The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week IV – The Praise Of Faith That Believes Without Seeing
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
“And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2: 38
Waiting In Faith
In the passages above we read of Simeon and Anna. I have to admit that of all of those in the Christmas story, I am most fascinated with their stories and specifically with their praise. Both Simeon and Anna waited on the Lord. They knew the Messiah would come and so they waited, in faith, for the day the Lord would fulfill His promise.
The Holy Spirit led Simeon into the temple at the right time. God granted him spiritual vision to look at the baby Jesus with His parents and to see in Him the Saviour that the Father had promised. As Simeon held the Child, he praised the Lord. “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
Waiting Patiently
Now, I don’t know about you, but when I am waiting on the Lord, sometimes I become a bit impatient and then even doubtful as time moves on – so much so that when the promise is fulfilled, I sometimes miss it! But not Simeon. He waited patiently, was obedient to the Holy Spirit’s direction and then, when his eyes saw the Child, he immediately recognized the salvation of the Lord!
Praising As You Wait
What faithfulness in Simeon – to look at a Baby and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that THIS was the fulfillment of the promise. He didn’t wait to see Him grow, to watch his “career”, or insist on knowing HOW the promise would be fulfilled through a Babe – he just had faith in what he could not yet see and opened his lips wide to praise the Father. “My eyes have seen your salvation.”
His spiritual eyes could see the fulfillment in the seed and that was enough. What a precious picture – can you just see him with this Child in his arms, lifted up toward the Lord, with the praise of the faithful ringing through the temple?
When Your Praise of Faith Impacts Others
And along comes Anna at this exact moment. She sees Simeon and the Child and “in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord.” Her spiritual vision was also attuned and as she watched Simeon lift the Child high and praise the Lord, she too began to give thanks. She had not even TOUCHED the Child but believed in faith that this was the Saviour that had been promised. Her praise continues as she goes out and tells everyone who “looked for the redemption”, that the promise had come.
Trusting That The Seed Will Grow Into Fulfillment
Both Simeon and Anna saw a Baby in the temple; only the beginning, a seed of a promise. But neither wasted any time in lifting their voices and praising God; believing in the growth of that seed into the fulfillment of salvation. They did not ask how or even stick around to see it. They just believed in faith, that which they could not see in the physical, but that which God promised would surely come to pass. And then they praised Him. The praise of faith that believes without seeing; how sweet to the ears of the Father!
Possible and Impossible Dreams
This is the time of year we often talk about dreams; possible dreams and impossible dreams. I believe that there really are no impossible dreams “For with God nothing will be impossible” Luke 1:37
Perhaps those dreams that seem possible are ones we know we can accomplish in our own strength and those that seem impossible are those that we know we could never accomplish without the supernatural Hand of God on our lives. Do you think that seeing the Baby Jesus and believing salvation was at hand could have been an impossible dream for Simeon and Anna? Perhaps the impossible came in the form of seeing a Child and knowing that the dream was accomplished without ever understanding the how and when? But that didn’t stop Simeon and Anna.
Write the Vision
What dreams and promises has God placed in your heart? God places those desires in our hearts and then He fulfills then at the right time. “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 Why not pause right now and wait upon Him as we head into Christmas Day and then into the beginning of the New Year? Ask Him to reveal those desires and dreams to you, the ones that He has placed in your heart.
Be honest, write them out – take the time and God will redeem that time. And even as you write begin to praise the Lord for the fulfillment of those dreams and promised.
The Real Good News of Christmas
You are loved! How do we know? Because the Word of God tells us,
“That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
And how do we receive that everlasting life?
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10: 9
Perhaps you do not yet know Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. Do not delay,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.” 2 Chronicles 6:2
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!
The Saviour has been born!
Rejoice!
Lift up your voices in praise!
Merry Christmas!
Blow Holy Spirit Blow
And as we move into the New Year – for those of us who are the people of the Lord, let us pray that the Holy Spirit would blow into and through our lives, ensuring that 2020 be the year when the sweet sound of the praises of faith without sight, blow over all those around us as they rise to the throne room of the Lord!
Let us pray together
Oh Sweet Holy Spirit, blow through this nation even now! Rise up these dry bones once again into a mighty army for Your work. The time is short and the harvest is plenty. Train us up Lord; strengthen us and grant us boldness to do Your work! Grant each and every one of us a fresh revelation of the power of faith and praise on our lips. Teach us, Lord, that You must be a priority in our lives and that we must take time to wait on You – You always redeem the time but we must be obedient in order to see that fruit. We believe that as our praise of faith rises to You it will blow over and through those around us and draw them into Your kingdom. A mighty army of those that KNOW the power of faith and praise and the joy of dreams and promises, that are yet to be fulfilled. We thank You for the Blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ and pray these things in His name! Amen and Amen and Amen.
Until next time,
From my heart to yours!
