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Luke 2:21-35, 

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.

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”), 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.”

25 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 on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,  you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,  and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

"Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are." 

- St. Augustine

"Hope itself is like a star–not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity." 

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"Hope is what happens when we allow the fresh air of the Spirit to breathe through the dusty rooms of our discontent."

- N.T. Wright

"Biblical hope is a confident, expectant longing for a sure thing."

- Tim Keller

"He who hopes for something great is not broken by small troubles."

- St. John Chrysostom      

"Hope is the thing with feathers

 That perches in the soul

 And sings the tune without the words

 And never stops, at all."

- Emily Dickinson

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

- Martin Luther King, Jr

Isaiah 40:31,

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Romans 8:24-25,

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Hebrews 6:19a,

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Simeon - To Hear God

1. Determine to Live with Righteous Devotion to Honor God.

Luke 2:25a,

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. 

2. Choose to Wait Patiently with the Holy Spirit’s Help.

Luke 2:25b,

He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

3. Faithfully Hold on with Hopeful Expectation.

Luke 2:26,

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

4. Allow the Holy Spirit to Lead and Guide You.

Luke 2:27,

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required.

5. Cultivate a Heart of God-Focused Worship.

Luke 2:28-32,

28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,  you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,  and the glory of your people Israel.”

6. Carefully Speak Uplifting Words of Blessing and Comfort.

Luke 2:33-35,

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Answers:  

1. Righteous
2. Wait
3. Hopeful
4. Holy Spirit
5. Heart
6. Blessing