Bill Parker

Joined

• started 20 topics
• posted 98 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Bill Parker

• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Venice1T:
  Everything is just an illustration to those who do not understand!
• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  JT:
  I have not been to a meeting for over six years now. At the time that I left, I was not disfellowshipped. So I have been inactive as they view it for about six years now. I am though by this time viewed by them as dissosociated. Their official policy now as I understand it is anyone who is dissasociated is automatically considered disfellowshipped. Now that must be true because a long time friend of my wife who is herself a witness passed by me on the street. You wouldn't believe the look that I got. Like your already as down as you can get. They come along and hand you a shovel.But lets face though if they have read any of my articles on this board. Which is a distinct possibility. Then I am now branded for life. You know what? That suits me down to the ground. They could render no greater service to their fellow man. I'll go back when Jehovah cleans out the weeds. That is if I am alive to do it. Bill
• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Refiners fire:
  If you have something else to do with your time. Why not go and do it?
• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Englishman:
  "Bring on the dancing girls." Your probably going to need them!
• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Refiners Fire:
  I was using the Amplified Bible! If you have a problem with that maybe you better take it up with the translaters of that Bible. They were not my inserts. I could have used any number of Bible translations. You probably would have found fault with those too. Some days you just can't win any can you?
• 
  32

  "WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE"?

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible!

  the things that are will be brought to nothing.

  is that really the way jehovah teaches today?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL SLAVE?

  How do we scripturally answer this question? Is it the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses? They say that it is! Is it the Popes? They also lay claim to this title! Can this composite body of individuals be contained within any of the Churches of Christendom?

  Only one book can supply the answer to this question. The Bible! For within the pages of that book the needed credentials are clearly set forth to conclusively identify the one who “REALLY IS!”

  We will now look at a parable Jesus uttered in Luke 14: 7-11. … “He noticed how they were selecting the places of honor, saying to them. When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast do not recline on the chief seat {in the place of honor} lest a more distinguished person than you has been invited by Him. {Proverbs 25: 6, 7} And He who invited both of you will come to you and say, Let this man have the place {you have taken} Then with humiliation and a guilty sense of impropriety you will begin to take the lowest place.” “But when you are invited go and recline in the lowest place, so that when your host comes in he may say to you, Friend, go up higher! Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit {at table} with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled {ranked below others who are honored or rewarded} and he who humbles himself {keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly} will be exalted {elevated in rank}”.

  All of the religions of this world including the Watchtower Society with its Governing Body have taken the very best seats for themselves. They have seated themselves in high places of honor. They all will suffer great humiliation when the truly humble ones are elevated in rank. The “things that are will be brought to nothing.” Will be no more. They will become non-existent. The Apostle Paul explained it like this: “God selected {deliberately chose} what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. And God also selected {deliberately chose} what in the world is low born and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are.” {1 Corinthians 1: 27, 28}

  The two aforementioned religions are “the things that are.” But not only these two, the entire empire of religion will be brought low. Their humiliation will be very great! To say the very least!

  Like the ancient scribes and Pharisees they have all “seated themselves in the seat of Moses.” {Matthew 23:2} Neither the Watchtower Society with its Governing Body nor any of the World’s Religions has been appointed by Jehovah God. They are all self exalted institutions and will be brought low. Their self exalted positions show that they have little or no humility at all.

  Isaiah had something to say about these lofty ones in Isaiah 2: 12. It was this: “The proud looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be humbled” … “For there shall be a day of the LORD of Hosts against all who are proud and haughty and against all who are lifted up-and they shall be brought low.”

  Informed people today know that the Pope’s have been viewed as the “Vicar of Christ” {regarded as earthly representative of Christ}. He is even viewed as “GOD on earth.” That is about as high and lofty as a sinful human can exalt himself. It is even said of him that “if it were possible for angels to err he could disfellowship them.” How heaven high can you get than that?

  What about the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Watchtower Society? Do they also put themselves in a like lofty position? We will see that they do! They tell us to “listen to them as though we were listening to the voice of God.” They claim to be the “wife of Jehovah God” our “Mother.” They tell us that “we cannot learn the Bible unless we are associated with them.” They claim to be Jehovah’s “only channel” for the dispensation of spiritual truths. His teaching instrument. Is that true? In the Watchtower magazine of 1990 march 15th pages 10-14 we read in part: “How can you identify the Faithful and discreet Slave? Further on in this article it tells us that: “This magazine. The Watchtower announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom is the principle instrument employed by the “slave” in the teaching work.” Then it goes on to mention other methods of teaching. These are ‘books, booklets brochures, tracts, and the awake magazine.” It mentions the “Ministerial Training School course” … “the Kingdom ministry school” … “the pioneer service school” … “the five weekly meetings” … Then it goes on to say: “Jehovah particularly teaches His people by means of a weekly study of the Bible, using the Watchtower as a teaching aid.” All credit goes to the Watchtower Society and their publications for teaching Jehovah’s people today. Is that really the way Jehovah teaches today? Throughout all of that there is no mention of the real teaching instrument Jehovah has always used to teach His people. Isn’t it strange that that information is missing? What is that “principle teaching instrument” they have failed to mention?

  Recall the word’s of Jesus at John 14: 26. He said there: “But the comforter {Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby, and The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name {in my place, to represent Me and act on my behalf}. He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall {will remind you of bring to your remembrance} everything I have told you.” What instrument is now seen to be Jehovah’s principle teaching instrument? It is the Holy Spirit isn’t it? But is that Spirit only poured out on a select few to the exclusion of the rest of mankind? IT is true that those called for heavenly life received a special anointing. {1Peter 2: 9} {Acts 2:4 If one reads on in Acts 2: 16, 17 “But {instead} this is the beginning of} what was spoken through the Prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy {telling forth the divine counsels” … Joel 2: 28, 29, words it like this: “And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh” … {not just on any one religious institution.} It says “all flesh” “all mankind!”

  So then the opportunity is there for everyone alive on this planet now to receive that promised Holy Spirit. That “principle teaching instrument.” But how do we receive this “free gift” of the Spirit? Is it just poured out now indiscriminately on just anyone? Wicked and righteous alike? No! It is not free in the sense that we might expect it to be. There is something we must do first! We must: … “Repent {change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it} and be baptized” … “and live lives consistent with such repentance.” Acts 3: 19; 26: 20.

  When we accomplish that the “free gift of the Spirit is poured out on us then the teaching program begins. Only then! If there is no repentance displayed, there is no “free gift of the Spirit.” Without that we can learn absolutely nothing at all about the Bible. Try as we might.

  As we begin our study displaying the attitude marked out in Proverbs 2: 1-5 which is: “My Son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you. Making your ear attentive to skillful and Godly wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding {applying all your powers to the quest for it}, Yes if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek {Wisdom} as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD {JEHOVAH} and find the knowledge of {our omniscient} God.”

  When it becomes so, as Jeremiah predicted at Chapter 31: 31- 33 that Jehovah’s Laws are in our minds and written on our hearts we will then have the” tongue of the taught one” or “like the stylus of a skilled copyist.” {Isaiah 50: 4 Psalms 45: 1} This scripture at Jeremiah 31: 31-33 brings out a very important point. It shows that it is Jehovah who puts His word in the minds of the individuals who are seeking it. IT is Jehovah who writes it on our hearts. No religious body on this planet regardless of their arrogant claims to having a special anointing could accomplish that feat. Only Jehovah could do that! Just as the Prophet Zechariah foretold: “Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the LORD ALMIGHTY.” Zechariah 4:6

  At this point I should state that anyone who has received this “free gift” of the spirit has been anointed by spirit. That being the case and as I have already shown, the words in 1 John 2: 27 has first application to those of the heavenly calling as we know. It also applies to the “all flesh” or “all mankind” who have received that gift. It states: “But as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you, as His anointing teaches you about all things.”

  Because of the foregoing the Prophet Jeremiah wrote: “No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying ‘Know Jehovah’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” {Jeremiah 31:34.}

  It is not any Religious body on this earth today that takes credit for imparting the knowledge of God. It is Jehovah alone who has accomplished all of that through His Holy Spirit. All man can do is direct attention to what Jehovah has said in the Bible. They can do no more than that! They cannot put Jehovah’s words in the minds of individuals. They cannot write those words on the hearts of people. Only Jehovah can do those things.

  So “Who really is the Faithful Slave?” It is anyone who has taken in the knowledge of God and who is willing to impart said knowledge. Anyone who has done this can “supply the spiritual food at the proper time.’ Jehovah’s Spirit will then do the rest depending on the heart attitude of each individual. The Apostle John in Revelation 22: 17 stated: “whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life.” So this “principle teaching instrument” is not the Watchtower nor Awake Magazine nor any other publication that they may possess. It is none of the Religions of Christendom or their publications either. It is only the Bible! Coupled with that is the possession of the Holy Spirit that enables us to understand it. Jehovah Himself takes all credit. Through that Book all men can come to an accurate knowledge of truth without the aid of any Religion on this earth. They are all going to be brought very low in the eyes of all when Jehovah gets ready to do that.
• 
  14

  Can we understand the message of the Bible

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reply to question- can we understand the message of the bible?.

  joel bear made the following comment to me: as one of jehovahs witnesses who bears his name, why not give a well thought out answer to the question.. .

  the questions as far as i can determine are this: why is the bible so ambiguous that so many interpretations are possible?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Reply To Question- Can we understand the message of the Bible?

  Joel Bear made the following comment to me: “As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who bears his name, why not give a well thought out answer to the question.”

  The questions as far as I can determine are this: “Why is the Bible so ambiguous that so many interpretations are possible? Why doesn’t God simply speak clearly so that we can understand unequivocally the most important message ever supposedly delivered to humans? Why is there so much room for what Yadirf calls mistakes and misunderstandings? If the Bible is a message to all men, shouldn’t it be written on a level where even the simplest could understand it? Why instead do we have to have Bible Scholars to explain it to us?”
  
  In trying to answer these questions for Joel Bear I hope to also answer the questions for Ashitaka and Running Man.

  Isn’t it true that Jehovah has hidden His word from some among mankind? Recall what Jesus stated at Matthew 11:25. … “I thank you Father, LORD of heaven and earth {and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to your honor}, that you have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies {to the childish untaught and unskilled.” Then in Proverbs 2: 7 in harmony with that, are these words: “He hides away sound and godly wisdom and stores it for the righteous {those who are upright and in right standing with Him} … those who walk uprightly and in integrity”.

  Are we to conclude from that, that because an individual may have a great deal of worldly knowledge, and is wise in the ways of the world that he cannot gain an accurate understanding of the Bible? I do not believe that that is the case at all. One like this could be a very spiritual person and would not be deprived from gaining knowledge of Jehovah. It is only the one’s lacking spirituality, the one’s not “walking uprightly and in integrity” that would be deprived of that knowledge. Those that feel that because of their knowledge they are superior to everyone else. The knowledge of God Is “foolishness to them.” They have little or no spirituality. Those who have no interest in spiritual things are really not concerned with walking uprightly before God will never understand the knowledge of God. To them the Bible is a book that cannot be understood. They feel it is full of “mistakes and misunderstandings”. They do not believe that it is written on a level “where all mankind can understand it”.

  Joel Bear said: “If we are judged based on our reaction to the message, should we not be able to understand the message?”

  The bible is a book written for the benefit of all mankind. Paul made this clear at 1 Timothy 2: 4 where he said: … “Who wishes all men to be saved and {increasingly} to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the {divine truth}?”Added to that are the words of the Apostle John: “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1: 29 {Romans 5:12; Romans 3: 23} Peter adds this: “The lord does not delay or is not tardy our slow about what He promises, according to some peoples conception of slowness, but He is longsuffering {extraordinarily patient} toward you, not desiring that any should perish but that ALL should turn to repentance.” The only ones who will not understand the message is those ones who are not spiritually minded. From them Jehovah has hidden the message until such time that they recognize their sinful condition, repent of that course, turn around and do works that befit repentance. When that occurs Jehovah will then impart His Holy Spirit to them. Then that spirit “will guide them into all of the truth.” But when there is no true repentance {and Jehovah is the one who decides whether it is true repentance or false} then there is no spirit supplied. Without that spirit is lacking the true knowledge cannot be gained, try as one might.

  Look at what 1 Corinthians 2: 14 has to say about this: “But the natural, non spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the spirit of God, for they are folly {meaningless nonsense} to him; and he is incapable of knowing them {of progressively recognizing, understanding and becoming better acquainted with them} because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.” So where do we lay the blame for one’s lack of the knowledge of God in this case? Isn’t it because the one spoken of here is lacking in spirituality? Doesn’t the blame rest solely on this person or people, whoever they may be? Isn’t it true that the word’s of Jesus at Matthew 13:13 apply to those who really have no spirituality? He said: “This is the reason that I speak to them in parables; because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive.” {Matthew 13:13, 14} If one reads on in verse 15 it was a bad heart condition that blocked their understanding of what Jesus was teaching. We learn of this particular heart attitude in Proverbs 14: 6 “A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain {for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it}.

  Look now at verse 15 of 1 Corinthians chapter 2. “But the spiritual man tries all things {he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things}; he can read the meaning of everything}”
  Proverbs 2: 10, 11. Tells us of these spiritual people, this: “For skillful and Godly wisdom shall enter into your heart and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you.” As to these spiritual persons this same Proverb continues: “But knowledge is easy to him who {being teachable} understands.”

  From all of this we can see the Bible is impossible to understand only if we lack in spirituality. If our hearts are not right in God’s eyes. But for those among mankind who possess the right heart attitude and are spiritual persons, teachable people then “knowledge is an easy thing” for us to obtain. It is a very simple book to understand. Of these teachable people, these wise ones, the Proverb tells us: “The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel {so that he may be able to steer his course rightly}” Proverbs 18: 15 adds this to that: “The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge and the ear of the wise is ever seeking {inquiring for and craving} knowledge.” For the spiritual man the Bible is a very simple book to understand. For those lacking spirituality it is a very difficult book to understand.

  But what about all of those Bible translations that allow for so many different interpretations? Why is there so much confusion created by them? One need only to look at the account in Genesis 2: 17 to discover why that is. There was perfect harmony up until they violated the command stated here. They had only the knowledge of good. When they ate of the tree Jehovah commanded them not to touch them then gained the knowledge of bad. Then all of the complexities started. They were misled by Satan. He now became the God of the World. The whole world then lay in the power of Satan. He had succeeded in blinding not only the minds of the pair in the garden but also the entire world of mankind. He has from that time until now misled “the entire inhabited earth”. 2 Corinthians 4: 4 Revelation 12: 9; 1 John 5:19. For that reason there is a confusion of Bible translations that are not in agreeance. That allows for one to conclude one thing and someone else another. All of them only keep individuals in a state of confusion. That only serves to show that Satan has blinded the Minds of these Bible translators. Since he himself is a god of confusion unlike Jehovah who is a God of order. Stan is the only one who doesn’t wish anyone to come to know Jehovah and gain abundant life since he himself will eventually lose his. He would have all of us lose ours too.

  The true spiritual man though can use any of these Bibles and still come to an accurate knowledge of truth. Once one is “granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of God” {Matthew 13: 10} who has had the “eyes of his heart enlightened” {Ephesians 1: 18} will eventually be able to “find the very knowledge of God”. Proverbs 2:5 that will depend though on how much effort is put forth to gain that knowledge.

  Do we gain it though from the Bible Scholars who are lying in Satan’s power? Do we need any professed so called self appointed “slave class’ to teach us the Bible? Who tell us if we do not do as they do and teach we will not inherit life? Who tell us that we should listen to them as though we were listening to the voice of God?” Run away from those.
  Who did Jesus say taught Him? In brief it was this: …“I say exactly what My Father has taught me.”{John 8:28} In John 14:24 Jesus tells us: … “The teaching that you hear and heed is not mine, but comes from the Father who sent me.”
  In John 6: 45 Jesus said: “It is written in the book of the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God {Jehovah} {have Him in person for their teacher}. Every one who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me.” It is not any sinful man we receive our instruction from. It is Jehovah God who does the teaching through His active force. “And all your sons will be taught by Jehovah.” {Isaiah 54:13}

  In 1st John 2:20 we learn how this teaching is done. It reads: “But you have been anointed by the Holy One. You all know the truth; I do not write you because you do not know it because you do know it”. Then in verse 27 we read this: “The anointing of the Spirit which you received still remains in your hearts, and so you have no need that anyone should teach you. But just as that anointing of His teaches about everything and as it is true and no falsehood, and as it has taught you to do so, you must continue to live in union with Him.” Some would argue that this statement is directed at only those of the heavenly calling. That is definitely not true! Why? Look at Jeremiah 31: 33, 34 in part it states: … “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying `Know the LORD` because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” They all had an anointing of Holy Spirit that is why they had ALL come to know Jehovah. They had all been taught by Jehovah. In order to do that they all would have had to understand the message of the Bible. If they didn’t they would never have gained the knowledge necessary to enable to come to know Jehovah.

  It now becomes obvious that if we today do not understand the Bible we are lacking in spirituality. That can be gained by humble heartfelt prayer of repentance to Jehovah. We must be conscious of our sinful condition. We must acknowledge that openly to Jehovah. We must accept the fact that only by Jehovah applying the merit of the precious blood of His dear Son on our behalf can we receive the forgiveness necessary to gaining the free gift of the spirit. Then the anointing takes place. Then Jehovah begins teaching us through the effort we now put forth to gain the knowledge of God. Then the Bible becomes a simple Book to understand. We do not trust in any man to teach us the Bible. Men are prone to lying; Jehovah is the God who cannot lie. Everyone taught by Him will be exactly like His Son who taught exactly as Jehovah had taught Him. Paul one of the one’s taught by the master could say: “Become imitators of me just as I am of Christ.” In doing that we become “imitators of God as beloved children”… {1 Corinthians 11: 1, 2 Ephesians 5: 1} When we are really doing that we become qualified to dispense “spiritual food at the proper time” to those who are thirsting for knowledge of Jehovah. We are all that “faithful Slave” mentioned in Matthew 24: 45-47
• 
  13

  UPDATE ON "PRESENT THE TRUTH" ...

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  purgatory is still another.

  what method of teaching did he impart to the 1st century christians?

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Can we understand the message of the Bible?

  Joel Bear made the following comment to me: “As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who bears his name, why not give a well thought out answer to the question.”

  The questions as far as I can determine are this: “Why is the Bible so ambiguous that so many interpretations are possible? Why doesn’t God simply speak clearly so that we can understand unequivocally the most important message ever supposedly delivered to humans? Why is there so much room for what Yadirf calls mistakes and misunderstandings? If the Bible is a message to all men, shouldn’t it be written on a level where even the simplest could understand it? Why instead do we have to have Bible Scholars to explain it to us?”
  
  In trying to answer these questions for Joel Bear I hope to also answer the questions for Ashitaka and Running Man.

  Isn’t it true that Jehovah has hidden His word from some among mankind? Recall what Jesus stated at Matthew 11:25. … “I thank you Father, LORD of heaven and earth {and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to your honor}, that you have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies {to the childish untaught and unskilled.” Then in Proverbs 2: 7 in harmony with that, are these words: “He hides away sound and godly wisdom and stores it for the righteous {those who are upright and in right standing with Him} … those who walk uprightly and in integrity”.

  Are we to conclude from that, that because an individual may have a great deal of worldly knowledge, and is wise in the ways of the world that he cannot gain an accurate understanding of the Bible? I do not believe that that is the case at all. One like this could be a very spiritual person and would not be deprived from gaining knowledge of Jehovah. It is only the one’s lacking spirituality, the one’s not “walking uprightly and in integrity” that would be deprived of that knowledge. Those that feel that because of their knowledge they are superior to everyone else. The knowledge of God Is “foolishness to them.” They have little or no spirituality. Those who have no interest in spiritual things are really not concerned with walking uprightly before God will never understand the knowledge of God. To them the Bible is a book that cannot be understood. They feel it is full of “mistakes and misunderstandings”. They do not believe that it is written on a level “where all mankind can understand it”.

  Joel Bear said: “If we are judged based on our reaction to the message, should we not be able to understand the message?”

  The bible is a book written for the benefit of all mankind. Paul made this clear at 1 Timothy 2: 4 where he said: … “Who wishes all men to be saved and {increasingly} to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the {divine truth}?”Added to that are the words of the Apostle John: “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1: 29 {Romans 5:12; Romans 3: 23} Peter adds this: “The lord does not delay or is not tardy our slow about what He promises, according to some peoples conception of slowness, but He is longsuffering {extraordinarily patient} toward you, not desiring that any should perish but that ALL should turn to repentance.” The only ones who will not understand the message is those ones who are not spiritually minded. From them Jehovah has hidden the message until such time that they recognize their sinful condition, repent of that course, turn around and do works that befit repentance. When that occurs Jehovah will then impart His Holy Spirit to them. Then that spirit “will guide them into all of the truth.” But when there is no true repentance {and Jehovah is the one who decides whether it is true repentance or false} then there is no spirit supplied. Without that spirit is lacking the true knowledge cannot be gained, try as one might.

  Look at what 1 Corinthians 2: 14 has to say about this: “But the natural, non spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the spirit of God, for they are folly {meaningless nonsense} to him; and he is incapable of knowing them {of progressively recognizing, understanding and becoming better acquainted with them} because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.” So where do we lay the blame for one’s lack of the knowledge of God in this case? Isn’t it because the one spoken of here is lacking in spirituality? Doesn’t the blame rest solely on this person or people, whoever they may be? Isn’t it true that the word’s of Jesus at Matthew 13:13 apply to those who really have no spirituality? He said: “This is the reason that I speak to them in parables; because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive.” {Matthew 13:13, 14} If one reads on in verse 15 it was a bad heart condition that blocked their understanding of what Jesus was teaching. We learn of this particular heart attitude in Proverbs 14: 6 “A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain {for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it}.

  Look now at verse 15 of 1 Corinthians chapter 2. “But the spiritual man tries all things {he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things}; he can read the meaning of everything}”
  Proverbs 2: 10, 11. Tells us of these spiritual people, this: “For skillful and Godly wisdom shall enter into your heart and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you.” As to these spiritual persons this same Proverb continues: “But knowledge is easy to him who {being teachable} understands.”

  From all of this we can see the Bible is impossible to understand only if we lack in spirituality. If our hearts are not right in God’s eyes. But for those among mankind who possess the right heart attitude and are spiritual persons, teachable people then “knowledge is an easy thing” for us to obtain. It is a very simple book to understand. Of these teachable people, these wise ones, the Proverb tells us: “The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel {so that he may be able to steer his course rightly}” Proverbs 18: 15 adds this to that: “The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge and the ear of the wise is ever seeking {inquiring for and craving} knowledge.” For the spiritual man the Bible is a very simple book to understand. For those lacking spirituality it is a very difficult book to understand.

  But what about all of those Bible translations that allow for so many different interpretations? Why is there so much confusion created by them? One need only to look at the account in Genesis 2: 17 to discover why that is. There was perfect harmony up until they violated the command stated here. They had only the knowledge of good. When they ate of the tree Jehovah commanded them not to touch them then gained the knowledge of bad. Then all of the complexities started. They were misled by Satan. He now became the God of the World. The whole world then lay in the power of Satan. He had succeeded in blinding not only the minds of the pair in the garden but also the entire world of mankind. He has from that time until now misled “the entire inhabited earth”. 2 Corinthians 4: 4 Revelation 12: 9; 1 John 5:19. For that reason there is a confusion of Bible translations that are not in agreeance. That allows for one to conclude one thing and someone else another. All of them only keep individuals in a state of confusion. That only serves to show that Satan has blinded the Minds of these Bible translators. Since he himself is a god of confusion unlike Jehovah who is a God of order. Stan is the only one who doesn’t wish anyone to come to know Jehovah and gain abundant life since he himself will eventually lose his. He would have all of us lose ours too.

  The true spiritual man though can use any of these Bibles and still come to an accurate knowledge of truth. Once one is “granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of God” {Matthew 13: 10} who has had the “eyes of his heart enlightened” {Ephesians 1: 18} will eventually be able to “find the very knowledge of God”. Proverbs 2:5 that will depend though on how much effort is put forth to gain that knowledge.

  Do we gain it though from the Bible Scholars who are lying in Satan’s power? Do we need any professed so called self appointed “slave class’ to teach us the Bible? Who tell us if we do not do as they do and teach we will not inherit life? Who tell us that we should listen to them as though we were listening to the voice of God?” Run away from those.
  Who did Jesus say taught Him? In brief it was this: …“I say exactly what My Father has taught me.”{John 8:28} In John 14:24 Jesus tells us: … “The teaching that you hear and heed is not mine, but comes from the Father who sent me.”
  In John 6: 45 Jesus said: “It is written in the book of the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God {Jehovah} {have Him in person for their teacher}. Every one who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me.” It is not any sinful man we receive our instruction from. It is Jehovah God who does the teaching through His active force. “And all your sons will be taught by Jehovah.” {Isaiah 54:13}

  In 1st John 2:20 we learn how this teaching is done. It reads: “But you have been anointed by the Holy One. You all know the truth; I do not write you because you do not know it because you do know it”. Then in verse 27 we read this: “The anointing of the Spirit which you received still remains in your hearts, and so you have no need that anyone should teach you. But just as that anointing of His teaches about everything and as it is true and no falsehood, and as it has taught you to do so, you must continue to live in union with Him.” Some would argue that this statement is directed at only those of the heavenly calling. That is definitely not true! Why? Look at Jeremiah 31: 33, 34 in part it states: … “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying `Know the LORD` because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” They all had an anointing of Holy Spirit that is why they had ALL come to know Jehovah. They had all been taught by Jehovah. In order to do that they all would have had to understand the message of the Bible. If they didn’t they would never have gained the knowledge necessary to enable to come to know Jehovah.

  It now becomes obvious that if we today do not understand the Bible we are lacking in spirituality. That can be gained by humble heartfelt prayer of repentance to Jehovah. We must be conscious of our sinful condition. We must acknowledge that openly to Jehovah. We must accept the fact that only by Jehovah applying the merit of the precious blood of His dear Son on our behalf can we receive the forgiveness necessary to gaining the free gift of the spirit. Then the anointing takes place. Then Jehovah begins teaching us through the effort we now put forth to gain the knowledge of God. Then the Bible becomes a simple Book to understand. We do not trust in any man to teach us the Bible. Men are prone to lying; Jehovah is the God who cannot lie. Everyone taught by Him will be exactly like His Son who taught exactly as Jehovah had taught Him. Paul one of the one’s taught by the master could say: “Become imitators of me just as I am of Christ.” In doing that we become “imitators of God as beloved children”… {1 Corinthians 11: 1, 2 Ephesians 5: 1} When we are really doing that we become qualified to dispense “spiritual food at the proper time” to those who are thirsting for knowledge of Jehovah. We are all that “faithful Slave” mentioned in Matthew 24: 45-47
• 
  13

  UPDATE ON "PRESENT THE TRUTH" ...

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  purgatory is still another.

  what method of teaching did he impart to the 1st century christians?

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  PRESENT THE TRUTH AS TAUGHT BY THE MASTER!

  Tuesday, December 04, 2001

  There are many religious doctrines that are presented to us today by various Christian scholars; and individuals who believe that the Bible supports their beliefs. But when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.

  A case in point is the belief of the “Trinity Doctrine.” Another is the belief in the teaching of an “Immortal Soul.” Still another is the belief in “Torment” “in a fiery place called Hell.” “Purgatory” is still another.

  Are these teachings biblically sound? If so how should they be presented to others? Does the Bible mark out a particular way to present these teachings so that it is impossible to refute them? We will see that it does. If it does not then they are false teachings and to be avoided.

  If we find that the Bible does not support these teachings would we be willing to discard them in favor of what the Bible really does say about them?

  What is the scriptural way to present all of the truths found in the Bible? What did Jesus Himself have to say about this matter? What method of teaching did He impart to the 1st century Christians? How did He say that we should worship His Father Jehovah?

  The answer to the last question can be found in the account in John 4: 5-26.
  … Jesus said: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour will come- in fact it is here already- when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth: this is the kind of worshiper the Father wants. God is Spirit, and those who worship MUST worship in spirit and truth.” {Verses 21-24} Before I discuss this scripture any further I would like to draw attention to what the Bible has to say in the prophecies of Daniel. “But you O, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the the time of the end. {Then} many shall run to and fro and search anxiously {through the book}, and knowledge {of God’s purposes as revealed by His Prophets} shall be increased and become great.” {Daniel 12:4} … “And they who are wise and understanding among the people shall instruct many and make them understand” … {Daniel 11: 33} … “and none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand.”

  When Jesus appeared on the earth the end of the Jewish system of things was very close at hand. So at that time they were living in the “time of the end.” In Matthew 24: 1, 2 Jesus foretold the complete destruction of the Jewish Temple. In 70 c. e. that prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman Army led by General Titus completely destroyed the Jewish Temple. That is now a matter of history.

  From Daniel’s time right up to time of Christ the Book was sealed. So no one alive in that time of spiritual darkness could understand what was written in Jehovah’s word of truth. It was sealed until the time of the end. As Christ began His ministry the seal on the book was removed. Then the first application of Daniel 12:4 went into effect. … “Knowledge of God’s purposes as revealed by His Prophets was increased and became great.” {Daniel 12:4} This of course would have a chain reaction. Those who were wise and who understood Jesus teachings would in turn impart their knowledge to other wise ones. We read in Romans 10:18 about the great impact Jesus Ministry had on the World of Mankind at that time. Those whom He chose to send out filled the entire inhabited earth of their time with that knowledge.

  This brings us back to where Jesus spoke to the Samaritan Woman at the side of the well. The conversation He had with this woman explains how they accomplished this feat. “The hour will come- in fact it is here already when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” …John 4:23 Those He taught were able to accomplish that earthshaking preaching campaign because they were worshiping the Father in “spirit and truth.” What exactly does that mean? Turning to 1 John 5:6 informs in part: “the spirit is the truth.” In 2 Peter 1: 19-21 we learn this: “So we have conformation of what was said in prophecies and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises rises in your minds. At the same time we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual. Why? Because no prophecy ever came from man’s initiative. When men spoke for God it was the Holy Spirit that moved them.” In 1 John 5:6 we learn that “the Spirit is the truth.” The Apostle John informs us “that no lie can come from the truth.” 1 John 2:21. Compare Titus I: 2-Hebrews 6:18. Speaking about those faithful men who took the lead in the first century the Apostle John in Revelation 14:5 tells us about them: “ They never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.” Every word they taught was exactly what Jehovah wanted them to say. They were all “filled with Holy Spirit.” They gained and maintained that Spirit right to the end of their lives. But how did they gain that spirit in the first place? Was it just a free gift in the sense that they didn’t have to do anything to get it?

  Peter explains what was necessary for them to do in order to receive this free gift. “And Peter answered them. REPENT {change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it} and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit.” {Acts 2:38} Without true repentance, without turning around and “doing work’s that befit repentance” they would never have received that free gift. The Holy Spirit is the teacher! It teaches complete truth. There is no error whatsoever in teaching or interpretation. The teachings are God’s, the interpretations are God’s. When taught by Holy Spirit one comes to fully understand the Bible. Without it they would have never understood the Bible. But they did understand. That is why they were able to fully accomplish their ministry. They first repented. And then they displayed works that showed that they were genuinely repentant. Then they were baptized. {Acts 2: 1-13, 14-21} Then they received that free gift. If the repentance was not displayed they would not have received the “free gift” of the spirit. No repentance, no gift. It is that simple!

  This is the reason that there are so many false and conflicting teachings being propagated today. They are without the Holy Spirit. So they are not God’s teachings, nor are they His interpretations. Jesus is the one entrusted with the Holy Spirit. He is the one who pours it out or with holds it.

  In our day are we able to follow a like course? Of necessity we must! The way to do exactly as all of Jehovah’s faithful witnesses have done is clearly marked out in the Bible.

  Beginning with 1 Corinthians 1:10 we read this: “But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissension’s or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and your opinions and judgments.”

  So everything we believe and teach must be exactly in harmony with those 1st Century Christians with absolutely no deviation. Paul counseled us … “not to go beyond the things that are written” 1 Corinthians 4:6. In harmony with that statement are the words of the Apostle Luke at Acts 26:22 where he stated: “ to this day I have had the help which comes from God … and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, asserting nothing beyond what the Prophets as well as Moses declared would come to pass.” Then we learn from the Apostle Paul, this: … “Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1 so in every teaching or interpretation of scripture that we put forth must be in full harmony with those early Christians. We must examine every teaching today by looking to those ancient writers for guidance. We must use these faithful men as our “two or three witnesses” to establish every teaching as to whether it is true or false.

  In the matter of the Trinity doctrine we will look to what those ancient Prophets believed to see if it harmonizes with their teaching. It must be remembered I only need three of the ancient witnesses to establish what I say as the truth! At Deuteronomy 6:4 we read this: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is ONE LORD.” {The only LORD} This same witness penned these words in Psalms 83:18. “That they may know You, whose name ALONE is Jehovah, are the most High over all the earth.” The Prophet Malachi wrote: “Have we not all ONE FATHER? Has not ONE GOD created us?” Malachi 2:10. Zechariah wrote: “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day the LORD shall be ONE … and His name ONE.” Zechariah 14:9 Compare I Corinthians 15:28. So we see that those ancient witnesses did not believe or teach the doctrine of the Trinity!

  What about the 1st Century Christians? For the bible to be a complete harmonious whole they would have had to be in full accord with those ancient witnesses. Were they? Notice the Apostles Paul’s words at Ephesians 4: 4, 5. {There is} one body and one spirit-just as there is also one hope {that belongs} to the calling you received- {There is} ONE Lord, {Jesus Christ} one faith, one baptism. ONE GOD and Father of us all Who is above all {Sovereign over all”}… The Apostle James wrote: “You believe there is ONE GOD; you do well. So do the Demons believe” … Jesus told His followers: … “ONE” is your Father, the Heavenly One.” Matthew 23:9. It can be seen from this that none of Jehovah’s faithful people ever believed or taught the doctrine of the Trinity. Since the Demons were at one time dwelling in the heavenly realm they would have known for a certainty just how Jehovah should have been viewed. They did not believe that He was a three in one God. They knew He was only ONE GOD! That knowledge caused them to shudder. As it should the Trinitarians!

  Even and with much more importance was Jesus own view because He also existed in the heavenly realm before His presence on earth. He stated Himself “Why do you ask me about the perfect and essentially good? There is only ONE who is good {perfectly and essentially”} …Matthew 19: 17. The matter has been scripturally established at the “mouth of more than the required “two or three” witnesses! The Trinity doctrine is a false teaching!

  Who in their right mind would want to argue against what the Son of God Himself taught about this matter? All of the 1st Century Christians referred to Jesus as the “SON OF GOD”, not GOD! There are many, many references in scripture to support that. There are also many references to show that Jesus and His Father are distinctly different and show clearly that Jesus is not Jehovah. To cite them all would make my discussion book length. Those references are there. Truth hungry ones will search them out for themselves. Those with no spiritual appetite will not bother.

  What about the doctrine of “Purgatory?” Do the dead really go into this place and await their judgment? Then later receive their rewards or punishments? What do the ancient and 1st Century Christians have to say about this teaching?

  What punishment did Jehovah pass on the perfect pair that He put in the Garden of Eden? Did He say that they were going into a place called Purgatory? I have never read that! Neither has anyone else! He told them: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surly die.” {Genesis 2: 17} So then where do the dead go after they die? Where does the Bible say they are? Does it say there are in Purgatory?

  I guess the words of Jehovah God are sufficient in this case to establish the matter sufficiently. But I will supply other witnesses to buttress my argument. Jehovah told the pair: “In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Think about this! Would Jehovah sentence a perfect pair of people to die to return to the dust; and then allow imperfect persons to suffer agonies in torment in a fiery hot place? That would be much more punishment than the perfect pair received. That would certainly throw the divine scales of justice out of balance. The Psalmist wrote: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. When his breath leaves him, he returns to his earth; in that very day his {previous} thoughts, plans, and purposes perishes.” {Psalms 146: 3, 4} All of these witnesses together put to death the Hell Fire Teaching, the Purgatory doctrine as well as the doctrine of the immortal soul! At Ecclesiastes 9: 5 we read: “For the living know that they will die. But the dead KNOW NOTHING; and they have no more reward {here}, for the memory of them is forgotten.” Verse 10 reads: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol {the place of the dead}, where you are going.”

  This article thus far has clearly shown that all of the aforesaid teachings are totally out of harmony with all of the Bible writers. Some do not believe that the preaching work should be done today. This idea has also been shown to be a false idea. In as much as it is being done in our day. Is foretold that it would be. Has been done for quite some time now. None of the ancient Prophets or 1st Century Christians taught such things as have been dealt with here. They are all false teachings. That has been conclusively proven! They have completely “gone beyond” what all of the Bible writers spoke and taught. Those who are guilty of teaching those God dishonoring doctrines, as well as all those who in turn believe and teach them themselves are in dire peril. Why?

  Notice the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8, 9. “But even if we or an angel out of heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, he is to be condemned.” In verse nine he repeats this statement. All of the teachings under consideration are “contrary” and “different” to what the ancient Prophets spoke and wrote. They are a babble of confusion designed to mislead those searching for truth.

  Some today believe and teach that we must follow and apply the Mosaic Law. Should we? Does the Bible support this idea? The point that I am about to make about this I will establish at “the mouth of three witnesses.” The point is this: The nations of the world were never taken into that covenant. They were not then or now under that covenant. They were not included at the time that Law was brought into being. So they were never obligated to follow that Law. Here are the three witnesses that support what I have said. Psalm 147:19, 20 “He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His ordinances they have not known them. ”Amos 3:1,2 continues: “Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt: You ONLY have I known …of all the families of the earth” … Romans 3:1,2 supplies the final witness to establish what I have stated as the truth. … “{Only} the Jews were entrusted with the oracles the brief communications, the intentions, and the utterances of God.” Jehovah does not hold guilty the nations for anything written under that law. If they try to apply that law now they are rejecting the ransom sacrifice. Then they will be held guilty! By doing that they put themselves under obligation to perform the whole law. If anyone sits down opens their Bible and reads completely chapters 3 and 4 of Galatians they will clearly recognize that no one today is under the Mosaic Law. Notice what Paul said in Galatians 5:4: “ if you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the law, you are brought to nothing and so separated {severed} from Christ. You have fallen away from grace” … Paul tells us in Colossians 2:14 that the old Mosaic law was “taken out of the way” it was “nailed to the Cross” {tree-stake} Pick one! Note Hebrews 8: 7-13. Specifically verse 13. “When He said a new covenant He has made the first obsolete.” Romans 10:4 tells us: “For Christ is the end of the Law” …So those who tell us that we must observe that law is teaching a false teaching. Scripture overwhelmingly supports that. So much so that it is a subject to deal with at a later time.

  “Who really is the faithful Slave” today? It is all those who profess to be Jehovah’s Witnesses today! Those who have their feet firmly planted in the footsteps of Christ following exactly the guidelines He laid out in dispensing spiritual truths. They must do as those first Century Christians did. When they learned the truth they discarded their way of worship under the Mosaic Law. In favor of true worship. Others as well at that time did likewise. They abandoned the false way of worship that they were following. They began presenting the truth just as Jesus had taught them to. Can we today do any less and expect to have Jehovah’s favor and blessing? Absolutely not!

  Jesus told His followers “What you hear whispered Shout from the house tops" {Matthew 10: 27}

  The entire brotherhood of Jehovah’s witnesses today worldwide must now follow this direction. They have heard something that was whispered. Does fear of man’s oppressive tactics {Disfellowshipping} {Marking} {Shunning} hold them back from shouting from the housetops something that they have heard whispered? Then their fear is misplaced. “It is Jehovah your God you should fear and Him Alone you render sacred service” Luke 12:5

  Those who really do follow the example set by Christ will incur the hatred of all that are not lovers of Jehovah even though they may profess to be. They will suffer the ill treatment inflicted upon them by oppossers. They will be ridiculed, insulted abused in every way possible. Should that discourage anyone? Not in the least! All of Jehovah’s faithful servants suffered treatment like that! It served to show that the Spirit of God was resting upon them. 1 Peter 4:14. It was a cause for great joy! When we are not receiving treatment like that we are doing something wrong! So expect it. Enjoy it when it comes.
  So do not just blindly accept every teaching that you receive today regardless of who is teaching it. Their claim to being a true Prophet of God should be backed up by solid scriptural evidence that cannot possibly be refuted scripturally. We all must follow closely the guidelines set out in the Bible. {Acts 20:29, 30}

  Paul tells us all: “But test and prove all things {until YOU can recognize} what is good; {to that} hold fast.” Added to that are the word’s of the Apostle John: “Beloved, DO NOT put faith in every spirit, but prove {test} the spirits whether they proceed from God; for many false Prophets have gone forth into the world.” 1 John 4:1 Once again Paul tells us: … “that you may prove {to YOURSELVES} which is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

  Anyone who is unwilling to follow scriptural direction as is laid out in the Bible their worship would not be” acceptable to God.” When we follow ALL of the scriptural direction exactly as laid out then we will be “presenting the truth exactly as the Master did”. Only then will we have Jehovah’s full approval.

  I had the question put to me by someone on the board at one time. It went like this: “So then, “Who really is the Faithful Slave?”

  It is anyone who desires to preach and teach exactly as the Messiah taught. We all can supply that “spiritual food at the proper time”to others if we are well versed in the Bible and willing to do it just as Jesus did. Anyone can either be faithful or unfaithful. It’s our own choice isn’t it?” If we cannot be the “Faithful Slave” then we cannot be the “Unfaithful either.” Does that make any sense?” No! It doesn’t does it? All of us are either “Faithful” or “Unfaithful.” IT doesn’t just apply to a group of self-exalted men sitting in an office in Brooklyn New York! They have not been presenting the truth exactly as the Master taught. They claim to be but they are not! That is why the “judgment will begin there first! Didn’t Jesus say: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst?” Matthew 18:20

  There can be right now all over this world little groups of people gathered together and if we are willing to present the truth exactly as He did, He will be right there in among us. We can gather together and manifest the same repentant attitude that was displayed by His faithful servants of old. What was that? It was this: “But the tax collector, {merely} standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eye’s to heaven, but KEPT striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable {be gracious and merciful} to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am.”

  That attitude gained him that “free gift” of the spirit` without which he would have never understood the Holy writings. It is that spirit that guides one into all of the truth. {John 14”26} Jesus said: “apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15: 5. He was the one entrusted with the Holy spirit. He could pour it out or withdraw it. What we are doing will decide that! One could lose that spirit were he not to maintain that humble repentant attitude. The flow of knowledge would be cut off. We must keep “striking our breast” as did the tax collector right through to the end of our lives or the end of the system of things. Which ever comes first? Speaking about the attitude of the tax collector Jesus said: “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified {forgiven and made in upright standing with God, ` Those who manifest the same attitude of the Pharisee’s spoken of in verse 11 of Luke 18- where Jesus said: “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” {Luke 18: 11-14}. Do we wish to wait to be humbled by Jehovah or will we do it now ourselves and save ourselves the humiliation that is sure to come to those who refuse to do that? So those who really are concerned with presenting the truth just as the master did keep on doing that. If you are not, then begin to. That is the only way to gain and maintain that “free Gift” because it is Not a “free gift” to those who refuse to do it! Let them not believe otherwise! That is a self deception! An illusion!
• 
  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  BJC:
  Sorry BJC! I took a closer look at the post's. It was seeker4 that made that comment. These old eye's aint what they usta was. Bill