Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Can you ask for the aid of the holy spirit?

opusdei1972

There are interesting claims in the Watctower, August 2014:

2 Today, Jehovah guides his people by means of the Bible, his holy spirit, and the congregation. (Acts 9:31; 15:28; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17) The guidance that we receive from him is so clear that it is as if ‘our own ears hear a word behind us saying: “This is the way. Walk in it.”’ (Isa. 30:21) In effect, Jesus also conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) We need to take this guidance and direction seriously, for our everlasting life depends on our obedience.—Heb. 5:9. (w14 8/15, article : "Hear Jehovah’s Voice Wherever You Are", paragraph 2.)

Note that the governing body says that Jesus conveys Jehovah's voice through the faithful and discreet slave. When did Jesus appoint his faithful and discreet slave?. According to the recent new light, it was in 1919:

"In 1919, a time of spiritual revival, Jesus selected capable anointed brothers from among them to be the faithful and discreet slave and appointed them over his domestics."(w13 7/15, article: “Who Really Is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?”, paragraph 12.)

Now, let's continue to reading paragraph 16:

16 Although Jehovah makes his counsel freely available, he does not force anyone to follow it. We need to ask for his holy spirit, and he will give it to us generously. (Read Luke 11:10-13.) It is essential, though, that we ‘pay attention to how we listen.’ (Luke 8:18) For example, it would be hypocritical to ask Jehovah for help to overcome an inclination toward immorality while continuing to look at pornography or watch immoral movies. We actually need to put ourselves in places or circumstances where Jehovah’s spirit is. We know that his spirit is at the congregation meetings. Many servants of Jehovah have avoided disaster by listening to Jehovah during our meetings. As a result, they have become aware of wrong desires developing in their heart and have corrected their ways.—Ps. 73:12-17; 143:10. (w14 8/15, article : "Hear Jehovah’s Voice Wherever You Are", paragraph 16.)

Interestingly, the faithful and discreet slave says that we need to ask for God's holy spirit in order to have Jehovah's counsel available. However, the faithful and discreet slave said that the holy spirit ceased to function since 1918:

“But when the Lord Jesus comes to his temple and gathers his approved ones into the temple, is there any further need for the office of the holy spirit as a helper and advocate? If not, then the advocacy of the holy spirit would there cease. Jesus, being in the temple and with his chosen ones, would act for them directly.” (Watchtower, September 1, 1930 p. 263)

“It would seem that there would be no necessity for the ‘servant’ to have an advocate such as the holy spirit, because the ‘servant’ to have an advocate is in direct communication with Jehovah and as Jehovah’s instrument, and Christ Jesus acts for the entire body.” (p. 263)

“‘The servant’ is anointed to do a specific work. ‘The servant’ is made up of Christ Jesus the Head, the resurrected saints, and the called and chosen ones on the earth who have been brought into the temple and who have entered into the joy of the Lord. Individually those of the remnant on earth must have their standing before God in the beloved One Christ Jesus, and the beloved One is their advocate. Being in the temple, however, there would seem to be no good reason why there should be an advocacy in their behalf by the holy spirit, since the Lord is now with them.” (p. 263)

“When the temple class is gathered the administration of the holy spirit as an advocate, it seems, would be at an end.” (p. 263)

“The holy spirit that had been the guide of God’s people, having performed its functions, was taken away, and the Lord Jesus himself, being present, represented his people and advocated in their behalf before Jehovah God, that is, in behalf of those who had fallen into distress because of their failure to properly use their lips in proclaiming the truth.” (Salvation, 1939 p. 217)

So, we have a big contradiction here. If Christ appointed his "faithful and discreet slave" in 1919, the current "faithful and discreet slave" is an apostate. Because this modern slave is telling us that Jehovah's spirit "is at the congregation meetings", but if it was taken away in 1918, how could it be?.

Jeannette

Don't try to make sense out of that stupid religion. Spend your time more worthily. Something that makes you happy.

opusdei1972

I am not trying to make sense, they have to....

sparrowdown

This is what can happen with a house of cards, remove just one from the right location and the whole flimsy structure flutters to the floor.

No unfortunately they don't have to make sense, there is no law in that regard so religion as a whole has exempted itself from making sense.

They are talking out their arse to have ever claimed sole rights to "God's spirit".

millie210

very well written post opusdei.

I havent seen the Aug article yet but I do appreciate your well thought out addressing of it.

DesirousOfChange

Any active JW today is going to "poo-poo" your reference from a publication written in the 1930s.

I don't care what you say about it being written by "the F&DS" after 1919, they are just going to say there is NEW LITE.

Interesting catch though.

What they say just doesn't mean anything.

It's only what is SAID RIGHT NOW. OBEY OBEY OBEY

Doc

opusdei1972

millie210 I would like to read the answers of those witness Apologists who read the posts of this forum.

opusdei1972

DesirousOfChange However, the great crowd was understood to be an earthly class since 1935, when the faithful and discreet slave thought that the holy spirit was taken away.

NAVYTOWN

Too bad the 'Holy Spirit' is just a figment of some writer's fevered imagination. All this speculation would matter if it wasn't pure nonsense from the get-go.

lurkernomore

Hey Doc I see what your saying but about them poo pooing this with regards to new light but just last night an elder made use of a 52 watchtower and specifically.asked if the reference on return visits was still valid? Clearly he answered yes because it doesn't contradict latest new light. So it seems as long as older publications are in agreement with new light, then they can still used for valid reasoning.

I believe the term cherry picking comes to mind :)

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Can you ask for the aid of the holy spirit?

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