Weekly Guide：Week 102
January 05, 2020
Foreword
We are coming to the completion of our Two Year Bible Reading Plan this week. Let’s give thanks to the Lord! And, congratulations to all who have done the reading! Next year, we will start again on January 6th a new Two Year Bible Reading Plan. In the new plan, we will include a short video introduction at beginning of each book. These concise and yet informative introductions will help us to have a better understanding of the Bible as a whole. We will continue to include the reading guide and spiritual sharing to help us apply our daily reading to our life and make the Bible truly the lamp to our feet and light to our path.
May you all be renewed in God’s word every day!
Question
How the new heaven and new earth are like?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
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God’s dwelling place is now among the people! He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death.
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To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
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Angel showed John the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God.
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The twelve gates were twelve pearls, the great street of the city was of gold, Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
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Down the middle of the great street of the city was the river of the water of life. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
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There will be no more night, for the Lord God will give them light and they will reign for ever and ever.
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These words are trustworthy and true. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.
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Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - God’s dwelling place is now among the people. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain! These are the promises God gave us and the basis of our joy, hope, and praises! How am I being encouraged each day by His promises?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Jesus say at the end of the Bible?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord is coming soon! His reward is with Him and He will give to each person according to what they have done.
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I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
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If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from
this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - John wrote at the end of the book: Come, Lord Jesus. Is John’s wish also my hope? Why do I (or don’t I) have such hope?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the reason to contend for the faith?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ We ought to contend for the faith because of the appearance of heresies and false teachers in church:
+ The three judgments depict the end of the false teachers;
+ The three paths are the ways of the false teachers;
+ The six metaphors reveal the core of the false teachers;
+ Enoch foretold the end of the false teachers;
+ We ought to remember the word of the Lord, to build ourselves in holy faith, to pray in the Holy Spirit, and to keep ourselves in God's love. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - There will be false teachers and heresies near the end. Jude raised examples and used metaphors to describe the false teachers and their end. What is the end of the false teachers? What are their ways? What is their core? Have I seen false teachers? Was I able to tell them apart? What more about them have I learned from this passage?
+ **Walking with God** - How shall I equip myself to fend off the false teachers' temptation and contend for the faith? Jude gave different reminders for those who have fallen. To whom shall I be merciful and save? And be merciful with fear? Why?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Foreword
We continue to read the book of First John. Church is a community filled with life to let all who lives in it to receive heeling. The relationship between its member brings out truthful responsibilities toward each other and active renewal of their spiritual life. However, the sin embedded in us often causes us to lose sight of hope. We ought to know that God is greater than anything, by obeying His commands shall bring us the power from Him.
Let us first build our faith on God, not on other believers or spiritual leaders. Second, we shall obey and do what Jesus does; true love comes from testifying for Christ. Lastly, follow the Holy Spirit and not people's opinions. Let Jesus live in us through the Holy Spirit. Then, we would have the vibrant and faithful life from God even as we live in the disruptive and corrupted world.
My you all be renewed each day in God's word!
### Question
Why if we love one another, God lives in us?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
+ This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
+ God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
+ We love because He first loved us.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - We are from God and have won over the spirit of the antichrist; for He who lives in us, is much greater than the world. What difficulties am I facing? Let He who lives in me be my only true help and shout out loud through Him the voice of victory!
+ **Community** - Let us love one another, for love comes from God.
+ **Integrity** - Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment. How does this verse encourage me and give me hope? We love because He first loved us. Think and experience God's love. Through God's love, let me try to love someone whom I don't love, today.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the relationship between love and truth?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Love and truth go hand in hand. Love is for the truth.
+ To love God is to obey Gods' commands to love one another.
+ To love one another, first walk in the truth. Do not take into your house and welcome those who do not follow the Christ.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Often time the "love" the world talks about is not God's love. Because God's love does not go against His truth. Let me meditate on God's truth and think about what God's love is. Do I have experience with any kind of "love" that muddies the truth? This could have happened among the believers. What could have I done to "Speak the truth in love?"
+ **Community** - Jesus commanded us to love one another. This is to love in God's love, not in human's love. There is no conflict in true love. The ministers in John's time were all travelling ministers who stayed in the household of the loving believers and were supplied by them. This kind of hospitality showed others the acknowledgment and acceptance of a particular minister. How may I acknowledge and accept the truth taught by a minister today? John also gave warning not to show hospitality to those who don't teach in truth. What does that warning remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did John write the Book of Revelation?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ John wrote the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, to make it known and to testify everything he saw.
+ John wrote to the seven churches in the province of Asia.
+ Jesus is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.
+ The Lord says: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
+ Among the seven golden lampstands was someone like a son of man.
+ He said: "I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God is the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. I as a child of the eternal creator, how may I use properly my time on earth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What seven churches did John write to?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The church in Ephesus, you have forsaken the love you had at first.
+ The church in Smyran, do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer, I will give you life as your victor's crown.
+ The church in Pergramum, some among you have hold to the teaching of Balaam. Repent therefore!
+ The church in Thyatira, you tolerated that woman, who calls herself a prophet, to mislead my servants by her teaching. Hold on to what you have until I come.
+ The church in Sardis, remember what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.
+ The church in Philadelphia, since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
+ The church in Laodicea, you are neither cold nor hot. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God says: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." In the Father's house, we shall not be afraid, because He loves those who repent. What do I need to repent today?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Foreword
We continue to read the last book of Bible, The Book of Revelation, in the one hundredth week of reading together.
We did not know if we were able to persevere at the beginning of the reading plan two years ago. Looking back now, however, we can see God's grace in each step of the way. This Journey of Humility is truly a journey of a thousand mile in the spiritual life. If you have ever doubted or wondered, then doubt and wonder no more, for today is the day to start! It takes just a single step to start the journey of a thousand mile. Let's experience this journey together!
May you all be renewed in God's word every day!
### Question
What was the praising scene like in heaven?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ A door standing open in heaven, John was in the Spirit, and there before him was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
+ Four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
+ In the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
+ The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.
+ A Lamb standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
+ Many angels encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, are praising Jesus Christ. How would the coming of this day change my perspective on all things around me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses