comment on these paragraphs from the dec wt
study February 14-20
R
EAP B LESSINGS T HROUGH
G
OD’S S PIRIT- G UIDED K ING !
Through Christ, Bless Yourself!
16
Jehovah told Abraham: “By means of
your seed all nations of the earth will certainly
bless themselves due to the fact that
youhave listened tomy voice.” (Gen.22:18)
This implies that appreciative ones can confidently
look forward to the blessings the
Messianic Seed will bring. And they actively
serve todaywith those blessings inmind.
17
To Abraham’s fleshly seed, the nation
of Israel, God once said: “All these blessings
[set out in the Law covenant] must come
upon you and overtake you, because you
keep listening to the voice of Jehovah your
God.” (Deut. 28:2) The same can be said to
God’s servants today. If you desire Jehovah’s
blessing, “keep listening” to his voice. Then
his blessings “must come upon you and
overtake you.” What, though, does “listening”
involve?
18
Listening certainly includes taking to
heart what is said in God’s Word and the
spiritual food that he provides. (Matt. 24:
45) It also means obeying God and his Son.
Jesus said: “Not everyone saying to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of
the heavens, but the one
doing the will of my
Father
who is in the heavens will.” (Matt. 7:
16. Genesis 22:18 implies what about God’s blessing?
17, 18. What promise of Jehovah do we read at
Deuteronomy 28:2, and what does it mean for us?
What Did You Learn From . . .
?
Isaiah 11:1-5?
?
Mark 1:40, 41?
?
Acts 10:42?
?
Genesis 22:18?
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THE WATCHTOWER ?
DECEMBER 15, 2010
21) And listening to God means willingly
submitting oneself to the arrangement he
has set in place, the Christian congregation
withappointed elders, “gifts inmen.”—Eph.
4:8.
19
Among those “gifts in men” are the
members of theGoverning Body,who act in
a representative way for the entire Christian
congregation. (Acts 15:2, 6) In fact, our attitude
toward Christ’s spiritual brothers is a
major factor that will determine how we
will be judged during the coming great tribulation.
(Matt. 25:34-40) Thus, one aspect of
the way we gain a blessing is by giving our
loyal support to God’s anointed ones.
20
The “gifts in men” also include members
of Branch Committees, traveling over-
19. Howcanwe be in line for a blessing?
20. (a) What is a key responsibility of the “gifts in
men”? (b) How can we show that we appreciate
these brothers?
seers, and congregation elders—all ofwhom
have been appointed by holy spirit. (Acts 20:
28) These brothers’ primary responsibility
is to build up God’s people “until . . . all attain
to the oneness in the faith and in the
accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a
full-grown man, to the measure of stature
that belongs to the fullness of the Christ.”
(Eph. 4:13) Granted, like the rest of us, they
are imperfect. Still, we bless ourselves when
we respond appreciatively to their loving
shepherding.—Heb.13:7,17.
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Soon Christ will act against Satan’s