I was privileged to attend this year’s Wildfires event. My first reflection is no wonder it’s grown every year. I was invited in previous years and thought ‘it’s too far from Manchester’ but I’ve realised it’s not going to get any closer just because I moan about it and it was definitely worth the drive.
This summer, the tent was bigger and the hunger greater, and I was so glad to be one of the 4000 adults (plus 2000 children and young people) who attended and actually it was fantastic NOT doing anything but receiving and worshiping. On the first night Pete spoke and my notes are below – brilliant stuff!
But the big question God nailed me on in the extended worship time before and after as I responded was when did I last just do that while not being involved as a leader in ‘making it happen’ – wondering how it was going for everyone else rather than ‘lost in wonder love and praise’? Anyway I’ll post some notes from some of the other talks I learned a lot from too in the next few days and I’m definitely planning (God willing) on being there next year again!
Luke 2:22 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 Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 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.”[c]
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[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which 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.”
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, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.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.
Luke 2 brings us face-to-face with Simeon and Anna, two elderly, faithful intercessors who recognised Jesus for who He truly was. Pete invited us to learn from their example. But first, he showed two pictures of the scene that day in the temple when Christ was presented by his parents , both by Rembrandt.
Are You a Young Rembrandt… or an Old One?
Rembrandt painted Simeon and Jesus twice. As a young man, he painted with drama and grandeur as a display of his talent. Later in life, looking at Jesus differently – the second painting was stripped-back, raw, gone is the grandeur.
Which are you?
- The young idealist – fired up, ready to change the world.
- The seasoned saint – reflective, bruised but burning, more about faithfulness than fame.
We all come to Jesus like Simeon and Anna – with both hope and pain, longing for, holding out for the Kingdom to come. Here are three lessons from their lives:
1. Prayer Fueled by Pain
Anna’s 83 and had every reason to give up. Widowed young. No children. Materially poor. Living with shattered dreams. Yet for over 60 years, she turned her pain into prayer, 24/7.
What are you carrying? Pain? Shame? Don’t hide it. Don’t play religious games and fake it. Be real and bring it to Jesus in prayer. She sowed in tears. Because in the same place where one dream dies, another can rise, if you keep your eyes on Jesus.
In heaven, Pete said, maybe we’ll spend years or even centuries hearing everyone crying out, “Oh!” again and again as we finally realise what God was doing through as we kept on praying that was so much bigger than we could see.
2. Prayer from a Particular Passion
Anna and Simeon weren’t praying generally. They had a specific burden: for God’s people to be comforted – for divine consolation. We are in such a time of spiritual battle.
Psalm 93:6 ‘Your testimonies are very sure and holiness adorns your house.’
How much ugliness has been exposed in the Lord’s house in recent years? In our battle today, we need leaders who model purity, showing another way to live, leaders who are humble and holy, not narcissistic.
“Long before someone breaks their vows or espouse a heresy, inwardly their prayer life evaporates.”
Let’s stop focusing only on avoiding sin, and start rekindling a longing and love for Jesus Himself.
3. Prayer Full of Faith
They weren’t just faithfully carrying on, they were faith-filled. They didn’t just pray and wait. They were alert, expectant, waiting like every baby brought into the temple could have been the One. “Is today the day?” They were vigilant and attentive to the Holy Spirit.
We can get disappointed – with Jesus. What they saw, even though it wasn’t yet mature, meant they could die happy.
We can get offended that sometimes Jesus doesn’t look like we expect or measure up to what we thought. The answer might be a messy miracle, still in nappies. Don’t miss it. Take it as God brings it, not everything’s showing yet.
Look at the signs of life:
- 87% increase in Bible purchases (mostly first-time buyers)
- Alpha up 29%
- Church attendance up 50% over 6 years
- Gen
Grab Hold of the Baby!
We idolise the Wesleyan revival in retrospect but at the time it wasn’t as great as people think. Most of the nation was unchanged, but within a generation it multiplied from 70,000 to a million, half the population were evangelicals!
KEEP SOWING SEEDS.
Simeon and Anna lived for the next generation. So must we.
Don’t just be faithful – be faith-filled.
“Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)
The spotlight may fade. But the Light of the world still shines. Let’s turn our pain into prayer, our passion into purity, and our faithfulness into faith-filled expectancy.
Now is the time.
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