People Who Wait for Jesus Luke 2:25-27, 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 upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 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. I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “People Who Wait for Jesus,” based on Luke 1:46-55. Please repeat after me, People who wait for Jesus. Many people wait for something good to happen. About a month ago, I went to Fukuoka, Japan, to lead a revival meeting. I was coming out of the hotel early in the morning when I saw many people lined up in front of a building. I wondered why so many people were lining up so early. I later found out that the building was a Pachinko building, Japanese gambling place, and people were lined up there to get a good place to gamble. They were waiting, anticipating a jack pot. Ironically, none of them won a fortune. Nonetheless, they waited in a long line, dreaming a dream that would never come true. We must have a dream which is meaningful and worthwhile. Some time ago, MBC ran a documentary program about Mr. Dong-Soo Kim, CEO of Hankuk China. He is a faithful Christian and an elder of his church. He worked very hard to improve the quality of Hankuk China. He wanted Hankuk China to be widely known all over the world to give glory to God. He is still working very hard, making new items. His love for his employees is unmatched. He has not fired any of his employees. In an economic crisis, most companies try to survive by working out to reconstruct their companies. Consequently, there are many disputes between capital and labor. However, Hankuk China has not ever laid off any of their employees. Some time ago his kiln caught on fire. If the kiln exploded, the company would be permanently ruined. His kiln was on fire and the fire trucks had not yet arrived. In desperation the employees ran up to the top of the kiln and covered it with their clothes and bodies, thus extinguishing the fire. Mr. Kim told them not to go up because they could die if the kiln exploded. They did not listen but went up to the top of the kiln and covered it and extinguished the fire. He was very much touched by their sacrifice and made up his mind to take care of them to the end of their life employment period. The average duration of their employment is 23 years. They interviewed on TV one of his employees, a middle aged lady. She said she had started working there before she got married. She has spent most of her life working for Hankuk China. She got married, had children, and raised them. Her son is grown up now and in military service. She looked very happy. Even though Mr. Kim is quite aged, he still researches and works very hard to make better china. It looked very beautiful to me since he always pursues new dreams. We can see in scripture that there were many people who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. The Gospel according to Luke introduces two people, Simeon and Anna, who met Jesus. What kind of life did they live to deserve to meet the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, who came to earth in the flesh? I would like to think about their lives through today’s Scripture. First, they were righteous and devout. Luke 2:25 says, “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 upon him.” Simeon who was waiting for Jesus the Messiah was righteous before God. To be righteous means to observe the law of God and the law of people; living in a right and honest way. Simeon indeed made every effort to live in accordance with the will of God, setting fine examples before all the people. At the same time, Simeon was devout. Here, to be devout means to serve God with awe and a trembling heart. It also means to be dedicated to God. Simeon was a faithful man who served God will all his heart, will, and mind. Since Simeon lived a devout and righteous life before God and before people, God delighted in his life. God blessed him so much and allowed him to meet Messiah who came to earth. God is looking for the righteous even now. He is looking for the devout. God will do wonderful things to those who are righteous and devout. John 9:31 says, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” In Noah’s age, so many people lived a life of debauchery and there seemed not to be any hope for humankind. However, God found Noah and prepared a way of salvation through him. When God judged humankind through the Flood, Noah and his family were saved. Genesis 7:1 says, “The LORD then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.’” God said, “I have found you righteous.” Job, who suffered a series of severe tribulations, was also righteous. Job 1:1 says, “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” Job was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. Even though he was righteous and devout, he had to go through sufferings. Satan brought God’s test on him. Job lost all his possessions overnight. He lost his ten children--seven sons and three daughters. His body was afflicted. His wife turned her back on Job, telling him to curse God and die. His friends visited Job to accuse him. Even in such a hopeless situation, Job did not complain or blame God. He was righteous and devout. Because he gave glory to God in his times of trouble, God acknowledged Job’s faith and blessed him twice as much as before. Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment was devout and God-fearing, giving generously to those in need. Through his service for God, God blessed Cornelius so he could hear the Word of God from the Apostle Peter. He believed in Jesus and received Spirit baptism. And God gave a wonderful promise to Simeon who was righteous and devout before God. In Luke 2:26 we read, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Many people had spent their entire lives waiting for the coming of the Messiah but died without seeing Him. However, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God revealed to Simeon that the Messiah would come while Simeon was alive and that he would see Him. Hallelujah! Throughout his life Simeon held on to this promise. He waited for the Messiah with hope, thinking, “When the Messiah comes, He will deliver my people from the oppression and hopelessness of the reign of the Roman Empire. He will give us true hope and vision. His kingdom will be accomplished on this land and we will enjoy true joy and peace.” Simeon met the Messiah as God had promised he would. We must anxiously wait for the Lord as Simeon did. We must always admire Him, trust in Him as much as we can, and love Him more and more so that we will experience greater grace of God all the time. As precious children of God, I pray that we will be righteous and devout, changing and beautifying this world, and accomplishing the will of God on earth. Second, they were with the Holy Spirit. Luke 2:25-27 says, “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 upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord Christ. 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 was a man of the Holy Spirit. He was filled with the Holy Spirit; he listened to the voice of the Spirit and lived under the guidance of the Spirit. So verse 25 says, “The Holy Spirit was upon him.” I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit all the time. Those who walk with the Holy Spirit are those who have holy dreams and a hope, marching forward with faith. When we march forward, holding on to the promise of God, He will visit us with His miracles and blessings. Simeon, being filled with the Holy Spirit, listened to the voice of the Spirit and received the revelation from the Spirit. Verse 26 says, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.” There are so many things that we cannot do anything about in our own strength. It is impossible to solve the problems of our lives with our own strength or power. How can we possibly solve the problems of our homes, financial problems, the problems with our children, problems at our work places and businesses, and so on? I pray that you will be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit in the Name of the Lord. When we leave all our cares and problems to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will reveal the will of God to us, lead our footsteps in accordance with the will of the Lord, and help us to live with power, victory, and blessings. We must be spiritually awake in prayer, holding on to the Word, and come closer to the Lord, guided by the Holy Spirit. Then we will be touched by the Holy Spirit. Verse 27 says, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.” Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit. When Simeon went into the temple courts, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he met the Lord Jesus the Messiah. We must be always moved by the Holy Spirit. We must have the enthusiasm for the Lord by the inspiration of the Spirit. We must be moved by the Spirit every time we come to church. We must be moved by the Spirit whenever we sing praises. We must be moved by the Spirit when we listen to the Word. We must be moved by the Spirit when we pray. When we were poor, when things went tough on us, we admired and trusted in the Lord as much as we could. We were then always moved by the Spirit. But unfortunately when things go better for us, we are not so much inspired by the Spirit as we were when we were poor. I remember our church when it was in Seodaemun area. I was in elementary school. When I was baptized by the Holy Spirit, I was filled with joy and thanksgiving. Since then I have never missed our church worship service. I even attended the adult worship service, and all the revival meetings. I remember the most memorable revival services as being the week long revival meetings on the Revelation by Pastor Yonggi Cho. The Spirit worked so powerfully, Pastor Cho extended the revival for another week. So it became a two-week long revival meeting. Each meeting would begin at 7:30 p.m. and end at 11:00 p.m. Pastor Cho would preach for two to three hours twice as fast as he preaches now. No one was bothered. Everyone was so blessed. Our hearts were overwhelmed by God’s grace. The Spirit moved in each revival meeting. It was as if we were going up, singing a hymn, “Let us go up and up and up, flying on the cloud.” I urge you to be moved by the Holy Spirit at every worship service, at every prayer time, every time you sing praises, and whenever you read and meditate on the Word. “Lord, move me by the Holy Spirit. Help me to live with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.” When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will have strong inspiration by the Spirit. Before going up to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to be baptized by and to be filled with the Spirit. Acts 1:5 says, “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Ten days after the Ascension, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and going out to preach the gospel. Daily three and five thousand people would go to the Lord in repentance. When the Holy Spirit leaves us, we will have nothing but the flesh. Our flesh is accustomed to sin, living shamefully before the Lord. This is why David feared the Spirit might leave him after he committed sin. So he cried and repented of his sin in Psalm 51. Psalm 51:11 says, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” He was so desperate that he cried, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” He was saying, “Even though I have committed a grave sin, do not take the Holy Spirit away from me.” When you commit a sin, be restored with the grace of the Holy Spirit by quick repentance of your sin. The history of the Full Gospel Church is the history of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit throughout your life. Third, they fasted and prayed. The Scripture speaks about Anna in Luke 2. Luke 2:37 says, “…and there was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” In the same days of Simeon, there was a widow named Anna. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow probably without children. Whenever she had a chance, she would bow down before the Lord at the temple, praying, “May the Messiah come. I adore You. I wait for You. Lord, come before I breathe my last. Come, Lord, my joy and my hope.” Let us approach the Lord with fasting and praying. Nobody can stand against those who pray. David fasted and prayed. His prayer is written in the Scripture. Psalm 109:24 says, “My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.” Since he fasted so much and for so long, his knees gave way and his body was thin and gaunt. When we fast and pray, the Lord will have compassion on us and heal all our diseases, solve all our problems, forgive all our sins, and pour His grace and blessings upon us. When things are too hard and unbearable, go to Prayer Mountain and pray and fast, putting everything aside. Then you will experience the grace of the Lord. You will be healed. Miracles will come to you. You will have overflowing grace of God. Moses prayed and fasted forty days on Mt. Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments. Esther fasted and prayed for three days for the deliverance of the Jews and then went forward, saying, “If I perish, I perish.” Jesus’ life was the life of prayer even though He was the Son of God. He prayed early in the morning. He prayed alone in the evening. He prayed through the night before He selected His disciples. He prayed on the cross before He breathed His last. Therefore, our life, too, should be the life of prayer. Mr. Suzuki Hiroyuki is a former Yakuza, Japanese gangster. He is a Christian minister now. His touching life story is written in the book Love Revived Me. His story was also shown in a documentary film on KBS’s Human Theater and MBC’s Talk Focus. He was one of the notorious Yakuza, committing all kinds of bad crimes short of murder for 17 years. He was also a gambler. He cut three of his fingertips to show his loyalty to his gangster group. He is an ex-convict, married three times and divorced twice. He almost died many times due to drugs and auditory hallucinations. Nevertheless, God did not forsake him. He called Suzuki Hiroyuki at a dead end of his life, and totally broke him. One day while worshiping the Lord in his broken state, he heard the voice of the Lord. While he was crying and praying, he heard, “You are precious and worthy to me. I love you.” Being totally renewed, he went to seminary and became a pastor. In the shadows of his conversion from a gangster to a pastor, there were the tear-filled prayers of his Korean wife, Ms. Kum-Ja Han. She fasted and prayed, “Lord, give a new life to my husband. Anyone can have a new start. Change my husband, Lord.” She cried and prayed with all her heart. God listened to her tearful prayers and changed her husband. He is a pastor now traveling around the globe to preach the gospel. He often goes to Japanese schools to preach. Even though those schools are schools without any Christian background, they would invite Mr. Hiroyuki so that their students could listen to his story hoping it would lead their youth in a right way. He gives to the young Japanese students personal testimonies of his past life of rebellion against God: how prodigal and debauched he was and how changed he is now. Our prayer will bring about miracles. Our prayer will create a new history for us. As long as we live in the flesh, we must do our best in prayer. The reason why we have various problems in our lives is because our prayer has not reached the Lord. We must remember that the lack of prayer will bring problems to life. If you have stopped growing in faith, it may be so because you have not prayed enough. The Early Christian Church was a church of prayer. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Hallelujah! Scripture says that they devoted themselves to prayer. Since they devoted themselves to prayer, God blessed them. I urge you to devote yourself to prayer throughout your life. When the early Christians devoted themselves to prayer, the Early Church grew explosively, followed by marvelous miracles and wonders. Do not be dismayed before your problems. Do not despair. Do not groan even when you are sick. Instead, bow down and pray before God, “Lord, heal me. I have such and such problems. I have a disease. Have mercy on me and resolve my problems.” When we fast and cry out before the Lord in prayer, problems will be resolved. We will be healed. And we will receive God’s miracles and blessings. When you pray, you will enjoy peace in your heart, being freed from mishaps, poverty, curses, and pain. When you pray, the Lord will be with you at all times. Fourth, they gave glory to God. Luke 2:28-32 says, “Simeon took him 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.’ ” Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, “I know this baby will be the Messiah who will solve all the problems of humankind. I give glory to You.” The moment we receive the Lord Jesus in our hearts, we are given the privilege to praise the Lord. Non-Christians cannot praise God even if they want to. Since we believe in Jesus, we have the privilege to praise the Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Do it all for the glory of God! I urge you to give glory to God in everything you do in all areas of your life. I want you to give glory to God with your God-given talents. When you march forward with the Word of the Lord, being full of the Holy Spirit, and when you give glory to God, God’s blessing will always be with you. When a Christian joins a non-Christian family, the whole household will be blessed and become Christians. When a Christian joins a company or a community with many non-Christians, the company will change. The community will turn to be nicer with beautiful blessings of God. Let us give glory to God. What is the purpose of our existence? Isaiah 43:7 says, “…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” I pray that you will try your best to give glory to God in all circumstances. Robert Morgan wrote in his book The Red Sea Rules: “When you are in trouble, do not think about how to get out of it. Instead, ask yourself what you can do to give glory to God in that situation.” Try to give glory to God through your life. Jesus’ life was a life dedicated for the glory of God. We remember the prayer of Jesus. John 12:28 says, “Father, glorify your name!” Jesus lived only for the glory of God. The angels praise when Jesus was born. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Hallelujah! What is the purpose of our life? It is to give glory to God by understanding the will of God and practicing it. We must say, “Lord, I give all the glory to You. I want to give glory to You throughout my life until my soul goes to You.” The life of Jesus was like that. He gave up His throne in heaven and came in the flesh to this lowly place. He was born in a dirty stable and laid in a manger. He chose a life of sacrifice and suffering for us. The Lord Jesus died on the cross for us. He died in utmost pain. He died for the glory of God alone. And He was resurrected on the third day. As He died for the glory of God, he was as well resurrected for the glory of God. Our lives too should be lives of love and service, giving glory to God. John Calvin, the founder of the Presbyterian churches, said, “My heart I offer to you, O Lord, promptly and sincerely.” His motto throughout his life was to offer his whole life to the Lord. The motto of many prestigious American universities was giving glory to God. Harvard University was founded in 1636, based on the Word of God. Their main theme is John 14:6. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” Yale University was founded in 1701 and their main theme is Psalm 43:3. “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Princeton University was founded in 1746 and their seal includes both the Old and the New Testaments. Columbia University has Psalm 36:9 as its main theme. “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Scholars founded these universities for the glory of God and these universities have grown to be the most prestigious universities in the world. It is true. God’s faithful servants do not give glory to themselves. They give all the glory to God. God will bless them for it and will make good things happen in their lives. We are the servants of the Lord, chosen for the work of our Lord. Therefore, our only mission is to please our Master. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we must exalt the Lord alone in all the areas of our life. God will receive glory through His dedicated servants and will do wonderful things. Eric Liddell was one of the top favored sportsmen in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was the son of a Scottish pastor. Early in his life, Eric had dedicated his life to follow his father’s life as a missionary. Eric was tall and very good at running. He made the England Olympic team to compete in the 100 meters race. Since he was so fast, he was most favored to win the gold medal. The final race of the 100 meters race was scheduled on a Sunday. Being a strong and committed Christian, Liddell resolved not to do anything on Sundays but worship the Lord, and so he refused to run on Sunday even in the Olympic game. His fellow athletes and his coach in the British team came and pleaded with him, saying, “You will certainly win the gold medal only if you run. Why aren’t you competing in it?” Liddell replied, “I cannot give up my faith. It is not to God’s glory that I compete on Sundays.” Some rebuked him, saying, “How can it not be for the glory of God? It is not disgracing God?” Liddell refused to compromise his convictions, and no one could persuade him to compete. So somebody else won the gold medal in the 100 meter final race on Sunday. Liddell talked to his coach, “Coach, let me run in the 400 meter race.” His coach said, “You have never competed in the 400 meter race. Your strength is in a 100 meter race not a 400 meter race. What makes you think you can compete in it?” Liddell said, “I want to run for the glory of God.” Liddell ran the 400 meter race, which he had never publicly competed in before. He ran and won the gold medal. Hallelujah! Let us give glory to God. This story was made into a film, called, The Chariots of Fire. Later, Eric Riddell went to seminary and became a missionary as he had committed himself to do in his youth. He served as a missionary in China when China was under Japanese rule. The Japanese falsely accused him as a British spy. He was put in prison and died there. He was martyred while he was still young in age. He gave his whole life for the glory of God. According to his journal, he ran for the glory of God. He won the Olympic gold medal for the glory of God. He became a missionary for the glory of God. And he died in prison also for the glory of God. It is my desire that your life will be such a precious life. Let us pray to our Lord, “Lord, I want to live for Your glory throughout my life. I want to live for the glory of God and I want to meet You Lord with joy when I am taken to be with You.” I pray that this prayer will be the confession of your faith in the name of the Lord. It is my earnest prayer for you. Let us again pray. Our Father of infinite love, grace, and mercy, we give all the thanks, praises, and glory to You. Bless us so that we will wait for You with love and with great anticipation. Help us to be righteous and devout. Fill us with the Holy Spirit. Help us to approach You by fasting and praying. More than anything else help us to give glory to You in all areas of our lives. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 1