Called To Prophesy
Cicely Tyson passed this week. God blessed us to have witnessed her light. She was universally loved for the regal way she always carried herself, and the strong Black female characters she so often portrayed on stage and screen. Her gifts were recognized with numerous awards including an honorary Oscar, three Emmys, a pile of Emmy nominations, a Tony, eight N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom among many other honors. A NY Times writer wrote posthumously about her "The words she spoke brought with them a little extra breath, which, in turn, gave her an everlasting lightness that made us lean toward her so we wouldn’t miss whatever truth she was about to tell." In this week's Lesson (Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-21; 21:8-9), we see several women who made themselves available for God to use, and as a result, spoke truth to His people. May God bless you and reveal His truth as you study His word.
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38) Anna was a widow and at 84 years old, she had not lost her fervor for serving God. She fasted and prayed at the temple night and day. God blessed Anna to see Jesus just as Mary and Joseph were bringing him to the temple to be dedicated. God revealed to her that the baby she beheld was the Savior of the world. With that revelation, Anna began to share the Good News with everyone who was waiting for God's redemption (deliverance) of His people. God chose women from the very beginning to share the Lord's coming and His salvation that is available to all who believe and are looking for deliverance.
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:16-21) God poured out His Spirit and filled all of those who were assembled together worshiping at Pentecost in Jerusalem. Those who saw them filled with the Holy Spirit thought that they were all drunk, but Peter spoke up and preached that this was the Spirit that God had promised through the Old testament prophet Joel. The promised Spirit was poured out at Pentecost on all believers. God was faithful through His Holy Spirit to bless both men and women to prophesy. God is no respecter of persons. He has given the Holy Spirit to all who believe and are saved, whether young or old, men or women.
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. (Acts 21:8-9) As the Holy Spirit filled all believers, men and women were gifted with prophesy. The same Philip who had baptized an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38), was living and evangelizing in Caesarea. The bible says that he had four single daughters who all prophesied (which probably included teaching). This again is evidence that God uses women to share His truth. There are those in the body of Christ who don't value women as contributors. But God has made it clear that He values women and He has called them to speak truth to His people.
We are living in a time where we are seeing women leading in greater numbers than ever before in every area of our society. Many are calling us to greater truth, love, compassion and inclusion through their leadership. The bible shows us that God has always called men and women for His purposes. Women have been gifted by God for His service in the body of Christ and He values their voices to speak truth to His people and to the world... It's well past time that we follow the Lord and value them too!
I'll see you in Sunday School!
Blessings
