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 January 31

Lesson 9 (KJV)

Called to Prophesy

Devotional Reading: Joel 2:28–32

Background Scripture: Luke 2:36–38; Acts 1:12–14; 2:16–21; 21:8–9

Luke 2:36–38

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:16–21

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 21:8–9

8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Key Verse

It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.—Acts 2:17

Call in the New Testament

Unit 3: The Call of Women

Lessons 9–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Summarize the text quoted from Joel.

2. Explain the significance of fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

3. Repent of valuing the Spirit’s influence in some people more than in others.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Willing to Tell Others

B. Lesson Context: Judaism

C. Lesson Context: Paganism

I. In the Temple (Luke 2:36–38)

A. Faithful Widow (vv. 36–37)

My Praying Mother

B. Expressive Witness (v. 38)

II. In Jerusalem (Acts 2:16–21)

A. Unbiased Spirit (vv. 16–18)

B. Wonders and Signs (vv. 19–21)

III. In Caesarea (Acts 21:8–9)

A. Evangelist Father (v. 8)

B. Prophetesses (v. 9)

Prayerful Impressions

Conclusion

A. Gifted Women

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Aser	A-ser.
Assyrians	Uh-sear-e-unz.
Caesarea Maritima	Sess-uh-ree-uh Mar-uh-tee-muh.
Ethiopian	E-thee-o-pee-un (th as in thin).
eunuch	You-nick.
Huldah	Hull-duh.
Isaiah	Eye-zay-uh.
Messiah	Meh-sigh-uh.
Pentecost	Pent-ih-kost.
Phanuel	Fuh-nyoo-el.
Samaritans	Suh-mare-uh-tunz.

What Do You Think? What role should fasting play in your own devotional life? Why do you say that? Digging Deeper How do the precedents in Esther 4:15–16; Acts 13:2–3; 14:23 help frame your answer?

What Do You Think? If you are a “senior citizen,” what methods of witness and service can you focus on that those of a younger generation might not do as well? Digging Deeper If you are not a senior citizen, what can you do to support their witness and service?

What Do You Think? How should you react if someone comes to you claiming to have received a message from God in a dream or a vision? Digging Deeper Which texts help best in framing your decision: Acts 9:10–12; 10:3–19; 16:9–10; 18:9–10; 26:19; 2 Corinthians 11:12–15; Colossians 2:18; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1–3; 2 John 9; Jude 8; Revelation 22:18? Others?

What Do You Think? What do the changing roles of Philip the evangelist (Acts 6:1–6; 8:4–7, 26–40; and 21:8) teach you about how to react to God’s changing calls on your life? Digging Deeper In what ways does the further consideration of Stephen’s changing roles (Acts 6–7) cause you to modify your answer, if at all?

What Do You Think? In what ways can you better encourage fellow believers to use their spiritual gifts? Digging Deeper Are the best ways to encourage women to do so the same best ways to encourage men? Why, or why not?

Conclusion

A. Gifted Women

An aged widow. A group of women who had followed Jesus and remained in Jerusalem after His ascension. A band of four unmarried sisters. The New Testament offers these as examples of first-century women who were endowed with the gift of prophecy. Important questions exist regarding whether the spiritual gift of prophecy continues today (compare Zechariah 13:1–6; 1 Corinthians 13:8–12; Hebrews 1:1–2). But those questions, as important as they are, are not the focus of this lesson.

The focus, rather, is on using one’s giftedness in answering God’s call to ministry. As one observer put it, “When the church is working properly, every woman, as well as every man, will be using at least one spiritual gift in ministry to others in the body of Christ” (see also 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 and 1 Peter 4:10).

B. Prayer

Father, we thank You for the prophetic voices You have given to Your people. We thank You for the examples of Anna, the Pentecost women, and Philip's daughters as faithful people who served You. May we be as faithful! We pray in the name of Jesus, in whom we are one. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

God gifts people for ministry according to His will and plans, not ours.

 Krause, Mark S., Andrew Sloan, et al. “Called to Prophesy.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2020–2021. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson, Jane Ann Kenney, and Margaret K. Williams. Vol. 68. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2020–2021. 191. Print.