New Testament Prophets — Female Prophets and Young Pastoral Associates

We began the reading this morning with a question.

First read Luke 2, 36 through 38 and Acts 21, 9.

And here's the question.

What do these passages tell us about female prophets? So Luke 2, 36 through 38.

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 from when she was a virgin.

and then as a widow until she was 84.

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

In Acts 21, verse 3, he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

And so the question again is this.

What do these passages tell us about female prophets? Well, beloved, these passages clearly show that God gives the gift of prophecy to women.

Luke identifies Anna as a prophetess and describes her life of worship, fasting and prayer.

When she saw the infant Jesus, she thanked God and spoke about him to people waiting for Jerusalem's redemption.

Acts 21.9 tells us that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Their ministry is presented as a genuine part of the life of the believing community.

Notice how Anna's ministry points us back to the heart of this week's lesson, Jesus.

Ellen White describes her grateful witness to Christ in the book Desire of Ages.

The gift was God's to give, and he chose a woman to help others recognize the Savior.

That should teach us to receive God's gifts with gratitude wherever He has truly given them.

We should encourage women to serve faithfully and take their spiritual contributions seriously, while testing every claim to be prophetic authority by the same biblical standard.

We began the reading this morning with a question.

First read Luke 2, 36 through 38 and Acts 21, 9.

And here's the question.

What do these passages tell us about female prophets? So Luke 2, 36 through 38.

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 from when she was a virgin.

and then as a widow until she was 84.

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

In Acts 21, verse 3, he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

And so the question again is this.

What do these passages tell us about female prophets? Well, beloved, these passages clearly show that God gives the gift of prophecy to women.

Luke identifies Anna as a prophetess and describes her life of worship, fasting and prayer.

When she saw the infant Jesus, she thanked God and spoke about him to people waiting for Jerusalem's redemption.

Acts 21.9 tells us that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Their ministry is presented as a genuine part of the life of the believing community.

Notice how Anna's ministry points us back to the heart of this week's lesson, Jesus.

Ellen White describes her grateful witness to Christ in the book Desire of Ages.

The gift was God's to give, and he chose a woman to help others recognize the Savior.

That should teach us to receive God's gifts with gratitude wherever He has truly given them.

We should encourage women to serve faithfully and take their spiritual contributions seriously, while testing every claim to be prophetic authority by the same biblical standard.