Topic: An example of faithfulness and devotion as a guaranty to the fulfilment of God’s promises.

Have you received a promise? / When was the last time you received it? / From whom was it received?

All along life we receive promises, may be, from our parent, our spouse, our friends or siblings, sometimes it leads us into expectation for something to come and sometime makesus overwork with hope of what will be given, however, there are time when these promises are broken, we are led into discouragement.

In luke2 we see that God can also give a promise, that his promises never fail. Our question should be: have we received promises from God? From Simeon we see that his promises never fails and that God’s promises are revealed from his word and by listening carefully to him.

We’ll learn from Simeon’s story what we should do for us to see the fulfillment of his promises if we have received it

- In luke2 :25-26 we see that 

he was filled with the holy spirit

 and that it’s through the spirit that the fulfilment time was revealed to him. We receive God’s promises from his word but it’s the holly spirits that helps us, in, between the receiving time and the fulfillment one.

- We learn that 

he waited

:  it’s the spirit that can help us to wait. His age, or, how long he waited, was not mentioned in the text but in truth waiting is very difficult. He was able to do it because of the spirit.  In the waiting time people are, often, disappointed, tired or about to give up but Simeon was faithful, listening and devoted. It teaches us that our attitude is verry important in the waiting time.

- In 28 to 30, 

he putted his faith in the promise

: he was faithful that when it was accomplished, he could say now I can die. Again, we are not informed of his age but for him the point was the fulfillment of God’s promise.  no matter your age you have to continue believing that it will come to pass.

What are we going to do while waiting for fulfilment?

- We have to keep on believing that God is faithful

- We don’t have to grow weary while doing good(gal6:9)

- Hear God and Obey him(luke11:28)

From receiving, God’s promise of restauration, while getting in contact to the gospel in Sud Arabia, the preacher (Jemma), without any sign of its fulfillment, got a servant of God, backhome years later, that confirmed the same promise and felt strengthened till it was accomplished after more than 3 years.

We all have received in some ways a promise from God, let, like Simeon, be patient, righteous, devote and faithful to God, because he will fulfill it. In heb6:7-12 we see that we can also learn from our brothers and sisters who have been faithful to God and have seen results.