January 9, 2025 • 34 mins
Join us for #dcnsunday as Pastor Terra leads us in a message titled “He Won’t Fail.”
and be sure to visit our website https://defiancenazarene.org/& did you know you could give online? https://defiancenazarene.org/online-g…
and be sure to visit our website https://defiancenazarene.org/& did you know you could give online? https://defiancenazarene.org/online-g…
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yes, you did, you did, You did very well. It
brought the point home. Sometimes we find ourselves in the
waiting times of waiting gaps and spaces where we just
don't know what to do, and we just don't know
if we can endure.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
And then that snooze button gets hit.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You know, I raised my kids to set that alarm
and get up. I don't know how many times, child,
do you hit your snooze As an adult working registered
nurse and a cv ICU A lot. She won't even
tell me how many times, But that snooze button. But
it's okay when we hit it. But when we find
(00:41):
ourselves in the snooze of life, it's tough. Now, there's
a term that derives from the boxing world. This isn't
gonna be new to any of you, which a fighter
indicates surrender by what.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Throwing in the towel and they throw the towel in
the room in the ring.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Now, in our everyday lives, don't we to indicate we
give up, we surrender, We admit defeat.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Today, if you are tempted.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
To throw in the towel, I want to commend you
to throw up the towel to God Almighty who is
more than able to.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Meet all of our needs.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
With all the things the new year brings, we also,
like it or not, carry things over into the new year,
don't we. We want a fresh start, we want to
start new, we want a new slate. But a lot
of things just kind of pack right in along with us.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So here we are, about five days in.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Some of us have already made resolutions and already broke them.
I won't ask you to put up your hand today.
Some of us are still thinking about exactly what we
want out of this new year, because December just comes
and goes so quick. We don't even have time to
think like that. So we use these first couple weeks
of Janey to get started. And some of us just
(02:03):
sit here and think, why bother. It's another day, another year.
But let me remind you today that you are in Christ.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I'm gonna say that again.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
You are in Christ. He is the Rock. He is
the ever present help in trouble. He is strength in
your weakness. He is the shepherd and our guide. He
is our Prince of peace, He is our joy. Despite
what our finite minds can see, rain came and wind blew.
But your house is built on Jesus Christ, even in
(02:39):
the gaps, even in the spaces, even in the times
of waiting, He will not fail.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
He is here, He is still hope for the nations.
My Redeemer lives.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
And just as we sang one of those favorite all
time songs, how great Thou art today?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
How great is your God? Today?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
May Christ be magnified today in me, in you, in
this place and beyond. He gives and he takes away.
But together we stand, we sing, we proclaim, blessed be
the name of the Lord. Revelations Chapter one, verse eight
says this, I am the Alpha, and Omega says the Lord, God,
(03:31):
who is and who was, and who is to come,
the Almighty.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Won't you pray with me today? God?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
We thank you for this opportunity. God, I thank you
Lord for your Holy Spirit that.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Is in this place today.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
God, may we just dive deep into your word, dive
deep into you, Lord, and I pray Lord, that we
would be transformed from the inside out.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
That you are Christ in us, and you are a
hope in glory in Jesus name. Amen.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
While Pastor Scott's shared a couple times, we've kind of
been battling a little bit this week. But we are
so glad to be here and God is faithful. But
we're about five days into the New Years, we're about
eleven days outside of Christmas time, and I want to
take you to the story in the Bible that begins
about eight days after Jesus was born. So much has
(04:26):
happened to this point we come off of Advent season.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Hello, lady, how are you?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
I don't do this to everybody that walks in, but
this is one of our kids who grew up in
here and as an adult now and we haven't seen
you in years. We're so glad that you're here today.
So anyways, I digress, but I'll go back. But there's
so much that happens in the Advent season. There's so
many details. And every year, this is year forty nine,
so the end of this year will bring number fifty
(04:54):
for me as far as birthdays go. But every year
God reveals more and more of the details in the story.
And every year I step back and say, whoa God?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And just stand in awe of him.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I mean, up until this point, we had Elizabeth who
was barren talk about waiting Pastor Elisa, and then she
has this son and he she was way.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Too old to have a baby, by the way, but God.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
And then his name is John the Baptist, and he's
the forerunner to the Christ, and he's Jesus's cousin. And
then the tremendous trip to Bethlehem to register and Mary
going into labor.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Right then and there.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
It kind of reminds me just a little bit my husband.
He's not only attorney, he's a CPA. So April January, February, March, April, May, June,
July all busy, but especially that April thirteenth. Zach was
due on April twenty fourth. There was no way he
was gonna make his arrival during that tax time. And
it was April eleventh, and I was miserable, and it
(05:58):
was Saturday night, like eight pm.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And I'm like, just come home from.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Work, please, And he's like, but Tara, we're about to
have a baby. If I just stay and push through,
I can get all this done and then I can
be there for the labor and delivering. I'm like, Brian,
this baby isn't coming anytime soon. Just come home. It's
eight o'clock on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So he does.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Zach made his arrival on April thirteenth.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's the last time Brian listened to me.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
No, just kidding, just kidding, but there was no room
in the inn, and placing the Christ Child in the
feeding trough, and we have angelic visits, and we have
shepherds keeping watch by night on their flock, and then
the angelic host filling the sky singing glory to God
in the highest, How.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Great thou art, How great is our God?
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And I think of this new young mother, how overwhelming
it was to just experience all that she experienced, to
take it all in, And I remember as a young mom,
it was just kind of overwhelming having people come in
and out of the hospital room, right, and you're learning
(07:15):
all these things and you're exhausted, but you're so happy,
but you're exhausted and you're worn, and these people are
in and out, and then I remember bringing Brianna home
from Brianna was the one that sang right here today
bringing her home from the hospital. Now, I had picked
I am a planner. Those of you who don't know me,
(07:37):
I am a planner. Those who do even know me
are laughing right now because I am a planner.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I plan to plan.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
But I had planned to bring this beautiful baby home
that we had prayed and prayed and prayed for.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We had suffered great loss.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
And this was the moment I thought about putting a
banner over the door. I thought the sun would be shine.
I thought we would pull right in and I would
look at Brian and he would look at me, and
we would look at the baby. Now, come on, did
any of you have visions like this and you find
yourself under the covers. Let me tell you what happened
when we left the hospital. We lived five mile from
(08:15):
the hospital. We lived in Toledo at the time. Five
mile from the hospital. There is a de racho. I
think of downpour that is happening. And have you ever
tried to fit into those car seats and all of
the things and get everything loaded from the hospital. And
I don't know if you know this, but usually us
new moms aren't moving real fast like we used to.
(08:38):
Except Matt Kech sent me home. I digressed his church
softball league. Five weeks after I had Brianna. Matt thought
I could still steal home. Yeah, that didn't go so well.
But I'm digressing back. But this is the time we
brought her home from the hospital and in the back seat,
she gets hungry. Five minutes from the hospital, the child
(09:01):
is hungry, and she lets you know when she's hungry.
And then this baby gets jaundice. She is turning.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
She looks like she's been to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
So, I mean, she's just got this golden, beautiful skin coming.
But I'm I'm well thinking this isn't normal. And we
just left the hospital. And then all of a sudden,
I'm in the back seat with her.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
And I here pH we blew a flat tire.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Rains came and winds blue, and more rains came, and
more winds blue.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
And we're feeling this tired. Ba boom ba bum ba
bom boo boo boo bomp.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, my husband he was just sure he could get
us home. I mean, he was determined, we're almost there.
I've got you, We're almost there.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And then boom boo boom boo boom boo boom boom.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Boo, boom bo boom wheah, And you know, this is
nothing like I had pictured or plant. And so he
gets us kind of to our house, sort of you know,
walking distance to our house, certainly not in the garage.
And he gets out and he scoops this baby up
(10:09):
in her car seat and he covers her over.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And he runs into the house like a madman.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And I mean he was like a superhero. I mean
he was a great dad from the get go. And
there I was, you guessed it left in the car boo,
sort of close to our house, within walking distance, and
I keep thinking, he's gonna come back out for me,
(10:34):
isn't he He's gonna come back out for me.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Well, he couldn't leave the baby. He didn't come out
for me.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So I managed to get myself out. I managed to
get myself in. But you know, things in life just happened,
don't they. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves. Sometimes it
just happens. Sometimes it just rains. The Bible talks about that,
(11:01):
it rains on the just and the unjust. Sometimes flat
tires come. Sometimes we just want to stay under the covers.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
And I was just thinking.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
About Mary and Joseph, and I was thinking about their experience,
and I was thinking the story that they would tell
to Jesus when he gets old enough to hear, and
to Jesus' siblings about what that night was like and
how those things.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Were and you know, these new parents.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Now, I mean, we're supposed to give them space to relax.
Did you know that when people have babies. Now, you're
supposed to give them space, and you're supposed to door
dash them food, you know, so they don't have to
think about that. And you know the old adage, you know,
sleep when the baby sleeps. Is there anyone that that
ever worked for? Please raise your hand, Brad, Yes, I
(11:53):
could see that working for you. But we read in
Luke chapter two, after the eight days were completed.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Now, catch a hold of this.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
After the eight days were completed, he was given the name,
the name given by the angel. His name would be Jesus. Oh,
that name, that name that is above every other name,
that name where every knee will bow and every tongue
will confess that he is Lord.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And that very name that means God saves, He does
and he will.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
That's powerful in those moments as these new parents were
walking through all the miraculous and.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Then they had to deal with all the humanity things too.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
That happen because he put on flesh and he came
as a baby, and with babies come crying and jaundice.
I don't think their donkey probably got a flat tire.
But I think they probably he had to deal with
some things, being in a feeding trough and they're taking
all this in. But on day eight and then Matthew
(13:07):
in chapter one, verse twenty one writes about it. It says,
for he will save his people from their sins. The
name Jesus, it represents his mission and his identity as
the savior of the world right from the start. That's important.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
That's who he was.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And we find this young peasant couple, and you say, well,
how do you know they were kind of a lowly
peasant couple, Because then just in this little scripture in
Luke chapter two, if you want to go look it up,
we see boom boom boom, boom boom, three things that
happen within the law of Moses, of this young couple
doing the right thing, continuing to move forward, continuing to
(13:48):
do what God blesses, despite the uh and despite the
whole and all of the things.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That they were facing right here in this thing. On
day eight they name him.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
And then around day forty it's time for the purification offering.
It's time to bring Jesus to the temple to dedicate
him before the Lord This was a glorious moment for them.
This was a joyful moment. This was a natural and
holy part of Jewish custom, and it was a meaningful
act of consecration. And how do we know that they
were lowly parents because if you look back, I know
(14:20):
some of you go back and look at the sermons,
and we study about him in Sunday School Leviticus chapter twelve.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
If you look that up. About the purification.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Offering and what they were to bring, it was supposed
to be a lamb, and they brought two doves, and
there was an allotment. If you did not have the
funding or the means to do the lamb, you went
with the two turtle doves or the two pigeons. And
so here they come to the temple with the baby
and the two doves to do the purification offering, to
(14:51):
do what was required by law.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And as they approached.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Now we talked about this a little bit on the
first Sunday of Advent. I was so excited to talk
about sim Simon and Anna. These are two I know
there's all this stuff in the Christmas story, but then
I just get lost in the Simeon and Anna thing.
And here we have Simeon. He had been promised that
he would not die before he saw the consolation of Israel,
(15:16):
the one who would right the wrongs, and it says
the Holy Spirit was on him. We talked about this
on December first, and he goes to the parents in
the temple courts and he scoops.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
The baby right up in.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
His arms, and we talked about, you don't do that anymore,
you don't take somebody's baby from him unless you're Grammy.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
And then I'm allowed. She wants me.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
He scoops the baby in his arms, and suddenly the
consolation of Israel becomes personal, it becomes real.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Hope is alive, Hope is raining.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And then he shares some deep insights with Mary and
Joseph that you can find right there in Luke chapter two.
And right when he's talking with the parents, right there
in the temple courts, new parents, new baby, a couple
of doves. A woman by the name of Anna arrives
on the scene. I love the story of Anna.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
She gets three verses in the whole Bible, three verses, and.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
It's this powerful impact and so much that we can
put into It's right there in chapter two. We're gonna
read from Luke chapter two, verse thirty six through thirty eight.
Luke Chapter two, thirty six through thirty eight. There was
also a prophet named Anna, the daughter of Penwell, of
the tribe of Asher.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
She was very old.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and then was a widow until she was eighty four.
She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day,
fasting and praying and coming up to them. At that
very moment she gave thanks to God, and she spoke
about the child to all all who were looking forward.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
To the redemption of Israel.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
So in those three verses that are allotted to Anna
and Luke chapter two, we learn that she was well
along in years. That scripture says she was old. We
learn her father's name, what speaks well of her, the
tribe that she is from. We learned that she had
been married seven years and then was widowed. Now take
in the tragedy here. Women of that day typically married
(17:30):
young in their teenage years, so to be a widow
after just seven years, she was probably in her early twenties.
And she becomes widowed, and it's a tragedy. And then
she's living in a culture where women depended on men
in many ways as provider.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
We read so much about widows in scripture.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
If you do a reference search, widows are talked about
in the Bible. They're often grouped with vulnerable members of society,
such as the fatherless, the aliens, the poor. The Bible
says we are to treat widows with honor and compassion.
And then a childless widow endured double adversity. You see,
(18:11):
she had no husband to protect and provide, no son
to carry on the family name. And as far as
we know, Anna finds herself widowed.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
And childless.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Widows were sometimes left to move back home or remarry
the spouse's brother to carry on.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Now that's entreating.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
I'm hearing some chuckles there, and I got to stand here.
I'm chuckling with you to remarry the spouse's brother. But
we know that God recognized the widow, and God saw
their need. Psalm sixty eight says that He is a
defender of widows. Often we read of how God works
miraculously through the life of widows. Paul talks about widows
(18:57):
in the New Testament, and Anna, for some reason, chose
to devote her life to the work of the Lord. Now,
this is big, despite her hard despite her predicament, despite
all of the unknowns, despite of the years.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Of waiting and the gaps. Did you hear eighty four years?
That's a long time.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
There were times I'm sure she wanted to throw in
the towel, but she believed God's word and she anticipated
the fulfillment of his promises. It said she lived at
the temple, I know, strange. I did lots of cross
references on that, and it said she very well could
have lived at the temple. It said she never left.
(19:40):
She was a prophetess. She could have had a room there.
It said she never left a widow for eighty four years.
Now some translations. I did a double triple reference on
this too. Some say she was eighty four. Some say
she was widowed for eighty four. So she's somewhere between
the range of eighty four and one hundred and four years.
What that tells me is God uses people of all ages, whether.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
You are the youngest of the young.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
We've got two in the nursery right now that aren't
even a year old, and I'm not gonna name.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Who's the oldest in the room here. If you are
here and you have breath.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
God uses all ages, and he used Anna in her
tragedy predicament of life to bring glory to his name
and to affect multitudes for the good news, because scripture
said she had to tell to everyone looking for redemption
(20:41):
in the world. We see a diligence of her working
and serving and a patient. Someone said, when Pastor Lisa
was on her, that seemed like you runner there for
thirty minutes, what.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
One minute?
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Eighty four years serving and working in the temple, praying
and fasting and working in the temple day in and
day out.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
She had to be expectant or she would have missed it.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
She was going to how many times do we go
through the mundane of our days, day in and day out,
and we lose this magnificent all in wonder of a
God who so loved you that he put on flesh,
that he came.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
And the story has your name right in it. And
God did not forget Anna. The world may have forgotten her.
She had no husband that was big back then.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
God did not forget Anna, and he's so her daily
service of worship and serving and fasting. I believe when
the rains came and the winds blew in her life,
her foundation was firmly built on God Almighty. I believe
(22:16):
she believed the words of the prophet Isaiah about the
Christ Child who would be Emmanuel, who would be God
with us. Isaiah wrote, he will be wonderful counselor Mighty God.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
He will be Prince of peace.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I believe she wilieve the Psalmist who wrote in Psalm
chapter ninety Psalm chapter ninety, Lord, you have been our
dwelling place throughout all generations, before the mountains were born.
You brought forth the whole world from everlasting to everlasting.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
You are God.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I don't know how many times she had to say
that to herself, but she sure lived a life that
represented God, that represented that She believed he will do
what he says he's going to do, despite what she
could see, Despite her day to day, despite her tragedy,
(23:12):
praying and fasting, fasting in service. She was serious about
honoring the Lord with her life. She was intentional to
seek and praise his name. You want to change your
life right now. You want to change your new year
right now? Become intentional with Jesus Christ. Get on your
(23:34):
knees and say God, you are Lord, and I am
not going to throw in the towel, even though everything
around me says I should, and even people might say
it would be okay.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
My God says, oh no, I love you with an
everlasting love. You throw it up to me and watch
what I can do.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
She is so tuned into God that when she sees
a peasant couple with a baby, we know Christ came
as a baby. She didn't know Christ was gonna come
as a baby. But she was so tuned into God
that when those parents came with the doves and with
(24:23):
the baby, and when Simeon began to speak over that baby,
she was right there next to him.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
She wasn't gonna miss a thing because God was on
her mind.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
I believe he had held her when she needed help,
because that's what my God does. I believe that he
had guided her when she needed guidance, because that's what
God does. I believe that she stood with her firm
for foundation that he will be our deliverer.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
And God rewards her. Oh my, hey, you over there,
there is a redeem her. There is a redeemer one
that came to set you free.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
I think of all of the people living in those times,
the lepers. I mean, we talked about the four hundred
silent years that first week of Advent. And you want
to see God working in the details and know that
He can work in the details of your life. Do
a study on the four hundred silent years when, as
far as we know, we do not hear a prophetic,
prophetic word from God. But He is working and moving
(25:44):
and changing and directing all things to prepare for the
birth of his son that would save his people from
their sins.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Because his name is Jesus.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
And then tell me how much he's working in your life,
even when we're lost under the covers. I can't even
begin to see. But God rewarded her her steadfast devotion
to his will and his timing. Her eyes beheld the
savior of the world.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
When Christ shock home.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
With shout of aclamation and take me home, would Joey
shall fill my heart?
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Oh? Can you begin to imagine?
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Can you begin to imagine when the waiting is over,
what our eyes will behold?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Her eyes beheld Jesus. And not only that, Anna takes
her place in this Christmas story. And now listen to this.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Right up there, with two other women mentioned, and Luke
chapter two, it's where it all kind of goes down.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
I know. I'm like, that's in chapter two, and that's
in chapter two, and that's in chapter two. Luke chapter two,
right up there with Elizabeth.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
The one who waited so long to be a mama,
and she birth's John the Baptist who would say, who
would look at Jesus and say, behold the lamb of
God who takes away the sins of the world.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
And then we have Mary. We kind of know her
partners story, don't we. And then we have.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Anna, the widow in her young twenties, faced with all
kinds of adversity, all kinds of things, who decides to
make Jesus her all, who decides that God did what
(28:05):
he said he's going to do. He has been faithful
through generations and he will not fail, and she's rewarded.
As we close here today, I just want to I
want to tell you three things I learned from the
story of Anna. Three things I learned. Number one, to
(28:30):
live in a spirit of worship and service even on
the hard days, even when we don't feel like it.
It has been a strange week. Turns out you can
do a lot of church work from home, but struggling
with my voice, didn't know if I was going to
be able to talk. Thought maybe I should put Pastor
Scott on the back burner to preach, and he sounded
(28:52):
worse than me.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So I thought, well, Lord, have your way, We're just
going to give it to you. But to live in
a spirit worship and service.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
That when those bad thoughts come in, and when someone
tries to tell you you're less than and when someone
tries to tell you that your story doesn't matter, and
when someone tries to tell you your past is just
way too bad for you.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Know God, it's why he came. It's why he came.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
And when that anxiety creeps up, you tell it, I
am going to be about my father's business today. It
may not happen in a moment, you may not feel it,
but keep worshiping, keep serving. Because something I learned from Anna.
One day, her eyes beheld everything she had waited and
(29:43):
dedicated her life too, and someone with their hand in
the air said, I believe that today.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Do you believe that God is going to do what
he says is going to do?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Number two, something I learned from the story of Anna
is to live in expectations. If Anna had not been expecting,
she would have missed the very presence of God in
her midst God is moving and working every single day.
(30:17):
Wake up in expectation. Wake up with him guiding your steps.
He won't fail.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Come to church with expectancy. Who I'm gonna say.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
It again, Come to church with expectancy that God is
in this place. He's in this house, and he wants
to set people free, and he wants to heal people,
and he wants to wholly sanctify.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Our hearts and consecrate our lives to him because He
isn't finished with this place right here.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Number three, The last thing I learned from Anna is
live with an unwavering faith that God is the same yesterday,
today and forever, faithful through generations.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
He will not fail.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
And let me just add this, We wait differently than
the world does, and I want to be found waiting
like Anna. I'm gonna be honest with you. There's just
something that happened last year and I'm just still struggling
with it. And I keep giving it to God, and
I keep giving it to God, and I keep standing
(31:25):
on the word and standing on the promises, and I
think part of why.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
God led me to the story.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Because it's time to release it fully to him, because
to receive from God, sometimes we need to release. And
it's not that I don't trust him, and it's not
that I don't know that he could do it.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
It was just hard.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
It was just a hard time, and we all face
those things. Anna face the hard and I don't know
what you're gonna bring. You know, you read on Facebook
people post their year in review. It's the good, the bad,
and the ugly, and most of us go through all
of it in the year.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
God will not fail.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Revelation one point eight says I am the Alpha, and
the Omega says the Lord God, who is and who
was and who is to come, All Mighty God. As
we close today, I think sometimes we need to physically
do something tangible, to lay something down.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
And you don't want If you don't want to do this,
you don't have to do this.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
I'm gonna ask the worship team come up, Brienna, would
you lead Christ be magnified.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Up here at the alder. I have a little slip
of paper.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
It's nothing fancy because I'm not really a graphic design artist,
I decorate rooms way better.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Just a little piece of paper, says Father God. This
year I release and there's a space to you. I
trust you. And today, if there's.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Something, if there's a person that you've been praying for
and you just kind of want to throw in the towel,
there's a loved one, there's a we face all kinds
of things, don't we Sickness, oh, chronic illness, so hard, grief, death.
The Bible says, in this world you will have trouble,
(33:26):
but take heart because He has overcome the world, and
I believe He is near to the broken heart of today.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So as they sing, if you feel you don't need
to put your name on it. None of us need
to know only God.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
But it's just tangibly doing something that says, I'm going
to write the song. There's pens up here, I'm gonna
fold it and I'm gonna leave.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
It at the altar. And God helped me to leave
it there and help me to trust you every day.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
So while they sing, if you feel led to come,
we're just gonna do this for a few minutes and
then we're gonna go about it day. But I want
you to know God is still on the throne. He
came as a baby, but he grew up, He endured.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
The cross, and he rose again on the third day.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
My redeemer lives and just like Anna, I want to
spread the word today.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
So won't you come
Yes, you did, you did, You did very well. It
brought the point home. Sometimes we find ourselves in the
waiting times of waiting gaps and spaces where we just
don't know what to do, and we just don't know
if we can endure.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
And then that snooze button gets hit.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You know, I raised my kids to set that alarm
and get up. I don't know how many times, child,
do you hit your snooze As an adult working registered
nurse and a cv ICU A lot. She won't even
tell me how many times, But that snooze button. But
it's okay when we hit it. But when we find
(00:41):
ourselves in the snooze of life, it's tough. Now, there's
a term that derives from the boxing world. This isn't
gonna be new to any of you, which a fighter
indicates surrender by what.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Throwing in the towel and they throw the towel in
the room in the ring.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Now, in our everyday lives, don't we to indicate we
give up, we surrender, We admit defeat.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Today, if you are tempted.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
To throw in the towel, I want to commend you
to throw up the towel to God Almighty who is
more than able to.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Meet all of our needs.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
With all the things the new year brings, we also,
like it or not, carry things over into the new year,
don't we. We want a fresh start, we want to
start new, we want a new slate. But a lot
of things just kind of pack right in along with us.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So here we are, about five days in.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Some of us have already made resolutions and already broke them.
I won't ask you to put up your hand today.
Some of us are still thinking about exactly what we
want out of this new year, because December just comes
and goes so quick. We don't even have time to
think like that. So we use these first couple weeks
of Janey to get started. And some of us just
(02:03):
sit here and think, why bother. It's another day, another year.
But let me remind you today that you are in Christ.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I'm gonna say that again.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
You are in Christ. He is the Rock. He is
the ever present help in trouble. He is strength in
your weakness. He is the shepherd and our guide. He
is our Prince of peace, He is our joy. Despite
what our finite minds can see, rain came and wind blew.
But your house is built on Jesus Christ, even in
(02:39):
the gaps, even in the spaces, even in the times
of waiting, He will not fail.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
He is here, He is still hope for the nations.
My Redeemer lives.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
And just as we sang one of those favorite all
time songs, how great Thou art today?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
How great is your God? Today?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
May Christ be magnified today in me, in you, in
this place and beyond. He gives and he takes away.
But together we stand, we sing, we proclaim, blessed be
the name of the Lord. Revelations Chapter one, verse eight
says this, I am the Alpha, and Omega says the Lord, God,
(03:31):
who is and who was, and who is to come,
the Almighty.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Won't you pray with me today? God?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
We thank you for this opportunity. God, I thank you
Lord for your Holy Spirit that.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Is in this place today.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
God, may we just dive deep into your word, dive
deep into you, Lord, and I pray Lord, that we
would be transformed from the inside out.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
That you are Christ in us, and you are a
hope in glory in Jesus name. Amen.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
While Pastor Scott's shared a couple times, we've kind of
been battling a little bit this week. But we are
so glad to be here and God is faithful. But
we're about five days into the New Years, we're about
eleven days outside of Christmas time, and I want to
take you to the story in the Bible that begins
about eight days after Jesus was born. So much has
(04:26):
happened to this point we come off of Advent season.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Hello, lady, how are you?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
I don't do this to everybody that walks in, but
this is one of our kids who grew up in
here and as an adult now and we haven't seen
you in years. We're so glad that you're here today.
So anyways, I digress, but I'll go back. But there's
so much that happens in the Advent season. There's so
many details. And every year, this is year forty nine,
so the end of this year will bring number fifty
(04:54):
for me as far as birthdays go. But every year
God reveals more and more of the details in the story.
And every year I step back and say, whoa God?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And just stand in awe of him.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I mean, up until this point, we had Elizabeth who
was barren talk about waiting Pastor Elisa, and then she
has this son and he she was way.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Too old to have a baby, by the way, but God.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
And then his name is John the Baptist, and he's
the forerunner to the Christ, and he's Jesus's cousin. And
then the tremendous trip to Bethlehem to register and Mary
going into labor.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Right then and there.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
It kind of reminds me just a little bit my husband.
He's not only attorney, he's a CPA. So April January, February, March, April, May, June,
July all busy, but especially that April thirteenth. Zach was
due on April twenty fourth. There was no way he
was gonna make his arrival during that tax time. And
it was April eleventh, and I was miserable, and it
(05:58):
was Saturday night, like eight pm.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And I'm like, just come home from.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Work, please, And he's like, but Tara, we're about to
have a baby. If I just stay and push through,
I can get all this done and then I can
be there for the labor and delivering. I'm like, Brian,
this baby isn't coming anytime soon. Just come home. It's
eight o'clock on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So he does.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Zach made his arrival on April thirteenth.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's the last time Brian listened to me.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
No, just kidding, just kidding, but there was no room
in the inn, and placing the Christ Child in the
feeding trough, and we have angelic visits, and we have
shepherds keeping watch by night on their flock, and then
the angelic host filling the sky singing glory to God
in the highest, How.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Great thou art, How great is our God?
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And I think of this new young mother, how overwhelming
it was to just experience all that she experienced, to
take it all in, And I remember as a young mom,
it was just kind of overwhelming having people come in
and out of the hospital room, right, and you're learning
(07:15):
all these things and you're exhausted, but you're so happy,
but you're exhausted and you're worn, and these people are
in and out, and then I remember bringing Brianna home
from Brianna was the one that sang right here today
bringing her home from the hospital. Now, I had picked
I am a planner. Those of you who don't know me,
(07:37):
I am a planner. Those who do even know me
are laughing right now because I am a planner.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I plan to plan.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
But I had planned to bring this beautiful baby home
that we had prayed and prayed and prayed for.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We had suffered great loss.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
And this was the moment I thought about putting a
banner over the door. I thought the sun would be shine.
I thought we would pull right in and I would
look at Brian and he would look at me, and
we would look at the baby. Now, come on, did
any of you have visions like this and you find
yourself under the covers. Let me tell you what happened
when we left the hospital. We lived five mile from
(08:15):
the hospital. We lived in Toledo at the time. Five
mile from the hospital. There is a de racho. I
think of downpour that is happening. And have you ever
tried to fit into those car seats and all of
the things and get everything loaded from the hospital. And
I don't know if you know this, but usually us
new moms aren't moving real fast like we used to.
(08:38):
Except Matt Kech sent me home. I digressed his church
softball league. Five weeks after I had Brianna. Matt thought
I could still steal home. Yeah, that didn't go so well.
But I'm digressing back. But this is the time we
brought her home from the hospital and in the back seat,
she gets hungry. Five minutes from the hospital, the child
(09:01):
is hungry, and she lets you know when she's hungry.
And then this baby gets jaundice. She is turning.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
She looks like she's been to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
So, I mean, she's just got this golden, beautiful skin coming.
But I'm I'm well thinking this isn't normal. And we
just left the hospital. And then all of a sudden,
I'm in the back seat with her.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
And I here pH we blew a flat tire.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Rains came and winds blue, and more rains came, and
more winds blue.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
And we're feeling this tired. Ba boom ba bum ba
bom boo boo boo bomp.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, my husband he was just sure he could get
us home. I mean, he was determined, we're almost there.
I've got you, We're almost there.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And then boom boo boom boo boom boo boom boom.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Boo, boom bo boom wheah, And you know, this is
nothing like I had pictured or plant. And so he
gets us kind of to our house, sort of you know,
walking distance to our house, certainly not in the garage.
And he gets out and he scoops this baby up
(10:09):
in her car seat and he covers her over.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And he runs into the house like a madman.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And I mean he was like a superhero. I mean
he was a great dad from the get go. And
there I was, you guessed it left in the car boo,
sort of close to our house, within walking distance, and
I keep thinking, he's gonna come back out for me,
(10:34):
isn't he He's gonna come back out for me.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Well, he couldn't leave the baby. He didn't come out
for me.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So I managed to get myself out. I managed to
get myself in. But you know, things in life just happened,
don't they. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves. Sometimes it
just happens. Sometimes it just rains. The Bible talks about that,
(11:01):
it rains on the just and the unjust. Sometimes flat
tires come. Sometimes we just want to stay under the covers.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
And I was just thinking.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
About Mary and Joseph, and I was thinking about their experience,
and I was thinking the story that they would tell
to Jesus when he gets old enough to hear, and
to Jesus' siblings about what that night was like and
how those things.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Were and you know, these new parents.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Now, I mean, we're supposed to give them space to relax.
Did you know that when people have babies. Now, you're
supposed to give them space, and you're supposed to door
dash them food, you know, so they don't have to
think about that. And you know the old adage, you know,
sleep when the baby sleeps. Is there anyone that that
ever worked for? Please raise your hand, Brad, Yes, I
(11:53):
could see that working for you. But we read in
Luke chapter two, after the eight days were completed.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Now, catch a hold of this.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
After the eight days were completed, he was given the name,
the name given by the angel. His name would be Jesus. Oh,
that name, that name that is above every other name,
that name where every knee will bow and every tongue
will confess that he is Lord.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And that very name that means God saves, He does
and he will.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
That's powerful in those moments as these new parents were
walking through all the miraculous and.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Then they had to deal with all the humanity things too.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
That happen because he put on flesh and he came
as a baby, and with babies come crying and jaundice.
I don't think their donkey probably got a flat tire.
But I think they probably he had to deal with
some things, being in a feeding trough and they're taking
all this in. But on day eight and then Matthew
(13:07):
in chapter one, verse twenty one writes about it. It says,
for he will save his people from their sins. The
name Jesus, it represents his mission and his identity as
the savior of the world right from the start. That's important.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
That's who he was.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And we find this young peasant couple, and you say, well,
how do you know they were kind of a lowly
peasant couple, Because then just in this little scripture in
Luke chapter two, if you want to go look it up,
we see boom boom boom, boom boom, three things that
happen within the law of Moses, of this young couple
doing the right thing, continuing to move forward, continuing to
(13:48):
do what God blesses, despite the uh and despite the
whole and all of the things.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That they were facing right here in this thing. On
day eight they name him.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
And then around day forty it's time for the purification offering.
It's time to bring Jesus to the temple to dedicate
him before the Lord This was a glorious moment for them.
This was a joyful moment. This was a natural and
holy part of Jewish custom, and it was a meaningful
act of consecration. And how do we know that they
were lowly parents because if you look back, I know
(14:20):
some of you go back and look at the sermons,
and we study about him in Sunday School Leviticus chapter twelve.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
If you look that up. About the purification.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Offering and what they were to bring, it was supposed
to be a lamb, and they brought two doves, and
there was an allotment. If you did not have the
funding or the means to do the lamb, you went
with the two turtle doves or the two pigeons. And
so here they come to the temple with the baby
and the two doves to do the purification offering, to
(14:51):
do what was required by law.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And as they approached.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Now we talked about this a little bit on the
first Sunday of Advent. I was so excited to talk
about sim Simon and Anna. These are two I know
there's all this stuff in the Christmas story, but then
I just get lost in the Simeon and Anna thing.
And here we have Simeon. He had been promised that
he would not die before he saw the consolation of Israel,
(15:16):
the one who would right the wrongs, and it says
the Holy Spirit was on him. We talked about this
on December first, and he goes to the parents in
the temple courts and he scoops.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
The baby right up in.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
His arms, and we talked about, you don't do that anymore,
you don't take somebody's baby from him unless you're Grammy.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
And then I'm allowed. She wants me.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
He scoops the baby in his arms, and suddenly the
consolation of Israel becomes personal, it becomes real.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Hope is alive, Hope is raining.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And then he shares some deep insights with Mary and
Joseph that you can find right there in Luke chapter two.
And right when he's talking with the parents, right there
in the temple courts, new parents, new baby, a couple
of doves. A woman by the name of Anna arrives
on the scene. I love the story of Anna.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
She gets three verses in the whole Bible, three verses, and.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
It's this powerful impact and so much that we can
put into It's right there in chapter two. We're gonna
read from Luke chapter two, verse thirty six through thirty eight.
Luke Chapter two, thirty six through thirty eight. There was
also a prophet named Anna, the daughter of Penwell, of
the tribe of Asher.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
She was very old.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and then was a widow until she was eighty four.
She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day,
fasting and praying and coming up to them. At that
very moment she gave thanks to God, and she spoke
about the child to all all who were looking forward.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
To the redemption of Israel.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
So in those three verses that are allotted to Anna
and Luke chapter two, we learn that she was well
along in years. That scripture says she was old. We
learn her father's name, what speaks well of her, the
tribe that she is from. We learned that she had
been married seven years and then was widowed. Now take
in the tragedy here. Women of that day typically married
(17:30):
young in their teenage years, so to be a widow
after just seven years, she was probably in her early twenties.
And she becomes widowed, and it's a tragedy. And then
she's living in a culture where women depended on men
in many ways as provider.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
We read so much about widows in scripture.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
If you do a reference search, widows are talked about
in the Bible. They're often grouped with vulnerable members of society,
such as the fatherless, the aliens, the poor. The Bible
says we are to treat widows with honor and compassion.
And then a childless widow endured double adversity. You see,
(18:11):
she had no husband to protect and provide, no son
to carry on the family name. And as far as
we know, Anna finds herself widowed.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
And childless.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Widows were sometimes left to move back home or remarry
the spouse's brother to carry on.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Now that's entreating.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
I'm hearing some chuckles there, and I got to stand here.
I'm chuckling with you to remarry the spouse's brother. But
we know that God recognized the widow, and God saw
their need. Psalm sixty eight says that He is a
defender of widows. Often we read of how God works
miraculously through the life of widows. Paul talks about widows
(18:57):
in the New Testament, and Anna, for some reason, chose
to devote her life to the work of the Lord. Now,
this is big, despite her hard despite her predicament, despite
all of the unknowns, despite of the years.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Of waiting and the gaps. Did you hear eighty four years?
That's a long time.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
There were times I'm sure she wanted to throw in
the towel, but she believed God's word and she anticipated
the fulfillment of his promises. It said she lived at
the temple, I know, strange. I did lots of cross
references on that, and it said she very well could
have lived at the temple. It said she never left.
(19:40):
She was a prophetess. She could have had a room there.
It said she never left a widow for eighty four years.
Now some translations. I did a double triple reference on
this too. Some say she was eighty four. Some say
she was widowed for eighty four. So she's somewhere between
the range of eighty four and one hundred and four years.
What that tells me is God uses people of all ages, whether.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
You are the youngest of the young.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
We've got two in the nursery right now that aren't
even a year old, and I'm not gonna name.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Who's the oldest in the room here. If you are
here and you have breath.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
God uses all ages, and he used Anna in her
tragedy predicament of life to bring glory to his name
and to affect multitudes for the good news, because scripture
said she had to tell to everyone looking for redemption
(20:41):
in the world. We see a diligence of her working
and serving and a patient. Someone said, when Pastor Lisa
was on her, that seemed like you runner there for
thirty minutes, what.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
One minute?
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Eighty four years serving and working in the temple, praying
and fasting and working in the temple day in and
day out.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
She had to be expectant or she would have missed it.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
She was going to how many times do we go
through the mundane of our days, day in and day out,
and we lose this magnificent all in wonder of a
God who so loved you that he put on flesh,
that he came.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
And the story has your name right in it. And
God did not forget Anna. The world may have forgotten her.
She had no husband that was big back then.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
God did not forget Anna, and he's so her daily
service of worship and serving and fasting. I believe when
the rains came and the winds blew in her life,
her foundation was firmly built on God Almighty. I believe
(22:16):
she believed the words of the prophet Isaiah about the
Christ Child who would be Emmanuel, who would be God
with us. Isaiah wrote, he will be wonderful counselor Mighty God.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
He will be Prince of peace.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I believe she wilieve the Psalmist who wrote in Psalm
chapter ninety Psalm chapter ninety, Lord, you have been our
dwelling place throughout all generations, before the mountains were born.
You brought forth the whole world from everlasting to everlasting.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
You are God.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I don't know how many times she had to say
that to herself, but she sure lived a life that
represented God, that represented that She believed he will do
what he says he's going to do, despite what she
could see, Despite her day to day, despite her tragedy,
(23:12):
praying and fasting, fasting in service. She was serious about
honoring the Lord with her life. She was intentional to
seek and praise his name. You want to change your
life right now. You want to change your new year
right now? Become intentional with Jesus Christ. Get on your
(23:34):
knees and say God, you are Lord, and I am
not going to throw in the towel, even though everything
around me says I should, and even people might say
it would be okay.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
My God says, oh no, I love you with an
everlasting love. You throw it up to me and watch
what I can do.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
She is so tuned into God that when she sees
a peasant couple with a baby, we know Christ came
as a baby. She didn't know Christ was gonna come
as a baby. But she was so tuned into God
that when those parents came with the doves and with
(24:23):
the baby, and when Simeon began to speak over that baby,
she was right there next to him.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
She wasn't gonna miss a thing because God was on
her mind.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
I believe he had held her when she needed help,
because that's what my God does. I believe that he
had guided her when she needed guidance, because that's what
God does. I believe that she stood with her firm
for foundation that he will be our deliverer.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
And God rewards her. Oh my, hey, you over there,
there is a redeem her. There is a redeemer one
that came to set you free.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
I think of all of the people living in those times,
the lepers. I mean, we talked about the four hundred
silent years that first week of Advent. And you want
to see God working in the details and know that
He can work in the details of your life. Do
a study on the four hundred silent years when, as
far as we know, we do not hear a prophetic,
prophetic word from God. But He is working and moving
(25:44):
and changing and directing all things to prepare for the
birth of his son that would save his people from
their sins.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Because his name is Jesus.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
And then tell me how much he's working in your life,
even when we're lost under the covers. I can't even
begin to see. But God rewarded her her steadfast devotion
to his will and his timing. Her eyes beheld the
savior of the world.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
When Christ shock home.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
With shout of aclamation and take me home, would Joey
shall fill my heart?
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Oh? Can you begin to imagine?
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Can you begin to imagine when the waiting is over,
what our eyes will behold?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Her eyes beheld Jesus. And not only that, Anna takes
her place in this Christmas story. And now listen to this.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Right up there, with two other women mentioned, and Luke
chapter two, it's where it all kind of goes down.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
I know. I'm like, that's in chapter two, and that's
in chapter two, and that's in chapter two. Luke chapter two,
right up there with Elizabeth.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
The one who waited so long to be a mama,
and she birth's John the Baptist who would say, who
would look at Jesus and say, behold the lamb of
God who takes away the sins of the world.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
And then we have Mary. We kind of know her
partners story, don't we. And then we have.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Anna, the widow in her young twenties, faced with all
kinds of adversity, all kinds of things, who decides to
make Jesus her all, who decides that God did what
(28:05):
he said he's going to do. He has been faithful
through generations and he will not fail, and she's rewarded.
As we close here today, I just want to I
want to tell you three things I learned from the
story of Anna. Three things I learned. Number one, to
(28:30):
live in a spirit of worship and service even on
the hard days, even when we don't feel like it.
It has been a strange week. Turns out you can
do a lot of church work from home, but struggling
with my voice, didn't know if I was going to
be able to talk. Thought maybe I should put Pastor
Scott on the back burner to preach, and he sounded
(28:52):
worse than me.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So I thought, well, Lord, have your way, We're just
going to give it to you. But to live in
a spirit worship and service.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
That when those bad thoughts come in, and when someone
tries to tell you you're less than and when someone
tries to tell you that your story doesn't matter, and
when someone tries to tell you your past is just
way too bad for you.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Know God, it's why he came. It's why he came.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
And when that anxiety creeps up, you tell it, I
am going to be about my father's business today. It
may not happen in a moment, you may not feel it,
but keep worshiping, keep serving. Because something I learned from Anna.
One day, her eyes beheld everything she had waited and
(29:43):
dedicated her life too, and someone with their hand in
the air said, I believe that today.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Do you believe that God is going to do what
he says is going to do?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Number two, something I learned from the story of Anna
is to live in expectations. If Anna had not been expecting,
she would have missed the very presence of God in
her midst God is moving and working every single day.
(30:17):
Wake up in expectation. Wake up with him guiding your steps.
He won't fail.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Come to church with expectancy. Who I'm gonna say.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
It again, Come to church with expectancy that God is
in this place. He's in this house, and he wants
to set people free, and he wants to heal people,
and he wants to wholly sanctify.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Our hearts and consecrate our lives to him because He
isn't finished with this place right here.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Number three, The last thing I learned from Anna is
live with an unwavering faith that God is the same yesterday,
today and forever, faithful through generations.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
He will not fail.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
And let me just add this, We wait differently than
the world does, and I want to be found waiting
like Anna. I'm gonna be honest with you. There's just
something that happened last year and I'm just still struggling
with it. And I keep giving it to God, and
I keep giving it to God, and I keep standing
(31:25):
on the word and standing on the promises, and I
think part of why.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
God led me to the story.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Because it's time to release it fully to him, because
to receive from God, sometimes we need to release. And
it's not that I don't trust him, and it's not
that I don't know that he could do it.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
It was just hard.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
It was just a hard time, and we all face
those things. Anna face the hard and I don't know
what you're gonna bring. You know, you read on Facebook
people post their year in review. It's the good, the bad,
and the ugly, and most of us go through all
of it in the year.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
God will not fail.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Revelation one point eight says I am the Alpha, and
the Omega says the Lord God, who is and who
was and who is to come, All Mighty God. As
we close today, I think sometimes we need to physically
do something tangible, to lay something down.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
And you don't want If you don't want to do this,
you don't have to do this.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
I'm gonna ask the worship team come up, Brienna, would
you lead Christ be magnified.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Up here at the alder. I have a little slip
of paper.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
It's nothing fancy because I'm not really a graphic design artist,
I decorate rooms way better.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Just a little piece of paper, says Father God. This
year I release and there's a space to you. I
trust you. And today, if there's.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Something, if there's a person that you've been praying for
and you just kind of want to throw in the towel,
there's a loved one, there's a we face all kinds
of things, don't we Sickness, oh, chronic illness, so hard, grief, death.
The Bible says, in this world you will have trouble,
(33:26):
but take heart because He has overcome the world, and
I believe He is near to the broken heart of today.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So as they sing, if you feel you don't need
to put your name on it. None of us need
to know only God.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
But it's just tangibly doing something that says, I'm going
to write the song. There's pens up here, I'm gonna
fold it and I'm gonna leave.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
It at the altar. And God helped me to leave
it there and help me to trust you every day.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
So while they sing, if you feel led to come,
we're just gonna do this for a few minutes and
then we're gonna go about it day. But I want
you to know God is still on the throne. He
came as a baby, but he grew up, He endured.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
The cross, and he rose again on the third day.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
My redeemer lives and just like Anna, I want to
spread the word today.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
So won't you come
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