and blessed God: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Mary and Joseph had heard angelic announcements, but God used a seasoned, godly man to confirm their calling.
It was like a veteran missionary blessing a young couple heading to the field.
Simeon didn’t just receive a blessing—he passed one on.
In plain language, Simeon declared:
- I’m ready for the next world because I’ve finally grasped the good news.
(“now You are letting Your servant depart in peace”)
- Salvation isn’t a theory — it’s a person you can hold.
(“He took Him up in his arms…For my eyes have seen Your salvation”)
- God’s rescue plan was always meant for public display.
(“Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples”)
- The gospel reaches beyond Israel to all nations.
(“a revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel”)
In Jewish tradition, a righteous elder’s blessing carried weight and spiritual authority.
illus: In 1885, the group that became known as The Cambridge Seven—C.T. Studd, Stanley Smith, D.E. Hoste, Cecil Polhill, Arthur Polhill, William Cassels, and Montagu Beauchamp—were some of the most gifted, promising young men in Britain. They had wealth.
They had fame. They had academic prestige. Some were elite athletes—C.T. Studd was one of the most famous cricket players in the world. Yet God was stirring them toward missions. Before sailing to China, they visited an aging, weakened Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission. He was so physically depleted from decades of service that he could barely stand. His beard was white. His frame thin. His voice soft. But his spiritual authority filled the room. The Seven expected strategy. Methods. Instructions. Instead, Taylor gave them something deeper. He prayed over them with tears: “May Jesus be everything to you. And may your lives make Him known to generations you will never meet.” One of the Seven later wrote, “When he prayed over us, it felt as though a torch had been passed to our hands.” The results of that blessing were enormous. 1. Revival broke out before they even left. News of their surrender to missions—especially Studd giving away his entire inheritance—swept across Britain. Young men packed auditoriums to hear them speak. Prayer meetings ignited in universities. Hundreds surrendered to missionary service. It was called “The Cambridge Awakening.” 2. In China, their ministries reshaped entire regions. William Cassels became the first bishop of the new Anglican diocese in western China. D.E. Hoste eventually succeeded Hudson Taylor as the general director of the China Inland Mission and led it for 30 years. Arthur and Cecil Polhill helped pioneer work in the rural interior—areas previously unreached. Beauchamp labored for decades in difficult, resistant provinces. 3. Today, historians mark that moment as a hinge point. Missiologists say the Cambridge Seven’s surrender and Taylor’s blessing was one of the three great catalysts of the global missions movement of the modern era. Their story still inspires today—and their fruit continues in the modern Chinese church, which now numbers over 60 million believers.
Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph. Hudson Taylor blessed the Cambridge Seven. In both cases: the elder’s words outlived him, fueled the mission, and ignited generations they would never meet.
Application: Ask Yourself…
“Is my walk with Jesus creating a spiritual inheritance for the people who come after me?”
Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another…”
Alternative Reflection Questions:
“What blessing am I passing down by the way I live today?”
Charles Spurgeon: “Train up a child in the way they should go — but be sure to go that way yourself.”
“Do the people closest to me feel the weight and warmth of my walk with God?”
D.L. Moody: “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they just shine.”
Encouraging Thought: Your greatest ministry may be someone who watched you follow Jesus and learned to walk behind you.
Conclusion: What if Simeon had skipped the temple that day? Faithfulness doesn’t look exciting — until the day it does. Stay at your post. Keep your heart open. Keep your eyes lifted.
For Prayer Ministry:
- For the Weary and Waiting: “If you’ve been praying, hoping, and waiting for something God has promised—come and ask the Holy Spirit to renew your strength. Pray for the kind of steady faith that Simeon had, so when God’s moment comes, you’re found ready.”
- For the Next Generation’s Blessers: “If you long to pass on a spiritual inheritance—come and pray for God to give you the right words, prayers, and example that will help the next generation see and follow Jesus. Ask God to make you a Simeon for your family, your church, and your community.”
---------------------
Transcript:
I'm Trevor Davis. I'm GCC's pastor. Church family. Today is a special day for us because it's the first Sunday of the month. That means it's Global Offering Sunday.
And this moment is one of the ways that we practice our faith with our hands, not just our heart. This is the Sunday when we don't just talk about generosity. It's when we consecrate what God has entrusted to us for the entire month. Our time, our talent, our treasure, all of that. We're saying, lord, everything I give this month already belongs to you.
This moment also does something powerful for our church family. It lets us see each other obeying God together. You know, giving can often feel like a very private idea, but today reminds us we're in this together. We are partners in the gospel. That's why we do it once a month.
It also gives a tangible moment for those who normally give to the Lord digitally. If you give online or if you give later in this month, you'll still come forward today with one of those empty envelopes there in your seat. And it's an act of faith. It's an act of unity. It's an act of great intention on our parts.
And all of us are saying, when we come forward, Lord, I'm still in, I'm still trusting. I'm still engaged in the ministry here. And parents, there is something quietly massive happening here. When our kids watch us walk forward and place an envelope in one of these containers and then receive prayer, they are learning that they belong to a family marked by faith and generosity. They're watching what worship really looks like.
We call this Global Offering because we're asking God to maximize our giving, to make disciples and to start churches all around the world. And we have a reach that goes from continent to continent. What starts in this room ripples across the nations. So today, when you come Forward. Here's what's gonna happen.
You'll bring any and all financial gifts in one envelope there in your seat. If you give online or later this month, bring an empty envelope. You'll receive a prayer of blessing from a godly leader. Give them the courtesy. Tell them your family's last name so they can pray for your family by name name.
Or if it's just you, tell them your first name. You'll place the envelope in the container. You receive the prayer, you'll return to your seat. Simple, sacred, powerful. This will be the 12th time we've done this as a church family this year.
Let me give you a veteran tip. Look for the shortest line. And if you're in one and it's kind of creeping along, you know, if they're just kind of really praying and you see one, you could just walk out and go to another line. It really honors God. So you can do that.
Now let me give you the faith fuel you need today. We are currently in the middle of a season with a matching $100,000 grant for money that we give to missions and missionaries. Every dollar that comes in toward missions is being matched dollar for dollar. And right now, church, we've already received 85,000 toward our 100,000. So that's awesome.
And you ought to give God some glory for that and for the generosity in our church. That means you're 15,000 away from being fully matched. We have until this entire calendar year to reach the goal. In other words, every gift given towards missions between now and December 31st literally doubles in impact. A hundred dollars becomes 200, $1,000 becomes 2,000.
The gospel goes twice as far without costing twice as much. How good is that? And this lines up perfectly with our Christmas season. You'll see about every other seed or so. There may be some of these gift for Jesus our Lord envelopes there.
I'm just going to talk about it now. This is our chance. In our Christmas season, we receive our gift for Jesus our Lord offering. The closer we get, like the Sunday before Christmas or the Sunday before the Sunday before Christmas. And this is our chance to ask a bold question of our own hearts.
Here's the challenge of the gift for Jesus our Lord. Will my gift to Jesus, will my financial gift to Jesus be greater than any one gift I buy for anyone else this Christmas? So if you spend a million dollars on your wife, spend a million dollars and one on Jesus. That offering will also go toward this matching grant. If you were one wondering, and today, the matching grant commitment cards are already in your seat.
Some of you have filled these in. If you belong to our church, would you just take a quick look at that? You put your name and date on there. This is only a guide for us. It's not a pledge card.
But when we are receiving these and we're going, hey, this is kind of what we can expect because we're budgeting these missions. Dollars you can put, if you've already given to the matching fund. Here's how much I've already given. Given or below that, here's what I plan to give by December 31st. That would be any more you want to give to the matching fund or the gift for Jesus our Lord.
If some of you are ready to fill that out, go ahead and do it and place it in these containers today. So this season is not about pressure. It's about purpose. It's not about guilt. It's about joy.
The scripture says in Second Corinthians 9, 6, the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. And the next verse says, God loves a cheerful giver. What we're doing today is not fundraising, it's faith raising. In just a moment, our leaders will be in place. In fact, guys, if you want to go to your stations, please do so now.
Our leaders are going to be in place, and when invited, you'll come forward with your envelope, full or empty. Receive prayer, place it in the container. Return to your seat. Brothers and sisters, this is a holy moment. It's a joyful moment.
It's a family moment. It's a global moment. And church. We are so close to watching God finish something remarkable through us in this matching time. So let's pray with expectation and let's give with joy today.
And let's watch what God. Let's watch God multiply these loaves and fishes. Again, let me give you a closing question to set the moment. Moment before I pray, what might God do in the world if every one of us simply obeyed him with joyful faith? And we started today.
Let's pray together.
Lord, we understand that our giving is a way that we worship you. And so we pray that you'll receive our worship. It will come from a congregation of sincere hearts. In Jesus name, Amen. The offering lines are open.
Sa.
Good morning, everybody. My name is Billy Egner. I'm one of the elders here and I get to lead us in prayer this morning. So before I pray, I want to just kind of recognize it's Advent season, right? The signs are around us, believers.
Since The Fall were looking forward to Jesus coming. They didn't know his name at the time, but they knew we needed a Savior. The Magi waited for centuries and saw the signs of the birth of the King of the Jews and they came and praised him. Simeon waited for the coming of the Lord and was prepared to die in peace once he saw him. And Anna prophesied about Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple.
And all of this was the first coming, right? And so as we think of this, let's go to the Lord with that expectation. So, Father, we thank you for, thank you for the signs and all the pointers that you've given us in your word that pointed to Jesus before he was even born. Thank you. And I pray that you would fill us with the expectation like the others had to recognize Jesus as our deliverer, as our king, as our Savior, and help us to, as Anna did, help us to tell others about Jesus.
Lord, would you give us boldness to praise Jesus publicly and point others to him, Lord, fill us with that. God, I also pray that you would give peace and joy to us in this season, both to those who are mourning and suffering in this time and to those that are living in a time of rejoicing. Lord, would you fill us with your peace. Use what Jesus brings and give us more of you, Lord. Lord, help us to have hearts to receive the truth of the gospel.
Help us to hear the truth from scripture. This morning, bless Trevor as he prepares to bring your truth to us, us. Lord. I also pray for the churches around us. I pray for refuge that you would bless Michael and the workers there who are also speaking the Gospel.
Lord, fill them with the joy and strength that they need to deliver your truth. Lord. I pray for other churches as well, Lord, in this season, help us all in this area as Christians to be joined together in unity for Jesus, for your glory. Help us to shine the light of your love to others. We pray all this in Jesus name.
Amen.
All right. Find Luke chapter two in your Bibles. Luke chapter two.
And today we begin a three part Christmas Advent series called Prepare him Room. That's a phrase from a Christmas song, Christmas carol. Let every heart prepare him room. And this is what we are vowing to do for the Lord during this month. And here are the three messages today.
Today in the Prepare Him Room series, the message is worth the wait. Next week it will be worth the wonder. And the Sunday before Christmas, it will be worth the welcome. And today as I read our scripture, we're going to look at one man named Simeon, Billy mentioned him in his thoughts just now. How Simeon prepared him room.
So Luke, chapter 2, verses 25 through 35. They read this and behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against.
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. The word of the Lord. The big idea in the message today is simply this. A lifetime of quiet, consistent faith prepares us to see Christ when he comes. Have you ever waited for something so long you started to wonder if it would ever happen?
Maybe it's a job offer. Many of you ask us to pray about that a lot. Maybe it's a relationship to heal. Maybe it's a prayer. You prayed for many years.
Here's the hard question. What do you do while you wait?
Some give up, some drift away. But some, like our guy Simeon, stay faithful this Christmas. Our series is called Prepare Him Room. And Simeon is a perfect example of somebody who prepared Jesus Room. You know, through years of ordinary days and faithful routines, Simeon kept his heart open so that when the moment came, he was ready.
And our text is when the moment came. So I've divided the sermon into three parts. Three truths about Simeon that we can learn and apply to our own lives. Number one. Simeon's faith was steady, not flashy.
Here are verses 25 and 26. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was just. You should circle, just. And devout.
You should circle, devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. You should circle, waiting. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. You should underline that. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.
That he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. How would you like it? One day you're having your daily devotionals. The spirit of God begins to communicate to you. And he says, hey, got a surprise for you.
Just want you to know. Know you're an old guy by now. Know you're in your 80s. Know you've been serving me for a long time. You're not going to die until you see my Messiah.
How about that? 4. Promise from God. God Simon was a godly man. And his godliness had three parts in these verses.
I had you circle them first. He was just. What's that mean, Pastor? It means that he was righteous in his relationships. He was a stand up guy.
You wanted this guy to be your neighbor. He would be kind to you, bring you cookies and tell you about God. He was just. He was also devout. That means that he was God fearing in his daily habits.
He wasn't faking his faith. And the third part of godliness that Luke outlines about Simeon is that he was waiting. It's godly to wait. He had patient expectancy. This man lived with eternity in view.
And now God told him, I know you want to go to heaven, but you can't die till you see my Christ child. And Simeon probably thought, well, I can go into overtime for that. Each one of these characteristics of Simeon's godliness shows that real faith grows by long obedience, not emotional highs. We don't need to chase the next spiritual dopamine. We need the everyday.
Psalm 37:3, 4. Trust in the Lord and do good. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Trust him, do it and delight. And watch how God changes the delights of your heart and then gives them to you.
Steady faith is less about one big moment and it's more about a thousand small choices that we make to stay in step with God. Is any of that making sense?
Let me tell you a story from church history that feels like it was written for the margins of Luke. Chapter two. There was a pastor in South Africa. His name was Andrew Murray. And Andrew Murray wrote great classic books about.
About prayer. And Andrew Murray prayed for revival in his church and in his community for 50 years without stopping, without taking breaks. It was a daily burden of it. 50 years.
Most of us get discouraged if God doesn't answer in a week. Murray prayed through dry sermons. He prayed through quiet pews. He prayed through empty church houses. He prayed through long seasons where nothing seemed to move.
And then one night in A small youth gathering before they had youth groups. A teenage girl stood up and she just said three words out loud. She was quiet. She was shy. She didn't say much.
But when she stood up, the room came to a screeching halt. And she said, I love Jesus and the spirit of God. After she spoke those words out loud split that room open. And people wept. They confessed all their sins, the respectable ones and the dirty ones.
And the prayer meeting started at night. It went through the morning. Families were restored. Churches got planted because of this testimony, and revival came to South Africa. And they tried to credit Andrew Murray.
And here's what Andrew Murray said. I only prayed it was the Lord who came.
Do you hear the echo of Simeon in the that Simeon stayed faithful in the quiet years so that he could see Christ in the fullness of time.
I love what AW Tozer wrote. It's not the man who runs too fast or the man who runs too slow, but the one who keeps running that wins the race. And in Luke chapter two, Simeon kept running. And in South Africa, Andrew Murray kept running. It reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians, chapter 6, verse 9.
Let us not grow weary While doing what?
For in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Luke chapter two is Simeon's due season. Simeon prepared him room by staying faithful in the long wait. His heart remained open to God's promise. So ask yourself this question in light of this truth.
Is my faith steady enough to keep showing up even when nothing exciting is happening?
Is that a good question? Steady faith doesn't depend on fireworks, brothers and sisters. You know, from time to time, God gives us fireworks here. I mean spiritual, mountaintop stuff. He does, and we love it.
But steady faith is built on simple obedience, done again and again. Simeon was not flashy. He was faithful. And listen, listen. That's what positioned him to see Christ.
When I read one of my favorite verses in the New Testament, First Corinthians 15:58, it's almost like you need to write Simeon's name above it. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Steadfast, immovable. Let me give you a verse from Lamentations. It's got to be the first verse from Lamentations.
All year in a sermon. It is a book in the Bible. It's not hiding there. You should go look. Lamentations 3.
25. The Lord is good to those who wait for him. To the Soul who seeks him. And then a verse much more familiar to the church. Isaiah 40:31.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
Let me ask you a question. If someone watched. Ask yourself this question. If someone watched both my habits and my emotions, would they see faithfulness to Jesus Christ?
If they see what I do and they see what I do with my feelings, does it point to Jesus? You know, consistency in the small things often says more about our walk with God than passion in the big things. The big things are easy. The small things make the difference. That's why Elizabeth Elliot wrote, the secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.
You know, some of you have told yourself, because everybody talks to themselves in their spirit. You told yourself, if the situation I'm in would just change, I could walk with God better and be faithful. No, no, no. Christ in me is the hope of glory. Not a better season to walk better in.
Jesus goes with you in the ups and the downs. Yes. Do I give up too quickly when God seems silent?
My favorite Spurgeon quote. By perseverance, the snail reached the ark. Amen.
Simeon's perseverance is in view in Luke chapter two. Before I leave point one, let me give you an encouraging thought. God doesn't measure faith by how loud it is. He measures it by how long it lasts. So Simeon's faith was steady, not flashy.
Number two. Simeon was ready because he walked with the Spirit.
I'm getting ready to read you a verse, and here's what the verse says. God placed Simeon in the temple on the same day that he brought Mary Joseph. You know, the Christ family, Mary Christ, Joseph Christ and Jesus Christ, right? When he brought them to the temple after he was a baby, put them there at the same time. Luke 2:27.
So he came by the Spirit into the temple. That almost suggests to me that it wasn't Simeon's day to go to work.
And when the parents brought in the Christ, when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law.
One way Simeon prepared him room was by leaving margin for God to interrupt him.
Man will that preach. Simeon said, I'm not going to fill up my life to the brim so that I got to get all the things done on my checklist and I've got to please everybody and there's just not much time left for God. He was led by the Spirit into the temple so that God could show him great things. And the temple that day was bustling with activ activity. The priests were going about their duties.
The Levites were singing the psalms. The worshipers were bringing the sacrifices. And Simeon knew all that. That wasn't new. But for some reason, this day was different.
The Spirit led him there. The Spirit's leading cut through the noise. It cut through the routine, and it directed Simeon to a divine appointment. You know, many priests would go to the temple and just perform their duty mechanically. It was their job.
They were expected to do it. But Simeon on this day was alert because he was pursuing God just as a habit in his life. He had this watchman's heart. He was like a security guard who's trained to notice that one unusual detail, the one thing out of place. And because of that, Simeon spotted the true king in a crowd of babies at the temple that day.
It reminds me what Jesus would say later in John, chapter 10, verse 27. My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. You should have absolutely zero assurance of your salvation if your Christian faith ended at your baptism and you don't hear his voice and you don't follow him. You pop into church on Sundays and you leave Jesus here.
When you leave, look, his sheep hear his voice. He knows them and they follow him. And Simeon's one of these guys. And listen to me. Between carpool lines and Christmas parties at the preschool and deadlines at work and soccer practice, I want you to know, in the middle of all of your life, God still speaks.
And I wonder when the last time was that you heard him. The question is, are we quiet enough to hear?
Before we leave this point, I want you to ask yourself this. Am I leaving enough space in my life to hear and follow the Spirit when He speaks? Let me read 2:27 again. He came by the Spirit into the temple.
Simeon didn't just guess his way into the temple. He was guided.
I want you to know something. We don't hear God's voice through the rush or through the noise.
We hear him by a heart that slows down. Do you know Psalm 46:10? Be still and know that I'm God.
That old preacher F.B. meyer wrote, the still, small voice is soft. Only the quiet can hear it. I think one of the reasons why we don't slow down to hear God most of the time is because we're afraid of what he's going to say to us. Because we're afraid he's going to say, could you just Stop doing that thing that you love to do all the time and let me just go ahead and tell you.
That's exactly probably what he's going to tell you. That but it's for your good. So that you can walk in his power and know true joy and have and have real assurance from the Spirit.
Since we're talking about being led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. How can I know? I'm one of his children.
Well, I hear his voice. I'm led by his Spirit. Well, Pastor, I don't hear his voice often and I don't even know what it means to be led by the Spirit. Then that means you're either in your infancy in Christ or you need a good dose of salvation.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. I want you to reflect on this question. If the Spirit nudged me today, would I even notice?
Is the volume of my schedule louder than the voice of God in my life?
Do I confuse busyness with fruitfulness? Some of us just do things and go places and do more stuff, but we don't produce anything for Christ. Busyness is no substitute for fruitfulness. Simeon was ready because he walked by the Spirit. That's number two.
Number three.
Simeon's faith blessed the next generation. Simeon is known for the declaration that he made in the temple. I'm getting ready to read it to you and break it down for us.
Luke 2:28 32. He took him up in his arms, this priest whom God had promised he wouldn't die until he saw the Lord's Christ holds the baby Jesus in his hands. He took him up in his arms and he blessed God. And here's what he said in that blessing to God that trickles down to us. Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. Now we're in. Luke chapter two. You know what's already happened by this time, Mary and Joseph have been both visited by angels.
God sent a messenger from heaven. What's his name? Gabriel to Mary, to Joseph, Joseph. And they hear from heaven by an angelic visit. Now you might go, God, send me an angel.
I won't need any other convincing. But that's not what the Bible shows. If you'll remember in Jesus Story of the Rich man and Lazarus, the rich man's in hell. He looks up to Abraham and he says, hey, you know, I have five brothers. Would you.
Would you just send somebody back? Send me back. Let me go tell my brothers not to come to this place, not to go to hell. Abraham says they have Moses and the prophets and even if someone rose from the dead, they wouldn't be convinced by that. So angels visit Mary and Joseph.
They are given assignments from God. You're going to be the. You're going to be the parents of the Christ child. It's going to be a virgin birthday. People are going to talk about it forever.
But God used a seasoned godly man to confirm that calling and to reiterate that assignment. And that's what Simeon does here. It's like a veteran missionary blessing a young couple as they're about to embark on the mission field overseas. So in other words, Simeon didn't just receive a blessing to hold the baby Jesus in your hands after God told you you won't die until you do. Can we agree that's a blessing from God?
He didn't just receive one. In his declaration, he passed one on. Let me put his declaration in plain language for us. First he says, I want everybody to know I'm ready for the next world because I finally grasped the good news. Where does he say that?
Preacher, he says, now you're letting your servant depart in peace.
Next he says, I want everybody else to know salvation is not a theory. It's a person you can hold. He took him up in his arms and he says, for my eyes have seen your salvation. And then Simeon adds, God's rescue plan was always meant for public display. Your salvation, which you prepared before the face of all peoples.
Look, we can't keep the gospel a secret. It is spiritual. It is a spiritual crime. To do that, the world needs to know about Jesus. Whether they believe in him or not.
It brings God glory. And at the end, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Every Buddhist, every Roman Catholic, every Jehovah's Witness, every Mormon, every Muslim, every atheist, every humanist and every evangelical Christian will bow their knees and confess that Jesus is Lord. And most will bow their knees and be sent to a devil's hell because they stepped on the blood of Jesus to get there. But it's for the face of all the peoples public display.
And the last thing that Simeon says is the gospel reaches beyond Israel to all nations. This is not just Jewish religion. Even though Jesus is from the tribe of Judah and as Jewish as you can get. The Christian faith began with the Jews. It's for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
A revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel. Do you guys believe that stuff?
Did you know that in Jewish tradition, a righteous elder's blessing carried weight and spiritual authority? When Mary and Joseph left the temple that day with their baby, eight days old, even though they had been visited by angels from heaven, they said one of Israel's fathers just blessed our mission. It mattered to them their interaction with Simeon. Let me illustrate that to you from something in 1885. In 1885, a group that became known as the Cambridge Seven.
Everybody say Cambridge Seven. Alright, you need to know these dudes. Connecticut Studd, Stanley Smith, De Haast, Cecil Polehill, Arthur Polehill, William Cassels and Montague Beauchamp. How cool is that? He's not even from Louisiana.
These are some of the most gifted, most promising young men in Great Britain. Each of them had wealth, they had fame, they had academic prestige. They were smart dudes. Some were even elite athletes. Connecticut Stud, I defy you to come up with a better athlete's name than that.
C T Stud was the most famous cricket player in the world at the time. And yet all seven of them, God was stirring their hearts to leave all of their talent behind to go to the mission field. And they decided they were going to go to China in 1885. You have to go by boat. Takes a long time to get there.
And there is nothing western in China. Not a single Christian. Before sailing for China, they visited an old man. He's aging, he's weakened. He's the founder of the China Inland Mission.
His name was Hudson Taylor.
Hudson Taylor was so physically depleted from decades of missionary service that he could barely stand up by this time. His beard was snow white, his frame was thin. He was getting skinny with death. His voice that thundered in the interior of China at one time is now weak and raspy.
But spiritual authority filled the room. The Cambridge seven expected that Hudson Taylor was going to give them missionary strategy. Here are the methods that are going to help you in China. I've been there before. He's going to tell us how to do it.
Instead, Hudson Taylor gave them something deeper. He prayed over them with tears. Here's the prayer he prayed. May Jesus be everything to you and may your lives make him known to generations you will never meet. Let me say that again.
May Jesus be everything to you and may your lives make him known to generations you'll never meet. One of the seven later wrote when he prayed over us, it felt as though a torch had been passed to our hands. And the result of that blessing prayer that night. The results were enormous. Number one revival broke out in England before they even left.
News of the Cambridge seven's surrender to missions, especially C T stud gave away literally millions of dollars in 1885. Let me just take a time out there. We don't play cricket. You think it's a bug in India and in the east it's like a baseball game. There's a pitcher and there's a batter but you play in three 60 degree rounds.
And it's been around for a long time. And in 1885 it was the most popular sport on planet Earth.
In 1885, baseball in America had been around for 40 years. It had two superstars, Cap Anson and King Kelly. How cool are those names? Cap Anson was named because he wore a cap. They were as famous perhaps or at least as wealthy at the time as C T studd.
Football was only played in college at the time and professional football didn't happen until the 1890s and basketball wasn't even invented until 1891. So you're talking about a world class athlete with the whole world in front of him. He gave it all away, sold everything he had, gave that away and went to the mission field and left his career. It would be like Michael Jordan leaving his basketball career the second year he was in the league.
Well that just inspired everybody to ask God if he wanted them to go to the mission field. It swept across Britain. Young men packed auditoriums to hear these guys speak. Prayer meeting ignited in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Hundreds surrendered to missionary service.
It was called the Cambridge Awakening. That was a result of the prayer blessing from Hudson Taylor. Second result in China, their ministries reshaped entire regions. William Cassilis became the first bishop of the new Anglican diocese in western China. De Haast eventually succeeded Hudson Taylor as the general director of the China Inland Mission.
He led it for 30 years until Hudson Taylor Jr. Was ready. Arthur and Cecil Polhill helped pioneer work in the rural interior of China. Do you understand how big and vast that is?
Previously unreached areas, Beauchamp labored in difficult resistant provinces all because they went. And number three. Today historians mark that moment as a hinge point. Those who study missions for a living, they're called missiologists. They say that the Cambridge seven surrender and Hudson Taylor's prayer of blessing was one of the three great catalysts of the global missions movement of the modern era.
We're sending Missionaries out today in part because of this, their story still inspires today. I'm telling it to you in 2025. Do you like the story?
And their fruit continues in the modern Chinese church. There's over 60 million believers in China meeting quietly, secretly, some going to prison, whispering the hymns that they sing, pointing at Bibles instead of speaking out loud for fear of being arrested. All because of this.
Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph Hudson Taylor blessed the Cambridge seven. And in both cases, the elder's words outlived him. The elder's words fueled the mission. The elder's words ignited generations that they would never meet.
So ask yourself, is my walk with Jesus creating a spiritual inheritance for the people who come after me?
Do you know Psalm 145:4. One generation shall praise your works to another.
Will you reflect on this question? What blessing am I passing down by the way I live today?
Spurgeon again. Train up a child in the way you should go. Be sure to go that way yourself.
Do the people closest to me feel the weight and the war warmth of my walk with God, or has it grown cold?
DL Moody said, a holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.
In conclusion today, let me ask you this question. But what if Simeon had skipped temple that day?
Well, that'd been a swing and a miss. That had been a bad day to oversleep. Faithfulness doesn't look exciting every day, brothers and sisters, until the day God makes it look exciting and blows it up. So stay at your post, keep your heart open, keep your eyes witnessed, lifted.
You received this word today as our prayer ministry leaders are coming to the front. Let me give you two ways to apply this message in our prayer ministry lines today. Come on, prayer team. While I'm giving these two notes. Number one, for the weary and the waiting.
If you've been praying and hoping and waiting for something that God has promised, come and ask the Holy Spirit in our prayer lines today to renew your strength. Pray for the kind of steady faith that Simeon had so that when God's moment comes, you're found, ready for the weary and the waiting. Number two, for the next generation's blessed. If you long to pass on a spiritual inheritance, come and pray for God to give you the right words, give you the exact prayers, and give you the example that will help the next generation see and follow Jesus. Ask God to make you a Simeon for your family and for your church and for your community.
Let's stand and pray.
Father, we thank you for the example in your Word. Of Simeon's faithfulness. And our prayer is that you make us like him.
God, as we go this week back into the mission field, back in everyday life, let us do so filled with the Holy Spirit. Spirit, Lord, I pray.
I pray that you would give our church the gospel humility that Simeon had. We want broken hearts before you. In Jesus name, Amen. All right, look, have a seat because we're going to tie a bow on this service. The funnest thing we're going to do today, we're going to do right now.
You guys ready to baptize a new believer? Then we'll open our prayer lines.
Prayer ministers will be back up at the conclusion of our baptism. But for right now, I would like for you to help me welcome to the stage Corlyn Perry.
And as Corey comes up here, I'd also like any of the members of the McKenzie small group to also come on up here.
Coralyn is in our small group. I'm Don McKenzie and Corey. Coralyn, it's been a great pleasure for you to be in our small group. We've learned a lot about you and have enjoyed every minute of it. There was one night in our small group meeting.
Corey was pretty quiet, and then suddenly he answered a question, and it just reshaped the whole evening. It was such a blessing. Gave us so many good things to talk about. All right, small group, thanks for being up here. This is Corlyn Perry.
I'd also like for us to give a big great Commission welcome to his mother, Marilyn, who's sitting right over here. We are so glad that you're here. We're delighted that you're here. Thank you. Thank you, Corlyn and I.
And you can go by Corey or Coralyn. Right. And. And we've met twice just to talk about the glories of Jesus Christ and how salvation works. And the Lord began kind of drawing you, renewing your interest, and just somehow got you to walk in here, and people were warm and welcoming.
You began to make some friends. And the minute I met with you, I. I thought, if there is any way I can get you in our small group, it's going to be a great blessing. And we did. But we met again Friday, and we just rehearsed the gospel of Jesus Christ. So I want to ask you, Corey, in the presence of the members of Great Commission Church, is it your settled conviction that you believe that Jesus loves you and that he gave himself for you on the cross so that your sins could be forgiven?
Absolutely. Well, based on that, we're Going to baptize you here in just a minute in obedience to Jesus Christ. But before we do, we're going to pray and just ask the Lord to enrich this time and to help us be a good family to you and you to us. Okay? All right, let's pray.
Heavenly Father, as we bow here before you, we're reminded of your goodness, your desire to save, your interest in changing hearts and inflaming our souls with a new love for you, Jesus. Thank you that you've done this for Corrie. And I ask that this would be a great spiritual day for him and that we, Lord, would recommit ourselves to one another and to Cory as he professes his faith in you and becomes a part of us. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Now, Corey, when we go over here to baptize, when you come up out of the water, you're going to be the newest member of Great Commission Church. Are you ready? Yes, sir. All right, well, let's go. Walk right over here.
Small group. Y' all come on over. Bobby Langley. And our small group is going to. To assist.
Now, one of the great things about water baptism is that it's a picture. It shows our union with Jesus Christ, so that as he goes down into the water, it's like being buried with Jesus. And when he comes up, he's resurrected, he's new. He's a new person. So it's a picture of the old thoughts and attitudes that we have about life and about Jesus.
Jesus dying. And we raise up with our new attitudes and thoughts about Jesus. And so this is what baptism is all about.
You ready? All right, step right there.
Step down for me.
Now, look at me. You're here today only because of Jesus Christ. Because if it wasn't for Jesus, would you be sitting here? Not at all. We've laughed and joked.
This is the last place. But because of Jesus, you want to obey him, and that's a glorious thing. He's our Lord. We should obey him. And by his command, we're going to baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
While he recovers.
I'd like to invite the prayer ministry teams to come forward at this time. And our pastor shared with us various applications that, as I listened to the message, were very meaningful. And there's no telling what's going on in your hearts and souls. Sometimes during this season of the year, emotions get stirred that just don't during other times of the year. And come and let God's people minister to you and help you.
Please stand. Please stand with me. Me. I'm just going to briefly say a prayer. I'm going to ask the Lord to encourage you to seek him through these prayer ministry partners who spend their week preparing for this moment.
So let's pray. Father, Come. Come and move among us. Answer prayers we ask this morning as your saints seek your face. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Amen. We are dismissed.
----------------------
Come and join us this Sunday at the Great Commission Church for a truly remarkable and uplifting experience. Great Commission Church is a family-friendly church in Olive Branch, MS. Great Commission Church is not just any ordinary place of worship; it's a vibrant community where faith comes alive, hearts are filled with love, and lives are transformed. Our doors are wide open, ready to welcome you into the warm embrace of our congregation, where you'll discover the true essence of fellowship and spirituality. At Great Commission Church, we are more than just a congregation; we are a family united by a common mission – to follow the teachings of Christ and spread His love to the world. As you step inside Great Commission Church, you'll find a sanctuary that nurtures your faith and encourages you to be part of something greater than yourself.
We believe in the power of coming together as a community to worship, learn, and serve. Whether you're a long-time believer or just starting your spiritual journey, Great Commission Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Our vibrant services are filled with inspiring messages, beautiful music, and heartfelt prayers that will uplift your soul. Every Sunday at Great Commission Church is an opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and connect with others who share your faith and values.
At Great Commission Church, we believe that faith is not just a solitary endeavor but a shared experience that strengthens and enriches us all. Our church is a place where you can find purpose, belonging, and the encouragement to live a life in accordance with Christ's teachings. Join us this Sunday at Great Commission Church and experience the transformative power of faith in action. Be part of a loving and supportive community that is committed to making a positive impact in our world. Together, we strive to fulfill the great commission to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We look forward to having you with us at Great Commission Church this Sunday, where faith, love, and community intersect in a truly amazing way.
Great Commission Church is a non-denominational, family-friendly Christian church located in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We are a short drive from Germantown, Southaven, Collierville, Horn Lake, Memphis, Fairhaven, Mineral Wells, Pleasant Hill, Handy Corner, Lewisburg and Byhalia. Great Commission Church is conveniently located, making it easy to find and attend. Many people have even called it their go-to “church near me” or the "Church nearby" because of how accessible it is and how quickly it feels like home.
See you Sunday at Great Commission Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi!
