#93 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Simeon - The God Receiver

Anna – God’s Favor and Grace)

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared

in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the

Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel."

(Luke 2:25)

Message Bible (MSG)

Now we move into the new testament in search of more Great Intercessors of the Bible. In this lesson we will learn about the prophet’s “Simeon and Anna” who both received Jesus as the Messiah, "God’s Salvation." “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Simeon was not just in the temple to pray that day but was there on assignment, by the Holy Spirit. The text doesn’t tell us how old Simeon was but we can denote from his statement, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel." that he has been waiting for many year and was now a very old man.

Simeon was not just waiting to see just any baby, but waiting on the scripture to be fulfilled, which foretold of a child born to a virgin, whose name would be called “Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6b) For this he had waited in anticipation for many years. Each day praying for the deliverer of the world to be born; so much so that the Holy Spirit told him that he would not taste death until he saw the Messiah. What an incredible testimony of a true intercessor! Would that someday, this would be our testimony that; because, of a prayer we had prayed God sustained our life just so we could see the fulfillment of what we had asked for in prayer. Truly in this story we see the essences of the verse, “They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength…”  (Isaiah 40:31)

That day was unlike any other for Simeon for the scriptures says, “The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: I love Simeon’s response, “God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 231-32) We have often heard the phrase, “Patience is a Virtue.” Well in this case it truly was, because now Simeon would as last have what he longed for; because Simeon’s wait was twofold, on the one hand he would see firsthand the Consolation of Israel, yet on the other he would get to enter into rest. “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.” Now Simeon could close his eyes and rest knowing the one day the Christ Child would conquer death, hell and the grave and he would enter into eternal rest with the Lord.

After proclaiming salvation and redemption not just for the Israelites but for the gentiles as well, he turned and blessed Mary and Joseph telling them. “This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, a figure misunderstood and contradicted—the pain of a sword-thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.” Now having done what he was instructed to do by the Holy Spirit, he could go home and rest.

Shortly after Simeon had acknowledged who the child was the Prophetess Anna began proclaiming the good new to all the people their in the temple. "Now Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fasting’s and prayers.” Like Simeon, the prophetess Anna had been watching, waiting and praying day and night for the promised one, the Christ Child to appear and here He was right before her eyes. Now Anna’s was a much different reaction to seeing the Messiah, than that of Simeon. “At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.”

Because of her faithfulness to prayer and fasting in the temple all those many years Anna was considered a Mother to Jerusalem; like any good mother she was concerned for the welfare of the children of Israel and daily lifted them up in prayer.“She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fasting’s and prayers.” Seeing the Christ Child she knew that God had finely answered her prayers by sending a deliver to set her people free. Never under estimate your prayers and intercession whether it’s one single person or nations; because if God has placed them on your heart then He has also anointed your prayers with a “Breaker Anointing” (Micah 2:12-13) to shatter the strongholds of the principalities which holds them captive.

Simeon and Anna like so many intercessors today are laying down their lives to stand in the gap for the people of this world. So to we should look to see the salvation of the Lord just as Simeon and Anna did. The prayers and intercession we send forth today will alter the futures of multitudes; because of the anointing which breaks the yoke right off their necks and the shackles off their feet.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank for examples like Simeon and Anna who help us to understand the value of waiting upon You. Thank You for renewing our strength as we may grow weary in the waiting, keep us strong with our eyes focused on the horizon of your promise. Father thank You for anointing us to pray with the force of the “Breaker Anointing” over the lives of those You have assigned to our lives. We know with an assurance that You will fulfill Your promise and bring deliverance to every people group, nation tribe and tongue. In Jesus precious name we give You praise... Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!

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