Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word and Your Spirit arise in my heart as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, 'Woman, you are set free from your ailment.' When He laid His hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God! But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, 'There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.' But the Lord answered him and said, 'You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?' When He said this, all His opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that He was doing" (Luke 13:10-17).
Like this woman, this "daughter of Abraham" under the Covenant of God, there are spirits who try to cripple the Body of Christ. There are spirits of intimidation, oppression, and persecution who constantly come against Your people -- to keep them "bent over" and "unable to stand." They would keep Your people who are called by Your name bowed down, hidden away, silenced and unseen, while they try to push their agendas and advance their kingdom. They love to voice their indignation and loudly express their paternalistic disapproval, all in the name of their own self-righteousness.
But You have come to set the captives free! You have come to awaken our spirit and lift up Your Body, that we can stand up straight, boldly praising our God! "For (we are) not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith!" (Romans 1:16).
Let the "hypocrites" be "put to shame" and their selective indignation be exposed for all it is. By the power of Your grace, we will arise and we will rejoice "at all the wonderful things" You are doing in our day!
Let the crippling, silencing, shaming spirits of this age be broken off and cast away from the Body of Christ in the mighty name of Jesus! These are our days to arise and shine, with the Light of Your glory arising and shining through us! (Isaiah 60:1-3)
"Everything exposed by the Light becomes visible, 'for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Sleeper awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you! ... Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Ephesians 5:13-20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray youmay be set free from everything that would try to cripple you, silence you, or shame you, that the Gospel may live large in you and through your life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
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