Prayer Focus: For The Wesleyan Church to be empowered by the Spirit.
Scripture: Luke 4:16-18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me …” (v. 18)
My wife and I co-planted Ransom Church in 2009. Ever since that time, I’m drawn to the places in Scripture where there is a call to “set the captive free.” The original context of this verse is found in Isaiah, where the prophet relays the words of what the future Messiah will be anointed to do. The Messiah claims he will literally undo the damage sin brings.
Sin impoverishes — the Messiah brings life through the gospel. Sin breaks hearts — he heals. Sin blinds us — he comes to bring sight to the blind. Sin oppresses — he brings freedom. And nearest and dearest to my heart, sin makes people captive — the Messiah sets captives free.
In Luke, Jesus would open the scroll, read these words and point the people to himself: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21). In that place, he proclaimed those words and then through the cross, Jesus would fulfill them. But perhaps most importantly, in Acts 2, Jesus kept his promise and sent his Spirit, the same Spirit that was upon him, to empower us to proclaim this same good news. This is now our calling. This is our proclamation: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and you. So GO … set the captive free.
Prayer Prompt: Father, help us live lives empowered by the same Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, that descended upon your Son, and that anointed Jesus to proclaim the good news. Help each of us, your church, to take up the calling ourselves to set captives free — not in our own strength, but as a people empowered by your Spirit. Amen.
Phill Tague
*This entry is part of the “EMPOWERED: 15th General Conference Prayer Initiative,” created to guide Wesleyans in 30 days of intentional prayer for The Wesleyan Church and its 2026 General Conference.
Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
