“I Am With You”

“Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”​—DANIEL 12:4.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?

In our time, how have people been able to find “the true knowledge”?

How have those who accepted the truth become “many”?

In what ways has accurate knowledge become “abundant”?

1, 2. (a) How do we know that Jesus is with us now and will be with us in the future? (b) According to Daniel 12:4, what would happen when some carefully studied the Scriptures?

IMAGINE that you are in Paradise. Each morning, you wake up feeling good and excited to start a new day. You have no aches or pains. You have no more health problems. You can see, hear, smell, feel, and taste perfectly. You have a lot of energy, you enjoy your work, you have many friends, and you have nothing to worry about. These are blessings you can have when God’s Kingdom rules the earth. Our King, Jesus Christ, will give humans these blessings and make sure that everyone on earth learns about Jehovah.

² At that time, God and his Son will help loyal ones to teach others about Jehovah. In fact, Jehovah and Jesus have always helped loyal Christians to teach others. Before he went to heaven, Jesus told his disciples: “I am with you.” So he would continue to help them. (Read Matthew 28:19, 20.) To strengthen our faith in Jesus’ promise, we will now discuss a prophecy that Daniel wrote in Babylon more than 2,500 years ago. He wrote about our time: “Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.” (Daniel 12:4) We now understand that in this verse, to “rove about” means to study carefully. The prophecy shows that those who carefully study the Scriptures would have the marvelous blessing of finding the true, or accurate, knowledge of God’s Word. The prophecy also says that “the true knowledge will become abundant.” Those who find this knowledge would accept it and teach these truths to others. Also, people everywhere would be able to learn these truths. We will now see how this prophecy has come true. This will strengthen our faith that Jesus is with his disciples today and that Jehovah will fulfill all his promises for the future.

SINCERE CHRISTIANS FIND “THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE”

3. What happened after the death of the apostles?

³ The apostasy foretold by the apostle Paul started after the death of the apostles and spread as quickly as fire. (Acts 20:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) For hundreds of years, even those who called themselves Christians did not have “the true knowledge.” Religious leaders said that they believed in the Scriptures but taught people “teachings of demons,” lies that dishonored God. (1 Timothy 4:1) As a result, most people did not know the truth about God. Instead, they were taught such lies as God is a Trinity, the soul does not die, and some souls burn in hell forever.

4. How did a group of Christians in the 1870’s begin to search for Bible truth?

⁴ But things changed in the 1870’s, about 40 years before “the last days” began. A small group of sincere Christians in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., met together to study the Bible carefully and to search for true knowledge. (2 Timothy 3:1) They called themselves Bible Students. They were humble people who sincerely wanted to do God’s will. They were not “the wise and intellectual ones” Jesus said would not be able to find “the true knowledge.” (Matthew 11:25) The Bible Students carefully read, discussed, and meditated on the Scriptures, and they prayed for God’s direction. They compared different verses in the Bible and studied the writings of others who had searched for Bible truth. Little by little, the Bible Students learned truths that many people had not known for hundreds of years.

5. Why did the Bible Students print tracts called The Old Theology?

⁵ The Bible Students were very happy about what they were learning, but they did not become proud. They understood that these truths had always been in the Bible. So they did not tell others that they had found something new. (1 Corinthians 8:1) Instead, they printed tracts called The Old Theology to help others learn Bible truths. The first tracts helped people study the Bible so that they could reject “all false traditions of men” and accept the true teachings of Jesus and the apostles, or “the old theology.”​—The Old Theology, No. 1, April 1889, page 32.

6, 7. (a) What truths have Jehovah’s Witnesses learned since the 1870’s? (b) What truths were you especially happy to learn?

⁶ Since the 1870’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses have learned many marvelous truths.a (See footnote.) When we study these truths, we are not just learning facts. We are learning exciting things that improve our lives. These truths make us happy and give us hope for the future. They help us to get to know our loving God, Jehovah, and understand his will. They explain who Jesus is, why he came to earth and died, and what he is doing now. These precious truths help us to understand why God allows evil things to happen, why we die, how we should pray, and how we can be truly happy.

⁷ We can now understand prophecies that were a “secret” for a very long time but are being fulfilled in the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9) Many of these prophecies are in the Gospels and in the book of Revelation. For example, Jehovah has helped us to know about things that happened in heaven that no human could see. We know that Jesus has become King, that there was a war in heaven, and that Satan was thrown down to the earth. (Revelation 12:7-12) God has also helped us understand the meaning of things that we can see. We understand why there are wars, earthquakes, sicknesses, and food shortages, and why people do the bad things that make our times “hard to deal with.”​—2 Timothy 3:1-5; Luke 21:10, 11.

8. Who is the One who has made it possible for us to understand the truth?

⁸ Jesus told his disciples: “Happy are the eyes that behold the things you are beholding. For I say to you, Many prophets and kings desired to see the things you are beholding but did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing but did not hear them.” (Luke 10:23, 24) That is how we feel today. Jehovah God is the one who has made it possible for us to “see” and “hear,” or understand, the truth. We are so grateful that he uses his holy spirit, “the helper,” to help us fully understand the truth! (Read John 16:7, 13.) We should never forget that the truth is precious and that we need to help others to learn it.

“MANY” ACCEPT “THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE”

9. What invitation was in the Watch Tower of April 1881?

⁹ In the Watch Tower of April 1881, less than two years after the magazine began to be printed, there was an article called “Wanted 1,000 Preachers.” The article invited those who could give half or more of their time to the preaching work to become colporteurs, or pioneers. They were asked to go everywhere they could to search for sincere Christians who loved God but did not have accurate knowledge and to teach them the truth about God and the Bible.

10. What did many want to do after reading the invitation for 1,000 preachers?

¹⁰ The Bible Students invited others to preach because they realized that true Christians must preach the good news. At that time, there were only a few hundred people who attended the meetings of the Bible Students, so not as many as they had hoped for accepted that invitation. But many people who read a tract or a magazine realized they had found the truth, and they wanted to help others. For example, in 1882, a person from London, England, who had read a Watch Tower magazine and a booklet of the Bible Students wrote: “Please instruct me how and what to preach so as to accomplish the blessed work God wishes done.”

11, 12. (a) What was the goal of the colporteurs? (b) How did the colporteurs form new congregations?

¹¹ In 1885, there were about 300 colporteurs. They had the same goal as we do today. They wanted to make disciples of Jesus Christ. But the way they did this was different from how we do this today. We usually study the Bible with one person at a time. We then invite the Bible student to attend meetings with the congregation. But in the past, the colporteurs studied with groups of people. They placed books and then invited interested ones to meet together to study the Bible. In this way, the colporteurs formed new congregations, which they called classes.

¹² For example, in 1907, a group of colporteurs searched through a city to find those who already had copies of Millennial Dawn (books also called Studies in the Scriptures). Then the colporteurs invited them to a Sunday meeting in the home of one of the interested ones. On that Sunday, a colporteur gave a talk about the Divine Plan of the Ages for the whole day. On the next Sunday, he encouraged those who attended to continue meeting together regularly. In 1911, the brothers tried another way of making disciples. Fifty-eight brothers traveled to different parts of the United States and Canada to give public talks. They would write down the names and addresses of interested people who attended those meetings. Then they would organize these interested ones into groups that met in private homes. In this way, they formed new congregations. In 1914, there were 1,200 congregations of Bible Students around the world.

13. What do you find amazing about the preaching work?

¹³ Today, there are about 109,400 congregations all over the world, and about 895,800 brothers and sisters are pioneers. Almost eight million people now accept “the true knowledge” and use it in their lives. (Read Isaiah 60:22.)b (See footnote.) This increase is amazing, since Jesus foretold that many people would hate his disciples. He said that people would persecute them, put them in prison, and even kill them. (Luke 21:12-17) Although Satan, his demons, and many humans have tried to stop the preaching work, Jehovah’s people continue to make disciples and are having wonderful results. They are now preaching in “all the inhabited earth,” from the hottest parts to the coldest, in mountains, in deserts, in cities, and in places where few people live. (Matthew 24:14) Only with Jehovah’s help could they do all this work.

TRUE KNOWLEDGE BECOMES “ABUNDANT”

14. How has true knowledge become abundant through our publications?

¹⁴ True knowledge has become abundant because many are preaching the good news. It has also become abundant through publications, such as books and magazines. In July 1879, the Bible Students published the first Watchtower magazine. At that time, it was called Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. The Bible Students hired a company to print 6,000 copies of that first magazine in English. Charles Taze Russell, who was then 27 years old, was chosen to be the editor, and five other mature brothers regularly wrote articles for the magazine. Today, 42,182,000 copies of each issue of The Watchtower are printed in 195 languages. It is the most widely distributed magazine on earth. The second most widely distributed magazine is Awake! We print 41,042,000 copies of each issue of Awake! in 84 languages. Also, about 100 million books and Bibles are printed each year.

15. Where do we get the money to print our publications?

¹⁵ The money for this work comes from voluntary donations. (Read Matthew 10:8.) Those in the printing business are impressed by this because they know that machines, paper, ink, and other materials are very expensive. A brother who buys materials for Bethel printeries says that when business people visit Bethel, they are amazed at what we can do with voluntary donations. They are surprised that we can afford such modern printing presses that can produce so many publications. They are also surprised at how young and happy the workers at Bethel are.

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD WILL FILL THE EARTH

16. Why has Jehovah made “the true knowledge” abundant?

¹⁶ Jehovah has made “the true knowledge” abundant because his will is that “all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3, 4) Jehovah wants people to know the truth so that they can worship him properly and receive his blessing. Through the preaching work, he has gathered a faithful group of anointed Christians. He is also gathering “a great crowd” out of “all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues,” who have the hope of living forever on earth.​—Revelation 7:9.

17. What does the increase in the number of true worshippers show?

¹⁷ The number of true worshippers everywhere on earth has really grown over the past 130 years. This increase clearly shows that God and his appointed King, Jesus Christ, have been with Jehovah’s servants on earth by directing, protecting, organizing, and teaching them. Jehovah has kept his promise to help many find the truth in our time, and we can be sure that he will fulfill his promises for the future. “The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.” (Isaiah 11:9) Just think of the wonderful blessings humans will have at that time!

[Footnotes]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

“The true knowledge”: Accurate knowledge of God’s Word

Colporteurs: Pioneers were called colporteurs before 1931

[Blurb on page 4]

With God’s help, the Bible Students learned truths that many people had not known for hundreds of years

[Blurb on page 6]

The Bible Students realized that true Christians must preach the good news

[Blurb on page 8]

Jehovah and Jesus have been with us by directing, protecting, organizing, and teaching us

[Picture on page 7]

The Bible Students were humble people who sincerely wanted to do God’s will

[Picture on page 8]

Jehovah values your efforts in spreading “the true knowledge” of God

Carry On as Kingdom Citizens!

“Carry on as citizens.”​—PHILIPPIANS 1:27, footnote.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?

Who can be citizens of the Kingdom?

What does it mean to learn the Kingdom’s language, history, and laws?

How do Kingdom citizens show that they love God’s laws?

1, 2. Why did the words “carry on as citizens” have special meaning to the congregation in Philippi?

THE apostle Paul encouraged the congregation in Philippi to “behave in a manner worthy of the good news.” (Read Philippians 1:27.) The word “behave” in this verse means “carry on as citizens,” or behave as citizens. These words had special meaning for the congregation in Philippi. Why? Because it seems that the Roman Empire had allowed the Philippians to have a form of Roman citizenship and to be protected by Roman law. Philippians were proud of being Roman citizens because this gave them benefits that few people had at that time.

² Those in the congregation in Philippi had a better reason to be proud. Paul reminded those anointed Christians: “As for us, our citizenship exists in the heavens.” (Philippians 3:20) They were citizens of God’s Kingdom, which is much greater than any human government. God’s Kingdom gave them protection and benefits that no other government could give.​—Ephesians 2:19-22.

3. (a) Who can be citizens of the Kingdom? (b) What will we consider in this article?

³ Paul’s counsel to “carry on as citizens” was mainly for those who will rule with Christ in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) But it can be applied to those who will live on earth and be ruled by God’s Kingdom. Why? Because we all serve the same King, Jehovah, and his requirements are the same for all his servants. (Ephesians 4:4-6) Today, many people work hard to become citizens of a rich country. But the opportunity to be citizens of the Kingdom has much more value. To help us better understand what a great opportunity this is, let us compare some of the requirements for becoming a citizen of a human government with those for becoming a citizen of God’s Kingdom. We will then consider three things we must do if we want to continue to be citizens of the Kingdom.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENS

4. What is the pure language? What does it mean to speak the pure language?

⁴ Learn the language. Some governments require that those who want to be citizens learn to speak the main language of the country. Some people have to work hard for years to speak the new language well, even after they become citizens. They may quickly learn the rules of grammar but may need much more time to become good at speaking the language. God’s Kingdom also requires that those who want to be its citizens learn a new language. The Bible calls it the “pure language.” (Read Zephaniah 3:9.) What is that language? It is the truth that the Bible teaches about God and his purposes. To speak the pure language means to obey God’s laws and principles. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we may learn the basic teachings of the Bible quickly and get baptized. But after our baptism, we must work hard to speak the pure language better and better. How can we do that? Each of us needs to continue to make the effort to use in our life what we learn from the Bible.

5. Why should we learn all we can about the history of Jehovah’s people in our time?

⁵ Study the history. A person who wants to become a citizen of a country may have to learn the history of its government. Since we want to be citizens of God’s Kingdom, we should learn all we can about it. We should imitate the example of the sons of Korah in ancient Israel. They loved Jerusalem and its place of worship and liked to talk about the history of that city, not because the city was beautiful, but because it was “the town of the grand King,” Jehovah. The place of worship in Jerusalem was where the people learned about Jehovah’s Law and worshipped him. Those ruled by Jehovah, the King of Jerusalem, were the people he approved and loved. (Read Psalm 48:1, 2, 9, 12, 13.) In our time, God also has an organized people on earth. Like the sons of Korah, we should want to study and tell others about the history of God’s people. The more we learn about Jehovah’s people and how he helps them, the more real God’s Kingdom will be to us. This will strengthen our desire to preach the good news of the Kingdom.​—Jeremiah 9:24; Luke 4:43.

6. Why can we expect Jehovah to require that we learn and obey his laws and principles?

⁶ Know the laws. Human governments require that their citizens learn and obey the laws of the country. So we can expect Jehovah to require that all citizens of his Kingdom learn and obey his laws and principles. (Isaiah 2:3; John 15:10; 1 John 5:3) Human laws are imperfect and can be unfair. But “the law of Jehovah is perfect.” (Psalm 19:7) Do you enjoy reading the Bible each day and learning God’s laws and principles? (Psalm 1:1, 2) Each of us has to make the effort to study God’s laws. Nobody else can do this for us.

KINGDOM CITIZENS LOVE GOD’S LAWS

7. Why do Kingdom citizens obey God’s laws?

⁷ To continue to be Kingdom citizens, we need to know God’s laws and love them. Many citizens of human governments say that they agree with the laws of the country. But when they do not like a certain law and they think nobody is watching, they disobey it. Often, they obey laws only to please men. (Colossians 3:22) Kingdom citizens obey God’s laws for a different reason. We love Jehovah. That is why we are happy to obey his laws, even when no other human is watching.​—Isaiah 33:22; read Luke 10:27.

8, 9. How can you know whether you truly love God’s laws?

⁸ How can you know whether you truly love God’s laws? By thinking about your attitude. For example, think about the way you react when you receive counsel. It may be about something that you feel is a personal choice, such as the way you dress. Before you learned the truth, you may not have cared a lot about the way you looked, or perhaps you dressed in a way that could make others have immoral thoughts. As your love for God grew, you learned to dress in a way that honors him. (1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4) You may think that there is nothing wrong with the way you dress now. But if an elder told you that many in the congregation feel that the way you dress is not proper, how would you react? Would you make excuses, get angry, or refuse to make changes? One of the most important laws that citizens of the Kingdom must obey is to imitate Christ. (1 Peter 2:21) Paul said that “even the Christ did not please himself” and in the same way, each of us should “please his neighbor in what is good for his upbuilding.” (Romans 15:2, 3) To keep the peace in the congregation, a mature Christian should always want to avoid doing things that offend the consciences of others.​—Romans 14:19-21.

⁹ Now think about your attitude toward sex and marriage. Those who are not citizens of God’s Kingdom might think that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, pornography, adultery, or divorce. But Kingdom citizens have learned to think of the results of their actions and how their actions will affect others. Before they learned the truth, many lived an immoral life. They now know that sex and marriage are gifts from God. They love Jehovah’s laws and know that those who disobey God’s laws about sex and marriage cannot be Kingdom citizens. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) But they also realize that their heart can make them do wrong things. (Jeremiah 17:9) So they are grateful that they receive specific warnings that help them to continue obeying God’s laws.

KINGDOM CITIZENS ARE GRATEFUL FOR WARNINGS

10, 11. What important warnings does God’s Kingdom give us? How do you feel about such warnings?

¹⁰ Human governments may warn their citizens about certain foods and medicines. Of course, not all foods and medicines are bad. But if something could be harmful, the government will protect its citizens by warning them about the danger. It is the government’s duty to give these warnings. God’s Kingdom also gives warnings to its citizens. It warns us about things that could make us disobey God’s laws and damage our relationship with him. For example, many people use the Internet for communication, education, and entertainment. God’s organization uses the Internet to do many good things. But many of the sites on the Internet are dangerous for those who want to keep doing what is right. Web sites that show pornography are clearly dangerous. For many years, the faithful slave has warned us about these sites, and we are so grateful for these warnings!

¹¹ Lately, many have been using another type of site. These sites are known as social networking Web sites. They can have benefits but can also cause much damage. So we must be very careful if we choose to use them. We could be communicating with people who are bad associations. (1 Corinthians 15:33) That is why the faithful slave has given us warnings to help us to have the right thinking about these sites. Have you read all the articles from the faithful slave about the use of social networking sites? It would be dangerous to use these sites without first reading these articles.a (See footnote.) It would be like taking a powerful medicine without first reading the warning on the bottle.

12. Why is it foolish to ignore warnings?

¹² Those who ignore the warnings from the faithful slave will harm themselves and those they love. Some have become addicted to pornography or have committed sexual immorality and think that Jehovah cannot see what they are doing. It is very foolish to think that we can hide what we do from Jehovah! (Proverbs 15:3; read Hebrews 4:13.) Jehovah will not allow those who keep ignoring his requirements to be citizens of his Kingdom, just as a human government may not allow people who commit certain crimes to be its citizens anymore.b (See footnote.) (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) But Jehovah is merciful and uses the elders to try to help those who have sinned. (Galatians 6:1) Those who repent and stop doing what is wrong can be friends of Jehovah again and continue to be Kingdom citizens. (2 Corinthians 2:5-8) It is a great honor to serve such a loving King!

KINGDOM CITIZENS VALUE EDUCATION

13. How do Kingdom citizens show that they value education?

¹³ Many governments work hard to educate their citizens. They build schools where people can get a basic education. Citizens of God’s Kingdom are grateful for these schools where they can learn to read and write and learn the skills they will need for work. They do all they can to benefit from this kind of education. But they are even more grateful for the education that Jehovah gives them through his organization. For example, his organization encourages us to read. It encourages parents to read to their children. Each month, the faithful slave publishes The Watchtower and Awake! The three issues of these magazines have many pages full of information about the Bible. If you read just a few pages a day, you can finish reading them in a month. In this way, you can continue to benefit from the education that Jehovah gives us.

14. (a) What training do we receive? (b) What suggestions for Family Worship evening have you used?

¹⁴ Each week, Kingdom citizens receive training at their congregation meetings. For example, for more than 60 years, the Theocratic Ministry School has helped students to be good teachers of God’s Word. Are you in this school? Also, the faithful slave has emphasized to us the importance of having a Family Worship evening every week. This study helps the family to become more united. Have you used the suggestions given in our publications for Family Worship evening?c​—See footnote.

15. What great honor do we have?

¹⁵ Many citizens of human governments try to get others to support a political party. Some even go from door to door to do that. Kingdom citizens all over the world show they support God’s Kingdom by preaching to people on the street and from door to door. For example, the purpose of The Watchtower is to announce Jehovah’s Kingdom. And as mentioned in the first article, The Watchtower is now the most widely distributed magazine on earth! It is a great honor to tell others about God’s Kingdom. Are you zealously preaching the good news of the Kingdom?​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

16. How can you prove that you are a good citizen of God’s Kingdom?

¹⁶ Soon God’s Kingdom will be the only government ruling the earth. The laws of the Kingdom will be the only laws that guide humans. Will you be a good citizen of God’s Kingdom at that time? Now is the time to prove that you will be. In all the decisions you make each day, do all things for Jehovah’s glory and prove that you are behaving as a good citizen of God’s Kingdom.​—1 Corinthians 10:31.

[Footnotes]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Citizens: People who are accepted by the government as members of the country

To carry on, or behave, as Kingdom citizens: To do what Jehovah requires of those who serve him as their King

Social networking Web sites: Internet sites, such as Facebook, that allow people to share personal information with individuals and groups of people

[Blurb on page 10]

We speak the pure language when we obey God’s laws and principles

[Blurb on page 11]

We learn God’s laws and principles by reading the Bible each day

[Blurb on page 13]

Do you pay attention to warnings from the faithful slave about the Internet?

[Picture on page 11]

Like the sons of Korah, do you love pure worship and its history?

[Picture on page 14]

Your Family Worship evening can help you and your family become good Kingdom citizens

Beware of the Devil’s Snares!

“Come . . . out from the snare of the Devil.”​—2 TIMOTHY 2:26.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

If you are always critical of others, what should you do?

What lessons can we learn from Pilate and Peter about not giving in to pressure and fear of man?

How can you avoid feeling too much guilt?

1, 2. What traps of the Devil will we discuss in this article?

THE Devil tries to catch Jehovah’s servants. But he is not always like a hunter who kills the animals he catches. What the Devil really wants to do when he catches someone is to make that person do what he wants.​—Read 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

² A trapper may use different snares, or traps, to catch an animal. He may start a fire to get the animal out of its hiding place so that it becomes easier to catch it. Or he may catch the animal by using a noose. He may also use a trap that he has hidden. The animal touches it and is crushed. The Devil also uses traps to catch God’s servants. If we do not want to get caught, we must be alert and pay attention to the warning signs that help us to know where Satan’s traps are. In this article, we will discuss how we can avoid three of the traps that the Devil has used to catch some of God’s people. These traps are (1) uncontrolled speech, (2) giving in to fear and pressure, and (3) feeling too much guilt. The next article will discuss two more traps of Satan.

PUT OUT THE FIRE OF UNCONTROLLED SPEECH

3, 4. What could happen if we do not control the way we speak? Give an example.

³ When animals are in the woods, they are safe. A hunter may set a part of the woods on fire so that the animals will come out of their hiding places as they try to run away. Then the hunter can catch them. In the Christian congregation, the brothers and sisters are safe. In a figurative way, the Devil would like to start a fire in the congregation so that the brothers and sisters will leave the congregation. Then the Devil can catch them. How could we without realizing it help him, which means that he has caught us in his trap?

⁴ The disciple James said that the tongue is like a fire. (Read James 3:6-8.) If we do not control our tongue, or the way we speak, we could start a figurative wildfire in the congregation. How might this happen? Imagine this situation: At a congregation meeting, a brother announces that a sister has been appointed as a regular pioneer. After the meeting, two publishers discuss the announcement. One says that it is good that the sister has started pioneering and hopes that she will be successful. The other one says that it is possible the sister is pioneering because she wants to be important in the congregation. Which of the two publishers would you like to have as your friend? It is easy to see which one could cause problems in the congregation by the way she speaks.

5. If we want to put out the fire of uncontrolled speech, what should we do?

⁵ How can we put out the fire of uncontrolled speech? Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) So the first step is to examine our own heart, or what we really feel. We should avoid having the kind of feelings that can make us say hurtful things about others. For example, when we hear that a brother is working hard to do more in the congregation, do we think he is doing it because he wants to make Jehovah happy? Or do we think he is doing it for selfish reasons? If we often think that our brothers serve Jehovah for selfish reasons, we should remember that the Devil said the same thing about God’s faithful servant Job. (Job 1:9-11) Instead of being suspicious of our brother, we should examine why we think badly of him. Do we really have good reason for having those thoughts? Or has the unloving attitude of the world influenced us during these last days?​—2 Timothy 3:1-4.

6, 7. (a) What are some reasons why we might be critical of others? (b) What should we do if others insult us?

⁶ Think about some other reasons why we might be critical of others. One could be that we want the things we do to be more impressive to other people. By criticizing others, we may be trying to show that we are better than everybody else. Or we may be trying to make excuses for not doing something that we should have done. Whether we are critical of others because we are proud or jealous or because we do not have confidence in ourselves, being critical will cause great damage.

⁷ Maybe we feel that we have good reason to criticize others. Perhaps we have been hurt by something they said about us. Even if they have hurt us, hurting them the same way is not the right thing to do. It will only make the situation worse. It is what the Devil wants us to do, not what God wants. (2 Timothy 2:26) Instead, we should imitate Jesus. When people insulted him, “he did not go reviling in return” and insult them. He “kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23) Jesus trusted that Jehovah would take care of the situation in the way He wanted and when He wanted. We should have the same trust in God. When we say kind things that encourage others, we help to keep the peace and unity in our congregation.​—Read Ephesians 4:1-3.

ESCAPE THE NOOSE OF FEAR AND PRESSURE

8, 9. Why did Pilate sentence Jesus to death?

⁸ An animal that is caught in a trap no longer has freedom to move where it wants to. If someone gives in to fear and pressure, he loses at least some control over his life. (Read Proverbs 29:25.) Let us discuss the examples of two men who gave in to pressure and to fear of man. Then we can learn from their experience.

⁹ The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, so he did not want to harm him. Pilate even said that Jesus had done “nothing deserving of death.” But Pilate still sentenced him to death. Why did he do that? Because he gave in to pressure from the people. (Luke 23:15, 21-25) They tried to force Pilate to do what they wanted by shouting: “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar”! (John 19:12) Pilate may have been scared that if he released Christ, he would lose his position as governor or even be killed. He gave in to pressure and did what the Devil wanted.

10. Why did Peter say that he did not know Christ?

¹⁰ The apostle Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends. He was not afraid to tell others that Jesus was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:16) Peter remained loyal when some of the disciples did not understand something Jesus said and left him. (John 6:66-69) And when enemies came to arrest Jesus, Peter used a sword to protect him. (John 18:10, 11) But later Peter gave in to fear of man and denied that he even knew Jesus Christ. Fear of man is like a trap, and the apostle was caught in it for a short time. He lost the courage to do what was right and to be loyal to Jesus.​—Matthew 26:74, 75.

11. Against what pressure may we have to fight?

¹¹ All Christians need to fight against pressure to do things that do not please God. Employers or others may try to force us to be dishonest or to commit sexual immorality. Christians who go to school may meet other young people who try to force them to cheat on exams, to view pornography, to smoke, to use drugs, to drink alcohol, or to commit sexual immorality. Fear of man and pressure to do what does not please Jehovah is like a trap that can catch us. So, what can help us to escape from it?

12. What lessons can we learn from Pilate and Peter?

¹² What lessons can we learn from the examples of Pilate and Peter? Pilate had little knowledge about Christ. But he knew that Jesus was innocent and that he was not an ordinary man. Pilate was not humble and did not love the true God. So it was easy for the Devil to make Pilate do what he wanted him to do. Peter had both accurate knowledge and love for God. But there were times when Peter was not modest, had fear of man, and gave in to pressure. Before Jesus was arrested, Peter bragged: “Even if all the others are stumbled, yet I will not be.” (Mark 14:29) If Peter had trusted in God like the psalmist did, he would have been more prepared for the tests that he would later have. That psalmist sang: “Jehovah is on my side; I shall not fear. What can earthling man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6) On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus took Peter and two other apostles with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asked them to stay awake, but Peter and the other apostles fell asleep. When Jesus woke them up, he said: “Men, keep on the watch and praying, in order that you do not come into temptation.” (Mark 14:38) But Peter fell asleep again and later gave in to pressure and fear of man.

13. How can we make sure that we do not give in to pressure to do something wrong?

¹³ The examples of Pilate and Peter can teach us another important lesson: We need knowledge, humility, modesty, love for God, and fear of Jehovah so that we do not give in to pressure or fear of man. If we have faith based on accurate knowledge, we will have courage to speak about our beliefs. This will help us not to give in to pressure or fear of man. We must never think that we are stronger than we really are. Instead, we should be humble and realize that we need God’s power if we do not want to give in to pressure. We need to ask Jehovah for his spirit. And our love for him should motivate us to follow God’s standards and to avoid doing things that will make people think badly of Jehovah. We also need to prepare for pressure before we are tested. For example, we need to pray with our children and prepare them so that they will know what to do when other children try to make them do something wrong.​—2 Corinthians 13:7.a (See footnote.)

AVOID THE TRAP OF FEELING TOO MUCH GUILT

14. What would the Devil like us to believe about the mistakes we have made in the past?

¹⁴ Sometimes a trap is a heavy tree trunk or stone hanging over a path where animals often walk. The trapper stretches a wire across the path, and when the animal touches the wire, the tree trunk or stone falls and crushes the animal. If we feel too much guilt, we can feel as if we are being crushed by a tree trunk or by a stone. For example, when we think of a mistake that we have made, we may feel “crushed to an extreme degree.” (Read Psalm 38:3-5, 8.) Satan wants us to believe that we are too sinful for Jehovah to show us mercy and that we are not able to follow God’s standards.

15, 16. How can you avoid the trap of feeling too much guilt?

¹⁵ How can you avoid the trap of feeling too much guilt? If you have committed a serious sin, you must repair your relationship with Jehovah right away. Go to the elders, and ask them to help you. (James 5:14-16) Do everything you can to correct the wrong. (2 Corinthians 7:11) If you receive discipline, do not become discouraged. Discipline is a way that Jehovah shows that he loves you. (Hebrews 12:6) Be determined not to commit the sin again, and make sure you do not do any of the things that caused you to commit that sin. After you have repented and turned around, or started doing what pleases God again, you must have faith that he can forgive your sins through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.​—1 John 4:9, 14.

¹⁶ Some people continue to feel guilt over sins for which they have been forgiven. If you are one of them, remember that Jehovah forgave Peter and the other apostles even though they left Jesus when he needed them the most. Jehovah even forgave a man who was disfellowshipped because he had committed shocking immorality but who later repented. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8) In the Bible, we read about people who committed very serious sins but who were forgiven by God because they repented.​—2 Chronicles 33:2, 10-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

17. What can the ransom do for you?

¹⁷ Jehovah will forgive you and forget the sins you have committed if you repent and really believe that he will show you mercy. Do you think that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice is not enough for Jehovah to forgive your sins? If you think that way, you have been caught in one of Satan’s traps. The Devil wants you to believe that the ransom is not enough for Jehovah to forgive all sins. But those who have sinned can be completely forgiven if they repent. (Proverbs 24:16) Faith in the ransom can help you stop feeling too much guilt and can give you the strength to serve God with your whole heart, mind, and soul.​—Matthew 22:37.

WE ARE AWARE OF SATAN’S TRAPS

18. How can we avoid the Devil’s traps?

¹⁸ Satan does not care how he traps us. All he wants is to catch us, or to make us do what he wants us to do. Because we know about Satan’s traps, we can avoid being caught by the Devil. (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11) We will not be caught in his traps if we pray for wisdom to endure our trials. The disciple James wrote: “If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.” (James 1:5) If we want Jehovah to give us wisdom to endure our trials, we must regularly do personal Bible study and live according to Bible principles. The publications from the faithful and discreet slave class teach us about the traps of the Devil and help us to avoid them.

19, 20. Why should we hate what is bad?

¹⁹ Prayer and Bible study help us to have greater love for what is good. But it is just as important that we learn to hate what is bad. (Psalm 97:10) We can avoid selfish desires if we think about the problems they can cause us. (James 1:14, 15) We need to learn to hate what is bad and to love what is good. Then the things that Satan uses to try to trap us will not be attractive to us because we will hate them.

²⁰ We are very thankful that God helps us so that Satan cannot catch us in his traps! Jehovah uses his spirit, his Word, and his organization to save us “from the wicked one.” (Matthew 6:13) In the next article, we will learn how to avoid two more traps that the Devil has used to catch God’s servants.

[Footnote]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Uncontrolled speech: To say hurtful things about our brothers because we are critical or suspicious of the reasons they serve Jehovah

Fear of man: To be afraid of what other people will think of you or will do to you if you refuse to do what they want

Pressure: Others who try to force you to do something wrong, or something that does not please Jehovah, are putting pressure on you

Guilt: To feel unhappy and ashamed because you have done something wrong

[Picture on page 16]

Uncontrolled speech can cause many problems in the congregation

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Why do you not need to feel crushed by too much guilt?

Stand Firm and Avoid Satan’s Traps!

“Stand firm against the machinations of the Devil.”​—EPHESIANS 6:11.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?

How can a servant of Jehovah avoid being caught in the trap of materialism?

What can help a married Christian to avoid committing adultery?

What benefits do you think we will get if we never give in to materialism and sexual immorality?

1, 2. (a) Why does Satan hate the anointed and the “other sheep”? (b) What traps of Satan will we discuss in this article?

SATAN hates humans, especially those who serve Jehovah. In fact, Satan is fighting against the anointed ones who are still on the earth. (Revelation 12:17) Those Christians have courageously taken the lead in preaching and have shown people that Satan is the ruler of this world. The Devil also hates the “other sheep,” who support the anointed in their work and who hope to live forever. (John 10:16) Satan has lost the opportunity to live forever. That is why he is so angry. Whether we are of the anointed or of the other sheep, Satan is our enemy. He wants to make us his victims.​—1 Peter 5:8.

² To do that, Satan uses traps. He “has blinded the minds” of people so that they do not learn the good news and cannot see his traps. But the Devil also catches some who have accepted the good news of the Kingdom. (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) The previous article showed how we can avoid three of Satan’s traps. They are: (1) uncontrolled speech, (2) giving in to fear and pressure, and (3) feeling too much guilt. Let us discuss how to avoid two other traps of Satan. They are materialism and the temptation to commit adultery.

MATERIALISM IS A TRAP THAT CAN CHOKE US

3, 4. How might the anxieties of this system of things get us caught in the trap of materialism?

³ In one of his illustrations, Jesus spoke about seed sown in between thorny plants. He explained that someone may hear the Kingdom message, “but the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22) Materialism is a trap that our enemy Satan uses.

⁴ There are two things that together can “choke the word.” One is “the anxiety of this system of things,” or the worries about making a living. In these “critical times hard to deal with,” there are many things to worry about. (2 Timothy 3:1) It can be difficult to pay for what you need because things are very expensive or because you do not have a job. You may also be worried about the future and ask yourself, ‘Will I have enough money to live on when I am too old to work?’ Some people have tried to get rich because they think that if they have a lot of money, they will always have what they need.

5. How can the “power of riches” deceive us?

⁵ The other thing Jesus spoke about is “the deceptive power of riches.” This, together with anxiety, can get us caught in the trap of materialism. The Bible says that “money is for a protection.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12) This means that money can help us to have the things we need. But it is not wise to try to become rich. Many people have learned that the harder they work to become rich, the more they get caught in the trap of materialism. Some even become slaves of their possessions.​—Matthew 6:24.

6, 7. (a) What situation at your workplace could cause you to have the desire to become rich? (b) What should a Christian think about when he is asked to work overtime?

⁶ You may begin to have the desire to become rich without realizing it. For example, think about this situation. Your employer comes to you and says: “I have good news! The company just got a big job. This will mean that you may often have to work overtime for the next few months. But I promise that you will be paid a lot of money.” How would you feel about such an offer? It is important for you to provide for your family’s material needs, but that is not your only responsibility. (1 Timothy 5:8) There are some other things you also need to think about. How much overtime will you work? Will your job make it difficult for you to serve God and make you miss congregation meetings and family worship?

⁷ Think about what is most important to you. Is it the extra money, or is it your relationship with Jehovah? Will you stop putting Kingdom interests first in your life because you want to make more money? Can you see how materialism will affect you if you do not take care of the relationship that you and your family have with Jehovah? If you are in this situation, how can you avoid being choked by materialism?​—Read 1 Timothy 6:9, 10.

8. What examples from the Bible can help us to examine the way we live?

⁸ If we do not want to be choked by materialism, we should regularly examine the way we live. We should never be like Esau, who despised Jehovah’s promises. (Genesis 25:34; Hebrews 12:16) Also, we should not be like the rich man who was asked by Jesus to sell everything he owned, to give the money to poor people, and to follow him. The man did not do this. Rather, because he had many possessions, he felt sad and went away. (Matthew 19:21, 22) That man’s possessions were like a trap that had caught him. He could have followed Jesus, the greatest man who ever lived! But he did not accept that great privilege. We should be careful that we do not lose the privilege of being disciples of Jesus Christ.

9, 10. From what the Bible says, how do you think we should view material things?

⁹ We need to listen to Jesus’ counsel if we do not want to be deceived by material things. He said: “Never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.”​—Matthew 6:31, 32; Luke 21:34, 35.

¹⁰ If we do not want to be caught in the deceptive trap of riches, we have to think like the Bible writer Agur, who said: “Don’t let me be too poor or too rich. Give me just what I need.” (Proverbs 30:8, Contemporary English Version) Agur understood that he needed some money to live, but he also understood the deceptive power of riches. We should realize that the anxieties of this system and the deceptive power of riches can cause us to lose our relationship with Jehovah. If we worry too much about material things, we may not have the time, the energy, or the desire to put Kingdom interests first in our life. So we should be careful not to be caught in Satan’s trap of materialism!​—Read Hebrews 13:5.

ADULTERY IS LIKE A HIDDEN PIT

11, 12. How could a Christian get caught in the trap of adultery at his or her workplace?

¹¹ Hunters who want to catch a strong animal sometimes dig a pit, or hole, on a path where the animal often walks. They usually hide the pit by putting some sticks and dirt over it. One of Satan’s most successful temptations is like this type of trap. It is the sin of immorality. (Proverbs 22:14; 23:27) Some Christians have been caught in that trap because they have let themselves get into situations in which it was easy for them to commit immorality. Some married Christians have committed adultery after starting a romantic relationship with someone to whom they are not married.

¹² An improper romantic relationship could start with someone at your workplace. More than half of the women and most of the men who committed adultery did so with a workmate. Do you have to work with people of the opposite sex? If you do, what kind of relationship do you have with them? Do you set limits so that your relationship will not become a romantic relationship? For example, maybe a sister often talks to a man who works with her. Maybe he becomes such a trusted and close friend that she tells him about the problems in her marriage. Or a brother makes friends with a woman who works with him. He may think: “She likes my opinions and listens to me when I talk to her. And she respects me. I wish my wife treated me like that!” Can you see how these Christians could be in danger of committing adultery?

13. How could an improper romantic relationship start with someone in the congregation?

¹³ An improper romantic relationship could also start with someone in the congregation. Here is what really happened to one couple. Daniel and his wife, Sarah, were regular pioneers.a (See footnote.) Daniel says that he was also an elder who accepted every assignment he was given in the congregation. He conducted Bible studies with five young men, and three of them got baptized. These newly baptized brothers needed a lot of emotional help. Because Daniel was so busy in the congregation, Sarah often gave them the help they needed. But Sarah also needed attention, and she got it from Daniel’s Bible students. That situation became like a dangerous trap. Daniel says: ‘Month after month my wife had been using all her energy to help others, so she needed spiritual and emotional support. During this time I had not been caring for her. These circumstances led to a disaster. My wife committed adultery with one of the young men with whom I had studied. I was so busy that I did not notice that her relationship with Jehovah had become weak.’ How can you avoid such a disaster?

14, 15. What can help married Christians to avoid adultery?

¹⁴ To avoid adultery, you need to think deeply about what it means to be loyal to your marriage mate. Jesus said: “What God has yoked together let no man put apart.” (Matthew 19:6) You should never think that your work in the congregation is more important than your marriage mate. If you are away from your mate for unnecessary reasons, your marriage may become weak. You or your mate could be tempted to commit adultery.

¹⁵ If you are an elder, you should care for the congregation. The apostle Peter said: “Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly.” (1 Peter 5:2) Do not ignore the members of the congregation. But you should not work so hard to be a good elder that you cannot be a good husband. It does not make sense to help the brothers and sisters in the congregation and neglect your wife at home. That would put your marriage in danger. Daniel (mentioned earlier) says, ‘You should never be so busy caring for responsibilities that you neglect your own family.’

16, 17. (a) What can married Christians do at work to make sure that everybody knows that they are not available for a romantic relationship? (b) Give examples of articles in our magazines that can help Christians to avoid adultery.

¹⁶ The Watchtower and Awake! magazines give much good counsel to help married Christians to avoid adultery. The Watchtower of September 15, 2006, warned against situations at work or other places that can cause you to draw close emotionally to someone who is not your marriage mate. For example, if you work overtime with someone of the opposite sex, you could be tempted to start an improper romantic relationship with him or her. If you are married, you should make it clear by what you say and do that you are not available for a romantic relationship. Never try to get attention by flirting or by trying to make people look at you because of the clothes you wear or the way you look. Have photos of your marriage mate and children at your workplace. This will remind you and others that your family is very important to you. Never encourage anyone who tries to give you any kind of improper attention. You should not even allow it.

¹⁷ The article “Marital Fidelity​—What Does It Really Mean?” in Awake! of April 2009 warned against having sexual thoughts about anyone who is not your husband or wife. The article also mentioned that if you have these sexual thoughts, you will be more likely to commit adultery. (James 1:14, 15) If you are married, it would be wise for you and your mate to read articles about this subject. Jehovah is the Creator of marriage, and marriage is holy. Make sure that you and your mate have time to talk about your marriage. This will show that things that are holy to God are important to you.​—Genesis 2:21-24.

18, 19. (a) What damage does adultery cause? (b) What benefits are there for being faithful to your marriage mate?

¹⁸ If you are tempted to start an improper romantic relationship, think about the damage caused by fornication and adultery. (Proverbs 7:22, 23; Galatians 6:7) People who commit immorality do not please Jehovah. They hurt their marriage mate and themselves. (Read Malachi 2:13, 14.) Instead, think about the benefits you will get if you keep your conduct chaste, or clean. You have the hope of living forever, and you also enjoy the best life now, including a clean conscience.​—Read Proverbs 3:1, 2.

¹⁹ The psalmist said that people who love and obey God’s law will have abundant peace and no trap will catch them. (Psalm 119:165) So love the truth, and “keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons” during these wicked last days. (Ephesians 5:15, 16) Today, Satan uses many traps to catch true worshippers of God. But Jehovah has given us everything we need to “stand firm” and protect ourselves so that we will never be caught in Satan’s traps.​—Ephesians 6:11, 16.

[Footnote]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Materialism: The attitude of someone who thinks that money is more important than his relationship with Jehovah

Adultery: A married person who commits sexual immorality with someone that he or she is not married to commits adultery

[Blurb on page 22]

Some who want to be rich become slaves of their possessions

[Blurb on page 23]

To avoid being choked by materialism, we should examine the way we live

[Blurb on page 26]

Make it clear that you are not interested in having an improper romantic relationship

[Blurb on page 26]

Jehovah has given us everything we need to protect ourselves from Satan’s traps

[Picture on page 23]

Do not let materialism choke you and cause you to damage your relationship with Jehovah

[Picture on page 25]

If you flirt or allow someone to flirt with you, it can cause you to commit adultery

Annual Meeting Report

A Meeting Marked by Unity and Thrilling Plans

ANNUAL meetings of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania are always exciting occasions. The 127th annual meeting on Saturday, October 1, 2011, was certainly exciting. Guests from all over the world were invited to meet at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Gerrit Lösch of the Governing Body started the program by welcoming everyone. He told guests from about 85 countries that they are part of an international family that is more united than any other group of people in the world. Their unity is a good witness and glorifies Jehovah. Actually, unity was mentioned several times during this meeting.

A GOOD REPORT FROM MEXICO

The first part on the program gave examples of the unity of Jehovah’s people. The branch office in Mexico now has oversight of six countries in Central America. Baltasar Perla from the Mexico branch interviewed three other members of the Mexico Bethel family and asked them to talk about some of the results of this change. They said that the Mexico Bethel family now has more brothers and sisters from different cultures and countries and that everyone is encouraged by the good association. It is as if God has removed the national borders between them.

After this change, each congregation received a secure e-mail connection so that even those in isolated areas can communicate directly with the branch office. This helps publishers in countries that no longer have a branch office to feel part of the organization.

NEWS FROM JAPAN

James Linton from the Japan branch explained how our brothers were affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of March 2011. Many lost their loved ones and everything they had. Witnesses who were not affected by the disaster found 3,100 places for the victims to live and offered hundreds of vehicles. Volunteers sent by Regional Building Committees worked nonstop to repair the homes of our brothers. More than 1,700 volunteered to serve wherever needed. There were also 575 volunteers who helped repair Kingdom Halls, including a team from the United States.

Much has been done to comfort those who were affected by the disaster and to strengthen their faith. More than 400 elders visited the victims. The Governing Body sent two zone overseers from world headquarters to encourage the brothers and sisters in the disaster area. The interest shown by Witnesses all over the world has also been of great comfort.

LEGAL VICTORIES

Next, the audience was very interested to hear Stephen Hardy from the Britain branch and several other brothers discuss our recent legal victories. For example, the French government wanted the legal association we use in France to pay 82 million dollars (U.S.) in taxes. But the European Court of Human Rights decided that this was not legal. The decision showed that the Court agreed that the Witnesses were not trying to avoid paying taxes. It stated that the French government had acted against Article 9 of the European Convention, which protects people’s right to freedom of religion. For example, the government had refused to recognize the Witnesses as a religion, wanted to destroy their legal association, tried to remove the religion from the country, and used offensive language against them.

The Court also decided in our favor in a case involving Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia. Since 1965 the Court had believed that the European Convention did not give a person the right to refuse a government’s order to join the military. But the Grand Chamber, the highest authority in the European Court of Human Rights, decided that the European Convention gives a person the right to refuse military service if he does so for his strong religious beliefs. As a result of the Court’s decision, the government of Armenia as well as the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey must respect this right.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Guy Pierce of the Governing Body spoke next and mentioned that all present were very interested to know about our construction projects in New York State. He introduced a video that showed what has been done and what will be done at Wallkill, Patterson, and our new properties in Warwick and Tuxedo, New York. At Wallkill, a new building with more than 300 residential rooms is scheduled to be finished in 2014.

There are plans to construct new buildings on 100 hectares (248 acres) at Warwick. Brother Pierce said that although the Governing Body is not certain what Jehovah’s will for Warwick is at the moment, we are getting ready to start building. The Governing Body hopes to move the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Brooklyn to Warwick. During the construction at Warwick, there are plans to keep machinery and building materials about 10 kilometers (six miles) away on 20 hectares (50 acres) of land. Brother Pierce said that we will start building when we get permission, and we hope to finish the work in four years or less. Then we can sell our property in Brooklyn.

Does the Governing Body no longer think that the great tribulation is near? Brother Pierce answered: “Not at all. If the great tribulation interrupts our plans, that will be wonderful, absolutely wonderful!”

BEWARE OF THE ROARING LION

Stephen Lett, another member of the Governing Body, discussed 1 Peter 5:8: “Keep your senses, be watchful. Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” Brother Lett said that when we think of the kind of animals lions are, we can better understand how appropriate Peter’s illustration is.

Lions are stronger and faster than humans. Satan is so strong that we cannot fight him or escape from him on our own. We need Jehovah’s help. (Isaiah 40:31) A lion often hunts in the dark so that the prey does not see it. If we do not want to be Satan’s prey, we have to see, or understand, how he tries to attack us. Just as a lion kills a harmless antelope or a sleeping baby zebra, Satan shows no mercy and would love to kill us. And after a lion has finished eating, its prey is completely torn apart and looks nothing like it did before. In the same way, when a Christian becomes a victim of Satan, his situation becomes worse than before he knew the truth. (2 Peter 2:20) So we need to fight against Satan by always obeying what we learn from the Bible.​—1 Peter 5:9.

BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PLACE IN JEHOVAH’S HOUSE

The next speaker, Samuel Herd of the Governing Body, said: “We all have a place in Jehovah’s house.” This means that all Christians who have faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice are able to worship God in a way that he accepts. We should all be thankful that we have a place in Jehovah’s house. David wanted to “dwell in the house of Jehovah” all his life. Like David, we too desire to worship Jehovah all our lives.​—Psalm 27:4.

Brother Herd referred to Psalm 92:12-14 and explained how Jehovah helps his people to succeed in their lives. God gives us comfort, protects us, and gives us refreshing waters of truth. Brother Herd encouraged the audience to thank Jehovah for that and to be content to worship Jehovah in his house forever.

TRUE CHRISTIANS RESPECT GOD’S WORD

David Splane, another member of the Governing Body, gave the next talk. He explained that true Christians have always respected God’s Word. For example, in the first century, they used the Scriptures to solve the problem about circumcision. (Acts 15:16, 17) But in the second century, some who called themselves Christians began to respect Greek philosophy more than the Scriptures. Later, others taught the opinions of Roman emperors and those whom they called Church Fathers, rather than teaching the Bible. This is how many false teachings began.

Brother Splane also talked about one of Jesus’ illustrations. This illustration shows that since the first century, there have always been anointed Christians on earth to defend the truth. (Matthew 13:24-30) We cannot say for sure who they were. But through the centuries, many have spoken against false religious beliefs and practices. Some of these people were Archbishop Agobard of Lyons in the 9th century, Peter of Bruys, Henry of Lausanne, and Valdès (or, Waldo) in the 12th century, John Wycliffe in the 14th century, William Tyndale in the 16th century, and Henry Grew and George Storrs in the 19th century. Jehovah’s Witnesses today continue to do what the Bible requires of them, and their beliefs are based only on Bible truth. That is why the Governing Body has chosen John 17:17 as our yeartext for 2012: “Your word is truth.”

EXCITING CHANGES FOR BIBLE SCHOOLS

Anthony Morris, a member of the Governing Body, announced changes for missionaries and special pioneers. In September 2012, classes of the Bible School for Christian Couples will begin in other countries. Last October, the purpose of Gilead School was changed. Now, all those trained at Gilead are already in special full-time service. Some are missionaries who have not been to Gilead. Others are special pioneers, traveling overseers, or Bethelites. After Gilead, they will be sent to serve in branch offices or in the traveling work or be sent to preach in large cities with local congregations. There they can strengthen, support, and train the brothers and sisters they work with.

It was announced that from January 1, 2012 on, some who attend the Bible School for Single Brothers and the Bible School for Christian Couples will become temporary special pioneers. They will preach in territories where there are few or no publishers. They will be special pioneers for one year at a time. After no more than three years, those who do well may be invited to continue serving as special pioneers.

The 2011 annual meeting was a happy time. God’s organization is working to preach in more places around the world and to help unite our brothers worldwide. We pray that Jehovah will bless our work and that it will bring him much glory and praise.

[Box/​Picture on page 28]

WE GOT TO KNOW THEM BETTER

Five widows of Governing Body members were interviewed. Sisters Marina Sydlik, Edith Suiter, Melita Jaracz, Melba Barry, and Sydney Barber told how they learned the truth and started full-time service. Each one talked about some of her special memories, her husband’s good qualities, and the wonderful things they did together in Jehovah’s service. Then the audience sang song number 86, entitled “Faithful Women, Christian Sisters.”

“There Exists a Reward for Your Activity”

KING ASA leads his army through a deep valley. They are going from the mountains of Judea to the flatlands by the coast. When they come to the wider part of the valley, Asa stops. He is shocked by what he sees. The huge Ethiopian army is camped down below! There must be one million enemy soldiers, but Asa’s army is only about half that size.

Asa will have to fight a battle. At this moment, what is the first thing he does? Does he give orders to his generals? Does he encourage his troops? Does he send letters to his family? Absolutely not! In this dangerous situation, Asa prays.

Before we read about his prayer and about what happened next, let us talk about the kind of man Asa was. What made him ask God for help? Could he expect God to help him? What does this account teach us about how Jehovah blesses his servants when they do what is right?

THE KIND OF MAN ASA WAS

Asa became king in the year 977 before Christ. For twenty years, Israel and Judah had been divided into two kingdoms. During that time, Judah had become completely corrupted by false worship. Even high officials in the government worshipped Canaanite gods of fertility. But the Bible says that Asa did “what was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God.” Asa “removed the foreign altars and the high places and broke up the sacred pillars and cut down the sacred poles.” (2 Chronicles 14:2, 3) Asa removed from Judah “the male temple prostitutes,” who had sex with other men as part of their false worship. But Asa did more than remove false worship. He also told the people to “search for Jehovah the God of their forefathers” and to “do the law and the commandment” of God.​—1 Kings 15:12, 13; 2 Chronicles 14:4.

Jehovah was pleased with Asa’s zeal for true worship and rewarded him by giving Judah many years of peace. The king himself said: “We have searched for Jehovah our God. We have searched, and he gives us rest all around.” The people used this period of peace to make the walls of the cities in Judah stronger. The Bible says: “They went building and proving successful.”​—2 Chronicles 14:1, 6, 7.

ASA FIGHTS THE BATTLE

Asa knew that Jehovah rewards those who show faith by their actions. That is why Asa prayed to Jehovah when he had to fight the largest human army mentioned in the Bible. In his prayer, he begged Jehovah for help. Asa knew that if he trusted in God and had his support, it did not matter how large or powerful the enemy’s army was. Asa also knew that the result of this war would affect Jehovah’s reputation. So Asa prayed: “Help us, O Jehovah our God, for upon you we do lean, and in your name we have come against this crowd. O Jehovah, you are our God. Do not let mortal man retain strength against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) That was like saying: ‘The Ethiopians are attacking you, Jehovah. Do not allow these weak humans to defeat your people and dishonor your name.’ God answered Asa’s prayer. The Bible says that “Jehovah defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah” and that the Ethiopians ran away.​—2 Chronicles 14:12.

Today, Jehovah’s people have to fight powerful enemies. We do not fight with physical weapons, but we can be sure that Jehovah will give victory to his faithful servants who honor his name. Each one of us may have to fight long and hard battles against the wrong thinking of the world, our own weaknesses, or anything that could damage our family’s relationship with God. Whatever our trial is, Asa’s prayer can encourage us. It was Jehovah who gave Asa victory. If we trust in Jehovah, he will help us win any battle we may have. He is more powerful than anyone or anything else.

ENCOURAGEMENT AND A WARNING

When Asa was returning home from battle, the prophet Azariah came to meet him. Azariah gave Asa both encouragement and a warning: “Hear me, O Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! Jehovah is with you as long as you prove to be with him; and if you search for him, he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him he will leave you.” He also said: “Be courageous and do not let your hands drop down, because there exists a reward for your activity.”​—2 Chronicles 15:1, 2, 7.

These words can strengthen our faith. They show that Jehovah will be with us as long as we serve him faithfully. We can be sure that he hears us when we beg him for help. Azariah said: “Be courageous.” We often need great courage to do what is right, but we know that we can do so with Jehovah’s help.

Asa’s grandmother Maacah had made “a horrible idol to the sacred pole.” So Asa had to remove her from her royal position as “lady,” even though this must have been difficult for him to do. He also burned her idol. (1 Kings 15:13) Jehovah blessed Asa for courageously doing what was right. We too must loyally obey Jehovah and keep his righteous requirements whether our relatives are loyal to God or not. If we do, Jehovah will reward us.

Part of Asa’s reward was to see many Israelites from the unfaithful northern kingdom come into Judah. They realized that Jehovah was with Asa. They loved pure worship so much that they chose to leave their homes to live among servants of Jehovah. Later, Asa and all Judah joyfully agreed “to search for Jehovah the God of their forefathers with all their heart and with all their soul.” What was the result? God “let himself be found by them; and Jehovah continued to give them rest all around.” (2 Chronicles 15:9-15) Today, too, it gives us joy to see sincere people choose to worship Jehovah.

In his words to Asa, the prophet Azariah also gave him a serious warning. He told Asa that if he left Jehovah, Jehovah would leave him. We certainly do not want that to happen to us. The results can be tragic! (2 Peter 2:20-22) The Bible does not say why Jehovah sent Asa this warning, but we know that Asa did not pay attention to it.

“YOU HAVE ACTED FOOLISHLY”

When Asa had been king for almost 36 years, King Baasha of Israel started a war against Judah. Baasha strengthened the city walls of Ramah, which was on the border between Israel and Judah and only eight kilometers (5 miles) from Jerusalem. Perhaps he did that because he did not want his people to go into Judah and serve Jehovah and King Asa. Asa did not ask God for help as he had when the Ethiopians attacked. Instead, he asked humans for help. He sent a gift to the king of Syria and asked him to attack Israel. After the Syrians started attacking Israel, Baasha stopped fortifying Ramah.​—2 Chronicles 16:1-5.

Jehovah was not pleased with Asa and sent the prophet Hanani to tell him so. Asa should have learned from his victory over the Ethiopians that Jehovah’s eyes are searching the whole earth “to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” Perhaps Asa received bad advice. Or perhaps he thought that Baasha and his army were not very strong and that he could think of his own way to defeat them. Whatever the reason, Asa trusted in humans instead of trusting in Jehovah. Hanani said to him: “You have acted foolishly respecting this, for from now on there will exist wars against you.”​—2 Chronicles 16:7-9.

When Asa heard these words, he became extremely angry and put Hanani in prison. (2 Chronicles 16:10) Could Asa have thought, ‘I have been faithful for many years, so do I deserve to be talked to this way?’ Or was he not thinking clearly because of old age? The Bible does not say.

When Asa had been king for 38 years, he became very sick with a disease in his feet. The Bible says that “even in his sickness he searched not for Jehovah but for the healers.” It seems that Asa’s relationship with Jehovah was not as strong as before, and it probably continued that way until his death, about 41 years after he had become king.​—2 Chronicles 16:12-14.

Jehovah seems to have remembered Asa’s good qualities and zeal for pure worship instead of his errors. Asa never stopped serving Jehovah. (1 Kings 15:14) So, what can we learn from Asa’s life story? If we always remember how Jehovah helped us in the past, we will pray for his help when we have new trials. Also, we should not think that we do not need counsel just because we have served God faithfully for many years. Jehovah will give us the discipline we need, no matter how long we have been his servants. We should humbly accept his discipline so that we can benefit from it. The most important thing we learn is that our heavenly Father will be with us as long as we serve him faithfully. Jehovah’s eyes search the whole earth for those who are faithful to him. He wants to use his power to help them. Jehovah did that for Asa, and He can do it for us.

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Jehovah rewards faithful ones

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We need courage to do what is right