Day #355 - Moved by the Spirit
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
”Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”“
Luke 2:25-35 NIV
Have you ever got to sit with an older man of God in His later years?
I’ve been blessed to have men in their senior years of their life pour into me like Dr. Matthew Thomas and Dr. Stephen List. There is a great anointing and stability on men who have gone the distance in ministry and faithfulness to Jesus. “The Presence” of God increases through the crushing, maturity and resilience of people who go through many trials and never give up on loving and following Jesus. I think often people give up too early and don’t realize the greatest things happen for people who wait very long for them. I receive so much encouragement and strength sitting with these men of God. They are men moved by the Holy Spirit.
There is a man who the Scripture doesn’t say a lot about around the birth of Jesus named Simeon. But what it says about this righteous and devout man is powerful. He was a man who the Holy Spirit was upon, who had things revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit and who was moved by the Holy Spirit. He was a presence man. His whole life was saturated with and compelled by the Spirit.
He was prophetic and his life promise was to see the Messiah. He waited for God with us. He waited for the manifestation of “the Presence” among us. He prophesied out of His rich fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied that the coming of Jesus would pierce the soul of Mary. Those who want to be close to Jesus will see great wonders but will also see their souls pierced with grief. For the coming of Jesus meant that one day He would die for us.
If we want our lives to find true significance we have so much to learn from Simeon. Be a man or woman of the Holy Spirit. Spend time in God’s house and in God’s presence to hear God’s voice and know prophetically what season in which we live. Don’t give up but be willing to wait for God’s promises in your life. And ultimately find your significance not in your own story but find your meaning in the center of Jesus’ story.
Lord Jesus, light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel, be in the center of my life. May my life find meaning in Your story. I want to live for You as a child of God who the Holy Spirit is upon, who the Holy Spirit reveals things to and who is moved by the Holy Spirit. In Your name Jesus, amen.
BTW, Pastor John, I want to sincerely thank you for these devotionals you have been posting for almost a year now. They have ministered to me each day. You always seem to "hit the nail on the head". Merry Christmas to you and your family. All of you are loved and appreciated.
Lord, Jesus, I just want to live in Your presence. I want Your Holy Spirit to be upon me, I want to hear Your voice when You speak to me, and I want to be moved by Holy Spirit, doing what I hear You say, in Your name amen.