Malagasy Lutheran Church Song & Gospel Sunday XVI following the Trinity, 02-08 October 2022 « Know God »

























Introduction: The title « Know God » reveals that God is not hidden from us, nor does He want to be hidden Himself from us sinners. Instead, we can know Him well, and He Himself wants us to know Him so that we can believe in Him, receive His salvation, and allow Him to water us with His inexhaustible grace (Jn 1:16). Thus, the key word that builds the « Christian faith » is « to know what it believes in », according to these words of the Apostle Paul: « I know in whom I believe » 2 Tim 1:12b. This means that faith is not a superstitious belief, as if it were an unfounded, unreliable reality, or a purely mental and idealistic faith, like that of a person who recognizes the existence of God but has no connection with Him or does not know His strength, in any case a person whose faith is not lived. For the Lord says, « The righteous shall live by faith » Heb 10:38a, i.e. the one who truly lives by God, who is no stranger to Him, but who is a child whom He knows very well (1 Tim 2:19), according to the Word of Jesus, « My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me » Jn 10:27. It is the erroneous and incomplete knowledge in God that makes unbelieving, as Jesus said: « You are wrong, because you do not understand the Scriptures, nor the power of God » Mt 22:29. Indeed, it is this which shakes faith, indeed, and which gives rise to rivalry between God and the false gods, pushing some to duplicity, because they « bow down and swear to Jehovah and swear to Malcham [Or: their king] » Zef 1:5b. Yet the Lord declares, « I am the Lord, and there is none else; there is no other God but me » Isa 45:5a,b. There are also those who do not want to know Him, such as the Jews who rejected Him (Jn 11:11) and the Romans of whom Paul said, « Since they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, and did not give him thanks » Rom 1:21a. There are five tellers that reveal God: Jesus Christ the Son (Mt 17:5/ Jn 1:18), the Holy Spirit (Jn 15:26), the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16), the witnesses (Jn 15:27/ Acts 1:8) and the works of God (Ps 19:1/ Jn 14:11b). That’s why Jesus said, « Seek, and you will find » Mt 7:7b.

Monday, 03rd: Know the One God.
"Know that I am God" Deut 32:39a.
Reading 1: Jn 14:1-7. Reading 2: Deut 32:39-40. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Deut 32:39.
Introduction: The statement "One God" reveals that He is none other than Himself and cannot be replaced. It is a recommendation and a foundation for us to trust Him without worrying about seeking and serving other teachers or confusing Him with those who are not God. Happy are those who know Him and who can say, like Jesus’ disciples, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God" Jn 6:68-69.
Tuesday, 04th: Know that God is holy.
"You shall have no other gods before me" Ex 20:3.
Reading 1: Gal 1:1-8. Reading 2: Ex 20:1-6. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Ex 20:3.
Introduction: Because God is holy, "sanctify Him". Give Him the glory and honor due to Him, as He says: "A son honors his father and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? and if I am a Lord, where is my fear? says the Lord of armies to you, priests, who despise my name […]" Mal 1:6. This is a great warning that calls all the people of God to holiness, for "only those who are holy will see the Holy One" (Heb 12:14) and may commune with Him (Job 22:21).
Wednesday, 05th: Know that God is love.
"God is love" 1 Jn 4:16b.
Reading 1: Mt 9:9-13. Reading 2: 1 Jn 4:12-16. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: 1 Jn 4:16.
Introduction: God is love and does not want sinners to be lost, but saved to inherit His kingdom, eternal life (Jn 3:16). He sent us His Son, Jesus Christ, who affirmed, "For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost" Lk 19:10. Then He calls us, "Come to me, you all who work and who are loaded, I will give you rest" Mt 11:28. Respond to His invitation, for He said, "I will not put out whoever comes to me" Jn 6:37b.
Thursday, 06th: Know that God is the Master of life.
"And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’" Lk 7:14c.
Reading 1: Jas 4:10-12. Reading 2: Lk 7:11-17. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Lk 7:14-15.
Introduction: The people who saw Jesus resurrecting the only son of Nain's widow just in one word saying, "Rise" Lk 7:14c, were stunned and terrorized. This means that His words are holy because He is Lord. He declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" Jn 11:25-26a. Therefore, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life" Jn 3:36a.
Friday, 07th: Know Jesus Christ the only Savior.
"We know that this is truly the Savior of the world" Jn 4:42c.
Reading 1: Acts 4:5-12. Reading 2: Jn 4:34-42. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 4:41-42.
Introduction: Jesus Christ is the only Savior in the world whom the Father gave when He said: "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" Mt 17:5b. "for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" Acts 4:12b. Jesus prayed this, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him" Jn 17:1-2.
Saturday, 08th: Stay in the Lord.
"And that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" Eph 3:17a.
Reading 1: Jn 15:9-15. Reading 2: Eph 3:14-21. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Eph 3:14-17.
Introduction: "Staying well" is a source of trust and benefits. It means that it is the Lord who dwells in the believer (Rev 3:20). Therefore, those who want to remain in Him accept Him as the "Lord who reigns over their hearts" (1 Pet 3:15). It is a guarantee of eternal salvation and blessing, as it is written, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Col 1:27. Jesus will surely come and take His own to fulfil His words saying, "so that where I am, there you may be also" Jn 14:3b. So, "be steadfast, immovable […]" 1 Cor 15:58a.

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