Anna "The Prophetess" Waited in the Temple -- Fasting and Praying for The Messiah to Come. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38
ANNA -- GOD'S PROPHETESS
Mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke we find Anna, and according to Luke we are told she was an "aged Jewish Prophetess" who prophesied about Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem. We learn from studying Luke three specific things about Anna:
1. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
2. She was widowed at the age of 84, after 7 years of marriage; a devout Jew and Prophetess; who practiced
prayer and fasting faithfully.
3. She was approximately 105 years old when she saw Simeon
(who we learned about yesterday) praying and praising
God, she joined him -- braking into an anthem of "PRAISES
TO GOD" as she began to tell the people that the Messiah had come!
ANNA WAS WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH
Like Simeon, Anna also waited many years to see Baby Jesus, the Messiah, while she waited she spent her time in prayers and fasting, until that "moment in time" when she knew the Messiah had arrived!
A VERY SPECIAL "MOMENT IN TIME"
Anna Not Only Sees the Messiah -- She Holds The Baby Jesus In Her Arms! SPECIAL MOMENTS IN TIME
That is basically all we know about Anna -- still, there is more to grasp from both her and Simeon; their lives were gifted as they waited to see the Messiah come to earth! Thus, we as Christians and Believers are looking for another "Moment in Time" when Jesus Christ, the "Messiah and KING OF GLORY" will return for we His Children!
WAIT! -- JUST AS ANNA AND SIMEON WAITED
Friends, there will be times when we may want to give up on God... and maybe even give up on waiting for Jesus to return for us! Very often it is because we think God doesn't move quickly enough for our thinking or convienence.
What we need to remember is that "God ALWAYS keeps His promises!" We also need to be patient, realizing that "His timing is always perfect." Simeon and Anna had waited patiently and they saw God's promises to them and to all of us -- fulfilled!
ARE YOU FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION
I too, am waiting -- AND, I am watching with great anticipation "for that one moment in time" when our Savior, our Lord Jesus will return for us! Yes, soon He will gather all His saints to be with Him in Heaven!
SWEET AND BLESSED ASSURANCE
The "Word of God" assures us that the dead in Christ Jesus will rise first to meet him in the skies... then we who remain will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet our Savior, our Lord Jesus and to live with Him forever after!
1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17
JESUS -- LORD AND SAVIOR OF THIS WORLD
Are you ready to meet Jesus one day? I hope so! Please feel free to contact me if you would like prayer or you would like to know Jesus personally... as your Lord and Savior!!
BELOW: SIMEON AND ANNA WAITED FOR THE MESSIAH...
(I Pray we also will wait for our Lord to Return - Come
Back Monday For More of "The Christmas Story!")
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