And tonight we are here in Luke chapter number two and the title of my sermon is "Simeon,
a man of God."
Simeon, a man of God.
Let's read quickly the portion of this chapter that's dealing with this man Simeon, starting
in verse number 25.
The Bible reads, "And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.
And the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed on him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had
seen the Lord's Christ.
He came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,
to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed
God, and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all
people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for
the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.
Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts
may be revealed."
So the Bible does not say a whole lot about this man Simeon.
He's only talked about in one of the four gospels in the book of Luke, and that is what
we just read.
That is what the Bible records of Simeon for us.
But in these short couple of verses, there's a lot of great doctrine that we can learn
from this man Simeon.
There's a lot of things we can learn both about him personally and just doctrines that
the Bible teaches from just these couple of verses.
And so tonight, the title of the sermon is Simeon, a man of God, and let's just go through
these couple of verses and learn what the Bible has for us in this chapter.
Number one.
The first thing that we can take away from this story of Simeon is that Simeon was saved.
Simeon was saved.
Let's look at Luke 2, 25 again and it says, "And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just."
Notice that word "just" and "devout" waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy
Ghost was upon him.
So the first thing that we can tell about Simeon is that he was saved.
Why?
Because the Bible says he was "just."
Oftentimes, the Bible uses this word "just" to define something that's good, that's right,
that's fair.
But also, oftentimes, it's using it to describe someone who is saved.
Like, the Bible says "just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked."
So Lot obviously was a saved man, and what the Bible is telling us when it says that
Simeon was a just man, it's telling us that he is saved.
So first, I want to show you an example of how the Bible uses this word "just" to mean
fair or right.
Go to Romans chapter number three, Romans chapter number three.
Romans three and look at verse eight.
So Paul's speaking and in verse eight he says, "And not rather as we be slanderously reported
and as some affirm that we say."
So Paul's saying, "Hey, I'm being slandered.
We're being slandered and they're saying that we're saying this, 'Let us do evil that good
may come.'"
So Paul obviously was not saying this lie that we should do evil that good may come,
but this is a slanderous accusation that was being thrown against him.
But notice what he says.
He says, "Those people, those people that are slandering me," it says, "whose damnation
is just."
So obviously he's not saying that these people are saved because he's saying that their damnation
is just.
What he's saying is their damnation is merited.
Their damnation is good.
Their damnation is fair.
He's saying the fact that these people are going to hell is good.
That's how he's using the word "just."
But the word "just" often is used to describe saved people as well.
Keep your finger in Romans chapter 3 and go to Acts chapter number 24.
Acts 24, the Bible also uses this word "just" to describe people that are saved.
In Acts 24, look at verse number 14, "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way
which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which
are written in the law and in the prophets, and have hope toward God, which they themselves
also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust."
And here in this verse, Paul is separating two people, the saved and the unsaved.
And what does he call them?
The just and the unjust.
We know that the saved are going to be resurrected at the rapture.
The dead in Christ will rise first, and that is the resurrection of the just.
But there's also a resurrection of the unjust, the resurrection of damnation, when the unsaved
will be resurrected and will be judged at the great white-thrown judgment and then be
cast into the lake of fire.
So obviously the Bible is defining these words in two different ways.
Just meaning good, right, or fair, and also meaning saved.
Here's another example of that.
You can go to Romans 3 and I'll read for you Matthew 13, verse 49.
The Bible says, "So shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come forth
and sever the wicked from among the just."
And so Jesus Christ is separating the unsaved, which he calls wicked, and the saved, which
he calls just.
Now, why are the saved called just in the Bible?
I think the reason why they're called just is because they're justified by God.
It's not because they themselves are righteous or they've done anything themselves to make
themselves just.
The reason they're called just is because they were justified by God.
And when you think about the way that we use this word in our modern vernacular, we don't
use the word justified too often, but have you ever heard of maybe a police officer or
a private citizen will defend themselves and have to shoot and kill someone?
And what do they call that?
They call that a justified shooting, right?
The judge will say, "Hey, the police officer was justified in his actions in shooting
this person."
And when he's justified, does he get any judgment enacted upon him?
Does he get any penalty enacted upon him?
No, because he was justified, because he was made right.
Well, it's the same thing with salvation.
Go to Romans chapter number three, Romans three, let me get there myself real quick.
And towards the latter part of the chapter in verse 24, the Bible says, "Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God had set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say
at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus.
So why is it that the saved are called just?
Because we've been justified by Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that Jesus is both just and the justifier of them which believe in him.
Now he's the only one that's ever been just.
No other man who's ever lived on this earth has ever been truly just by their own merits.
But Jesus Christ never sinned.
He became sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him and when we put our faith in him we're now justified.
We now become just not because we're good people, not because we follow the law, but
because of the faith of Jesus Christ.
And he goes on in verse 27 to say, "Where is boasting then?
It is excluded.
By what law of works?
Nay, but by the law of faith."
See when you realize that salvation is by faith alone you have nothing to boast in.
Because it's not you that's just.
It was Jesus Christ that's just.
All you are is justified.
So when the Bible calls the saved just, it's nothing to boast about.
It's nothing that we did ourselves.
We didn't follow the laws perfectly.
We're sinners just like the rest of the world, but we're justified because Jesus Christ was
just and He's the justifier of them which believe in Him.
Verse 28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of
the law."
And you know you would think that this would be just such a fundamental easy truth and
it is a fundamental truth.
This is the backbone of our faith salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, yet sadly
most Christians do not believe this.
People who call themselves Christians do not believe this doctrine.
You show up at their door, you ask them, "Are you 100% sure if you die today you go to heaven?"
They tell you yes or no or whatever and when you ask them how that they know, they say
because I'm a good person.
Because I've done that which is right.
Because I go to church.
Because I do this, this and that.
But Paul says, "Where is boasting then?
It is excluded."
Why?
Because it's by faith.
Paul says, "You're not just, Jesus Christ is just, and He is the justifier of them which
believe in Him."
Go to Galatians chapter number two.
Galatians chapter number two.
And so that's what being saved is, is being just, and when you're just, you're absolved
from judgment.
There's no penalty coming upon you when you are just.
Galatians chapter number two, look at verse 16.
The Bible says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified
by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified."
You see, if it were possible to keep the law perfectly, if it were possible to never sin,
then you can say that you are just.
You can say you're just because you've never sinned, but the Bible says that by the works
of the law, no flesh will be justified.
Why?
Because it's impossible to be perfect, and that's why we need that savior to be just
for us so that he can in turn justify us when we put our faith in him.
And so the Bible's very, very repetitive about this topic.
You know, Paul doesn't mince words about this.
The Bible does not mince words about the doctrine of salvation.
It's by faith alone in Jesus Christ without works, plus nothing, minus nothing.
Go to Galatians chapter 5 verse 4.
You know, for all these so-called Christians that we go out and talk to and that tell us
that they want to be justified by their works, they want to get themselves to heaven by
being a good person, by going to church, by praying, by reading the Bible, by tithing,
by helping old ladies cross the street, whatever the list that they give you, this is a very
sobering verse, or at least should be for these people. Galatians 5, 4, the Bible says
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen
from grace. So we just saw in Galatians 2, 16 that the Bible says that no flesh will
be justified by the law, but in Galatians 5, 4 it says that whoever is justified by
the law is fallen from grace. So is there a contradiction here? No, all this is saying
is that those that want to be justified by the law, those that are seeking, those that
are trying to be justified by the law, they're fallen from grace, and Christ is of no effect
unto them. That's why it's important to explain to people out-soulening that it's not 99%
putting your faith in Jesus Christ and 1% in yourself. Well, oh yeah, I'm going to believe
in Jesus Christ, but I also think I have to be a good person. You know, the Bible says
that Christ has become of no effect unto you at that point. No effect. That is not a place
you want to be as an unsaved person. But yet, most people don't know that this is the dire
state that they're in. And this is often a great verse to show people to say, "Look,
if you're trusting even in 1% of your own works, the Bible says Christ is of none effect
unto you." And notice this word "justified" again in Romans chapter 5. Go to Romans chapter
5. In Romans chapter 5, look at verse 1. It says, "Therefore, being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." So all throughout the New Testament,
you see this word "justified" meaning good, right, or fair, but also meaning saved. And
so in Luke chapter 2, when we see that Simeon was a just man and devout, the first thing
we can learn is that he's saved. Why is he saved? Because he's put his faith in Jesus
Christ. Not because Simeon was some great person, not because Simeon followed the law
perfectly, no, he was just because he was justified by Jesus Christ. So number 2 tonight
about Simeon, go back to Luke chapter number 2, Luke chapter number 2, and keep your place
there throughout the sermon, Luke chapter number 2. Let's look at verse 25 again. It
says, "And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was
just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was upon him."
So number one tonight, Simeon was saved. Number two, Simeon was devout. Simeon was devout.
Now, the dictionary definition of devout is devoted to divine worship or service, pious
or religious. So the dictionary tells us that a synonym of this word devout is religious.
So Simeon was not only saved, but he was also devoted. He was also someone who was religious.
Now, this word religion sadly has become kind of a bad word among so-called Christians today.
And I don't notice it so much as so much down here in Texas as I did when I lived in the
Northwest. But all the time up in the Northwest, people tell you, "Oh, I believe in Jesus.
I love Jesus, but I hate religion." Or, you know, "Religion's manmade." Or they'll just
say, "Religion's horrible. Religious is a manmade structure to brainwash people, but
I love Jesus." And that's the type of things that they'll say. But let me just explain
to you that Simeon was not just saved, but he was also devoted. Which means that he was
religious. And this is not a bad thing. Being religious is not a bad thing. We need to take
this word back and remove this negative connotation on the word "religion." Because you know what's
bad? False religion. That's what's bad. There's nothing wrong with real religion. There's
nothing wrong with pure religion. Now, there's this very famous YouTube video. This video
went viral about 10 years ago or so. And it's called "Why I Hate Religion But Love
Jesus." Has anyone ever seen this before? Okay, a few people. It has 34.9 million views.
It's by this guy named Jeff Bethke. And he's basically doing like this spoken word poem
type style. You guys know what I'm talking about. Where he's talking about why he hates
religion but loves Jesus. And you know, I think that this video has probably done a
lot of damage to Christianity. I mean he has 35 million views and why is it that I hear
all the time this stupid mantra being repeated to me that religion is bad? It's because idiots
like this. And so I want to read to you his stupid poem and explain to you why it is so
wrong. So he starts off in the beginning of his poem. And this is the first line. He
says, "What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?" I'd call you an idiot is what
I would call you. Because that's not at all what Jesus came to do. You telling me Jesus
came to abolish being devoted? Is that what you're telling me? Because that's what religious
means. It means being devoted. Simon was a devout man. Are you telling me that Jesus
came to abolish people from being devout? Is that what you're telling me? Obviously
that's not what he means, but let me just, you know, interrupt your stupid little poem
with the word of God. In James chapter number one, go ahead and turn there to James chapter
number one, the Bible will define for us what religion actually is. James chapter one
verse 27, the Bible says pure religion, see not false religion. I agree. I hate false
religion, but love Jesus, but pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is
this to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted
from the world. Are you going to tell me that Jesus came to abolish visiting the fatherless
and the widows and their affliction? Is that what you're going to tell me? Are you going
to tell me that Jesus came to abolish being unspotted from the world? You see, that really
is the end goal of these NIV rock and roll new evangelical style churches, is they have
a problem with that last part. They have a problem with keeping themselves unspotted
from the world. And so that's really what he's talking about when he says he hates religion.
What he's saying is I hate the law of God, is what he's saying. He's saying I hate the
do's and the don'ts, the thou shouts and the thou shouts not. That's what he's talking
about. But pure religion is visiting the fatherless, visiting the widows and keeping yourself unspotted
from the world. By the way, that's what we do when we go soul winning. Because every
single person that is unsaved is fatherless. Because God is not their father yet. They're
not a child of God yet. And so we're visiting them and we're visiting them in their affliction
and we're trying to get them saved. Are you going to tell me Jesus Christ came to abolish
giving the gospel? What kind of wicked devil says something like that? And that's just
the first line of his poem. Let's continue. What if I told you voting Republican wasn't
really his mission? Okay, I agree with you there. What if I told you Republican doesn't
automatically mean Christian? Amen. And just because you call some people blind doesn't
automatically give you vision. Fair enough. I mean, if religion is so great, why has
it started so many wars? Go ahead and turn to first Timothy chapter number one. So he's
attacking religion and he's saying if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars?
Well, first of all, that's just a mantra that people repeat and they don't even really
know what they're talking about usually. Usually they can't even name a single war that they
even claim has been started by religion. But, you know, not all war is bad. There's actually
wars that are good. And first Timothy one verse 18, the Bible says, "This charge I
commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went on before thee,
that thou by them mightest war a good warfare." So it sounds to me like God wants us to war
a good warfare. There's a warfare that's bad, sure, I agree with that, but there's also
warfare that's good. And when you're out preaching the word of God, when you're out preaching
the gospel to people and preaching the full counsel of God, that's fighting a warfare
that is good. So hey, that's a war that I want to start. If it started by religion,
great. Sounds good to me. And you know, also in the Old Testament, there were several physical
wars that God endorsed, that God commanded people to do. And so it's blasphemous to just
say if religion's so great and why there's so many wars. Hey, there were some wars that
were great. I think it's great when Joshua and his army invaded the promised land and
wiped out a bunch of Canaanites, a bunch of Perizzites, a bunch of whatever the "ites"
they are. That's great because that's what God wanted him to do, you know? I love it
when Asa just rooted out the houses of the sodomites. I love that war. I love that physical
war. And it's a spiritual war now. But you know, I'm not going to blaspheme God by saying
that all war is bad or insinuating that all war is bad with your stupid poem. The thing
is that these churches don't fight any warfare. That's why they're against war. They don't
fight any spiritual warfare. We do, but they don't, and that's why they want to just blaspheme
God. It says, "Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?" Again, you know,
we just have to ruin this cute little poem with the Bible, because the Bible says in
2 Thessalonians 3 10, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he eat." The Bible does not teach that it's the church's
job to go and feed all these homeless bums, or as what Americans would consider poor.
They're not even really poor. You know, one time, the Plant Brothers were here playing
ping pong at like 1 AM or something like that, like they always do. No, it wasn't that late.
And they called me and they said that some crazy homeless guy was here. And I showed
up and I just started talking to him, asking him where he's from. Does he have a job? No,
he doesn't have a job. And I started preaching him the gospel. And suddenly, after he realized
that we weren't going to give him money, he was too busy to hear the gospel. Is he telling
me that us as a church, we need to feed people like that? Just hanging out at churches at
1 a.m., just harassing people, won't even listen to the gospel? No, the Bible says if
you don't work, you should starve to death. That's what the Bible says. Because if you
don't eat, then you die. And Paul said, hey, if you don't eat, if you don't work, you don't
eat. Let's continue with this poem. So why does it build huge churches but fails to feed
the poor? Tells single moms that God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce.
Who has ever said that? Here's my question. What preacher of any denomination, any church,
show me the clip where anyone has said that God doesn't love women because they've been
divorced. I mean, just a complete just railing accusation just so that he can just make it
look like he's right by using this extreme example. You know, like Paul said, as we be
slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say, you know, should we not hate women
that have been divorced? It's like, what? What are you talking about? No one has ever
said that. He says, but in the old testament, God actually called religious people's religious
people whores. Yeah, if you talk about false religion, you know, whoring after other gods,
he never called people that were devoted to him whores. He never called people that were
religious in their service to the true and living God whores. It was the false religions
that he would say are whores. He says religion might preach grace, but another thing they
practiced tend to ridicule God's people. They did it to John the Baptist. I guess it rhymes.
Use it, I guess. What a joke. They can't fix their problems and so they just mask it.
So he's ridiculing church people, religious people, for not being able to fix their problems.
But here's the thing. I got news for this guy. No one can fix all their problems. Yeah,
oh, they mask it. Like Paul when he said, "Oh wretched man that I am." You know, like
Paul when he said, "I'm carnal, sold under sin." Hey, Paul was messed up too. All of
us are a work in progress. All of us are messed up. All of us are sinful people. And
so is he and so is everyone. In every sphere of life you ever will encounter, you'll find
sinful people, including church. That should not be a reason to talk bad about church or
talk bad about religion. It's one thing, you know, when you're being a hypocrite, when
you're pretending like you're perfect and you're not. But hey, if you're, if you're
just a sinner and you're just trying to get better and you acknowledge the fact that
you're a sinner, that's not being a hypocrite. That's called being a human being. And every
single person is a sinner. He says not realizing religion's, religion is like spraying perfume
on a casket. See, the problem with religion is it never gets to the core. It's just behavior
modification like a long list of chores. So keep that in the back of your mind that he's,
he's kind of attacking this idea of, of modifying your behavior or changing your ways. He doesn't
like that. He said, like, let's dress up the outside, make it look nice and neat. But it's
funny. That's what they used to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath. Now I ain't
judging. I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look. Yes, you are. You are literally
judging. You're sitting here telling us religion started all this wars. It hates women that
have been divorced. It's just like, he's just like just lambasting religion with all of
these, you know, big flowery words. And he's like, I'm not judging. It's like, yeah, you
are. And you're a liar for saying that you're not judging. You're just lying openly in the
middle of your stupid poem. So ridiculous people buy into this. He says, cause there's
a problem if people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook. But it's like, wait a second,
you just kind of preached against behavior modification. So like, you don't want us to
change our ways. You don't want us to like clean up our life. But you say it's a problem
if people only know you that you're a Christian by your Facebook. Well, if you aren't living
the Christian life, that's, you know, you're not modifying your behavior, then the only
way you'd be able to tell if you're a Christian is by your Facebook at that point. So it's
like he's not even following his own logic. He says, I mean, in every other aspect of
life, you know that that logic is unworthy. It's like saying you play for the Lakers just
because you bought a jersey. You see, this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to
me, acting like a church kid while addicted to pornography. See, on Sunday, I'd go to
church, but Saturday getting faded, acting as if I was simply created to have you know
what and get wasted. See, I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness, but
now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness. What's his weakness? All the things that he
was just bragging about that he did. He's saying, "You know, I used to do all these
things and put up a show that I was, you know, I was putting up this facade that I was really
neat and nice, but now that I really know Jesus, now I boast in all that. Now I boast
in all my weakness." You know, it reminds me of what Jude said, "Raging waves of the
sea, foaming out their own shame." That's what this guy is doing. He's just foaming
out his own shame, telling us all the things that he's into, and bragging about it. Saying,
"Now that I know Jesus, I boast in that weakness." That's not something to boast about. Obviously
we're all sinners. Obviously we all struggle with sin, but that doesn't mean that we should
just boast about our sin. It doesn't mean we should be proud about our sin. He says,
"Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean. It's not a museum for
good people, it's a hospital for the broken." Which means I don't have to hide my failure.
I don't have to hide my sin. Yeah, but can you please not brag about it? Because it doesn't
depend on me, it depends on him. See, because when I was God's enemy, and certainly not
a fan, he's saying that he was God's enemy, he looked down and said, "I want that man."
I'll read for you James 4.4. It says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not
that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God." Hey, the enemy of God in the past, you are the enemy
of God right now, because you're a friend of the world is what you are. Just boasting
in sin, acting like we should just get rid of religion. That Jesus came to abolish religion.
You are an enemy of God is what you are. It says, "Which is why Jesus hated religion
and for it He called them fools." So Jesus hated being devoted. So Jesus thought that
Simeon was a fool, I guess, for being a man that was just and devout. I guess that's
something that Simeon should have been ashamed of, that he was devoted to God, that he was
devoted to the word of God according to this fool. It says, "Now let me clarify." Yeah,
please clarify this horrible poem. It says, "I love the church. I love the Bible. And
yes, I believe in sin." You believe that for one second, that this guy loves church and
loves the Bible? Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." And you're just
mocking God's commandments. You're mocking the do's and don'ts. You just said, you're
just talking against behavior modification. Well, guess what? If you're going to follow
Jesus' commandments, that's going to entail some behavior modification. Because my flesh
doesn't automatically want to do what Jesus wants me to do. I have to modify that behavior
to follow God's commandments. But if you follow God's commandments, that's how you
love God. If you love me, keep my commandments. I don't believe this guy that he loves church,
that he loves the Bible, that he loves God. He says, "I believe in sin." What does that
even mean? Like you believe sin exists? You believe that sin is bad? What do you mean
you believe in sin? What a joke. But if Jesus came to your church, would they actually let
him in? Yes, we would. Yes, we would. Thanks for asking. See, remember he was called a
glutton and a drunkard by religious men, by false religions. But the son of God never
supports self-righteousness. Not now, not then. Now back to the point, one thing is
vital to mention, how Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums. See, one's the
work of God, but one is a man-made invention. So I guess man-made visiting
the fatherless and the widows in their affliction. Man-made keeping himself
spotted, unspotted from the world. No, this is something that God taught us. See,
one is the cure, but the other is the infection. Because religious, religion
says do, Jesus says done. Religion says slave, maybe if you have a false Bible.
Jesus says son. Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free.
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see. Just blaspheming religion.
That's why religion and Jesus are on two different clans. Religion is man
searching for God. Christianity is God searching for man. Now go to Hebrews
chapter number 11. So he says religion is man searching for God. And remember he
just told us that he hates religion. He detests religion. He's against religion.
So he says religion is man searching for God. So he's against that. He's against
man searching for God. He says Christianity is God searching for man.
Well let's see what he is against. Hebrews 11 6. But without faith it is
impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. So he says religion
this thing that I hate is man seeking after God. But the Bible says that in
order to be pleasing to God you have to have the faith that you believe he's
a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Just complete opposite of what the
Bible says. This guy thinks he is smart but what he is saying is just completely
against scripture. Every line of this virtually is horrible. He says which is
why salvation is freely mine and forgiveness is my own. Now notice the
subtlety of the devil here bringing in some truth into this poem right? He says
not based on my merits but by Jesus's obedience alone. Now that is true. We
just covered what justification is right? He says but he took the crown of thorns
and the blood dripped down his face. He took what we all deserved I guess that's
why you call it grace and while being murdered he yelled father forgive them
for they know not what they do because when he was dangling on that cross he
was thinking of you and he observed all your sin and buried it in the
tomb which is why I'm kneeling at the cross saying come on there's room. So for
religion no I hate it in fact I literally resent it because when Jesus
said it is finished I believe he meant it. So this guy's like you know Manley
Perry and and Pastor Major just like saying that it is finished just means
whatever you want it to mean. So for this guy it is finished it's just all
religion anything that's about devotion anything about that's being committed
this guy hates it this guy literally resents it because when Jesus said it is
finished he believes that he meant it. Wow unbelievable you know this is what
is called turning the grace of God into lasciviousness this you know people
people say that we use grace as a license to sin yet you come to churches
like ours and we preach the freest salvation and the hardest against sin
whereas this guy is just making the grace of God into lasciviousness you
know Romans 6 one says what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that
grace may abound God forbid is what the Bible says we shouldn't be just lifting
up and making light of sin and making light of religion it's a wicked false
doctrine today you know the devil he mixes in this little grain of truth at
the end of this guy's poem talking about salvation but here's the thing the
devil has plenty of ways to deceive people about salvation today but this
little poem you know if the devil can't send you to hell he at least wants to
make sure you're not going to be religious he at least wants to make sure
okay if this person's going to heaven let's at least make sure he's not going
to be devoted like Simeon because he wants to send as many people to hell
don't get me wrong but just because you're saved doesn't mean the devil's
done with you doesn't mean he doesn't want to still derail you if he can't
send you to hell he'd like to at least make sure that you're not a devoted
Christian that you're not going to be devoted to the service of God to the
things that God wants us to do and that is the work of doubt of the devil in
these new evangelical churches where a lot of times yeah there is a lot of
safe people in these new evangelical churches you knock on their door and a
lot of time yeah they do give the right answers for salvation but the problem is
they believe like this guy when it comes to this stupid poem and they mock us for
soul winning they mock the Word of God they stand with the sodomites against us
because they have not learned from the Bible these things but here's the thing
that that I like to challenge people that tell me they're against religion
because it's important to remind these people what religious means it means
devoted right every single person on this planet is a religious person every
single person on this planet is devoted to something I mean hey go soul-winning
during football season on Sunday afternoon and you know what you'll find
a bunch of religious people they're devoted to the Dallas Cowboys I mean
every single Sunday they put their little shrine on their TV they're wearing
the uniform they've got their church clothes on they're hooping and hollering
and screaming amen at the quarterback they are religious they are devoted the
question is what are you devoted to what are you religious about but don't tell
me that you're not religious even these fags are religious they're out here every
service they're religiously devoted to protesting our church rain shine it
doesn't matter they're devoted they are religious why because every single
person is religious you ever met a person that was obsessed with fishing
fishing is their religion they're religious fishermen have you ever met
people that are obsessed with working out runners or bicyclists people that
are obsessed with working out that's their that could be their religion how
about alcoholics they're religious about their drinking they're devoted to their
drinking life right see God wants us to be religious and devoted to the things
of God and when the Bible says that Simeon was just and devout it wasn't
saying he was devout to the Dallas Cowboys okay it's obviously implied he
was devout to the Lord he was a religious man to the Lord now go to
Matthew chapter number 22 Matthew chapter number 22 verse 35 Matthew 22 verse 35
says then one of them which was a lawyer asked him a question tempting him and
saying master which is the great commandment in the law Jesus said unto
him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy
soul and with all thy mind this is the first and great commandment that sounds
like being religious to me that sounds like being devoted to give God the law
all the love that is in our heart our soul and our mind that is devotion that
is what God expects from us he expects all of our love from us that is being
devoted and religious go to Titus chapter number three Titus chapter
number three Titus chapter number three look at verse 11 when you get there
Titus 311 for the grace of God now this guy loved to talk about grace right for
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us so
what is this grace that has appeared to us supposed to teach us it says teaching
us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly
righteously and godly in this present world so he says oh the church religious
people they don't know anything about grace but the Bible says that grace
teaches us that we should deny ungodliness we should deny worldly lusts
we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world that's a
lot of behavior modification is it not that's what grace teaches us that's not
what the law teaches us that's not what you know his definition of religion
teaches us that's what grace teaches us that we should live godly and you know
the reason this makes me have so so upset is because churches like this guy
people that preach like this guy is the reason why America is so screwed up
today because America has stopped preaching hard against sin America no
longer wants to deny ungodliness or worldly lusts America no longer wants to
deny drunkenness or fornication or adultery or any of these wicked sins
that God hates and that brings the the wrath and ire of God on the nation even
Christians today don't want to talk about it even Christians today don't
want to preach against it when the Bible says that the grace of God teaches us
that the good side of God the grace of God teaches us that but people like Jeff
Bethke want to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness look at verse 13
looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all
iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works
religious of good works devoted to good works these things speak and
exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee and you know as
Christians we shouldn't let other Christians despise the word of God or
despise us for believing the word of God they should despise themselves for
being so weak they should despise themselves for blaspheming God's word
for speaking against God's word and standing with wicked people today
disgusting go to Ephesians chapter number 2 Ephesians chapter number 2
Ephesians 2 8 very familiar verses for us says for by grace are you saved through
faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any
man should boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto
good works which God had before ordained that we should walk in them so you know
what must we do to be saved believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and now shall be
saved but what should we do hey we should walk in the good works that Jesus
Christ has ordained us to do that's what we should do that's what would bring
honor and glory to the Lord not bragging about how sinful we are yeah we
know everyone's sinful why don't you stop bragging about it and try to start
getting your butt to work for God doing the work that he has called us to do you
know this is a church that's going to heavily emphasize doing good works yeah
we heavily emphasize that salvation is free it's of grace completely but we
also want to emphasize doing good works why because we want to be devoted people
we want to be religious people here's something that you want to be religious
about go to Hebrews chapter number 10 here's something you should be religious
about going to church going to church is something that you should be
devoted to it's something that you should be very religious hey no one
should have to wonder where you're gonna be on Sunday morning Sunday night and
Wednesday night you should religiously be in the house of God every time the
doors are open look at Hebrews 10 verse 24 it says and let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works here's some good works that we
should provoke each other to not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the
more as you see the day approaching it's a good thing it's provoking each other
to love when we provoke each other to do good works like coming to church how
about soul winning I'll read for you acts 542 it says and daily in the temple
and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ that is
being devoted that's being religious when every single day you're teaching
and preaching Jesus Christ every single day they were going out and preaching
gospel they were religious in this area and hey we should provoke each other to
be religious to our soul winning to be devoted to reaching the world with the
gospel you know it's really sad to me how our protesters are these sodomites
protesting us they can be really devoted and religious in how in showing the
world how much they hate God they could show up when it's over a hundred degrees
they could show up when it's raining they did the same thing to Verity
Baptist Church for six months but some Christians are not devoted enough to go
soul-winning for one hour a week and some Christians are not devoted enough
to go soul-winning ever in their whole life you know that that should be a
shameful thought when you're thinking that there are people that working
harder at spreading the message of hating God than a lot of Christians are
at just getting the gospel out and I understand every single person is on
different spiritual growths different spiritual levels but you should strive
to be a religious soul winner you should strive to be someone that's devoted to
preaching the gospel to where at least just one hour a week that you make it
out and preach the gospel and of course I'm not talking to the ladies that just
gave birth today or a few weeks ago I'm not talking to the ladies that are nine
months pregnant I'm talking if you're an able-bodied person you need to be
preaching the gospel period you could be a silent partner but hey get devoted to
preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ I'll read for you Luke 18 one here's
another area we should be devoted in how about our prayer Luke 18 one Jesus
said or it says and he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought
always to pray and not to faint so Jesus goes on and he gives this parable and
the purpose of the parable the Bible says is that so that men will always
pray that men will be devoted religious to their prayer don't let anyone tell
you that religion is a bad thing being religious is a good thing Simeon was a
devout man and the Bible does not cast this on a negative light being devout
being religious is something that is good so number one go back to Luke
chapter number two number one Simeon was saved number two Simeon was devout
number three another lesson we can learn from this man from the verses that
Simeon is mentioned is that people in the Old Testament were saved by looking
forward to the cross people in the Old Testament were saved by looking forward
to the cross look at Luke 2 25 and says and behold there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout waiting for the
consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed on him
by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's
Christ so we already know that this man is saved why because the Bible says
he's just also he's waiting for the consolation of Israel which is obviously
talking about Jesus Christ and he was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that
he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ now let me remind
you I'll read for you Hebrews 9 16 it says for where a testament is there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator so during this time before the
death of Jesus Christ we are still in the Old Testament I know it's the New
Testament physically in your Bible but before Jesus Christ died that is the
Old Testament still so Simeon was saved in the Old Testament he is an Old
Testament saint okay how was this man saved well we already talked about
justification and how the Bible proves that salvation is by believing in Jesus
Christ we see in verse 25 that he's waiting for the consolation of Israel
but then Simeon goes on to quote some pretty interesting verses and says in
verse number 30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation now remember he was
waiting for something how can you wait for something you've never heard of
right so he's waiting for something now he sees it he says mine eyes have seen
thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people and then
he's quoting the Old Testament alights to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of
thy people Israel so Simeon saved he's here with the baby Lord Jesus Christ he
said mine eyes has seen thy salvation and how does he know that he knows that
because of the Old Testament verses he was reading about the coming Messiah and
when I say that people in the Old Testament were saved by looking forward
to the cross let me just straight-up say that that phrase looking forward to the
cross is not found in your Bible but what I mean by that is they were saved
by putting their faith in the promise of the Messiah to come just like how us in
the New Testament we have put our faith in the Messiah that came they put their
faith in the Messiah to come now let's go to some of those verses he was quoting
in Isaiah chapter number 42 this is a doctrine that really annoys me that
hyper dispensationalist teach that different salvation that there was
different modes of salvation in different dispensations that in the
Old Testament people were saved by works or by a mix of faith and works and when I
went to a Rukminite church for a few years this is one of the doctrines that
just made me so angry because the Bible teaches against this doctrine look at
Isaiah chapter number 42 verse number one and this is some of the things that
Simeon likely read behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my
soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles just as a cool side note this verse is a great verse about the
Trinity because you have God the Father speaking about his servant Jesus Christ
talking about putting the spirit upon him so you have all three persons of the
Trinity in this verse verse number two it says he shall not cry nor lift up nor
cause his voice to be heard in the street a bruised reed shall he not
break and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgment
unto truth he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment
in the earth and the Isles shall wait for his law thus saith God the Lord he
that created the heavens and stretched them out he that spread forth the earth
and that which cometh out of it he that giveth breath unto the people upon it
and spirit to them that walk therein I the Lord have called thee in
righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a
covenant of the people and then notice this for a light of the Gentiles to open
the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that
sit in darkness out of the prison house this is what Simeon was quoting when he
was holding the Lord Jesus Christ in his hands think that maybe this is being
fulfilled right here in Simeon's life so the Old Testament here in Isaiah was
pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ how he was going to deliver the blind
and and be a light unto the Gentiles which is speaking of salvation of
course now let's go to another place in Isaiah Isaiah chapter 49 look at verse
number 6 Isaiah 49 6 it says and he said is it a light thing that thou
shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the
preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that
thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth so salvation has always
been by the coming Messiah by the one that was coming to bring light unto the
Gentiles good Isaiah chapter 53 Isaiah chapter 53 look at verse 10 famous
chapter about the Lord Jesus Christ and his sufferings verse 10 it says yet it
pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make
his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand he shall see the
travail of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge by the
knowledge of Jesus Christ shall my righteous servant justify many so don't
tell me that the Old Testament did not speak about salvation through faith in
Jesus Christ obviously the name of Jesus Christ was not revealed in the Old
Testament but people were saved the same exact way by putting their faith in God
by the name that was revealed to them at that time and so don't let
Rukmanites like Andrew Sluder tell you that people were saved by works in the
Old Testament no Simeon was saved in the Old Testament and you know how he was
saved by believing on the baby that he was holding in his arms that's how he
was saved go to Romans chapter number 9 Romans chapter number 9 and in Romans
9 the Apostle Paul he even uses an Old Testament verse an Old Testament
prophecy to explain why the Jews didn't get saved in the New Testament keep
that in mind he's gonna quote an Old Testament verse so in at the end of
Romans 9 here in verse number 30 it says what shall we say then that the
Gentiles which followed not after righteousness so they weren't trying to
attain unto righteousness they weren't following after righteousness it says
that they have attained to righteousness even the righteousness which is of
faith so they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ that's why they were justified
but Israel speaking of the physical Jews the ones that did not believe in him
which followed after the law of righteousness they were trying to follow
the law it says they have not attained to the law of righteousness wherefore
why because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law
for they stumbled at that stumbling stone now Paul's gonna quote an Old
Testament verse to explain what it is that they rejected what it is that they
didn't believe in it says as it is written behold I lay in Zion a stumbling
stone and rock of offense and whosoever believeth in him should not be ashamed
that's Isaiah 28 16 that he's quoting and he's explaining the reason these
Jews didn't get saved is because that stumbling stone that Isaiah was talking
about they rejected it so salvation was not just a New Testament doctrine it's
been talked about through the whole Bible the whole Bible is about salvation
through Jesus Christ let's look at some some more ways to prove this and I think
that these are actually more hard-hitting proofs than what we've
already looked at good Isaiah or a Hebrews chapter number 10 Hebrews
chapter number 10 and look at verse number one Hebrews chapter number 10
look at verse 1 it says for the law having a shadow of good things to come
and not the very image of the thing of the things can never with those
sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers there
unto perfect so he's saying the Old Testament sacrifices could have never
made anyone perfect verse 2 for then what they have not have ceased to be
offered he's saying we wouldn't have stopped the Old Testament system we
wouldn't have stopped the offering of of the goats and the lambs if that was
able to cleanse you that was able to save you verse 3 it says but in those
sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year verse 4 for it
is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins Bible
makes it very clear it's just not possible that you could have ever been
saved by the Old Covenant by doing the sacrifices it absolutely would not be
possible let's look at another proof of this a few pages to the left in your
Bible second Timothy chapter 3 second Timothy chapter 3 and look at verse
number 14 says but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has
been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a child
thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus so Paul when he's talking
to Timothy here he says Timothy you've known the holy scriptures what is he
referring to he's referring to the Old Testament because the New Testament is
still being written at this time especially when Timothy was a child okay
so he's saying the scriptures that you read as a child the holy scriptures the
Old Testament it says those are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus how much more clearer can the Bible get that's
though that's the scriptures that's the Old Testament and Paul saying that was
able to make him wise unto salvation go to John chapter number one John chapter
number one and let's look at some more proofs how salvation has always been by
faith in the Messiah John chapter 1 verse 41 he first findeth his own brother
Simon and saith unto him we have found now keep those words in mind we have
found if you found something does that mean you were looking for something we
have found okay we've been looking for something we're excited because we found
it we have found the Messiah's which is being interpreted the Christ he's saying
hey Simon this this Messiah that we've been looking for we found him guess what
this is in the Old Testament that they were looking for him how are they
looking for him in the scriptures there's tons and tons of scriptures that
talk about Jesus Christ and he's saying look we have found the Messiah's which
is being interpreted the Christ this is also why I believe that Jesus picked
these men I don't believe he was just picking random people I believe these
people were diligently looking for the Messiah I believe that they were reading
their Bibles at least the portions that they had at that time and when they
found the Messiah they were excited that they found him they found the Messiah
look at verse 42 and he brought him to Jesus and when Jesus beheld him he said
thou art Simon the son of Jonah thou shall be called Cephas which is by
interpretation a stone the day following Jesus would go forth into
Galilee and findeth Philip and saith unto him follow me now Philip was of
Bethsaida the city of Andrew and Peter Philip findeth Nathaniel and saith unto
him we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write Jesus
of Nazareth the son of Joseph so if you're wondering where they were
searching for Jesus Christ before he tells you hey we found him the guy that
we've been reading about when we've been reading the writings of Moses and all
the prophets Jesus of Nazareth is who they were looking for how did they find
out from the Old Testament so don't tell me that salvation was you know no one
was knew about a Messiah in the Old Testament no one knew about the promise
of the coming of Jesus Christ no these disciples were looking for it and they
were excited when they found him because of what they had been reading in Moses
and all the prophets oh you could just you don't have to turn here I'll read
for you a acts 10 you could actually turn to acts 13 I'll read for you acts
1043 it says to him give all the prophets witness that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins the Bible says that
every single prophet in the Bible gave witness to Jesus Christ and that through
the name of Jesus Christ whoever believes on him would receive remission
of sins every single prophet prophesied of that he said oh yeah but it wasn't
the name of Jesus well of course the name of Jesus wasn't revealed but the
person Jesus Christ is who they were writing about the Messiah is who they
were writing about they didn't have the name of Christ back then but they were
still writing about him every single book of the Bible is about Jesus Christ
Acts 13 verse 37 but he whom God raised again saw no corruption be it known
unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you
the forgiveness of sins who's that talking about Jesus Christ and by him
all that believe are justified from all things from which you could not be
justified by the law of Moses salvation was never by works it was never by the
law of Moses Bible says that you could never be justified by the law of Moses
but how are you justified by faith in the Messiah that Moses wrote about that
all the prophets wrote about and for sake of time we're not going to go to
Romans chapter 4 but if you're familiar with that chapter it also talks about
how Abraham was saved by faith David was saved by faith David believed in the
eternal security of the believer and so Simeon here when he's looking for the
consolation of Israel when he saved in the Old Testament he's holding the Lord
Jesus Christ in his hands we can learn hey that people in the Old Testament
were saved by putting their trust in the Messiah to come they were saved or as we
would say it by looking forward to the cross there's nothing wrong with that
terminology and don't let any ruckum and I dispensationalist try to make you feel
stupid for believing that that is absolutely what the Bible teaches go
back to Luke chapter number two the last lesson we'll talk about tonight Luke
chapter number two Luke chapter number two look at verse 25 says and behold
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon the same man was just number
one he saved and devout so he's religious waiting for the consolation of
Israel we learned how he was saved and the Holy Ghost was upon him notice how
it's talking about the Holy Ghost now and it was revealed unto him by the Holy
Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ and
he came by the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the
trial Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law number four I want to
talk about the difference between the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in
the New Testament so we already you know understand that when we're reading
this story about Simeon we're actually in the Old Testament right now this is
not the New Testament but of course the Holy Spirit is mentioned now just right
up front the Holy Ghost is God the Bible teaches that there are three persons and
one God the Holy Ghost has eternally existed as God as the Holy Ghost but
there is a difference between the operation of the Holy Ghost in the Old
Testament and the New Testament and so he is mentioned here in the Old
Testament how the Holy Ghost was upon Simeon and so I want to just talk about
some of the differences of the Holy Ghost's role so number one the permanent
indwelling of the Holy Ghost is something that only happens for New
Testament believers the permanent indwelling of the Holy Ghost is a New
Testament doctrine and I'll prove that to you in John chapter number 7 go to
John chapter number 7 Holy Ghost has always existed he's always been active
in the work of God but in the New Testament is where believers are
permanently indwell with the Holy Ghost John chapter number 7 look at verse 38
Jesus is speaking and he said he that believeth on me as the scripture hath
said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water so he's referring to
prophecy in the Old Testament and this is actually prophecy of the New Covenant
this is part of the New Covenant he explains what this means in verse 39 it
says but this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should
receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet
glorified so Jesus is saying hey the Holy Ghost has not yet been given yet
because he was not yet crucified and glorified now was the Holy Ghost still
existing of course he was still on the scene he was still doing the work of God
he was upon Simeon in the Old Testament right but the Holy Ghost when Jesus said
that the Holy Ghost was not yet given that actually means something specific
go to John chapter number 20 John chapter number 20 and this is the moment
when the Holy Ghost was given John 20 verse 21 it says this is after the death
burial and resurrection of Christ then said Jesus to them again peace be unto
you as my father hath sent me even so send I you and when he had said this he
breathed on them and said unto them receive ye the Holy Ghost and this is
where I believe that the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit began
because Bible said in John chapter 7 Holy Ghost was not yet given because
Jesus was not yet glorified and Jesus was glorified he breathed on his
disciples he said receive you the Holy Ghost it's pretty simple go to Ephesians
chapter number one Ephesians chapter number one Ephesians 1 13 says in whom
Ephesians 1 13 it says in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of
truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye
were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise the Bible says that after you
believe after you trust the gospel you're sealed with that Holy Spirit
says which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchase possession unto the praise of his glory you know we're sealed with
the Holy Spirit to show that God is serious about redeeming us speaking of
the rapture I believe verse and then look at Ephesians 4 verse 30 it says and
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed so again the Bible
is telling us that we are sealed unto the day of redemption and so there's a
difference between the permanent indwelling of the Holy Ghost and the
filling of the Holy Ghost there's a difference between being permanently
indwelled or the Holy Ghost coming upon you and all throughout the Old Testament
you see the Holy Ghost coming upon Samson coming upon King Saul coming
upon David but the New Testament doctrine of being permanently indwelled
with the Holy Ghost is different it is a New Testament doctrine so let's look at
the filling of the Holy Ghost in John chapter number 3 John chapter number 3
look at verse 34 says so John is preaching and he's preaching about Jesus
Christ he says for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God
giveth not the spirit by measure unto him so John's saying that God did not
give the Holy Ghost by measure unto Jesus Christ which implies that he does
give it by measure to other people right so you could stay there I'll read for
you Hebrews 1 9 speaking of Jesus it says thou hast loved righteousness and
hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness above thy fellows the oil is often a picture of the Holy Spirit in
the Bible and when the Bible saying that Jesus was anointed with the oil of
gladness above his fellows he's saying that he was constantly filled with the
Holy Ghost Jesus Christ was constantly just filled to the brim with the Holy
Ghost no one has ever been more filled with the Spirit than Jesus Christ and the
thing is for him he was always filled with the Spirit but for us we are
permanently indwelled with the Holy Spirit but we're not always filled with
the Spirit the indwelling is permanent the filling of the Holy Ghost is
temporary the Holy Ghost coming upon us is temporary go to Psalm chapter number
51 we're almost done tonight Psalm chapter number 51 you know that's why
the Bible often exhorts us elsewhere that we should sing Psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs making melody in our hearts to the Lord to get us filled with
the Spirit because it doesn't happen automatically we're not automatically
just filled with the Spirit hey we are sealed we are permanently indwelled but
we're not permanently filled we have to do something to get filled with the
Spirit we have to pray and ask God to fill us with the Spirit it sells
elsewhere in Scripture but in Psalm chapter 51 this is King David and he's
praying to God and this is after he had committed the horrible sin of adultery
with Bathsheba and look what he says in verse 10 he says creating me a clean
heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me so he's trying to get right
with God here after his sin he says cast me not away from my presence and
take not thy Holy Spirit from him from me why is David asking God not to take
the Holy Spirit from him well here's the thing you know David knew that the
Spirit of God came upon him when he was anointed King but when he committed
this wicked sin he's afraid that that coming upon that filling of the Holy
Spirit in his life can be taken away from him because it can because if you
live a life that's just full of sin you're not gonna be filled with the Holy
Spirit now you're still sealed it's why the Bible says grieve not the Spirit of
God because no matter how sinful you are if you're saved the Holy Ghost is in you
and if you're taking him to the bar if you're taking him to the strip club
you're grieving him right but he's saying please don't take thy Holy Spirit
from me now here's what false prophets love to do they love to say see David
thought he could lose his salvation well read Romans chapter 4 and David did not
believe he could lose his salvation but also look at verse number 12 he doesn't
say here's what David did not say rejoin unto me or sorry restore unto me thy
salvation that's not what verse 12 says it says restore unto me the joy of thy
salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit see he's at a low point because
of his sin he doesn't want God to take away the power of the Holy Spirit from
him and he wants God to restore the joy of his salvation to him because hey you
can't lose your salvation but you can lose the joy of your salvation you can
lose the peace of God in your life when you live a wicked life of sin you could
lose your rejoicing in the Lord and this is what David is trying to get back in
his life after he had committed this wicked sin he's trying to get right
with God he's trying to get filled with the spirit again and he's trying to
restore the joy of his salvation go back to Luke chapter number two and we'll
finish out the sermon here let's just read what it was that Simeon had
preached when the Holy Ghost had came upon him I think it's pretty interesting
what he preached Luke chapter 2 he says so he was holding Jesus Christ and look
at verse 29 it says Lord now let us thou thy servant depart in peace
according to thy word hey if I was holding the the king of life the prince
of peace in my arms I'd be ready to go to it's like I've seen it all I'm
holding Lord Jesus Christ let me go in peace you know that's great he says
verse 31 without prepared before the face of all people a light to light in
the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel and Joseph and his mother
marveled at those things which were spoken of him so Joseph and his mom are
just shocked at what Simeon the man of God is preaching to them verse 34 and
Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary so now he's singling out Mary his
mother he says behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in
Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against yea a sword shall pierce
through thine own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed
I believe what Simeon is preaching here I believe that he's prophesying he's
alluding to the death of Jesus Christ he singles out Mary and he says hey a
sword is gonna pierce through your soul also why because no mom wants to see
their precious son brutally murdered in the most horrific way that anyone has
ever been murdered especially when your son is perfect especially when your son
has never sinned he's saying look a sword is gonna pierce through your heart
too Mary that's pretty deep but I love what he says at the end that the thoughts
of many hearts may be revealed now this reminds me because obviously we know
that Jesus Christ is the Word of God in the beginning was the Word and the Word
was with God and the Word was God so Jesus Christ is the Word of God and he's
saying a sword is gonna pierce through your soul Mary that the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed now last place I'll have you turn tonight is Hebrews
chapter number four Hebrews chapter number four look at verse 12 it says for
the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and
marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart now
just in case you didn't know the book of Hebrews was not written at the time
when Simeon is giving this prophecy and all this does is it really increased my
faith in the word of God to know that hey before Hebrews 412 was ever written
Simeon is prophesying saying a sword's gonna pierce through her own soul also
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed it sounds very similar to
Hebrews 412 doesn't it before Hebrews 412 was ever even written and so look
this book was not written by man this is God's work you know 10 or 12 verses or
so in the whole Bible dealing with Simeon yet there's so much good doctrine
we can learn just from these short 10 to 12 verses why because this is the word
of God this is not man's word so just to recap some of the things we learned
tonight number one Simeon was saved why because he was just and we learned what
it means to be just number two Simeon was devout Simeon was religious and
religion is not a bad term that's something that we need to take back and
apply to our lives and try to become religious for the things of God devout
for the things of God number three Old Testament saints were saved by looking
forward to the cross number four we learned about the difference between the
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the New Testament you know these are
doctrines as a fundamental Baptist Church that we need to understand and be able
to fight for out in the community and to be able to defend the faith to be able
to war a good warfare amen like the that that guy's poem that he doesn't like
warfare I want I want this warfare of preaching the word of God we need to be
a church that's into that kind of warfare and with that let's have a word
of prayer Lord thank you so much for this day and thank you for your word
thank you so much for all that we can learn from it I just pray that every
single person here would read your word and that you would fill them with the
Holy Ghost and that you'd help us just to live godly lives for your honor and
glory and in Jesus name we pray amen