Weekly Guide：Week 77
July 14, 2019
Forward
We will complete reading the Book of Isaiah soon and continue to read a book of another prophet: The Book of Jerimiah.
The rebellion, judgment, return and redemption in the prophet’s books are still meaningful to today’s believers. God has eternal love for all and is full of grace through His peaceful covenant. He only temporarily turned away from the Israelites but protected His people with great grace. God is not a straight faced judge endlessly counting our sins. God is the creator and our heavenly father with love. Just as the rain always fall to enriches the earth, His promise will always come to us as undeserved gift of grace so that we don’t have to bear all that well-deserved suffering. However, if we don’t accept His grace and would rather fall under our sins, then we would be all alone and hopeless like the hopeless effort of irrigating the desert with a spoon.
May you all be renewed in His word each day!
Question
How will the remnant of Israel be blessed?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord revealed Himself to those who did not ask for Him; He was found by those who did not seek Him. To a nation that did not call on His name, He said, “Here am I, here am I.”
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Judah was forsaken for their unbelieve. The Lord will not keep silent but will pay back in full; He will pay it back into their laps.
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The Lord will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess His mountains.
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Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the one true God. For the past troubles will be forgotten.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Israelites often angered God even though they were the chosen people. Today, we as the saved, are still chained by sins and often angers God. Pray to God to examine my heart and remind me to remove my all my sins including those remain hidden.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How do the new heavens and new earth look?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the new heavens and a new earth, the former things will not be remembered. Be glad and rejoice forever in what the Lord will create.
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Heaven is the Lord’s throne and earth is His footstool. The ones He look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit.
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Those who exclude you because of my name will be put to shame.
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Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her.
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The Lord is coming with fire, He will bring down His anger with fury.
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The Lord is about to gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see His glory.
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The name and the descendant of chosen will be made to endure.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Lord creates new heavens and new earth but will look on with favor those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at His word. Am I justified in God’s eye? Am I humble and ready to repent with fear of His holiness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How was Jeremiah sent by God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
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Before the Lord formed Jeremiah in the womb He knew him, before he was born He set him apart; He appointed him as a prophet to the nations.
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Jeremiah saw the branch of an almond tree and a pot that is boiling, tilting from the north.
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From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land.
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The Lord commanded Jeremiah: “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.”
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - When the Lord sent Jeremiah, He told him not to be terrified, for He had made him a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall. Although people went against Jeremiah, they could not overcome him because God was with him. Appreciate how God protects His servants and be encouraged and be filled with confidence in serving Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Israel stray from the Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest.
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But their ancestors strayed far from the Lord. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
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Has a nation ever changed its gods? But people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
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Your wickedness will punish you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of Him.
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On every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute, turned your back to me, yet when you are in trouble, you say, “Come and save us!”
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Israelites exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols, be appalled at this, you heavens. Am I worshiping worthless idols to satisfy my fleshly desires?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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After the faithless Israel committed adultery, her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. She also went out and committed adultery.
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The Lord called Israel to return, for He is faithful and will not be angry forever.
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Israel wept and pleaded, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the Lord their God.
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Israel come to God, because He is the Lord.
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If you, Israel, will return, then return to me and no longer go astray.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception. The Lord our God is the salvation. Where is my protection and help? Is it on the rock or sand?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why did the Lord punish Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The prophet questioned to the Lord: “How you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!”
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The Lord said to Jerusalem: “Wash the evil from your heart and be saved. Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is!”
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The prophet was agonizing in his heart, which was pounding within him, and could not keep silent.
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The Lord questioned if there’s one in Jerusalem who dealt honestly and sought the truth.
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Ravage, but do not destroy them completely, strip off only those do not belong to the Lord.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Lord found no one in Jerusalem who dealt honestly or sought the truth, and those who swore, sworn falsely. How may I differentiate myself from the world but deal with honesty and mercy by following God’s will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What has the Lord done?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ With whom will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?
+ God brings out the starry host one by one.
+ God will lead all Israel. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
+ God said to Israel: "You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
+ Idols, you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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. Where do I seek strength? How may I be strengthened by God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What should the Lord's chosen servant do?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord has already chosen His servant. He will bring justice to the nations.
+ The Lord have called him in righteousness, to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.
+ Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands.
+ You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.
+ Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
+ Foretold the downfall of Babylon.
+ The Lord is doing a new thing.
+ I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord had said: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." I shall remember this fact and let it strengthen me in difficult times.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How may we praise the Lord for what He is doing?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The God of Israel is the first and the last; apart from Him there is no God.
+ Do not tremble, do not be afraid. You are my witnesses.
+ All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.
+ Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, He displays His glory in Israel.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - No idol worshiper has the knowledge or understanding that a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" What idols am I still worshiping?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did the Lord raise up Cyrus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.
+ This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him.
+ I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free.
+ Turn to the Lord and be saved, all of us ends of the earth; for He is God, and there is no other.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Does the clay say to the potter, "What are you making?" Does your work say, "The potter has no hands?" We shall obey under God's sovereignty knowing He had created us and is the source of our peace. What doubt do I still have for Him and wondering why something happens not to my liking? Call out to God and try to accept His sovereignty over that "thing."
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the end of Babylon?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The idols of Babylon cannot be saved, they will all go off into captivity.
+ Listen to me, Israel, I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
+ With whom will you compare God or count Him equal?
+ God make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
+ Babylon will be defeated. They showed Israel no mercy. Even on the aged they laid a very heavy yoke.
+ Babylonians are lovers of pleasure, lounging in their own security and saying to themselves, "I am, and there is none besides me." Therefore, woe to them.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God promised: "Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born." These loving words have encouraged many, given them hope. Put these words into my heart and become my strength.
+ **Integrity** - God condemned Babylon: "You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.'" Do I believe no one sees my improper behavior? Let me repent before God without reservation, because He knows everything and sees my heart.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How does the Lord call His people to repent and return to Him?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Rebuke all those who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel-but not in truth or righteousness.
+ Rebuke all those who are treacherous and were rebellious from birth.
+ The Lord for His name's sake delays His wrath; for the sake of His praise He holds it back from them.
+ Calling all to listen to the Lord, Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, "The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - We benefit from the Lord's teaching and from His leading us to walk on the His way. If we obey, we'd be blessed because fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. Do I fear Him in how I act and am willing to seek His will? Or, do I just go my own way by my own will? Why is it that I sometimes don't listen to Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Jesus call His first disciples?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus called the first disciples.
+ Jesus cleansed the leper and healed the paralyzed.
+ The Pharisees conflicted with Jesus for He healed during Sabbath. Jesus called Himself the Lord of the Sabbath.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus proclaimed Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath because only God can give us true rest. Am I able to rest in God's peace when facing the stress of life and being judged by values of the world?
+ **Community** - The friends of the paralyzed went extraordinary length to help him. Have I gone the extra mile for my fellow Christians? Can I become the blessing of someone in particular?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus called on the disciples to fish for people. Am I proclaiming gospel for the Lord to win over the souls of people?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus teach to the crowd that followed Him?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus picked twelve of His disciples to become apostles.
+ Jesus preached to the crowd on a level place about the blessings and the woes.
+ Jesus talked about removing the plank from one's own eyes before taking a speck out of others' eyes.
+ Fruit trees are identified by the fruits they bear.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus prayed whole night before selecting His twelve apostles. Am I following God's guidance and His will to act upon? Is there anything I need to pray and ask God for?
+ **Identity** - The blessings and woes in God's eyes are totally different from the world's. How do I know what is the true blessing? Or, what appears to be blessing would bring woe? Do I have a complete and clear understanding of God's value and am willing to act upon it?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is true faith?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus was amazed by the centurion's faith and healed his servant.
+ Jesus raised from dead the son of a widow in the town of Nain.
+ Jesus' identity clarified through John the Baptist's question and Jesus' answer.
+ A woman's sins were forgiven for her faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - For the centurion's faith, Jesus said: "I have not found such great faith even in Israel." As God's elected ones, we are His children and made righteous by faith. Do I have any difficulty to have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - The woman knew she was unworthy so she humbly gave her best to Jesus. Do I often examine my heart to reveal my own weakness and humbly come in front of the Lord to ask for forgiveness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What may one become a brother of Jesus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus uses the parable of sower to depict the difference in people's reactions to the truth.
+ Jesus said: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
+ Jesus calmed the storm and drove out the demons into the pigs.
+ The woman who bled for years was healed for her faith. Jairus' daughter was raised from dead for his faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The woman who bled for years did not dare to ask Jesus directly but touched His cloak from behind wished to be healed. Can I come to Jesus without reservation and ask for His grace, for I have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." Am I listening carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Jesus train His disciples?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus sent the twelve out to preach.
+ Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
+ Peter declared Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection and encouraged the disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him.
+ Jesus went up a mountain and transfigured. A voice in the cloud proclaimed Jesus as God's son.
+ The disciples argued among themselves whom would be the greatest.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus fed five thousand to their satisfaction with five loaves of breads and two fishes. How do I view God's promise and supply to our daily needs? Am I still worrying about tomorrow?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus said: "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me." Am I willing to serve all who are in need? Whom around me is in need?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus and the disciples encounter in places where they preached?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus said: "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (9:56 NKJV)
+ Jesus sent seventy disciples to preach. They came back joyously and Jesus gave thanks to God.
+ Jesus used the example of the Good Samaritan to explain the command to love your neighbor as yourself. He compared Martha and Mary to explain the command to love God.
+ Jesus taught the disciples how to pray.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - To the disciples for they wanted to destroy the Samaritans with fire, Jesus rebuked them that they did not know their own spirits. How do I face those who don't accept me? Do I continue to love them as God does or turn away and curse them?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to go ahead of Him. Do I have coworkers serving with me? Are we following Jesus and serving in unity?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses