12.28.2025 | WAITING FOR THE PROMISE - Part 5 - Receiving the Promise - Pastor McLean Faw

WAITING FOR THE PROMISE – Part 5 RECEIVING THE PROMISE

Luke 2:25-26 (NLT) – At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

Luke 2:27-29 (NLT) – That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.

Luke 2:30-31(NLT) – I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel.”

2 Corinthians 1:20a (NLT) – For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”

2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV) – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

1.      RECEIVE THE GIFT

Luke 2:27-29 (NLT) – That day the Spirit led him to the temple. So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.”

Simeon was led to Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

When Simeon saw Jesus, he knew it was the Messiah, and he took Him up in his arms.

He personally received Jesus and drew Him into his arms and into his life.

The Holy Spirit wants to help us know Jesus personally.

John 1:11-12 (NIV) – He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

2.      OPEN THE GIFT

Simeon not only received the gift of Jesus, but he also began to open the gift.

Simeon began to declare and prophecy under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 2:30-32 (NLT) – I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel.

The Gift of Jesus begins to flow through him to bless others.

Jesus is the Gift, but there are so many other gifts that are in Him: forgiveness is in Him, healing is in Him, fullness of the Spirit is in Him, the callings of God are in Him.

We want to open ourselves to all of His fullness and all of His gifts!

3.      SHARE THE GIFT

Luke 2:36-37 (NLT) – Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

Luke 2:38 (NLT) – She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

If we have received the gift of Jesus, we want to share Him.

He is too good to keep to ourselves.

Luke 2:17 (NLT) – After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

Discussion Questions

1.      Have you had a personal promise from God come to pass in your lifetime?

2.      Could you share that promise and how it came to pass?

3.      What was the personal promise to Simeon?

4.      How was it fulfilled?

5.      Have you received Jesus Christ into your life?

6.      What further gifts is He trying to release in and through your life?

7.      Who is the Holy Spirit calling you to share Jesus with?