Scripture printed text: Luke 2:36-38, Acts 2:16-21, 21:8-9
Luke records a woman by the name of Anna, a prophetess, who lived as a widow, married for seven years before her husband died, devoted her life to serving in the temple. At the age of eighty-four Anna, never left the temple, but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer. She faithfully devoted her entire life to God and for His service. There Anna would gain great knowledge and experience in God’s ways. Anna longed to see the Messiah’s face. Praise God for granting her heart’s desire to see in her lifetime the Christ child.
One day while serving in the temple, Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, as they carried the baby Jesus into the Temple in Jerusalem to fulfill two Jewish ceremonial obligations. First, the redemption of the firstborn, secondly, the purification of the mother after childbirth. And when Anna saw them, she recognized the long awaited Messiah. She began praising and thanking God for allowing her to see Jesus and witness the unfolding of the messianic prophecies. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Declaring the baby is in fact, the promised one bringing salvation and redemption to the world.
Luke also writes in Acts about the prophesy of Joel, he said that in the last days God said that he will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. Following will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Pentecost, celebrated fifty days after Passover, also called the Feast of Harvest. Christians celebrates Pentecost as a commemoration of the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost represents mankind being freed from slavery to sin. As a result of God’s outpouring of His Spirit upon all people, means that the Holy Spirit empowered to speak out God’s word. Despite gender, race, social status, all can be filled with the Holy Spirit. God said that His Spirit will use people of all ages to declare His word.
God said that in the last days He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. The last days, means in a future time. That time is here whereby God is using His people to represent Him and His word.
Church, let us praise the Lord our God, who’s Savior and Lord of our lives. For sending His Son Jesus to redeem humankind from slavery to sin. Jesus birth, life, death, burial and resurrection, solidifies our soul salvation. As Anna praised and thanked God for allowing her to see the Messiah. We should praise and thank God for salvation through Jesus finished work at Calvary. Pray and ask God to use us to speak up for Christ.