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The audio of the first 90 seconds of the meessge is spotty due to a recording issue. Fasting cultivates space and feeling for what matters most. Intro Have you ever experienced something sad but realize you weren't as sad as you should be? Perhaps there was a tragedy and everyone else is wailing and you are just chilling. Quietly wondering what’s wrong with you. Sometimes we don’t feel as we ought to. Just the other day I was feeling sad. And I thought to myself, there is nothing for you to be sad about. In fact, the day was fantastic. But sometimes we don't feel as we ought to feel. I can distinctly remember a number of times where I would be with a group of men and one guy confessed as to falling into some form of lust. And this guy, is absolutely broken about it. He has not stopped crying and his heart is ripped to shreds. Yet, I have fallen into lust before and barely felt like he does. Sometimes we don’t feel as we ought to feel. I remember one time hearing a sermon on Hell. And the absolute horrors that awaits those who reject Jesus. And a bunch of my roommates were wrecked. Everyone came home from the church that night quiet. Some just sat in the room and cried. I tried to act sad because I knew that was the fitting emotion but I didn’t. Last week, Pastor Ross confessed that he does not long for the return of Jesus like he should. And I think many of us would say similarly. But what do we do about that. Of course we pray and perhaps you may confess it with others. But what do you do when you don't feel as you are to feel? What do you do when you feel stuck? How do you long for Jesus when you don't long for Jesus? In our text we will see two people who both lived and felt as they ought to feel. They felt rightly about Jesus before, during, and afer they encountered Him. Above all else, they longed for the Messiah. Their entire life was arranged around their longing for the Messiah. After we look at their lives, we are going to take some principals and apply them to us. If you are not a Christian, we’re so very glad you’re here. Text Scope We will be focusing on the story of Anna starting in verse 36, but first, we have to go back to verse 22. This whole section is to be read together. Simeon and Anna are both after the same thing or better put, the same person. To understand one you have to understand the other. So we will do a an overview of Simeon first but it will be well worth it. Simeon (25–35) Here’s the scene, Joseph and Mary bring baby Jesus to the temple to go through the purification rites and while they are there, they encounter a man named Simeon. But before Simeon meets Jesus, Luke gives us the backstory about this guy starting in verse 25. Luke 2:25 ESV 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke notes that Simeon is righteous and devout. And he explains what that looks like. That is, he is waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Spirit of God is upon him. What does this very religious sounding sentence mean, “The consolation of Israel?” This word consolation is the same word as comfort. If that’s the case, what does Israel need comforting from? Many commentators would argue that Luke is alluding to Isaiah chapter 40. Isaiah 40 begins a new section in the book that extends to chapter 66. It is chapter after chapter of how the Messiah will come and bring all wrongs to right. The context of these passages is that God’s people is in exile. Their loved ones have been massacred in front of their eyes, homes have been destroyed, they've been displaced into a foreign land, their temple has been destroyed and hope seems to be lost. Will the prophecy of 70 years in exile and then returned to the promise land stand? Let’s look at Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40:1–2 ESV 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. So what Simeon and Anna are looking for is a complete restoration that is both vertical with God, horizontal with others, and inward with self. This includes forgiveness of sins and peace with God. It includes peace in their land and no more wars. It includes the transformed heart that does not run towards wickedness. It looks like the rightful king from David's line reigning from Jerusalem. Although it is absolutely true that salvation is finding forgiveness with God, it represents so much more than that. This is something that is very hard for us Western Christian's to grasp because our Christianity and understanding of the gospel can be so individualistic. However, if you continue to read throughout Luke, we see that the gospel has good news for every area of brokenness in the world. And yet, if you are not trusting in Christ as your Lord and savior today, you have no peace with God. But Jesus, at great Cost to himself, made a way so that you can have peace with God forever. If you put your trust in Jesus and surrender control over your life, you will receive forgiveness for all your sins and be fully excepted as a child. Please come talk with us. Although Isaiah was speaking to Israel in exile, these passages were still relevant after they returned into their promised land. Even though they are back in their homeland, they are currently under the foot of the Roman empire and although they have a new temple, the Shekinah, this hyper concentrated manifest presence of God is not dwelling in there. In every way that matters most, Gods people were still in exile... Still living Exile is also a reality for us. For those who have trusted in Jesus, God has graciously pardoned all of our sins. However, Jesus is not physically reigning on this earth yet. The world is still deeply broken. So like Isaiah and like Simeon and Anna, we are longing for the consolation of the whole world. The comfort of the whole world. Jesus would come and save God’s people from their sins and it even talks about how he would eventually re-create our broken world to be a place where sin and suffering no longer exist. So Simeon, by the Spirit, identifies Jesus as the messiah who will bring comfort to everything. › Now we’re finally ready to meet Anna. Luke is going to give us a quick overview of who she is. Yet the brief details he gives tells us so much about what she’s like. Introducing Anna (vv. 36-37) Luke 2:36–37 ESV 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. • It seems appropriate that she was the daughter of Phanuel, because Phanuel means “face of God,” and this is what Anna’s life was characterized by seeking the face of God. • She’s a prophetess. • But what is most extraordinary is that after being only married for seven years her husband passed away. And ever since then, she committed herself to continually worshiping the Lord by fasting and prayer for around 60–80 years depending on how you understand the Greek here. It’s ambiguous so the text is saying she could either have lived till 84 or was a widow for 84 years after her husband died which bring her to around 105 if she got married at the typical age of 12 to 14 years old for a female. Let’s dig deeper. There are two extremes in reading this passage: On one hand, we can over-read into the language and take it in a hyper literal sense. The reality is, she probably did leave the temple. In fact, there was nowhere for her to stay on the temple grounds. And it's not like she didn't eat or sleep for 60 years. If you do a word study on night and day you will see that it does not literally mean without stopping but stresses consistency and steadfastness. On the other hand, we can excuse this language and not feel the full gravity of this woman. For over 60 years she did not cease fasting and praying. Her husband most likely died when she was still in a marriageable age. Therefore, this shows a lot about who she is. Instead of remarrying, she committed herself to serve the Lord through prayer and fasting. And widowhood during this time was extremely dangerous because there was no social safety net apart from family. So her greatest means to have security was to remarry. Therefore, she cast herself on the mercy and provision of God to take care of her for all her days. She has thrown herself completely on the mercy and provision of God by choosing this path. I wonder how many of us are ignoring calls from God because we are wondering how he will provide before we decide to obey? › But we must continue in this passage. Her path is not to diminish the beauty and kingdom-value of marriage. Each of us have our own callings that we need to make thee most of wherever we find ourselves in. However, there is a single-mindedness that Paul talks about in first 1 Corinthians 7 that Anna was able to give herself to. She made the most of the season she was in. When I first read this passage, I wondered if she was fasting and praying because she was mourning her husband's death. Undoubtably, I am sure there was some of that, especially in the beginning. She longed for the day where she could see her husband and death will be no more. However, over time, it seemed that it moved towards the consolation of all things and not just her broken and mourning heart. This is clear by her reaction later on. This is a consistent pattern. A tragedy or trial leads us to desperation and that leads to greater dependence and love for Jesus. › We’re going to move back to fasting and prayer in the application section but let’s get to our final passage. Praising and Sharing (38) Luke 2:38 ESV 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. What this passage is showing us is that whether through a leading of the Holy Spirit or through God's providence, Anna comes upon Simeon as he is prophesying over baby Jesus. And probably based off of her decades of longing and praying for the Messiah, she is able to identify by the spirit who Jesus is. Can you imagine what it was like for both Simeon and Anna? They have been longing and praying and fasting for their entire lives. We're not talking praying for something and then getting discouraged after a week of no answers. We are talking about decades after decades of an unmet longing. Can you imagine the joy for Simeon and Anna? Finally, they are face-to-face with the one they have been longing for their whole lives. There is a lesson for us who can be so impatient with God. We wait on God but then give up after just a short period of time. She give thanks to God but she doesn't just stop there. The text says that she spoke to Jesus to all who are waiting for the redemption Jerusalem. One scholar, James Edwards notes that, The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Luke Simeon and Anna Receive Jesus in the Temple (2:21–40) In Greek, “gave thanks” and “spoke” (v. 38) are both in the imperfect tense, meaning that Anna continued giving thanks and testimony after the event. Therefore, there was a continual lifestyle of thanking and sharing after her encounter with Jesus. It wasn't a one time moment of zeal but she gave the rest of her days to thanking and testify. I want to be more like Anna. She wasn't just sharing with anyone, but those looking expectantly for the consolation. So this text is showing that there were others like them. Others who were persevering in their longing and looking for the Messiah. Redeemed Retirement Simeon and Anna are excellent examples for us when it comes to retirement. In our culture, retirement signals the end of hard work and the beginning of leisure. However these two show us that for the Christian, there is no such thing as a true retirement. Only a transition in ways we are serving. Until their deaths, they went hard after God and sat to serve him. Many can find their most productive ministry years to be had in their retirement years. I prayed and will continue to pray even more that God will send us Simmons and Annas! › Now let's bring home this text to our own lives. How shall we now live in light of this? How shall we now live? I'm going to assume that if you are a professing Christian, that you want Jesus to be your everything. I want to help those of you like me who already know that they don't long for Jesus like they want to. For those who feel stuck in their affections. They want more of Christ but they don't want more of Christ. But they want to want more of Christ. Going back to Simeon, after he holds Jesus and realizes who he is, he is finally satisfied and complete. His greatest bucket list is for filled. He can die now. The greatest longing of his heart is met. What’s your, Luke 2:29 ESV 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; What’s your, if I had this, everything would be complete? Is it Jesus’ second coming? If it’s not, something is off. 2 Timothy 4:8 ESV 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do you love his appearing? What do you do if you don’t but want to? How do you awaken your heart when you feel it’s sleeping? How do you soften a hard heart when you feel like you don’t care as you ought to? Spiritual realities are dull to you 1st Repent Repent from your lack of longing and feeling rightly. For loving other things or people more. Receive God's forgiveness through Jesus. From that place of humility were you say, “Jesus I don't love you like I ought to, but I want to.” 2nd Fast I want to challenge you to embrace a lifestyle of fasting. Fasting is not for the super mature and spiritual. But those who aren’t. Those who don’t have everything together. › Let me take you to another passage that further expands fasting. Turn to Luke ch. 5. Luke 5:33–35 ESV 33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” In this passage, Jesus is showing us that there is a time for feasting and a time for fasting. When Jesus was bodily on the earth with his disciples, it was the time for them to feast because their bridegroom was there. But there will be a day coming and has come when the bridegroom is taken away and they will fast in those days as they long for His return. That is the day we are in. We’re in a complicated age where Christ has come and will come again. So we both feast and celebrate that he’s come through the Lord’s Supper, sabbaths, and more. But we also fast because he’s not here. There are a few different kinds of fasts in the Bible. However, I want us to focus on the bridegroom fast. That is, a fast that all believers engage in as they long for Jesus to return. Just like Anna longed for the Messiah to come, we too are longing for him. We long for the day he comes and removes everything that gets in between us and him. When our bridegroom comes and this final wedding is the beginning of the end of all evil and suffering. There are many nuts and bolts to fasten, but let me clarify a few things. • Fasting is voluntary and not something that you earn favor from God with. • However, fasting is expected for the Christian. Jesus speaks to his disciples on the sermon on the mount, he assumes they will be fasting and gives them guidelines. • Fasting in the Bible is only regarding food. However, many of the benefits of fasting can be found in part when we abstain from many different things. However, I want to call all of us to regular fasting of food. Fasting cultivates space and feeling for what matters most. Here are three benefits of the bridegrooom fast although there are many more: • Awakens us to reality • Increases our longing and dependency for Jesus • Cultivates space for more of Jesus Awakens us to Reality Throughout the gospels we see this picture of people who are either sleeping or expectantly watching for the return of the king. If Jesus were to return today, would he find you sleeping or looking? Or maybe if you want to be more charitable to yourself, you're not sleeping but you're definitely not looking? Oh that all of us would be eagerly looking like the watchmen wait for the morning and a lover wait at the airport entrance looking for his love to come through the doors. When we fast, we put our bodies in an unnatural state. We deprive itself of good and needed resources. We feel the pangs of hunger. We ache. We feel the lightheadedness when we get up quickly. We feel a sense that things are not as they are to be. And that is a good thing. Our bridegroom is not on the earth right now. So things are not right. Everything about our culture and flesh strives to put ourselves in positions in a state where we never feel lack. That we can feel a sense that this world is at peace when its not. It awakens our sleeping hearts to reality. If you lose a loved one, you can’t eat. But when you fast it cultivates desperation when you don’t feel. So when you don’t feel as you ought to, fast. Right now, I don’t love Jesus like I have in the past. So I’m fasting a lot more to cultivate my passion for Jesus. › The second is like the first Increases our longing and dependency for Jesus When we feel the longing for food, we can say to the Lord, I want food, but I want you more. Even though I often don't want you as my supreme desire, I want that to be true. Fasting, especially a consistent lifestyle of fasting Stokes our longing for God. A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer Crying for Him Day and Night Fasting poses the question: do we miss him? How hungry are we for him to come? The almost universal absence of regular fasting for the Lord’s return is a witness to our satisfaction with the presence of the world and the absence of the Lord. As we feel the discomfort of fasting, it reminds us how much we need Jesus. I need God to move whenever I’m preaching but not as much as I ought to. So I’m fasting to remind myself how much I need him. Cultivates space for more of Jesus The withholding of food and other things is what frees up the time and attention to engage into spiritual matters. Fasting and prayer are Siamese twins that cannot be separated. You cannot engage in abstaining if you are not engaging. Fasting creates space for more abiding. Fasting also helps bring to the surface idols of our heart. Areas of our life that we are idolizing. Fasting exposes what controls us. Fasting cultivates space and feeling for what matters most. A Call to Fast and Pray in January This January, the pastors and I are calling the whole church to embrace a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. What that will look like is going to vary for every single person and seasons. I hate fasting but I love what it does for me. This is not a call for people who like fasting or hate food or like punishing themselves. It is for those who want more of Jesus. As the fasting creates space we will have more space to abide in the Word. So, we’re going to call all members to memorize Romans 8. We realize many won’t get it 100% but the goal is steeping in this very powerful passage over a month. From Jan 6th-12th the pastors will be fasting food completely and we want invite you to join us in some form or fashion if God leads you. We will break the fast together with a meal after the gathering on the 12th and with worship and prayer. There are three primary focuses for this fast. 1. Increase our longing and loving of Jesus 2. Salvation of an unbelieving friend 3. Breakthrough in a personal area We’re going to do a mid-week podcast that will get into more nuts and bolts on fasting. All the do’s and don’ts. We will also have blogs and be available to help coach you through this. We will also get into scripture memory. Corporate Dreaming What if our whole community gave ourselves to longing and looking for Jesus? What if everyone embraced a lifestyle of fasting? Imagine the kind of breakthrough we would have? • Greater love and affection for Jesus. • Breakthrough in fighting our sin and breaking off addiction. • Healing and flourishing of marriages. • Increased boldness for gospel proclamation. • Many more unbelievers baptized into the family. • Empowered disciple-making Jesus Conclusion Dear Church, Christ has come and he will come again. Isn’t he wonderful? Don’t you want him? He’s coming and when he comes he’s going to bring all things to right. He’s going to meet every longing as he’s the source of all our longings. • You can long to no longer be lonely and seek to get Married but when Jesus returns he’ll end all loneliness. • And you can long for acceptance and you can seek to improve yourself so that people would except you but when Jesus returns he’ll end all rejection and insecurity. • You can long for healing for some sickness or injury but when Jesus returns he’ll end all sickness and pain. The Spirit and the bride we say come Lord Jesus! Benediction and Commission? Revelation 22:20–21 ESV 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Day 1 - Joshua 1:1-9 God knew Joshua would need encouragement and God knew the people would need it as well. But God also knew the people needed something else more—much more. They needed Him. Good leaders are a gift from God. Great leaders are a blessing. But no leader, no matter how good he or she might be, is a substitute for God Himself. Moses was not who the Israelites needed. Joshua was not either. Nor would it be any of the judges, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, any other king, or any prophet. The leader the people needed was Christ Jesus—the One who God provided to lead us out of bondage of sin and into the rest of salvation in Him. Have you ever lost a significant leader? What was the effect of that loss on you and others? Day 2 - Joshua 1:10-18 We know from the Book of Hebrews, that rest in the promised land was a shadow of the greater rest we find in our salvation in Christ. In Christ, we are able, for the first time ever, to cast aside our labor—our innumerable attempts to be right with God—and rest in Christ instead as recipients of forgiveness and righteousness in Him. This is the rest our souls need. This is the rest the gospel gives. What are some ways that you need to stop working and rest in Christ? Day 3 - Joshua 3:1-17 We need to consecrate ourselves day-by-day, moment-by-moment. God is at work all around us everyday, but will we see it? What are some ways you can consecrate yourself each day to see what God is doing and follow Him? Day 4 - Joshua 4:1-16 Do we see ourselves as Joshuas? Do we understand that God has positioned us where He has, and how He has, for a reason—to glorify God? Or are we ever tempted to steal God’s glory instead? To take how He has gifted and blessed us and hoard it for ourselves? May we hold loosely to our glory and tightly to God’s. How can you point others to God this week through how He has blessed and gifted you? Day 5 - Joshua 4:17-24 While the primary context of these two passages focuses on parents, it is broader than that. All of us are called by God to disciple others and this is to be our blueprint of discipleship. We are to teach others God’s Word, but we are also to testify to how God has been kind to us. We are to talk about His provision, His protection, and His power. We are to celebrate who He is and what He has done. What are some of the “stones of remembrance” that you can share with others to point them to who God is and what He has done? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/head-above-water/support

Access the entire transcript here. Be a part of the conversation on our Facebook Page. {DAY 1} You can read about the battle plan and 30 verses you can use to bless your children instead of yelling here.  If you'd prefer to listen to the podcast, you can click here. {Day 2} Am I enough? Do I have what it takes to help my kids?  Do I have the knowledge, energy level, or desire? Did God know what He was doing when He gave me my children?  Would another mother have suited them better? Have you ever felt any of those things?  Be honest! {Day 3} If God is enough, am I desperate enough for Him? {DAY 4} Today I want to focus on one verse and look at a bunch of translations.  These are taken from Bible Gateway.  I want the words that come out of my mouth to be fitly spoken, spoken at the right time, and appropriately spoken.  Today I'm focusing on Proverbs 25:11. ASV A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver. AMP Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken at the right time. AMPC A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver. BRG A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. CSB A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings. CEB Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting. CJB Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word appropriately spoken. CEV The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver. DARBY [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season. DRA To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver. ERV Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. ESV A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. GNV A word spoken in his place, is like apples of gold with pictures of silver. GW Like golden apples in silver settings, so is a word spoken at the right time. GNT An idea well-expressed is like a design of gold, set in silver. JUB A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold inscribed with silver. KJV A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. MSG The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. NASB Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. NCV The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. NET Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. NIV Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. NKJV A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. NLT Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. NRSV A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. TPT Winsome words spoken at just the right time are as appealing as apples gilded in gold and surrounded with silver. RSV A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. VOICE A well-spoken word at just the right moment is like golden apples in settings of silver. YLT Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.   {DAY 5} Psalms 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer (NIV)." What I think about my kids will be reflected in how I treat them. I reference the book, "The Blessing," You can get the link to it in the Intentional Mom Toolbox along with all the links to all the books, podcasts, radio programs, and resources that have impacted our family.   Access the Non-Committal Girl's Guide to Teaching Your Kids How to Study the Bible: Take the Terror out of Training the Next Generation of Disciples.  

Thank you for listening to iPray with the Gospel on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast! TODAY ON THE PODCAST: "Will Not God Vindicate His Elect, Who Cry to Him Day and Night?" | iPray with the Gospel (29th Sunday in Ordinary Time) For the complete text of today’s reflection and for additional spiritual resources visit: http://stjosemaria.org/ipray-will-not-god-vindicate-his-elect iPRAY WITH THE GOSPEL + ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE: The St. Josemaria Institute has partnered with iPray with Gospel to bring the popular daily Gospel reflections to life on our podcast. Now you can read and/or listen to the daily reflections during your time of prayer! iPray with the Gospel is especially helpful for those who want to use the Gospel for their daily conversation with Jesus Christ. ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST: Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe If you enjoyed this podcast please let us know by leaving a review on iTunes or by clicking the heart on Soundcloud.