Posts by somebody

The article is long...but here it is. Pay close attention to paragraphs 9-11. I've included the questions too.
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Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer

O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come.PSALM 65:2.

JEHOVAH GOD is the King of eternity. He is also the Hearer of prayer, to whom people of all flesh will come. (Revelation 15:3; Psalm 65:2) But how should they come to him? Earthly kings regulate such things as the dress and the manner of those allowed into their presence. Surely, then, we should expect the King Eternal to have requirements that must be met by anyone wishing to come before him with supplication and thanksgiving.Philippians 4:6, 7.

2 What does the King Eternal require of those approaching him in prayer? Who can pray and be heard? And about what can they pray?

Approaching the King Eternal

3 Before he became a sinner, Adam, a son of God, evidently communed with the King of eternity. (Luke 3:38; Genesis 1:26-28) When Adams son Abel presented some firstlings of his flock to God, undoubtedly this offering was accompanied by expressions of supplication and praise. (Genesis 4:2-4) Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built altars and approached Jehovah prayerfully with their offerings. (Genesis 8:18-22; 12:7, 8; 13:3, 4, 18; 22:9-14; 26:23-25; 33:18-20; 35:1, 3, 7) And the prayers of Solomon, Ezra, and divinely inspired psalmists indicate that the Israelites approached God without any intermediary.1 Kings 8:22-24; Ezra 9:5, 6; Psalm 6:1, 2; 43:1; 55:1; 61:1; 72:1; 80:1; 143:1.

4 A new approach to God in prayer was instituted in the first century of our Common Era. It was through his Son, Jesus Christ, who had special love for mankind. In his prehuman existence, Jesus served joyfully as a master worker, fond of things associated with humankind. (Proverbs 8:30, 31) As a man on earth, Jesus lovingly helped imperfect humans spiritually, cured the ailing, and even raised the dead. (Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 8:1-3, 49-56) Above all, Jesus gave his soul a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) How appropriate, then, that those availing themselves of the ransom should approach God through this one who loves mankind so much! This is now the only avenue of approach to the King Eternal, for Jesus himself said: No one comes to the Father except through me and, If you ask the Father for anything he will give it to you in my name. (John 14:6; 16:23) Asking for things in Jesus name means recognizing him as the way to approach the Hearer of prayer.

5 Especially should we appreciate the love Jehovah showed by providing the ransom. Jesus said: God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) The depth of Gods love is well-expressed in the psalmists words: As the heavens are higher than the earth, his loving-kindness is superior toward those fearing him. As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off from us he has put our transgressions. As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those fearing him. For he himself well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust. (Psalm 103:11-14) How heartening to know that the prayers of Jehovahs dedicated Witnesses ascend to such a loving Father through his Son!

A Restricted Privilege

6 Human kings do not allow just anyone to enter into the royal palace unannounced. An audience with a king is a restricted privilege. So is prayer to the King of eternity. Of course, those approaching him through Jesus Christ with proper appreciation of Gods glorious majesty can expect to be heard. The King Eternal must be approached with a reverent, worshipful attitude. And those desiring to be heard must display the fear of Jehovah.Proverbs 1:7.

7 What is the fear of Jehovah? It is profound reverence for God, coupled with a wholesome dread of displeasing him. This awe stems from deep gratitude for his loving-kindness and goodness. (Psalm 106:1) It involves acknowledging him as the King of eternity, who has the right and the power to bring punishment, including death, upon anyone disobeying him. Persons manifesting the fear of Jehovah may pray to him with the expectation of being heard.

8 Naturally, God does not answer the prayers of wicked, unfaithful, and self-righteous people. (Proverbs 15:29; Isaiah 1:15; Luke 18:9-14) But those who fear Jehovah are heard because they have conformed to his righteous standards. Yet, they have done more. Fearers of Jehovah have made a dedication to God in prayer and symbolized this by undergoing water baptism. They thus have an unrestricted privilege of prayer.

9 To be heard by God, a person must express prayerful sentiments that are in harmony with the divine will. Yes, he must be sincere, but more is required. Without faith it is impossible to please [God] well, wrote the apostle Paul, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. (Hebrews 11:6) Well, then, can unbaptized persons be encouraged to pray with the hope of being heard?

10 Aware that prayer is a restricted privilege, King Solomon asked that Jehovah hear only foreigners who prayed toward Gods temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:41-43) Centuries later, the Gentile foreigner Cornelius made supplication to God continually as a devout man. Upon gaining accurate knowledge, Cornelius dedicated himself to God, who then gave him the holy spirit. Following this, Cornelius and other Gentiles were baptized. (Acts 10:1-44) Like Cornelius, anyone today progressing toward dedication may be encouraged to pray. But an individual who is insincere about studying the Scriptures, does not know the divine requirements for prayer, and has not yet displayed an attitude pleasing to God cannot be said to fear Jehovah, have faith, or be earnestly seeking him. Such a person is not in position to offer prayers acceptable to God.

11 Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3) Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer.

Praying WithHoly Spirit

12 After a person makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by being baptized, he is in position to pray with holy spirit. Concerning this, Jude wrote: But you, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, keep yourselves in Gods love, while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. (Jude 20, 21) A person prays with holy spirit when praying under the influence of Gods spirit, or active force, and in harmony with the things said in His Word. The Scriptures, written under inspiration of Jehovahs spirit, show us how to pray and what to request in prayer. For example, we can confidently pray that God give us his holy spirit. (Luke 11:13) When we pray with holy spirit, our prayers reveal a heart condition that Jehovah loves.

13 When we pray with holy spirit, our prayers are not filled with high-sounding words. They do not consist of formulas repeated by rote. No, they do not contain virtually meaningless doxologies, insincere expressions of praise. Prayers of that sort abound in Christendom and the rest of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. But true Christians heed Jesus counsel: When you pray you are not to be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the main streets, so that they may be visible to men . . . And in praying do not parrot off words like the heathen; for they [erroneously] think they will get themselves listened to by the quantity of what they say. So do not be like them.Matthew 6:5-8, Byington.

14 In addition to Jesus and Bible writers, others have made perceptive statements regarding prayer. For instance, the English writer John Bunyan (1628-88) said: Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised. Puritan minister Thomas Brooks (1608-80) observed: God looks not at the oratory of your prayers, how elegant they may be; nor at the geometry of your prayers, how long they may be; nor at the arithmetic of your prayers, how many they may be; not at logic of your prayers, how methodical they may be; but the sincerity of them he looks at. To these comments may be added Bunyans remark: In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart. But if we are sincere and do meet divine requirements, how can we be sure that the King of eternity will hear our prayers?

Never Turned Away

15 Jehovah God never turns a deaf ear to the prayers of his dedicated servants. This was made clear in Jesus heartwarming words when his disciples requested instruction on prayer. In part he said: Who of you will have a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, loan me three loaves, because a friend of mine has just come to me on a journey and I have nothing to set before him? And that one from inside says in reply, Quit making me trouble. The door is already locked, and my young children are with me in bed; I cannot rise up and give you anything. I tell you, Although he will not rise up and give him anything because of being his friend, certainly because of his bold persistence he will get up and give him what things he needs. (Luke 11:1, 5-8) What was the point of this illustration?

16 Jesus certainly did not mean that Jehovah is unwilling to help us. Rather, Christ wants us to trust God implicitly and to love him enough to pray without ceasing. Thus, Jesus continued: I say to you, Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened. (Luke 11:9, 10) Surely, then, we should keep praying when we experience persecution, distress over some deeply rooted personal weakness, or any other trial. Jehovah is always ready to help his faithful servants. He never tells us: Quit making me trouble.

17 If we are to enjoy a close relationship with God, we need his holy spirit, or active force. Hence, Jesus continued: Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him! (Luke 11:11-13) Matthew 7:9-11 speaks of giving a stone instead of bread. The force of Jesus words is increased if we realize that the bread of ancient Bible lands was of a size and shape like that of a flat, round stone. Some kinds of serpents resemble certain types of fish, and there is a small white scorpion that somewhat resembles an egg. But if asked for bread, a fish, or an egg, what kind of father would give his child a stone, a serpent, or a scorpion?

18 Jesus next compared the dealings of an earthly parent with the actions of God toward the members of His family of worshipers. If we, though being more or less wicked because of inherited sinfulness, give good gifts to our children, how much more we should expect our heavenly Father to give the splendid gift of his holy spirit to his loyal servants who humbly ask for it!

19 Jesus words intimate that we should ask God for more of His holy spirit. If we are led by it, we will not complain about our lot in life and view trials and disappointments as being really injurious to us. (Jude 16) True, man, born of woman, is short-lived and glutted with agitation, and many have not lived to see the end of their problems or heartaches. (Job 14:1) But let us never view our trials as stones, serpents, and scorpions that the Hearer of prayer has somehow handed us. He is the very epitome of love and does not try anyone with evil things. Rather, he gives us every good gift and perfect present. Ultimately, he will make everything right for all who love and fear him. (James 1:12-17; 1 John 4:8) Those who have walked in the truth for years know from experience that some of their hardest trials have, through prayer and faith, worked out to their benefit and have increased the fruitage of Gods spirit in their lives. (3 John 4) In fact, in what better way could we learn dependence on our heavenly Father and be helped to cultivate the spirits fruitage of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control?Galatians 5:22, 23.

20 Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:5-13 thus give us blessed assurance of Jehovahs love and tender care. This should fill our hearts with the deepest gratitude and love. It ought to strengthen our faith and increase our desire to go often to the footstool of the King Eternal and linger in his loving presence. Moreover, Jesus words assure us that we will never be turned away empty. Our heavenly Father is most pleased to have us throw our burdens upon him. (Psalm 55:22; 121:1-3) And when we, as his faithful dedicated servants, ask for his holy spirit, he gives it to us unstintingly. This is our loving God, and we can have full faith that he is the Hearer of our prayers.

Do You Recall?

Through whom must we approach God in prayer, and why?

In what way is prayer a restricted privilege?

What does it mean to pray with holy spirit?

How can you prove Scripturally that the prayers of Jehovahs faithful baptized Witnesses are heard?

[StudyQuestions]

1. Why should we expect Jehovah to have requirements for those desiring to approach him in prayer?

2. What questions arise on the subject of prayer?

3. What examples can you give of prayers offered by early servants of God, and did they approach him through an intermediary?

4. (a) What new approach to God in prayer was instituted in the first century? (b) Why is it especially appropriate that prayer be offered in Jesus name?

5. What is Gods attitude toward the world of mankind, and what bearing does this have on prayer?

6. With what attitude must Jehovah be approached in prayer?

7. What is the fear of Jehovah?

8. Why does God hear the prayers of those fearing him?

9, 10. Can unbaptized persons pray with the hope of being heard?

11. What has happened to some who were progressing toward dedication, and what should they ask themselves?

12. When can it be said that a person is praying with holy spirit?

13. If we pray with holy spirit, what will we avoid, and what counsel of Jesus will we apply?

14. What perceptive statements have some made regarding prayer?

15. In essence, what did Jesus say at Luke 11:5-8?

16. As regards prayer, what did Jesus want us to do?

17, 18. (a) How did Jesus encourage us to ask for holy spirit, and what increases the force of his words? (b) How did Jesus compare the dealings of an earthly parent with those of God?

19. (a) What is intimated by Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:11-13 and Matthew 7:9-11? (b) If we are led by holy spirit, how will we view our trials?

20. Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:5-13 should have what effect upon us?

peace,

gwen

16

Message from Sharon Roe and request from me

by seven006 in

jw
friends

for those who wrote sharon roe (sister of janet and robert bryant) a few months back and sent your love and support i have a message from sharon.

i just got off the phone with her and she wanted me to pass on her love and thanks to all of you for taking the time to send your messages.

the notes you wrote lifted her spirits and she is now beginning to understand that she is not alone.

somebody

Hi Dave,

I think she might be the same person who has posted recently on an AOL discussion board that I post on.. I'm not sure if it is her or not so can you give her my e-mail address or e-mail me hers?

My e-mail address is [email protected]

peace,

gwen

73

Elders will be here in 10 minutes...pray for me

by Jacqueline in

jw
friends

elders will be doing a shepharding call in 10 minutes...why we have not attended meetings in so long.

i want nothing to do with the organization anymore....pray for me that i can keep my strength against them!

!

somebody

He sure couldn't call me "Sister Smith".

LOL

Well how bout Sister Doe?

Isn't it amazing that nobody showed any interest in you till you stopped attending meetings? You have one good thing going for you though. And that is that you are not baptized. So they can't punish you in any formal way, as far as I know. I'm surprized the person who is studying with you hasn't thrown the article in front of you stating that you aparently don't have the priviledge to pray to Jehovah anymore because you aren't baptized yet!

peace,

gwen

Edited by - somebody on 24 January 2003 12:18:19

47

A newbie says hello

by Icansaylucky in

hello, i've been a lurker for about a year now and finally decided to register and start posting.

i don't have time to tell my story right now, but plan on doing so soon.

i guess i'm putting it off as i'm not sure where to start without it being a book.

somebody

Welocme Icansaylucky,GoldenGirl, Thunder, Sheila, and Another Escapee, and ForgivenOne!

I hope I didn't miss anyone!

I'm looking forward to reading your experiences. I understand that it hard to know where to start. I'd tell you all to hurry because the time is at hand, but that might rub ya's the wrong way.

Take your time and speak your feelings whenever you are ready. No rush here.

peace to you all,

somebody

Edited by - somebody on 24 January 2003 12:8:16

73

Elders will be here in 10 minutes...pray for me

by Jacqueline in

jw
friends

elders will be doing a shepharding call in 10 minutes...why we have not attended meetings in so long.

i want nothing to do with the organization anymore....pray for me that i can keep my strength against them!

!

somebody

((((((((((((Jacqueline)))))))))))) { what a beautiful name that is! I always liked it!}

You did very well. Stay stong. Perhaps your husband will come around some day. I know it can't be easy being raised in it and all. Not while his leaders keep hanging the threat of dying a terrible death over his head. That is the decietful way they keep rank and file members under their thumb and in line.

I would have taken joy2bfree's advice ( Hi Joy! ) and not opened the door so as to keep my mouth shut. I only wish I could have been as calm as you were when JWs came knocking at my door. And they weren't even elders! (as far as I know they weren't)

peace,

gwen

Edited by - somebody on 24 January 2003 12:10:28

13

Dear Governing Body/Faithful &Discreet Slave

by somebody in

jw
friends

dear governing body .

i read this in an article on your "official" web site today.

it's in the index, under religion in the article called what is the purpose of life?

somebody

Thank you for your thoughts on this everybody.

Nosferatu,

I think they can clean this one mess up by taking the article off the site. But I'm sure there are plenty more articles on their site containing false doctrine, that they hope nobody notices. They will probably remove the article from their site, but that won't stop them from cashing in on published untruths by instructing their followers to offer old kirap!

Liberty,

I think you hit the nail on the head. Only one JW that I talk to in an aol chat room for JWs know that the doctrine changed. the one about the generation of 1914 anyway. And most JWs now don't even know that the men who are their leaders ( waving to the Governing body, but I won't say what I'm waving ) ever taught that to accept an organ transplant was the same as eating human flesh. If the GB change the teaching that to accept blood transplanted via transfusion isn't the same as eating blood, JWs 15 years from now who never were JWs at this time will toss it off as" no big deal". And they'll refer to JWs or former who have relatives who died when their deaths were needless who are upset about it say so, as "whiners" and "people who have an ax to grind" and "bitter". They'll be heartless as they are now to people who voice their opinions when their relatives refused organ transplants and needlesly died because they WERE TAUGHT BY THE GOVERNING BODY, that it was an act of canniblism.

My view is that probably about 85-90% of JWs don't know anything about what fractions of blood THE GOVERNING BODY TEACH are acceptable to their god to accept.

Hiya (((((((((scumrat ))))))))) ( give sisteract a hug for zev and I ! )

I hope all is well with you .

I doubt they tell you not to believe something that was on the "OFFICIAL" website of the men who are their leaders. They'll play the same word games their leaders play. As a matter of fact, let us know if they try to dodge the question altogether.

Hi truthseeker2,

MANY people here left the sect after the change. ANd some like yourself, are still bothered by it but have family in and don't want to lose their family so they are held hostage in that way. that is why i get upset when JWs say, " Anyone who want to leave is free to do so anytime they want to". I think they need to take a look at what they consider the word "free" to mean. There is a high PRICE to pay for so many people who leave it.

I'll be looking forward to your story and your project about 1914. My e-mail is open. If you remember to, can you e-mail me and let me know when you post either one? I miss so many post here. It's very hard to keep up!

onacruse,

Congats to you and bikerchic! I just read your post about Las Vegas last night! Tell her zev and I wish you both the best.

"over-zealous brothers and sisters"? What do you mean by that? Do you mean "some of Jehovah's people"?

peace,
gwen

13

Dear Governing Body/Faithful &Discreet Slave

by somebody in

jw
friends

dear governing body .

i read this in an article on your "official" web site today.

it's in the index, under religion in the article called what is the purpose of life?

somebody

xjw,

I can't believe they have information on a MAJOR DOCTRINE that they changed 8 years ago up on their site either. Being the faithless and disgusting slave that they are, it doesn't surprize me.

Cardinal Fang,

I believe the article is from a brochure from the early 90s. Also in the Kingdom Minsitry for this month, the offered liturature is 192 page books PRIOR TO 1988. That means that JWs are instructed to go door-to-door offering UNTRUTHS to the public. MANY of the books prior to 1988 contain the false doctrine of "the generation of 1914 will not pass away before armegeddon strikes".

It prooves that they don't care what kind of news they spread, as long as they are collecting donations/money. If they did care, then they'd tell their followers to junk the books because they don't contain what they consider to be Bible truths. The WBTS have no morals. They don't care about peoples lives one iota. They don't care HOW MANY familys and lives they destroy.

Money is their ONE AND ONLY concern. And I'm not saying that about JWs. I'm saying that about the WBTS Incorporated printing factory.

peace,

somebody

Edited by - somebody on 24 January 2003 9:33:39

13

Dear Governing Body/Faithful &Discreet Slave

by somebody in

jw
friends

dear governing body .

i read this in an article on your "official" web site today.

it's in the index, under religion in the article called what is the purpose of life?

somebody

Dear Governing Body

I read this in an article on your "official" web site today. It's in the index, under RELIGION in the article called What Is The Purpose of Life? How Can You Find It?

How long a time period would these last days prove to be? Jesus said regarding the era that would experience the "beginning of pangs of distress" from 1914 onward: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:8, 34-36) Thus, all the features of the last days must take place within the lifetime of one generation, the generation of 1914. So some people who were alive in 1914 will still be alive when this system comes to its end. That generation of people is now very advanced in years, indicating that there is not much time left before God brings this present system of things to an end.

I never knew Jesus said we would experience the "beginning of pangs of distress" from 1914 onward! I'd like to join your religion now before it's too late and I die. Thank you for publishing such Bible truths on your officail website. I'll be contacting my nearest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses to have one of Jehovah's Witnesses come to my house and explain more of this to me.

I thank God for Bible scholars such as yourself for providing this spiritual food for the public to view. Keep spreading the good news!

peace,

somebody

Edited by - somebody on 24 January 2003 8:26:12

13

ELDERS SCARE TACTICS DISS FELLOWSHIPING

by nightwarrior in

jw
friends

being reasanable to assume that,they are promoting fear within the congregations,keeping others from asking awkward questions,it seems that no one is interested in the reasons why that other person was named and shamed,what a way to control people , one minute they are your best friends the next minute you bump into them say in the high street and you dont seem to exist within there boundarys or vision ,.

my remedy .if you are in this position is to greet them very loudly laughingly saying hallo there ,big wave big smile,be carfull of those paedophiles your mixing with.

( nice & loud ) next time they see you they will run to the otherside of the road,instead of trying to intimidate you.

somebody

((((((((cookie))))))))))

My thoughts are with you and your family. It's sad that life can be so complicated enough, without having men try and force you to disown your own family! Especailly wehn they see strong family ties such as with you and your son. And your son was right when he said that family members who go back because their family members won't even as much as speak to them is not a spiritual or Godly reason to return. The "arrangement" the society uses to get poeple to return is nothing short of blackmail.

Please read this thread and tell your son about the iformation in the KMs being not rigid rules, but only suggestions, according to the society. He can print out the article from his WT cd and bring it with him if he decides to attend the intimidation and judging committee. truthseekers gave the whole article too in this thread:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=44609&site=3

Meanwhile, I like nightworriorors idea to not let elders intimidate us or make us feel like we aren't worthy of God's or anyone elses love.

Thanks nightworrior!

peace,

somebody