Worship for 19 June 2022

by Jim Shaw and Chris Lane 19 June 2022

Welcome to worship. The service below reflects the worship happening in our church today.

Call To Worship
This day and all days are yours, Lord God. And this day and all days, you give reason for us to rejoice and be glad for you have loved the world in Jesus your Son once and for all:

For all days, and all places, and all times. We bring our offering of praised in token return for your gift. In Jesus name we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Lord there is no one like you. You provide for all our needs. You give us strength for the day. Your love has set us free. And so we worship you for all you have done. We sing -

Who is there like you?

Prayers of Adoration
How can I not praise you Lord of my life? 
For in Christ you have given me all things.
In Christ you have given me hope.
In Christ you have given me faith
In Christ you have given me love.
In Christ you have given me peace.
In Christ you have given me sisters and brothers.
In Christ you have given me a new purpose.
In Christ you have given me forgiveness.
In Christ you have given me the Holy Spirit.
In Christ you have given me new birth.

Readings: Luke 8: 26-29, Hebrews 2:14-18

All the powers of death, and hell, and sin lie crushed beneath His feet and so the victory’s is ours.

Song: He that is in us

Reading: Acts 26: 12-20

Jesus sent Paul out in His name and so he sends us… 
Song: God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name

Sermon points
Few people in the West today are in bondage to demons, but the New Testament makes it clear that everyone is in bondage to Satan and the powers of darkness until Jesus sets them free.

This bondage stems from the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.  See Genesis ch 3.  Satan in the form of the serpent deceived Eve and persuaded them both to fall into temptation and rebellion against God.  By their rebellion they forfeited the rule of the earth and all that God had created upon it: that rule passed to Satan. 

All their descendants - all mankind - are born with the consequences of their rebellion.  We are all born rebels and sinners against God, under Satan’s authority, members of his kingdom, the kingdom of darkness and in bondage to him.
Satan’s strategy is to keep everyone in deception and delusion, blind to their true position, and blind to the deliverance that Jesus Christ has brought.

For Christ has broken Satan’s bondage and set us all free.  By dying on the cross, he paid the full penalty for mankind’s sin and rebellion; by his resurrection he conquered death and hell, enabling those who believe in him to no longer live in fear of death; and by his ascension he is seated at God’s right hand with authority over Satan and the powers of darkness.  He has broken their power.  He took back from Satan rulership of the earth.  He enabled us, through faith in him, to be a new people in union with him - a new creation, reconciled to God.  He transferred us into his own kingdom, where we actually share his heavenly authority.

But it’s up to every individual whether they benefit from Christ’s defeat of Satan and escape from his bondage.  It is the power of Christ working through the message of the meaning of his live, death and resurrection that brings us to faith in him, causes us to see the truth, confess Jesus to be Lord, and enter Christ’s kingdom.  Repenting - turning from our old ways to live for Christ - shows that our faith is real.

And as we turn to him, we must commit to follow him and accept his commission to bring the good news about him to others, bearing witness to what Christ has done for us and encouraging them to trust in him too.  And to do that we need to seek and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we know his power - power to live the Christian life and power to share him with others.  Because others can only escape Satan’s bondage through us bringing the good news about Christ to them.
“To open their eyes, that they might turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God” (Acts 26.18)

Song: Let your living water flow over my soul

Prayers of Confession and intercession
Come and teach us Lord Jesus:
Without you we do not know how to worship God with all our heart and mind.

Come and teach us Lord Jesus: 
Without you we do not know how to pray with commitment and passion. 

Come and teach us Lord Jesus:
Without you we cannot understand God’s word to us.

Come and teach us Lord Jesus:
Without you we cannot love ourselves and each other.

Come and teach us Lord Jesus:
Without you we do not know how to work for the Kingdom.

Come and teach us Lord Jesus:
So that this church and everyone who has a part in it may become more like you. Amen

Lord, we bring our prayers for our world.
Father God, we pray for our world today. We pray for peace and for those who have been troubled by natural disasters, conflict, and the results of a global pandemic. In challenging times, help us turn to you as our source of strength and hope. We pray for your peace to be with all those who have suffered and continue to do so. 
Your Kingdom Come Your will be done

Father God, we pray for those who are finding it hard to find the money they need to pay for food, fuel for their car, and to pay their bills. Show each one of us how we can help those in need by our prayers and actions.  
Your Kingdom Come Your will be done

Father God, we pray for leaders all around the world. Give each one integrity, wisdom, love and compassion in all the decisions they make so the lives of your people are improved.
Your Kingdom Come Your will be done

Father God, we pray for the community here in this area. As Holiday club approaches, we pray that all the helpers needed will be found. We pray that you will go before and be in the planning of all that takes place. We pray that even now you will prepare the hearts of the children who will come so that may come to know you in a real way.
Your Kingdom Come Your will be done

Father God in the silence we bring prayers that on each of our hearts for those in need that we know and love.

Let us share in the Lord’s Prayer.

Father God, we bring all these prayers to you, knowing you hear and answer in your way and in your time. Amen

Song: Great is the darkness

The Grace
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen