Lead by the Spirit

Luke 2:36-38

Yesterday we shared about Simeon and you and I may have identified with him in the area of being misunderstood, in that he looked to the prompting of the Spirit and not to his flesh.  You recall that the Holy Spirit told Simeon he would not see death before seeing the Messiah in the form of a baby.  So he was always hanging out at the temple for every firstborn dedication.  And we discussed how often one is misjudged by family and friends, especially when they are being lead by the Spirit.  It reminds me of Rees Howells the intercessor that lived from 1879 to 1950 and as a young man the Holy Spirit told him not to ware a hat outside, and to do so was unheard of at that time in England, and he was misunderstood by family and friends.  (Footnote: Jan, Joyce and Carroll Ray Jr. and I had the great honor of having tea at the Bible College in Wales with Rees’s only child, Samuel Rees Howells, a wonderful man.)

But in the area of being thought a little odd, Simeon and Rees and every person who has by faith followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit will look at the prophetess Anna with admiration.   This is her story told by Doctor Luke; “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.  (Luke 2:36-38 ESV)

If Anna was like most young girls, she married around the age of 12 ½ to 14.  She lived with her husband seven years and then became a widow and she is recorded by Luke to be 84 at the time of seeing Christ.  She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.  Now my small mind has many questions but God does not choose to give us answers or insights into them, but a day is coming when I will get to meet Anna and she will fill in all the details. 

You may be wondering what a prophetess does and the author of this document gives a clear and accurate account: “A prophetess is simply a female prophet. Just like a prophet, a prophetess is a person called by God. A prophet (male or female) is the mouthpiece for the one who sends him or her; the prophet speaks on behalf of the sender (Exodus 7:1-2). A prophet is considered a seer (1 Samuel 9:9), because God gives him or her the gift of foreknowledge. God reveals his secrets to prophets (Amos 3:7), and true prophesy is initiated by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)(1Corinthains 12:28) and Ephesians 4:11 both rank prophets as second only to apostles.”  (Stronginfaith.org)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice