Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-18-10 WT Study (MAY 15, 2010, pages 24-28)(REACH OUT)
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BROTHERS
—SOW TO THE SPIRIT
AND REACH OUT!
“He who is sowing with a view to the spirit
will reap everlasting life.”—GAL. 6:8.
OPENING COMMENTS
Sorry for the late posting. I’ve been struggling with my chronic condition.
There has been some improvement and my ultrasound and MRI shows
Things are stabilizing.
While I know there are a few elders that truly have good motives.
To help the “sheep” not themselves. But they are not rewarded for that.
Some are even punished for making the elders look bad.
Some elders might feel they personally did not directly do anything bad.
But they did not speak out or advocate for those who were being abused.
I have known many elders that were either removed for showing compassion.
By doing so going against the elder body decisions (not talking about df’ing).
I have know that stepped down and ten years later refuse to “reach out.”
They no longer want to be part of the abuse of the rank and file, the lies, etc.
Jesus did not reach out for the position of Pharisee. Paul stepped down.
What about Nicodemus and Josephus (?)? Jesus had categorically condemned
The Pharisees, scribes, religious leaders saying they were condemned to Gehenna.
How could a Jewish religious leader remain one and become a Christian?
*** w87 10/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers***
When we read accounts such as Matthew 15:1-8; John 8:12-19, 31-41; 9:13-34; 11:45-53, we can understand why Jesus said that the Pharisees merited annihilation, symbolized by Gehenna. True, some might repent and win God’s approval, but as a class, they were worthy of permanent destruction. Christ said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one you make him a subject for Gehenna twice as much so as yourselves.”—Matthew 23:15.
(Matthew 23:33) “Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are YOU to flee from the judgment of Ge·hen′na?
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. How is Matthew 9:37, 38 undergoing fulfillment,
resulting in what need in the congregations?
YOU are witnessing history in the making!
A work spoken of by Jesus Christ is
in full swing. “The harvest is great, but the
workers are few,” said Jesus. “Therefore, beg
the Master of the harvest to send out workers
into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37, 38) Jehovah
God is answering such prayers in an unprecedented
way. During the 2009 service year,
the number of congregations of Jehovah’s
Witnesses worldwide increased by 2,031,
reaching 105,298. On average, 757 individuals were
baptized each day!
COMMENTS
How many jws slipped away either df’d, da’d, or inactive?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php
39,208 (diff between 2008 avg pubs, 2009 avg pubs less 2009 baptized: 59,269), adjusting for .33% reinstated (19,559) and 8.5 per 1,000 deaths (502) divided by 365 = 107 out the door every day (14%, approximately one congregation every day)
*** w92 7/1 p. 16 par. 9 Elders, Judge With Righteousness***
Some elders might do well to ponder over the following question: ‘Could we save the considerable amount of time needed to investigate and handle judicial cases if we devoted more time and effort to shepherding?’
2 Such growth creates a need for qualified
brothers to take the lead in teaching and
shepherding in the congregations. (Eph. 4:
11) Over the decades, Jehovah has raised up
qualified men to care for the needs of his
sheep, and we are confident that he will continue
to do so. The prophecy recorded at Micah
5:5 assures us that during the last days,
Jehovah’s people will have “seven shepherds”
and “eight dukes,” representing a
considerable number of capable men to take
the lead among them.
COMMENTS
What are men in the WTS qualified as, “dukes,” “princes,” “sheiks,” How humble is that?
“qualified” men, the most looked at “qualification” is “does he get the monthly average in field service time” approximately 10 hours per month. I can remember one jw male was prompted to be sure to turn in the time for his family study (he was dragging around 6 hours a month). Lo and behold suddenly this man was turning in a bible study slip and increased his hours by 4 each month and was made an elder.
Do they care that he never spends much time even in this activity with his family, training them to be more effective but rather runs around with the elders trying to impress them with his skills many times at the elders request?
Look around your congregation, how many young males are still around, how many were df’d, how many drifted (or left) away? In this area about one out of 10 stick around. Most of the elders are in the boomer category and older are dying out.
Many congregations have so few MS or possible candidates, that the elders are reduced to handling the mikes, doing literature, having their wives do accounts as their husbands merely sign off.
Sources of “qualified” men:
Male children of jws who
Get baptized
Manage not to get df’d or da’d or drift away by the time they are between 18 and 25
Male jws that move into the congregation from another congregation for personal reasons
Male jws (especially elders/MS) that are asked to move into the congregation (by CO, DO, or Bethel admin)
Rare but occasionally, the non-believing husband of a jw woman who gets baptized, etc.
Even rarer, a non-jw man contacted by a jw and converted.
3. Explain what it means to ‘sow with a view to the
spirit.’
3 If you are a baptized male Witness of Jehovah,
what can help you to want to reach
out for service privileges? A key factor is that
you ‘sow with a view to the spirit.’ (Gal. 6:8)
Doing so involves living in a way that allows
for God’s holy spirit to operate freely in your
life. Be determined not to ‘sow with a view
to the flesh.’ Avoid letting such things as
comfort, leisure, and entertainment dampen
your desire to expend yourself in God’s
service. All Christians should ‘sow with a
view to the spirit,’ and in time, men who do
so may well qualify for privileges in the congregation.
Because there is a great need for
ministerial servants and elders today, this article
is especially directed to Christian men.
Therefore, brothers, we urge you to give it
prayerful consideration.
COMMENTS
So was Jesus telling his followers to reach out for service privileges?
Where is that phrase even in the bible?
Do these men really live this way or give the appearance of doing so?
Do they truly find ways to help the old, sick, and needy themselves or do the delegate to those lower down with less significant “service privileges”?
How many elders did you see that were not concerned with comfort, sure to get the best seats at the conventions, who were up and walking around during the session (not doing convention work) but talking about sports with their buds, building nice homes, driving nice cars (to use in service supposedly as they took off Saturday morning with 4 brothers in their cars leaving the women to “train” the children).
Entertainment—who had seen the latest movies, had the DVDs, the video games, the boats and planes (no kidding), went to Aruba every year (during the CO visit).
All Christians (including jw women) should sow—but the most important work as far as the WTS is concerned is being an MS or elder which women can’t do. I always wondered what part teaching played in microphone handling.
Reach Out for a Fine Work
4, 5. (a) Baptized men are urged to reach out for
what privileges in the congregation? (b) How does
one reach out?
4 A Christian man does not automatically
become an overseer. He must reach out for
this “fine work.” (1 Tim. 3:1) It includes
serving fellow believers by genuinely caring
for their needs. (Read Isaiah 32:1, 2.) A man
who reaches out with proper motives is not
ambitious. Instead, he is filled with an unselfish
desire to benefit others.
COMMENTS
Reach out = be ambitious
Be sure to stand out and have the old ladies and sick ones sing your praises
Look out for the “fatherless” boys (and girls if you have time) = remember not to use that term around “unbelieving” fathers and tick them off like their children are orphans.
Care for their needs now because after you become an elder you won’t have time not even to take care of your own children.
Remember that Isaiah 32:1,2 calls the elders “princes” not exactly a term of humility.
Are the proper motives to help others…not but to help the elders not have to do any distasteful and humbling chores.
Benefit others = benefit elders with contacts, benefit the CO and DO so you can get privileges that put you in the limelight.
5 One seeks to qualify as a ministerial servant
and reaches out for the office of overseer
by striving to meet the qualifications set
out in the Scriptures. (1 Tim. 3:1-10, 12, 13;
Titus 1:5-9) If you are a dedicated male, ask
yourself: ‘Do I have a full share in the
preaching work, and am I assisting others to
do so? Am I building up my fellow worshippers
by taking a sincere interest in their welfare?
Do I have the reputation of being a
good student of God’s Word? Am I improving
the quality of my comments? Do I diligently
care for the assignments entrusted to
me by the elders?’ (2 Tim. 4:5) Such questions merit
serious consideration.
COMMENTS
What is the most important qualification that elders and Cos look at, your publisher card to make sure you make the national average of 10 hours/month…caring for the sick and elderly in the congregation cannot be counted. When did the congregation book (bible) conductor (overseer) spend any time training anyone in the preaching or teaching? (Yes, I know that meeting was combined, but there should be an elder still assigned to a group for door to door.)
Good student of God’s Word = good student of the WT explanation of the bible, WT policies and procedures
Diligently care? On time for the meetings, is it hard to find a competent accounts servant? Have the read the “book” study material and WT article and give comments that are more than reading the paragraph?
6. What is a key factor in qualifying for congregation
responsibilities?
6 Another way to qualify for congregation
responsibilities is to “be made mighty in the
man you are inside with power through
[God’s] spirit.” (Eph. 3:16) Becoming a ministerial
servant or an elder in the Christian
congregation is not a matter of being elected
to an office. This privilege is attainable only
through spiritual growth. How is spiritual
growth achieved? One way is for you
to “keep walking by spirit” and cultivating
its fruitage. (Gal. 5:16, 22, 23) As you
give evidence of the spiritual qualities needed
to handle added privileges and as you
apply counsel for improvement, your ‘advancement
will be manifest to all persons.’
—1 Tim. 4:15.
COMMENTS
It isn’t being elected to an office!!! Perhaps if you are thinking of the congregation casting votes, but it is an election when it comes to the body of elders and CO, majority rules. That’s why baptized jws are really only interested in sucking up to the elders and the CO because the congregation has no say. Every time there was a new CO you could see the brothers sucking up that wanted to be MS, elders, or have parts on the assembly. Brothers that had no time then for the older, ill, or depressed jws.
Needed—A Spirit of Self-Sacrifice
7. Serving others involves what?
7 Serving others involves hard work and
requires a spirit of self-sacrifice. Because
Christian overseers are spiritual shepherds,
the problems of the flock concern them
deeply. Notice how the responsibilities of his
shepherding work affected the apostle Paul.
He told fellow believers in Corinth: “Out of
much tribulation and anguish of heart I
wrote you with many tears, not that you
might be saddened, but that you might
know the love that I have more especially for
you.” (2 Cor. 2:4) It is evident that Paul put
his heart into his work.
COMMENTS
Hard work—there is usually one or two who really work hard.
The others are slugs that want the special status.
Because….problems…”should” concern them deeply.
Never saw an elder go up to the hospital to visit sick and ill.
They would shove it off the elders that did not shine with charisma.
How many jws are waiting to experience this kind of shepherding only
To finally give up, even to be told that they are the problem, that they
Are hard to like?
8, 9. Give Bible examples showing how men cared
for the needs of others.
8 A self-sacrificing spirit has always been
the hallmark of men who have labored in
behalf of Jehovah’s servants. For example,
we can hardly imagine Noah telling others
in his household: ‘Let me know when the
ark is finished so that I may join you .’Moses
did not tell the Israelites in Egypt: ‘I will
meet you at the Red Sea. Get there the best
way you can.’ Joshua never said: ‘Let me
know when the walls of Jericho fall. ’And Isaiah
did not point to someone else and say:
‘There he is! Send him.’—Isa. 6:8.
COMMENTS
OT = Noah, Moses, Joshua, Isaiah
How many elders did you know that would
Delegate the hard and distasteful jobs to their
“underlings”?
There was once a cover on a WT where the men were
Inside the tents and talking while the servants, women,
And children did the necessary daily work.
One elder laughed and said that was the way it is in the WTS.
The men inside talking and women and all others outside working.
9 Our foremost example of a man who allowed
God’s spirit to motivate him is Jesus
Christ. He willingly accepted his assignment
to serve as mankind’s Redeemer. (John 3:16)
Should not Jesus’ self-sacrificing love evoke
an appreciative response in us? When describing
his feelings for the flock, one longtime
elder said: “Jesus’ words to Peter—shepherd my
little sheep—deeply move me. Over
the years, I have come to appreciate how a
few loving words or a simple act of kindness
can lift another person’s spirit. Shepherding
is a work that I enjoy very much.”—John
21:16.
COMMENTS
Is it self-sacrificing when the elders assign others to visit the sick and ill,
To provide for the needy
To give rides to the meeting to those without transportation although it is out of their way?
The ones who think that giving a public talk takes the place of a encouraging talk one on one?
That rather than searching for the sheep, the sheep have to ask for help?
10. What can move Christian men to imitate Jesus’
example in serving others?
10 When it comes to the flock of God, dedicated
men in the congregation surely want
to reflect the attitude of Jesus, who said: “I
will refresh you.” (Matt. 11:28) Faith in God
and love for the congregation move Christian men
to reach out for this fine work, not
thinking that the price is too high or that it
is too demanding. What, though, if one is
not particularly inclined to reach out? Can a
brother cultivate the desire to serve the congregation?
COMMENTS
Are elder bodies refreshing? Rather the sheep feel that they are at
Fault for any problems they have…having not prayed enough, gone
To enough meetings, studied enough…
How many past elders are in your congregation?
I was in one that had more that had stepped down than were currently active and
They did not want to be appointed every again—finding it was too demanding
For those who really cared and had been abused by the body.
Cultivate the Desire to Serve
11. How can one cultivate the desire to serve others?
11 If feelings of inadequacy have prevented
you from reaching out, it is proper that you
pray for holy spirit. (Luke 11:13) Jehovah’s
spirit will help you to cope with any concern
you may have in this regard. The very desire
to serve is God-given, for it is Jehovah’s spirit
that motivates a brother to reach out and
then supplies the strength to render sacred
service. (Phil. 2:13; 4:13) Therefore, it is fitting
to ask Jehovah to help you to build a desire
to accept privileges of service.—Read
Psalm 25:4, 5.
COMMENTS
Feelings of inadequacy—trying to jump through the
nonscriptural hoops the elders put you through
or massaging the personalities of the “correct” elders
So why the big push to find elders….because the old ones are
Dying or burning out or stepping down (aside)…there are no new
Men coming in and no young male jws coming up…and
The elders have to do all the “crap jobs” as one elder told us.
12. How may a person gain sufficient wisdom to
handle responsibilities entrusted to him?
12 Because he observes that the needs of
the flock appear taxing and complicated, a
Christian may decide not to reach out. Or he
may feel that he lacks sufficient wisdom to
handle responsibilities. If this is the case, perhaps
he can gain wisdom by being a more
diligent student of God’s Word and Bible based
publications. He might well ask himself,
‘Am I setting aside time to study God’s
Word, and am I praying for wisdom?’ The
disciple James wrote: “If any one of you is
lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking
God, for he gives generously to all and without
reproaching; and it will be given him.”
(Jas. 1:5) Do you believe this inspired statement?
In answer to Solomon’s prayer, God
gave him “a wise and understanding heart”
that enabled him to discern between good
and bad when rendering judgment. (1 Ki.
3:7-14) True, Solomon’s case was special. Yet,
we can be confident that God will give wisdom
to men entrusted with congregation responsibilities
so that they can care for his
sheep properly.—Prov. 2:6.
COMMENTS
Notice how the WTS puts this in passive voice.
The problems are the current elders and the WTS
Who make it hard..not some ambiguous situation.
The last 2 new elders in my last congregation, quit
Because the current elders made it clear that the
Basis of their teachings were the elder’s manual
Not the bible.
13, 14. (a) Explain how Paul was affected by “the
love the Christ has.” (b) How should “the love the
Christ has” affect us?
13 Another aid in cultivating the desire to
serve others is that of thinking deeply on all
that Jehovah and his Son have done for us.
For example, consider 2 Corinthians 5:14,15.
(Read.) How is it that “the love the Christ has
compels us”? The love Christ showed in laying
down his life in our behalf according to God’s will
is so outstanding that as our appreciation
grows, our heart is deeply moved.
Christ’s love controlled Paul. It restrained
him from acting selfishly and helped him to
confine his objectives to serving God and fellow
humans inside and outside the congregation.
COMMENTS
This implies that people can only experience the love
Of God and Christ through the WTS.
Can you think of ways the elders as a group showed
Themselves to be selfish?
One congregation had built a new KH and had a GB member
Come to dedicate it. Rather than have a nice gathering with the
Rank and file in the congregation, the elders and their wives
Decided they were more deserving…and had a small dinner.
Not a single older witness, not a single jw that had donated
Quite a sum to building the KH were invited.
I can see it now in the new system, the elders get their homes
Built first, aren’t they more deserving?
14 Meditating on the love Christ has for
people stirs up gratitude within us. As a result,
we realize that it would be most unfitting
for us to keep on ‘sowing with a view to
the flesh’ by pursuing selfish goals and living
largely to gratify ourselves. Instead, we adjust
our affairs to give first place to the work God
has given us to do. We are moved to “slave”
for our brothers out of love. (Read Galatians
5:13.) If we view ourselves as slaves working
humbly in behalf of Jehovah’s dedicated servants,
we will treat them with dignity and respect.
Certainly, we would not imitate the
critical, judgmental spirit promoted by Satan.—
Rev.12:10.
COMMENTS
Selfish goals and living largely—I was in one congregation
Where all the elders were in the process of building a new house
Or buying a new house…yet were able to counsel others not to do so.
How had they adjusted their affairs? All of them were rarely seen
In door to door during that 6 to 18 month period.
Was that treating others with dignity and respect?
Wasn’t that being critical and judgmental?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/jwing15/straingnatswallowcamel.jpg
A Family Effort
15, 16. What role do family members play if a man
is to qualify for appointment as a ministerial servant
or an elder?
15 If a brother is a married man with children,
the situation existing in his family is
taken into consideration when determining
if he qualifies to be a ministerial servant or an
elder. Indeed, the spirituality and reputation
of his family have a direct bearing on his appointment.
This underscores the importance of the family’s role in
supporting the husband and father as he seeks to
serve the congregation’s interests as a ministerial
servant or an elder.—Read 1 Timothy 3:4, 5,12.
COMMENTS
Yes, the wife must also put in the national average 10 hours/month.
The children must prove to be shining examples, at least outwardly.
It is no surprise that many elders fall out when their children hit their
Teens and are reappointed after they reach their majority, straighten out,
Or move out.
They learn to get a ride home after meetings or sit for a couple of hours.
Dad is concerned about his kids behavior only when it risks their appointment.
Dad will hide the sins of his family to keep his appointment.
But Dad will spend little time with his family or set a good example.
16 Jehovah is pleased when Christian family
members cooperate with one another.
(Eph. 3:14, 15) It takes balance for a family
head to handle congregation responsibilities
and preside over his household “in a fine
manner.” Hence, it is vital that an elder or a
ministerial servant study the Bible with his
wife and children so that all can benefit
from Family Worship every week. He should
participate in the field ministry with them
on a regular basis. By the same token, it is
important for family members to cooperate
with the efforts of the head of the household.
COMMENTS
Mom will find that despite having a secular job…
That she will do everything around the house…
Train the children
Mow the grass, keep the car in good repair…
Get his bookbag and clothes ready….
Be prepared to have social events end because of sudden secret meetings…
Conduct the Family Worship because Dad is out and about doing cong work…
Cooperate with head…means its Dad’s way or the highway (disregard last week)
Will You Serve Again?
17, 18. (a) If a brother no longer qualifies for appointment,
what may be needed? (b) What view can well be taken by
a brother who served as an elder or a ministerial servant
in the past?
17 Perhaps you were an elder or a ministerial
servant at one time but are not presently
serving in that capacity. You love Jehovah
and can be sure that he still cares for you.
(1 Pet. 5:6, 7)Were you told that you need to
make some adjustments? Be willing to admit
a fault and work on it with God’s help.
Guard against becoming bitter. Be wise, and
manifest a positive spirit. An elder who had
served for years but who lost his privileges
of service stated: “I was determined to
maintain the same level of meeting attendance,
field service, and Bible reading I had
while serving as an elder—a goal I was able
to achieve. I learned patience because I
thought I would regain my privileges in a
year or two, but it took almost seven years
before I again could serve as an elder. During
that time the encouragement not to tire out
but to continue to reach out greatly helped
me.”
COMMENTS
The WTS would like to think it was their decision to boot this guy…
In many congregations, elders boot themselves with no desire to be an elder again…
I know in several congregations they have reappointed an active alcoholic and…
An abusive husband…the only real sin that will keep you out is disagreeing with..
The elders, CO, or WTS.
Seven years!!! He must have really been rebellious.
18 If you are a brother in the situation just
described, do not become discouraged. Reflect
on how Jehovah is blessing your ministry
and your household. Build your family
up spiritually, visit the sick, and encourage
the weak. Above all, cherish your privilege
of praising God and proclaiming the good
news of the Kingdom as one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses.*—Ps.145:1, 2; Isa. 43:10-12.
COMMENTS
Many elders were removed due to personality conflicts with ….
Elders with more clout on the body…figure on their dying or your moving
Before being reappointed.
Once again, members of the WTS identify themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses not…
Christians…truly according to WTS doctrine only anointed jws are Israelites and
Can qualify as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
* See The Watchtower, August 15, 2009, pages 30-32.
Take a Fresh Look
19, 20. (a) All baptized males are urged to do
what? (b) What will be discussed in the next article?
19 The need for overseers and ministerial
servants is greater today than ever before. We
therefore urge all baptized males to take a
fresh look at their circumstances and ask
themselves, ‘If I am not a ministerial servant
or an elder, should I analyze the reasons why
I am not serving?’ Let God’s spirit help you to
get the right focus on this vital matter.
COMMENTS
Why is the need greater? Aren’t there more jws than ever before?
Are there less males in the WTS? Are fewer males desiring to take
On the abuse of the elders? Have they seen how current ones are
Treated? Are fewer male children of jws becoming jws, staying jws, and leaving?
20 All members of the congregation stand
to benefit from the godly self-sacrificing efforts
of their fellow believers. When we engage
in kind, unselfish acts, we reap the joy
that comes from serving others and sowing
with a view to the spirit. As the next
article will show, however, we must not
grieve God’s holy spirit. How can that be
avoided?
COMMENTS
Fellow believers = only jws
What sort of kin, unselfish acts are they suggesting?
How Would You Answer?
? Of what does the prophecy recorded
at Micah 5:5 assure us?
? Explain what a spirit of self-sacrifice
involves.
? How can one cultivate the desire to
serve others?
? How important is family cooperation
if a man is to qualify to serve as a
ministerial servant or an elder?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
I hope to be more on time this week. “Do Not Grieve Jehovah’s Holy Spirit.”
You can bet that not doing everything the WTS way will grieve the HS, that
You can only get holy spirit through the WTS. That any avenue including
Prayer has to go through the WTS.
*** w60 2/15 p. 104 How Does God’s Spirit Operate Today?***
A person cannot expect to be guided by God’s spirit if he refuses to associate with the theocratic organization through which it operates. In the first century it operated through the organization headed by the apostles. In this twentieth century it operates through the organization headed by the remnant of Christ’s spirit-begotten ones.
Love, Blondie