THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK
LUKE 2:25-30
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
OBSERVATION:
This is an amazing story. A man named Simeon was praying for the Messiah to come. The Messiah would be the Consolation of Israel or the One who encourages, strengthens and establishes. The Holy Spirit had already revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. The Lord's anointed one.
Simeon must have wondered what that would mean. He would see the Messiah. He may have been waiting for a great preacher to arise. A great leader to suddenly appear on the scene. But God had something else in mind. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the temple to be circumcised, the Holy Spirit impressed Simeon to go into the temple. Jesus was a baby. He looked like any other eight-day-old baby boy. But the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that here was Israel's answer. Here was the Lord's anointed.
Simeon had to be a man of faith. He took that little baby in his arms and gave praise to God. He told the Lord that now he could depart, that he could die, in peace. Now that he had seen the Lord's salvation. Jesus was just a baby. But the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that this baby was the One, that salvation had come.
APPLICATION:
The Holy Spirit knows things we do not know. He knows what the future holds. And He can give us glimpses of what is coming in our lives if we will look for His guidance. A big part of the Holy Spirit's ministry is to reveal to us. He reveals God's word and God's plan. He did this for Simeon, and He still does this today. If the Holy Spirit could help Simeon be at just the right place to see God's promise fulfilled. Then He can help us see God's promises fulfilled in our lives.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, for sending the Holy Spirit to help me. I am not alone. I have a great Helper. The great Helper.