DISTINCTIVE KNOWLEDGE

Those who occasionally hear from God may be quite confused, either about the content of what they have heard or about whom the message may exactly be meant for. Simeon, who had an intimate and sustained history in God's presence, was different.

First of all, He blessed Joseph and Mary. He did not only bless Joseph or Mary. He had a blessing for both of them. Then he had a prophecy about the child, and he knew clearly that this prophecy was not for Joseph and Mary. It was for Mary alone. So he did not generalize it in order to appear popular or undiscriminating. He did not give the prophecy to both because he had blessed them both. He said it to Mary and to Mary alone.

"Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35). The prophecy bore a painful message. Would it not have been easier to give it to both of them? No! God forbid. It was meant for one person and, painful as it was, that one person had to receive it.

AN UNCOMPROMISING PROPHET

We know today in the local church that many receive unpopular messages from the Lord for individuals or for the local church. Many such people, unfortunately, worship at the shrine of the god of popularity. They would not deliver the message from the Lord, and this results in spiritual poverty for the individual or the local assembly. Very many people know the truth but, like the Pharisees of old, they would not speak out, for they "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43).

Simeon was not in for such dangerous games. He knew his prophecy would pierce Mary's heart, but what could he do? God had said so and he had to say so. So he spoke out, painful as it might have been. "...a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also").

May God raise up such prophets in the Church - bold, fearless, uncompromising, unpopular.

When they are raised, they may be allowed to speak for only a while and then they shall be rejected by the vast majority of apostate Christianity, at the brink of God's judgment. But, they would have at least spoken, saved their own souls and fulfilled God's purpose at the cost of their own safety.

A SPIRIT-FILLED MAN

What distinguished Simeon from the other people of his time? What was the secret of his intimate ministry for many years in God's presence? Why is it that his public ministry, which lasted just a few minutes, was of such far-reaching consequences? What was his secret?I believe that the one secret of his whole life's ministry lay in the fact that he was a Spirit-filled man. The Holy Spirit was upon him. He knew the Holy Spirit very deeply, both in His indwelling and in His resting upon him. The Holy Spirit was not upon him in the same way that He was upon carnal spiritual tragedies like Samson and Judas. He rested permanently upon him, doing both an inward and an outward work. He transformed him inwardly and made his character and service like that of the Lord's Christ, whom he so desperately waited for. He rested upon him to give him power for his unending ministry to God, and his brief ministry to man. He was inwardly and outwardly a man possessed, filled, controlled, ruled and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Will God have pity on the Church universal today in its non-Pentecostal and Pentecostal confusion of fruit without gifts, or gifts without fruit, by raising up many like Simeon? That is our most desperate need of the hour, and may we take no rest and give God no rest until He has done that, and then we shall be truly blessed. We shall then have fragrance for God and man.

Simeon served his time and passed away joyfully. May we also follow in like steps, fulfil God's purpose for our lives, and pass away into His immediate presence with joy. Glory be to the Lord!