I have just been entrusted with a copy of one of the manuscript talks to be given at this year’s District Convention. The talk is entitled “Wearing Our Full Spiritual Armor in these Last Days,” and will be delivered during the Sunday morning session. Below is the manuscript that was provided to me.
Wearing Our Full Spiritual Armor in These Last Days
Brothers and sisters, how good it is to have spent the last two days showing our love and devotion to Jehovah at this year’s District Convention! We have already enjoyed an abundance of spiritual nourishment provided by our great and loving heavenly father Jehovah through his “faithful and discreet slave,” and there is certainly more to come, which is why we consider it not a duty or an obligation, but a privilege of the utmost importance to be present for the entire program. And isn’t it truly a show of his tremendous love for the people bearing his wonderful name? Just look at some of the precious spiritual insight we have received. (Allow time for brief mindless clapping) But friends, it’s not just having this priceless knowledge and close personal relationship with Jehovah, is it? Turn with me, if you will, to the book of Proverbs, where we read at chapter four and verse 23 “More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heard, for out of it are the sources of life.” Dear friends, protecting our hearts is of the utmost importance in these wicked last days. As the Proverb says, this means our very lives. And not just our present lives with these aging and aching bodies. No, this means the very prize we are all striving for, everlasting life on a Paradise earth, restored to its full beauty and perfect condition.
Turn with me to our theme scripture, please, at Ephesians 6:11, and then verses 14-17. There we read, at verse 11, “put on the complete suit of armor from God that YOU may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil.” You see, dear ones, it is Satan the Devil who wants to snatch this reward, our everlasting life in service to Jehovah God. But is it that easy? If Satan walked up to you and said, “give up your everlasting life,” you would refuse, would you not? So he must be crafty. As the Scripture in Ephesians chapter six states, Satan uses “machinations,” or crafty acts. That is why we must wear our spiritual armor in its entirety. Otherwise, Satan will see our weakness and he will waste no time in attacking us. Friends, we cannot take such a dangerous risk while so close to the end of this wicked system of things. What makes up this spiritual armor? Let’s turn our attention to the fourteenth through seventeenth verses. “Stand firm, therefore, with YOUR loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and with YOUR feet shod with the equipment of the good news of peace. Above all things, take up the large shield of faith, with which YOU will be able to quench all the wicked one’s burning missiles. Also, accept the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word.”
Recently there have been articles on these respective pieces of armor, and we encourage you to research them thoroughly. But the faithful slave, whose governing body is responsible for the “feeding at the proper time,” wants us to consider one of these elements more in depth. Every day our minds are bombarded with endless streams of information. There is advertising in all its many forms. And just look at the immorality. Right in front of our very eyes, homosexuality runs rampant. But, perhaps the biggest influence on our minds, and especially the minds of our dear young ones, is the internet. Yes, this is the “information age.” Wouldn’t you agree much of the information this world offers is actually dangerous poison? (Pause for anticipated applause) Indeed it is! The internet has been responsible for the breakup of countless marriages. Husbands have become addicted to pornography. Wives have left their husbands for people that they met in a chat room. And of course, it can become a serious distraction from the more important things. Indeed, we are wise to heed the words of Paul when we ‘buy out the opportune time for ourselves.” Worst of all, though is the spiritual danger to be found by apostates lurking online. Some well-meaning brother or sister could be interested in researching Jehovah’s people in depth and, instead of using the Proclaimers book and Yearbooks, decide to use the internet. Rather than finding wholesome information, they could easily stumble upon deadly traps set by those who have turned to Satan’s system. One may even quickly turn away from such a trap, but damage is alread done. Like spiritual pornography, apostate messages can linger in our minds for months, even years to come. Dear friends, wouldn’t it be better to have never encountered such material in the first place? (Applause)
The “faithful and discreet slave” has taken note of this and has spent much time in prayer to Jehovah and in personal meditation over it, and with the aid of Jehovah’s holy spirit, there is something that they have prepared for your protection, as a helmet, of sorts, in this modern and depraved world. Would you like to know what it is? (Thunderous applause) (Holding item up) “Pay Attention to Yourselves…” by Taking “…Up the Large Shield of Faith…” and Putting “on…” “…the Helmet of Salvation” “Pay Attention to Yourselves…” by Taking “…Up the Large Shield of Faith…” and Putting “on…” “…the Helmet of Salvation” is a new computer program designed to keep you and those in your Christian home safe from the biggest threat to Jehovah’s people today, apostates on the internet. It does so in a way that eliminates even the very risk of encountering this spiritual poison. Much like the Watchtower Library CD-ROM, it can be installed right to your computer, and from that point forward, it will block all internet search results that contain messages contrary to the truth of God’s word. Surely, this is a must for every true Christian as we face these wicked and few last days.
A limited supply of “Pay Attention to Yourselves…” by Taking “…Up the Large Shield of Faith…” and Putting “on…” “…the Helmet of Salvation” is on hand. During the upcoming intermission, we invite the head of each household to make their way to the nearest book counter to pick up a copy for their family.
