Keepers of the Promise

Have you ever found yourself waiting on God—praying, believing, but wondering if He’s ever going to come through? In this episode, we look at the story of Simeon, a man who waited his entire life to see God’s promise fulfilled. His faithfulness, patience, and trust in the Holy Spirit led him straight to Jesus at just the right time.

We’ll also talk about the keepers of the promise—those seasoned saints who have walked with Jesus for years, guiding and encouraging others in their faith. What can we learn from them? And how can we wait well, even when it feels like God is taking His time?

If you’re in a season of waiting, this message is for you. God’s timing is perfect, and His promises are always worth the wait.

🔹 What promise of God are you holding onto?
🔹 Are you listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading?
🔹 Who in your life helps you see God at work?

Join us on this journey of faith, and let’s learn what it means to wait with hope, prayer, and love.

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Trailer [linktree link]
• 0:20 Theme song--"The Dirt Path" by Jeremy Edwards
• 1:24 Podcast Greeting
• 2:46 Introduction: The Challenge of Waiting on God
• 8:59 Reading of the Passage: Luke 2:25-32
• 10:21 v25-26 He kept believing
• 13:27 v27-28 He kept praying
• 16:44 v29-32 He kept loving
• 19:44 What does this teach us?
• 30:43 Invitation: How will you wait?
• 32:50 Closing prayer [contact form link]
• 34:59 Outro

Transcript

HEARING VOICES

#2 KEEPERS OF THE PROMISE

     We continue in our Lent series, “Hearing voices.” Our study so far has focused on the prophets, looking at Isaiah and his faithfulness to God, even if there were no results. As we journey toward the cross with Jesus, our focus will now shift to those who are keepers of the promise, believers who know who Jesus is and what He has to offer. Often, they are those who have been walking Jesus is the longest.

     I had a Sunday school teacher when I was a kid, faithful every week to have a message about Jesus for us. She prayed for us, still does. But what most people did not know was that her husband was not a believer. He refused to go to church with her, and was even mean to her at times. But she kept praying, kept believing, and kept loving her husband and us.

     You and I live in a right now culture. We expect things to happen quickly. But God’s timing is not our timing, and often His promises unfold over time. While we wait, we find ourselves wrestling with doubt, discouragement, or even giving up.

     But what does it mean to wait faithfully on God? How do we hold onto hope when time seems to tick away? The Gospel of Luke gives us an example of what it means to wait with faith, prayer, and love.

     Luke 2:25-32(CEB):

25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the law. 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said, 29 “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. 32 It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.”

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

     Verses 25 and 26 introduce us to Simeon. Not much is known about Simeon beyond what Luke shares about him, most likely information the writer obtained from Mary herself. But verse 25 shares this about Simeon, “A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.” The key to Simeon’s label of being “righteous and devout” comes at the end of the verse, “the Holy Spirit rested on him.” Simeon desired the things God desired, faithfully praying for such things. The Holy Spirit helped to tune Simeon’s heart to God’s heart. A relationship that began with a decision by Simeon to stay close to God, but his continued faithfulness grew in that relationship over time.

     Simeon’s faithfulness mattered. God saw Simeon’s trust in him, which led to verse 26 when God revealed, “he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” We are not told at what point in Simeon’s life that God shared this message with him, but this revelation was God’s blessing to him for Simeon’s devotion. Even with the revelation, Simeon had to wait.

     Again, we are not sure how much time had passed. But we do know that Simeon’s devotion did not lessen, it grew. He kept praying, searching the scriptures, and going to the Temple. Verse 27 shares about a trip to the Temple that was different, “Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law.” Something beautiful happened here. Jesus was with His parents following the Law, Simeon was there led by the Holy Spirit. A beautiful collision of the Old Testament and New Testament.

     Verse 28, “Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God.” His faithfulness, Simeon’s listening to the Holy Spirit kept him in step with God’s plan. Those steps led Simeon to the temple, straight to Jesus! God’s promise fulfilled.

     Not only does Simeon meet Jesus, just as God promised, but Simeon understands. Look at what Simeon says in verses 29 through 32, “Master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” Did you catch that? Most Jews, especially for the Temple leaders, believed that the Messiah would come as a political warrior exclusively for the Jewish people. Simeon saw that salvation was Jesus, something beyond worldly kingdoms. He saw salvation was not an exclusive event for the Jews, but a life alternative for everyone. Even though it was different from all the expectations around him, Simeon loved God and the Holy Spirit led him to God’s greater plan. And Simeon embraced it.

     What does this teach us? We live in a world that wants what we want right now. I am sure Simeon wanted to see the Savior as soon as God revealed the promise to him. But Simeon had to wait faithfully. He kept believing, kept praying, and kept loving God. God could have revealed it to Simeon immediately, but if God had, would Simeon have been able to properly understand it? If God revealed to us the promises He has for us right now, would we comprehend the true greatness of them?

     God’s promises are always worth waiting for, and when we wait faithfully, we see God’s work more clearly. Often, the world around us and in us expects one thing while God is doing something else. This is where the veteran saints come in, those who have been journeying with God and following His Holy Spirit. Those of us not as seasoned are tempted by the noise of the crowds and the expectations, but those veteran saints know better. Through their lives, they have come to depend on the Holy Spirit, making them keepers of the promise. They know God’s voice and the Holy Spirit alerts them to God’s fingerprints at work. They keep believing, praying, and loving God and us as the Holy Spirit helps us to learn to see what they see. And they help alert us when God’s work is revealed before our eyes.

     I told you about my Sunday school teacher in the beginning. She kept believing, kept praying, and kept loving her husband and us. We all prayed as a church for her husband. Then on a Sunday night, which back then was typically the quieter service more geared to the most devoted saints, as the first song began to play we heard a thud of someone hitting the altar. It was this Sunday school teacher’s husband. Twenty years of prayer, trust, faith, and love led to a moment that changed her husband’s life forever. Changed a church. Changed me.

     What promise of God do you need to trust in today? Keep believing, do not give up. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you, like Simeon did? Keep praying, seek His presence. God’s plan is bigger than we imagine. Keep loving and embrace it.

     Maybe you have been waiting on something—a promise, a breakthrough, an answer. Like Simeon, God is calling you to remain faithful, trust in His timing, and continue seeking Him. Will you choose to wait with faith today? And will you watch and listen to the keepers of the promise around you? They know God’s voice and can help point you to when God is on the move.