“There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon…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. So he came by the Spirit into the temple…” Luke 2:25-26

There were some four million Jews spread throughout the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus’ birth. There were sects and schools that had arisen within Judaism that memorized huge portions of scripture. Until this time period, no generation had had a greater expectancy that the time of the Messiah’s visitation was at hand. Prophecies were diligently studied. Theories and timelines were drawn up. Groups formed isolated communities to wait for the Christ. And yet the first person to recognize Jesus did not study under any famous rabbi or join any of the elite schools. Simeon was an old man, a commoner. What qualified him for such a high honor? Simeon was a man of the Spirit.

Nothing qualifies us more for service in God’s kingdom than being filled with the Spirit. As amazing as the Word of God is, its nuggets of truth have to be discerned by the Spirit. Sitting at the feet of great teachers is also a great privilege. But 1 John 2:26-27 reminds us that there is an anointing that comes by the Holy Spirit that “teaches you concerning all things.” Knowing something is good or right is super, but the boldness to do it at any cost is the mark of a man or woman whose heart is set ablaze by the Spirit of the living God.

Simeon was a God-seeker. You get the feeling that if he was alive today, he would not borrow his next bright idea from social media. The conventional and the popular are not the things that tugged on his heart. He went straight to the throne room; there, he heard what the Spirit was saying. The second-hand news people of Jesus’ day were looking for a captain, a man of great stature, genius, and might. They expected a man to appear who could stand up to Caesar as Moses had done to Pharaoh and his army, thus delivering the Jews from their oppressors. Only a man who walked in the Spirit could have recognized the Messiah in a baby, held in the arms of his poor, teenage mother.

Simeon was a man upon whom the Holy Spirit rested. What a way to be identified! Princes were known by their raiment, holy men by their beards and turbans, but Simeon was remembered as a man who had the Spirit of God all over him. Mary and Joseph felt so comfortable with this grandpa, as he approached them they passed Jesus right into his loving arms. Simeon proceeded to publicly declare in the midst of the crowded temple that this baby was the very One that Jews everywhere had been yearning for. In fact, more than that, Simeon announced He was going to bring light and salvation to people from all nations–every tribe, every tongue. He then proceeded to prophesy over Jesus and the blessed couple, every word of which came to pass.

Simeon’s testimony has inspired me. As we enter the new year, I don’t want to live as I have in years past. I don’t want be moved by trends. I don’t want to follow the crowds. I don’t want to base my decisions on what has the appearance of being good or wise. I want to be free from the need to impress. What if, this year, we make a conscious choice to set all these things aside and really—sincerely and diligently—seek the face of God? What if we get so filled with the Spirit that, if someone happens to write an article or post about us, the first thing that comes to mind was that the Spirit of the living God is all over us? What if we could be so led by the Spirit that we are able to recognize the exact times and places the Spirit of God is working? What if it means praise and even prophecy flow out of our lips as naturally as waters from a fountain?

Simeon was not just the first man to see the Messiah. He is a type of those who have set their hopes squarely on the return of the Consolation and Refresher of His people, who will be among the first to see Jesus when He comes again. As God raised up a Simeon when He sent His son two thousand years ago, so too He is raising up a host in our Day who, like Simeon, will truly be men and women of the Spirit.

“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6

Politics is “powerful”. Its ability to excite or incite, stir up or depress, exhilarate or exacerbate, is as old as the tower of Babel. Wherever mankind congregates, rivalries and factions lurk in the shadows. Parties are formed. Egos and selfish ambitions raise their ugly heads to squelch wholesome and righteous ideals. Things get dirty. Corruption festers.

God saw through the innocence of Babel’s “let us build” slogan, exacting quick and decisive judgment upon their misguided pursuit. Jesus, too, sidestepped the impulse of the masses to make him king after he had just fed them to utter satisfaction with five loaves and two fish. Think of the movement He could have started! But His way was higher, and He kept His eyes on the prize. When pressed to reveal His motives, Jesus’ answer was clear: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight…” (John 18:36)

Sometimes we find ourselves voting for eternal things and fighting for temporal; when, of course, it should be exactly the other way around. The irony of this predicament is nowhere more clearly illustrated than in those pristine weeks between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to Heaven. For forty days, Jesus spoke to His disciples of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. I sure wish we could access those meetings on YouTube! Despite constantly whetting their appetites for eternity, the fact that they could still ask Him if He was finally ready to become king of Israel is quite a head-scratcher. Really? The Son of God— risen and all-glorious—is about to sit on the throne over all authorities in the seen and unseen universe and you want still want to crown Him king over the tiny nation of Israel?

Though the disciples had spent three years sitting at his feet, he had in fact given them no prescription for political solutions. The fact that this was still foremost on their minds reveals how difficult it is for fallen man to lay down his dreams of reformation. Such is the magnetism of politics. Its noble causes and lofty aspirations dangle like scrumptious carrots of justice, equality, prosperity, and liberty before us. It can be intoxicating; and that is exactly the point. If we are finding ourselves reeling and rocking right now, we probably had too much to drink these past few months!

I’m not saying I didn’t pull up to the counter and order some “shots” myself! Who could blame us? We had been losing so many battles. Finally there was some momentum. Finally an advocate, a voice, a fighter in our corner! So much was within our grasp!

Or was it? Jesus did not acquiesce to their cry then; and it seems He has not heeded all of our cries either. His silence may be a quintessential act of mercy! His response to “will you at this time restore” in the first century was actually to give them something better, which is the very thing I am hoping He will do for us two thousand years later. Let me paraphrase His answer:

Guys, don’t get yourselves all worked up, and don’t grow discouraged because things aren’t turning out the way you were hoping. Dad knows what’s best, and this ain’t it! That’s because His timing is perfect and His best is so much better. He is preparing to release earth shaking power and authority by the Holy Spirit to all of you who will make it a priority to move only after I have clothed you with extraordinary ability and favor from on high. When it comes upon you, there is no place and no people anywhere on my whole planet who won’t be transformed by its impact! (see Acts 1:7-8)

The prescription Jesus had in mind was not going to proceed from halls of power, nor be borne on the back of any man. Man builds towers. Men devise structures to rule and execute decisions. Jesus said, “I will build My church”, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, the agent by which even the the angels will be awestruck when she puts on her beautiful garments.

We have yet to see the full manifestation of the “greater works” Jesus spoke of. If our hope is not completely set on the promises of even richer spiritual empowerment, if we lower our gaze onto any other and lesser source, we may find ourselves horribly disappointed. Beloved, this is a great time to proverbially prepare a pot of black coffee and quickly get ourselves sober. Neither donkeys, nor even elephants can save us. But the One who walks in the midst of the seven lampstands, whose eyes are flames of fire and whose voice is like the sound of many waters—the King of kings, He is worthy of all our adoration and devotion. I will gladly and faithfully vote for the best and most qualified people to serve in public office. His government, His rule, His everlasting Kingdom…well, this is truly worth fighting, and even dying for.


PS My intention here is not to downplay the importance of righteous rule and the election of people who will be catalysts for justice, human rights, or Kingdom values. While we should hope for these things, our hope is not in them. The manifold wisdom of God—His power, righteousness, and glory—will be made known through the Church, His Bride (Ep 3:10). He is jealous only for her. The answer to our pressing need is now as it was then: that awesome power—real power—would be poured out upon us by His Spirit to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.