Weekly Guide：Week 93
November 03, 2019
Foreword
We continue to read the books of the Minor Prophets this week. These books convey to the primary readers as well as believers of all ages, the righteousness, the faithfulness, the mercy, and the goodness of God. Reading these books helps us to know God better and to love Him more.
May you all be renewed every day in His word.
Question
Why did Judah and Samaria receive the same warnings?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The word of the Lord came to Micah concerning Samaria and Jerusalem that the Lord may bear witness against them from His holy temple.
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Because of this, the prophet will weep and wail; will go barefoot and naked. For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.
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Woe to those who plot evil on their beds. They covet fields, houses, defraud people, and rob them of their inheritance.
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Therefore, the Lord is planning disaster against this people. Others will taunt them with mournful song.
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The Lord will surely gather all of Jacob, bring together the remnant of Israel, like sheep in a pen.
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Warns the leaders of Jacob, rulers of Israel who hate good and love evil. Warns the prophets who lead the people astray and falsely proclaim peace.
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Warns the leaders of Jacob, rulers of Israel who despise justice and distort all that is right, Zion will be plowed, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Because the leaders of Jacob and rulers of Israel despised justice and distorted all that is right, Zion would be plowed and Jerusalem would become a heap of rubble. Our conducts may bring blessings for others but may also bring suffering. How am I behaving?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What was the promise to Judah on the last day?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains.
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He will judge between many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
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The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
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Many nations are gathered against them. But they don’t know the thoughts of the Lord. Rise and thresh, daughter Zion, break to pieces many nations.
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Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.
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He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
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The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. It is by His calling that we may have the eternal life.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did the prophet ask for from the Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord has a case against His people: My people, what have I done to you?
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The Lord has shown you what is good. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
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Your tongues speak deceitfully, therefore, I have begun to destroy you. You will plant but not harvest.
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The prophet laments the righteous have been swept from the land, all hands are skilled in doing evil.
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The prophet watches in hope for the Lord, waits for God.
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Plead to God to shepherd His people. There’s no one like God, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance and does not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
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The Lord will again have compassion on us, will tread our sins underfoot, will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - He has shown us what is good. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. How shall I know God’s will from His mercy and righteousness? How am I being humble in my service?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why was Nineveh being judged?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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A prophecy concerning Nineveh.
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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.
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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.
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Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away.
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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
How did Habakkuk’s life change through his conversion with God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Prophet Habakkuk calls on the Lord for help, but He does not listen. He cries out violence to the Lord but He does not save.
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The Lord raising up the Babylonians as judgment.
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Habakkuk asked the Lord, why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
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The Lord answers, the righteous person will live by his faithfulness, but woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, gives drink to his neighbors till they are drunk, trusts idols of his own creation that cannot speak.
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Habakkuk stand in awe of the Lord’s deed, waits patiently for the day of calamity. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Habakkuk truthfully asked the Lord of his doubt and continued to seek answers until he could understand. How does a prayer like this inspire me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
To whom did Zephaniah prophesy to?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah during the reign of Josiah king of Judah.
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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.
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The day of the Lord is near, He will punish the officials and the king’s sons.
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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
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Foreword
We continue to read the Book of Daniel this week.
Like Daniel being forced to live in a land of idolatry, we are too living in a foreign land. Although the life is abundant and prosperous, it runs against our believe. To the world, self-centeredness is god, one's own worthiness is the life-long pursuit, and spirituality takes meaning only in one's own perception. Such is the great discrepancy between the world's believe and Christian believe. We live in the world of atheism and agnosticism and being attacked by paganism and hedonism. We may feel like fighting an uphill battle against the world, but we shall determine not to defile ourselves by the world.
May you all be renewed in God's word each day!
### Question
Why did Nebuchadnezzar throw some Jews into the blazing furnace?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and assembled officials for its dedication. Everyone was ordered to fall down and worship the image. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.
+ Some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that they did not worship the image.
+ Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
+ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego believed the God they serve would deliver them from the blazing furnace.
+ Nebuchadnezzar commanded to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing furnace.
+ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire. The fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
+ Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Why didn't Shadrach and friends obey the king's order to worship the golden image? Do we face similar dilemma? What pressure am I facing today? How does today's passage help me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did Nebuchadnezzar tell nations about the signs and wonders of God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Nebuchadnezzar told nations about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed.
+ Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream at home in his palace, contented and prosperous. All wise men of Babylon could not interpret it.
+ Daniel, with the spirit of the holy gods in him, interpreted the dream.
+ Nebuchadnezzar would be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; would eat grass like the ox.
+ At the end of that time, Nebuchadnezzar's sanity was restored. Then he praised the Most High; he honored and glorified him who lives forever.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Nebuchadnezzar was driven away for seven years. Was his attitude toward God changed after that time? Do I understand God's good intention when He disciplines me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the end of Belshazzar?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ King Belshazzar gave a great banquet. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that they might drink from them.
+ The fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall.
+ All the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. The king brought Daniel to read the writing.
+ Daniel rebuked the king that he did not humble himself to give glory to God and therefore, God sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
+ Daniel read the writing that God had already numbered the days of Belshazzar's reign and brought it to an end.
+ That very night Belshazzar was slain.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Belshazzar was punished for his pride. What difference was there between him and his father? What caused the difference? What does it remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happened to Daniel during Darius' reign?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.
+ The administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.
+ These administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and ask the king to issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, shall be thrown into the lions' den.
+ Daniel went home. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. The men went to King Darius and reminded him of the decree.
+ The king gave the order to throw Daniel into the lions' den.
+ The king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
+ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. He called to Daniel in an anguished voice. The lions did not hurt Daniel.
+ At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den.
+ King Darius issued a decree that everyone must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
+ Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Even though the king banned it, Daniel was unaffected and continued to pray to God. What example has Daniel shown me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the differences in Daniel's two visions?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the first year of king Belshazzar, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed.
+ Four great beasts, each different from the others.
+ Daniel was disturbed by the visions and asked one of those standing there the meaning of all this.
+ In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, Daniel had another vision.
+ A ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, no animal could stand against it. A goat came from the west.
+ Gabriel told Daniel the meaning of the vision.
+ In the first year of Darius's reign, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.
+ Daniel turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes, to turn away His anger and wrath from Jerusalem.
+ Seventy 'sevens' are decreed, to put an end to sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The animals in Daniel's vision did as they pleased. What happened to these animals?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the revelation of Greece come to Daniel?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel.
+ Daniel was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, he had no strength left, face turned deathly pale and was helpless.
+ The one who looked like a man gave Daniel strength.
+ Prophesy three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others and he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
+ The kings of south and kings of north would sometimes go to war against each other and sometimes have peace.
+ The king of north would set his heart against the holy covenant and desecrate the temple.
+ Everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - What was the view in Daniel's vision on those who are in power? What am I leaning on in this world?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is God's mystery?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Knowing God and His will is an important part of all Christians' life. It is not something that can be obtained by an intense training or bootcamp, but a lifelong endeavor of following God's will.
+ Jesus Christ is the realization God's mystery, His abundance, His knowledge and wisdom which are all within Christ Jesus.
+ Preaching the mystery of God is a task God gave to Paul. He preached with all kinds of wisdoms to present everyone fully mature in Christ.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - To become a person of God's liking, of His characters, is built upon knowledge of God and knowing His will. All of these are through a process of gradual transformation which requires time. Do not despair for temporary setbacks nor be arrogant for small gains. To build God's characters, we must retain His word in our heart and produce a crop by perseverance. How shall I persevere with patience and not be frustrated and give up?
+ **Fidelity** - To preach gospel requires all kinds of wisdom. It is a task that involves innovations where we need to build up relationships, to understand the society and culture, to explore the use of technology, to build up our own knowledge, and through all means to present everyone fully mature in Christ. How does this inspire me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Life is elemental spiritual force of the world?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Moses' law is a shadow of things to come, the foretelling of Jesus, an incomplete revelation of God's wisdom, the elemental spiritual force. Jesus is the reality of God's true image in this world where God's abundance is realized in Jesus.
+ The Jews' way to righteousness through the works of the law can easily fall into traps of hypocrisy in that arrogance is brought out of self-imposed worship where false humility and harsh treatment of the body lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
+ The reborn Christians are not bound by the law because Jesus has already redeemed us from the law. The new life puts to death the evil that come out of the flesh.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Humans have always tried to obtain righteousness through works of their own. Confucius claimed that he could follow his own heart without offending the law when he was seventy. Today's society tries to solve the problem of crime through politics, laws, culture, and education. However, the Bible tells us that it is impossible and even harmful if we try to achieve righteousness through our own works because to proclaim being self-righteous does not build relationship with God, it puts us farther away from the truth. The real righteousness is given by God through His redemption for our sins so that we may be saved by faith in Christ. What faith do I have in Christ so that I may be called righteous?
+ **Integrity** -The sanctification of the believers and building up of our characters are based on our relationships with God through the bread of life so that fleshly desires may be restrained. Dependence on methodology without God is self-reliance that causes self-righteousness. What self-righteousness do I need to throw away and turn myself over to God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How do Christians connect with each other with love?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God's chosen people are redeemed through God's love. Likewise, being the church, the body of Christ, all parts of the body must connect with love, bear with each other, forgive one another, and bind together in perfect unity.
+ Paul had great relationship and co-worked with many Christians of the time included the once opinionated Mark.
+ The disciples of the early churches stay connected and co-operated with each other across churches. The elders and all believers also had great bonds as they carried out the great commission from Jesus. They united throughout the cities around the Mediterranean together and influenced the society of the time much more than possible by efforts of individuals.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - There are two aspects of love between believers: 1 forbearance and forgiveness; 2. Teach and admonish. How am I loving others with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in my heart?
+ **Fidelity** - We are ambassadors of Jesus' great commission in the world today. How am I setting aside of differences in race, heritage, region, societal status, and culture to seek unity in truth and by God's gifts and place to preach His gospel to make disciples all nations and baptize them in Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How does a spiritual life with faith, hope, and love become witness of gospel?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The gospel of Jesus Christ is not limited to teaching by words but also encompasses the faith given by God through His great power.
+ A beautiful spiritual life allows others to see the work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope.
+ A life imitating the Lord's is the best and the most beautiful witness for Christ's gospel.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - We are taught through words the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, we are given the life of Christ for which we may grow into on our way to sanctification through the great transformation power of God and continuous works of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is not enough to only learn the spiritual knowledge, but also with humility, lay up our lives to let God destroy the old and build the new. Pray to God to help me commit my life to Him.
+ **Integrity** - What faith, what love, and what hope does a mature life have? What is work produced by faith? What is labor produced by love? What is endurance inspired by hope? How should I live a life of faith, love, and hope facing the daily challenges and works?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What can be seen from Paul's life of faith, love, and hope?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul's faith helped him to strive to please God and rely on God to preach His gospel.
+ Paul's hope helped him to endure severe suffering facing strong opposition and rely on God to work courageously.
+ Paul's love helped him to care and comfort for the believers as mother nurses for her child and father encourages his own children.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God is a witness of Paul's faithful, loving, and hopeful life which was a result of his reliance on God. The opposition Paul faced was not unique to him as the same opposition was faced by the Thessalonian church as well as today's believers. Likewise, the close relationship Paul had with God can be ours, too. What opposition do I face now? How shall I rely on God for my faith, love, and hope?
+ **Community** - Paul's love to the Thessalonian church was like a caring mother nurses her children and a comforting father encourages and urges his children. The aim is to help the believers to live lives worthy of God. How does this remind me to respond to fellow Christians' criticism? What is my motivation and aim when urging them? What deeper understanding do I have about loving each other which God had commanded me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Who is Paul's hope or joy or crown of happiness?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul's hope, joy, and crown of happiness is the believers when they stand before Lord Jesus Christ when He comes again.
+ The reason Paul wanted very much to be with them and sent ahead Timothy was to strengthen and help complete the Thessalonian believers' faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Paul worried that His suffering would cause the Thessalonian believers to give up their faith. God uses suffering to strengthen the believers' faith, but it can also be used by Satan as distraction. The suffering Paul remembered the believers. At the same time, the believers' faith was strengthened to bring comfort to Paul. To face suffering has always been difficult but through Paul's suffering, we see God blessed, comforted, and strengthened Paul and Thessalonian believers. How does today's passage help me view the sufferings myself or others are facing?
+ **Community** - God gave us shepherds who look after us. Likewise, there may be others who need our shepherding. How does Paul's love to the believers remind me to love those around me? How does believers' response to Paul remind me how I shall respond to my shepherds?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses