SIMEON AND ANNA
SIMEON AND ANNA
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday evening service, December 14, 2013, the Year of Our Lord
This morning we continued the series on the story of the time of Jesus’ birth with the story of the shepherds.
Next in the gospel of Luke is told the story of Simeon and Anna, who like Zacharias and Elizabeth, had lingered on the shores of time to bring tribute to the Messiah. The Father sealed and confirmed His Son with a pure, prophetic flow. Before God allowed this new and holy thing to be soiled by the grimy hands of a lesser priesthood, an old order that was passing away. He intercepted the divine Seed with a prophet and a prophetess!
In that day, Pharisees would not allow women into the ministry. Yet a prophetess stood with Simeon to confirm the birth of the Messiah.
Luke 2: 21-24: “When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. When the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Jesus, the pattern Son, had to experience circumcision, the badge of membership in the Jewish Church. The corporate Messiah, the Joshua generation, must be circumcised before we enter the land. The reproach of Egypt must be rolled away (Rom 8:1), the manna cease (Heb. 6: 1-2), and a divine strategy received (2 Cor. 10: 3-6). The end-time church will not be defiled with worldly ways, outdated traditions, or human genius.
The universal church is still a mixture of worldly ways, human ego, and religion. However, the Lord always has and always will have a Holy Remnant of purity who will protect the royal seed.
The “name” or nature of the Son of Promise is “Jesus” – “Jehovah is salvation” (Mt. 1:21) Christ is being formed in His church. He will be revealed in His Body of those who are willing to die daily to self and allow Jesus to reveal His glory.
Mary experienced the days of “purification” or “cleansing,” according to the Law of Moses. Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be presented. Colossians 1:28: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
When I first preached this message in 2008, I believed the “called out ones” had been through eight years of purification and we would see the glory of God cover the whole earth as the waters cover the sea. However, it is now the year 2013, and the Holy seed is still maturing and growing. Individually and corporately we have not yet matured into the glory of the latter day church
Every firstborn son was thus redeemed by sacrifice; he would be called “holy” unto the Lord. The sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves” or “two young pigeons” (the offering of the poor, costing about 16 cents) reveals the Messiah—Head and Body—Jesus and a Spirit-filled Church in His image. Mary gave the best she had to God---Him of whom the lamb she would have offered had she been rich enough was but the type. The spiritually-blinded priest who held the infant Jesus was presenting the One who would make the Jewish altar and priesthood obsolete and no longer necessary.
This year while on tour in England with Kathie Walters, she presented me with a prophetic gift of a pair of turtle doves. The prophetic action of a prophet or prophetess is as anointed as their prophetic word. I received the turtle doves as a “sign”.
Luke 2: 25-26: 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 unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
There is a man, a mature prophetic ministry, within the Church. His name is “Simeon,” which means “he who hears and obeys.” He is righteous and genuinely pious---“just” toward man and “devout” toward God (a first fruit of Peter’s audience in Acts 2:5), awaiting with confidence and patience for” the consolation of Israel,” a term denoting the Messiah. Simeon lived and walked in the Spirit. He would not see death until He had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Rev. 11:15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”
Luke 2: 27-31: “And 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. Simeon took 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 Your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people.”
Luke 2: 29-32 has been called the Nune Dimitti, which is Latin for “Now lettest,” the first words of Simeon’s prayer. Only those who have had a vision of Jesus can die in peace. Simeon came “by the Spirit” into the temple. He saw Jesus and “took” or “received” Him up into his aged arms. He stood in one age, and embraced another.
We in the church of the 21st century have stood in one age, but we are embracing another. We see by vision the Glory of the Lord covering the whole earth and being revealed through the saints. We have carried the presence and the Glory, guarding it from Herod’s henchmen, wolves, Jezebels, Absaloms, the spirits of anti-christ, Alexander the coppersmith and all the other demons who are sent to kill the seed.
Luke 2: 32-35: “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 thy own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”)
Simeon prophesied three distinct things over the baby Jesus: Messiah would be a light, a sign, and a sword.
First, Messiah would be the “light” of the world. This Light would bring revelation and glory to both Jew and Greek, to all “peoples”.
Second, Messiah would be a “sign” continually “spoken against,” or “disputed, refused, contradicted”. Yet this One destined to suffer such persecution would be “set” or “Lie outstretched” for the “crash, downfall” and the “resurrection” of many. Messiah would be stumbling block to many yet would raise up many to life and glory. Judas despaired, Peter repented; one robber blasphemed Him on the cross, the other confessed; the Jewish nation fell, the primitive church arose. Jesus is the magnet of the ages---He draws some. He repels others.
Third, Messiah, the living Word, would be a “sword” that can pierce the soul. Mary would taste the anguish of a nation that would reject and crucify her Son.
Luke 2: 36-38: “And 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; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem”
The Jewish law required the testimonies of at least two witnesses to establish truth.
Anna, like Hannah means “grace”. Grace, God’s ability, is a progression, revealed in three dimensions.
- Grace and truth (Jn. 1:17)
- Great grace (Acts 4:33)
- Grace, Grace (Zech. 4:7)
The message and method of the end-time church is certified by divine grace.
Simeon’s devotion to the promised Word and Anna’s steadfastness in prayer reveal the kind of prophetic witness that will operate in Messiah’s season. The blending of the Word and the Spirit, like the fine flour and oil of the Old Testament meal offering, will keep this present move of God pure.
“All Word and no Spirit makes us legalistic. All Spirit and no Word makes us flakey”. (Author of quote unknown)
Jas. 3: 13-17: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The time of the Messiah is a time of warfare---He cannot be contaminated.
Jesus the Wisdom from above stands in stark contrast to the wisdom of this world. Let us pray for the church of the 21st century to receive the Gift of Wisdom as it was given unto Stephen Acts 6:9: “They were not able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke.”
Luke 2: 39-40: “And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.
Another completing the requirements of the law, Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned to “Nazareth”. There, as did the boy prophet, Samuel, and his cousin John, the fleshly Word “grew” or “enlarged, increased.” Jesus “waxed strong” in spirit; He was “empowered” and “increased in vigor”. Likewise the corporate Body of Christ is to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man. The Anointed One was filled with divine wisdom and the “grace” or “favor “of God was upon Him.
I believe there was a birthing of the glory of God in the year 2000. In 2008, I preached that I believed the church had been through a time of purification. However, it took 33-years before Jesus’ came into maturity to break forth into the earth the salvation power of the Kingdom of God. I believe that which was birthed into the church in the year 2000 is now being strengthened with the divine grace and favor of God as we are being strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit.
The time of the Messiah began in wonder and has increased in witness. The consequent warfare has been intense. The time of the revelation of the Sons of God, the Church Triumphant the Glorious Church, the Overcomers began in wonder, and have increased in witness. The consequent warfare has been intense, but we rest in Christ, assured that the victory has been secured by His finished work. The promise of restoration is sure. The Seed is safe, kept pure by the power of God.
Anna was the daughter of “Phanuel,” which means “the face of God” (Lk. 2:35). She came from the tribe of “Asher” which means “happy”. This aged prophetess had never “departed” or “deserted” the presence of God for over 80 years, “serving” or “ministering” to God in constant fasting and prayer. She probably married at the age of 13. Anna would by this time be about 104 years old. She came in that “instant” or “hour” to confirm Simeon’s word to all those who looked for the promised Redeemer.
This means to me that if at the age of 50, it was revealed to me the church was birthing the Glory of the Lord which shall cover the whole earth”, then I will see it come to maturity by the age of 83. (I am writing this tongue-in-cheek. I am not certain when I had the vision of the Glory of God covering the whole earth, but it would have been in the late 1990’s or early 2000).
Luke 2: 41-47: “Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. They supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and the sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. When she could not find, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. It came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. All that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”
Within 12 years, the pure wisdom of the Messiah swallowed up the religious judgment of His elders baffling their collective learning. The growing “Seed” was sitting in the temple listening and asking questions. The Body of Christ is being anointed with the wisdom of Stephen, which cannot be resisted. The rod of Moses will swallow up the rods of Egypt’s magicians.
Next Sunday morning I will finish this series and preach on “A Time of Worship”. This is the story of the wise men “…we…are come to worship Him.”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
I entered into the labors of The Time of the Messiah by Kelly Varner, Copyright 1996, published by Destiny Image, Publishers, Inc. Scripture is from KJV. Comments and Conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those whom I entered into their labors. I also preached, “When Eight Days were Accomplished” in Dec. 2008. It is printed on the website, www.eastgateminsitries.com.
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