Here are my notes from his service talk theme:
DO YOU APPRECIATE THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?
Isa 65:3 = We live in a rich spiritual paradise (Isa 65:3)
We have spiritual abundance – the world has nothing.
Do we take this for granted?
New publications, WT/AW, daily text, meetings, yearbook, District Convention, Circuit Assembly, Special Assembly Day…
Where does it come from?
The “faithful and discreet slave”
What is the History of the “faithful and discreet slave”?
Deut 29:29 = To the original faithful servant it was “revealed” the 10 commandments, mosaic law, first 5 books of Bible.
Rom 3:2–39 = God inspired Jewish penman to complete 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures
Mat 24:45 = Jesus had a question because the original slave was not faithful. A new slave class was appointed at Pentecost.
1 Cor 4:1 = Anointed Christians were given the responsibility to be “stewards of sacred secrets of God”. God inspired anointed Christians to write remaining 27 books of the bible
Mat 28:20 = Although the Apostle John was the last writer, Jesus promised to be with them right through to the end
How was Jesus going to be with them during the period of apostasy?
What was to happen to the “faithful and discreet slave”?
Mat 13:24 -30 = Jesus uttered a prophecy.
Sower = Jesus
Field = World
Wheat = Genuine 144k
Weeds = Imitation Christians (particularity clergy)
Harvest = Conclusion (span a long period of time)
Men sleeping = Elders at the end of first century
Grow together = Time needed before harvest
Storehouse = Theocratic org that Jah will set up
Fulfilment?
Pentecost 33 CE = First of 144K appointed
1 st century = GB was set up, congregations/meetings established, elders and MS appointed, letters from GB, relief funds, preaching
End of 1 st century = Weeds
Jesus gave us a distinct historical picture of one generation of slave feeding another”
2 Tim 2:2 = Scriptural principle of 4 generations (First Paul passed on to Timothy then he to other men and they then passed on to other qualified men)
How did it happen?
33 CE FDS appointed
69 CE - 155 CE Polycarp overlapped John life
120 CE - 200 CE Irenaeus stuck to the teachings of Apostles and was against apostasy
300 CE Arius translated Bible
500 CE – 1100 CE Apostacy
1179 CE Peter Waldo
1252 CE Holy Inquisition
1330 CE - 1384 CE John Wycliffe (Lolards)
1369 CE - 1415 CE John Hus
1525 CE Anabaptists believed in Christs return and rejected immortal soul and trinity teaching.
1436 CE Johannes Gutenberg (printing press)
1494 CE – 1536 CE William Tyndale
1511 CE – 1533 CE Michael Servetus
1533 CE Laelinus Socinus
1781 CE – 1862 CE Henry Grew
1796 CE – 1879 CE George Storrs
2 Tim 2:19 = Cannot be dogmatic as to who was and who was not anointed
2 Tim 1:13 = All had one thing in common – all searching for the pattern
Dan 12:4= Before time of the end knowledge would increase
1870 CE Charles T Russel had questions which led to spiritual discussions. Discerned invisible return of Christ, began to preach and publish literature
Mat 13:43= These ones were “shining” because the pattern of healthful works had emerged
1919 CE Mat 24:47 was fulfilled with FDS appointed
Men are imperfect but Jesus perfect
Vital to remain loyal, p reach, show co-operation and a ttend meetings/conventions
Show appreciation by accepting adjustments
Ps 87:5 = Blessings soon to receive in the new world
Rom 11:33 = Jah’s accomplishments and names of individuals will be made known in the 1000 year reign
Now is the time to show appreciation for “the faithful and discreet slave”