Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2016

[Musky]

Yes I know, I am curious in Lance's specific case. Thank you Chuck.

 

Why?

[oikodomeó]

I am curious if there is a story behind it. I find many do. I find it faith building to hear shorts relating to our spiritual heritage. 

That is why.

[oikodomeó]

The New Heavens; when all of the faithful anointed Sons of God receive their heavenly reward, when the Bride is finally completed, the heavens will be new, that is, the Messianic Kingdom will now bear righteous blessings on the earth and bring about perfection reflecting the superabundant love and glory of our heavenly father, great God Jehovah.

[oikodomeó]

Am I wrong to ask? If so I apologize if I offended you...

[Musky]

I am curious if there is a story behind it. I find many do. I find it faith building to hear shorts relating to our spiritual heritage. 

That is why.

 

I see

 

Am I wrong to ask? If so I apologize if I offended you...

 

No, no problem 

[Lance]

No real story ... My moms parents came into the truth in the 1920's so we had a complete library back to the 1870's ...

[Stormswift]

My grandmother had all of those too ... not sure what happened to them though, I haven't seen her books since I was a child. There must be a lot of them still around. Hope the society gets all the rare ones if they are just laying around.

We (the family) donated a photo of the 1950 meeting in Wellington with Brothers Knorr and Henschel in it, to the Australasian Branch - that was a real privilege.

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, January 10

 

Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for.—Heb. 11:1.

 

We often say that God’s Kingdom is the only solution to all our problems. What basis is there for us to have unshakable faith in the Kingdom? The Messianic Kingdom is an arrangement established by the Almighty himself to accomplish his purpose regarding his creation. The Kingdom is based on an unshakable foundation—Jehovah’s absolute right to rule. Important aspects of the Kingdom—its king, his corulers, the domain of their rule—have all been legally established by means of covenants, that is, by legal contracts or arrangements in which one of the binding parties is either God or his Son, Jesus Christ. Reflecting on these covenants will enhance our understanding of how God’s purpose is sure to become a reality and will help us to see how stable this arrangement is.—Eph. 2:12. w14 10/15 1:1, 2

Edited January 9, 2016 by GrumpysWife

[oikodomeó]

This is a wonderful text. Hope is not a mere expectation, as in an assumption (without proof). No, not as things seem to be, but as they are... Faith is made confident through "evident demonstration", or convincing evidence. What produces solid evidence? It is our relationship with our heavenly father, as we continue to grow spiritually, we become familiar, acquainted with his dealings with us, we continue to see and experience Him in our lives daily, we know it is Him. We develop eyes of faith to perceive the things above, Jehovah himself, his Son, and the Kingdom and our role in his arrangement.

 

I love illustrations the scriptures give regarding seeing spiritually...

 

The only way Elisha could receive a double portion of Elijah's spirit, was if he saw and witnessed Elijah being caught up in the wind. Him seeing, yes faith was absolutely required. (2 Ki 2:9,10) if he didn't see, it would indicate a lack of faith in not believing the things he was told and appreciating the miracles he had witnessed.

 

What Elisha learned from this is that faith is essential. This was evident by him showing his attendant the heavenly armies protecting them from the Syrians, this showed that he was resilient in faith in Jehovah God. (2 Ki 6:15-17) And even though the attendant was a servant of Jehovah, there was an element of faith missing. Could we have an element missing from our faith? That is why we keep on building it! May we keep developing our faith, Imitating their faith.

[timpin]

So what have you been reading lately?

Righteousness, Sanctification ,Glorification, Justification .. The process of not calling the qualified ... But qualifying the called

All these terms for the most part come from so called Christian apologetics and their line of thinking that all go to heaven ..

There is nothing evil in these terms it is just that it is not something your average Jw would use in their discription of the heavenly calling...

wow two pages for a daily text - a record?

[oikodomeó]

wow two pages for a daily text - a record?

 Most of it is off topic, it would be nice if the entire focus of the thread was on the subject at hand.   

[oikodomeó]

I mean, it would be nice if all 2 pages was about the text. 

[GrumpysWife]

Who started this anyway?

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, January 11

 

Look! The people of Israel are more numerous

and mightier than we are.—Ex. 1:9.

 

“Consequently, the Egyptians forced the Israelites into harsh slavery. They made their life bitter with hard labor, as they worked with clay mortar and bricks and in every form of slavery in the field.” (Ex. 1:13, 14) Pharaoh even decreed that all Hebrew male babies should be put to death at their birth. (Ex. 1:15, 16) It was at that time that Moses was born. When he was three months old, he was hidden by his mother in the reeds of the Nile, where Pharaoh’s daughter found him. She later adopted him. Providentially, during his early years, Moses was brought up by his faithful mother, Jochebed, and he became a loyal servant of Jehovah. (Ex. 2:1-10; Heb. 11:23-25) Jehovah “took notice” of the sufferings of his people and decided to deliver them from their oppressors, under the leadership of Moses. (Ex. 2:24, 25; 3:9, 10) They would thus become a people “redeemed” by Jehovah.—Ex. 15:13; Deut. 15:15. w14 11/15 4:5, 6

Edited January 10, 2016 by GrumpysWife

[Luezette]

Strengthening text.

I don't know why these thoughts didn't occur to me before (duh), but I realize that Moses' parents were servants of Jehovah, thus were slaves in Egypt.

As if that's not enough, they were living a horrible life, to put it mildly. They were slaves, their newborn sons were murdered, etc...all at the same time.

Yet the scriptures say the Egyptians felt they were "mightier." Well no wonder. For they were servants of a mightier God. And their mightier God Jehovah showed the Egyptians

just how mightier he was in due time!

He will do the same for us very soon...all to the praise and glory of his name!!

Edited January 11, 2016 by Luezette

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, January 12

 

Listen to me, all of you, and understand the meaning.—Mark 7:14.

 

A person may hear the sounds of someone speaking to him. He may even note the tone of voice. But of what use would that be to him if he did not understand the meaning of the words being spoken? (1 Cor. 14:9) In a similar way, thousands heard what Jesus was saying. He even spoke to them in a language that they could understand. However, not all of them understood the meaning of his words. For this reason, Jesus told them the above. Why did many fail to understand the meaning of what Jesus said? Some had preconceived opinions and wrong motives. Jesus said of such ones: “You skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:9) These people did not really try to get the meaning of his words. They did not want to change their ways and views. Their ears may have been open, but their hearts were tightly shut!—Matt. 13:13-15. w14 12/15 1:1, 2

Edited January 11, 2016 by GrumpysWife

[Musky]

Wednesday, January 13

 

Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.—Matt. 5:28

 

The disastrous path of immorality often starts with the eyes. (2 Pet. 2:14) Many Christians who have fallen into wrongdoing have weakened their moral defenses by viewing pornography, reading erotic literature, or watching lurid material on the Internet. Others have allowed themselves to be entertained by sexually explicit movies, stage shows, or television programs. Some have visited nightclubs and strip shows or have gone to massage parlors for sensual massages. In a world that lacks restraint and that thrives on every sort of immorality, it is all too easy for a deceitful and desperate heart to spawn romantic feelings for someone other than a marriage mate. (Jer. 17:9, 10) Jesus said: “Out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality.”—Matt. 15:19. w15 1/15 4:4, 5

Edited January 13, 2016 by Musky

[Canticles]

Wonderful text to start a day .... 2 pet 2:14 perfectly fits this generation of mankind , it makes me remember a statement by Bro Barr in the video " Warning Example For Our Day" , he said " ... Curiously viewing pornography is often the first step towards commiting immorality " , those words stick close to my heart , to safeguard it from anything that cn endanger my relationship with Father Jehovah

[Tortuga]

Many years ago we had a CO that said that sexual fantasies were a rehearsal of sin. I like today's text because it reminds us that those fantasies start with what appeals to the eye and as Jesus said, once we have rehearsed the sin, all we need is the opportunity to commit it.

[Musky]

                                                    Thursday, January 14

 

 

Solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.—Heb. 5:14.

 

 

Discernment is good judgment—the ability to tell right from wrong and then choose the wise course. It has been defined as “the ability to make sound judgements in spiritual matters.” A discerning worshipper speaks and acts in ways that please God. Such a person chooses words that help others rather than hurt them. (Prov. 11:12, 13) He is “slow to anger.” (Prov. 14:29) He “walks straight ahead,” sticking to the right course on his journey through life. (Prov. 15:21) How can we acquire discernment? We must study God’s Word and apply what we learn. (Prov. 2:1-5, 10, 11) It is especially helpful to consider the example of Jesus, the most discerning man who ever lived. w15 2/15 2:10

[Stormswift]

Isn't just like Jehovah talking to you just when you need it? Lovely days text this one.

[Musky]

                                                        Friday, January 15

 

He gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to still another.—Matt. 25:15.

 

In the parable of the talents, Jesus clearly reveals an obligation resting on his anointed followers. We need to understand the meaning of this parable, for it affects all true Christians, whether they have the hope of a heavenly reward or of an earthly one. Jesus gave the parable of the talents as part of the answer to his disciples’ question about “the sign of [his] presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matt. 24:3) Thus, the parable finds its fulfillment in our time and is part of the sign that Jesus is present and ruling as King. The parable of the talents is one of four related illustrations recorded at Matthew 24:45 to 25:46. The other three—about the faithful and discreet slave, the ten virgins, and the sheep and the goats—are also part of Jesus’ answer to the question about the sign of his presence. w15 3/15 3:1-3

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, January 16

 

If you warn someone wicked and he does not turn

back from his wickedness and from his wicked course,

he will die for his error,but you will certainly

save your own life.—Ezek. 3:19.

 

True Christians already enjoy a friendship with Jehovah and the hope of eternal life. Yet, we recognize that it is our responsibility to “warn the wicked one to turn from his wicked course so that he may stay alive.” (Ezek. 3:17, 18) Of course, we do not preach merely to avoid bloodguilt. We love Jehovah, and we love our neighbor. Jesus illustrated what love and mercy really mean in his parable of the neighborly Samaritan. We might ask ourselves, ‘Am I, like the Samaritan, “moved with pity” to give a witness?’ After all, we would never want to be like the priest and the Levite in the parable, excusing ourselves and going by “on the opposite side.” (Luke 10:25-37) Faith in God’s promises and love for neighbor will motivate us to have a full share in the preaching work before time runs out. w14 4/15 2:14

Edited January 16, 2016 by GrumpysWife

[timpin]

nice to have u back V, hope you've been ok

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, January 17

 

Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage,

but that of the other person.—1 Cor. 10:24.

 

As Christians, most of us lead busy lives. We set priorities and plan our schedule carefully. (Eph. 5:16; Phil. 1:10) If something interrupts our schedule, we may feel frustrated. We therefore appreciate it when others respect our time, showing reasonableness when they approach us and in the amount of our time that they take. Bearing in mind the Golden Rule, how can we show that we respect those to whom we preach? (Matt. 7:12) We should try to determine the best time to approach householders. When are people usually at home? When are they likely to be receptive? In some parts of the world, our house-to-house work is most productive in the late afternoon or early evening. If that is true in your witnessing area, could you arrange to do at least some of your house-to-house preaching during those hours of the day? w14 5/15 2:11, 12

Edited January 16, 2016 by GrumpysWife