[1] #296, Looking Forward, Sunday 12-09-2007, Pastor Mark Boucher

Text: Luke 2:25-35
Theme: As believers, our hope is tied to the promise of His coming.

INTRODUCTION:

1. How we look forward greatly affects life right now.
   1. If you look forward with hope … courage
   2. If you look forward with dread … weak, helpless
2. We can learn so much from a man named Simeon.
   1. He was a believer who looked forward to Christmas.
   2. Not a date on the calendar, but the first one.
   3. He had been given a revelation that he would see the Christ before he died.

Let’s see how the coming of Christ connects with hope.

1. He will come (a look at then and there)
   1. Things were bleak in Simeon’s day.
   2. There was no “word from God” for over 400 years.
   3. The Israelites were Roman rule (63 BC Pompeii)
   4. They had a cruel and corrupt king. (Herod)
   5. Spiritual life had ebbed to a trickle
   6. The religious leaders championed power, corruption, legalism and hypocrisy.
   7. Fake religions were growing like weeds in the empire.
   8. Many people were heavy of heart discouraged.
   9. Simeon was willing to look to the Lord.
   10. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.” (v.25)
   11. God always has His remnant, people who are righteous and devout.
   12. He was acting in hope because of the Word.
2. Old Testament Prophecy
   1. The Old Testament contains over 300 passages concerning the first coming of Christ.
   2. Of these 300 passages, we discover 60 major, specific prophesies.
   3. Simeon was waiting because he was a man of the Spirit.
   4. “the Holy Spirit was upon him” (v.25)
   5. ”It had been revealed to him be the Holy Spirit (v.26)
   6. “Moved by the Holy Spirit” (v.27)
   7. When Jesus came, Simeon was ready. (He wasn’t disappointed)
   8. He recognized God when he looked in the face of this baby.
   9. He took Him in his arms and praised God for what He would do through Jesus. (Hope)
3. He will come again. (a look at here and now)
   1. Things look bleak in America (to the natural eye).
   2. The soul of America is like a wounded soldier.
   3. A tsunami of immorality has hit our shores and overwhelms all in its path.
   4. Forces and powers are at work (thru people) to eradicate God from society.
   5. We’re pushing the acceleration pedal to our destruction.
   6. All of us struggle with living right, the battles of stress, temptation, despair.
   7. Are you willing to receive your hope from God?
   8. God has a remnant today in America.
   9. What do they look like? Simeon?
   10. People of hope are people of the Word.
   11. The Apostles of the New Testament appealed to two primary area to show that Jesus was the Messiah … a) The resurrection. b) Fulfilled prophecy.
   12. In the Old Testament there are 1,845 references to the second return of Jesus Christ.
   13. In the New Testament 1 in every 25 verses has to do with the second coming.
   14. What God promises, He performs.
   15. People of hope are people of the Spirit.
   16. What does this mean?
   17. We value and choose the leading of the Spirit over the impulses of the flesh.
   18. We choose delayed hope rather that instant gratification.
   19. If you look to Jesus and His coming, you won’t be disappointed.
   20. Don’t look at “the score”
   21. God doesn’t care what the score is because He knows He wins.

“For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” (Hebrews 10:37)
“I shall return” (General Douglas McArthur)