FLM TOBY FANANTENANA 67 Ha
Communion’s prayer, Sunday VI after Trinity
Week from 24 to 29 July 2017
“God, Master of the law”
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Introduction: “God, Master of the law” means that all the creations are subject to the law set down by God: the conception, the birth, the growth, the maturity, the old age and the death. So, there is a law that governs all creature, from the tiniest little things till the biggest one, which is our relationship with God and His with us. Giving us the law is a great deal for God and He is jealous for us to observe it. Jesus ‘statement was clear and complete when He defended the Law: “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” Mt 5:18. And He said to His disciples: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” Jn 14:15. For the law aims to bring grace as the Holy Scripture says: “For they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body” Pr 4:22. For God, who is “a God of law”, is not “a God of disorder but of peace” 1 Cor 14:33, who administers all created things by law. This is the reason why His creations are made perfect as it is written: “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” Gen 1:31a.
Monday 24: God gives the law.
“And God spoke all these words” Ex 20:1.
Reading 1: Jn 1:1-4; Reading 2: Ex 20:1-17; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Ex 20:1.
Other references:
– “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction” Ex 24:12.
– “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” Jos 1:8
Tuesday 25: Obedience to the laws, source of blessing.
“All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” Dt 28:2.
Reading 1: Mt 7:24-27; Reading 2: Dt 28:1-13; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Dt 28:1-2.
Other references:
– “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land” Is 1:19
– “ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does” Jos 1:25.
Wednesday 26: Faith fulfills the law.
“Do we, then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law” Rom 3:31.
Reading 1: Mt 21:18-22; Reading 2: Rom 3:21-31; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 3:30-31
Other references:
– “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead” Heb 11:4.
– “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go, it will be done just as you believed it would” And his servant was healed at that very hour” Mt 8:13
Thursday 27: Jesus, fulfillment of the law.
“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” Mt 5:17b.
Reading 1: Rom 13:10-14; Reading 2: Mt 5:17-19; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 5:17.
Other references:
– “And He began by saying them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” Lk 4:21
– “The World became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” Jn 1:14.
Friday 28: The fulfillment of the law.
“All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” Mt 22:40.
Reading 1: 1 Cor 13:4-13; Reading 2: Mt 22:34-40; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 22:40.
Other references:
– “Love does not harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” Rom 13:10.
– “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding going or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” 1 Cor 13:1-2.
Saturday 29: Obey God’s law.
“They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” Mt 15:9
Reading 1: Deu 27:1-10; Reading 2: Mt 15:1-9; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 15:9.
Other references:
– “But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” 1 Sam 15:22.
– “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” Mt 12:50.
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