Saturday, January 13, 2018

The Testimony of Anna, a prayer warrior




36 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 after her marriage, 37 and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years) who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day. 38 And at that same hour she approached and* began to give thanks to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Ministry of Prayer

As we begin a New Year, one area that God has been speaking to me about is the area of prayer, both individual and corporate prayer.  The ministry of prayer is for all believers and is critical for our spiritual growth as well as the impact of our ministries.

Anna is given to us as an example of a woman who was dedicated to both prayer and fasting.  She was on a 24 hour prayer schedule in the temple.  Her prayers were in part for the redemption of Israel and the manifestation of the promised Messiah.  When Jesus was presented at the temple when he was 8 days old, she was there and recognized that he was the fulfillment of the promises of the Messiah.

She was from the tribe of Asher. Deuteronomy 33:24-25 is a prophecy about the tribe

And of Asher he said:

Most blessed of sons be Asher;

may he be the favorite of his brothers,

and may he dip his foot in oil.

Your bars are iron and bronze;

and as your days, so is your strength.

Asher was favored. The anointing of oil is symbolic of joy and happiness and the iron and bronze symbolized strength.

Anna had all of these characteristics in her life.

She was anointed by the Holy Spirit as a prayer warrior and one who heard the voice of the Spirit. She declared the prophetic words given by the Holy Spirit to all who were in the temple.

She was at least 84 years old but was strong enough to continue to pray day and night.  She was remembered by Luke as an encouragement to all women regardless of their age that they have an important ministry.  Unfortunately women were not regarded as very important in the Jewish culture but Luke made sure that she was acknowledged for her ministry.

Anna’s name means “favor, grace”. In Hebrew her name meant to bow or bend in kindness and find and show favor.

God’s favor and grace were demonstrated to her by rewarding her in her old age with being able to see the Messiah.  Her years of prayer and fasting were rewarded in the fulfillment of the greatest desire she had of being able to see the Messiah.



Anna’s prayer life is marked by three important characteristics that are examples to us.

Her prayer life was consistent, constant and involved two way communication.  

Consistent

Prayer for many is not very consistent.  Some days prayers are offered but other days they are neglected.  Prayer must become a discipline in our lives in order for it to be consistent.  Set times of prayer are important because it helps us focus our mind and set aside time to be able to pray.  John Wesley’s mother set aside a specific time every day to pray.  Her children knew that when she sat in her chair in the kitchen a put a cloth over her head that is was her time of prayer and she was not to be bothered.  At times it may be difficult to find a quiet place but we can do our best to shut off as many disturbances as possible and not let other things invade our time of prayer.  Our time of prayer should become habitual but we must always be careful that it does not become mechanical or just going through the motions, repeating the same prayers.

Constant

Anna was a prayer warrior day and night.  Prayer must become a lifestyle for us.  We should be ready to pray at any occasion or any time of the day or night.  Paul is an example of one who prayed constantly for the believers.

1 Thes. 3:9-10 For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10 night and day praying beyond all measure that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

Rom. 1:9-11 For God, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, is my witness, how constantly I make mention of you, 10 always asking in my prayers if somehow now at last I may succeed to come to you in the will of God. 11 For I desire to see you, in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, in order to strengthen you,

Eph. 1. 15-16 15 Because of this I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention in my prayers,

Col. 1:9 Because of this also we, from the day we heard about it,* did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight

Paul encouraged believers through his prayers for them that did not cease, he prayed day and night for others.  We should always be ready to pray in every situation we face at any time of the day or night. It should be almost like breathing, something that we do all the time though we are not conscious of it.  It should be a natural part of our daily life, throughout the day that we pause and pray when we are presented with situations that are brought to our attention and need prayer.  Often we see a need or hear of a need but don’t stop to pray immediately for the person or situation and as a result forget to pray. When you see an accident or witness someone being mistreated, neglected etc. it is a great opportunity to pray for the people involved.  As you read the news or watch it on TV it should be a call to pray a prayer for the situation. 



Two way Communication

Prayer should be a conversation where we listen as well as speak to God.  Anna was a prophetess which means she heard from God and directed her prayers accordingly.  Listening to God is hard for most people.  We like to talk more than listen and in our times of prayer it can become the same.  Waiting on God in silence is uncomfortable for some people.  We are so used to doing something that we get nervous or feel agitated when there is silence.  We teach hearing God’s voice and it is part of the teaching on intercessory prayer but do we truly practice it in our personal times of prayer?  It is easier to fill our prayer time with petitions and requests and not open our spirits to receive words from God. 

Andrew Murray has written a book on “The Prayer Life” and in it he gives an example of how he approaches prayer. 

1.     Begin by thanking God for his great love which invites you to come to him and freely talk to him. Thank him for the assurance you have that he will bless your time of prayer.  Thank him for the grace you have received and the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses in prayer.

2.     Read the Scriptures and apply what you are reading to yourself.  Ask God to make his word light and power in your heart.

3.     Be specific and thoughtful of your prayer requests. Let your prayer be something definite, arising either out of the word which you have read, or out of the real soul needs which you long to have satisfied.  Write down your requests.

4.     Pray for others, don’t be selfish. Examples: church, pastor, fellow workers, missionaries, leaders in governments, education, families, media and the arts.

5.     Keep the attitude of prayer with you all day long. Prayer unites us with God.  When we sin we are drawn away from God and break the fellowship that invites us to pray.  Repentance, confession and forgiveness will reestablish our fellowship.  The time of prayer is intended to bind man to God, to supply him with power from God, to enable him to live for God alone.

As we begin a New Year let’s make prayer one of our priorities in our personal lives and in our ministry.  If we believe in the power of prayer and the importance of prayer it should follow that we spend time in meaningful prayer, individually and as a body of believers. Time spent in prayer prepares us and prepares the way for our ministry to be more effective.  Andrew Murray states in his book, that Prayerlessness is a sin as we are called to be people of prayer.  We do not pray because we have to but we pray because we need to avail ourselves to all that God has to offer us through prayer.  Prayer should not be viewed as an obligation but an invitation to connect with God. 

May our prayer lives become consistent, constant and a two way communication throughout this next year. May our time spent in prayer be one we anticipate each day and reap all the benefits that God has in store for us as well as the people and situations we present in prayer.

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