Have you purchased your copy of the book "Did Adam Keep the Sabbath? and other Bible discussions"? If not, take a look at the talks below, as some similar to these are included among the 13 in the book (with some minor differences.) To order the book, visit www.lulu.com or, to take you straight there, try this link: www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/did-adam-keep-the-sabbath-and-other-bible-discussions/10169069
WAYS IN WHICH WE SHOW LOYALTY TO JEHOVAH
Loyalty cards. They're everywhere! Every time you go into a shop it's "Would you like a loyalty card?" (unless it's WHSmith, where it's half price chocolate.) But why? Why do they do it? Simply put, they're saying "you show loyalty to us, we'll show loyalty to you." For example, 250 Nectar points = £2.50.
Now let's make it clear from the start that you can't earn points with Jehovah. It's not a case of a month's auxilary pioneering = a new car. It doesn't work like that. However, the basic principle remains. If we show loyalty to Jehovah, he will show loyalty to us.
So how can we show loyalty? Love for Jehovah should touch every aspect of our lives, so there are many ways we can show loyalty each and every day; by earning a living, attending meetings, the way we conduct ourselves, the programmes we watch, music, associates, hobbies and habits. But let's consider one main aspect; the ministry.
Matthew 28:19,20 tells us "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES" True Christians, both in the first century and today, consider active participation in the field ministry to be one vital way of proving our loyalty. And it's not always easy. Just a short while ago, we called on a sweet little old lady in South Witham, who, on finding out we were Jehovah's Witnesses, started swearing at us and threatened to throw a bucket of water over us! Now, whilst that may not be quite in the same category as the flogging and imprisonment the early disciples endured, it does make it difficult to carry on with courage. As they did back then, we need to rely on Jehovah, pray that we can "speak [his] word with all boldness." Jehovah provides us with the holy spirit. This is one way in which we are loyal to Jehovah, and Jehovah in turn is loyal to us.
And it's not just householders who oppose us. Matthew 10:36 says "INDEED, A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE PERSONS OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD" Opposition can come from family members, friends, workmates, schoolfriends... And it's not just the preaching work they object to. What if your class at school is making Easter eggs? Or your work is having a Secret Santa? You stand out as different because ytou don't join in. Loyalty to God is not going to make you popular with the world. So what can we do?
The key to all this is to trust in Jehovah with all our heart. Or to put it another way, be loyal to him. Put him first. It's been in the news lately about soldiers being killed by roadside bombs. The Watchtower of 2008 likens Satan's traps and snares to "landmines hidden under the road." We may survive outright persecution and ridicule, but then - BANG! Materialism catches us out and Satan carries us off victorious.
So what can we do? We should turn to Jehovah, in line with the words of Psalm 86:2 "O DO GUARD MY SOUL, FOR I AM LOYAL. SAVE YOUR SERVANT, YOU ARE MY GOD, THAT IS TRUSTING IN YOU." A unified heart, complete towards Jehovah, will help us to develop loyalty, particularly when we have changes from within the organisation. Back in the 1920s and 1930s, many new thoughts and clarifications were presented. Witnesses no longer celebrated Christmas, or wrote birthdays in their Daily Manna book. Smoking was no longer allowed. Would the brothers loyally remain true to Jehovah or abandon him because they couldn't abandon these things? And in more recent years, where we've lost the Tuesday group [or Thursday, depending], shaved 15 minutes of the public talk, and changed the format and frequency of the magazines. Do we loyally accept these changes, even if we don't understand them or agree with them?
Surely, the reasons for maintaining loyalty to Jehovah is clear, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 28:9 "IF YOU LEAVE HIM, HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER."
Talk (c) Ric Parkinson 2009. Quotes taken from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
NEVER BECOME A THIEF!
Let's begin with the words of Exodus 20:15 "YOU MUST NOT STEAL" There you have it. Pure and simple. What more do you need?
Thieves have existed for almost as long as there's been things to steal. The first ever thief was Satan. He wanted to steal worship away from Jehovah for himself and so he enticed Adam and Eve into committing the first ever sin - taking the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. The chapter in Learn From the Great Teacher says that a person becomes a thief because of "a desire for what does not belong to him."
That sounds a bit like covetousness, doesn't it?
Covetousness is desiring something for whch you have no right, like someone elses wife. This happened to King David when he observed Uriah's wife Bathsheba. He kept looking at her with covetous desire, and then he put it into action. Let's take up the account at 2 Samuel 11:2,3 "AND IT CAME ABOUT AT THE TIME OF EVENING THAT DAVID PROCEEDED TO RISE FROM HIS BED AND WALK ABOUT ON HIS ROOFTOP IN THE KING'S HOUSE; AND FROM THE ROOFTOP HE CAUGHT SIGHT OF A WOMAN BATHING HERSELF, AND THE WOMAN WAS VERY GOOD IN APPEARANCE. THEN DAVID SENT AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE WOMAN AND SOMEONE SAID 'IS THIS NOT BATHSHEBA THE DAUGHTER OF ELIAM, THE WIFE OF URIAH THE HITTITE?'"
When he saw her, David should have looked away, but he didn't. And then when he found out she was someone elses wife, he should have backed off, stayed away, already spoken for. But he didn't. Verse 4 goes onto say, "AFTER THAT DAVID SENT MESSENGERS, THAT HE MIGHT TAKE HER." Covetousness becomes theft.
He knew she was someone elses wife, but he still had sexual relations with her, she became pregnant, and eventually he manipulated events so that her husband was killed. So no two ways about it - he STOLE Uriah's wife, much the same as stealing a CD from a shop.
Which brings us to the difference between covetousnessness and theft. Covetousness, as mentioned, is a desire for something you have no right to, whereas you might steal something that in other cirucmstances, you might have a right to. The aforementioned CD. If you took it to the counter, handed over your £12.99 or whatever - then you would be legally entitled to it. It would be yours. But if you hid it under your coat and sneaked out without paying for it, then you've stolen it.
But surely, you might reason, I could never become a thief. Surely, only hoodies with ASBO's do that? Don't be so prejudiced! Anyone and everyone could become a thief! Upbringing is no protection. David was a King. Satan was in the heavens with Jehovah.
And take Judas. He spent large amounts of time with Jesus, the Son of God; handpicked to be one of the 12 apostles; they travelled together, ate together... Yet he became a thief! This is mentioned in Scripture when he criticised Mary for her use of genuine nard in honouring Jesus, recorded at John 12:5,6 " 'WHY WAS IT THIS PERFURMED OIL WAS NOT SOLD FOR 300 DENARRI AND GIVEN TO THE POOR PEOPLE?' HE SAID THIS THOUGH, NOT BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOR, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A THIEF AND HAD THE MONEY BOX AND USED TO CARRY OFF THE MONIES PUT INTO IT." His desire for money even led him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
Now we have not met Jesus personally. We haven't been in the heavens with Jehovah. We don't rule as kings. But these people did and they gave into their base desires. So we all need to be on our guard. Are any of us truly safe?
And, as if that wasn't enough, we must consider... There are many different types of theft, just as there are many different types of things to steal. We could steal money, food, worship, time. It might be a mad impulse, or like King David, it could be a meticulously planned operation with flow charts, diagrams etc. It might be "cooking the books" or a fraudulent expenses claim. It could be shoplifting, adultery or a full scale bank robbery. Or simply taking something without asking.
Time is running out, and if we become a thief, if we take something that belongs to someone else, then we might have something taken away from us - everlasting life.
Text (c) Ric Parkinson 2009. As above, so below.
WHEN CAN IT BE SAID THAT LESS IS BETTER?
There is a saying in the theatre: "Less is more." By simple, meaningful movements and an uncluttered, empty stage, the piece can talk to the audience far more readily. (It's also a good excuse for laziness if you're 20 and hung over)
So when can it be said that less is better? Take a look at Proverbs 15:16 "BETTER IS A LITTLE IN THE FEAR OF JEHOVAH THAN AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY AND CONFUSION ALONG WITH IT."
A little of what? If you take a look at the Watchtower of August 1st 2006, page 16, paragraph 3, it attaches this scripture to material possessions. One of Satan's most subtle ploys is that of materialism. I'm sure none of us would admit that we were materialistic, but would any of us give up all our possessions and live in a tent like Abraham?
When Jehovah gave us our life, he meant for us to enjoy it. We were never intended to die, so we were never meant to experience the bad things.
As with everything, there needs to be a balance. There is nothing wrong with having a nice car, a good home, recreation and entertainment, but are we going overboard? Are we becoming materialistic? Will we not be content until our house is so crammed with goodies and gadgets that we have to live in the garage? (which itself contains a new car!)
And once you've got these things, then what? You've got to look after them, maintain them... What if there's a fire? What if we get burgled? Do we crave something, buy it, and then discard it and set our eyes on something else? Is the accumulation of goods more important than the goods themselves?
So what is the key? To be content.
Now that's easier said than done. Humans NEVER seem to be content with what they have. The grass is always greener. Does anyone ever say, "I've got enough now, I won't buy anything else ever again,"? Of course not! To present a balanced view, let's take a look at 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "TO BE SURE, IT IS A MEANS OF GREAT GAIN, THIS GODLY DEVOTION ALONG WITH SELF SUFFICIENCY. FOR WE HAVE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THE WORLD, AND NEITHER CAN WE CARRY ANYTHING OUT. SO HAVING SUSTENANCE AND COVERING, WE SHALL BE CONTENT WITH THESE THINGS. HOWEVER, THOSE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE AND MANY SENSELESS AND HURTFUL DESIRES WHICH PLUNGE MEN INTO DESTRUCTION AND RUIN."
Life is tiresome, full of strife. But nothing in this system should be so important to attain, be it money, cars, women or fame, that we push service to Jehovah down and down until it's out of the top ten. It should be number one - first priority.
And it's not just the things we buy. Distractions come from everywhere. Good things and bad. Friends, families, past-times; death, disease, loneliness and despair. All these things can take our time, sap our energies, leave us unfruitful, having less than when we started. Where did that joy go? Are all our happy times really in the past? Or are we so busy having happy times now that the serious stuff never gets a look in?
It's an uphill struggle, but we can all at least strive to try and be content with what we've got, patiently awaiting the things we haven't. If we get a new car, of what matter? So long as it doesn't push Jehovah down the list. It's not easy. It's nigh on impossible. But let's give it a go and try, because it's better to have a little and be in Jehovah's memory, than to have a lot and be forgotten about.
Text (c) Ric Parkinson 2009
ARE THE 144,000 ONLY NATURAL JEWS?
"Get out!"
"Get your hat, get your coat, and get out!"
In effect, this is what God said to Israel. But why? They were his chosen people, the dedicated nation, first in line as Abraham's seed.
But many of them had abandoned Jehovah. They had rejected Jesus, and did not recognise him as the promised Messiah. Some of them even played a part in his death. Jesus referred to them in this way at MATTHEW 23:37 "JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, THE KILLER OF THE PROPHETS AND THE STONER OF THOSE SENT FORTH TO HER - HOW OFTEN I WANTED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, THE WAY A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS TOGETHER UNDER HER WINGS. BUT YOU PEOPLE DID NOT WANT IT. LOOK! YOUR HOUSE IS ABANDONED TO YOU."
So what now? Was this the end of God's prophecy? Would it go unfulfilled? No. It would still go ahead. But who would make up the 144,000 now? The apostle Paul sheds some light on the situation at ROMANS 9:6 "HOWEVER, IT IS NOT AS THOUGH THE WORD OF GOD FAILED. FOR NOT ALL WHO SPRING FROM ISRAEL ARE REALLY ISRAEL."
The natural born Jews had rejected the very person sent to save them. So Jehovah rejected them. But who would take their place? The Watchtower of February 15th 1982 explains, "To replace them, God turned to the non-Jews." The Gentiles. People of the nations.
Fleshly Israel was replaced with spiritual Israel.
How do we know what? The twelve tribes of Israel mentioned in NUMBERS 1:4-16 reads thus: REUBEN, SIMEON, JUDAH, ISSACHAR, ZEBULUN, EPHRAIM, MANNASSEH, BENJAMIN, DAN, ASHER, GAD, NAPHTALI." In REVELATION 7:4-8, however, we read "I HEARD THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO WERE SEALED, A HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR THOUSAND, SEALED OUT OF EVERY TRIBE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL" which it recounts as "JUDAH, REUBEN, GAD, ASHER, NAPHTALI, MANASSEH, SIMEON, LEVI, ISSACHAR, ZEBULUN, JOSEPH, BENJAMIN."
When you compare the two lists, you'll see some differences (asides from the fact they are in a different running order). In the Spiritual Israel list in Revelation, the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are missing, whilst the tribes of Joseph and Levi are included. Fleshly Israel did not contain a tribe of Joseph, whilst the Levites with their temple duties were excluded from the twelve tribe count.
So spiritual Israel opened the path for those of the nations to become anointed followers of Christ, as we see in ROMANS 2:28,29 and GALATIANS 3:28,29 :
ROMANS 2:28,29 "HE IS NOT A JEW WHO IS ONE ON THE OUTSIDE, NOR IS CIRCUMCISION THAT WHICH IS ON THE OUTSIDE UPON THE FLESH. BUT HE IS A JEW WHO IS ONE ON THE INSIDE, AND HIS CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART BY SPIRIT, AND NOT BY A WRITTEN CODE."
GALATIANS 3:28,29 "THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE; FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE PERSON IN UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS. MOREOVER, IF YOU BELONG TO CHRIST, YOU ARE REALLY ABRAHAM'S SEED, HEIRS WITH REFERENCE TO A PROMISE."
So not all the 144,000 are natural Jews. But although God rejected the nation of Israel, individuals within that nation could still become part of that spiritual nation. Indeed, the apostle Paul himself said, "FOR I ALSO AM AN ISRAELITE" (ROMANS 11:1)
The 144,000 consist of many different races, from many different time periods, from the first century down to today. Can we not be thankful that within that number there are people who have experienced first hand this degraded, horrible modern world that we have to face?
Be thankful that God not only said, "Get out!" but also, "Come in."
Text (c) Ric Parkinson 2009