Malagasy Lutheran Church
Communion’s prayer, Sunday V after Epiphany
Week from 12th to 17th February 2018
“Trust in God”
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Introduction: “Trust in God”: this is a strengthening word to build one another up in the faith. For through faith salvation is received, just as Jesus said to the woman who had been suffering for 12 years: “Daughter, your faith has healed you” Mk 5:34a. And only through faith one is granted justice from God, and “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Heb 11:6. In this respect, the Word of God declares: “my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” Heb 10:38. In other words, this means that “faith is what justifies us in God’s eyes”, fulfilling thus the promise, so that God would listen to the prayers and petitions that we offer to Him. The work of faith is truly powerful, because Jesus said: “if you have faith and do not doubt,…, also you can say to this mountain, ‘go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” Mt 21:21-22. Surely God fulfills his promises to those who trust in Him. In this regard, Jehoshaphat said to the Israel when their enemy was threatening them: “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” 2 Chr 20:20. In the same way, the Psalmist said: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this” Ps 37:5. The prophet Isaiah confirmed this by saying: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” Is.40:31. Jesus declared: “Ask and it will be given to you” Mt 7:7a, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” Jn 14:13. Jesus Christ is ”the author and perfecter of our faith” Heb 12:2, so “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” Acts 16:31.
Monday 12: God blesses those who trust in Him.
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him” Jer 17:7.
Reading 1: Rom 4:18-22; Reading 2: Jer 17:5-10; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jer 17:7. Other references:
– “In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them” Ps 22:4.
– “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry” Ps 40:1.
– “I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord” Jer 39:18.
Tuesday 13: God makes those who trust in Him prosper.
“All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head” Mk 4:28.
Reading 1: Ps 1:1-3; Reading 2: Mk 4:26-29; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mk 4:28. Other references:
– “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” Deut 28:1-2.
– “His master replied: ‘well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Mt 25:21.
Wednesday 14: Trust in God because He is trustworthy.
“I will not forget you!” Is 49:15d.
Reading 1: 2 Tim 2:8-13; Reading 2: Is 49:13-20; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Is 49:15. Other references:
– “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” Ps 27:14.
– “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” 2 Cor 1:20.
Thursday 15: The confidence in Jesus lets us grow in grace.
“We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” Eph 4:15b.
Reading 1: Jn 15:1-8; Reading 2: Eph 4:11-16; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Eph 4:14-15. Other references:
– “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Ps 23:6.
– “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” Jn 1:16
Friday 16: Trust in the Lord Jesus’s victory.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” Jn 16:33b.
Reading 1: Dan 3:24-30; Reading 2: Jn 16:25-33; Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Jn 16:33. Other references:
– “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” Ps 100:1.
– “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” Col 2:15.
Saturday 17: God commands the believers to trust in Him.
Reading 1: Heb 10:35-39; Reading 2: Ps 37:3-6; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Ps 37:5. Other references:
– “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Lk 18:7-8.
– “Stop doubting and believe” Jn 20:27b.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German, and can be seen on the site www.hifimadanet.org and on Facebook, “Hifi – english”. © Madanet