Sunday Morning Sermon Notes 2024
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“Spiritual Discipling Or Spiritual Mentoring Another For Christ.”
Sermon Notes 12-1-24 Christmas From A Different Point Of View! Part 1.
Now, let’s turn to The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2.
Now, during this month of December, lets return back to a topic that we had started way back in 2020 that we entitled, “Christmas From A Different Point Of View!”
Now, as we are blessed to enter into another Christmas season. And as we are blessed to close out another year over these next 31 days. And are truly blessed to anticipate what The Lord is going to do in upcoming new year of 2025.
And therefore, with God’s help, we want to use these next 5 Sundays in a row here in December, to remind ourselves, as well as the next generation of youth, young adults, and middle-aged adults, as well as us who are senior that all of us would embrace the true meaning. The real meaning of Christmas or the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus according to the Bible and not according to our culture, or society, or our family traditions, or our Church traditions, or the commercialization and the many myths and folklore’s that are common & accepted during this time of the year.
For we need to be convinced about the real meaning of Christmas and the true celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus according to the Bible, which reveals unto us the greatest rescue operation ever attempted in the history of mankind that took place over 2000 years ago and it is still going on to this very day.
•But you may ask yourself what rescue mission? •And what do we need to be rescued from?
Well, according to the Scriptures we know that the whole human race was and is in a terrible mess because of the disobedience and the consequences that came to Adam and Eve and all of their descendants from the past, and into our present time, and on into the future to come.
However, The God of Heaven would be the only one who was willing and able to fix this mess that we are in.
So, according to the Bible it was God who came to rescue us, •By becoming one of us! •In order to forgive us. •And to deliver us. And then transforming us! •So that all of us who are in Christ Jesus could be in a relationship with God, forever!
So today, and throughout the month of December of 2024, we want to again focus upon the days after the birth of Jesus. And to help us do that there are 2 elderly Saints who were in Jerusalem, they both came out of the closing period of the Old Testament, for God allowed them both to cross over into the beginning days of New Testament period in which the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was now starting.
Now, these 2 elderly Saints are probably not as well known to most of us, and yet their contributions to the plan of God. And their faith And dependence upon the promises of God
and their prophetic statements regarding the Son of God are extremely important.
Our first elderly Saint who probably is not as well known to most of us, and his name would be Simeon. A just and devout man whom the Holy Spirit was upon Him.
And then our second elderly Saint who probably is not as well known to most of us, and her name would be Anna. A Prophetess who spoke of Christ unto all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
However, before we began to look at these 2 lesser-known servants of God Simeon and Anna, there is an important backstory that we need to understand first!
Now, notice the Gospel of Luke 2:
21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 Now when the days of her purification according to The Law of Moses were completed,
they brought the newborn Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him unto 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 they offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. (Stop here)
Now, again this is an important backstory area that we need to understand since all this occurred 8 days after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, let’s start here at The Gospel Of Luke 2:
6 So, it was that while they were there, the days were completed for Mary to be delivered or give birth.
7 And Mary brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Now, notice again The Gospel of Luke 2:21. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Stop here)
There are 2 very important matters that are occurring here.
First, the physical circumcision and the public naming of the male child as seen in verse 21.
Then in verses 22 & 24, the purification/authentication of the Mother according to the law and then the presenting/dedication of her first-born male child as unto The Lord.
Now, notice again The Gospel of Luke 2:21. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, (Stop here)
What does the Bible say about circumcision? Circumcision is the surgical removal of the prepuce or foreskin of a male sexual organ. The word circumcise literally means to cut around.
As a religious rite, circumcision was required of all of Abraham’s descendants as a sign of the covenant God made with him (Genesis 17:9–14; Acts 7:8). The Mosaic Law repeated the requirement (Leviticus 12:2–3), and Jews throughout the centuries have continued to practice circumcision (Joshua 5:2–3; Luke 1:59; Acts 16:3; Philippians 3:5).
Circumcision was a sign of God's covenant, it identified a Jewish male. In the cutting away of that skin, God was protecting the Jewish man from passing on infections and bacteria to his wife. That’s why in ancient times, not so much today because we have better hygiene daily baths, clean water, and soap.
Interestingly, in The Old Testament times most Jewish women had the lowest rate of cervical cancer within the Mediterranean world. And it was better when men and women came together circumcised in terms of cleanliness and protection than not. And therefore, God preserved His people that way.
He was definitely committed to preserving His people since they are the center of redemptive history clear to the end of the world. And so, God protected them and that was one way physically that God protected them from illness.
He also protected them by giving them monogamous laws and calling for their purity and sanctifying one man-one woman for life so that they were not subject to the devastating plagues of venereal disease which destroyed whole peoples.
But circumcision was more than physical protection. It was a symbol of a need for spiritual cleansing. And that's why the Bible talks about circumcise your hearts.
God was showing them through this symbol that they needed to be cleansed because they not only passed on sin potentially, physically they passed on sin heart to heart, soul to soul. When they had a child, they got a sinner because they were sinners. They needed cleansing at a deep, deep level of their souls. That's why God said circumcise your heart, circumcise your heart.
Every circumcised male child then, every time that operation took place, it was a symbol of how deeply sinful people were and how greatly they needed a heart cleansing.
Now, there are different issues involved in the question of whether or not males today should be circumcised.
One issue is that of religious teaching: what does the Bible, God’s Word say?
Another issue is, as a matter of health, should males be circumcised?
The Christian view of circumcision is probably best described as a combination of the two.
Concerning the first issue, New Testament Christians are no longer under the Old Testament Law, and circumcision is no longer required. This is brought out in a number of New Testament passages, among which are Acts 15; Galatians 2:1–3; 5:1–11; 6:11–16; 1 Corinthians 7:17–20; Colossians 2:8–12; and Philippians 3:1–3.
As these passages proclaim, being delivered from our sins is the result of faith in Christ; it is Christ’s finished work on the cross that saves, not the observance of an external rite.
Even the Law acknowledged that circumcision alone was insufficient to please God, who specified the need to “circumcise your hearts” Deuteronomy 10:16; cf. Romans 2:29. In salvation, the works of the flesh accomplish nothing Galatians 2:16.
In Acts 16:3, Paul had a missionary helper, Timothy, circumcised. Timothy was half-Jewish, and Paul circumcised him so that he would not be a hindrance as they sought to reach out to unsaved Jews. Although the Bible did not require Timothy to be circumcised, it was something he did willingly for the sake of reaching the Jews. However, as Paul states unequivocally in Galatians, circumcision does not aid either salvation or sanctification in Christ.
Of course, the incident with Timothy does not directly apply today because Christians need not be circumcised in order to reach unbelievers, whether Jews or Gentiles. Once again, the principle of the circumcision of the heart is at the heart of the matter.
There are practical issues involved with circumcision as well. Some parents have their sons circumcised so that they will look like all the other males in their culture. Some parents are concerned that their son would someday be in a locker room and find himself different from everyone else. In some cultures, though, males are not commonly circumcised. There is also the issue of health. Doctors debate back and forth in regard to whether there are any health benefits to circumcision. Any parents with such concerns should definitely speak with a doctor in regards to this issue.
Genesis 17:
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared unto Abram and said to Abram, I am Almighty God walk before Me and be blameless.
10 This is My covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and your descendants after you. Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
**12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.
13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.
Leviticus 12:
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean.
3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4 She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.
5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.
6 'When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Now, see The Gospel of Luke 1:
57 Now, Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
*59 So it was on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 But His mother answered and said, No he shall be called John.
61 But they said to her, There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
62 So they made signs to his father what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, His name is John. So, they all marveled.
Now, see Romans 2:
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in The Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Now, see Colossians 2:11. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
Now, notice Galatians 5:6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Now, notice again The Gospel of Luke 2:21. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child. •His name was called Jesus the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Stop here)
Now, see The Gospel Of Luke 1:
30 Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. "Yahweh saves." "Jehovah saves."
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
What does the name Jesus mean?
If ever a name was packed with significance, it is the name Jesus. Scripture says Jesus has been given the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth” Philippians 2: 9&10.
Why is our Lord’s name so powerful? What does the name Jesus mean?
The name Jesus, announced to Joseph and Mary through the angels (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31), means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Transliterated from Hebrew and Aramaic, the name is Yeshua.
This word is a combination of Ya, an abbreviation for Yahweh, the name of Israel’s God (Exodus 3:14); and the verb yasha, meaning “rescue,” “deliver,” or “save.”
The English spelling of the Hebrew Yeshua is Joshua. But when translated from Hebrew into Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the name Yeshua becomes Iēsous. In English, Iēsousbecomes Jesus. Thus, Yeshua and, correspondingly, Joshua and Jesus mean “Yahweh saves” or “the Lord is salvation.”
The name Jesus was quite popular in first-century Judea. For this reason, our Lord was often called “Jesus of Nazareth,” distinguishing Him by His childhood home, the town of Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24; Luke 18:37; John 1:45; John 19:19; Acts 2:22). Despite its commonness, the name Jesus is remarkably significant. Jesus was sent by God for a particular purpose, and His personal name bears witness to that mission. Just as the Yeshua/Joshua in the Old Testament led his people to victory over the Canaanites, the Yeshua/Jesus in the New Testament led His people to victory over sin and their spiritual enemies.
Galatians 4:4–5 says, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
God sent Jesus to save us (John 3:17). The meaning of Jesus’ name -“Yahweh saves”- reveals His mission (to save and deliver) and His identity as Savior of the world. At the same time, the commonness of Jesus’ name underscores His humanity and humility. The Son of God emptied Himself of His glory to become a humble man (Philippians 2:6–8).
The Lexham Survey of Theologyeloquently captures this dual significance in the name Jesus: “He was, from one angle, ‘just another Joshua,’ and yet, in another sense, he was the true Joshua—the one who would live up to the meaning of this name in ways that no others could.”
The name of Jesus is important because of its meaning and because of whom it represents.
There is power and authority in the person of Christ Jesus, and, of course, the person is designated by the name. More so than with other names, we associate the name of Jesus with His distinctive character, quality, and work, as seen in the following biblical truths:
Salvation is in the name of Jesus alone: “Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11–12; see also John 14:6; 20:31; Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 2:12).
Forgiveness of sins is received through the name of Jesus: “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43; see also 22:16).
Believers are baptized in the name of Jesus: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38; see also Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:12,15–16; 10:48; 19:5).
Healing and miracles were performed in the name of Jesus: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:16; see also verses 6–8 and 4:30).
Jesus teaches believers to pray in His name; that is, to pray, in His authority, the type of prayer that He would pray: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13–14; see also 15:16; 16:23–24).
In every way, Jesus lives up to His name. The name Jesus reminds us of the power, presence, and purpose of the risen Christ. It assures us that God’s gracious intention is to save us. Our Lord Jesus brought God to humanity and now brings humans to God through the salvation He purchased. In the Bible, when people spoke or acted in the name of Jesus, they did so as the Lord’s representatives with His authority. The very life of the believer is to be lived in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17) and by doing so bring glory to God: “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).
Sermon Notes For 12-8-24 Christmas From A Different Point Of View!” Part 2.
Now, let’s turn to The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2.
Now, let’s return back to our newest topic that we entitled, “Christmas From A Different Point Of View!”
Now, remember during this month of December with God’s help, we will be considering 2 elderly Saints who because of their age they came out of the closing period of The Old Testament whom The Lord allowed them to cross over into the beginning days of The New Testament Period in which the Gospel story of Our Lord Jesus Christ was now starting.
Now, these 2 elderly Saints are probably not as well known to most of us and yet, their contributions to the plan of God. And their faith and dependence upon the promises of God.
And their prophetic statements they made regarding The Son of God, is extremely important for us to know about and to praise God about.
First Simeon, a just and devout man whom The Holy Spirit was upon him. And by the way, Simeon’s name means, He who listens and hears! Or Yahweh, who listens and hears!
Now, let’s see something special in Genesis 29: 33. “And Leah conceived again and bare a son, (Stop there)
But who is Leah? Leah was the daughter of Laban, and the sister of Rachel who were both married unto Jacob at the same time in a bigamous relationship.
As a result, Leah gave birth to 7 of Jacob’s children. Reuben. Simeon. Levi. Judah.
(Note) Our Lord Jesus was of the tribe of Judah and therefore a descendant of Leah.
Now, these next 3 children were born much later unto Leah. Issachar. Zebulon. And a daughter named Dinah.
Now, notice again Genesis 29: 33. And Leah conceived again and bare a son and said,
because The LORD has heard that I was hated. He has therefore given me this son also.
And Leah called this son, Simeon! And Simeon’s name means, He who listens and hears!
Or Yahweh, who listens and hears!
Now, let’s go back to The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2.
Now, the second elderly Saint that you probably not as familiar with is Anna, a Prophetess who spoke of Christ unto all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And by the way, Anna‘s name means, "Favor" or "Grace." And therefore, Anna’s name is a good reminder to us of God’s unmerited favor towards His own and His undeserving Grace which He extends to all His children daily. And one more thing to know about Anna’s name, the name “Anna” is actually a part of the Hebrew name for Hannah!
1st Samuel 2: 1. And Hannah prayed and said: My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.” (Stop here)
Do you see the spelling of the name Hannah? H-anna-h = Anna! Also, when the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew to Greek the name “Hannah” was rendered as Ἄννα, which was then Latinized as “Anna.”
Now, before we began to look at these 2 lesser-known servants of God, Simeon and Anna, there is an important backstory that we need to understand first!
And last Sunday we were able to see the significance of the circumcision of the infant Jesus. As well as the importance of the human earthly Hebrew name that was bestowed upon Him
according to the Will of God, which the Angel Gabriel had told to Mary.
Now, notice The Gospel of Luke 2:2.1 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child. And His name was called “Jesus!” The name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Stop here)
Now, this Sunday, we want to continue with the next part of this important backstory that most of God’s people do not understand the necessity of what is taking place here in Luke 2: 22 - 24.
Now, notice The Gospel of Luke 2:
22. Now when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed,
they brought the newborn Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him unto 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 they offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. (Stop here)
Now, there are 2 key words that we must try to understand, like we did last week.
Remember last Sunday, 2 key words were, •Circumcision. •Naming. Or the naming of
the child recently born with a Hebrew name.
Now today, let’s consider the 2nd part of this back story which deals with the Purification Ceremony of the Mother. And the Presenting of the child unto The Lord.
First, the Purification Ceremony of the Mother.
Now, notice The Gospel oof Luke 2:
22A. Now when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed,
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 they offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of The Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. (Stop here)
Now, let’s turn to Leviticus Chapter 1.
Now again, 2 things had to happen according to the Law of The Lord.
First, a mother who had given birth to a child, she had to go through a Purification Ceremony.
Secondly, any firstborn male child had to be given unto The Lord.
(Note) You didn't have to go to the temple to do this.
But something else had to occur also. There had to be certain amount of days would have to pass by before the Purification and Presenting could actually happen. Show you what I mean.
Now, from The New King James Version of Leviticus 12:
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean.
3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4 She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.
5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.
6 When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon Or a turtledove as a sin offering to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
7 Then the priest shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.
8 And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So, the priest shall make atonement for her and she will be clean.
Now, this time from The New living Translation of Leviticus 12:
1 The LORD said to Moses,
2 Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period.
3 On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised.
4 After waiting thirty-three days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth.
During this time of purification, she must not touch anything that is set apart as holy. And she must not enter the sanctuary until her time of purification is over.
5 If a woman gives birth to a daughter, she will be ceremonially unclean for two weeks,
just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. After waiting sixty-six days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth.
6 When the time of purification is completed for either a son or a daughter, the woman must bring a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a purification offering. She must bring her offerings to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
7 The priest will then present them to the LORD to purify her. Then she will be ceremonially clean again after her bleeding at childbirth. These are the instructions for a woman after the birth of a son or a daughter.
8 If a woman cannot afford to bring a lamb, She must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for the burnt offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will sacrifice them to purify her and then she will be ceremonially clean. She can't go to the temple. She can't touch anything that's sacred or holy. A reminder to the people that they were still sinful, the woman was sinful, she had produced a sinful child; that the child being circumcised was in the case of a boy sinful and would pass on his sin to the next generation.
Everything that happened in their life had these kinds of things attached to it to keep throwing in their face the sinfulness of sin to drive them to the place of penitence where they'd fall on their face before God and seek His forgiveness. And so, she had to go through this. She was set apart from worship for a seven-day period, as in the days of her impurity, or her sickness.
God used menstruation as a symbol of uncleanness also and so this would be similar to that.
She had a seven-day period when she was ceremonially unclean. On the eighth day, according to verse 3, that's when the circumcision took place, another symbol of the need to purify. And then after the eighth day she should remain in the blood of her purification thirty-three days.
So, there's a certain impurity that she bears for thirty-three days. And she shouldn't touch any consecrated thing, enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification were completed.
So, forty days this woman, having had the greatest event in a woman's life, she had just given birth to a child, not just a child but a male child which means she can perpetuate the family, there's a son to pass the estate on to.
Now back to the sacrifice that Mary had to offer for her purification in verse 24. Verse 23 is an interlude, a little parenthetical statement. Most Bibles have parenthesis there.
But she came not only to bring the child and offer Him to the Lord as a firstborn, and to redeem Him, and even more, do it at the temple, but she came necessarily because she had to offer the sacrifice for purification. At the end of the forty days, she's got to come and make a sacrifice.
Here's this woman, she has a baby and immediately she is squarely faced with the fact that she has just produced a sinner.
The circumcision of any Jewish mother's baby was an indication that sin was continuing to be passed on, except in the case of Jesus, of course.
And the next thing, she had forty days when she couldn't go to the temple, she couldn't touch anything sacred or holy, she was ceremonially unclean and she's facing her sinfulness. And the only way she can end that is by offering what?
A sacrifice. And God was saying in another way, the only answer to your sin and your alienation from God, and what separates you from God is a sacrifice. And all of this is picturing the final sacrifice. And when the final sacrifice was offered on the cross, what happened to the veil in the temple that separated men from God? It was ripped from top to bottom and the way to God was opened because the final sacrifice was made and never again was there any such thing as ceremonial uncleanness.
And so, now in the New Covenant God says, "Draw near to Me,” draw near to Me. In the Old Covenant God said, "Stay back; keep your distance until blood has been shed." In the New Covenant He says blood has been shed, come on.
So, she's got to make a sacrifice. You can see if you understand the whole culture, that this stuff dominates their lives. So here, she comes and she's going to do this, sacrifice
Let's go back to Leviticus 12, right where we left off in verse 6, still talking about this woman who had the baby, the male child or the female. "When the days of her purification are complete,” Leviticus 12:6, “for a son or a daughter,” whether it's the forty days or eighty days, she's going to bring to the priests at the doorway of the Tent of the Meeting." She's going to come to the edge. She can't go in.
She can only stay in the Court of the Women. He's going to go inside where the...the altar is. And she brings a lamb. Usually, they could buy the lamb at the temple.
We know that, Jesus cleansed the temple, you remember, because they were cheating people in the purchase of sacrificial animals. They could also... They could bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering.
Two animals...burnt offering was a sin offering, sin offering was a sin offering. Again, here they are, realizing Mary's going to have to go in and say, "I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner. I've been forty days cut off from God." This was the symbol of the sinner's alienation from God.
Now a sacrifice is going to be offered in my behalf by which I'll have access to God again.
This pictures Christ in His wonderful final sacrifice. So, she comes.
She has some options. She can bring a lamb and one bird, a pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering. Now that was for people who had a lot of money, who had the resources. It might be that she didn't have that much. Verse 8 says, "If she can't afford a lamb, take two turtledoves or two pigeons."
You can just have two birds if she can't afford a lamb, one for the burnt and one for the sin offering. And the priest takes them, makes atonement for her, from then she's clean. Clean simply...doesn't mean her sins. It doesn't mean that her sins are washed away by the blood of the sacrifice. It simply means it's ceremonially, if her heart is right and she's confessed those sins and asked God for forgiveness, it's depicted in that, which really was a prefiguring of the sacrifice of Christ which alone can actually take away sin.
When her sins were forgiven, this sweet, believing girl, it was because Jesus would die for them on the cross. And God already accounted that to her behalf. So, she comes and she does that.
Now, notice it says that she brings the birds. Now, you could, according to Numbers 5, I think verse 11 and following, if you were really poor, you could bring one-tenth of an ephah, and an ephah was equal to about six gallons. So, one-tenth of six gallons, whatever that is, if you were really poor, flour. The poorest of the poor brought flour. Sort of the middle class brought birds and the upper class brought a lamb and a bird. We know from that, two things: One, they weren't wealthy; they weren't totally poor. They weren't wealthy. Now, remember they've already spent several days' wages on the five-shekel redemption tax, and they are going to have to purchase birds in the temple, probably at an inflated price. But they’re not so poor they bring flour.
The second thing we know about them is they hadn't seen the wise men yet. The question always comes up in the Luke account, "Where does the wise men story come in?" because Luke doesn't tell us. We know one thing for sure, that if they had gold, frankincense and myrrh, they would have had enough to bring the lamb and they would have been required by their own consciences, devoted to God to use what they had to purchase the lamb. You know they gave the best they could give. This tells us then that the whole story of the wise men and Herod and all of that happens after this. And I'll explain all of that as we go through the text. But that's what we learn from what isn't there. You didn't see that there, did you? No, because it's not there. But...but it's important to know when that story happened because I know some of you are saying, "What about the wise men, when did that come, where was that?" Well, now you know it hadn't happened yet, or they would have had the money and been required by their conscience, and their wealth would have been great at that point with gold, frankincense and myrrh, to provide a lamb. But they did what they were required to do. They offer (isn't it interesting?) a sin offering for Mary. Now, Mary is confessing here that she's a what? That's right. Don't ever forget it. Mary was not immaculately conceived, nor did she lead a sinless life. Mary needed a Savior. She called God her Savior, and here she offers a sacrifice for sin.
She was in need of forgiveness and redemption and a substitute who would die in her place.
So, this is testimony to the person of Jesus Christ from this wonderful young couple, Joseph and Mary. They were so obedient to the Law of God, they were so devout. They named Jesus the name that He was told...that they were told to name Him by Gabriel. They named Him Jesus because they knew He would save His people from their sins. They come and they present Him to God. They offered Him to God in the temple which they didn't have to do. They had to give Him to God, devote Him to God, but not go to the temple and do it. They did that because they knew in a special way He belonged to the Lord. They knew that because He was the Son of the Most-High. They found out even more about that later when they found Him in the temple again at age twelve and they said, "What are You doing here?" And He said, "I had to be doing My Father's business." They knew who He belonged to.
Now, according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Now, you had an option there because turtledoves were migrating birds and they weren't always around, Turtledoves came from spring to fall. So, there could be a time when you couldn't get a turtledove, but pigeons are always around.
Now, there were three levels of sacrifice she's going to bring to the priests at the doorway of the Tent of the Meeting. She's going to come to the edge. She can't go in. She can only stay in the Court of the Women. He's going to go inside where the...the altar is. And she brings a lamb.
They could bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. Two animals - burnt offering was a sin offering, sin offering was a sin offering.
She can bring a lamb and one bird, a pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering.
Now, that was for people who had a lot of money, who had the resources. It might be that she didn't have that much. Verse 8 says, "If she can't afford a lamb, take two turtledoves or two pigeons." You can just have two birds if she can't afford a lamb, one for the burnt and one for the sin offering. And the priest takes them, makes atonement for her, from then she's clean.
Clean simply...doesn't mean her sins. It doesn't mean that her sins are washed away by the blood of the sacrifice. It simply means it's ceremonially, if her heart is right and she's confessed those sins and asked God for forgiveness, it's depicted in that, which really was a prefiguring of the sacrifice of Christ which alone can actually take away sin.
When her sins were forgiven, this sweet, believing girl, when her sins were forgiven it was because Jesus would die for them on the cross. And God already accounted that to her behalf. So she comes and she does that. Now notice it says that she brings the birds.
Now you could, according to Numbers 5, I think verse 11 and following, if you were really poor, you could bring one-tenth of an ephah, and an ephah was equal to about six gallons. So one-tenth of six gallons, whatever that is, if you were really poor, flour.
The poorest of the poor brought flour. Sort of the middle class brought birds and the upper class brought a lamb and a bird.
We know from that two things: One, they weren't wealthy; they weren't totally poor. They weren't wealthy. Now, remember they've already spent several days' wages on the five-shekel redemption tax, and they are going to have to purchase birds in the temple, probably at an inflated price. But they’re not so poor they bring flour.
The second thing we know about them is they hadn't seen the wise men yet. Where does the wise men story come in?
Now, let’s see Matthew 2:
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 saying Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
We know one thing for sure, that if they had gold, frankincense and myrrh, they would have had enough to bring the lamb and they would have been required by their own consciences, devoted to God to use what they had to purchase the lamb.
You know they gave the best they could give. This tells us then that the whole story of the wise men and Herod and all of that happens after this. And I'll explain all of that as we go through the text. But that's what we learn from what isn't there. You didn't see that there, did you? No, because it's not there. But...but it's important to know when that story happened because I know some of you are saying, "What about the wise men, when did that come, where was that?"
Well, now you know it hadn't happened yet, or they would have had the money and been required by their conscience, and their wealth would have been great at that point with gold, frankincense and myrrh, to provide a lamb. But they did what they were required to do.
They were so obedient to the Law of God they were so devout. They named Jesus the name that He was told...that they were told to name Him by Gabriel. They named Him Jesus because they knew He would save His people from their sins. They come and they present Him to God. They offer Him to God in the temple which they didn't have to do. They had to give Him to God, devote Him to God, but not go to the temple and do it. They did that because they knew in a special way He belonged to The Lord. They knew that because He was the Son of the Most-High.
They found out even more about that later when they found Him in the temple again at age twelve and they said, "What are You doing here?" And He said, "I had to be doing My Father's business." They knew who He belonged to.
Now, let’s go back to The Gospel of Luke 2:
Now, let’s see The Presenting Of The Child Unto The Lord.
Now, notice The Gospel of Luke 2:22 Now, when The days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, The brought the newborn Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him unto The Lord, (Stop here)
Now, see Exodus 13:
1. Then the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,
2. Consecrate unto Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast they are Mine!
What does that mean? It didn't mean the priesthood because you couldn't be a priest unless you were in the tribe of Levi. But rather to take this child and just devote his life to God, just give him to the Lord. That's what was done with the firstborn.
The classic illustration is Hannah and she brought Samuel to give him to the Lord.
Well, every firstborn was to be devoted to the Lord it was just that you said, This child Lord,
is Your child, whatever You want to do in this child's life I'm devoting this child to You.
You do with this child whatever You will whatever way You want this child to honor You and glorify You and serve You, I give You this child, the firstborn child.
Now, notice The Gospel of Luke 2:
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 for it had been revealed unto Simeon by The Holy Spirit that Simeon would not see death before he had seen The Lord's Christ. (Stop here)
Now, notice The Gospel Of Luke 2:27. So, Simeon came by The Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child to do for Him according to the custom of the law.
(Note) This would be the Presenting and not the circumcision.
Quote Exodus 13: 2. Consecrate unto Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast they are Mine!
28 Simeon 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 by Simeon. (Stop here)
Sermon Notes For 12-22-24 Christmas From A Different Point Of View!” Part 4
Now, Let’s Turn To The Gospel Of Luke Chapter 2.
Now, Let’s Return Again To Our Current Topic That We Entitled, “Christmas From A Different Point Of View, Part 4!
Now, As The Christmas Celebration Is Upon Us With Only 4 Days To Go Now. And Also, We Are Getting Closer To The Beginning Of Another New Year Within The Next 11 Days,
As We Together Anticipate What The Lord Will Do And Will Allow Throughout The New Year Of 2025 And Beyond.
And therefore, in order to help us getting ready for these 2major events, each Sunday during this Month of December with God’s help, we have been focusing upon the real meaning of Christmas Which According To The Bible It Is All About The Birth Of Our Lord Jesus Christ And His First Advent On Behalf Of Mankind, Which Has Brought About The Greatest Rescue Operation Ever Attempted In History, Which Took Place Over 2000 Years Ago. And This Rescue Operation Is Still Going On To This Very Day.
In fact, in The Gospel of Luke 19:10. It says this about that! “For The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19: 10.
And interestingly, according to The Gospel of Luke 2:25 thru 38, and even way back then there were at least 2 elderly Saints that we know about who truly believe that God would bring about this important rescue operation as promised.
As a result, these 2 elderly Saints would be used by The Lord to declare this wonderful plan of God to rescue.
These 2 elderly Saints would be used by The Lord to remind everybody of this wonderful promise from God to rescue.
And these 2 elderly Saints would be used by The Lord to give a prophetic statement regarding The Son of God who would fulfill the purposes of God according to the Will of God to rescue.
Therefore, the first person the Lord would use was Simeon, a just and devout man whom The Holy Spirit was upon Him. And the second person The Lord would use is Anna, a Prophetess who spoke of Christ unto all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Now, last Sunday we finished up looking at Simeon, a just and devout man whom The Holy Spirit was upon him.
Now, starting today, we want to begin our in-depth look at, Anna, a Prophetess who spoke of Christ unto all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And from Luke 2:36, 37, & 38, we are given some helpful insight by Holy Spirit regarding Anna.
Show you what I mean, let’s notice Luke 2:
36 Now there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phan-uel of the tribe of Asher.
Anna was of a great age, And had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And Anna was a widow of about eighty-four years. Yet, Anna did not depart from the Temple, but Anna served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant, Anna gave thanks unto The Lord. And Anna spoke of The Lord unto all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Stop here)
Now, notice again Luke 2:36. Now there was one Anna, A Prophetess, (Stop here)
This is highly significant for The Lord to reveal such an important detail about anna’s calling and ministry unto the people of her day.
(Question) What is a Prophetess? First and most importantly, a Prophetess was not somebody who predicts the future! A Prophetess was not somebody who was psychic or clairvoyant.
And most importantly, those who were used The Lord as Prophetess, were never used by
The Lord to write A Prophetic Book like, • The book of Isaiah. •The book of Jeremiah.
•The book of Ezekiel. •The book of Daniel.
However, Prophetess were used mightily in another way as those who spoke the word of God in season and out of season.
Prophetess taught the word of God and held nothing back but told it like it is!
The Women In The Bible Who Were Called, “Prophetess.”
•Miriam, the sister of Moses. (Exodus 15:20)
•Deborah, a judge of Israel.(Judges 4:4)
•Hu-dah Hul-dah, the wife of Shal-lum.
(2 Chronicles 34:22)
•The Prophet Isaiah’s wife. (Isaiah 7:3 & Isaiah 8:3)
(Note) Say a little more about this one which for me I could not confirmed within the Scriptures.
•Philip the evangelist who had four unmarried daughters. (Acts 21:8&9)
•And lastly, there was an unnamed woman within the Church At Thyatira in The Book of Revelation, she was liken unto the Jezebel from The Old Testament. (The Book of Revelation 2:20).
Now, notice again Luke 2:36 Now there was one Anna, a Prophetess, the daughter of
Phan-uel of the tribe of Asher. (Stop here)
Now she is further identified for us, and just an interesting note, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. Phanuel is the name Penuel, also Peniel, P-e-n-i-e-l, another Old Testament name, of the tribe f Asher.
Now, notice again Luke 2:36. Now there was one Anna, a Prophetess, the daughter of
Phan-uel of the tribe of Asher. *Anna was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; (Stop here)
Now, notice Luke 2:37. And Anna was a widow of about eighty-four years. (Stop here)
This one area most married couples do not want to think about. And they don’t want to discuss the matter with each other. And that is the fact that one day, one or the other will depart from this world, and the other will be left behind as a widow, or a widower.
A Rare Example. One of my young cousins, Karma had a friend from school and most of their family did not survive a serious car accident last Sunday on their way to church.
The family’s name is the Lou-ren-co family. This family of six, both parents along with two of their 4 children who were killed in this awful car accident. The other two children Who survived, ones in serious condition in the hospital and the other is doing fair but still in the hospital.
See 1st Corinthians 7:39. A wife is bound by The law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
See Job 2:
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
9 Then Job wife said unto him, Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!
10 But Job said unto his wife, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
See Ruth 1:
3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so Naomi survived or live longer than her two sons and her husband.
19 Now, the two of them Naomi and Ruth went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when Naomi and Ruth had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; And the women said, Is this Naomi?
20 But Naomi said unto them, Do not call me Naomi! But call me Mara! Because The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21 For I went out full and The Lord has brought me home again empty! Why do you call me Naomi, since The Lord has testified against me and The Almighty has afflicted me?
Now, back to Luke Chapter 2.
Now, notice Luke 2:37. And Anna was a widow of about eighty-four years. •Yet Anna did not depart from the Temple, but Anna served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Stop here)
This is amazing. Anna did not become, angry. Or embittered. Or, disappointed. Or, uncommitted unto God after the death of her husband early in their marriage. •And the fact that they did not have any children. • And the fact that without a spouse for 84 years.
Now, here are some things to know, and to remember, and prepare for, that will really help you when a death occurs to someone you know who had a personal relationship with God. (Repeat)
See Psalms 116:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.
2nd Corinthians 5:
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
1st Thessalonians 4:
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
See Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.