MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion’s prayer, Sunday III after Easter
Wee from 23rd to 28th April 2018
“Christ, hope of the believers”
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Introduction: Nowadays we are living a perplexing period, exhausting for many because of its wars, troubles, crisis and various trials. Yet the people of God who have their hope in Him can say: ”But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” 2 Cor 4:8. Nothing can hinder those who believe in God from hoping in Him because, as children of faith, they will do just as their father Abraham did, as it is written: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘so shall your offspring be” Rom 4:18. This is also why the prophet Habakkuk said: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” Hab.3:17-18. Likewise, the prophet Isaiah said: “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 summed this all up by saying: “People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” Lk.21:26-28. Hope in the Lord for: “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” Is.59:1. Therefore He said: “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” Ps.50:15. Hope in his salvation!
Monday 23: Christ, hope of the believers.
“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him” Lam 3:24.
Reading 1: Mt 1:18-23; Reading 2: Lam 3:18-26; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Lam 3:24. Other references:
– “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Ps 73:26.
– “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” Lk 2:29-32.
Tuesday 24: The believers rejoice in the hope of the revelation of Jesus.
“In this you greatly rejoice… when Jesus Christ is revealed” 1 Pet 1:6-7
Reading 1: Jn 16:16-22; Reading 2: 1 Pet 1:3-9; Preaching 1: (choice); Preaching 2: 1 Pet 1:6-7. Other references:
– “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” Jn 14:21.
– “But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” 1 Jn 3:2b.
Wednesday 25: The people of God are people of hope.
“But as for me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me” Ps 71:14.
Reading 1: Zec 9:9-12. Reading 2: Ps 71:4-1; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Ps 71:14. Other references:
– “Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col 1:27.
– “Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” Rom 5:2.
Thursday 26: The hope in Christ produces salvation.
“For in this hope we were saved” Rom 8:24a.
Reading 1: Mt 11:1-6; Reading 2: Rom 8:18-24, Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 8:24. Other references:
– “The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place” Lk 24:20-21.
– “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” Col 3:4.
Friday 27: Hope in Jesus’ coming back again.
“I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” Jn 14:3b.
Reading 1: 2 Thes 2:13-17; Reading 2: Jn 14:1-12; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jn 14:3. Other references:
– “Men of Galilee’, they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11.
– “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” 1 Thes 4:17.
Saturday 28: Hold on to hope.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” Heb 10:23.
Reading 1: Col 1:19-23; Reading 2: Heb 10:19-23; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Heb 10:23. Other references:
– “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore” Ps 131:3.
– “I will wait for the Lord… I will put my trust in him” Is 8:17.
– “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” Rom 8:25.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German and can be seen on the site www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “HiFi – english “. © Madanet