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ANNA IS A WIDOW INDEED (2)

by Olawale Ogunsola  
11/25/2020 / Christian Apologetics

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly
that it would not rain ; and it did not rain...." James 5:17 NKJV.

 

The Lord's laws and principles have not been prepared for only our generation and future ones. They have been observed sacredly by people of God in the past. There are holy men of God who still apply Godly laws and principles to live a holy life.

 

The quoted verse above about Prophet Elijah is to convince any kingdom minded believer in Christ that all that he performed in his life time is also attainable by him. After all, Elisha performed twice the number of miracles performed by Elijah, halleluyah!

 

Whatever Godly lifestyle you want to live, there is a replica in the Holy Bible. So it is with being a widow indeed.the Scriptures has this to say about a woman who was a widow indeed:
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the ttrib of Asher, she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity ; and this woman was a widow of about eighty - four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. " Luke 2:36-38.

 

For the purpose of clarity, there is no correlation between this Anna, a prophetess and Hannah the mother of Prophet Samuel, and the wife of Elkanah. I Sam 1:1.

 

Now, going back to Anna the Prophetess, she was married for seven years only. Her age by the time she got married was not known by the declarations in the Holy Bible. I take the eighty-four years to be of her widowhood and not the total number of the years. Therefore, her total number of marriage (marital life) and that of widowhood is ninety - one years.

 

Let me assume that she got married by age not less than twenty years. It means that she became a widow by age twenty - seven, and she remained a widow for eighty - four years. Let me call this modern day calculations.

 

Contrarily, using Jewish priesthood standard, let us assume that she became married at age thirty because she was a prophetess. She could be older, but let us take age thirty because she was a prophetess. If this holds and she lived with a man for seven years. It means she became a widow at age thirty - seven. Adding this to her eight four years of widowhood, it means she was one hundred and twenty one years old when Jesus was born. Luke 2:38. Note that the Bible records that she was of great age, note Genesis 6:3.

 

Please, pay a very serious attention to this phrase about Anna, the Prophetess,
"who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and pprayer night and day." Luke 2:37.

 

Let it be known that there is an important fruit of the Spirit called "self-control". If this had not been in place, she would not be able to go far. See Galatians 5:222-23. This is in comformity with Pauline admonition in I Corinthians 7:8-9,
"But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them, if they remain
even as I am ; but if they cannot exercise self - control, let them marry.
For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

 

Glory be to God that Prophetess Anna was able to exercise self-control.

 

There is also an important aspect of Anna's life worthy of note. Her whole intention is to please the Lord, her God. Apostle Paul has this to say,
" There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world.
how she may please her husband." I Corinthians 7:34.

Are you a widow? Are you a widow indeed? Do you desire to please your God night and day? Be closer to your God, let the Holy Spirit be your guide all the time. Never cease to communicate with Him 24/7. The closer you are to Him, the better. Live the rest of your life in holiness body and spirit. Ensure that you exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit that the Lord may rejoice over you forever. Stay blessed and prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.

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