Story of Prophetess Anna , Genesis 4:1-2; Luke 3:38-38; 1 Timothy 5:1-16 | Sermon by Father.Mungamuri Devadasu

Prayer: O Father, who is worthy of praise! We thank You for granting us the grace to gather in Your temple. We are once again here to meditate on Your Word, so we seek the help of Your Spirit. Then, we will be able to understand the truths within Your Word. Enlighten our conscience through Your Spirit so that we may have faith. Strengthen our faith so that we may receive revelation. Guide our efforts through Your Spirit so that we may develop a desire for Your Word.

Bless each one of us with Your message. Help us so that no contradictions arise in our meditation on Your Word. We humbly ask this through our soon-coming Lord.
Amen.

Anna, the Prophetess from the Tribe of Asher

Anna, the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, was a prophetess. When the infant Lord was brought to the temple, she too entered. She was deeply devoted to fasting and prayer, and the temple was her dwelling place.

With 84 years of life experience, she spent her days in worship, eagerly awaiting the redemption of Israel alongside those who longed for it. The Bible highlights her dedication to fasting and prayer—two profound and significant acts of faith.

At the beginning of creation, the first woman to stand was Eve. Four thousand years later, another woman came—Mary, the mother of the Lord. Now, let us learn about both Eve and Anna.

Just as Eve and Mary were contrasting figures, so too were Eve and Anna. Anna devoted herself to fasting and prayer, while Eve, if we look back 4,000 years, disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit that God commanded her not to eat. Eve’s act was not fasting but indulgence, consuming what was harmful. In contrast, Anna abstained from food for the sake of spiritual devotion. What a stark difference between the two!

Even today, many suffer from illnesses due to consuming things they should avoid. Some people pray persistently without fasting, yet their prayers may not be answered quickly. Eve’s eating was not commendable, but Anna’s fasting was. If we, too, practice fasting like Anna, we will be blessed. Fasting and praying for an entire day can reveal many hidden spiritual truths to us.

Anna’s first act was fasting, followed by prayer. In between, she spent time speaking with others. She shared with those who were eagerly waiting for the Redeemer, proclaiming that the Savior had come to deliver them. Her words were:

1. Words of goodness
2. Words of encouragement
3. Words of joy

She spoke only to those who were willing to listen.

In contrast, Eve spoke words she should not have spoken. She said, “The serpent appeared to me, told me to eat the fruit, and I have brought it for you.” Her words were influenced by the deceiver—words of danger, words that led to sin.

Anna, on the other hand, spoke words of salvation, deliverance, righteousness, and purpose.

We must also reflect on our own words. Do they bring goodness or harm? Instead of being like Eve, let us strive to be like Anna, speaking words that bring blessing and hope.

Anna’s life was marked by three key aspects:

1. Fasting
2. Meaningful and edifying conversation
3. Teaching others how to pray

The true value of fasting and spending days and nights in prayer is evident in Anna’s devotion. But can we ever put a price on the power of prayer? Anna’s prayers were enriched by fasting and continuous, day-and-night devotion.

We must learn from Anna and follow her example. She remained in God’s presence, fasting, praying, and seeking answers. When she received divine revelations, she shared them with others, guiding them in faith. Let us, too, strive to pray and fast as Anna did.

Eve—once a woman who dwelled in God’s presence—eventually fled from it. What a tragic downfall! She, who once enjoyed communion with God, now hid in fear.

On the other hand, Anna was the last woman mentioned in the Old Testament and the first in the New Testament. How many of us today are running away from God’s presence? Instead, we must strive to be like Anna—seeking God rather than fleeing from Him.

We are sinners, full of doubt, and often unwilling. Yet, even if we must force ourselves, we must go into God’s presence. We must not, like Eve, hide behind trees in shame. When we enter His presence:

1. Sin will be removed.
2. Our love for God will grow.
3. We will receive strength.

Eve, though she had a husband, failed in this. But Anna, though she had no husband, accomplished something great. If we forsake sin and follow Anna’s example in all things, we will surely find favor with God.

Four Key Aspects of Anna’s Life:

1. Fasting
2. Praying
3. Fasting and praying during the day
4. Fasting and praying through the night

These four are among the greatest forms of service. Speaking with others and offering encouragement is indeed a noble act, but fasting and prayer surpass all forms of service.

There are always worldly people who criticize those devoted to prayer. They may say, “Instead of actively going out to bring sinners to the Savior, are you just staying in the temple, fasting and praying?” However, like Anna, we must not be discouraged by such opinions. True spiritual service begins in God’s presence, through fasting and prayer.

Fasting and prayer are greater than any other form of service.

There are three types of service that are lesser than Anna’s devotion:

1. Blaming God
2. Criticizing people
3. Preaching the gospel

When some people stand before the Lord and say, “Lord, did we not cast out demons in Your name? Did we not preach the gospel?”—the Lord does not acknowledge them on the final day. Even those who performed miracles and cast out demons were not accepted.

Dear believers, preaching the gospel means encouraging people. But if we serve God without prayer and fasting, even these acts will lose their power. Without seeking strength in God’s presence, we cannot stand against Satan or resist evil people.

How blessed Anna was! Luke describes her as:

1. A woman who fasted
2. A woman who taught
3. A woman who prayed
4. A prophetess

She may not have written any books, yet she was a great prophetess! Her life itself was a testimony of faith and devotion. Let us follow her example.

The Works of Anna:

1. Fasting prayer
2. Intercessory prayer
3. Praise-filled prayer
4. Spreading the gospel
5. Reading the Bible

The first three were done in God’s presence, while the last two were carried out in the world.

At the age of 80, Anna embodied these four qualities. She stood at the turning point between the Old and New Testaments—at the time of the Lord’s first coming—proclaiming these truths.

We now live in the period between His first and second coming, even in this present year (2004). Just as Anna was a woman of faith at Christ’s first coming, we, as the church—the bride of Christ—must stand firm in faith as we await His second coming.

The Lesson Anna Teaches Us:

Anna witnessed the Lord’s first coming, and her waiting was fulfilled. Likewise, as we wait for His second coming, our hope will also be fulfilled.

But how will it happen?

At that time, there were two elderly individuals—an old man and an old woman. The old man, Simeon, saw the Lord, greeted Him, and then passed away. The Bible records that Simeon saw the Savior and then died, but there is no record of Anna’s death.

1. Simeon represents the group of the dead.
2. Anna represents the group of the living.

When Christ returns, all who have died from Adam until the rapture are represented by Simeon. But those who remain alive until His coming are represented by Anna.

Luke reveals a divine order: first, the dead in Christ will rise, and then the living will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds.

Each of us must prepare ourselves to be part of one of these groups. No matter how many trials we face, if we hold firm in faith, we can be part of the living group.

If we do not live until that day, we will be in the group of the dead. But whether dead or alive, both groups will participate in the Lord’s coming. The question remains: How many of us are truly ready for that great day?

When the Lord was brought into the temple in Jerusalem, Anna and Simeon also entered. At that moment, the Redeemer was inside the temple during His first coming. In His first coming, Jesus was a baby inside the temple, and in His second coming, the Bridegroom will be in the clouds. Just as Anna and Simeon entered the temple, we too must be caught up into the clouds to meet Him at His return.

Anna lived seven years as a married woman and eighty-four years as a widow—a deeply sorrowful reality. Her seven years of married life represent the good things of this world that God had arranged for her, but her eighty-four years in the temple symbolize the spiritual goodness found in God’s presence. This teaches us two phases of life: worldly life, where we live among good people in the world, and spiritual life, where we dwell among saints, angels, and God. Out of eighty-four years, only seven were in the world, which means that the greater portion of her life—twelve times more—was dedicated to God’s presence. While worldly life has its blessings, the spiritual life is far greater. May this abundant spiritual blessing be upon all of you! Amen.