And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  (27)  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

Luke 2:26-27

Explanation:

Aspect #3- We should imitate their Wisdom- v.26-27

Notice the wisdom that was accessible to Simeon at this moment.  “And it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost” describes the kind of relationship that this man had with the Lord.  In his faithfulness to God, and in God’s graciousness to Him, God revealed that He would be able to see the Messiah.  What He had been waiting for, God was allowing Him to be able to see.  He knew about this coming Messiah because of what had been written in the scripture by the Holy Spirit.  Specifically, in Isaiah, the Servant, who we know is Messiah, is described.  Simeon would have been highly aware of this scripture.  Remember, He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.  In being a person of the Word of God, the Spirit of God was revealing Himself to Simeon.

We even see this impacting his moment by moment decision in this narrative.  It says in verse 27, “And he came by the Spirit into the temple”.  God was directing Him in that moment to be there when Joseph and Mary were bringing the child, Jesus, into the temple.  They were being directed by the Lord through the Word of God, and He was being directed by the Lord through the Spirit of God.

Charles Spurgeon said about this verse:

“Men who have the Spirit will be led by the Spirit. Simeon came into the temple at the right moment. Just when a young man was entering, with his wife and new-born child, “He came by the Spirit into the temple.” He came in, I say, at the right time. Did ever anybody, who was not led by the Spirit, find Christ? Somebody has come in here tonight, and he does not know why he has come; but he has been led here by the Spirit that he may see Jesus, and may have such a sight of him as shall be his salvation. God grant that it may be proved that many an aged Simeon has traveled here this Sabbath night, led by the Spirit for this purpose, to find the Saviour in his own house!

Application:  

The only way to consistently live with anticipation of Christ’s return is to be led by the Spirit.  We must be inundated with God’s Word in our lives.  The only way to have true wisdom is to think the way God thinks.  The scripture is the written expression of the Wisdom of the Spirit of God.  To be “filled with the Spirit” is to let the “word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom”. 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  (19)  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:18-20 

Notice the parallel in Colossians.

(20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 

When you study these passages, you will see that to be “filled with the Spirit” and to “let the word of Christ dwell with you richly in all wisdom” produce the same results.

To live a life that is controlled by the Spirit is to know what the will of the Spirit is by what He has written it in His Word.

Response:

• Are you being led by the Spirit? 
• Are you living a life of wisdom? 
• What’s your relationship with the Word of God daily?