Luke 2:36-40

Luke 2:36-40 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, 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. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

In the first two chapters of Luke, we see God again using both men and women to spread his words: Zechariah and Mary in chapter 1; Simeon and Anna in chapter 2. God is no respecter of persons. He will pour out his Spirit on all those who will come to him. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29) If we are "sons of God, heirs according to the promise," we have the full rights of Christ himself. Any man or woman who is IN CHRIST, filled with the Holy Spirit, can deliver God's inspired words to people and fulfill his plans. Any other restrictions are restrictions of men, implemented because of the cultural customs and laws of a particular society. NEVERTHELESS, 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." (Acts 2:17-18)

To restrict God's expression to the world is a very difficult position to impose, for God's Spirit within people desires voices to express God's will on Earth. To restrict God is much like restricting air. God desires to reach all people with his living Word. To say only the Jews can express God's words, or only the free can express God's words, or only the males can express God's words is very much contrary to the totality of the Scriptures. Even in the Old Testament God chose a woman, Deborah, to lead the Israelites. She was a prophetess who led the Israelites as God directed her. Otherwise, she spoke God's divine words to the people. In the Old Testament, God used a donkey to speak his words to Balaam, to prevent him from putting a curse on Jacob. If God will use a donkey to speak his words, if as Jesus said, He will make the stones cry out praises to him, if men are not going to praise him, how much more will He use people who are made in his image, who are filled with his Spirit, to fulfill his plans. God desires to use "whosoever will." Whosoever will believe on the name of Jesus Christ will be saved, and they will prophesy as God wills. God used Anna that day in the temple because she was his servant, and He will use you if you so desire and yield to the Holy Spirit within you.