Waiting for Christmas | Eagerly Anticipating Christ's Return This Christmas

This new year, I want to invite you to be a part of what God is doing here at Harvest. We have some great plans in store and I want to encourage you to invest in what we are doing.

And by the way, whatever you give will be doubled thanks to our year-end match fund. So help us continue to reach unexpected people in unexpected places with an unexpected message. The message of the gospel through our evangelistic events and radio, television, online media, Harvest Plus, and the list goes on. We want to seek to fulfill the great commission and we can do it together.

So thanks for whatever you can do. We should be eagerly awaiting for the Messiah to come. Here on this day, we celebrate the Lord's first coming. Pastor Greg Laurie says we need to be waiting and watching for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The first time Jesus came in a manger.

Next time he's going to come back in glory. In his first coming, he was surrounded by animals and shepherds. In his second coming, he'll be accompanied by saints and angels. Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus?

You should be. Many of us have homes full of family today. It's especially fun to watch little kids as they wait for grandma and grandpa to arrive or maybe their favorite cousins. They look out the window.

They open the door to listen. They're full of eager anticipation. Well, we need to have the same sense of anticipation for the second coming of Christ. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us celebrate his first coming and eagerly anticipate his return.

It's the best way to celebrate Christmas. I want to talk to you now about two people that were waiting for Christmas in the Bible. You might say they were waiting for Christ and no, it's not Joseph and Mary. It's two people that are not talked about enough in the Christmas season and those two people are Simeon and Anna.

They don't appear in any nativity scenes but eight days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph go to the temple to have him circumcised and they meet the two people who were waiting for Christmas starting with Simeon. Simeon was a godly man who was eagerly waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he personally laid his eyes on the Messiah.

So here's old Simeon. He's just waiting, waiting for it to happen, hanging on to the promise of God. The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, gave these final words and the words were simply this. The son of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. But it had been 400 years since God had spoken. 400 years since there had been a single Hebrew prophet speaking for God. 400 years since there had been an angelic appearance. 400 years since there had been a miracle. But old Simeon believed God's promise to him that he would personally see the Messiah.

So here's old Simeon. He's close to God. He's waiting on God. He believes God is going to keep his promise. And by the way, the promises of God are true and trustworthy. 2 Peter 1 says he's given us great and precious promises. 2 Corinthians 1 says all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding yes. God has made promises to you. So claim them.

You say well what are they? Well how about this one? God has promised to supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

That's a good promise. How about this one? Romans 8 28. We know that all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to his purpose.

How about this one? Jesus says I'll never leave you or forsake you. And then in Matthew 28 he says lo I am with you even to the end of the age. Another translation combines those two verses to say this. Jesus speaking I will never leave you never and I will not loosen my grip on your life and be sure of this I am with you every day to the completion of the age.

I like that. The promises of God. And God has promised to hear and answer your prayers.

Jeremiah 33 3 God says call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Coming back to Simeon his very name means God has heard. This man was waiting for Christmas or effectively waiting for Jesus and one day the promise came true. He's there in the temple and there appears Mary and Joseph and Jesus. How did he know it was Jesus? How did he know it was the Messiah?

Simple answer. They all had halos. We've seen the paintings. Jesus had a little baby halo and Mary and Joseph had halo. Whoa look at those people. Halos.

That's cool. Or maybe they glowed in the dark. There they are. No they didn't glow in the dark.

They didn't have halos. They looked like any other couple. In fact like any other peasant couple because they were very poor reflected in the offering they brought. But he knew because he was a spiritually perceptive man and he takes the newborn baby Jesus into his arms. And in Luke 2 32 he says this in this prayer. He is a light to reveal God to the nations. He is the glory of your people Israel. Mary and Joseph were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed him and he said to Mary the baby's mother this child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many others to rise.

He has been sent as a sign from God and many will oppose him. As a result the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your very soul. Imagine the reaction of Joseph and Mary.

They're taking this all in. What? I mean they knew Jesus was the son of God but it was unfolding to them what this really meant. And that statement of Simeon to Mary a sword will pierce your own soul.

What does that mean? Oh Mary what a sacrifice she made. She could have said no to Gabriel. She could have said sorry I don't want to go through life having people think that that I had a baby out of wedlock and that's what many thought about Mary throughout her entire life. She had to live with that reputation and ironically she was a very virtuous godly moral young woman. But not only that she was a Christian. But not only that but as Jesus grew she realized that he had a work to do. Like when they went into the temple and found him reasoning with the religious leaders and he effectively corrected Mary and Joseph.

When they said why didn't you come home he says did you not know I must be about my father's business the sword began to pierce. But most of all when she saw him hanging there on the cross bearing the sins of the world the sword pierced deeply. But Mary was willing to make this sacrifice to bring forth the son of God from her womb. So while this is all happening they're listening to Simeon give this prophecy here now comes Anna.

Anna has been waiting too. God revealed to her that she also would see the Messiah. She's an elderly woman.

She's 84 years old. She never left the temple. She literally lived in the temple because she knew the Messiah would come there.

And then she makes this announcement to everyone I found the Messiah. You know in a way she is reflective of what every Christian should do. We often tell Christians if you want to grow spiritually there's four things you need to know. Number one read your Bible every day. Number two be actively involved in your church. Number three have a prayer life.

And number four tell others about Jesus. That's exactly what Anna did. She effectively lived in the temple. She believed the word of God. And once she knew that Jesus was the Messiah and had arrived she said in Luke 2 38 she talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

So amazing. So they were waiting and we're waiting too. We're not waiting for Jesus to come the first time. We're waiting for Jesus to come the second time.

And we should be like Simeon and Anna. And we should be expectantly anxiously awaiting for the Messiah to come. Hebrews 9 28 says he will come again for those who eagerly await him. Christ is coming again. All around us are the signs. I don't know if you've noticed how all of the wickedness and depravity and evil of the world seems to be in overdrive right now. Every time you turn around you're thinking I can't believe they're saying this. I can't believe they're doing that.

Yeah they are. Things are dark as the Bible said they would be before Christ comes again. And I think our reaction to the imminent return of Jesus is a real revealer of where we're at spiritually. I think when you're close to the Lord you look forward to his return. When you hear someone say Jesus is coming you say amen. And if you're not walking with God as you ought to and you hear someone say Jesus could come tonight you go uh oh.

That should change. Because if you're right with God it will have a purifying effect in your life. First John says of the Lord's return he that has this hope purifies himself even as he is pure. See the first time Jesus came in a manger.

Next time he's going to come back in glory. In his first coming he was wrapped in swaddling cloths. In his second coming he'll be clothed royally in a robe dipped in blood. In his first coming he was surrounded by animals and shepherds. In his second coming he'll be accompanied by saints and angels. In his first coming there was no room for him in the inn. In his second coming the door of the heavens will be opened to him. In his first coming he came to us as the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

But in his second coming he'll return as the ferocious lion of the tribe of Judah bringing judgment to the earth. Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus? You should be.

We should be. But what does it mean practically? Does it mean we quit our job and climb up on our roof and stare at the sun?

No it does not mean that. It means living our life with an awareness that he could come back at any moment living with eager anticipation. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. It's such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation. Pastor Greg when I rededicated my life to Christ two years ago I knew I needed a Bible. I prayed that God would lead me to the one best for me and that's when I came across your new Believer's Bible.

When I received it I read it front to back and it was amazing. I really appreciated reading the notes you wrote Greg, your explanation of the context of certain verses. I then discovered your preaching and I started listening to your podcasts and watching your sermons.

I really loved your sense of humor and how genuine you are. Thank you so much for everything Pastor Greg. Has Pastor Greg heard from you? Why not drop him an email and tell your story?

Send it to greg at harvest dot org. Again that's greg at harvest dot o-r-g. Well we're talking about how we should wait for the Lord's return using Simeon and Anna from Luke 2 as good examples. Pastor Greg continues. Simeon and Anna patiently waited and waited until they found what they were looking for and they died with hope. They died holding hope.

This might surprise you but death and Christmas are inseparably connected. We don't like to think of that I know but it's important too because that beautiful little baby Jesus really was born to die that we might live. It's hard to think of the fact that those sweet little infant hands of the Lord Jesus and we sang about it earlier away in a manger no place for his head the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

Yes but those little hands would grow into the hands of a strong man who would have spikes driven through them voluntarily. He would lay his life down no one would take it from him though those little baby feet in which he took his first steps with would be the feet of a man who would be nailed to a cross where he would die for the sin of the world. The fact is the shadow of the cross was over the manger of the baby Jesus. He came with a purpose. He didn't just come to be the greatest teacher who ever lived.

He was that and far more. He didn't just come to do mighty miracles though he did those as well. He came with the express purpose of dying on a cross for the sin of the world. He was born to die that we might live. He came to die for the sins of the world and for your sin. I love how the apostle Paul personalized it and said he loved me and gave himself for me. Jesus said I came to give my life as a ransom for many. It's all contained in the angelic announcement that was given to Joseph when the angel said of Jesus he will save his people from their sins.

It's hard for us to accept that but this is why he came. He died on the cross. He rose again from the dead. He is alive and he says now believe in me. Follow me. Jump into my open arms.

A while ago maybe a couple of years ago I was watching television and suddenly I heard the voice of my wife Kathy say my name. Greg. Look around. Didn't see her.

Just kept watching TV. Hear the voice again. Greg.

Greg. I get up. I walk around.

She is nowhere to be found. I go from room to room. Kathy. Kathy.

Where are you? What am I hearing things? I sit back down again. Greg.

It is louder. Where is she? So I go outside now.

I hear her voice again and I find her up in a tree. This is a true story. Now we have a garage and right outside of our garage is where we keep our trash cans.

It is a very small little area. You open up the door and you put your trash in and you close the door. But the problem is the door locks itself. So she went out to empty the trash. The door shut.

It was locked. And so she determined to climb a tree and get out. But she got in the tree and could not get down from the tree. So I finally find her in a tree. What are you doing in a tree?

It is a long story. Help me. I said jump and I will catch you. Kathy says no. You will drop me. Get a ladder. Oh man.

That is demoralizing for a guy. I went to catch her. I would have caught her.

My grandkids always jumped into my open arms. Jump and they would jump. I would catch them. Sometimes they wouldn't tell me. They were coming. I would see them mid-air. Whoa.

Now they are older. Don't jump on Papa anymore. You will kill him.

So I got a ladder and got her down safely. But we can be that way with Jesus. He says jump. I will catch you. You will drop me.

No he won't. Why would you think that of God? You are never safer than you are when you are in the arms of Jesus. That is what faith is.

It is putting your complete trust in Christ and Christ alone. Like take this platform. And I am standing on it. All 104 pounds of my weight are on this platform. Why are you laughing? That is hurtful.

No I meant it to be funny. I weigh a little more than that. Not that much more though. But I am putting my complete weight in this platform. I am trusting this stage will hold me up. That is what it means to believe in Jesus. When the Bible says whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life it means put your full weight and trust in Christ and only Christ.

To jump into his open arms. He was born in a manger. He died in a cross. He rose from the dead. He is alive forevermore.

And he says believe in me right now. That is what this season is really all about. The incarnation was so there would be the atonement. The birth of Jesus was so there would be the death of Jesus. And then the resurrection of Jesus.

And ultimately the return of Jesus. So here we sit on Christmas. And for some of us this is going to be our last Christmas.

Because it is going to be the last Christmas for someone. And we may never have an opportunity like this again. And God has a gift for you. A gift waiting for you. And all you have to do is open this gift. And listen you will never forget this gift. You have probably forgotten what you received last Christmas. And you will forget what you are receiving this Christmas. And I know it is the newest version of whatever it is that you are hoping for.

A combo drone vacuum cleaner or whatever cell phone. All the new gadgets they come up with. It will be outdated. Something else will come along to replace it. Fashions will change. Styles will change. Fruitcakes they never change.

They are always the same. But these other things change. But this gift that God offers you. The gift of eternal life is waiting for you.

And only you can open it for yourself. It is a gift that truly keeps on giving. And I want to close this message by offering you this gift that God gives to all of us.

I already quoted John 3 16 where Jesus said, for God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. It is a gift. And you must open the gift and enjoy the gift. And all you have to do is say Jesus I know I am a sinner.

I know that is why you came to this world of ours. And I need you. And I am ready to jump into your open arms and believe in you right now.

Come into my life. And I would like to close this message with a prayer that you can pray. Where you ask Christ to come into your life. And if you mean this prayer God will hear it and answer it.

And this can be the happiest of all Christmases for you as you receive the gift of eternal life. So if you are not sure that your sin is forgiven. If you are not certain that you will go to heaven when you die. If you don't think you are really ready for the return of Jesus.

Or maybe you have fallen away from the Lord and you need to come back to Him again. This would be the time to do that. I am going to pray this prayer. And here is what I am going to ask you to do. Let's all pray this out loud together. I know most of you have already prayed something like this or you have made this commitment to Christ. But others are praying this for the first time. Let's pray it with them.

And a vote of support for them if you will. So let's all bow our heads and let's all pray this out loud together. Lord Jesus. I know that I am a sinner. But I know that you are the Savior.

You were born in that manger. You died on the cross. You rose from the dead.

You are coming back again. Jesus come into my life. Be my Savior. Be my Lord. Be my God.

Be my friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. God bless you.

Merry Christmas. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie praying with his congregation and specifically with those who are making a decision for the Lord today. If you prayed along with Pastor Greg just now, we want to help you get started in walking with the Lord each day. Pastor Greg would like to send you his New Believers Bible.

The scripture text is in the New Living Translation, which is very easy to understand. And Pastor Greg has written hundreds of articles and special helps to get a New Believer started off right. We'll send you the New Believers Bible free of charge when you get in touch and ask for it. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24-7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. And then let us take a moment to thank you for praying for this ministry and for supporting it through your generous donation.

It's an investment in kingdom business. Isn't that right, Pastor Greg? Yeah, it's really true, Dave. And I believe it's so important because, you know, the gospel saves lives. It saves eternal lives because when a person believes in Jesus, according to scripture, they pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. And then, of course, that changes the course of their future.

That impacts their children and their children's children. The gospel changes everything. And thousands and thousands of people respond every single year. Thanks to the Lord. Also, thanks to you for your investment in this ministry, enabling us to reach people wherever they are. So if this is something you care about, I encourage you to make a financial investment in A New Beginning and Harvest Ministries.

Yeah, that's right. And we really do appreciate your support. Thanks for partnering with us today.

It can make a real difference, not just for today or this week, but for eternity. So get in touch with your support today by calling 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24-7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California, 92514.

Or go online to harvest.org. Well, next time, we return to Pastor Greg's fascinating study of the Psalms and learn how God grants second chances. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie. Merry Christmas from all of us here at Harvest Ministries and A New Beginning.