Weekly Guide：Week 76
July 08, 2019
Forward
The Book of Isaiah we are currently reading is one of my most loved. It is full of heart felt messages of promise and hope.
Here is a familiar passage in Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
The prophet told us how the life of Messiah would be like. Today, we as the saved people of Jesus, must learn, follow, and be strengthened by His example to serve. If you served others with your entire life’s energy but received no recognition that made your endeavor seemed invisible, then there’s no use to seek thanks and gratitude. If this is how people see what Jesus had done for them, then there’s no use to expect being treated properly. We must take lightly the misunderstandings from others, not just shying away from them. There are setbacks in all successful services. One carries the burden to bring healing to all. The burden of the cross can be light if we can see the ultimate victory. Jesus has already taken up our sorrow so we shall take it up for others. It is easy to tell others that it is not hard to get rid of sorrow, but it is not so easy to share their sorrow. Put our shoulders with under their burdens and put our hearts into their struggles. Although we are not strong enough to carry the burdens, but we can bring them to God and lead them to rest under His wings.
May you all be renewed in His word each day!
Question
What salvation did God promise the Israelites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Enlarge the place of your tent, your descendants will dispossess nations.
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Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
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In a surge of anger, God hid His face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness He will have compassion on you.
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In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.
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Give ear and come to God; listen, that you may live. He will make an everlasting covenant with you.
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Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways, for He will freely pardon.
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God’s ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts than your thoughts.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - In the surge of His anger, God has everlasting kindness and compassion on us. The peace in Him cannot be denied by the worldly suffering and dread. Think about His everlasting kindness and compassion. Make that my comfort and strength.
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Integrity - Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Ask God to purify our hearts. Let me ask Him to forgive my sins and all things I have done to displease Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How shall we face the high and exalted one?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it and keeps hands from doing any evil.
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For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
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Rebukes the Judah for being rebellious and treacherous, but whoever takes refuge in Him will inherit the land.
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The Lord lives in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The wicked are like the tossing sea, “There is no peace, for the wicked.” Am I still full of guilt and sin and unable to let go? Please ask the Holy Spirit to help me, to forsake the sins that has being bonding me to receive peace from God’s grace.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why does the Lord save the sinners?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God declares to His people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
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If on the day of your fasting, you do as you please, in quarreling and strife. Is this the kind of fast God have chosen for people to humble themselves?
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If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please, then you will find your joy in the Lord.
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The arm of the Lord is not too short to save, but your iniquities have separated you from your God.
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He saw that there was no one, no one to intervene, so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
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The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - The fasting that pleases God is to share the food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter. When you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. When I serve, do I serve with all my heart and all my mind? Let me remember that when I act with such righteousness and mercy, the Lord’s glory would be behind me in support!
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How should God’s anointed to act out the righteousness in the world?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Arise, shine, the glory of the Lord rises upon you, the nations will come to your light.
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All will be gathered to you. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish.
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Although you have been forsaken and hated, the Lord will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations.
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The Lord will be your everlasting light.
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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on the anointed one to proclaim good news to the poor and the year of the Lord’s favor.
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They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Do I have joy in the Lord and rejoice because of Him? Let me witness the produce in the field, the fruit in the orchard, see the righteousness and praises from the people, and shout out with joy each and every day in Him.
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Fidelity - The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on the anointed one, to proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn. Each and every one of us Christians are the anointed and chosen by our God, how am I living out the responsibility of the anointed?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How does God’s salvation spread to the end of the world?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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For Zion, the prophet will not keep silent till her vindication shines out like the dawn.
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No longer will they call you Deserted. But you will be called Hephzibah, for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.
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The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”
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The Lord who proclaim victory, mighty to save, will trodden the enemies.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord call Israel Hephzibah also calls us the same as He takes delight in us. The people of the Lord shall shine on earth and be His ambassador of grace. How may I live out the life that is pleasing to the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the prophet pray to God to bring justice to earth?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In all their distress, the anointed too was distressed. In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
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They rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
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This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name. Please Look down from heaven and see.
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Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you and make your name known to your enemies!
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Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - While we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away, God is already saving us. The humble and repentant heart will not be taken lightly by Him. Pray to God to have mercy on my weakness, to forgive my wickedness, and let me atone quietly in from of Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What wrong did the Israelites who went down to Egypt do?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord rebukes those obstinate children who went down to Egypt to seek for Pharaoh's protection.
+ The Lord rebukes the people for not willing to listen to the Lord's instruction.
+ Those who look up to the Lord and wait for Him will be blessed.
+ The voice of the Lord will shatter Assyria; with His rod He will strike them down.
+ The Israelites shall return to the Lord.
+ Assyria will fall by sword; they will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Am I willing to rest in quietness and stay in the Lord's peace?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How is God's promise to renew like?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ A king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
+ A prophecy of Judah's ruin, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high.
+ Those who destroy will be destroyed, those who betray will be betrayed.
+ Those who walk righteously and speak what is right are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Pray to the Lord to be my strength every morning, my salvation in time of distress. Prayer to God is not only a cry for help, it is also a path to know Him better. How is my prayer life? How often do I pray?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How is the joy brought about by God's vengeance?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord is angry with all nations. He will totally destroy them, for the Lord has a day of vengeance.
+ The desert and the parched land will be glad; people will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
+ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
+ Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - On the day of the Lord's vengeance, the Israelites will look in the scroll of the Lord and read. Do I place God's word in highest priority not just in time of desperation, but in time of peace and when all things are going smoothly, so that His word may be my strength every day?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the consequence of Assyria king's arrogance?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
+ The king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. The field commander slandered against Judah.
+ When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent his men to the prophet Isaiah.
+ Isaiah comforted Hezekiah's men.
+ Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.
+ Isaiah prophesied woe would come to the king of Assyria for his pride. The angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.
+ The king of Assyria was killed by his sons.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord reminded us that: "Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it." Have I learned what the Lord has done through Bible and know how he loves me through my own experiences? Contemplate on this and give thanks to the Lord.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What cured Hezekiah's illness?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.
+ The word of the Lord came to Isaiah: "Go and tell Hezekiah, I will add fifteen years to your life and I will defend this city."
+ Hezekiah recovered and wrote song in giving thanks to the Lord.
+ Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.
+ Isaiah prophesized the house of Hezekiah would be carried off to Babylon.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - In Hezekiah's song of thanks, people's lives are in the hand of the Lord. How do I see my own life? Where is God's authority in my heart?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the Lord comfort the people of Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord comforted His people, spoke tenderly to Jerusalem.
+ In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
+ The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
+ The Sovereign Lord comes with power, He tends his flock like a shepherd:
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. How may I establish my priority and identity from God word?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happened to Jesus after His arrest?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Pilate could find no accusation against Jesus.
+ The Jews were rather release Barabbas than Jesus.
+ Jesus was crucified along with two rubbers on the cross, mocked by the crowds, and laid in a tomb cut out of rock after death.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - After Jesus drew His last breath, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top down which signified the end of separation of God and man. Am I able to let go of my guilt and despair to come in front of God fearlessly as my own father, to accept His mercy and discipline? Do I have anything to ask from Him?
+ **Integrity** - The chief priest, filled with Jealousy, instigated the crowds to ask for Barabbas' release instead of Jesus. Do I continue to falter on certain things? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to soften my heart to atone in front of God and let His love embrace me.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happened after Jesus' death?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Two women saw a young man dressed in white in the tomb told them that Jesus has risen.
+ Jesus appeared in front of many and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.
+ Jesus commissioned the disciples to proclaim gospel to all creations and He worked with them as they went.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - Mary and two disciples saw Jesus after His resurrection and told the other disciples. But they did not believe them. What should be our attitude toward others' testimonies? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to point the way of the truth and help us to accept each other.
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus commissioned the disciples to preach gospel to all and promised to work with them as well as confirming His word with signs. Do I know that Jesus is working with us all today? How does this truth change my attitude toward serving God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did Luke write this gospel? Where did he start?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Luke explains the reason for writing this gospel.
+ Angel appeared to Zechariah and told him about the birth of John the Baptist.
+ Angel appeared to Mary and told her about conceiving Jesus.
+ Birth of John the Baptist and his father Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesized the coming of Messiah.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Mary had doubt about her conceiving Jesus while being a virgin, but she said: "I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled." How do I value my identity? Am I willing to fill my life with God's will or my own?
+ **Identity** - Mary: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Whom does my soul glorify? Where does my spirit rejoice in?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the events surrounding Jesus' birth and in His youth?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus' birth in a manger in Bethlehem. Angel brought the good news to the shepherds.
+ Simeon and Anna the prophet testified for Jesus' identity and gave glory to God.
+ Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Who would have thought that the son of God was born in a lowly manger? For God does not value material abundance but spiritual blessing. What do I value more? Is my pursue of material takes priority over God?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. In the upbringing of my children, do I value such growth? What do I need to pray for my children?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did John the Baptist preach in the wilderness? Who were Jesus' ancestors?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, baptized people, and was locked up in prison by Herod.
+ Jesus' genealogy traced all the way back to Adam.
+ Jesus won over the temptations from the devil in the wilderness.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Jesus used God's word to fend off the devil's temptations in the wilderness. Am I living in God's word or in cultural traditions and societal norm? Am I capable of fending off devil's temptations?
+ **Fidelity** - John the Baptist faithfully completed the mission God gave him to pave the way for the Messiah. Do I understand my missions in life? Am I willing to follow God's will faithfully?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus encounter when He started His ministry?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus was rejected in His hometown Nazareth when He ministered there.
+ Jesus drove out impure spirit and healed many in Capernaum. He preached in Galilee.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The people in Nazareth did not believe Jesus because they thought they knew Him and His background. Do I have any prejudice toward the truth? Let me be humble in front of God and let His word work in me.
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus was praised in Galilee but rejected in His hometown. Likewise, we may be met with refusal in our ministry and become other's laughingstock. Am I willing to be misunderstood like Jesus and suffer for God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses