Timely message?
Chapter One
Page 5 ........That is why many are grateful for sound advice on how to reach thyeir goals and make their life more enjoyable and successful.
Page 6.........Recall this truth "All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the comfort from the scriptures we might have hope".
Page 8.........The book of Ruth........That short book stresses the attatchment we should have to true worship, illustrates how highly God values women......
Page 8.........Another aspect to consider involves the terms "prophets" and "prophetic". These words may bring to mind the fortelling of the future.Many people think of prophets just as one who predicts-
Page 9.........We need to bear in mind, though, that the role of Jehovah's prophets was not exclusively that of uttering divine predictions.God often used prophets as spokesmen to tell others what his will was.
Page 9.........Aaron served as prophet for Moses.Aaron carried out the rold of prophet by being a spokesman, or "mouth" for Moses.
Page 9/10....Think too of the prophets Samuel and Nathan......Jehovah used both of them to declare what would happen in the future, but healso had them serve as prophets in other ways.
Page 10.......These inspired books offer us valuable guidance that can help us "to live with soundness of mind and righteousness and devotion amid this present system of things".
Page 12.......Ask yourself: 'In these 1`2 books, what useful advice or divine counsel does Jehovah provide for me?........................What do they tell me about Christian living, morality, family life, and attitudes in these critical days, since "the day of Jehovah is coming, for it is near"?'
Chapter 2
Page 14.......scores of men called prophets in the Scriptures.............experienced elation in seeing their message change hearts and minds, leading people back to God.........Others experienced bitter disappointment when they saw wayward ones violate Jehovah's standards and work against his will.some.......felt the frustrating effacts of complacency and self indulgence on the part of professed worshipers of Jehovah around them.
Page 14/15...their messages should be remembered, being recorded in the "prophetic scriptures" for the benifit of us "upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived".
Page 15.......You are aware though, that God had constantly alerted Israel and Judah by means of faithful prophets.
Page 16.......,you will discern important lessons that you can apply in your ministry during our perilous times.
Page 16........Have you ever experienced a crisis of confidence, perhaps feeling that your faith is waning?
Page 17........Were you ever frustrated when people maligned your Bible-based message as alarmist?
Page 17........On a positive note,he [Joel] indicated that the faithful 'would prove to be the escaped ones'.
Page 18........You can feel for Amos if you are sometimes struck by the gravity of the message we are to proclaim, usually to individuals who do not respond.
Page 18........Does it not encourage you to know that Jehovah can enable an average man to do such significant work?
Page 18........Have you ever asked yourself, 'what sacrifices would I be willing to make to do Jehovah's work?
Page 21........Do you not agree that todays critical times challenge you in developing boldness and complete reliance on Jehovah?
Page 22........If you manefest these qualities you will be like Micah.
Page 22........How comforting is is to see that some do respond positively to our message of salvation.
Page 23........If you have had to break with family traditions to do Jehovah's will, you can sympathise with Zephaniah.
Page 24........You may well feel that you are of no account, not one who is in the limelight.Christians.......great priviledge......."fellow workers" of God yet personally most do not enjoy great prominence.
Page 24........His [Nahum's] message proved true, as will the message we bear today.
Page 24........Over the centuries, some Bible readers have had unfulfilled expectations regarding the day of Jehovah. Others might be frustrated by the seeming delay of God's judgement.How do you feel?
Page 25........Those words [Habakkuk's] must be really important to us as the apostle Paul quoted them in three books of the Christian Greek Scriptures.
Page 25........Jehovah offers us the assurance: "The vision is yet for the appointed time....it will not be late.
Page 26........,but how encouraging it is to realise that God can use seemingly insignificant ones as his messengers.
Page 26.........You may at times be disheartened by a lack of zeal evident in some who have served God.
Page 27.........,he [Zechariah] faced the challenge of stirring up his fellow worshippers to keep at the work until the temple was completed.
Page 27.........,he [Zechariah] strove to stimulate strong faith and corresponding action.
Page 27..........We to can draw strength that "Jehovah of armies" will not forget people who seek his favor.
Page 27/28.....The zeal and enthusiasm thet the prophets Zechariah and Haggai had stimulated some decades ago had faded.The Jews spiritual state was at a very low ebb.
Page 28..........You can see that the men who wrote the last 12 books of the Hebrew Scriptures had fath and conviction...........Their example and message can teach us valuable lessons as we eagerly look forward to "Jehovah's day".......Consider how these prophetic messages can effect your eternal future.
And that is just the first two chapters, at this point I threw up, maybe I will do some more later, maybe someone else will.