Freedom Sunday

Chad: Today, Nazarene churches across the globe recognize this Sunday as Freedom Sunday. We join together with Nazarenes around the world and as the people of God to stand against human trafficking. This morning, we join in prayer, in worship, and in giving. We join to say this must stop.

As you saw in the video, slavery is an evil that still exists in our world, even here in the U.S. Big companies such as Nestle, Hershey’s still enslave children for profit. Human trafficking, which includes sex trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar business. It’s a giant that needs to fall.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We, as the Body of Christ should care about the issue of human trafficking and slavery because we believe that every single person, whether child or adult, female or male, is made in God’s image and is, therefore, valuable and worthy of dignity of freedom. Human trafficking dehumanizes, turning God’s people into objects and commodities. Human trafficking abuses people in some of the most horrific ways. Our hope is to see people restored to the fullness of who God created them to be.

Isaiah 58:6–7 ESV

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Today, we want to bring awareness to the horrors of trafficking, cry out and intercede for those in bondage, and maybe for some it’s time to join the fight.

A prayer based on Isaiah 1:17: God of our salvation, who created all things out of love for your children, Help us, who love you, to defend the rights of the orphan, the widow, and the oppressed of every generation; Hear the cries of our hearts for those enslaved in our world today.

And in your compassion, bring comfort and healing, restore liberty and dignity and lead each of your children from bondage to sin, to the glory of your Kingdom. We make your prayer through Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Guided Prayer

Pray for those whose voices are not heard: the defenseless, the imprisoned, and the broken. Pray for the rescue and restoration of those who are enslaved both at home and around the globe. (Isaiah 42:22, Leviticus 19:29, Exodus 20:14)

Pray for those who daily battle human trafficking and for those who give of their time, money, and hearts to serve victims: first responders, activists, advocates, counselors, social workers, and church leaders. Pray for wisdom, compassion, discernment, and empathy. Pray that a bright light can be shown in this darkness. (Romans 8:20-21, Galatians 5:13-14)

Pray against the propaganda of lies impressed on society—the normalization of sexual harm. Pray that the evil found in pornography, strip clubs, and the solicitation of sex would be exposed. Pray that God would convict the hearts of those who exert power over other human beings, that God would heal the heart of exploitation and end the demand. (Psalm 10, Leviticus 19:29)

Pray for those who are vulnerable: children, single-parent households, those who are abused, immigrants, and children in foster homes. Pray for wisdom for caretakers of children, including parents, teachers, church leaders, school bus drivers, coaches, and other authority figures. Pray protection over those at risk, that they might be protected from harm. (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3, Isaiah 41: 10, Psalm 121:7-8)

Sermon Intro - Chad

Before Craig brings us the Word, just a couple of thoughts about human trafficking. Human and sex trafficking can occur anywhere. Affluent neighborhoods or poor. Small towns and large cities. It’s in our malls, our schools, our neighborhoods, our truck stops, and sometimes even in our churches. It’s everywhere. The most asinine thing to believe is, “Surely, not here. That happens over there.”

Traffickers often prey on the vulnerable, the hurting, the desperate and the hopeless. The best thing you can do is be aware and educate yourself on the signs that someone is possibly being trafficked, who to contact and what fuels trafficking.

Sermon - Craig

John 4:1–14 NIV

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Sermon Closing - Chad

Get involved. Everyone can pray.

Some of you can be an advocate, sponsor a survivor or at least educate yourself - especially if you have children or grandchildren or neighbors. Go to

https://www.ncm.org/antitrafficking

https://sharedhope.org/

https://engagetogether.com/

https://polarisproject.org/