Bullets for the Battle

Third Sunday of Advent
Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Meditation
Simion: Those who faithfully wait for God

Waiting! It is the hidden discipline of the Christian Life. When we waits for God a new dimension enters our experience. Waiting on God has different objectives than the ordinary waiting we do. It is not like waiting for the traffic light to change, for a favorite relative to arrive, even for Christmas to come. Nor is it like the waiting that builds our characters as we grow stronger under the pressures of life. When we wait for God we come into His presence even as we wait. We come closer than we ever expected to the God who will fulfill His promises at the appointed time.

The fulfillment of God’s promises is one of the highpoints of the Christmas story. Jesus’ birth fulfilled so many promises – a baby born of a Virgin, in Bethlehem, of the House of David! To one man, especially, this child’s birth was significant – Simion – who God had promised would see the Lord’s Christ before he died.

Imagine Simeon’s excitement and joy as he saw the Promised Child. Listen to the story of waiting fulfilled…

Scripture
Luke 2:21-38 (New King James)
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 Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Hymn
Join us in song: (some good choices listed below)
O Worship the King
Emanuel
Joy to the World

Prayer
Pray that we remain faithful to Christ.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of church service when the person who lit them blows them out.