Reading from Luke 2:25 after baby Jesus was presented in the Temple. 

25-32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was pious, righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: (MSG)

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of your people Israel.” (NIV)

33 His father and mother were stunned to hear Simeon say these things. (Voice)

34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed— 35 and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (AMP)

Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem. (MSG)

2:00

Word of God for the people of God.

Well in this passage we learn the wonderful story of Simeon and Anna, two very powerful prophetic intercessors. They were senior citizens and proof positive that God has a plan and a purpose for everyone in every season of life.

Consider Simeon

He was a God Chaser. He lived all in for God  When scripture says he was pious, righteous and devout –  it means he was uncompromising in his focus, passion and purity.  He was an intercessor – waiting on the Lord,  and contending in prayer for the liberation of Israel,  something the whole nation had been doing for over 400 years.

He was full of The Holy Spirit. And God had given him a promise to actually see the Messiah.

I imagine there were times when he felt self-doubt. Did he really hear God? Or was he just imaging things? Like David, did he question God “how long Oh Lord, how long until you do what you promised?”

Have you ever felt that? I know I have.

One day, led by the Spirit, Simeon went to the temple and he had an epiphany. And there right before his own eyes was the Messiah, the baby Jesus, God in the flesh, God Incarnate.

Worship is our response to the revelation of God.

And Simeon’s response is to break out into a spontaneous prophetic song of thanksgiving! He starts seeing things in the revelatory realm, and he starts singing what he is seeing.

That’s how you do prophetic singing, sing what you see. [Sing]

Messiah will be a light and salvation for ALL NATIONS – not just Israel.

Then he sees the conflict and the crucifixion – many will fall and rise.

Then he says He’s going to break his mother‘s heart. He foresaw how Jesus was going to be nothing like what they expected and how he was going to die for the sins of the world.

Anna

Anna was a lover of God and a worship warrior. She had terrible tragedy in her life,  she lost her husband at an early age. She never remarried and probably experienced a lot of loneliness, but she wasn’t bitter, didn’t play the victim, or feel sorry for herself.

Anna truly lived out psalm 27:4 lifestyle “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life,  to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.

And God gave her an amazing gift. The gift of experiencing the presence of God through this infant Jesus. 

And her response to the revelation of God was to sing. She couldn’t help herself! 

Simeon and Anna had been waiting on the Lord for a very long time.

And as the great theologian Tom Petty would say “the waiting is the hardest part”.

God’s timing and His ways are often a mystery.

But the word says

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

“Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” Is 40:31

The waiting produced character. And so God could use them.

They both had godliness with contentment 1 Timothy 6:6  … which yields  great gain.

It’s never too late and you’re never too old if you are seeking the heart and the purpose of God, and are determined to finish well.

If you are willing to say “have thine own way Lord” then he will do for you far more than you could hope or imagine. (Eph 3:20)

Let’s Pray:

Lord, like Simeon and Anna help us to be faithful to you over the long haul. Open our eyes that we may see Your hand at work in every situation and circumstance. May Your light shine in and though us for the glory of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Question: So what do think? Have you gone through seasons of waiting? Have you seen a breakthrough? Tell me about it the comments. 

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Daily Worship Devotionals is a 5 minute podcast dedicated to studying the Word of God and hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. Currently, we are following the Christian year calendar as our framework. We’re in the season of Epiphany – the Season of Light and exploring the early life of Christ.