FLM TOBY FANANTENANA 67 Ha
Communion’s prayer on Easter Sunday and Monday
Week from 17 to 22 April, 2017
“Christ is risen from the dead”
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Introduction: “Christ is risen from the dead”: this primarily manifests the glory of God, even his authority over all things, over life and death. Those who knew Him were firmly convinced of this, such as David who exclaimed: “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears“ 1 Chr 17:20. And He Himself said: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me“ Is 46: 9b. Therefore “what is impossible with man is possible with God“ Lk 18:27. Through this faith Abraham was justified, “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised“ Rm 4:21. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness”, which means that, by doing so, he pleased God (Heb 11:6). Furthermore, Jesus‘ resurrection also aims to raise us sinners, dead in our sins, from the dead, since “the sting of death is sin“ 1 Cor 15:56a. In this way God has fulfilled his plan, as it is written: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters“ Rm 8:28-29. Believe in the work of God: Jesus Christ risen from the dead! For those who believe in Him, will live just as He does, for “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life“ Jn 3:36a.
Monday 17: Jesus was lifted up in order to save the sinners.
“See, my servant will … be raised and lifted up and highly exalted” Is.52:13.
Reading 1: Jn 12. 27-33. Reading 2: Is 52: 13-15. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Is 52: 13. Other references:
– “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” Jn 3: 14-15.
– “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Phil 2:10-11.
Tuesday 18: The dead are raised.
“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either” 1 Cor 15:16.
Reading 1: Jn 1: 21-17. Reading 2: 1 Cor 15: 12.21. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: 1 Cor 15: 16-17. Other references:
– “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” Mt 11:5.
– “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive” Lk 20:38.
– “As it is written:“I have made you a father of many nations.”He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not” Rm 4:17.
Wednesday 19: Jesus has risen from the dead.
“He is not here; he has risen!” Lk 24:6a.
Reading 1: Is 8: 11-19. Reading 2: Lk 24: 1-9. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Lk 24: 5-6. Other references:
– “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb” Lk 24:2.
– “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” Jn 20:8.
– “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” 1 Cor 15:14.
Thursday 20: Jesus Christ has conquered death.
“I will redeem them from death” Hos 13:14a.
Reading 1: Heb 1:10-15. Reading 2: Hos 13:14. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Hos 13:14a. Other references:
– “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it” Jn 5: 21.
– “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” Jn 11:25.
Friday 21: Believe in the testimony of the witnesses.
“I have seen the Lord!” Jn 20:18b.
Reading 1: 1 Cor 15:1-11. Reading 2: Jn 20:11-18. Preaching 1(choice). Preaching 2: Jn 20:18. Other references:
– “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’” Mt 16:16.
– “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” Acts 4:20.
– “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” 1 Jn 1:3.
Saturday 22: Jesus is alive for ever and ever.
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” Re 1:18.
Reading 1: Job 19:25-27. Reading 2: Re 1:12-18. 5: 17. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Re 1:17-18. Other references:
– “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” Jn 17:3.
– “But God raised him from the dead” Acts 13:30.
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