LUKE 2:36-38

AND THERE WAS ONE ANNA,  A PROPHETESS, THE DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL  OF THE TRIBE OF ASER: SHE WAS OF GREAT AGE, AND HAD LIVED WITH AN HUSBAND SEVEN YEARS FROM HER VIRGINITY;

AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS, WHICH DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE, BUT SERVED GOD WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY.

AND SHE COMING IN THAT INSTANT GAVE THANKS LIKEWISE UNTO  THE LORD, AND SPAKE OF HIM TO ALL THEM THAT LOOKED FOR REDEMPTION IN JERUSALEM.

ANNA MEANS GRACE. SHE WAS A PROPHETESS. SHE WAS A LADY THAT TOTALLY GAVE HER LIFE TO GOD AND HIS SERVICE. SHE WAS A WIDOW FROM A YOUNG AGE . SHE WAS ONLY MARRIED FOR SEVEN YEARS AND HER HUSBAND DIED. SOME TIMES THE DEATH OF SOMETHING IN A PERSONS LIFE CAUSES THEM TO BECOME BITTER TOWARDS GOD. BUT NOT ANNA.  SHE WAS A VERY YOUNG WOMAN WITH GREAT SORROW.  SHE IS NOT BITTER, BUT TURNS COMPLETELY TO GOD FOR COMFORT; AND GRACE TO SERVE HIM IN THE HOUSE OF PRAYER   FOR   ALL NATIONS.

SHE WAS OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER. ASHER MEANS BLESSED. AHSER WAS JACOBS SON BY ZILPAH. ZILPAH WAS LEAHS MAID.  ANNA WASNT OF THE LINEAGE OF LEAH OR RACHEL,  HER LINAGE WAS THRU LEAHS MAID, IT WAS OUTSIDE THE INNER CIRCLE.

HER FATHERS NAME WAS PHANUEL, WHICH MEANS FACE OF GOD. THIS WOMAN  WHO’S LINEAGE GOES BACK TO LEAH’S  MAID, HAS A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE. HER FATHER WITH THE SAME HERITAGE SOUGHT THE FACE OF GOD AND PRODUCED AN ANNA, A PROPHETESS,  WHO SERVED GOD IN THE TEMPLE, THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. EIGHTY FOUR YEARS SHE SERVED GOD IN HIS TEMPLE WITH FASTING AND PRAYER.

BACKGROUND CAN BE CHANGED. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT OUR FAMILY HISTORY IS OR WHERE WE CAME FROM, WE CAN SEEK THE FACE OF GOD, WE CAN SEEK GOD’S WAYS AND PRODUCE  AN ANNA.

ANNA SERVED GOD NIGHT AND DAY WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS, SHE PRAYED FOR THE MESSIAH TO COME. IT WAS THE FULLNESS OF TIME AND GOD HAD THIS WIDOW WOMAN PRAYING FOR THE WILL OF GOD, THE SON OF GOD, TO COME TO THE EARTH, TO REDEEM MANKIND.

ANNA COULD HAVE ALLOWED THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND TO MAKE HER BITTER, BUT SHE DIDN’T, SHE TURNED TO GOD WITH PRAYER AND FASTING, SERVING HIM IN HIS HOUSE

IT DOESN’T MATTER ABOUT OUR PAST OR PAIN OR OUR PRESENT SITUATION, GOD’S GRACE HAS AN  ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU. IN YOUR PAIN, IN YOUR SADNESS, IN YOUR FAILURE TURN TO HIM,  THERE IS GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED. JESUS HAS A JOB FOR YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.  IT IS TO SERVE HIM WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART.  BRINGING THRU PRAYER , THE MESSIAH INTO THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LIKE YOU AND I. PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING  AND DID NOT COME FROM THE INNER CIRCLE. JESUS CAN TAKE THE INNER AND OUTER CIRCLE AND USE US BY HIS GRACE.  DON’T LET YOUR LOSS CAUSE YOU TO MISS GOD’S ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR LIFE. MINISTRY IS BIRTHED OUT OF PAIN, THE GLORY OF GOD COMES LATER. THE CROSS WAS THE ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO JESUS, THE GLORY CAME AT THE   RESURRECTION.