Faithful Waiting: Lessons from Anna's Life

 

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church. Today, we conclude our series on "Extraordinary Women" by focusing on Anna from Luke chapter 2. Anna's life teaches us about the importance and the power of waiting on God. In a world where waiting often feels like a waste of time, Anna shows us that waiting can be an active, faith-filled endeavor. She waited for the Messiah for many years, and her story is a testament to the value of patience and faithfulness.

Anna was a prophetess who spent her days in the temple, worshiping, fasting, and praying. Despite being a widow for many decades, she remained devoted to God. Her life reminds us that finishing well is more important than how we start. Even at 84, she was actively serving God, showing that age is no barrier to faithfulness. Her story also teaches us that when life falls apart, we should turn to God. Anna could have become bitter after losing her husband, but she chose to dedicate her life to God instead.

Holiness, as Anna's life demonstrates, isn't about grand gestures but about small, consistent steps of faithfulness. She wasn't in the spotlight, but her quiet dedication made a significant impact. This is a powerful reminder that our small acts of faithfulness are seen and valued by God.

Anna's story culminates in her witnessing the fulfillment of God's promise when she meets the baby Jesus. Her long years of waiting were worth it, and her joy was complete. This teaches us that our waiting on God is never in vain. Whether we are waiting for answers, for healing, or for the return of Christ, we can trust that God will fulfill His promises.

As we partake in communion today, let us examine our hearts and our waiting. Are we waiting well? Are we remaining faithful and obedient in our waiting? Let us commit to waiting on the Lord, knowing that He is worth it and that our waiting will one day be rewarded.

### Key Takeaways

1. Waiting on God is Not a Waste of Time: Anna's life shows us that waiting on God is an active endeavor filled with worship, prayer, and fasting. Even when it feels like God is silent, our waiting is never in vain. We must remember that God is always at work, even in our waiting. [31:16]

2. Finishing Well is More Important Than Starting Well: Anna was 84 years old and still actively serving God. This teaches us that our faithfulness should not wane with age. Whether young or old, we are called to finish our race well, maintaining our devotion to God throughout our lives. [37:17]

3. Turn to God When Life Falls Apart: Anna lost her husband early in life but chose to dedicate herself to God rather than becoming bitter. When we face life's hardships, we should turn to God, trusting that He has a greater plan for us. [44:24]

4. Holiness is About Small Steps of Faithfulness: Anna's life was characterized by small, consistent acts of faithfulness rather than grand gestures. This reminds us that our daily, quiet acts of devotion are seen and valued by God, even if they go unnoticed by others. [49:14]

5. Our Waiting Will Be Rewarded: Anna's long years of waiting culminated in the joy of seeing the Messiah. This teaches us that our waiting on God is never in vain. Whether we are waiting for answers, healing, or Christ's return, we can trust that God will fulfill His promises. [57:47]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[26:22] - Prayer for Lisa O'Brien's Family
[28:02] - Opening Prayer
[30:30] - Introduction to Anna
[31:16] - The Season of Waiting
[33:10] - The Christian Life of Waiting
[35:12] - Anna's Background
[37:17] - Finishing Well
[44:24] - Turning to God in Hard Times
[49:14] - Small Steps of Faithfulness
[56:31] - The Reward of Waiting
[01:01:28] - Witnessing God's Truth
[01:02:11] - Communion Preparation
[01:06:33] - Prayer and Reflection
[01:10:21] - Communion and Closing Remarks

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Luke 2:36-38: "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 eighty-four. 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."

2. Isaiah 40:31: "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

3. Titus 2:11-13: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

### Observation Questions
1. What activities did Anna engage in while she waited for the Messiah? (Luke 2:36-37)
2. How does Isaiah describe the benefits of waiting on the Lord? (Isaiah 40:31)
3. According to Titus 2:11-13, what should Christians do while they wait for the return of Jesus?

### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Anna's dedication to worship, fasting, and prayer teach us about the nature of waiting on God? [31:16]
2. How can the promise in Isaiah 40:31 encourage believers who are in a season of waiting?
3. In what ways does Titus 2:11-13 suggest that waiting for Jesus involves active participation in godly living?

### Application Questions
1. Anna remained faithful in her worship and service to God despite her long wait. How can you incorporate regular worship, prayer, and fasting into your life to help you wait on God? [35:12]
2. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up on waiting for God. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now based on Anna's example? [32:36]
3. Anna's story shows that finishing well is more important than starting well. What steps can you take to ensure that you remain faithful to God throughout your life, regardless of your age? [37:17]
4. When life falls apart, Anna turned to God instead of becoming bitter. How can you turn to God in your current struggles or disappointments? [44:24]
5. Holiness is about small steps of faithfulness. Identify one small, consistent act of faithfulness you can commit to this week. [49:14]
6. Anna's long years of waiting were rewarded when she saw the Messiah. What are you currently waiting for, and how can you remind yourself that God's timing is perfect? [57:47]
7. As we partake in communion, we are reminded to examine our hearts and our waiting. How can you improve your attitude and actions while waiting on God? [01:01:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Active Waiting on God
Description: Anna's life exemplifies that waiting on God is not a passive activity but an active, faith-filled endeavor. In a world that often views waiting as a waste of time, Anna's story from Luke chapter 2 shows us that waiting can be filled with worship, prayer, and fasting. Despite the long years of waiting for the Messiah, Anna remained devoted to God, demonstrating that our waiting is never in vain. Even when it feels like God is silent, we must remember that He is always at work, even in our waiting. [31:16]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel like you are waiting on God? How can you actively engage in worship, prayer, and fasting during this season of waiting?


Day 2: Finishing Well
Description: Anna's story teaches us that finishing well is more important than starting well. At 84 years old, she was still actively serving God in the temple. This challenges us to maintain our devotion to God throughout our lives, regardless of our age. Whether we are young or old, our faithfulness should not wane. Anna's life is a powerful reminder that our commitment to God should be lifelong, and we are called to finish our race well. [37:17]

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where your faithfulness to God has waned? What steps can you take today to renew your commitment and finish well?


Day 3: Turning to God in Hard Times
Description: Anna experienced significant loss early in her life when she became a widow. Instead of becoming bitter, she chose to dedicate herself to God. Her story teaches us that when life falls apart, we should turn to God and trust that He has a greater plan for us. In times of hardship, it is easy to become disheartened, but Anna's example encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and devotion to God. [44:24]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Think of a recent hardship you have faced. How did you respond? How can you turn to God and trust in His greater plan for you in the midst of your struggles?


Day 4: Small Steps of Faithfulness
Description: Anna's life was characterized by small, consistent acts of faithfulness rather than grand gestures. She spent her days in the temple, worshiping, fasting, and praying. This reminds us that our daily, quiet acts of devotion are seen and valued by God, even if they go unnoticed by others. Holiness is about taking small, consistent steps of faithfulness, and Anna's life is a testament to the impact of such dedication. [49:14]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: What small, consistent acts of faithfulness can you incorporate into your daily routine? How can you ensure that these acts are done with a heart of devotion to God?


Day 5: The Reward of Waiting
Description: Anna's long years of waiting culminated in the joy of seeing the Messiah. Her story teaches us that our waiting on God is never in vain. Whether we are waiting for answers, healing, or Christ's return, we can trust that God will fulfill His promises. Anna's joy was complete when she witnessed the fulfillment of God's promise, reminding us that our waiting will one day be rewarded. [57:47]

Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV): "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: What promise of God are you waiting for in your life? How can you remain hopeful and trust that your waiting will be rewarded in God's perfect timing?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We know that they love Jesus and they long to serve Him in the good times and the bad times. And so I would encourage you, especially if you know Lisa and her family, to send a card, send an email, a Facebook message that you're thinking and praying for them. And would you lift them up as we seek to, to find the comfort of God even in our most difficult of times." [26:22] (23 seconds) ( | | )

2. "I pray, Lord, that our time together would be one that would change us, and impact us, that it would mold us and make us to be more like your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we don't just pray for this when things are good. We pray when things are most difficult." [28:02] (17 seconds) ( | | )

3. "We live in a world that's filled with sorrow. We live in a world that's filled with pain. We live in a world that's filled with dead ends. And that was not what God had purposed for creation. His purpose was that we would live and fellowship with Him forever. And so now we're in this place called life where nothing seemingly goes the way we want. And even the good things come with lots of struggles and difficulties. But listen to me, friends. There's a day coming when God will make all things new." [58:47] (30 seconds) ( | | )

4. "It's worth it to wait on the Lord. Young person, it's worth to wait on the Lord when it comes to your purity. Wait on God. Don't fall for counterfeits. Don't fall for the pushing of a boyfriend or girlfriend. Wait on the Lord. It's worth it. It's worth it to be the only person who believes that work. Wait on the Lord. It's worth it to endure snickers and laughs about your crazy beliefs. It's worth it." [57:08] (32 seconds) ( | | )

5. "The reason why we can have hope is we have a Savior who sympathizes with every one of our sorrows. He knows what it's like to wait. He knows what it's like to endure. And He did that on the cross. The book of Hebrews says He endured the cross. He scorned its shame. And then He sat down at the right hand of the Father." [01:10:21] (23 seconds) ( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Waiting isn't something we like to do. Waiting isn't something we're altogether all that good at. We are not fans of waiting. Waiting makes us feel impatient. Waiting makes us feel like God's not on the move. But we're going to be reminded this morning that in our waiting there's much that we should be doing. For many of us, we make waiting a passive thing. We make waiting something where we just sit and bide our time. But what we're going to see in the life of Anna this morning is that waiting is an altogether active endeavor." [31:16] (37 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Holiness isn't about big fanfare but about small steps of faithfulness. The text tells us about this extraordinary woman three, three sentences, three verses, three verses about her life, the totality of her life. And we are told this, we know where she came from, what tribe she was a part of, we know who her dad was, we know that she was married and is a widow, and we know that she followed God and she served the people of God in the temple, seemingly well." [49:14] (38 seconds) ( | | )

3. "When things fall apart, turn to God. So we're told she's 84 years of age. But then we're told this snippet that she's a widow. We're given this description by Luke that she's been a widow since seven years into marriage. So she has been married seven years, and then her husband dies, and then she's been a widow ever since. Now where does that put us? How long was she a widow? We don't know. Most women then were married pretty young. 15, 16, 17 years of age." [44:24] (35 seconds) ( | | )

4. "It's not how you start, but it's how you finish. I'm sure many of you are watching the Olympics. It's not how you start the marathon that gets you the trophy. It's how you finish. And we spent so much time in the starting line. We focused so much time on the beginning laps. I've come to realize that as I've watched men that I respect in their 70s disqualify themselves from their ministry. Not being able to finish well." [43:26] (27 seconds) ( | | )

5. "We are the church that we are today because of thousands of Jim and Carol Carpenters who are faithfully serving. I can tell you as a mom and a dad, Amanda and I are so thankful for the people that taught our children God's Word and reinforced what they were learning at home, that they didn't think it was just a Badal thing, but it was a Christian thing. And this is what Anna teaches us and reminds us that fanfare isn't it. It's about small steps of faithfulness." [55:56] (31 seconds) ( | | )

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Transcript
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