1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,720 Well it really is good to be with you today. The apostle John told me how much 2 00:00:04,720 –> 00:00:10,640 he enjoyed his visit with you last year. The only problem for me coming down here of course is 3 00:00:10,640 –> 00:00:17,120 this old body. 2 000 years up there I’d forgotten how many aches and pains I had. 4 00:00:18,879 –> 00:00:24,080 I’d love to tell you by the way what it’s like up there but I’m not allowed to and I couldn’t 5 00:00:24,080 –> 00:00:28,400 even if I tried. It’s beyond anything I’d ever imagined 6 00:00:29,440 –> 00:00:32,000 and some of you are going to find that out one day. 7 00:00:33,360 –> 00:00:38,240 All I can tell you is that being up there for 2 000 years is how I got this accent. 8 00:00:43,919 –> 00:00:50,000 By the way, the pastor told me that he’s using these newfangled screens up here. I just said to 9 00:00:50,639 –> 00:00:55,840 that’s all right for you, son, I said. But don’t expect anything fancy like that from an old guy 10 00:00:55,840 –> 00:01:04,000 like me. But I mustn’t get sidetracked. You know, I found that happened more as I got older. 11 00:01:04,000 –> 00:01:08,879 I must try and keep to the point. You see, up there now my mind is so clear. 12 00:01:09,519 –> 00:01:14,959 I’d forgotten how confused my mind sometimes got in this old body. 13 00:01:14,959 –> 00:01:20,080 You see? So I’ll try and keep it all things that are by the way. 14 00:01:21,599 –> 00:01:30,080 I want to tell you my side of the story. I wasn’t in Bethlehem, I didn’t see the angels, 15 00:01:31,360 –> 00:01:44,080 and I didn’t visit the inn… But I did hold him in my arms eight days after he was born. 16 00:01:44,639 –> 00:01:52,160 But I need to start a bit further back. Oh, by the way, you need to know it’s not easy for me to get 17 00:01:52,160 –> 00:01:58,239 up and speak in public like this. A lot of people assumed that I was a priest, because I was in the 18 00:01:58,239 –> 00:02:03,919 temple courts. I don’t know where they got that idea, certainly not from the Bible. I wasn’t a 19 00:02:03,919 –> 00:02:13,039 priest. I was what you would call today a layman. I was just an ordinary guy living in Jerusalem, 20 00:02:13,039 –> 00:02:19,919 and that’s why Luke described me in his Gospel as just a man in Jerusalem, a man who happened to be 21 00:02:19,919 –> 00:02:25,679 there at the same moment as Mary and Joseph were coming into the temple with Jesus. This was the 22 00:02:25,679 –> 00:02:33,759 amazing thing to me that he was born, and yet the king knew nothing of it except when he 23 00:02:33,759 –> 00:02:41,919 was told by some foreigners traveling from the East. And he came as a child and a baby into the 24 00:02:42,000 –> 00:02:48,720 temple in his mother’s arms, some priest circumcised him and went through all 25 00:02:48,720 –> 00:02:52,800 the rites and did the offerings and didn’t have the slightest idea of who he was. 26 00:02:55,119 –> 00:03:02,399 What happened was that god opened the eyes of ordinary people, shepherds, foreigners, 27 00:03:04,479 –> 00:03:11,440 and an ordinary guy like me who just happened to be living in Jerusalem. 28 00:03:12,800 –> 00:03:15,199 Well, let me tell you a little more about myself. 29 00:03:17,360 –> 00:03:24,160 The Holy Spirit was on me. Now all of you know what that means because that is true 30 00:03:24,160 –> 00:03:28,559 of you if you’re a believer as well, see you folks don’t know how blessed you are. 31 00:03:30,160 –> 00:03:36,800 All of you who believe, have God’s wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit with you and in you. 32 00:03:37,520 –> 00:03:43,839 It’s true of every believer now but when I lived before Christ came that was not the case 33 00:03:45,039 –> 00:03:52,960 in my lifetime God’s Spirit was given to some but not to all, God gave his Spirit to some people who 34 00:03:52,960 –> 00:03:59,360 had special tasks, I guess the fact that He gives His Spirit to all of you means that He has special 35 00:03:59,360 –> 00:04:09,039 tasks for all of you but I enjoyed then what you enjoy now, God’s Spirit was on me 36 00:04:11,039 –> 00:04:16,559 and the other thing that you should know is that I was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Now 37 00:04:16,559 –> 00:04:20,480 maybe I should explain what that means. You folks know from the Bible 38 00:04:21,440 –> 00:04:27,920 that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to come back at any time, now you believe that 39 00:04:27,920 –> 00:04:34,399 don’t you? That he can come back at any time… I hope you believe that because I just read it 40 00:04:34,399 –> 00:04:41,600 in your Statement of Faith out there, he can come back at any time can’t he? Good. 41 00:04:44,160 –> 00:04:46,079 A lot more people did that in our day. 42 00:04:46,880 –> 00:04:59,839 Of course that’s all the talk up there. We will come with him, you’ll come up, we’ll come down and 43 00:04:59,839 –> 00:05:05,760 we will meet together and we shall always be with the Lord and it could happen at any time but you 44 00:05:05,760 –> 00:05:11,679 don’t know if you will be alive when it happens or not. And by the way, we don’t know when it’s 45 00:05:11,679 –> 00:05:18,959 even up there we haven’t been told. Now that’s exactly what it was like in my time. You see, 46 00:05:18,959 –> 00:05:25,679 we had the old testament scriptures, the old testament was completed 400 years before my 47 00:05:25,679 –> 00:05:31,920 lifetime. The last word written by the last prophet really spoke about a day when God 48 00:05:31,920 –> 00:05:38,880 would suddenly come to his temple. We knew it could happen at any time but none of us knew 49 00:05:38,880 –> 00:05:44,640 whether we would be alive at the time when God’s deliverer redeemer would come or not. 50 00:05:46,399 –> 00:05:51,359 So we got into the habit of praying for him to come. I expect now as you think about his 51 00:05:51,359 –> 00:05:56,559 second coming that some of you do the same, you should. The first of our Christian family did 52 00:05:56,559 –> 00:06:03,760 that. Lord Jesus, come quickly they would pray. Well I used to do that about his first coming. 53 00:06:04,720 –> 00:06:09,839 By the way, it is a wonderful thing that ordinary people like us can pray isn’t it. 54 00:06:10,399 –> 00:06:14,320 You don’t need to be a priest or a pastor to pray. You can pray! 55 00:06:16,239 –> 00:06:19,200 Well anyway getting back to my story I musn’t keep getting distracted, 56 00:06:19,920 –> 00:06:28,480 one day something quite extraordinary happened, all I can tell you is that it was revealed to me 57 00:06:28,480 –> 00:06:34,399 that the Christ would come before I died, 58 00:06:35,040 –> 00:06:39,600 now don’t ask me to explain that God didn’t see fit to tell us in the scriptures and 59 00:06:39,600 –> 00:06:45,920 I’m not going to go into it right now, all I can tell you is that it was revealed to me, 60 00:06:47,040 –> 00:06:55,119 I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that I would not die until I had seen the deliverer 61 00:06:55,119 –> 00:06:57,119 for whom the whole world had been waiting. 62 00:06:59,200 –> 00:07:06,480 By the way it is an interesting experience to know that you will live to see a future event, 63 00:07:07,679 –> 00:07:11,600 there were times of course when I was quite ill and people were worried about 64 00:07:11,600 –> 00:07:17,279 whether I would ever recover, well I was never in any doubt. One time I was in an accident, 65 00:07:17,279 –> 00:07:25,920 I knew I would pull through God had promised that I would see Christ. I was immortal until he came. 66 00:07:27,519 –> 00:07:31,200 I sometimes wondered of course how I would know him when I saw him but 67 00:07:31,760 –> 00:07:35,679 somehow deep down inside I just knew that I would know. 68 00:07:38,160 –> 00:07:43,200 Well let me tell you how it happened, it seemed like the whole of my life was a preparation 69 00:07:43,200 –> 00:07:49,679 for that day. Strange thing was it was a day like any other I was going about my usual business 70 00:07:49,679 –> 00:07:57,040 when I felt this inner compulsion that I had to go to the temple. God did not usually speak 71 00:07:57,040 –> 00:08:01,760 to me in this way but on this occasion it was just like a voice in my head. Go to the temple 72 00:08:01,760 –> 00:08:08,559 Simeon. Go to the temple. Go right now. I knew i had to go. I thought Lord I can go when I finish 73 00:08:08,559 –> 00:08:16,320 my work but I knew that would be disobedience. I had to go right there and then and I’m so glad I 74 00:08:16,320 –> 00:08:25,200 did. I arrived in the temple and of course crowds of people as they’re always were. That place was 75 00:08:25,200 –> 00:08:32,320 a constant hive of activity just like your church really except you don’t have the animals. 76 00:08:33,119 –> 00:08:38,559 People were making offerings and children were being circumcised, 77 00:08:38,559 –> 00:08:43,840 people asking priests for prayers, confessing sins, others just looking around at the building. 78 00:08:45,280 –> 00:08:53,200 I got there just as a young couple were standing before the priest with their baby. 79 00:08:54,559 –> 00:09:00,159 They handed over an offering of two young pigeons. Priest circumcised the baby. 80 00:09:01,119 –> 00:09:06,400 Must have done that a hundred times. Went through the whole routine like nothing really mattered, 81 00:09:08,400 –> 00:09:15,200 but as I watched, I just knew that this was the one. 82 00:09:16,559 –> 00:09:23,440 Don’t ask me how I knew. I cannot tell you except to say that the Holy Spirit of God 83 00:09:23,440 –> 00:09:29,359 revealed it to me. God led me to make the identification. I was never more sure of 84 00:09:29,359 –> 00:09:34,159 anything in all my life. He was the one that the whole world had been waiting for. 85 00:09:35,440 –> 00:09:38,640 I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed that as you’ve read the story. 86 00:09:40,159 –> 00:09:41,599 Nobody worked it out on their own. 87 00:09:43,359 –> 00:09:48,960 The angels had to tell the shepherds. The wise men had to be led by the star. 88 00:09:50,400 –> 00:09:53,039 Even John the Baptist said I wouldn’t have known him, 89 00:09:53,039 –> 00:09:56,559 except that the dove came down upon him when he was baptized. 90 00:09:56,559 –> 00:10:03,919 Peter said, You are the Christ, and Jesus said you didn’t work that out on your own. 91 00:10:03,919 –> 00:10:06,880 He said, Blessed are you Peter, because 92 00:10:07,520 –> 00:10:10,559 the Father in heaven has revealed this to you. 93 00:10:11,520 –> 00:10:15,200 The women went and found the tomb empty. Didn’t have the faintest idea what it meant. 94 00:10:15,200 –> 00:10:17,760 It was God who had to tell them through the angel. 95 00:10:17,760 –> 00:10:20,640 He is risen. 96 00:10:21,599 –> 00:10:24,640 Oh you see all the evidence for Jesus is there 97 00:10:24,640 –> 00:10:26,880 for anyone to examine and you should. 98 00:10:28,640 –> 00:10:32,640 But it is God who opens your eyes to the truth. 99 00:10:34,080 –> 00:10:37,280 And if you know who Jesus Christ is today, 100 00:10:37,280 –> 00:10:41,760 you give thanks to God because He has opened your eyes. 101 00:10:43,599 –> 00:10:47,760 Well anyway, I walked up to the family. 102 00:10:47,760 –> 00:10:51,919 There was just a little crowd that were gathered around them 103 00:10:51,919 –> 00:10:55,760 for the ceremony and when the priest was finished, 104 00:10:55,760 –> 00:10:58,400 he passed the baby back to Joseph. 105 00:10:59,599 –> 00:11:00,719 That was when it happened. 106 00:11:00,719 –> 00:11:03,599 I knew that God was giving me words 107 00:11:03,599 –> 00:11:06,000 that had to be spoken at that moment, 108 00:11:06,000 –> 00:11:07,760 so I just tapped Joseph on the arm. 109 00:11:09,280 –> 00:11:11,760 I told him I felt God had some words 110 00:11:11,760 –> 00:11:13,119 he wanted me to say 111 00:11:14,479 –> 00:11:17,119 and I asked if I could hold the baby. 112 00:11:18,640 –> 00:11:20,000 He seemed rather surprised. 113 00:11:20,000 –> 00:11:23,039 I mean, me a stranger, a man in Jerusalem, 114 00:11:23,039 –> 00:11:25,440 not even a priest, but he agreed 115 00:11:25,440 –> 00:11:28,320 and I found myself, think of it, 116 00:11:28,320 –> 00:11:32,719 looking into the eyes of this child 117 00:11:35,200 –> 00:11:36,960 and then the words came. 118 00:11:38,159 –> 00:11:43,039 I was speaking but the words I spoke were given, 119 00:11:43,840 –> 00:11:45,840 so it never happened to me before 120 00:11:45,840 –> 00:11:48,960 but I knew instinctively that this was what happened 121 00:11:48,960 –> 00:11:53,919 when prophets spoke, God was giving me words. 122 00:11:56,640 –> 00:11:59,359 By the way, I had a bit of a discussion with Peter 123 00:11:59,359 –> 00:12:03,119 about this up there and he described it rather well. 124 00:12:04,640 –> 00:12:05,359 He said to me, 125 00:12:06,320 –> 00:12:10,880 Simeon, men spoke from God 126 00:12:10,880 –> 00:12:14,320 when they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 127 00:12:15,840 –> 00:12:18,320 Then he laughed and he said, I know that’s definitely right 128 00:12:18,320 –> 00:12:21,119 because these are the very words that God gave me to describe it 129 00:12:21,119 –> 00:12:22,719 and I wrote them down in the 2nd letter 130 00:12:22,719 –> 00:12:23,679 in the New Testament. 131 00:12:25,039 –> 00:12:26,880 Well, that’s exactly what happened to me. 132 00:12:28,000 –> 00:12:32,239 They were not my words, I can only say that I spoke from God 133 00:12:32,239 –> 00:12:35,119 as I was carried along by the Holy Spirit. 134 00:12:36,080 –> 00:12:39,840 I held Him in my arms and then I said, 135 00:12:39,840 –> 00:12:40,960 sovereign Lord, 136 00:12:42,559 –> 00:12:45,200 my eyes have seen your salvation. 137 00:12:46,080 –> 00:12:49,280 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 138 00:12:49,280 –> 00:12:52,159 a light for revelation to the Gentiles 139 00:12:52,159 –> 00:12:55,440 and for glory for your people, Israel. 140 00:12:56,960 –> 00:13:00,880 Well, of course Mary and Joseph were absolutely astonished at this. 141 00:13:02,320 –> 00:13:04,159 What surprised them was not that 142 00:13:04,159 –> 00:13:07,039 I should make these great statements about their child 143 00:13:07,039 –> 00:13:10,000 they already knew his greatness. 144 00:13:10,799 –> 00:13:13,840 What surprised them was that a complete stranger 145 00:13:14,719 –> 00:13:17,280 a layman should walk into the temple, 146 00:13:17,280 –> 00:13:20,080 ask for permission to hold their baby in his arms 147 00:13:20,080 –> 00:13:24,000 and then prophesy the very words of God over him. 148 00:13:26,479 –> 00:13:29,119 Because I’ve enjoyed talking with Mary about it up there, too. 149 00:13:30,640 –> 00:13:33,280 She told me I wondered who on earth you were 150 00:13:34,799 –> 00:13:37,200 but we knew that God was speaking through you. 151 00:13:40,000 –> 00:13:42,400 I was about to hand the baby back to Mary 152 00:13:44,400 –> 00:13:46,400 and then more words came. 153 00:13:48,400 –> 00:13:52,239 Like wind blowing into your body on a cold day. 154 00:13:52,239 –> 00:13:53,919 You folks should know what that’s like. 155 00:13:56,559 –> 00:13:59,119 Words forcing themselves on me 156 00:14:00,719 –> 00:14:03,840 and I knew that there was more that God had for me to speak. 157 00:14:05,599 –> 00:14:10,080 Still holding the baby and standing right next to his mother, 158 00:14:10,919 –> 00:14:13,840 I said, this child is destined 159 00:14:14,559 –> 00:14:17,840 for the falling and the rising of many in Israel. 160 00:14:20,000 –> 00:14:21,760 The word seemed strange to me. 161 00:14:21,760 –> 00:14:24,640 Rising, I understood, but why falling? 162 00:14:26,400 –> 00:14:27,599 The words kept coming 163 00:14:28,799 –> 00:14:33,200 and to be a sign that is spoken against 164 00:14:34,159 –> 00:14:37,679 so that the thoughts of the hearts of many will be revealed. 165 00:14:38,640 –> 00:14:41,119 I could hardly believe the words I was speaking. 166 00:14:41,119 –> 00:14:44,400 Now how could this child be a light to the Gentiles 167 00:14:44,400 –> 00:14:48,400 and the glory of Israel, and then be spoken against. 168 00:14:51,840 –> 00:14:53,760 I looked at Mary at that moment. 169 00:14:54,719 –> 00:14:57,119 There was a beauty in her eyes 170 00:14:57,119 –> 00:14:59,679 that spoke of the depth of her soul. 171 00:15:02,000 –> 00:15:05,280 And as I looked at her still holding the child, 172 00:15:05,440 –> 00:15:07,359 these words came, 173 00:15:08,320 –> 00:15:16,080 and a sword will pierce your soul, too. 174 00:15:18,400 –> 00:15:20,320 We all stood rooted to the spot. 175 00:15:20,320 –> 00:15:22,719 We understood every word that had been spoken. 176 00:15:22,719 –> 00:15:24,880 We could not begin to fathom what they meant. 177 00:15:28,320 –> 00:15:32,080 Just at that moment, an old lady arrived. 178 00:15:33,679 –> 00:15:34,880 Just as I’d spoken, 179 00:15:34,880 –> 00:15:36,479 these words to Mary. 180 00:15:38,000 –> 00:15:40,799 Her name was Anna, and anyone who was regularly around 181 00:15:40,799 –> 00:15:42,239 in the temple knew her well. 182 00:15:42,239 –> 00:15:44,080 She was from the tribe of Asher. 183 00:15:44,080 –> 00:15:45,280 Now, by the way, 184 00:15:47,520 –> 00:15:48,640 very interesting. 185 00:15:50,799 –> 00:15:55,280 Asher was one of the so-called lost tribes, 186 00:15:56,000 –> 00:15:58,880 you know, the ten tribes in the north that were scattered 187 00:15:58,880 –> 00:16:01,039 when the king of Assyria invaded, 188 00:16:01,039 –> 00:16:03,520 and they were referred for years after that 189 00:16:03,520 –> 00:16:06,640 as being the ten lost tribes. 190 00:16:08,239 –> 00:16:10,640 Well, Anna was from the tribe of Asher. 191 00:16:12,239 –> 00:16:16,320 And she was a reminder that they were not totally lost. 192 00:16:17,919 –> 00:16:20,559 God knows his own people, you see, 193 00:16:22,000 –> 00:16:26,479 and he does not lose any who have faith in him. 194 00:16:29,280 –> 00:16:32,000 Well, Anna was known as a woman of prayer. 195 00:16:32,799 –> 00:16:35,760 She gave herself to worship and fasting 196 00:16:35,760 –> 00:16:37,119 and she went into the temple. 197 00:16:38,000 –> 00:16:40,400 You could know that you could count on finding her. 198 00:16:40,400 –> 00:16:43,520 Their wonderful lady never underestimate 199 00:16:43,520 –> 00:16:45,840 the prayers of older people. 200 00:16:47,599 –> 00:16:50,640 And she was a prophetess, which is interesting 201 00:16:50,640 –> 00:16:52,080 because of course a true prophet 202 00:16:52,080 –> 00:16:54,960 could only speak words that came from God. 203 00:16:54,960 –> 00:16:56,479 And the fascinating thing is that 204 00:16:56,479 –> 00:17:00,000 there had not been a true prophet for 400 years. 205 00:17:02,159 –> 00:17:04,640 Well here we are standing the group of us, 206 00:17:04,640 –> 00:17:07,520 I’ve just been given these extraordinary words 207 00:17:07,520 –> 00:17:11,680 about a sword piercing Mary’s own soul. 208 00:17:11,680 –> 00:17:13,280 We’re all rooted to the spot 209 00:17:13,280 –> 00:17:15,359 wondering what on earth this could mean. 210 00:17:16,000 –> 00:17:18,000 And up comes old Anna. 211 00:17:19,760 –> 00:17:21,520 And as she approaches us, 212 00:17:21,520 –> 00:17:25,439 she begins speaking out words of praise 213 00:17:25,439 –> 00:17:27,359 and of thanksgiving. 214 00:17:27,359 –> 00:17:30,000 And it’s so obvious that she’s prophesying 215 00:17:30,000 –> 00:17:32,319 these words again are coming from God 216 00:17:32,319 –> 00:17:34,959 and they’re welling up in her soul 217 00:17:34,959 –> 00:17:38,400 and being expressed to His praise and his glory. 218 00:17:41,199 –> 00:17:42,479 And I’m thinking to myself, 219 00:17:44,719 –> 00:17:46,959 God has just given me words 220 00:17:48,880 –> 00:17:53,119 that indicate a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. 221 00:17:53,680 –> 00:17:56,319 And now God is giving her words 222 00:17:56,319 –> 00:17:59,739 that are words of praise and of thanksgiving, 223 00:17:59,739 –> 00:18:03,040 and I can’t hold these two things together in my mind. 224 00:18:06,339 –> 00:18:08,479 How can it be that this child who’s 225 00:18:08,479 –> 00:18:11,939 a light and the glory of Israel will be spoken against, 226 00:18:14,380 –> 00:18:17,280 and that a sword will pierce Mary’s soul, 227 00:18:18,160 –> 00:18:20,219 that a sword will pierce Mary’s soul, 228 00:18:21,780 –> 00:18:25,119 and yet that this can be an occasion of praise 229 00:18:25,119 –> 00:18:27,479 and of thanksgiving at the same time. 230 00:18:31,560 –> 00:18:34,300 You know, I think Anna knew then, 231 00:18:35,640 –> 00:18:37,000 what I understand now. 232 00:18:38,800 –> 00:18:42,880 I knew that the Lord’s Christ had come to deliver us, 233 00:18:43,760 –> 00:18:48,760 but now I know that he delivered us through his suffering. 234 00:18:51,439 –> 00:18:55,719 He was despised and he was rejected. 235 00:18:56,780 –> 00:19:01,780 He became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 236 00:19:05,239 –> 00:19:07,599 We thought that God would punish him, 237 00:19:09,239 –> 00:19:12,579 but he was wounded for our transgressions. 238 00:19:13,839 –> 00:19:17,199 He was bruised for our inequities, 239 00:19:18,439 –> 00:19:23,319 and the punishment that would bring us peace fell on him. 240 00:19:24,660 –> 00:19:29,119 It would be by his wounds, terrible wounds, 241 00:19:30,420 –> 00:19:31,920 that we would be healed. 242 00:19:35,140 –> 00:19:36,479 That reminds me of the last thing 243 00:19:36,479 –> 00:19:38,199 I wanted to tell you this morning. 244 00:19:38,300 –> 00:19:42,959 When I held him in my arms, 245 00:19:44,459 –> 00:19:48,160 I knew that I could die in peace. 246 00:19:51,319 –> 00:19:53,520 People had all kinds of hopes and dreams 247 00:19:53,520 –> 00:19:55,479 about what the Lord Christ would do for them, 248 00:19:55,479 –> 00:20:00,479 but I knew that to bring me through death itself 249 00:20:00,800 –> 00:20:02,140 was the biggest of all. 250 00:20:02,140 –> 00:20:07,140 He made death safe for all his people. 251 00:20:08,959 –> 00:20:11,020 Now, I don’t say he made it painless. 252 00:20:11,020 –> 00:20:12,859 I don’t say he made it desirable. 253 00:20:12,859 –> 00:20:17,859 It’s still our enemy but he has made death safe. 254 00:20:20,300 –> 00:20:23,099 And that’s why when I held him in my arms, 255 00:20:23,099 –> 00:20:25,219 the very first words I said were, 256 00:20:25,219 –> 00:20:30,219 sovereign Lord, now let your servant depart. 257 00:20:32,619 –> 00:20:33,540 In peace. 258 00:20:35,900 –> 00:20:38,300 I knew that my death would be like a loosing 259 00:20:38,300 –> 00:20:41,660 from this old body I’ve been dragged back into 260 00:20:41,660 –> 00:20:42,819 to speak to you today. 261 00:20:45,359 –> 00:20:47,699 And of course, that’s what happened a short time later. 262 00:20:47,699 –> 00:20:49,699 It all seems a long time ago now. 263 00:20:51,500 –> 00:20:53,319 It won’t be like this for you. 264 00:20:54,619 –> 00:20:59,140 But when I died, I went to a place of waiting. 265 00:20:59,140 –> 00:21:01,920 It was like being drowsy. 266 00:21:01,959 –> 00:21:04,160 Like being barely awake. 267 00:21:05,319 –> 00:21:08,219 I don’t know how long I was there. 268 00:21:08,219 –> 00:21:11,199 Time isn’t the same on the other side, you understand. 269 00:21:13,900 –> 00:21:15,839 But I know when it ended. 270 00:21:15,839 –> 00:21:17,819 Oh, what a day that was. 271 00:21:19,359 –> 00:21:21,880 We didn’t know what was happening, of course. 272 00:21:21,880 –> 00:21:25,819 Seeming barely conscious, we suddenly were 273 00:21:25,819 –> 00:21:29,280 as it were awakened, everything shook 274 00:21:29,280 –> 00:21:31,479 and then we saw Jesus. 275 00:21:32,739 –> 00:21:37,020 And suddenly we found ourselves entering into his presence. 276 00:21:37,020 –> 00:21:40,660 The presence of God without fear. 277 00:21:42,339 –> 00:21:43,859 It was overwhelming joy. 278 00:21:43,859 –> 00:21:46,099 I wish I could tell you more. 279 00:21:47,219 –> 00:21:50,260 But there’s nothing in this world that even comes close. 280 00:21:50,260 –> 00:21:52,680 I’ve been there for 2,000 years now 281 00:21:52,680 –> 00:21:54,060 though nobody is counting. 282 00:21:55,239 –> 00:21:58,319 And of course, now I know how my prophecy was fulfilled. 283 00:21:59,900 –> 00:22:03,380 I spoke with Peter and John 284 00:22:03,380 –> 00:22:05,760 and they told me what happened on that day 285 00:22:05,760 –> 00:22:07,780 when everything shook, 286 00:22:07,780 –> 00:22:10,060 even in the world of the dead. 287 00:22:13,719 –> 00:22:17,780 He began his ministry, this Christ, at the age of 30. 288 00:22:19,359 –> 00:22:20,939 And they did speak against him 289 00:22:22,599 –> 00:22:26,040 and they plotted his death. 290 00:22:26,400 –> 00:22:30,780 And they took him to a cross and nails pierced his hands. 291 00:22:34,660 –> 00:22:36,939 And Mary was there, 292 00:22:39,119 –> 00:22:41,599 and that’s when the words I spoke came true 293 00:22:41,599 –> 00:22:44,500 that the sword would pierce her soul. 294 00:22:48,640 –> 00:22:53,640 The life that I held in my arms was laid down. 295 00:22:53,640 –> 00:22:57,920 He entered death. 296 00:22:59,599 –> 00:23:04,599 And when he entered death, he opened the gates of life. 297 00:23:07,479 –> 00:23:10,280 No wonder Anna was praising God. 298 00:23:12,819 –> 00:23:15,099 So is coming has been for the falling 299 00:23:15,099 –> 00:23:16,660 and for the rising of many. 300 00:23:16,660 –> 00:23:19,079 There is a sense in which every person 301 00:23:19,099 –> 00:23:21,439 who has ever lived will either fall 302 00:23:21,439 –> 00:23:24,140 or rise on Him. 303 00:23:24,140 –> 00:23:28,239 He’s like a great rock on which you either take 304 00:23:28,239 –> 00:23:30,640 your stand and are firm. 305 00:23:31,900 –> 00:23:36,199 Or else on which you stumble and fall. 306 00:23:36,199 –> 00:23:37,719 Which is he for you, 307 00:23:37,719 –> 00:23:40,479 the rising of your life, 308 00:23:40,479 –> 00:23:43,079 the falling of your life. 309 00:23:43,079 –> 00:23:47,739 He’s always one or the other for every person. 310 00:23:49,540 –> 00:23:51,579 Who has ever lived. 311 00:23:53,839 –> 00:23:56,180 Well that’s my story. 312 00:23:57,060 –> 00:23:59,099 By the way, I’m determined to finish on time this morning, 313 00:23:59,099 –> 00:24:03,300 I’ve heard the guy you normally have never does. 314 00:24:08,140 –> 00:24:11,959 But let me just tell you this in closing. 315 00:24:13,300 –> 00:24:16,900 I have one chance to speak to you today. 316 00:24:17,839 –> 00:24:22,839 So let me make it as crystal clear as I possibly can 317 00:24:23,359 –> 00:24:25,439 as to how you should respond to Him. 318 00:24:29,199 –> 00:24:32,380 Number one, become a believer. 319 00:24:35,280 –> 00:24:38,619 I saw God’s salvation. 320 00:24:38,619 –> 00:24:43,579 Jesus is God’s salvation. 321 00:24:44,040 –> 00:24:47,540 He will save everyone who believes. 322 00:24:47,540 –> 00:24:49,239 Paul told me how he put it. 323 00:24:49,239 –> 00:24:54,819 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. 324 00:24:55,079 –> 00:24:59,359 He will save everyone who believes. 325 00:24:59,359 –> 00:25:03,300 Don’t let him be the stumbling block on which you fall. 326 00:25:03,300 –> 00:25:07,839 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and take your stand, 327 00:25:07,839 –> 00:25:10,699 as it were, putting your trust in Him. 328 00:25:10,699 –> 00:25:13,380 Become a believer. 329 00:25:14,420 –> 00:25:19,680 Second, become a follower. 330 00:25:19,680 –> 00:25:24,660 He’s the light to the Gentiles. 331 00:25:24,660 –> 00:25:27,099 That’s all of you. 332 00:25:27,099 –> 00:25:30,839 You’ve got nothing without Him. 333 00:25:30,839 –> 00:25:34,319 And neither have we, Jews. 334 00:25:34,319 –> 00:25:38,800 Become a follower because he is the light. 335 00:25:39,319 –> 00:25:46,140 And here we are, trying to find our way through life in this world not really knowing what 336 00:25:46,140 –> 00:25:48,760 it’s about, why we’re here. 337 00:25:48,760 –> 00:25:50,739 We’re kind of stumbling around in darkness. 338 00:25:50,739 –> 00:25:55,819 That’s what Isaiah said—people who walked in darkness. 339 00:25:55,819 –> 00:25:58,199 And now God has lit a light. 340 00:25:58,199 –> 00:26:00,199 That’s who Jesus Christ is. 341 00:26:00,199 –> 00:26:06,920 So, come into that light and follow the light. 342 00:26:06,920 –> 00:26:10,040 Become a believer. 343 00:26:10,040 –> 00:26:11,599 Become a follower. 344 00:26:11,599 –> 00:26:15,760 Live in the light of His teaching, of His instruction, of His direction. 345 00:26:15,760 –> 00:26:21,060 Let Him be the one who shapes and molds and leads and guides your life. 346 00:26:21,060 –> 00:26:23,640 Follow Him. 347 00:26:23,640 –> 00:26:29,439 And here’s the last thing. 348 00:26:29,439 –> 00:26:32,020 Become a worshiper. 349 00:26:32,060 –> 00:26:47,380 He is the glory of Israel, and when you have seen His glory you will fall before Him in 350 00:26:47,380 –> 00:26:50,359 worship. 351 00:26:50,359 –> 00:26:54,160 Let’s pray together, shall we? 352 00:26:54,160 –> 00:27:01,979 Our gracious God and our loving Heavenly Father, how we thank you that you have sent your Son 353 00:27:02,859 –> 00:27:05,939 into the world. 354 00:27:05,939 –> 00:27:12,939 How we thank you that you have identified Him in his unique glory and power. 355 00:27:14,459 –> 00:27:21,459 Make of us we pray, true believers, faithful followers, whole-hearted worshipers, and receive 356 00:27:21,680 –> 00:27:28,680 even now the praise and adoration of our hearts, that you have given us a savior, a deliverer, 357 00:27:28,680 –> 00:27:48,640 one in whom our lives are made secure, one who makes death itself safe for all his peopleOkay, 358 00:27:48,920 –> 00:27:58,319 one who makes death itself safe for all his people, and the very one who will open 359 00:27:58,319 –> 00:28:12,040 the gates of everlasting life and lead us into his eternal joy. How rich are your gifts to us 360 00:28:12,040 –> 00:28:18,680 in him? We worship you, in Jesus name. Amen.