SERMON OUTLINE:
Insight #1. Prophetess (vs 36a).
Insight #2. Daughter (vs 36b)
Insight #3. Widow (vs 36c-37).
Insight #4. Witness (vs 38).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• When you plant a Chinese bamboo tree,
• You will need to water it, nurture it, and fertilize it every day.
• But nothing will happen in the first year.
• You do the same thing the second year, and still nothing happens.
• You do the same thing for the third year, and still nothing happens.
• You do the same thing for the fourth year, and still nothing happens.
• That’s right, you see no results for 4 long years!
• You will see no outward results, no evidence of progress.
• But then, what happens on the fifth year is just awesome.
• One morning you wake up and see a small bamboo sprig,
• Then the next day an even bigger one and in 5 weeks it has grown up to 90ft!
• TRANSITION:
• You could say it is only outwardly fruitful at the end of its life,
• Although lots of things have been taken shape unseen.
• It is the end and not the beginning that you notice!
• The story of Anna is like that Bamoo plant.
• Anna’s story is brief,
• In fact, this is her only mention in the Bible (just 4 verses).
• But her story packs a punch!
• I have noted 5 characteristics that make her special,
• The last characteristic that we will look at is found in verse 38b.
• “and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
The Living Bible paraphrase it:
“she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Saviour that the Messiah had finally arrived.”
• Let’s look at Anna,
• And see what we can learn.
Key factors of Anna in the Bible:
Insight #1. Gifted Prophetess (vs 36a).
• “There was also a prophet, Anna”.
• Anna is identified as a prophetess,
• That means she had a special gift of declaring and interpreting God’s message.
Anna is one of four other female prophets named in the Old Testament.
• Question: Do you know who they are?
• Answer: They are…
• Miriam (Exodus chapter 15 verse 20),
• Deborah (Judges chapter 4 verse 4),
• Huldah (2 Kings chapter 22 verses 14-20),
• Noadiah (Nehemiah chapter 6 verse 14),
• And we also have an unnamed prophetess woman in,
• The book of Isaiah (chapter 8 verse 3).
• Question: which one of these was a false prophetess?
• Answer: Noadiah (Nehemiah chapter 6 verses 12-14)
• In the New Testament we also have the four daughters of Philip,
• (Acts chapter 21 verses 8-9).
Note:
• In the Old Testament,
• Prophetic ministry is not one dimensional,
• By that I mean they were not all the same in their ministry.
• I think there are at least 8 different types of prophets in the Old Testament.
• We often think of prophets foretelling.
• (that is predicting what would happen in the future).
• But often involved forth-telling,
• (that is making clear to the people what God had said about sin & judgement).
Note:
• Bible scholars do not all agree on exactly what this title means.
• Because for 400 years between the time of the Old and New Testament,
• There was no prophetic word from God.
• So instead of foretelling (new revelation),
• Maybe she forth-told the Word of God.
• Interpreted the Scriptures to make clear what was being said.
A prophet/prophetess’s primary function was representing God to the people,
• Like an ambassador relaying God’s Word.
• The prophet or prophetess was God’s mouthpiece.
• The Biblical prophets weren’t sharing their personal opinions,
• But divine revelation given to them by God.
• Anna’s ability to convey God’s message,
• Would have been highly respected and valued among the people.
ill:
• Question: Anyone recognise who is in this photograph?
• Answer: King George V:
• A bit of trivia.
• It was King George V who made the first royal Christmas Day broadcast.
• On 25 December 1932.
• As he would write in his diary:
• “At 3:35, I broadcasted a short message of 251 words to the whole Empire.”
• Actually, the broadcast was at 3:50pm as the clocks at Sandringham,
• (where the broadcast took place).
• Were set thirty minutes faster than normal time to maximise daylight.
Back to my original story:
• King George V was to give the opening address at a special disarmament conference,
• The speech was to be relayed by radio to the U.S.A.
• As the broadcast was about to begin, a cable broke in the New York radio station,
• And more than a million listeners were left without sound.
• A junior mechanic in the station,
• A man called Harold Vivien,
• Solved the problem by picking up both ends of the cable.
• According to the newspaper The Daily Sentinel,
“His arms twitching with electrical shock, Harold Vivian literally spiced with his body a broken link in the vast hook up and made it possible for the 59 North American stations to hear (the) King…
Vivian held on, for 20 minutes, as the King’s message transmitted through him — never letting go, never losing hope, never surrendering faith — until the new wires could be connected.”
• Harold Vivien became the living link that allowed the king’s message.
• To get through to the people!
• TRANSITION: I am sure you can see the application!
• Anna was a prophetess,
• Her job was to be the living link that allowed the king’s message,
• To get through to the people!
• APPLICATION: Evangelism is the same.
• You and I are called to be the living link,
• That allows the king’s message to get through to the people!
Insight #2. Daughter of Phanuel from the Tribe of Asher (vs 36b).
“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher.”
• Anna is mentioned as the daughter of Phanuel (fan'-u-el)),
• This is his one and only mention in the New Testament.
• We are told that he was from the tribe of Asher.
• The tribe of Asher was one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• They were located in the northern part of Israel, known for its fertile land.
• In Judaism, as in many cultures,
• Family ties and heritage are important.
• Phanuel's mention here in the Gospel of Luke,
• Is primarily to establish the lineage and background of Anna.
ill:
• I can trace my ancestry all the way back to Anthony James Curley.
• I guess you want to know who he was?
• Well, he was my dad!
• My dad came over to the UK from the USA when he was sixteen.
• Sadly, his parents were killed in a car crash,
• And he came to live with a relative.
• But we have no idea who the relative was,
• Or if there are other family members back in the States.
• TRANSITION:
• Anna had pedigree, this reference grounds her identity within a specific lineage.
• Now you and I have a spiritual linage.
• Quote: John chapter 1 verses
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God –
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will,
but born of God.”
• Every Christian is born of God, born again by the Spirit of God.
• (John chapter 3 verses 1-18).
Ill:
• There is a saying that…
• If you are born twice, you die once,
• But if you are born once you die twice!
• If you are born twice (Human birth & Spiritual birth),
• You die once (one physical death).
• But if you are born once you die twice!
• Born once (Human birth).
• Die twice (Physical death but also spiritual death – cut off from God forever!)
Understanding our spiritual lineage:
• Should provide believers with a sense of identity and purpose.
• We belong to the King and each day we are on the King’s business!
• We are called to live in a manner worthy of the King.
• By reflecting the character of our King.
• e.g. You expect better behaviour from a member of the Royal Family,
• Then you do from someone born without all of their privileges.
• We are called to live in a manner worthy of the King.
• By sharing the message of our King.
• e.g. The King invited us to join his family,
• And likewise, we are to invite others as well!
Insight #3. A Devout Widow (vs 36c-37).
“She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.”
Anna is described as an elderly widow when she encounters Jesus in the temple.
• Anna had been married only seven years when she became a widow,
• And she remained a widow for the rest of her life.
• Most translations,
• Indicate that Anna was eighty-four years old when she met Jesus.
• But it is also possible to translate the text to mean,
• Anna had lived eighty-four years after her husband died.
• That would mean Anna was at least 104 years old,
• If she had married at the age of thirteen.
• Either way, she had spent the vast majority of her life,
• Without a husband and was ministering before the Lord in the temple.
This status highlights Anna’s vulnerability,
• In a time without social services and without free Medicare,
• Widows depended on their children or wider family to support them,
• Anna appears to have neither.
• She is dependent on God for her provision and protection,
Much of what we know about Anna is by implication rather than direct knowledge.
• We do know there were many things in Anna’s life that were disappointing.
• i.e. she lost her husband at a very early age, and she had no children.
• But she was not bitter and angry at God.
• The fact she was allowed to occupy one of the temple apartments,
• And minister in the Temple,
• Speaks volumes about her character.
ill:
• The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai,
• It rises more than 2,700 feet - over half a mile tall.
• It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City.
• It is home to the world’s fastest elevator that travels at 40 miles per hour.
• The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck.
• (on the 124th floor)
• And the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).
• TRANSITION: That building is pretty impressive,
• But it is only as good as its foundations!
• Without them it would topple over.
• Quote:
• “Character is like the foundations of a building, unseen but essential!”
We are told several ways that Anna was a devout widow.
• FIRST: “She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day.”
• Anna’s lived a life of worship.
• No-one could ever accuse her of being a Sunday only Christian.
• SECOND:
• She dedicated herself to prayer and fasting.
• We would probably be impressed if it just said prayer, but it also adds fasting!
• Anna’s commitment to these spiritual disciplines,
• Demonstrates her deep faith and reverence for God,
APPLICATION: What is encouraging here is this.
• I might not have the gift of prophecy.
• Although as a Christian I have at least one spiritual gift.
• What shaped Anna’s character was not her gifting but her disciplines.
ill:
• Spiritual gifts do not make for character,
• If you want an example of that think of the Church at Corinth,
• They had every spiritual gift going and they were a carnal Church!
• Discipline produces character in a Christian.
• The Bible repeatedly emphasizes its importance for spiritual growth and maturity.
ill:
• The Hebrew and Greek words translated as “discipline” in the Bible,
• Mean “instruction, training, rebuke, reproof, warning, and correction”.
• Discipline is an ongoing process, not a quick fix,
• And it requires continuous effort and commitment.
• The outcome will be character development and a closer walk with God.
• TRANSITION:
• I might not have the gift of prophecy.
• But I can have Anna’s other disciplines.
• e.g. I can make sure I am in the Lord’s house (Church together)
• Sunday morning should be an optional extra.
• It has to be the Christian’s priority (to meet with God & his people!).
• e.g. I can put together a plan for prayer & fasting.
• That is so doable, it only takes desire!
• e.g. I can live a life of worship.
• That will flow out of the other disciples mentioned.
• e.g. Romans chapter 12 verses 1-3 come to mind.
Insight #4. Witness to Jesus (vs 38).
When Mary, Joseph and the baby arrive at the Temple to satisfy the Old Testament law.…
N.I.V.:
“Coming up to them at that very moment, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Good News Bible:
“…Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting.
for God to set Jerusalem free.”
Easy to Read Version:
“Anna was there when Joseph and Mary came to the Temple. She praised God and talked about Jesus to all those who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.”
• I would imagine that there were hundreds,
• Possibly thousands of people at the Temple that day,
• But Anna is one of the few individuals who that day!
• Recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Here is her prophetic gift in action:
• Her testimony is about Jesus’ identity as the long-awaited Messiah,
• This baby would the Saviour, one who sets people free!
• Anna is showing spiritual discernment and prophetic insight.
• This is referred to by scholars & theologians as, ‘the prophecy of Anna.’
Good news is meant to be shared,
• And Anna shares it with everyone who was anticipating the Messiah.
• The Redeemer had come, the prophecies were being fulfilled,
• And Anna was blessed to see it happen and to bless others with the news.
• Evangelism is not complicated,
• Quote: “It is just one beggar telling another beggar, where to find bread!”
Let me leave you with this encouragement:
• Adapted from S. Briscoe, Getting Into God, pp. 92-2.
• Care - Dare - Share – Prayer.
• CARE:
• show a genuine concern for the person.
• DARE: it takes courage to witness.
• Courage if the person is a stranger to you,
• And even more if the person is a close friend or relative.
• SHARE:
• If you want to make a lasting impression, share yourself with the person.
• Share is spelt T.I.M.E.
• Some people we may just hand a tract to; others will take lots & lots of time.
• PRAYER:
• Don't discount the effectiveness of prayer,
• In the preparation of people's hearts for the Good News.
• Pray before, during and after!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=2WGrwYcH2Db1lXcREEVEDVgblRePjAOx
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/osdyuZuvN_0
