Simeon and the Holy Spirit

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Simeon and the Holy Spirit

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. And he came in 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, Luke 2:26-27

Like Simeon, every believer (that is each person who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour) has the divine comforter (Joh 16:13) guiding and living within them.  This fact characterises the last two of Simeon’s attributes considered in this series of snippets.  These last two attributes and the five discussed previously enabled Simeon to hold our Lord Jesus Christ in his arms exclaiming:

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;”  Luke 2:29

Attribute 6: Lived in the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon (Luk 2:26).  God makes it clear that the Holy Spirit sealed us and lives within us and that this occurred the moment we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour (Eph 1:13).  Therefore, like Simeon, we have a wonderful blessing to have the Holy Spirit within us revealing to us the deep thoughts and ways of God (1 Co 2:10,13).  Note, only the Spirit can do this (1 Co 2:11)! Our challenge is to facilitate its work within and through us (Eph 4:30, 1 Th 5:19).

Attribute 7:  Led by the Holy Spirit

Being led (just as Simeon was, Luk 2:27) by the Holy Spirit is a glorious privilege that each believer can experience (Rom 8:14).  A necessary condition is that we live in the spirit (Attribute 6), only then can we walk in (keep step with) the Spirit (Gal 5:25).  When we consider that this spirit is the same spirit that raised our Lord from the dead (Rom 8:11) we can be assured that no matter how difficult or uncertain the way might be – we have the divine guide who is all powerful (e.g., Job 33:4, Joh 3:5, 1 Pe 3:18), all knowing (Joh 16:13) and everywhere (Ps 139).

For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 1Co 2:10-13

Simeon’s seven attributes

  1. Meet with like-minded people (Heb 10:25) because God will be found among them (Mat 18:20)
  2.  Listen and be a doer of God’s word (Jam 1:25)
  3. Righteous, and lived accordingly  (1 Jo 3:7)
  4. Devout  1 Cor 10:31
  5. Waited Faithfully (1 Th 1:10)
  6. Lived in the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30)
  7. Led by the Holy spirit (Rom 8:14)

Simeon, our Lord and the temple

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. And he came in 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  Luk 2:22-35

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Books: Luke

People: Simeon

Topic: Christian Walk;Simeon's Seven Attributes