Here is another good question: Why is it, that up until 1985, when someone got baptized as a JW, they could 'do God's will as he reveals it to you through the enlightening power of the holy spirit', but after 1985, the holy spirit is only mentioned in association with the "spirit-directed organization"?
*** Watchtower 1966 August 1 p.465 Baptism Shows Faith ***
Are you able to answer "Yes" to the two questions regularly propounded when individuals present themselves for Christian baptism?
(1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
*** Watchtower 1970 May 15 p.309 Your Conscience Toward Jehovah ***
20 Two questions which do search out the heart and mind of each candidate are: (1) Have you recognized yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus? (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God's Word as his holy spirit makes it plain? Those who answer "yes" audibly to these two questions so that the other persons present may witness their affirmation of dedication may appropriately be baptized.
*** Watchtower 1973 May 1 p.280 Baptizing Follows Discipling ***
...If you feel the same about serving Jehovah God and taking Christ's yoke upon you, we suggest that you consider the following two questions, which are asked of candidates for baptism:
(1) Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
*** Watchtower 1985 June 1 p.30 Subjecting Ourselves to Jehovah by Dedication ***
Decision Based on Knowledge
[…]
At the close of the convention baptism talk, the baptism candidates will be in position to answer with depth of understanding and heartfelt appreciation two simple questions that serve to confirm that they recognize the implications of following Christ's example. The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?
Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.
How can a person develop the fruitage of the spirit when it is not (apparently) in operation in them? Does the "spirit-directed organization" demonstrate the fruitage of the spirit?
Or rather do they demonstrate the works of the flesh?
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication (NGO with the UN) , uncleanness (the pedophile paradise) , loose conduct, 20 idolatry (money, money, money!) , practice of spiritism (the forced rejection of Jesus' sacrifice by the Great Crowd at the observance of the Memorial) , enmities (those horrible Apostates™) , strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects (dividing families with DFing/DAing and shunning) , 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries (rejoicing in the coming destruction of 99.9% of the world's population at Armageddon) , and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
If the organization is bound up in the works of the flesh, can one honestly expect that its followers will have the ability to cultivate the fruitage of the spirit?
