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Post by iris89 on Dec 31, 2009 11:21:50 GMT -5
It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.—Jeremiah. 10:23
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Some might question Jeremiah’s words, feeling that since Jehovah gave us free will, he can hardly criticize us for using it. Still, do not forget that free will is a responsibility as well as a gift. We are answerable for the things we choose to say and do. (Rom. 14:10) Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” He also said: “Out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thieveries, false testimonies, blasphemies.” (Matt. 12:34; 15:19) Hence, our words and deeds reveal our heart condition. They show what we really are. That is why a wise Christian seeks Jehovah’s guidance in everything. In that way, Jehovah finds him ‘upright in his heart’ and will “do good” to him. (Ps. 125:4) May we never, because of stubbornness or self-indulgence, reject Jehovah’s guidance.
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Post by iris89 on Dec 31, 2009 23:31:00 GMT -5
Every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.—Acts 5:42.
It is a familiar sight in almost every nation on earth. Two neatly dressed individuals approach a house and endeavor to share with the householder a brief message from the Bible concerning God’s Kingdom. We also use other methods to carry out the commission Jesus gave to preach and make disciples. (Matt. 28:19, 20) We witness in marketplaces, on street corners, and in other public areas. (Acts 17:17) We contact many by telephone and by letter. We share Bible truths with those we meet during our daily activities. We even have an official Web site, which provides access to Bible-based information in more than 300 languages. All these methods yield good results. Yet, in most places, our principal way of spreading the good news is by preaching from house to house.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 4, 2010 10:49:53 GMT -5
I set my heart to seek and explore wisdom.—Ecclesiastes 1:13.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon explains that God created an abundance of beautiful things on the earth. However, we can hardly begin to explore God’s creation because our lives are too short. (Eccl. 3:11; 6:12; 8:17) This sobering fact should move us to use our lives wisely. That is no easy task, since Satan’s world may well point us in the wrong direction. To highlight the danger of wasting our lives, Solomon uses the word “vanity” some 30 times in Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word translated “vanity” refers to something empty, futile, meaningless, of no substance, or of no lasting value. (Eccl. 1:2, 3) Sometimes Solomon uses the word “vanity” as a parallel of “striving after wind.” (Eccl. 1:14; 2:11) Obviously, any attempt to catch the wind is futile. Pursuing unwise goals will prove to be just as frustrating. Life in this present system is too short to waste on endeavors that leave us empty-handed.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 4, 2010 11:07:31 GMT -5
John 5:26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself
For the Father gave him to have life in him-self. An eternal being, meaning with out beginning and without end, cannot be given life in him-self, he always has had life in him-self.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 5, 2010 10:04:04 GMT -5
I went so far as to persecuting [the holy ones] even in outside cities.—Acts 26:11.
Before becoming a Christian, Saul had little concern for people outside of Judaism. (Acts 26:4, 5) The inspired account relates: “Saul . . . began to deal outrageously with the congregation. Invading one house after another and, dragging out both men and women, he would turn them over to prison.” (Acts 8:3) When the Lord Jesus appeared to him, Saul was on his way to Damascus to harass Christ’s disciples there. The supernatural brilliance of the Son of God left Saul blind and dependent on others. By the time that Jehovah used Ananias to restore Saul’s sight, Saul’s attitude toward people had changed forever. (Acts 9:1-30) Upon becoming a follower of Christ, he worked hard to deal with all people as Jesus did. This meant putting off violence and being “peaceable with all men.”—Rom. 12:17-21.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 6, 2010 16:55:44 GMT -5
Has presumptuousness come? Then dishonor will come; but wisdom is with the modest ones.—Proverbs 11:2.
All in the congregation need to be on guard against searching out their own glory. (Prov. 25:27) Evidently, that was a pitfall for one particular disciple whom the apostle John encountered. He wrote: “Diotrephes, who likes to have the first place among them, does not receive anything from us with respect. That is why, if I come, I will call to remembrance his works which he goes on doing, chattering about us with wicked words.” (3 John 9, 10) There is a lesson in that even for us today. We have good reason to uproot any trace of ambition we might see in ourselves. The Bible tells us: “Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Those who accept God’s authority must resist the snare of presumptuousness, for doing otherwise will lead to dishonor.—Prov. 16:18.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 7, 2010 11:04:15 GMT -5
The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard grain.—Matthew 13:31.
In Jesus’ illustration found at Mark 4:30-32, we find portrayed the growth of “the kingdom of God” as evidenced by the spread of the Kingdom message and the growth of the Christian congregation from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward. A mustard grain is a tiny seed that can represent something very small. (Luke 17:6) Eventually, though, a mustard plant may attain a height of from 10 to 15 feet and have sturdy branches, thus virtually becoming a tree. (Matt. 13:32) The growth of the Christian congregation started in a small way in 33 C.E. when about 120 disciples were anointed with holy spirit. Within a relatively short period of time, this tiny congregation of disciples came to include thousands of believers. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:28; 6:7; 12:24; 19:20) Within three decades, the apostle Paul could say that the good news had already been “preached in all creation that is under heaven.”—Col. 1:23.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 8, 2010 9:44:55 GMT -5
Keep holding the pattern of healthful words.—2 Timothy 1:13.
Just as a language has a pattern of words, the pure language of Scriptural truth has “the pattern of healthful words.” We need to copy that “pattern.” A person may learn enough of a language to get by in normal conversation but then stop making progress. A similar problem may arise with those speaking the “pure language.” (Zeph. 3:9; Heb. 5:11-14) What can help us to overcome this tendency? Be willing to expand your vocabulary, as it were. “Now that we have left the primary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works, and faith toward God, the teaching on baptisms and the laying on of the hands, the resurrection of the dead and everlasting judgment.” (Heb. 6:1, 2) Prayerfully “keep awake with all constancy” when it comes to speaking the pure language of Bible truth.—Eph. 6:18.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 8, 2010 22:07:27 GMT -5
Become reconciled to God.—2 Corinthians 5:20.
Jehovah has dignified us by giving us free will. Although he is God Almighty (YHWH), he forces no one to serve him but appeals to people on the basis of love, blessing those who respond appreciatively to his marvelous provisions. (Rom. 2:4) As his ministers, we should be ready to present the good news in a manner worthy of our merciful God each time we give a witness. (2 Cor. 5:21; 6:3-6) To that end, we need to maintain a positive attitude toward the people in our territory. What can help us to meet this challenge? Jesus (Yeshua) instructed his followers not to become unduly concerned if some rejected the message but rather to focus on finding deserving ones. (Matt. 10:11-15) Setting small, reachable goals can help us to do this. Some publishers endeavor to share at least one scripture with each householder if possible. What realistic goal could you set for yourself?
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Post by iris89 on Jan 9, 2010 12:19:10 GMT -5
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
God made the Law, he made his son born under the Law. Made his son born of a woman. Messiah was Gods' son before he was born of a woman. God sent his Son to be born of a woman.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 9, 2010 12:20:08 GMT -5
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
God made the Law, he made his son born under the Law. Made his son born of a woman. Messiah was Gods' son before he was born of a woman. God sent his Son to be born of a woman.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 9, 2010 12:24:49 GMT -5
Become reconciled to God.—2 Corinthians 5:20.
Jehovah has dignified us by giving us free will. Although he is God Almighty, he forces no one to serve him but appeals to people on the basis of love, blessing those who respond appreciatively to his marvelous provisions. (Rom. 2:4) As his ministers, we should be ready to present the good news in a manner worthy of our merciful God each time we give a witness. (2 Cor. 5:21; 6:3-6) To that end, we need to maintain a positive attitude toward the people in our territory. What can help us to meet this challenge? Jesus instructed his followers not to become unduly concerned if some rejected the message but rather to focus on finding deserving ones. (Matt. 10:11-15) Setting small, reachable goals can help us to do this. Some publishers endeavor to share at least one scripture with each householder if possible. What realistic goal could you set for yourself?
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Post by iris89 on Jan 10, 2010 19:34:23 GMT -5
Psalms 16:8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. 10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one (Holy one, Godly one) see the Pit. 11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The above scripture is about Jesus (Yeshua), which will become apparent to us in Acts 2 (below). In verse 8 (above), we will recognize that Jesus (Yeshua) set God before him, and that Jesus (Yeshua) is at God's right hand. In other words, Jesus (Yeshua) has the power of God ('right hand' and 'the power of God' are interchangeable terms). Since verse 9, mentions his flesh, we can be assured that this scripture is talking about the future Jesus (Yeshua). In verse 10, Messiah says to God, "you will not leave my soul in shoel (hell), and you will not suffer your Holy one to see corruption". Note: Messiah is the holy one of God. The above scripture, is referring to Messiah's resurrection, as will be established in Acts 2 (below).
Acts 2:25 For David says concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy one experience corruption.
Clearly the Messiah is the holy one of God. Likewise, he is our master and David's master. So, God made Messiah our master and Messiah.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 10, 2010 19:35:03 GMT -5
John 11:41-42, “ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.”
Jesus (Yeshua) prayed reverently in full faith before he resurrected Lazarus as shown by the above scripture. Do your prayers give evidence of such reverence and faith? Study Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) reverential model prayer, and you will see that particularly significant features of it are the sanctification of Almighty God (YHWH) name, the coming of his Kingdom, and the accomplishment of his will per Matthew 6:9-10. Think about your own prayers. Do they reflect your keen interest in Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) Kingdom, in the doing of his will, and in the sanctification of his holy name? They should.
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Post by iris89 on Jan 11, 2010 11:27:14 GMT -5
I inquired of Almighty God (YHWH), and he answered me, and out of all my frights he delivered me.—Psalms 34:4.
A couple may face challenges when they have children. A mate or a child may become seriously ill. Aging parents may need special care. Grown children may move far away from home. Other changes may result from caring for theocratic privileges and responsibilities. All these changes can bring some stress and anxiety to a relationship. If the strain on your marriage makes you feel that you have reached the breaking point, what can you do? (Prov. 24:10) Do not give up! Satan would like nothing better than for one of God’s servants to abandon pure worship. He would be even happier if a couple did so. Hence, do all you can to make sure that your marriage remains a threefold cord. (Eccl. 4:12) The Bible contains many accounts of ones who remained faithful despite severe trials. You can too.
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