A Light for Revelation to the Gentiles – Christ (Luke 2:28-32)
Let us bless one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.” I’m especially thankful and joyful today because we are giving glory to God with the Christmas worship. I was also thankful yesterday because we gave glory to God through the Christmas musical and different performances on Christmas Eve. The Christmas we observe once a year is kind of like a ritual or an event. However, in America, the idea has changed so we no longer celebrate Christmas, but “Happy Holidays,” and what do these words mean? It means that the areas that humans cannot overcome and the limitations of humans will continue to come.
Today, if you understand the true meaning of what “Christ” means, then you will change Christmas into not just once a year, but every week, every day, all the time. This is not just about observing a festival, but the ones who understand the meaning of Christ are bound to do this. The scripture we read today was the confession Simeon made when Jesus Christ was being brought for His purification rites.
1. Jesus Christ (Lk. 2:11)
1) Prophesied promise (Lk. 2:29)
In Luke 2:29, Simeon confesses, “As You promised,” this means, “Just as You have promised, God, to send the Messiah, I have seen the Lord in the baby Jesus,” and he is saying, ‘Now You may dismiss Your servant in peace,” meaning he can now die in peace. This was a man who spent his entire life waiting to see the Christ, and now that he has seen the Christ, He may go. And today, on this Christmas Day, there must be many church believers who arise like this, a life that is complete only with Christ.
The problems the president cannot solve are resolved in the name of Christ. The problem where you don’t know the source nor the solution to it, must be resolved by Christ. The many problems arising in America have no solution other than Christ.
(1) Offspring of woman (Gen. 3:15)
As soon as Adam and Eve fell from God in the beginning, God promised to send the Christ. This is a person who must be born as the offspring of woman, not the offspring of man.
(2) Overcame the authority of Satan
There was something this offspring of woman would do when He came to earth, it is to crush the head of Satan. All people were separated from God and were under Satan’s authority to sin. Because they were seized by the authority of Satan, they had no choice but to follow his words, and only the Word of God can overcome that. Because of their sin, they are lost in curses and disasters, so if the Messiah doesn’t come to overcome the authority of Satan and save us from that, there is no hope for man.
(3) Strike his heel – Death
How do we overcome? It says the serpent will strike the heel of the offspring of the woman, this is talking about Jesus’ death on the cross. They thought Jesus Christ died, but the authority of Satan was broken down. It was a time when all sins and curses were finished. It is a time where we are liberated from the authority and background of hell into God’s Kingdom. If this does not take place, there is no other hope. It doesn’t matter how much you succeed, or how much elite education you receive.
“Pastor, you keep saying it’s not going to work, but what’s not going to work?” I’m talking about the problem where you don’t even know the reason or the cause of it. The problem in your family you don’t even know the reason for. The problem where you have nothing to really be depressed about, but you are always depressed. I’m talking about, there’s nothing for you to fear, but you are always overcome with fear. There’s no reason to commit suicide, but you are always getting suicidal thoughts. These are the problems I’m talking about. There is nothing to make you this angry, but you are always so angry. This is the problem I’m talking about.
This is not a problem you can overcome with your mental strength or by controlling your mind. Because these problems are not solvable by mankind’s powers, God promised to send us the Christ. There is no political strength of America that can block America from going towards drug addictions. Christ must come. Then, Christ must be the Christ for this individual. Our fear of death, our fear of the future cannot be resolved no matter how much money we save up. No matter how much you save up or prepare, you cannot overcome the fear of death. That is why Christ has to come. Today is the day where we are celebrating that Jesus Christ in concentration and worship. Then, it shouldn’t end with just today, we must do that tomorrow as well, and is it enough to just do it tomorrow? We must do it all the time. The one who knows this reason will have victory and receive answers.
2) Sovereign Lord (Lk. 2:29)
In this week’s passage, Simeon looked at the baby and said, “Sovereign Lord,” he looked at the Baby Jesus and said, “You are the Lord who has all sovereignty.” Today, we say, “Merry Christmas,” but it must be a “Merry Christmas” that understands who the Lord is. It is a “Merry Christmas,” that whenever we say the name “Christ,” the forces of darkness are broken down.
(1) Absolute sovereignty (Dan. 7:14)
(2) The Heavenly host and angels praised (Lk. 2:13)
In Luke 2:13, all the heavenly hosts praised this Lord God, and they are praising before the baby Jesus. This is not a baby Jesus; this is the Creator God Who is moving all of the universe.
(3) God – Glory, Man – Peace (Lk. 2:14)
In Luke 2:14, it says, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth. “ On this earth, may there be peace, and there is no other way except for Christ. Do you have peace? Ask yourself, if you’re anxious or concerned about your business and your future, are you still peaceful? Even if your situation is difficult, do you have peace? It’s impossible to have peace. Only when you understand Who the Christ is will you have peace in your heart. If you do not understand Who the Christ is, then when you face something uncertain, you have to be anxious, and when you have an uncertain future, you have to be afraid. But for someone who really knows Who the Christ is, even if they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it doesn’t matter to them because they have peace. It is not coming from our strength or abilities, it is the peace that comes only from Christ.
3) The Lord’s salvation (Lk. 2:30)
In Luke 2:30 it says, “For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
(1) Name – Jesus (Mt. 1:21)
In Matthew 1:21, what does the name, “Jesus” mean?
(2) His people (Mt. 1:21)
The name “Jesus” means, ”The One Who will save his people from their sins,” so inside the name “Jesus” is their Savior, and the work that this Jesus did are the roles of the Christ. There are three roles of Christ: the King, Prophet, and Priest. The King Who has overcome the authority of Satan. The Priest Who has taken on all the curses and disasters of sin. The Prophet who has taken us from the background of hell into the Kingdom of God. If you just understand this as theory, that’s a big problem. The authority of hell is a real thing; the curses and disasters are an actual reality. Sin is not just a term we talk about; it is real. Christ actually resurrected and He is actually shining the Light and He is living now.
(3) Salvation from sin (Mt. 1:21)
So you must not live a religious life. If you just understand this as theory or doctrine, you will fall. This is the problem that will continue until Jesus’ second coming. But if you don’t know this problem, it cannot be solved by politics. Because we don’t know this, even if we succeed, the problem is not solved. Jesus did the work of the Christ, so from the moment this word, “Christ,” the day of Christ that we are celebrating today, comes into us, then the light will be upon us.
2. Prepared in the sight of all nations (Lk. 2:31)
1) All Nations
In Luke 2:31, it says, “in which you have prepared in the sight of all people,” meaning all nations, all peoples. The church must be for all nations, all peoples. Your business must be to all people and all nations, that is God’s will. Your studies must be connected to all nations, all peoples. God will work upon your studies following that. But if you’re living in America, the superpower nation, and you’re not connected to all nations and all peoples, you’re irrelevant to God. God raises up the superpower nations so that they may give influence to all nations of the world, and He makes it very fast, very convenient.
(1) Abraham – Blessing to all nations (Gen. 12:3)
Even to Abraham, God gave this promise that, “Through your seed, all nations will be blessed.” In an age where there were no airplanes, God was talking about all nations, but if we’re living in an age that has airplanes but we still don’t think about all nations, we are worse off than Abraham. All nations are gathered in America, but if your thoughts are still not towards all nations, that person is irrelevant to God.
(2) Every knee – Bow (Phil. 2:10)
Phil. 2:10 says “That at the name of Jesus, all knees shall bow,” why? Because He is the true God and true King.
(3) Every Tongue – Jesus Christ is the Lord (Phil. 2:11)
Phil. 2:11 every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord. We have a mouth, and through our mouths, we talk about academics and current events, but what are the things that come out of our mouths for? It is a mouth that is there to testify that Jesus Christ is Lord. “Oh, I fell,” that is why we must hold onto Christ, the Lord. But even though you have fallen down, you still are not holding on. All mouths will testify and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We must confess that, even in my family Jesus Christ is Lord, then God’s Kingdom is established. When the Lord is in the seat of the Lord, then He will begin to reign and rule over. Your personal and family problems, the moment you acknowledge Christ as your Lord, they will receive answers.
2) Prepare
In v. 31, “Which you have prepared,” meaning Christ has already been prepared.
(1) Before creation (Eph. 1:4)
It says in Eph. 1:4, it says that salvation has been predetermined since the creation of the world, it means, this was prepared even before humans were created. Can you understand that? God has already prepared to save you before the sun and the earth were created. The things that were prepared and planned long ago are now being fulfilled here on earth. Why is that? Even before humans were created, Satan fell from heaven and he was ruling and controlling the kingdom of the air, and because the authority of sin and death were ruling over the earth, humans had no choice but to be deceived.
(2) In Christ (Eph. 1:4)
That is why we were chosen within the Christ, even before creation.
(3) Chosen (Eph. 1:4)
In your field, there are people that the Lord has prepared to save, and He will save them through the time schedule through evangelization. For the people who know this, their business will be easy. For the students who know this, their studies will be comfortable, but people who don’t know this will always wander. Because they don’t know how the Lord is working, they will always wander, but for people who know this, their talent will be revealed for God gave this talent for this reason. This talent gets developed further into a specialization that can make money. Then, not only will you make a living, but you will use your money to save and bless other people.
So, the future generations that receive God’s Word can see their future. But for students who are bad at studying, they do something else well. If everybody was good at studying, then who would raise the cows? There must be somebody who raises the cows, there must be somebody who cleans the streets, and for that person, God gave them a talent to maintain society. There needs to be somebody who sings very well; if everyone sang so poorly like me, what would happen in this world? So, everybody has an individual talent God has given to them, and this must be revealed, and this talent is used in the work of saving lives.
3) Israel
(1) Glory (Lk. 2:32)
(2) In the city of David (Lk. 2:11)
(3) Christ was born (Lk. 2:11)
In Luke 2:32, it says, Jesus Christ’s birth is a glory to your people Israel. The winner of the World Cup was Argentina. The day the Argentinian team landed was set as a holiday, and thousands of people gathered to greet them, and that was the glory of Argentina. If there was somebody in your town who won the Olympic Medal, they would hang placards for them, and they would ask, “Whose kid is that?” That’s what you call glory. For all the people of Israel, they are saying, “How could we receive so much glory? The Messiah of the world was born in our town,” and for Gentiles like you and me, “a Light for revelation to the Gentiles.”
3. Light for revelation to the Gentiles
1) Gentiles
(1) Darkness (Jn. 1:5)
What is the “light” that is talked about here? It is a light that will shine in the darkness. You may know the word “Light,” but you don’t really know what it means. I explained this a little bit earlier, but if you don’t know the reason for a problem, it’s because it’s in darkness. Regardless of my hard work, my life is continuously dragged in another direction. I’m living with earnestness, diligence, and hard work in a certain direction, and we are being dragged in another direction. That is a darkness that we don’t know the reason for. We really want to do well towards other people, but every time I meet them, I fight with them. We don’t know the cause, we don’t even know the reason why we are like that. I keep on making a decision, and it’s in the direction of failure. There’s no reason, that’s what we call “Darkness.” this is not something we can resolve by coming to your senses. Because this is invisible, you don’t know the reason. You don’t know the reason for your addiction, we do not know the reason for mental illness. If you know the reason, you’re already resolving it, and you can be healed if you just entrust it to doctors, but if the doctor does not know the reason, then that is darkness. We don’t know the reason for this problem that has continuously repeated in my family line. We call that darkness.
Christ has come to shine the light in this darkness, and we should be able to enlighten it further with science, but it’s impossible because this is darkness. Everybody has something like that. You can’t overcome it by pretending to be strong. It doesn’t go away if you put a lot of effort into your appearance. This problem doesn’t go away if you speak English so well. This problem doesn’t get resolved if you dye your hair different colors. That problem doesn’t get resolved by plastic surgery. The darkness does not go away if you have a Spartan education of the world. These shootings continuously arise, and no matter how much we try to control it, we cannot. This is the problem we call, “Darkness,” and there is only one answer, to shine the light. That is why Jesus Christ has come to shine this light upon the Gentiles.
Do you understand? I can’t explain it better than this; now, you can only understand by the working of the Holy Spirit. There is a limitation to how much a human can explain this, so I believe you will understand it. That is why Christ has come as the Light to solve the problem of darkness that humans cannot resolve.
(2) Seized by authority of death (Col. 1:13)
(3) Under the authority of sin and death (Eph. 2:1-2)
We have been called from the darkness of the authority of sin, death, and hell into the kingdom of God. If you’re trapped under authority, you cannot escape. When a little child gets kidnapped, they cannot escape. The child doesn’t know any better, they were just kidnapped one day by an older adult, and they just live their lives like that. They don’t even know what happened; they’re always dragged around, living in suffering, and you cannot escape from that by studying diligently. You cannot escape that by getting American citizenship. You cannot escape it by making a lot of money. You must escape from that, and that is why Christ has come.
2) Light
(1) It is finished – Light (Jn. 19:30)
There is only one way: it must be this way for you to be liberated from darkness. However, this Light has finished everything in John 19:30. All the problems of your past, present, and future are finished. But what is that problem? He hasn’t come to finish your financial problems. Jesus didn’t come so you’d get a little better at studying. Jesus did not come to make our politics better. The problem that humans cannot resolve, the problem of being trapped under Satan’s authority, the problem of curses that leave us no choice but to sin, the problem of being trapped under the authority of hell so we have no choice but to suffer. That is the problem Jesus came to resolve, that is why He has finished everything.
(2) Light of creation (Gen. 1:3)
This Light, in Gen. 1:3, is the Light of Creation, it is the Light that creates something out of nothing. It is the Light that makes it irrelevant if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
(3) Light of word, life (Jn. 1:1,4,9)
In John 1:1, 4, and 9, this light is life, and we must always have this light. That is why it must always be Christ. We must have Christ every day, and forever, Christ. Then, the darkness flees, and the darkness must flee in order for our work to take place. In Matthew 12:28-29, it says you must first bind the strong man, who is Satan, in order to enter and steal his belongings. Right now, it is not a time to simply listen to a lecture; it is the time for you to receive God’s Light, standing before the Lord in spirit. This is invisible, so when this light comes upon my spirit, the problems that are hidden in my subconscious and unconscious will be resolved. Because this is invisible, you will start to get better even without realizing it. The normal healing is that you’re continuously worshiping and listening to God’s Word, and one day, you are better. The people who know this meaning come to worship.
Isn’t that right? On Dec. 25, you have some free time so you can go on a vacation and no one can stop you. No one will tell you to do this or that, but why do you give worship on this day? It’s because during worship, it is a time for the light of Creation to be upon you.
3) Me who shines the light to the 237 nations
The light of the Gentiles has come to shine this light upon the 237 nations of the world, and this light is with me. This church is the church to shine the light to the 237 nations and world evangelization. Your family exists to shine the light to the 237 nations. God begins to work according to His Word. Your business must be here. Working hard and diligently is not the issue; your business must be in a place where everything is finished. The people who are very skilled in Kendo, they will say “As soon as we take our first stance, we know who has won and who has lost.” As soon as they grab the other person to grapple with them, they know exactly who has won and who has lost, how can we know? You can see their position and their stance–it has no weakness, and these are the words I will say in Washington DC at the Winter Retreat.
(1) All people – Healing (Mk. 16:15-18)
You must be in a position that has overcome the world. If you’re not in a position that has already overcome the world, you will always be shaking and wavering, and it’s not something you can just live diligently through, but if you’re in a position that has already overcome, you have already overcome. During the World Cup, we have all of these famous athletes. What do they know? They already know what position the ball will fall in, so they are already preparing their position and their stance. That’s how they get the goal. Same thing with Kendo. You have to position in a stance to win, so that the other person cannot find a weakness to attack.
(2) All nations – Disciple (Mt. 28:19)
How will you live today, and in the future? You must be in a position that has already overcome. Because you’ve already won, you must have the position of a victor. That was David, he was already king. Even when nobody would go before Goliath, he went out. He was going out already having won, and even though he was not in a position to go out, his father sent him out. That’s the difference between a successful person, and success within Christ is different. This is not something you can educate your children with, “Try working hard in the world,” they must already be in the summit position that has already won. Ever since they are young, they must have the posture of, “I will do world evangelization.”
If you’re iffy, thinking “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,” you’ve already lost. Even if you’re in a competition, if you see the resolve in the other person’s eyes, you’re already broken down, and the opponent recognizes that. The devil recognizes this, and thinks, “Oh, I cannot fight against that person,” so you must study already having won. You need to do your business already having won. If you say, “Let’s see how this goes,” that’s not going to work. Those are what general people who don’t know anything do. If you know the Christ, you’re already in the seat of the summit and you will be able to save the people at the summit of the world. And the posture will come from saving the church first.
(3) For 237 nations – Business, academics
Soccer players are different even at a young age, and ever since David was a young shepherd boy, he saved everyone. There was a problem in the nation that no one else could go out to fight, but he went out with a stance that has already won, that’s the difference. Do you know what the characteristic of a failure is? They just say general words, that’s evidence they have already lost.
God has already prepared world evangelization, the Lord has already prepared Temple Construction. You must be in a position that has already won and then go forward. If you’re saying, “I wonder if this is true?,” then you cannot win. You must know this when you’re young, because that is how you grow. The people who become president dream of being a president ever since they are young. Ever since Napoleon was a child, he was eating military bread so he could prepare to go to military school to become a general. That’s the posture. Ever since they are young, they are different. Ever since they’re young, they think, “I will save the church, America, and the world,” their posture is different.
People who are not like that will always be resentful, it is because instead of being in the seat of the summit, they are in a very lowly position. Today, if you know Who the Christ is, even if you cannot become the physical president, you can become the spiritual president. If you become the spiritual president, then everything has to follow you. Even if you become a physical president, things follow you, but we are at the summit of God’s Kingdom as the King, Priest, and Prophet, and we take on that posture with faith. “I am a remnant who will save the 237 nations of the world, I am a church officer who will save the entire world with faith.” It’s faith; it’s not even about actions, it’s faith, why? Because that’s what Christ means, then things will follow you because everything has to follow the summit.
If I’m in a low position, then things cannot follow me. Your body might be in a low position, but spiritually, you must be high. You need to be sitting in the White House for the 50 states to follow you. When Christ becomes the Lord inside of us, we are in the spiritual summit. Then even material possessions must bow down, even our circumstances must bow down. “Because I am at the summit,” then you can save. Christmas Day is the day to concentrate to enjoy this blessing. If you know this meaning and enjoy it, then everywhere you go, it is a blessing, but if you don’t know this meaning, and you just say “Merry Christmas,” it’s the same thing as saying “Happy Holidays.”
Conclusion
1. Platform – Greatest knowledge
I have the greatest knowledge as the platform. Of course, going to Harvard will give you great knowledge, but if you’re always bragging about your Harvard education, it means you don’t know what the greatest knowledge is. The knowledge of knowing Christ, Who solved all spiritual problems, is the greatest knowledge.
2. Watchtower – Greatest background
I have the greatest background of the watchtower. It doesn’t matter if I know nothing or nobody. Nobody has to help me, I don’t have to have anything because the One Who is the Lord will answer me and work upon me.
3. Antenna – Greatest plan
You have the greatest plan of world evangelization, that is the antenna. You are connecting God with people. How do you connect people? Through the gospel and the Word, you are connecting the 237 nations. We have been contained within Christ to enjoy these blessings.
Message Prayer
May you always enjoy this blessing and this light and be the ones to shine this light to the entire world. When you hold to the Word you have received and pray, the answers are already coming, and the Word that you received today is already being fulfilled in the field. Let us pray together.
Offering Prayer and Newcomer Prayer
God, we thank You. We thank You for giving us the unique answer to all of life, Which is the Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ Who was prepared before all creation, came to earth incarnate, resurrected, and is seated at the seat of heaven, working upon us through the Holy Spirit even now. We praise Jesus Christ Who is the Master of all judgment and is with us forever.
We have returned Your material blessings as offering. We have given You this offering so that wherever it is used, it will be used for the future generations, the 237 nations, and temple construction. We pray that you will bless all the hands that have given this offering with the economy of light. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
God, we thank You. We pray that You will bless Angela Huang to enjoy Jesus Christ and testify of the gospel to the 237 nations. In Jesus’ Christ’s name we pray, amen.
Benediction
Living Father God, we thank You for Your grace. We thank You for allowing us to testify of the glory and grace of Jesus Christ. We especially thank You for allowing every member of the church to gather together and give glory to God on Christmas Day, and we praise Jesus Christ who has come as the light to save all the Gentiles of the world. May we be the ones who have the imprint, root, and nature in Jesus Christ, every single day. May each and every one of us be the ones to save the 237 nations.
Now may the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the unending love of our Father God, and the indwelling, working, guidance, and communion of the Holy Spirit, holding onto the covenant of only Christ, be upon all the ones who desire to testify of this to all nations, the people of God, upon Antioch Mission Church, be from now until forevermore always, amen.