Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-23-05 WT Study (Abbreviated)

blondie

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-23-05 WT Study (December 15, 2004)

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WT quotes from today?s WT

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JEHOVAH IS OUR HELPER

"My help is from Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth.?Psalm 121:2 (NWT)(2005 Year?s Text)

My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth!?Psalm 121:2 (New Living Translation)

www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bible

Opening Comments

Who has been your "helper" in life? Were you fortunate enough to have loving, helpful parents? Maybe another relative or neighbor? A teacher, a co-worker, a boss? Maybe a stranger? Did you find "helpers" at the Kingdom Hall? Did the elders do more than offer a few words and a photocopy of a WT article? Did you receive help from those that many JWs looked down upon as weak, poor, unattractive, etc.

What about Jesus as our helper? Why are we in the OT again?still? Are there no appropriate NT scriptures?

5

For he has said: "I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you." 6 So that we may be of good courage and say: "Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" HEBREWS 13:5-6

This article starts out with a disclaimer that allows every JW permission not to help others. Help only if it is convenient. What do you think?

START OF ARTICLE

Paragraphs 1,2

Who among us never needs a helping hand? The truth is that we all need help at times?to cope with a weighty problem, to endure a painful loss, to bear up under a difficult trail.

When needing help, people often turn to a caring friend. Sharing a burden with such a friend may make it easier to bear.

But

There is only so much that a fellow human can do to help.

Besides, others may not always be in a position to respond when help is needed.

Yet according this previous information in the 8/15/76 WT, Christians who don?t help are ?self-interested? and resisting the power of the holy spirit and have not progressed much spiritually.

w76 8/15 pp. 495-496 Jehovah, a Helper Without Equal ***

The aid that God gives may be received through fellow believers. Again, however, God?s spirit is involved, for that spirit operates upon all true Christians. When, for instance, they see one of their Christian brothers in physical or spiritual need, God?s spirit, operating on their minds and hearts, makes them aware that this need must be filled and prompts them to act accordingly.

Of course, whether any one individual in position to help will actually respond depends upon his being receptive to the urgings of God?s spirit. At times individuals may fail to respond to a need because of permitting self-interest to resist the spirit?s impelling power. This explains why even in the first-century Christian congregation some were far more willing and eager than were others to come to the aid of their brothers. Phil. 4:14-18.

Since the members of the Christian congregation vary as to the extent of their spiritual progress and since individual choice is involved, we cannot expect all to have the spirit of generosity to the same degree as did the Philippians .

w01 8/15 p. 30 Do You Remember? ***

What are some practical ways to help Christian widows?

Friends can kindly and clearly offer to help. Family members or others may be in a position to offer financial or material help, where there is genuine need. Fellow Christians can also help by offering the loving hand of friendship, providing spiritual support and comfort.?5/1, pages 5-7.

There is, however, a Helper who has unlimited power and resources?we too can confidently look to Jehovah as our Helper.

An Unfailing Source of Help

Paragraphs 3-7

Jehovah is ever alert to the needs of his servants (Psalm 121:3,4). It is not possible for God to allow those trusting him (which is not the same as trusting the WTS) "to totter" or to experience a fall from which they cannot recover?his people?his worshipers?his people (all phrases meaning only JWs).

True worshipers (only JWs) are thus assured that Jehovah?s help will extend into the future?his servants (only JWs)..
Does this mean that we will always receive physical protection? No?

Yet how many JWs pray for physical protection and say if a JW dies (like during the tsunami because they weren?t at the meeting) it is because they were disobeying God.

w85 9/1 pp. 5-6 You Can Walk With God ***

When threatened by his enemies, David?s life would be under Jehovah?s protective custody as if it were a precious object carefully wrapped up for safekeeping. Although this does not necessarily imply that physical protection will always be given God?s servants, He is sure to protect the eternal interests of those who walk with him today!

w78 1/15 p. 23 How God?s Kingdom Can Benefit You ***

Does this mean that Jehovah?s Witnesses will always have physical protection, under all circumstances? Not necessarily so. At least two of Jehovah?s Witnesses were killed by sniper fire in Lebanon, and there have been times, too, when they have died in disasters such as earthquakes. But, in general, their prayerful reliance on Jehovah, their togetherness as a congregation and their calmness under pressure have worked to their benefit.

but as long as we look to him as our Helper, he will safeguard us against all things that could bring us spiritual harm.

Help From Angels

Paragraphs 8-11

Angels were empowered by God to protect and deliver faithful humans?Lot and his daughters?185,000 Assyrian soldiers?Daniel was thrown into lions? pit?Peter released from prison?confirming what Psalm 34:7 says: "The angel of Jehovah is camping all around those fearing him, and he rescues them."

Yet in a previous WT that same scripture is applied this way:

w02 11/1 p. 19 Christian Neutrals in the Last Days ***

Second, we are convinced that Jehovah and his angels will support us. As Elisha of old said, "there are more who are with us than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 34:7) It may be that Jehovah, for his own good purpose, allows pressure from opposers to continue for a while. Nevertheless, he will always give us the strength needed to endure. (Isaiah 41:9, 10) Some have given their lives, but that does not dismay us. Jesus said: "Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matthew 10:16-23, 28) We are only "temporary residents" in this system of things. We use our time here to "get a firm hold on the real life," everlasting life in God?s new world. (1 Peter 2:11; 1 Timothy 6:19) No human can deprive us of that reward as long as we remain faithful to God.

On occasion, Jehovah used the angels to encourage and strengthen faithful humans?Daniel?discouraged?God lovingly dispatched an angel to encourage him.

When was the last time an angel showed up at your side? Doesn?t the WTS teach that God doesn?t use angels that way any more?

Jehovah also used angels to direct the work of preaching the good news?Philip?eunuch?Cornelius.

Imagine how you would feel knowing that an angel helped you to come in contact with a rightly disposed person (buzz phrase)!

Then why do JWs end up going to the doors of those who aren?t interested? Why don?t the angels just direct them to "rightly disposed persons"?

Help Through Holy Spirit

Paragraphs 12-14

On many occasions, holy spirit was used to empower humans to do Jehovah?s will?the Judges?first century Christians?

What else could explain how "unlettered and ordinary" individuals could spread the Kingdom message throughout the then known world??Acts 4:13; Colossians 1:23.

Has the WTS even approached spreading the Kingdom message through the now known world? What about China, India, and Muslim countries? Are they keeping up with the population growth even?

w65 9/15 pp. 575-576 Questions from Readers ***

Since millions of persons in China and other places have never heard the Kingdom message, will these people be preserved through the destruction of Babylon the Great and the war of Armageddon, or perhaps be resurrected later??H.S., U.S.A.

It is important to understand what the Bible says about the destruction to come at the end of this system of things. In his illustration of the sheep and the goats Jesus indicated that a separating work (since this was written the WTS teaches that the separating won?t take place until the start of the great tribulation) would be done "when the Son of man arrives in his glory," and that persons would be classed as either "sheep" or "goats." (Matt. 25:31-46) In part, the basis for the separation would be the reaction of people to the preaching of the good news of the established kingdom. That preaching work is now being done by Jehovah?s witnesses. Jesus explained that those on earth who favorably responded to that message and treated kindly its bearers would be classed as "sheep" and would enter into "everlasting life." The rest of mankind who did not respond favorably to the preaching work and offered no aid to those who carried the Kingdom message would be classed as "goats" and would go, not into a temporary death, but into "everlasting cutting-off" at the time when judgment is executed.

But some persons, appreciating that millions of people are to be resurrected and given an opportunity to serve God, wonder if the millions of individuals living today who apparently have never heard the Kingdom message preached will be everlastingly destroyed without ever having had a witness about God?s purposes. It is true that at present it appears that there are vast numbers of mankind who have not heard the Kingdom preaching. (Nothing has changed 40 years later) Also, from what the Bible says and from conditions in the world, we know that we are in the "last days." But we do not know just how much more will be accomplished in preaching the Kingdom message before the end comes. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 24:3-13) If at the end of the second world war someone had said that the Kingdom preaching would be carried out, by more than a million publishers, in over 190 lands, including communistic countries, many might have found that hard to believe. Yet, Jehovah has blessed his people, and that is exactly what is being accomplished. So, if it is Jehovah?s will to have this message personally carried to the millions on earth who seemingly have not yet heard it, that will be accomplished. If he chooses, he could see to it that this message is spread in ways that we cannot yet imagine. Jesus did foretell that "this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matt. 24:14) We can rest assured that God will see that the preaching work is done to his satisfaction. After that "the end" comes.

Jehovah has also used his holy spirit to enlighten his people (only JWs?and then only the anointed?and then only the GB)?Joseph was able to interpret Pharoah?s prophetic dreams..Jehovah caused his purposes to be revealed to humble ones...
Only with the help of holy spirit could a person truly understand God?s will.

Or is it only through the WTS/FDS/GB?

w94 10/1 p. 8 The Bible?A Book Meant to Be Understood ***

Even as Bible prophecy pointed forward to the Messiah, it also directs us to the close-knit body of anointed Christian Witnesses that now serve as the faithful and discreet slave. It helps us to understand the Word of God. All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah?s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.?John 6:68.

Help From God?s Word

Paragraphs 15-17

The Scriptures helped to provide sound guidance for God?s worshipers (since 1931 only JWs).

Note that God did not promise Joshua some miraculous infusion of wisdom. Rather, if Joshua read and meditated on the "book of the law," then he would act wisely.

Many JWs show up at the meetings having not read the WT material or looked up the scriptures, let alone meditating. They read their answers word for word from the paragraph, or just change the order a bit. Are they expecting some "miraculous infusion of wisdom"?

God?s written Word also helped to reveal his will and purpose Daniel, for example, discerned from Jeremiah?s writings how long Jerusalem would remain desolate.

Is it not clear that God?s people in ancient times were helped by the portions of the Sacred Scriptures that were available to them?

Help Through Fellow Believers

Paragraphs 18-22

The help that Jehovah provides often comes through fellow believers. Really, God is responsible whenever one true worshiper (only JWs) helps another. (Is he responsible when they don?t help?)

In Bible times, how did Jehovah provide help through fellow believers?

To give counsel?Jeremiah to Baruch (Jeremiah 45:1-5)

To provide material help?Christians in Macedonia and Achaia to Christians in Jerusalem

To strengthen and encourage one another?Paul?Would they wait in the comfort of their homes in the city until Paul arrived and then come to greet him?

I have seen JWs go way of out their way for the circuit overseer or district overseer like Paul but what about Sister No Husband Has 3 Kids? Or Sister Elderly Complains A Lot? Or Brother Socially Challenged?

Concluding Comments

Did you notice that one helper is missing?

Jesus

My little children, I am writing YOU these things that YOU may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. 1 JOHN 2:1

Next week?s article:

Do You Accept Jehovah?s Help

Is rejecting the WTS the same as rejecting God?s help?

Is reading pornography the same as grieving the holy spirit?

Love, Blondie

cyber-sista

Imagine how you would feel knowing that an angel helped you to come in contact with a rightly disposed person (buzz phrase)!

Then why do JWs end up going to the doors of those who aren?t interested? Why don?t the angels just direct them to "rightly disposed persons"?

I always wondered this myself. Why did the angels make us waste our time going from door to door of people who were not there or not interested. To keep us humble, right?? I know we were always told that even if peoople didn't respond (or were not at home) going in service was a great witness to the community, seeing us out there wallking about in our uncomfortable dress clothes. (Yeh, right)

Oh my goodness, the WT sure has a lot to say about nothing.

So, what is the deep message this article is trying to convey here? It's OK to help somebody when you can, but you can only do so much, so don't try to hard if it is inconvient for you. Jehovah will provide sometimes--if he's up to it at the moment.

Thanks Blondie

cybs

eyeslice

Has the WTS even approached spreading the Kingdom message through the now known world? What about China, India, and Muslim countries? Are they keeping up with the population growth even?
w65 9/15 pp. 575-576 Questions from Readers ***
Since millions of persons in China and other places have never heard the Kingdom message, will these people be preserved through the destruction of Babylon the Great and the war of Armageddon, or perhaps be resurrected later??H.S., U.S.A.

This was always one of my biggest concerns about JW theology. Then again the title of the article is 'Jehovah is our Helper', which in JW terms really means; Jehovah is the Helper of Jehovah's Witnesses'.

Eyeslice

OICU8it2

Thank you, Blondie. Looking forward to next week's.

avengers

JEHOVAH IS OUR HELPER

I still cannot understand how the GB gets away with feeding the sheep this crap.
But I guess when you're a sheep you're surrounded by dogs, so it's hard to get away.

heathen

I'd like to ask the question of what kind of help does the WTBTS offer ? A billion dollar corporation. The whole aticle is like saying " fend for yourselves " even if you give us your money we aren't responsible for anything . They love to loan money to congregations but by God you are responsible for every cent and they will continue to give you a guilt trip over it even if you don't have money to spare .I've never heard one testamonial implying they even look after widows and orphans .It always shocks me to hear the rich and greedy tell everybody else they need to tighten their belts another notch and suddenly the less fortunate are responsible to help each other .

jgnat

The controlling language in this article is very subtle. I only have a few notes. In the section on "Help through the Holy Spirit (p. 14, pp 12-14)", the help received by the early Christians is compared to the help that Witnesses have today. The early Christians, however, had eyewitness examples of Jesus' power; controlling the wind and the waves, feeding the crowd with a single loaf, his healings. This article tones down this astounding evidence that they were on the right path to, "After all, the inspired Scriptures are filled with examples of how Jehovah used holy spirit, the strongest force available, to aid his people." This makes it sound like those first disciples were inspired to their great deeds because they read about it! Well, that may be true about the average Witness.....

Also, "Their success in carrying out their ministry gave powerful evidence of the operation of holy spirit." Again, this plays well in to the life of the Witness today, who faithfully fills out his or her time card to give evidence of HS. But the early Christians had no time cards, they had something far more vital. They had miracles. They had healings. They carried on the ministry that Jesus started.

I also found the scope of "helps" to be carefully restricted to the brotherhood of the faith. Again, the early Christians are described as if they acted like the Witnesses of today. "Really, God is responsible whenever one true worshiper helps another (p. 15, pp 18)" When I studied this out, I concluded that God owns all good things, not only those produced by a few million people who consider themselves exclusively approved of Him.

Psalm 50:9-10 NIV "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."

I maintain that ANY good work done for another, whether it is a charity benefit put on by a crack-addicted rock star or Mother Teresa or a hug for an AIDS victim, is owned by God.

Flowerpetal

Then why do JWs end up going to the doors of those who aren?t interested? Why don?t the angels just direct them to "rightly disposed persons"?

Excellent point!!

BluesBrother

Para 7

Does this mean that we will always receive phisical protection? No, but as long as we look to him as our Helper, he will safeguard us against all things that could bring us spiritual harm

Question ?................. I gather that by "spiritual harm" you mean a loss of faith. Then the assurance is that the safeguard is only applicable if we "Look to him" . Surely, in order to do that we need the faith anyway, otherwise we could no longer look to him. ........So you are saying that as long as we have faith then God will safeguard our faith, but if we waver in our faith he will no longer safeguard our faith . So the onus is on ourselves and not God? So where is the safeguard?

Obviously too deep for me this week, brother

Pole

but as long as we look to him as our Helper, he will safeguard us against all things that could bring us spiritual harm.

Thus, we can always count on Jehovah to help us maintain our spiritual health. Of course this will not be the case if we neglect our spiritual health, because then we lose our bond with Jehovah and can't expect him to help us with anything.

In other words, when you try hard to protect your spiritual health you know it is Jehovah who miraculously helps you to maintain it.

In other words you are supposed to help yourself and then believe that it was Jehovah who helped you. And all that through the FDS class of course.

What a miraculous provision!

I have to echo Avengers here...

Pole

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-23-05 WT Study (Abbreviated)

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