Editor's note: Yesterday, we shared a devotion written by John Bevere, author of Enjoy today's devotion from The King Is Coming. You can read it here and then continue reading below. * |
In a speech to the British House of Commons in 1948, Winston Churchill made the famous declaration, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."1 Such a simple yet true and profound statement. Regarding our discussion, let's heed this great leader's remarkable words and glean from divine antiquity. What history am I speaking of? None other than Jesus' first coming. It would be wise to mine some key truth indicators from this monumental event, which occurred a little over two thousand years ago — roughly 2 to 1 BC. It's mind-blowing to think the Creator of the entire universe, both the seen and unseen worlds, chose to take on a human body and be born in a stable near Bethlehem rather than in a palace or comfortable home. No different from His soon-approaching second coming, His first arrival was a foretold event that also created controversy. Many, including faith leaders, foresaw the Messiah's coming quite differently than what actually transpired. They anticipated a conquering king who would free Israel from Roman tyranny and usher in the golden age of their kingdom. To make matters more complex, they had scriptures to back their beliefs. They were all too familiar with Isaiah's famous writings that a child would be born, a Son given, and the government would rest upon His shoulders, and of His kingdom there would be no end (see Isaiah 9:6–7). This was just one of many prophetic promises that shaped their view. In those days, not too different from our twenty-first-century church, there were factions of religious groups in Israel — the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Scribes, to name just a few. We didn't know much about the Essenes until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We owe a debt of gratitude for their stewardship of the early writings. They were the group of devout followers who hid the sacred writings in the caves of Qumran. Sadly, many leaders were adversarial to the Creator who came as a humble Servant. Though they professed loyalty to almighty God and the writings of the Law and Prophets, their hearts were proud, corrupt, and unteachable, thus blinding them to the arrival of the lowly King. At the same time, there were others who did anticipate the time and whereabouts of His arrival. Simply put, they recognized Him. How did they know while most didn't? The simple answer lies in their sensitivity to the Spirit of God and attention given to the writings of the Old Testament, especially the prophets. Their hunger for God created in them an awareness of the times. What advantage was that? They knew what to do, whether it was waiting, speaking, or a specific action. Consider just a few. When King Herod asked the faith leaders the whereabouts of Messiah's birth, they were able to tell him exactly what city. How did they know? It was their knowledge of the prophet Micah's words that He'd be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). We can safely speculate that these leaders whom Herod consulted were not corrupt like those who would resist Jesus years later. More than likely, they were members of the Essenes, who were more like the man we are about to discuss. When Jesus was a baby, He was brought to the temple for His dedication. To grasp the wonder of what transpired that day needs a proper setup. A young couple from out of town, who were not public figures, who didn't stand out in any unusual way, walked into the temple with their forty-day-old baby. Numerous other young parents had done so on a regular basis, so nothing was out of the ordinary. |
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When a man or woman truly fears God, he or she will pursue walking in holiness and true humility; it's their passion. |
When a man or woman truly fears God, he or she will pursue walking in holiness and true humility; it's their passion. |
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The temple area was not a quiet place, as a cathedral would typically be in our time. There were several buildings in the complex, teeming with people and lots of activity at any given time. Yet there, among many others, Simeon suddenly and decisively approached this young unknown couple. - He took their baby in his arms and proclaimed, "The Messiah!"
Jesus was an infant! He hadn't performed any miracles yet. He hadn't preached a sermon. He didn't have any followers, just two young parents! What prompted this man? How did he recognize God manifested in the flesh as a one-month-old baby? In our answer lies the key to understanding prophetic events, which is easy to miss. Simeon was ... righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come. — Luke 2:25 There are three characteristics of this man listed that reveal our answer. First, he was righteous. It's the Greek word díkaios. It's defined as one who "conforms in his actions to his constitutionally just character."2 Simply put, anyone who possesses this quality not only professes loyalty to the Lord God but lives accordingly. In essence, Simeon strived for holiness. He sanctified the Lord in his heart and lived in a way that honored Him as supreme. Simeon's second identified feature is being devout. It's the Greek word eulabḗs, meaning "one who had taken seriously God's promises and God's Word."3 Simeon didn't avoid or shrug off the prophetic words of God but read, listened to, meditated on, and most importantly, prayed about them. He didn't have the attitude, When Messiah comes, He will just do it. Why should I give any attention to this matter? This Greek word eulabḗs pertains "to being reverent toward God."4 It describes one who lives in the holy fear of God. Simeon held firmly to this virtue, and it enlightened him with insight that others didn't possess (see Proverbs 8:13–14). The third aspect highlighted of Simeon stems from the first two. If someone takes God's Word seriously, pursues godliness, and possesses the insight of holy fear, he or she will be eagerly waiting — wholeheartedly anticipating — the arrival of Messiah, especially in the season of His coming. Let's drill down further into Simeon's character. He embraced the healthy fear of God, which was a fountain of instruction, knowledge, and wisdom within him. We are told, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. — Psalm 111:10 ESV One who fears God is not afraid of Him; rather, he or she is terrified of being away from Him. We live in awe of God and esteem Him above everything and anyone else. We love what He loves, and we hate what He hates. What is important to Him becomes important to us. What is not important to Him loses importance to us. When a man or woman truly fears God, he or she will pursue walking in holiness and true humility; it's their passion. Now hear what the psalmist writes: The humble He teaches His way... Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses... The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. — Psalm 25:9, 12, 14 NKJV We see that the virtue of holy fear opens us to the awareness of what God is doing; it's the starting place, as well as the continuous flow, of the instruction of wisdom (see Proverbs 14:27; 15:33). Wisdom — which includes instruction, insight, knowledge, and understanding — is vital to understanding prophecy. Without it, we interpret statements incorrectly and make foolish decisions. It's such a priority in life that holy fear is referred to as God's treasure (see Isaiah 33:6) and is Jesus' delight (see Isaiah 11:3). Volumes have been written on this vital virtue, and after writing The Awe of God, I discovered just how much people are craving it in their lives. I highly recommend that book as a companion to this message. As we journey through this message, it will become more and more apparent that people who pursue the fear of the Lord, true humility, and holiness will have a passion for God's Word, including prophecy. These foundational characteristics of those who knew the details of His first coming are true for those sensitive to His second coming. This should be the foundation of any message, especially eschatology. If we don't pursue these virtues, we will become dogmatic in our knowledge and steadily veer off course. We will miss the hidden mysteries and nuances of the prophetic Word of God that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to us. Continuing with Simeon, we read: The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!" Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about Him. — Luke 2:25–33 After discussing this remarkable event in depth, it's easier to see what amazed Jesus' parents. How could this stranger know what Mary kept to herself and pondered in her heart? Only God could reveal to a man such wonderful insight and knowledge! But that wouldn't be the only surprise of the day for this young couple, because before they left the temple, a woman named Anna approached them and gave thanks to the Lord. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. — Luke 2:38, emphasis mine Notice she didn't speak to all in the temple, but to those who, like Simeon and herself, were eagerly looking for the coming Messiah. |
- Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, "History: Are We Doomed to Repeat It?", Management of Invasive Plants in the Western USA, July 2020, https://www.invasiveplantswesternusa.org/history-are-we-doomed-to-repeat-it.html.
- Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (AMG Publishers, 2000), under "dı ́ kaios."
- Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, under "eulabes."
- Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, eds., Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (United Bible Societies, 1996), 532.
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Excerpted with permission from The King Is Coming by John Bevere, copyright John Bevere. * |
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Are you eagerly awaiting Jesus' return? Are you waiting expectantly? He's coming back and we who believe in Him want to be ready! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Would you be ready for Jesus? |
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TODAY ONLY: EXTRA 15% OFF WITH CODE GIFT |
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Bestselling author John Bevere challenges Christians to take a fresh and honest look at one of the most often misunderstood and avoided truths of the Christian faith—the second coming of Jesus. Through personal testimony, biblical accuracy, and practical guidance, readers will be inspired to live a life of spiritual vigilance as they prepare for the glorious return of our King. If Jesus were to return tomorrow, would you be ready? In The King Is Coming, John Bevere discusses why the Second Coming is both relevant and critical for the Christian faith. Other than salvation, it's the second most discussed topic both in the New Testament and by early church fathers in the first three centuries. More than a book about prophecy, this life-changing guide will help believers live fully prepared for Christ's return while transforming the way we love, serve, and glorify God. Bevere recounts his personal shift from avoiding eschatology to fully recognizing its significance. Witnessing the misuse and division caused by End Time teachings initially led him away from the topic, but through the Holy Spirit's guidance and a deeper study of Scripture, Bevere's heart and life were transformed. Through extensive references to prophetic Scriptures, the book explores many of the over three-hundred New Testament mentions of Jesus' return, providing a foundation that will help readers: - Live in awe of the Creator of the universe who holds time in His hands.
- Grow in holiness, compassion, purpose, and gain a closer relationship with God.
- Live with an eternal outlook, inspiring a sense of hope, urgency, and mission.
- Avoid division by focusing on the transformative power of our reigning King.
- Discover an eschatology that replaces fear and alarmism with true hope.
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The King Is Coming Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video |
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