Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

May 21, 2006

Summary of A Godly Life

Conclusion

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage. and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 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.

In our first pen pulpit on the Summary of a Godly Life, we pointed out first of all that it is highly unlikely that Anna was a mother. However, she was a Godly woman. We discovered that the predominate trait in her life was her faithfulness. We saw that faithfulness is long obedience in one direction. First of all she was faithful in Purity of Life which is evidenced in being faithful to her husband; then in being faithful to her God. In conclusion:

Anna was faithful in her worship life - v. 37.

The temple in those days was the center of worship. “She did not depart from the temple” is a statement stressing the consistency of her attendance in the temple. Here is where she regularly met with her God to worship and serve Him. The Old Testament Scriptures were opened up. She had perhaps the same kind of experience as King David (Psalm 27:4, 5).

Application: Believers don’t go to the temple today. The Church is the corporate temple of God meeting on location (Ephesians 2:19-22). The church has the Word and the Spirit. The Word, the Spirit and a submissive heart are the ingredients of true worship. Therefore, when God’s people begin to develop a trend of neglecting the place where God has ordained that we meet on a regular basis - they are prone to trouble (Hebrews 10:24, 25).

Anna was faithful in her prayer life - v. 37.

True worship leads to prayer. Prayer is that slender nerve that moves the arm of omnipotence. Secret, fervent, believing prayer lies at the root of all personal godliness.

Application: Prayer is a means of serving God. Prayer is God doing a work through the believer and using the believer as a means to release His power and to insert Himself into the situation.

Anna was faithful in her testimony and in her ministry of encouragement v. 38

“Looking for something and waiting” requires the virtue of patience. Waiting tends to discourage unless there is something to keep hope alive – to keep hope burning in the heart. There needs to be constant affirmation that what is hoped for will be realized. Anna was that channel of affirmation to that small band of Godly remnant who anticipated the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in Messiah.

Are there any Anna’s reading this pen pulpit today? Are you doing what God has called you to do? Whether you are man or woman, young person, middle aged or senior, there is one thing God requires of you: That is to be faithful! Indeed, faithfulness is a paragon of virtues.

It is said that F.B. Meyer, a Godly saint of years gone by, signed many of his letters, “Yours to count on.” God bless and have a great week.