Looking for the Consolation:the Happy,the Revival, the Resuscitation

Luke 2:22-35
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word; 
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 
NKJV

Waiting and looking for the Consolation is what Simeon, the just and devout did and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In reading the above we see Simeon being led by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. And he, Simeon, saw baby Jesus, and took Him up into his arms. Simeon, with age well depicting his age and his looking, his waiting for that which was to come, the Holy One, he now held in his arms. And he blessed God.

In thinking on that period that Jesus came, Israel was being taken over by the Roman rule. Although not hard set or engraved in stone at the time, yet, Rome was moving and taking over large blocks of land. They had come with some power to see their plans not only survive but be implemented into new people and more lands. It was written that when they were going through Egypt, that the extreme northern parts were built with roadways and even had some trees planted to line that roadway for travel into the country and to some of the most eastern parts of the northern territory.
So Rome was expected to make some kind of change and the Jews did not want the change from what they had already knew and experienced. They had their religious views already set into God and unto God. But what Jesus did when He came was to upset that which the religious men had put into practice by adding man's own agenda's and ideas and held only small vestiges, those smallest amounts of a hint toward what God had actually said and did!
What God did was to send His Son, send to declare what was coming, and what change would allow the Holy Spirit Who was over the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2 b.... to come forward to that moment when Jesus would be resurrected after His crucifixion to come upon all believers in Acts 1. (see below)
Genesis 1:2-5
 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. NKJV

Acts 1:4-14

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

NKJV

Yes, being gathered together after His crucifixion but waiting on His departure into heaven, they still had much to ask Him about. Verse 7 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And again Jesus affirms that it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.......that which only the Father needs to KNOW AND WILL ACT ON! 

Acts 2:1-16

2:1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 

NKJV

How they wanted their homeland restored! From the time of David till Jesus' time, much had occurred in Israel and the Jews had been scattered. Some sixty or so years after Jesus departed into heaven, every stone of that fine temple had come down. People were sent into all directions. That city no longer remained. Certainly a far cry from what was seen in David's time, of dusty roads, and worship in that place that took a while to get to now was only a memory in that which was documented as to history. There was much prosperity at the time of Jesus' life when He had come to earth. It was especially noted that in the time of those festivals and those who were appointed as to the bread making,  surely knew those numbers of people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the week-long festival.

What Simeon must have seen, what he must have experienced in all the time of his life, yet when he saw and recognized the Consolation: the revival to that which God intended, the Resuscitation of the life that had come!

Simeon had spent much time in prayer. He spent much time questioning God about it and when it "happened" he saw it and embraced it! He embraced the life in Jesus, the new.......that breath then being given into man's life and the hope that life from God would restore all for Israel and for mankind. Why do I write of that?

For looking at verse 32 of chapter 2 of the book of  Luke we find starting in verse 29:

and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

Thank You Jesus, ....."a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of YOUR people Israel."
He was seeing Jesus bring light to the Gentiles, those who are not Jews by birth, but would become sons by believing in Jesus.

And the Happy......well Simeon, said " Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace."
Not that Simeon was looking to die now that he had seen the "Consolation" but that he was so satisfied, so happy, so pleased, so contended, so FAVORED, so JOYOUS! He was saying, "it is great to be alive!" "I have seen this awesome thing of God, His Son to come to earth, I rest now, because of His goodness, His great love and will continue to see His glory be unwrapped to the Gentiles and the people Israel. Hallelujah!"

Anyone who spends time in prayer, knows what searching, looking and waiting looks like. They search the Word, they look toward that horizon of their life and wait with that hope, that expectation "I will see this great thing God has for my life." "I will see it, recognize it, jump for joy because of it, for it is my life, it is good for me, and God has sent it to me because it was made for me!
Jesus was sent for we surely needed salvation,.............and it was in that of a SAVIOR!
Truly this is a time to look and give thanks. It is time to look over our lives and give thanks for that which God caused for us to experience............and when we can truly RECOGNIZE .....we are like Simeon, the one who can jump for joy, receive a resuscitation of life that God sent life into that which was dying, was of the broken and that which might have been kicked to the curb!

Simeon was found in the temple. He came to prayer. And those who spend time in prayer will see the same Consolation today. They are not those looking and speaking against God and His Word. God is Spirit and He desires us to live in the spirit....to see with spiritual eyes.

Hebrews 3:1-6.....1 Therefore holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle, and high priests whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is the faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. NIV

Mary surely saw those things come, not how they might play out, but saw them as coming toward that blessed Child who would fulfill that plan of being the Consolation. She saw her own heart pierced. She was found in prayer.....not only at Her Son's crucifixion but also on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:14)

Who do we pray to? Or do we even pray? Of whose family do we belong? Let us turn away from that "which seems newsworthy on T.V. and look at Jesus who was and is the CONSOLATION!
For when we set our hope and prayer on life......then we receive life. When we set our prayer on that which is right for us, it will bring us to a joy that cannot be taken away, we will continue growing in satisfaction and always preparing to meeting Him in the air. It is always moving, expecting, searching and growing to see Him more clearly!
I hope to see you there!

Father, may we be like Simeon who was the expectant. He was one who was looking for the Consolation. In it, his faith was growing exceedingly, and his love abounding. Simeon came to the place where he recognized Him and gave a word of praise and thanks. Thank You Father for allowing us to be counted worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in us and each of us in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Amen.


You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Silent Night?

I keep hearing the Christmas song "Silent Night". I had just written on a previous blog about the shepherds who got the message that night Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I really don't think it was a "silent night" where they were at. Now, if one is thinking of the beauty of the newborn baby and the gentleness of his hands as he moves and stretches with his eyes closed as when he sleeps, yes, the silence of a beauty that only God can create causes one to be silent and drink in that precious beauty! Thinking of our daughter and grand-child, I always reflect on how tiny their hands were and that awesome stretch of the body when they are so relaxed in mommy's arms. I believe for those "not looking for the coming Messiah" probably saw it as just another night, just another year, and just another season passing.
But "silent" never, for those who came looking from the east followed the star that directed them to the Christ Child. I think there was probably a lot of talk going on about what these men were seeing. And dare I mention what the shepherds probably talked about when the angels appeared to them with a heavenly message?

Luke 2:8-20....................................8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. NKJV

Now, I cannot say the shepherds were waiting for the consolation to appear. In verse 17 it states that when they had seen HIM, they made it widely known the same which was told to them. AND we find in verse 20 that the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen as it was told them.

Wow! They experienced it and praised God for it! Could they have gotten "loud" about their praise and thanks to God?

I would think that this is not the time to be all "spiritual" but the time to praise God for sending Jesus and telling others about it! Here is scripture in detail stating that these shepherds certainly went out to tell others about Jesus.

Do we do as much? Do we tell others of Jesus? Do we leave glorifying and praising God for things we have heard about HIM in church or even at home in our study time? Do we tell others or are we not receiving truth of Who He is in "church"? Because we should be fed and encouraged to go out and tell others about Jesus. Do we not learn from our "secret place" time with Him or are we again to busy for prayer time because it is the holiday" season?  These shepherds left their flocks to go and see what they had heard and they returned with praise on their lips.

Is it "silent" at your house during this time of year or do you have your family gathered to give praise to God? Is there the exuberance of the expected package under a tree or the coming One, the Savior of the world? It is not about presents, or how much food to have or what kind of meat or drink, but it is about the "One" who was sent! It is about glorifying God for His goodness and love towards that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!  For the coming One will return and will put His foot down on Mt. Olive.........and every eye will see HIM! Yes, He is coming again and there will be no "silence".

Romans 5:6-9 ................6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. NKJV

I believe there was much more in the truth of the angels appearing to the shepherds that night.  I believe the Great Shepherd was talked about that night to the shepherds who kept their watch on their flocks. If we are in any kind of leadership, we are to guide people into the truth of God's word. We are to have one heart with God! We are to tell our children grand-children, those at church, those at the bus stop, those in the work place, those in the grocery store or shopping center. We are to tell others of the love of God and how He came with power to set all the captives free.

I close with this scripture:

Matthew 4:23-5:2.....23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.   Matthew 5 ..................5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: NKJV

We know from scripture that people followed Jesus............and from this verse of Matthew 4:23....and all the way to Chapter 8 of same book ...........Jesus taught. In my estimation, these people sat for a long time to hear this message preached. These were great crowds who came to hear Him teach and speak truth. Yet, today I hear people say, "oh, they cannot give long sermons for the people get nervous, anxious, and will not sit that long to hear." And, "well, the service is to start at 9 am but the people are still coming in and you look around the room and see maybe a half dozen people just standing around and waiting. Yet these people followed Jesus up a mountain and heard Him teach for hours. People were excited, and came with a longing to hear what He was going to say and teach. Jesus taught them and showed them truth of the Word. He guided them by God's love and the importance of obeying. Jesus showed them and us that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35-51), Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) , the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14), Light in the World (John 812; John 9:5), Door of the Sheep (John 10:7-9), Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and True Vine (15:1-6)

These people did not have a new SUV or an new cell phone that will do "everything". Yet they heard and they followed. They had to walk or ride the animal that was available at the time. They did not need the new outfit or a limo to get to church.

I pray that I have sparked a fire in many that choose to tell others of God's goodness and love. If we are not corrected and continue down the same ole path, do we fail miserably in not telling others of God's love and how it was expressed through His Son Jesus?

I believe Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit at every turn of His walk with His Father. I believe Him to be obedient even unto death. Are we willing to make the same sacrifice? And our dying to self does not mean we go to the cross, but we do take up the Cross and carry it to remember we have a Savior..............for today we know that a Savior was born.............."Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will toward all men.........."

I pray that we be not the silent majority! I pray that we tell others of God's great love, through giving, through prayer, through teaching, through praise and the love of God to let people know that we have seen a great light! AND HE IS COMING AGAIN!

Matthew 4:16...........16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."  NIV

Father, I pray that there be no "silent nights" in regard to the coming of Your son Jesus. I pray that we would know that a great Light has come upon those living in the land of the shadow of death and as the Light has dawned............may we be like those shepherds and declare God's glory. Peace on this earth begins with us knowing YOUR peace Almighty God, and I pray that we would recognize it to be a peace that is never passive. Father help us today to know that YOUR peace is meant to demolish every single work of darkness. As we move and have our being in YOU, may YOUR peace invade us, and take over  to drive the chaos out of our lives. Father I praise YOU and thank You for Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He delivered the Gospel of Peace to us. Like Jesus, the more we speak the Word, the more Your peace will prevail in our lives. I also pray that we would know that sin is an open door that invites chaos into our lives. Help us to discern to get sin out and keep it rooted out and demolished. The only silence we should have is the one OF A CONFIDENT TRUST IN YOU within our hearts and minds that keeps the guard up! Yes, today our trust is in YOU!
It is in the mighty name of Jesus that I pray for each TO come to know the great light that has come, and may they experience His great peace that can be carried with us everywhere we go. I pray that our hearts today will declare YOU God and will spend the time, no matter the hour or the lateness, but wait on You to hear You speak. I pray that we would be a force of men and women who will go out to tell others of Jesus and His coming again for His believer's. Father make us strong and courageous. Help us to never be afraid or terrified because of anyone else, for You Lord our God goes with us, just like YOU did for Jesus. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV