Praying 40 Days to Freedom — Day 8

August 18 (Day 8) — Jesus did a lot of things that were considered controversial in his day. In the power of the Spirit, he went to his hometown synagogue for worship on the Sabbath. He was handed the scroll of Isaiah, which he read from. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he said the words that made people want to throw him off of a cliff: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18ff, emphasis mine) This was controversial to his hearers because he was claiming to be Messiah. However, he was and is Messiah and his purposes are true and unchanging. He was sent to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. Pray that Jesus’ purpose for coming will be brought to fruition among the Aruamu and Somau Garia peoples of Papua New Guinea—that those bound up in spiritual prisons of sin and darkness will be set free and brought into the Kingdom of Light. Pray for a readiness to hear the gospel in a fresh way. Pray for Todd as he prepares his heart, mind, spirit, and as he chooses (prayerfully) what to preach.