Simeon and Anna

Prayer Is So Very Precious

When Jesus was eight days old, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the Temple to be dedicated to God. Simeon and Anna were already there, praying in the certain knowledge that God would send His Messiah in their lifetime, "on their watch". This is the promised Messiah who would redeem Israel and all of humankind at "just the right time".

Simeon and Anna had separately been spoken to by the Lord that they were to pray; each had persued this lonely task for years.

Right now, in our own time, many, many Simeons and Annas have been praying in affirmation of the hundreds of prophetic words which have been spoken over our city of Perth, Western Australia, in recent years.

There is coming a time when Jesus will reveal Himself to our fellow citizens as never before.

It is always good, where-ever it happens, when someone has that wondrous moment of clarity and they know, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is welcoming them into His life, that their spirit is awakening and lives are coming into a previously impossible fullness .. We are to expect tens of thousands to come like this to Jesus, gladly and hungrily, like thirsty wanderers reaching an abundant oasis in a vast desert. Our very materialistic and hedonistic city will change ..

These words have been given, in my hearing, by dozens of visiting missionaries, Bible teachers, evangelists, and by local ministers, intercessors, and preachers, and a great many "ordinary" Christians too. The words "tens of thousands" are a part of what Jesus has been saying to His Church.

Simeon and Anna knew only a little of what God was already committed to do, yet they prayed. Our prayer is part of our participation in God's work on the Earth. His work is sovereign yet in a great and powerful mystery, our participation seems to be vital to His timing.

I see it like this: when Jesus came to the Earth, He was fully man and, at the same time, He was fully God. When Jesus became a creature, with physical attributes, He was made a creature as we are, as a human being, a creature in God's image. A physical being with a spirit and the ability to speak; (this makes our humanity spectacularly awesome, doesn't it?)

So then, when Jesus had been crucified for our sins, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, He rose as a man; there are many witnesses, both in our Bible, and in histories of that time, which clearly state that the Man Christ Jesus lived, was crucified and rose into heaven. 

Very simply, this means that all of us Christians, who are children of God and who are in Christ, are also risen into Heaven with Jesus where we also participate in ruling and reigning with Him, hour by hour and day by day.

This makes prayer seem much more important, a vital part of our life with Jesus ..

Meanwhile, we wait and pray, and go about our lives in obedience to what Jesus has asked of each one.  Simeon and Anna are examples for us, we can see their work and be encouraged to press on.

Bless us all Lord .. Come quickly!

Favourite Scriptures

It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him (2 Timothy 2:11-12 NASB).

And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.  And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Revelation 5:6-10 NASB). 

".. golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" .. our prayers are so very precious, and every one of them gets heard in Heaven!

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.