Seventh Sunday of Easter or Ascension Sunday (2)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Let us walk in the freedom that Christ gives. Let us use our freedom to praise God our Saviour. Let us use the freedom Christ gives to serve him and each other. Let us use our freedom to love.

HYMN

The splendour of the King (StF 15)

  As we enter prayer now, we pause to be still.

  To breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses

  Upon the presence of God

GATHERING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you set us free from the slavery of sin. Help us to live as liberated human beings, not abusing our freedom to do whatever we want, but using it for the good of all. Help us to recognize oppression in the world today and give us the will to act against it. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Sometimes, Lord, we feel as if we are imprisoned – by our circumstances; by our health; by our prejudices; by our own choices. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to walk in your paths. Sometimes we take the easy way out, not knowing what blessings the hard way could have led to. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to walk in your paths. When we react before we know what the situation is, and maybe make the wrong decision. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to walk in your paths. Sometimes we don’t realize what you have done for us, and that we have left the old life behind. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to walk in your paths. Amen.

Paul saved the jailer’s life by not taking advantage of the escape route. We don’t need an escape route from you, O God. You are always there to meet us, and set us free from our sins. You have taken us from old life to new. We rest content in your forgiveness. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever Amen.

HYMN

All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord (StF 293)

READING 1

Acts 16:16–34 ESV

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

READING 2

JOHN 17:20-26

John 17:20–26 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

HYMN

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour’s blood? (StF 345)

SERMON

Gift from God

An Exploration of Acts 16:16-34 and John 17:20-26

Many years ago, I will apologise as I have searched everywhere for the man’s name but his experience I remember, his story goes like this.

He was Chinese brought up as a Christian in America, he felt called by God to go and spread the word in China. Working in small house groups sharing Bibles, he came under suspicion of the authorities and was arrested and imprisoned.

Whilst in this prison he was badly treated. He had to stand in his cell and was told not to move or sit, any movement would lead to a beating.

Whilst he stood there, he reported he felt “he was not alone and felt warmth through his hands” he stood in his cell smiling.

The guards who job it was to periodically check the prisoners did not sit down, saw his smiling face each time they looked in the end they told him to sit down!  

Whilst out digging ditches which was part of his daily work a guard ask him where is your God now, you’re in prison. His reply hit home to the guard “if I wasn’t in prison then I wouldn’t have had chance to speak to you about my God”

He was eventually released and retuned to America. But here was a man called by God in the same way as the early followers of Christ

Introduction

Throughout scripture, the themes of divine gifts and grace resonate deeply. Acts 16:16-34 and John 17:20-26 are two interconnected passages that show the boundless generosity of God—a gift that in beyond our understanding, offering salvation, unity, and enduring love to all believers.

Acts 16:16-34: Liberation and Salvation

In Acts 16:16-34, the story begins with Paul and Silas in Philippi While on their way to prayer, they met a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Her owners exploit her abilities and make money from her, but her persistent calling out about Paul and Silas as servants of the Most High God, lead the apostles to cast out the spirit in Jesus’ name. But this act of mercy incites the anger of her owners, ending with Paul and Silas’s wrongful imprisonment.

But even in the depths of imprisonment, Paul and Silas show unwavering faith, praying and singing hymns to God. Their worship reaches God’s intervention—a sudden earthquake shakes the foundations of the prison, opening its doors and releasing the chains of all captives. In a way this moment highlights the gift of freedom—not merely physical, but spiritual—as God sets free not only Paul and Silas but also the jailer.

The jailer’s reaction when he finds the prisoners are still there shows the profound gift of salvation. Initially prepared to take his own life out of fear, he instead finds hope through the apostles’. He asks, “What must I do to be saved?” he receives the answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” His immediate baptism symbolises the renewal and grace offered by God.

This is a demonstration of the gift of divine deliverance, that extends beyond circumstances to touch hearts, transform lives, and invite believers into a new life with God.

Key Takeaways

· Freedom: God’s gift liberates not only from physical bondage but also from spiritual chains.

· Salvation: Faith in Jesus Christ opens the door to eternal life for all who believe.

· Transformation: Witnessing God’s power changes lives, as seen in the jailer’s conversion.

John 17:20-26: Unity and Love

John 17:20-26 represents part of Jesus’ deeply personal prayer to the Father before His crucifixion.

In these verses, He calls out to God not only for His disciples but also for all who believe in Him through their message. This prayer reveals the gift of unity and love as essential aspects of God’s plan for humanity.

Jesus prays for believers to be united as He is united with the Father. This divine unity is not merely a social bond—it is a spiritual oneness rooted in God’s love and glory. Jesus desires that believers may experience the same profound connection to the Father that He Himself has.

The love of God, expressed through Jesus, is both a gift and a calling. In verse 26, Jesus declares, “I have made you, known to them, and will continue to make you, known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  love he speaks of here; Jesus tells us that the love he is speaking of is not merely an emotion or a sentiment but a living reality. This love bridging the gap between heaven and earth and dwelling in believers as a reflection of divine grace.

Key Takeaways

· Unity: God’s gift unites believers, reflecting the oneness between the Father and the Son.

· Love: The love of God is a profound gift that transforms hearts and brings connection.

· Prayerful Intercession: Jesus’ prayer reflects His desire for believers to share in divine glory.

Conclusion

Imagine a dinner party where everyone is asked to bring a dish. The last guest arrives empty-handed but still receives a warm welcome. That’s how Jesus and the disciples operated! They didn’t have much to offer, but they shared the love and teachings gifted to them. Our contributions might seem small, but when wrapped in love, they become divine gifts to others.

Acts 16:16-34 and John 17:20-26 reveal the immeasurable gifts from God—freedom, salvation, unity, and love. These passages remind us of the transforming power of faith and the boundless grace that flows from communion with God.

Whether liberating captives or uniting believers in His love, God’s gifts are enduring and available to all who seek and believe. In embracing these divine gifts, we experience not only personal renewal but also a deeper connection to the Creator and to one another.

Amen

HYMN

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (StF 568)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Lord, even in prison, Paul put his fears behind him, and sang your praises for all to hear. We thank you for his example and ask that we may always be ready to praise you, whatever our circumstances, however we are feeling. Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus, into situations of imprisonment in our world today. For those imprisoned against their will, exploited and abused... for those imprisoned by special needs that the world doesn’t understand or have time for... for those imprisoned by the darkness of depression and anxiety... for those imprisoned by addictions… for those imprisoned by their pursuit of wealth… for those imprisoned by fears of any kind. Come, Lord Jesus, and set your people free. Amen.

HYMN

I am a new creation (StF 553)

BLESSING

Lord, be with us through this coming week, as we seek to carry out your mission and reveal your glory to the world. Amen.