“‘Anna’tation on the ‘Present’ation” Larry Cline - Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 12/17/2017
ANNOTATION an·no·ta·tion • NOUN • a note of explanation or comment added to a text…
Luke 2:21-24 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Luke 2:21-24 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
Luke 2:21-24 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:36-38 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
Luke 2:36-38 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Luke 2:36-38 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Ever notice Anna? • Betrothed at 13 • Married at 14 • Makes a home life & plans for 7 years • Tragedy strikes, husband dies when she is 21
For Anna • This hurt has changed her life forever • Her income is lost • Her relationships are lost • Her dreams and plans are destroyed
Many of us have a story similar to Anna’s • Something or someone is taken away or lost • Someone or some event changed our life, devastated our dreams • We have had a hard time forgiving and/or dealing with the pain
Five Steps to “Forgiveness Fail” 1. We get hurt 2. We look for detours 3. We bury the hurt 4. We become defeated 5. We are defined & destroyed • The worst moment of our life can become our identity
How? Two main ways… 1. Ignore the event 2. Obsess over the event ⁻ Many make the object of the offense the subject of their lives How did it become your identity? You focused on it.
Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9 )
Why? • Research has shown that the unhealthiest emotion known to human beings is bitterness or resentment.
How do I give myself the gift of forgiveness? 1. Accept God’s forgiveness daily… Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of [it] yet; but one thing [I do]: forgetting what [lies] behind and reaching forward to what [lies] ahead (Colossians 3:13 )
People who haven’t accepted forgiveness for their wrongs can have a hard time forgiving others. • If you think you have to earn God’s forgiveness, you’ll make others earn your forgiveness
• He loved you before you failed… • He loved you during your failure… • He loved you after the failure… • He sent His Son to pay the price for your failure. THERE IS MORE MERCY IN HIM THAN SIN IN YOU!
How do I give myself the gift of forgiveness? 2. Make a decision to forgive • Make your choices lead and your feelings will follow.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender- hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ) Forgiveness is a one party assignment
27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28 ) Let prayer be your only obsession!
Conclusion: • This may not seem like a Christmas message, but remember Anna • Her life began with all the dreams and promises she could have hoped for. • By the age of 21 they were all gone • She never remarries. Her hurt is real but it doesn’t destroy her.
37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and [began] giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:37-38 )
Who might you need to forgive? • Doctors who didn’t do enough • People who broke trust or relationship at home • Business associates that used you • Religious leaders who didn’t live up to your expectations
Who might you need to forgive? • Someone you trusted who betrayed you • Someone you loved who left in life or by death • Anger at God for letting things happen like they have
Follow Anna’s lead: Pray – Fast – Serve Press through hurt to intimacy with God
His Name Says It All! IMMANUEL “God With Us”!
Recommend
More recommend
