Embracing Patient Waiting: The Transformative Birth of Christ

 

Summary

In this Christmas message, we reflect on the profound significance of Jesus Christ's birth, not just as a historical event but as a transformative moment that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. The title "Christ" is not merely a name but a claim of His role as Messiah and King, a King whose reign brings transformation and hope. As we gather to celebrate, we are reminded of the anticipation and longing that characterized the lives of Simeon and Anna, two figures who waited patiently for the Messiah. Their stories challenge us to consider what we are truly waiting for in our spiritual journeys.

Simeon and Anna exemplify a life of devotion and expectation, living in a state of watchful anticipation for God's promises. Simeon, described as righteous and devout, was led by the Holy Spirit to recognize Jesus as the salvation prepared for all people. Anna, a prophetess, dedicated her life to worship, fasting, and prayer, and upon seeing Jesus, she gave thanks and spoke of Him to all who awaited redemption. Their lives encourage us to cultivate a similar posture of expectancy and openness to God's work in our lives.

The message invites us to examine our desires and align them with God's will, asking ourselves if we truly want what God wants for us. It challenges us to expand our spiritual capacity, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with joy and purpose. In a world often characterized by impatience and instant gratification, we are called to embrace a spirit of patient waiting, trusting in God's perfect timing.

As we look to the manger, we are reminded of the gifts that Jesus brings: forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, peace, purpose, and transformation. This Christmas, let us find one area in our lives where we can practice faithful watching and waiting, inspired by the patient faith of Simeon and Anna. May our lives shine as a testament to God's faithfulness, ready to recognize His movement and share the good news with those around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Christ as King and Messiah: The title "Christ" signifies Jesus' role as Messiah and King, inviting us to recognize His transformative power in our lives. This Christmas, reflect on what it means to fall on our knees before a King who brings hope and change. [00:00]

2. The Gift of Waiting: Simeon and Anna's stories teach us the value of patient anticipation and devotion. In a world of instant gratification, we are called to wait on God's timing, trusting that His plans are perfect and His promises sure. [03:21]

3. Aligning Desires with God's Will: Consider whether your desires align with God's will. Are you willing to wait for what God wants for you, or are you sending your wish list to the "North Pole of heaven"? This reflection can lead to a deeper trust in God's provision. [07:13]

4. Expanding Spiritual Capacity: Like Simeon, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, we are invited to expand our spiritual capacity, allowing God to fill us with joy and purpose. This requires an openness to the Spirit's leading and a willingness to be transformed. [11:54]

5. Recognizing Jesus in Our Lives: Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises. This Christmas, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you, transforming your life and filling you with hope and purpose. [19:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:11] - The Significance of Christ
- [03:21] - What Are You Waiting For?
- [07:13] - Aligning Desires with God's Will
- [09:40] - Simeon's Encounter with Jesus
- [11:54] - Anna's Devotion and Witness
- [14:40] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [15:49] - Active Anticipation
- [19:30] - Transformative Encounter with Jesus
- [20:50] - Addressing Spiritual Barrenness
- [22:26] - Finding Fulfillment in the Manger
- [23:08] - Practicing Patient Waiting
- [23:42] - Sharing the Light of Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:25-38 (The stories of Simeon and Anna)

Observation Questions:
1. How is Simeon described in the passage, and what was he waiting for? [07:13]
2. What role did the Holy Spirit play in Simeon's encounter with Jesus? [09:40]
3. How did Anna respond upon seeing Jesus, and what did she do afterward? [11:54]
4. What common theme of waiting and anticipation is shared between Simeon and Anna's stories? [14:40]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the salvation for all people suggest about the inclusivity of Jesus' mission? [09:40]
2. How does Anna's life of devotion and worship reflect a posture of expectancy and openness to God's work? [11:54]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that waiting on God's timing can lead to spiritual growth and transformation? [03:21]
4. How might Simeon and Anna's stories challenge contemporary views on patience and instant gratification? [22:26]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait patiently for something important. How did that experience shape your faith or character? [03:21]
2. Consider your current desires and goals. Do they align with what you believe God wants for you? How can you discern this alignment more clearly? [07:13]
3. Simeon and Anna were filled with the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take to expand your spiritual capacity and be more open to the Spirit's leading? [11:54]
4. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with impatience. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a spirit of patient waiting? [22:26]
5. How can you actively participate in God's work in your community, similar to how Simeon and Anna were involved in their spiritual community? [15:49]
6. This Christmas, what is one specific way you can practice "faithful watching and waiting" in your spiritual journey? [20:50]
7. How can you share the hope and transformation that Jesus brings with those around you, as Anna did? [23:42]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Transformative Reign
The birth of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event but a transformative moment that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. The title "Christ" signifies His role as Messiah and King, a King whose reign brings hope and change. This Christmas, we are called to reflect on what it means to fall on our knees before a King who brings transformation into our lives. Recognizing Jesus as King means acknowledging His authority and allowing His transformative power to work within us. It challenges us to consider how His reign can bring hope and change to our personal lives and the world around us. [00:00]

Psalm 72:11-14 (ESV): "May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to acknowledge Jesus as King and allow His transformative power to bring hope and change?


Day 2: The Gift of Patient Anticipation
Simeon and Anna's stories teach us the value of patient anticipation and devotion. In a world of instant gratification, we are called to wait on God's timing, trusting that His plans are perfect and His promises sure. Simeon and Anna exemplify a life of devotion and expectation, living in a state of watchful anticipation for God's promises. Their lives encourage us to cultivate a similar posture of expectancy and openness to God's work in our lives. By embracing a spirit of patient waiting, we learn to trust in God's perfect timing and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. [03:21]

Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV): "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with impatience? How can you practice patient anticipation and trust in God's timing this week?


Day 3: Aligning Desires with God's Will
Consider whether your desires align with God's will. Are you willing to wait for what God wants for you, or are you sending your wish list to the "North Pole of heaven"? This reflection can lead to a deeper trust in God's provision. Aligning our desires with God's will requires us to examine our hearts and ask ourselves if we truly want what God wants for us. It challenges us to expand our spiritual capacity, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with joy and purpose. By aligning our desires with God's will, we open ourselves to His guidance and provision, trusting that His plans for us are good and perfect. [07:13]

Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Reflection: What is one desire or goal you have that you need to surrender to God? How can you align it with His will and trust in His provision?


Day 4: Expanding Spiritual Capacity
Like Simeon, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, we are invited to expand our spiritual capacity, allowing God to fill us with joy and purpose. This requires an openness to the Spirit's leading and a willingness to be transformed. Expanding our spiritual capacity involves being open to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives and allowing God to fill us with His joy and purpose. It means being willing to be transformed and to grow in our relationship with God. By expanding our spiritual capacity, we become more attuned to God's presence and His work in our lives, allowing us to live with greater joy and purpose. [11:54]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: How can you create space in your life to be more open to the Holy Spirit's leading? What steps can you take to expand your spiritual capacity this week?


Day 5: Recognizing Jesus in Our Lives
Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises. This Christmas, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you, transforming your life and filling you with hope and purpose. Recognizing Jesus in our lives involves being open to the Holy Spirit's revelation and allowing Him to transform us. It means being willing to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises and allowing His presence to fill us with hope and purpose. By recognizing Jesus in our lives, we become more aware of His work and His faithfulness, allowing us to live with greater joy and purpose. [19:30]

Colossians 1:27 (ESV): "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you this Christmas? How can you allow His presence to transform your life and fill you with hope and purpose?

Quotes



"work to be consoled or to see the the restoration of the the things that were broken and the consolation of israel because israel has been scattered it's messed up and it's dispersed and so what's what is what are you going to do god these are your people what are you going to do so he's righteous and devout waiting for the consolation of israel and the holy spirit was upon him that's pretty cool you know some people like that where it's like wow holy spirit is upon that person what would that feel like what would that experience like it means that when you kind of come into their orbit you're like wow it's almost like we're just talking with god right now this isn't just uh this isn't just a person and it always nice religious person well that's that's good you know and we a lot of us come and we're we show up to church and we are in our bible studies and we show up to our small group meetings and we we open our bibles we pray and this is a really important thing but that's not the whole focus the focus is on the experience of israel and the consolation of israel and the consolation of israel and the that the Spirit of God would just kind of overflow us." [00:06:03] (62 seconds)


"When we were singing earlier, I was thinking about that unspeakable joy, unspeakable joy that rises in my soul. And I was just thinking to myself, well, I wonder if I had a cup this big, could God fill it to overflowing of the joy in my soul? heart could he feel it overflowing if I had a cup this big what about like a teaspoon could he do that okay well maybe it's hard to expand it what if you had a barrel this big do you think god could just fill it the holy spirit could fill it and overflow it and is he limited in any way this isn't it for us isn't it kind of a matter of like enlarging our containers to allow him to just fill us and splash over and let that joy and let the experience of the presence of god just flow out and over spill over the walls and if tonight you're coming in with a thimble praise god let him fill it and then maybe on your way out say could I get something a little bigger it kind of splashed as I left and I lost it all you know I want more and more more this is the kind of guy the holy spirit is just upon him in a way that's like we're talking about so that's pretty awesome it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the lord's christianity christ the lord's christ that'd be like god our master the lord his king messiah who would bring the restoration of israel and so he came in the spirit again" [00:07:13] (90 seconds)


"the Spirit's on him, he's filled with the Spirit, and the Spirit's revealing things to him, and he comes in the Spirit to the temple. This is the dude you want to be with. And when the parents brought in child Jesus to do for Jesus what was according to the custom of the law, he picked up Jesus in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord God, you are now letting your servant depart in peace. According to your word, Lord, for my eyes have seen your salvation. That you have prepared in the presence of all people, not just Israel, a light for revelation to all the nations, all the ethnic peoples, that's what that word means, and for glory to your people, Israel. And Joseph and Mary's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Again, you came into Simeon's orbit. He's filled with the Spirit. Stuff's been revealed, but... By the Spirit. And then he's led by the Spirit and he comes and he speaks by the Spirit and he shows up in Scripture. This is amazing." [00:08:34] (66 seconds)


"So now we've got Simeon, we've got Anna, we've got waiting and hopefulness and being filled with the Spirit. And I'm wondering if there's a way we could just get that mindset as we go into our tomorrow and then all of our tomorrows with a sense of expectation for what God might want to do. Do any of you feel like you could at least aspire to be kind of a Simeon or an Anna type person? Like you could at least sense the aspiration like I would like to be that kind of person. That would have that sort of excitement about just adoring the baby Jesus, adoring Him and just having my heart open to Him. By the way, if any of you were counting, that was three of you. And so you guys will get the jingle bells at the end. No, I think we all would like it. Many of us come with maybe not a lot of faith. Maybe not a lot of expectation. Maybe not like I don't even know how to believe. I'm just here. They just took me here." [00:11:54] (65 seconds)


"But I just want us to, again, a possible throwaway acronym, but just how could you begin to have this watchful anticipation with them that invites a transformation, a real spiritual curiosity? God, are you leading me to do something like Simeon was just led to the temple? Are you leading me into some way that I could even participate with you? Is there any curiosity? Are we left with any curiosity about what gift God might be bringing to us? Or are you kind of like, well, I buy my own gifts. Thank you very much. I have Nordstrom wrap them for me. And the only surprise is, oh, yeah, that was the one. I thought it was that one. Is that kind of your thing? Or do you have a sense of curiosity as it relates to, I wonder what God is up to? Because I'll tell you, he can surprise you. He can surprise you. So if you're in waiting, like how long, oh, Lord, must we wait? How long must we wait? This is a normal thing." [00:12:23] (65 seconds)


"a christian in syria right now or or in iraq or iran china you're asking questions like how long oh lord what is this how long is this going to go on this struggle this strife we don't often ask that here on the east side we're like um could you wait a bit if you return because uh my my 401k is about to mature and it's about to go on this trip and you know like weird right but but in for most of the world for most of the time they're like seriously god when are you going to show up and do do the thing so what are you doing god what can you uh can you invite me into what what are you doing that I could participate in is there any way I can help I just think of these two and just my eyes have seen your salvation that you've prepared in the presence of all people he didn't leave us alone he came near he came near you so cool so as we just think about uh watchful waiting anticipation inviting transformation just let me just work through a couple things we see their their lives of devotion and expectation" [00:13:28] (72 seconds)


"And that is not my life. I'll just say, Aaron Bauer, senior pastor, Iskra Christian Church, does not live this out quite yet. Watchful waiting. Devotion and expectation. Well, there's all sorts of descriptors and most of them are nice, but they're not like that. So that's what I want. I want devotion and expectation. You can see this Holy Spirit's rule in guiding them and their faith. Guiding their faith. Maybe you received an invitation to come tonight, but then there was also something behind that. Have you ever felt that? Where there's like, I also feel like I should. Or there's a move of God. Maybe God is drawing you as well. Take that seriously. Yeah, I said yes to an invitation, but also there was almost like, yeah, you should do that. That's probably God just kind of nudging you along. That's cool. So do you sense Him guiding you?" [00:14:40] (60 seconds)


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Transcript
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