Stop and reflect

"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners..."

Luke 4:18

When Jesus declares that the Spirit has sent Him to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, He's referring to spiritual, physical, mental and emotional imprisonment. In His ministry, there are many instances when Jesus sets captives free and liberates those under oppression.

Read Luke 13:10-16 and Acts 10:38 for further reflection and meditation this week.

Love God and His people

Despite the war, Feba's partners in Ukraine are continuing to broadcast the good news across the country. Using FM radio, social networks, smartphone apps, and web broadcasting, the teams are playing a vital role in sharing God's word and praying for people over the airwaves while also providing practical support to listeners traumatised by the conflict.

Inna works with our partner FEBC Ukraine - based in in Kyiv; she shared with us how she's responding to people caught up in the horror of the Russia-Ukraine war:

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"So many people in Ukraine are imprisoned by their fears. They can’t sleep, they can’t eat, they can’t even think sometimes. I hear their stories. I listen to their fears. I pray with them. I have many of the same thoughts. I understand. But I know Jesus, and that makes all the difference.

"I’ve been able to see the difference that Jesus makes in our listeners' lives as they join us for our programmes and as I meet with them in person. People that were scared and hopeless are finding joy and peace as they hear the good news. They are finding the only true security and hope in life, Jesus Christ."

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In this remarkable video, Pastor Sergey (a church leader in Kyiv and regular broadcaster with FEBC Ukraine) shares how it is possible to know hope in the midst of war:

Open your heart to God in prayer

• Pray for all those who are facing imprisonment of any kind in Ukraine today. Ask the Holy Spirit to release them from fear and fill them with peace and the promise of new life.
• Pray for peace and protection over our partners and their families in Ukraine.

Wait on God and Walk in His ways

As you take time in this second week of Advent to wait on God in the light of Jesus' words in Luke 4:18, ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind people you might know who long to be set free from any kind of fears, addictions, or physical or spiritual imprisonment. Meditate on these words in Psalm 147:7 as you walk in His ways this week: "Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me."

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Weekly reflections through Advent

We will be releasing fresh content each Sunday through Advent - all based around the central theme of 'Waiting in hope'. For an introduction to the series, please click here. You can also just click the following titles to visit each page when they go live (on the dates shown):

Week One: 27th November - 'Waiting in hope with the poor'

Week Two: 4th December - 'Waiting in hope with those in captivity'

Week Three: 11th December - 'Waiting in hope with those who cannot see'

Week Four: 18th December - 'Waiting in hope with those who are oppressed'

Please feel free to share details of this page and Feba's Advent resources with anyone you think might be interested - perhaps family or friends, maybe people from your church. We do still have some printed copies available too - please do contact us if you would like one/some sent in the post.

Thank you for your partnership with us this Advent season.

To make a donation to Feba's 'Waiting in Hope' Advent appeal, please click here. Thank you.