Weekly Guide：Week 80
August 04, 2019
Forward
We will continue to read the Book of Jeremiah this week. Jeremiah was mocked by everyone, with terror all around, and all his friends were waiting for him to slip.
This is how the enemies of God treat His servants. It is a reality Jeremiah had to face in that those who pronounces God’s word would be persecuted and brushed aside by all. Faith will not divert trouble for us. Instead, it forces us to face the problems of the world. Our emotion goes from anger to revenge and then becomes joyous in worshiping. Remember the promises God gave us and believe that He is with us forever. There’s no wisdom in those who persecute and they will be humiliated.
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day!
Question
How was Jeremiah attacked by the priests and the prophets?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Early in the reign of Jehoiakim, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah to tell him to stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the town of Judah to tell them everything the Lod had commanded him to say.
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As soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die!”
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Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city.”
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The officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets: “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
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Uriah heard Jeremiah’s prophesy and King Jehoiakim struck him down with a sword.
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Ahikam supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - God commanded Jeremiah to tell His wrath and not to omit a word. Jeremiah followed but was attacked. It is not easy to speak for God. What encouragement can I get from Jeremiah’s example?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Jeremiah prophesy about the king of Babylon’s yoke?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Early in the reign of Zedekiah, the Lord had Jeremiah make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on his neck.
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Jeremiah prophesied any nation or kingdom would not serve Nebuchadnezzar would be punished with the sword, famine, and plague.
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Jeremiah advised Zedekiah: “bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.”
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Jeremiah prophesied the articles from the Lord’s house would be carried away to Babylon.
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Hananiah predicted the articles from the Lord’s house and the exiles of Judah would soon be bought back.
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Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah: “May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied.”
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Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it then prophesied the Lord would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.
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Jeremiah prophesied that Hananiah had broken the wooden yoke but in its place, he would get a yoke of iron and he would die that very year because he had preached rebellion against the Lord.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - It is an embarrassing for Jeremiah to go see Zedekiah and the officials of the nations wearing a yoke on his neck. Have I ever been embarrassed serving the Lord? How may I overcome this feeling?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What were the differences between Jeremiah’s prophesy and other prophets’?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Jeremiah sent letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, asked them to Pray to the Lord to seek the peace and prosperity of the city they were in exile.
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Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
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When seventy years are completed for Babylon, the Lord will come to you and fulfill His good promise to bring you back to this place.
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The Lord said about Ahab and Zedekiah: “They are prophesying lies and will be delivered into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
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Shemaiah prophesied lies and would be punished.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - Is it reasonable when the Lord told those who were in exile to pray for the city they were exiled in? What does this remind me of? How should I pray for the place and country I live in?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord promise Israel’s return?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “The days are coming, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them.”
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The Lord declared: “In that day, I will break the yoke off their necks and they will serve the Lord their God.”
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The Lord comforted Israel: “Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed.”
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The Lord would restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents. He would punish all who oppress them.
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The Lord would be the God of all the families of Israel, and they would be His people.
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Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands.
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The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - What are the characteristics of the Lord’s new covenant? Let me look in the New Testament to see how the prophesies are fulfilled: Acts 13:38-39; Romans 10:9-12; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 5:17; 1 Peter 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27. What do these mean to me?
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Integrity - In that day, I will break the yoke of king of Babylon off their necks. Am I facing difficulties? How may I wait for that day quietly?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord reaffirm His promise?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace, foretold that Hanamel would come and ask him to buy his field at Anathoth.
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Jeremiah took the deed of purchase-the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy-and gave this deed to Baruch.
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Jeremiah prayed to the Lord: “Nothing is too hard for you.”
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The Lord will surely gather them from all the lands; he will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.
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While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time.
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In the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness.
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The Lord declares: “The days are coming, when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.”
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Jerusalem would bring the Lord renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations and they will tremble for it. Has God already gained that glory? How may I glorify God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord judge Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Nebuchadnezzar and all his army were fighting against Jerusalem, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.”
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King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. All the officials and people who entered into this covenant changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.
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The Lord said: “You have not obeyed me, so I proclaim you to fall by the sword, plague, and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.”
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The Lord used the Rekabites’ obedience as example to rebuke Israel for their disobedience.
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For Rekabites have obeyed the command of their forefather, Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve the Lord.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - As soon as the danger is past, all of Judah changed their minds and took back the salves they had freed. How does this remind me of my integrity? How does it reflect my own sin?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why was Nineveh being judged?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ A prophecy concerning Nineveh.
+ The Lord is a jealous and avenging God. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
+ The Lord is good but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into the realm of darkness.
+ Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away.
+ Woe to the city of blood.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Looking at the world surrounding me, how do I see God's plan unfolding?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Under what circumstance did Manasseh turn back to the Lord?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Manasseh reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
+ In his distress Manasseh sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
+ Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.
+ Amon he reigned in Jerusalem two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
+ Josiah reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, purged Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols, and restored the temple of the Lord.
+ Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Then the king called together all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.
+ Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - In his distress Manasseh sought the favor of the Lord and humbled before Him and God saved him. How do I view God's discipline? Complain or repent?
+ **Integrity** - What did Manasseh do after he repented? What did I do? What is true repentance?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
To whom did Zephaniah prophesy to?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah during the reign of Josiah king of Judah.
+ The Lord will stretch out His hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. He will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place.
+ The day of the Lord is near, He will punish the officials and the king's sons.
+ That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress, and a day of battle cry against the fortified cities and against corner towers.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath. What do I value the most? What do I lean on?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happens to God's people after His judgment on them?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Advised those who are humble of the land, who do what He commands, see righteousness, seek humility; perhaps they will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.
+ Canaan, land of the Philistines, I will destroy you, and none will be left.
+ Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah-a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever.
+ You Cushites, too, will be slain by my sword. I will stretch out my hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert.
+ Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
+ Israel, wait for me, declares the Lord, for the day I will stand up to testify.
+ The Lord will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
+ Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The Lord points out the four sins of Jerusalem: obeys no one, accepts no correction, does not trust in the Lord, does not draw near to God. Reflect on myself, do I listen to God or myself? Do I accept correction when straying away? Do I lean on Him or on my own ability? Am I close to God and looking up to His glory?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Judah go into exile?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. He provided the sacrifices to the people and the priests and Levites.
+ Necho king of Egypt went up and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. Josiah would not listen to what Necho had said at God's command. Archers shot King Josiah and he died.
+ Jehoahaz son of Josiah and became king in Jerusalem in place of his father. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem.
+ Jehoiakim reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
+ Jehoiachin reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
+ Zedekiah reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, carried them to Babylon.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What role did the Babylonians play in the history of Israel? Who was in control of history? How do I view the events in my country and around the world?
+ **Identity** - The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Why did He put Judah into exile? How do I understand His compassion and grace?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jeremiah sent by God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
+ 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.
+ Jeremiah saw the branch of an almond tree and a pot that is boiling, tilting from the north.
+ From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land.
+ 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
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did John the Baptist testify for Jesus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ John said he was not the Messiah.
+ He was the voice of one calling in the wilderness: "Make straight the way for the Lord." In the words of Isaiah the prophet.
+ John called Jesus the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
+ John saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. He testified that this is God's Chosen One.
+ Two of John's disciples followed Jesus.
+ Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to follow Him.
+ Nathanael declared: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."
+ In Cana, Jesus turned water into wine. This was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Nathanael declared Jesus is the Son of God. What do I do to testify for Jesus, the Son of God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How may one have an eternal life?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus saw people selling in the temple courts, so He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts.
+ Jews asked Jesus to show signs and He responded: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
+ Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Jesus told him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
+ For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
+ Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
+ Jesus and His disci
t out into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them, and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim. John said, He must become greater; I must become less.
+ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done were done in the sight of God. Do I remember that everything I do shall be done in the light so I would act according to the truth and not hide in the dark?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How may we worship God the Father?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: "Will you give me a drink?"
+ Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
+ Jesus pointed out the woman have had five husbands and the man she was with was not her husband.
+ The true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
+ My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
+ Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
+ Once more Jesus visited Cana in Galilee and there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. Jesus said to him: "Go, your son will live."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus said the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. How may I worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth? Have I reflected on the Spirit and truth in my heart?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why those who believe in Jesus will rise to live?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In Bethesda, Jesus cured a person who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
+ The day was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed: "The law forbids you to carry your mat." They also accused Jesus for breaking the Sabbath.
+ The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
+ Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
+ Jesus said, you study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.
+ Jesus said, if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the He also does. We make Jesus our example which includes how He follow the will of the Father. What does this passage remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why does Jesus say He is the bread of life?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus feeds five thousand with two small barley loaves and two small fish with left over filled twelve baskets.
+ Jesus walks on the water.
+ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.
+ Jesus says, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
+ The Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
+ The words Jesus has spoken-they are full of the Spirit and life.
+ Many of His disciples turned back but Simon Peter knew Jesus has the words of eternal life, is the Holy One of God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus teaches, do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life. How do I understand this? How does it affect my daily life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Where does the river of living water Jesus mentioned come from?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus said: "My time is not yet here."
+ Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
+ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
+ You know me. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.
+ The chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus.
+ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."
+ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus' teaching is not His own. It comes from the one who sent Him. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Reflect on my own conduct. Is it based on God's word or my own experience and judgment?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses