“For my eyes have seen your salvation….a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel,”

Luke 2:30,32

 God picked the poorest people of the world to make the most incredible announcement ever made in the history of the world! He did not reveal His plans to kings, the wise teachers of the Law or to the religious leaders. God revealed Himself to humble hearts. “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble,” James 4:6. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. Their hearts were overflowing with what they had witnessed and they couldn’t wait to tell others.

There were two other people who were watching and waiting to see the Messiah! Their names were Simeon and Anna. They spent most of their lives in the temple waiting to see the promised One who would redeem Israel. Can you imagine the questions that were asked of them? “What? What are you doing? Are you crazy? God has been silent for 400 years and you still believe?” Were they crazy? NO! They were fully persuaded God would keep His Word! God knew who to reveal Himself to! They trusted Him!

It was said of Simeon: The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he went to the temple courts daily and was there to greet Mary and Joseph when they brought the baby to do for him what the custom of the Law required. Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel,” Luke 2:29-32.

 Then there was Anna! She was a prophetess of the tribe of Asher, and very old. She had been a widow for many years. Widows had no status in Israel, but she could worship God day and night! She also fasted and prayed and never left the temple! God took notice of her! Coming up at that moment, she gave thanks to God, then spoke about the child to all who would hear her! She had important news, God had visited His people!

These two dear saints were surrendered and humble people, waiting, watching and worshiping! They loved God with their whole hearts and God took notice of them! Dear friends, have you surrendered your heart to Jesus Christ? He is waiting to receive you with open arms, but the choice is yours. Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins. The gospel is the GOOD NEWS that God sent His Son to die for our sins on the cross. Salvation is a gift, but you have to accept it! “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9.

 Taken from Pastor Terry’s sermons