1. Why did Paul say that “Christ is the power of God”?

JEHOVAH showed his power through Jesus Christ in amazing ways. When Jesus was on earth, he performed miracles. We can read about some of them in the Bible, and they can strengthen our faith. (Matthew 9:35; Luke 9:11) Yes, Jehovah gave Jesus great power, so the apostle Paul could say: “Christ is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24) But how do Jesus’ miracles affect us?

2. What can we learn from Jesus’ miracles?

² The apostle Peter said that Jesus performed “wonders,” or miracles. (Acts 2:22) What do these miracles teach us? They teach us what Jesus will do during his Thousand Year Rule. At that time, he will perform greater miracles that will benefit all humans on the earth. His miracles also help us to understand a lot about both his and his Father’s qualities. In this article, we will discuss three of Jesus’ miracles, and we will learn how they can affect us today and in the future.

A MIRACLE THAT TEACHES GENEROSITY

3. (a) Why did Jesus perform his first miracle? (b) How did Jesus show generosity in Cana?

³ Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding in the town of Cana. We do not know why, but there was not enough wine for all the guests who came. This could have been very embarrassing for the newly married couple, because it was their duty to be hospitable. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was one of the guests. Did she ask Jesus to help because she believed that he had the power to do so? After all, Mary must have meditated on all the prophecies about her son, and she knew that he would be called “Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:30-32; 2:52) What is clear is that both Mary and Jesus wanted to help the couple. So Jesus miraculously turned about 380 liters (100 gallons) of water into “fine wine.” (Read John 2:3, 6-11.) Did Jesus have to perform this miracle? No. He did it because he cared about people, and he was imitating his Father, who is generous.

4, 5. (a) What does Jesus’ first miracle teach us? (b) What does the miracle at Cana teach us about the future?

⁴ Jesus miraculously provided a lot of fine wine, enough for a large group. Do you see what this miracle teaches us? That Jehovah and Jesus are not stingy but are very generous. This miracle convinces us that they care deeply about people’s feelings. It also shows that Jehovah will use his power to provide plenty of food in the new world, no matter where we live on earth.​—Read Isaiah 25:6.

⁵ Think of it! Soon Jehovah will give us everything we really need. Each person will have a nice home and good food. We feel very grateful when we think about all the wonderful things Jehovah will generously give us in the Paradise earth.

6. How did Jesus always use his power, and how can we imitate him?

⁶ Jesus never used his power for selfish reasons. Think about what happened when the Devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into loaves of bread. Jesus refused to use his power to benefit himself. (Matthew 4:2-4) But Jesus was willing to use his power to help others. How can we imitate his unselfish attitude? Jesus said that we should “practice giving.” (Luke 6:38) We can do this by inviting others to our home for a meal. We can also spend time after a meeting helping someone, such as listening to a brother practice his talk. Or we may be able to give practical help and training to others in the ministry. We imitate Jesus’ generosity when we eagerly help others whenever we can.

“ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED”

7. What will always be a problem in Satan’s world?

⁷ Poverty is not a new problem. Jehovah told the Israelites that there would “always be poor people in the land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11) Hundreds of years later, Jesus said: “You always have the poor with you.” (Matthew 26:11) Did Jesus mean that there would always be poor people on the earth? No, he meant that there would be poverty as long as we live in Satan’s world. How different it will be when we live in the new world! At that time, there will be no more poverty. All will have plenty to eat, and all will be satisfied!

8, 9. (a) Why did Jesus feed thousands of people? (b) How do you feel about this miracle?

⁸ The psalmist said of Jehovah: “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16) When Jesus was on earth, he perfectly imitated his Father and often cared for the needs of others. He did not do this simply to show that he was powerful. Jesus truly cared about people. Let us discuss Matthew 14:14-21. (Read.) A crowd had followed Jesus on foot from the cities. (Matthew 14:13) By the evening, the disciples were worried that the people had become weak and hungry. So they asked Jesus to send the crowd away to buy food for themselves. What would Jesus do?

⁹ With five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus fed about 5,000 men, as well as women and children. Why did Jesus perform this miracle? Because he truly loved people and cared about them. And Jesus must have provided a lot of food, because the crowds “ate and were satisfied.” The food they ate would give them the strength they needed to make the long journey back home. (Luke 9:10-17) And, after all were satisfied, the disciples even filled 12 baskets with the leftovers!

10. In the future, what will happen to poverty?

¹⁰ Because of greedy and corrupt rulers, hundreds of millions of people live in poverty. Even some of our brothers do not have enough to eat. But soon, people who obey Jehovah will live in a world with no corruption or poverty. Jehovah is the almighty God, and he has the power and the desire to make sure that everyone’s needs are satisfied. He promises to bring an end to suffering very soon!​—Read Psalm 72:16.

11. Why are you sure that Christ will soon use his power over the entire earth, and as a result, what do you want to do?

¹¹ When Jesus was on earth, he performed miracles in a small area for only three and a half years. (Matthew 15:24) But as King, Jesus will help all mankind during his Thousand Year Rule. (Psalm 72:8) Jesus’ miracles assure us that he wants to use his power for our good. We do not have the power to perform miracles, but what can we do? We can use our time and energy to tell others about the wonderful future that the Bible promises. That is our responsibility as Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Romans 1:14, 15) When we meditate on what Christ will soon do, we will be eager to tell others about it.​—Psalm 45:1; 49:3.

JEHOVAH AND JESUS CONTROL THE FORCES OF NATURE

12. Why can we be sure that Jesus fully understands earth’s environment?

¹² When God created the earth and everything on it, Jesus was “beside him as a master worker.” (Proverbs 8:22, 30, 31; Colossians 1:15-17) So Jesus completely understands the earth’s environment. He knows how to use and control all the elements of nature.

13, 14. Give an example of how Christ can control the forces of nature.

¹³ When Jesus was on earth, he showed that he had God’s power by controlling the forces of nature. Think, for example, of how Jesus controlled a windstorm. (Read Mark 4:37-39.) One Bible scholar explains that the Greek word for “windstorm” in the book of Mark is used to describe a violent storm or hurricane. It refers to a storm that comes with black clouds, strong gusts of wind, thunder, and floods of rain. When it is over, everything is a mess. The apostle Matthew describes this windstorm as “a great storm.”​—Matthew 8:24.

¹⁴ Imagine the situation: The waves were hitting against the boat, throwing water into it again and again. Despite the noise of the storm and the boat being tossed around, Jesus was asleep because he was exhausted. But the disciples were afraid, so they woke Jesus up and said: “We are about to perish!” (Matthew 8:25) How did Jesus respond? He got up and told the wind and the sea: “Hush! Be quiet!” (Mark 4:39) The terrible storm ended, and “a great calm set in.” What an amazing example of Jesus’ power to control the forces of nature!

15. How has Jehovah proved that he can control the forces of nature?

¹⁵ Christ’s power comes from Jehovah, so we know that Almighty God can control the forces of nature. For example, before the Flood, Jehovah said: “In just seven days, I will make it rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.” (Genesis 7:4) Also, at Exodus 14:21, we read: “Jehovah drove the sea back with a strong east wind.” And we read at Jonah 1:4: “Jehovah hurled a strong wind at the sea, and there was such a violent storm on the sea that the ship was about to be wrecked.” It is very good to know that in the new world, Jehovah will always control the elements.

16. Why is it comforting to know that Jehovah and Jesus have the power to control the forces of nature?

¹⁶ It is comforting to know that Jehovah and Jesus have the power to control the forces of nature. During the Thousand Year Rule of Christ, everyone living on the earth will be safe. No one will be injured or killed by natural disasters such as typhoons, tsunamis, volcanoes, or earthquakes. We will not be terrified of any disasters because “the tent of God” will be with mankind! (Revelation 21:3, 4) We can be confident that Jehovah will give Jesus the power to control the forces of nature during his Thousand Year Rule.

IMITATE GOD AND CHRIST NOW

17. What is one way that we can imitate God and Christ now?

¹⁷ Of course, we cannot prevent natural disasters. Only Jehovah and Jesus can do that. But there is something that we can do. We can apply Proverbs 3:27. (Read.) When our brothers suffer, we can help care for their physical and emotional needs, and we can comfort them. (Proverbs 17:17) For example, we may help them after a natural disaster. One widow whose home was damaged after a hurricane said: “I am so deeply grateful to be in Jehovah’s organization, not only for the physical help but also for the spiritual help.” Another single sister felt hopeless when a storm damaged her home. After the brothers helped her repair it, she said: “It is indescribable! I am unable to express totally how I feel.” She added: “Thank you, Jehovah!” We are grateful that our brothers and sisters truly care about the needs of others. Even more than that, we are grateful that Jehovah and Jesus Christ really care for us.

18. What impresses you about the reason why Jesus performed miracles?

¹⁸ During his ministry, Jesus proved that he is “the power of God.” But he never used his power to impress others or to benefit himself. Instead, Jesus used his power to perform miracles because he truly loved people. We will learn more about that in the next article.

1, 2. How has Jesus proved his deep love for mankind?

GOD’S firstborn Son is the greatest example of Jehovah’s incredible wisdom and was his Father’s “master worker.” Imagine how happy and satisfied Jesus was as his Father “prepared the heavens” and “established the foundations of the earth.” But of all the things his Father created, Jesus “was especially fond of the sons of men.” (Proverbs 8:22-31) Yes, he loved humans from the very beginning.

² Later, Jesus proved his loyalty and love for his Father and his deep love for all people when he willingly left heaven and came to earth as a human. Jesus lovingly did this so that he could give his life as “a ransom in exchange for many.” (Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:5-8) While Jesus was on earth, God gave him the power to perform miracles. These miracles reveal how much Jesus loves people and show what wonderful things he will do for mankind very soon.

3. What will we consider in this article?

³ While on earth, Jesus preached “the good news of the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 4:43) He knew that this Kingdom would sanctify his Father’s name and that it would solve mankind’s problems forever. As Jesus preached, he performed many miracles. These miracles revealed his great concern for all people. Why is that important for us? Because what he did gives us hope and confidence for the future. So let us consider four of Jesus’ miracles.

“POWER WAS WITH HIM TO DO HEALING”

4. What happened when Jesus met a man with leprosy?

⁴ During his ministry, Jesus went to the area called Galilee. In one of the cities there, he met a man with a terrible disease, leprosy. (Mark 1:39, 40) The man was so sick that Luke, who was a doctor, described him as being “full of leprosy.” (Luke 5:12) The Bible says that when the sick man saw Jesus, he “fell facedown and begged him: ‘Lord, if you just want to, you can make me clean.’” The man knew that Jesus had the power to heal him, but he needed to know whether Jesus wanted to heal him. Why? Because the man was used to the Pharisees, who looked down on people with leprosy. But what was Jesus thinking? How would he treat this man who was probably very deformed? What would you have done?

5. Why did Jesus want to heal the leper?

⁵ Apparently, the sick man did not shout “Unclean, unclean!” as the Mosaic Law required. (Leviticus 13:43-46) But Jesus did not get angry. Instead, he was concerned about the man and wanted to help him. We do not know exactly what Jesus was thinking, but we do know how he felt. He felt so bad for the man that he performed a miracle. He touched the man, something that no one else would do. With confidence and compassion, Jesus said: “I want to! Be made clean.” Then “the leprosy vanished from him.” (Luke 5:13) Clearly, Jehovah gave Jesus the power to perform this great miracle and to show how much he loved people.​—Luke 5:17.

6. What is interesting about the miracles Jesus performed, and what do they show?

⁶ With God’s power, Jesus was able to perform many amazing miracles. He cured more than just lepers. Jesus also healed people with many other kinds of diseases. The Bible tells us that people were amazed when “they saw the speechless speaking and the maimed being made sound and the lame walking and the blind seeing.” (Matthew 15:31) When Jesus healed someone, he did not need a healthy person to donate his or her organs. No, Jesus had the power to heal sick parts of the body. And he healed people instantly, sometimes even those who were far away from him. (John 4:46-54) What do these amazing examples show? That our King, Jesus Christ, has the power and the desire to remove all sickness forever. When we learn about how Jesus treated people, it gives us confidence that in the new world, “he will have pity on the lowly and the poor.” (Psalm 72:13) Because he really wants to, Jesus will heal all who are suffering.

“GET UP! PICK UP YOUR MAT AND WALK”

7, 8. Describe what happened before Jesus met a sick man at Bethzatha.

⁷ A few months after healing the leper, Jesus traveled from Galilee to Judea where he continued to preach the good news about God’s Kingdom. There must have been thousands of people who heard Jesus’ message and who were touched by his love for them. Jesus really wanted to comfort the poor and the oppressed and to give these people hope.​—Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18-21.

⁸ In the month of Nisan, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The city was busy as people arrived for the special festival. Just north of the temple was a pool known as Bethzatha, and there Jesus met a man who was unable to walk.

9, 10. (a) Why did people go to the pool of Bethzatha? (b) What did Jesus do at the pool, and what does this teach us? (See opening picture.)

⁹ Crowds of sick people would go to Bethzatha. Why? Because they thought that a sick person could miraculously be cured if he went into the pool when the water was moving. Imagine how much confusion there must have been with so many desperate, anxious, and hopeless people who wanted to be cured. Jesus was perfect and certainly did not need a cure, so why was he there? His love for people made him go there. And this is where he met a man who had been sick longer than Jesus had been living on earth.​—Read John 5:5-9.

¹⁰ Jesus asked the man if he wanted to walk again. Imagine the man’s sadness when he told Jesus that he wanted to be healed but could not, because there was no one to help him get into the pool. Jesus then told the man to do the impossible. He told him to pick up his mat and walk. So the man picked up his mat and began to walk! This miracle is wonderful proof of what Jesus will do in the new world. It also shows Jesus’ deep love for people. He searched for those who needed help. Jesus’ example should encourage us to continue looking for people in our territory who are depressed because of the terrible things happening in this world.

“WHO TOUCHED MY OUTER GARMENTS?”

11. How does Mark 5:25-34 show that Jesus had love for sick people?

¹¹ Read Mark 5:25-34. For 12 years, one woman had suffered from an embarrassing illness. Her sickness had affected every part of her life, including her worship. She had visited many doctors and had spent all her money trying to find a cure, but she only got worse. One day, the woman had a different plan to get well, so she walked through a crowd of people and touched Jesus’ clothing. (Leviticus 15:19, 25) When Jesus realized that power had gone out of him, he asked who had touched him. “Frightened and trembling,” the woman “fell down before him and told him the whole truth.” Jesus knew that Jehovah had healed the woman, so he kindly said: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed from your grievous sickness.”

12. (a) From what we have learned, how would you describe Jesus? (b) What example did Jesus set for us?

¹² It really warms our heart to see how loving Jesus was with people, especially those who were sick. This is very different from Satan, who tries to convince us that we are worthless and that no one loves us. Jesus’ miracles, however, proved that he truly cares about us and our problems. We can be thankful that we have such a loving King and High Priest! (Hebrews 4:15) It may be difficult for us to understand the feelings of someone who has been sick for a long time, especially if we are not sick. But think of Jesus. He had compassion for sick people even though he had never been sick. May we do our best to imitate his loving example.​—1 Peter 3:8.

“JESUS GAVE WAY TO TEARS”

13. What does the resurrection of Lazarus reveal about Jesus?

¹³ Jesus was deeply moved by the pain of others. For example, when his friend Lazarus died, Jesus “groaned” and “became troubled” as he saw the pain of Lazarus’ family and friends. (Read John 11:33-36.) Even though he knew that he would resurrect Lazarus, Jesus cried. He was not afraid to let others see his feelings. Jesus loved Lazarus and his family so much that he used God’s power to bring Lazarus back to life!​—John 11:43, 44.

14, 15. (a) What shows that Jehovah wants to remove mankind’s suffering? (b) What do we learn from the expression “memorial tombs”?

¹⁴ The Bible describes Jesus as being exactly like his Father, Jehovah. (Hebrews 1:3) So Jesus’ miracles prove that Jehovah also wants to remove sickness, pain, and death. Soon, Jehovah and Jesus will bring many more people back to life. Jesus said that “the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs” will be resurrected.​—John 5:28, 29.

¹⁵ Jesus used the expression “memorial tombs,” which shows that God’s memory is involved. Almighty God, the Creator of the entire universe, can remember every detail of our dead loved ones, including their personality. (Isaiah 40:26) Not only can Jehovah remember them but he wants to remember them. The resurrections mentioned in the Bible are wonderful examples of what will happen in the new world.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS’ MIRACLES

16. What opportunity will many of God’s servants have?

¹⁶ If we remain faithful, we may have the opportunity to experience one of the greatest miracles ever, surviving the great tribulation! Soon after Armageddon, we will see many more miracles. At that time, every human will gain perfect health. (Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6; Revelation 21:4) Imagine watching people getting rid of their eyeglasses, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and hearing aids. Jehovah knows that all who survive Armageddon will need to become strong and healthy, because they will have plenty of work to do. They are the ones who will turn our beautiful planet, Earth, into a global paradise.​—Psalm 115:16.

17, 18. (a) Why did Jesus perform miracles? (b) Why should you do whatever is needed to be in God’s new world?

¹⁷ The “great crowd” today are encouraged when they read about how Jesus healed the sick. (Revelation 7:9) Those miracles strengthen our wonderful hope of being completely healed in the future. They also show how much God’s firstborn Son loves mankind. (John 10:11; 15:12, 13) Jesus’ great compassion is a demonstration of Jehovah’s deep love for each one of his servants.​—John 5:19.

¹⁸ The world today is full of pain, suffering, and death. (Romans 8:22) That is why we need God’s new world. There, all humans will have the perfect health that God has promised. Malachi 4:2 gives us hope that we will “skip about like fattened calves,” happy and excited because we have been healed and freed from imperfection. May our appreciation for Jehovah and our faith in his promises motivate us to do whatever is needed to be in the new world. How encouraging it is to know that the miracles Jesus performed were examples of the permanent relief that mankind will soon enjoy during his rule!

1. What do many people think is normal?

WE LIVE in a very immoral world. For example, many people think that it is normal to be a homosexual or to have sex with someone they are not married to. Movies, books, songs, and advertisements are full of sexual immorality. (Psalm 12:8) But Jehovah can help us to live in a way that pleases him. We can be chaste, or pure, in a world that is very immoral.​—Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.

2, 3. (a) Why must we reject wrong desires? (b) What will we discuss in this article?

² To please Jehovah, we must reject everything that he hates. But because we are imperfect, we may be attracted to immorality, like fish attracted to bait. If we start having immoral thoughts, we must immediately reject them. If we do not, the immoral desire will become so strong that when we have the opportunity to sin, we may do so. It is just as the Bible says: “The desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin.”​—Read James 1:14, 15.

³ A wrong desire can grow inside our heart. That is why we should be very careful about what we start to desire. If we reject wrong desires, we will avoid sexual immorality and its bad results. (Galatians 5:16) In this article, we will discuss three things that will help us to fight wrong desires: our friendship with Jehovah, the counsel from his Word, and the help from mature Christians.

“DRAW CLOSE TO GOD”

4. Why is it important for us to draw close to Jehovah?

⁴ The Bible tells those who want to “draw close to God”: “Cleanse your hands” and “purify your hearts.” (James 4:8) When Jehovah is our best Friend, we not only want our actions to please him but we also want our thoughts to please him. If our thoughts are chaste and pure, then our heart will also be pure. (Psalm 24:3, 4; 51:6; Philippians 4:8) Jehovah understands that we are imperfect and that we may start thinking about immoral things. But because we do not want to sadden Jehovah, we do all we can to reject wrong thoughts. (Genesis 6:5, 6) We do everything we can to keep our thoughts chaste.

5, 6. How can prayer help us fight immoral desires?

⁵ Jehovah will help us fight immoral thoughts when we keep praying for his help. He gives us his holy spirit so that we have the strength to remain chaste. In our prayers, we can tell Jehovah that we want our thoughts to please him. (Psalm 19:14) We humbly ask him to see if there are any harmful desires in our heart that could make us sin. (Psalm 139:23, 24) Keep asking Jehovah to help you to reject immorality and to do what is right even when it is difficult.​—Matthew 6:13.

⁶ Before learning about Jehovah, we may have liked doing things that he does not approve of, and we may still be fighting these wrong desires. But Jehovah can help us change and do what pleases him. For example, after King David had sexual relations with Bath-sheba, he repented and begged Jehovah to give him “a pure heart” and to help him be obedient. (Psalm 51:10, 12) So if we had strong immoral desires in the past and are still fighting them, Jehovah can help us to have an even stronger desire to obey him and to do what is right. He can help us to control our imperfect thoughts.​—Psalm 119:133.

“BECOME DOERS OF THE WORD”

7. How can God’s Word help us to reject immoral thoughts?

⁷ Jehovah can answer our prayers for help by means of his Word, the Bible. In it, we find God’s wisdom, which is pure. (James 3:17) When we read the Bible daily, we fill our mind with pure thoughts. (Psalm 19:7, 11; 119:9, 11) Also in the Bible, there are examples and warnings that help us to reject immoral thoughts and desires.

8, 9. (a) Why did one young man have sexual relations with an immoral woman? (b) What situations can the example in Proverbs chapter 7 help us avoid?

⁸ At Proverbs 5:8, God’s Word warns us to stay away from immorality. In Proverbs chapter 7, we read the story of a young man who went for a walk at night near the house of an immoral woman. The woman was on the street corner, “dressed like a prostitute.” She walked up to him, grabbed him, kissed him, and said things that created wrong desires in him. He did not reject those desires, and as a result, he had sexual relations with her. Even though he did not plan to sin, he did. Then he had to live with the terrible results. If he had understood the danger, he would have stayed far away from her!​—Proverbs 7:6-27.

⁹ Like that young man, we could make poor decisions because we do not understand the danger. For example, at night, some television channels show immoral programs, so it could be dangerous to keep changing the channels just to see what is on TV. It could also be dangerous to click on Internet links without knowing where they lead to, as well as to visit chat rooms or Web sites that include immoral advertisements and links to pornography. In these situations, what we look at can make us have immoral desires, and this can lead us to disobey Jehovah.

10. Why is flirting dangerous? (See opening picture.)

¹⁰ The Bible also tells us how men and women should treat one another. (Read 1 Timothy 5:2.) Christians give romantic attention to only their marriage mate or to someone they want to marry. They do not flirt. Some may think that behaving in a romantic way with someone, such as with their body movements, gestures, or glances, is harmless as long as they are not touching. But when two people flirt with each other, they can start having immoral thoughts, and this can lead to sexual immorality. It has happened before, and it can happen again.

11. What lesson do we learn from Joseph?

¹¹ Joseph is a good example for us. Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt Joseph to have sex with her. He rejected her, but she did not stop trying to tempt him. Every day she asked Joseph “to remain with her.” (Genesis 39:7, 8, 10) One Bible scholar explained that Potiphar’s wife hoped that if they were alone, Joseph would desire her. Joseph was determined never to respond to her flirting, and he did not flirt with her. Thus, he did not let wrong desires grow in his heart. And when she grabbed Joseph’s garment and tried to force him to have sexual relations with her, he immediately “left his garment in her hand and fled outside.”​—Genesis 39:12.

12. How do we know that what we look at can affect our heart?

¹² Jesus warned that what we look at can affect our heart and create wrong sexual desires. He said: “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.” (Matthew 5:28) This is what happened to King David. “From the rooftop he saw a woman bathing,” but he did not stop looking at her and thinking about her. (2 Samuel 11:2) Even though she was another man’s wife, he started to desire her and had sexual relations with her.

13. Why do we need to make “a covenant” with our eyes, and how do we do that?

¹³ If we want to reject immoral thoughts, we need to follow Job’s example. He said: “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” (Job 31:1, 7, 9) Like Job, we can decide never to think in an immoral way about someone we look at. And if we see a sexual picture on a computer screen, an advertising sign, a magazine, or anywhere else, we will immediately look away.

14. What must we do to remain chaste?

¹⁴ When you think about what we have discussed, you may realize that you need to do more to fight against immoral desires. If you need to make changes, make them immediately! When you obey what Jehovah says, you can avoid sexual immorality and remain chaste.​—Read James 1:21-25.

“CALL THE ELDERS”

15. If we are finding it hard to fight wrong desires, why is it important to ask for help?

¹⁵ If you find it hard to fight wrong desires, talk to someone in the congregation who has been serving Jehovah for a long time and who can give you good advice from God’s Word. It may not be easy for you to talk about your personal problems with others, but it is important to ask for help. (Proverbs 18:1; Hebrews 3:12, 13) Mature Christians can help you to realize what changes you need to make. Then make those changes so that you can keep Jehovah as your Friend.

16, 17. (a) How can the elders help those who find it hard to fight immoral desires? Give an example. (b) Why is it important for those who view pornography to ask for help immediately?

¹⁶ The elders in our congregation are especially qualified to help us. (Read James 5:13-15.) For many years, a young man in Brazil found it hard to fight wrong desires. He says: “I knew that my thoughts displeased Jehovah, but I was too ashamed to share with others what I was feeling.” An elder realized that the young man needed help and encouraged him to let the elders help him. The young man says: “I was surprised at how kind the elders were to me, much kinder and more understanding than I felt I deserved. They listened carefully to my problems. They used the Bible to reaffirm Jehovah’s love for me, and they prayed with me. That made it easier for me to accept the Bible’s counsel that they provided.” After strengthening his relationship with Jehovah, he says: “I realize now how important it is to seek help instead of trying to carry our burdens alone.”

¹⁷ If you have the habit of viewing pornography, you should ask for help immediately. The longer you wait to ask for help, the greater the danger that you will commit sexual immorality. Then you will hurt others and may cause people to speak badly about Jehovah. Many have asked the elders for help and have accepted their counsel in order to please Jehovah and remain in the Christian congregation.​—Psalm 141:5; Hebrews 12:5, 6; James 1:15.

BE DETERMINED TO REMAIN CHASTE!

18. What are you determined to do?

¹⁸ Satan’s world is getting more and more immoral. But Jehovah’s servants work hard to keep their thoughts pure and to be chaste. Jehovah is very proud of these Christians. Let us stay close to Jehovah and follow the counsel we get from his Word and the Christian congregation. When we do this, we will be happy and have a clean conscience. (Psalm 119:5, 6) And in the future, after Satan is removed, we will live forever in God’s clean new world.

WHEN Anita became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, her husband was extremely upset.a (See footnote.) He tried to stop her from going to meetings and ordered her never to say God’s name. Just hearing her say the name Jehovah would make him very angry.

In addition, Anita’s husband did not want her to teach their children about Jehovah or take them to meetings. This was very difficult for her because she had to try to help their children without him knowing about it.

As Anita’s experience shows, someone in your family might try to stop you from serving Jehovah. Or you might have another difficult situation. Perhaps you have been sick for a long time. Maybe your child, husband, or wife has died. Or perhaps a family member whom you love has left Jehovah. In these situations, what can you do to stay faithful to Jehovah?

The apostle Paul said: “You need endurance.” (Hebrews 10:36) So, what can help you to endure?

PRAY TO JEHOVAH FOR HELP

When you are suffering, remember that you need to rely on Jehovah to help you endure. Pray to him for help. That is what Ana did when her husband died suddenly. They had been married for 30 years. Ana says: “He never returned home from work. He was only 52 years old.”

Ana’s job kept her busy, but it did not take away her pain. What did she do? She says: “I poured out my heart to Jehovah and begged him to help me.” She knows that Jehovah helped her because after she would pray, she felt peaceful and calm. And she says: “I have no doubt that Jehovah will bring my husband back in the resurrection.”​—Philippians 4:6, 7.

Jehovah promises his servants that he will hear their prayers. (Psalm 65:2) And he will give them everything they need to continue serving him. Jehovah will help you to be faithful to him even in difficult situations.

STAY CLOSE TO YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

There is another way Jehovah helps us to endure. He has given us our brothers and sisters in the congregation. We can learn from the way the brothers in Thessalonica helped one another when they were being cruelly persecuted. During that time, they especially needed to keep encouraging one another. (1 Thessalonians 2:14; 5:11) They helped their brothers and sisters to keep faithful to Jehovah by meeting together and being close friends. What can we do to stay faithful like those in Thessalonica?

We need to make close friends in the congregation and encourage one another, especially during difficult times. (Romans 14:19) The apostle Paul suffered because of persecution and other problems, but Jehovah gave him the strength to endure. For example, Jehovah provided brothers and sisters to encourage Paul. The apostle said about his friends: “They have become a source of great comfort to me.” (Colossians 4:10, 11) These brothers loved Paul. So when he needed help, they comforted and encouraged him. Perhaps you can think of times when brothers and sisters in your congregation said or did something that encouraged you.

ASK THE ELDERS TO HELP YOU

Jehovah has also given you the elders in the congregation. These men can encourage you and give you good advice from the Bible. They are “like a hiding place from the wind, a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless land, like the shadow of a massive crag in a parched land.” (Isaiah 32:2) It comforts us to know that these brothers are ready to help us. So when times are difficult, go to the elders. They can help you to keep serving Jehovah.

Of course, the elders cannot solve all of your problems. And they are imperfect like you. (Acts 14:15) But you can feel better when you go to an elder and he prays to Jehovah about your problem. (James 5:14, 15) For example, the elders encouraged a brother in Italy who has been suffering for many years with a serious health problem. In fact, he said: “The brothers’ love and affection along with their frequent visits have helped me to endure.” If you are suffering, Jehovah wants you to ask the elders to help you.

FOCUS ON SERVING JEHOVAH

When we focus on serving Jehovah, we will see how Jehovah helps us. That is what John did. When he was 39 years old, he found out that he had a rare cancer. He felt that it was unfair that he was so sick, especially since he was so young. And he worried about his wife and their son, who was only three years old. He says: “My wife not only had to look after our young child but also had to care for me, as well as help me with all my medical appointments.” Because of the medical treatments, he felt very tired and had stomach problems. And that was not all. John found out that his father was dying and needed someone to take care of him.

What helped John and his family during that difficult time? Even though John often felt tired, he made sure that his family kept focused on serving Jehovah. He says: “We attended all the meetings, had a weekly share in the ministry, and had regular family worship even when it was difficult.” John learned how important it was to keep his relationship with Jehovah strong. Although at first he was shocked and worried, he soon felt much calmer. He knew that Jehovah loved him and gave him the strength he needed. Jehovah can help you in the same way when you are worried or afraid. John says: “Jehovah can make you strong, just as he has me.”

When you are suffering, remember Paul’s words: “You need endurance.” Rely on Jehovah by praying to him. Stay close to your brothers in the congregation, ask the elders for help, and keep focused on your worship to Jehovah. He will help you with any problem you might have now or with whatever difficulty might come in the future.

1. When we are preaching, how might we use Jesus’ prayer found at Matthew 6:9-13?

MANY people know the words of the prayer found at Matthew 6:9-13. When we preach, we use the words of this prayer to teach people that the Kingdom is a real government from God that will change the earth into a paradise. We also use the words “let your name be sanctified” to show that God has a name and that we must treat it as holy.​—Matthew 6:9, footnote.

2. How do we know that Jesus did not want us to repeat the same words every time we pray?

² Did Jesus want us to repeat the words he used every time we pray, as many do? No. Jesus had said: “When praying, do not say the same things over and over again.” (Matthew 6:7) Another time, when he was teaching his disciples how to pray, he repeated the prayer but did not use exactly the same words. (Luke 11:1-4) So Jesus was giving us a model prayer to teach us what kinds of things we need to pray for.

3. What questions could you ask yourself as you study the model prayer?

³ In this article and the next, we will carefully study the model prayer. As we do this, ask yourself, ‘How can this prayer help me to say better prayers?’ And more important, ‘Am I living in harmony with the model prayer?’

“OUR FATHER IN THE HEAVENS”

4. What do the words “our Father” remind us of, and how is Jehovah our Father?

⁴ Jesus started the prayer by saying, “Our Father.” This reminds us that Jehovah is a Father to all our brothers and sisters worldwide. (1 Peter 2:17) Those who are chosen by Jehovah to live in heaven have been adopted as his sons, so he is their Father in a special way. (Romans 8:15-17) Those who will live forever on earth can also call him “Father.” Jehovah gives them life and lovingly provides for their needs. They will be called “children of God” after they have become perfect and have remained loyal to Jehovah in the final test.​—Romans 8:21; Revelation 20:7, 8.

5, 6. What is the best gift parents can give to their children, and what should each child do with this gift? (See opening picture.)

⁵ Parents give their children a gift when they help them to understand that Jehovah is their heavenly Father and when they teach them to pray to him. A circuit overseer in South Africa says: “From the day our daughters were born, I would pray with them every night unless I was away from home. Our daughters often say that they do not remember the exact words of those nightly prayers. However, they recall the atmosphere, the sacredness of communicating with our Father, Jehovah, and the feeling of calm and security. As soon as they were able to, I encouraged them to pray out loud so that I could hear them express their thoughts and feelings to Jehovah. This was a wonderful opportunity to get a glimpse into their hearts. Then I could gently coach them to include important elements of the model prayer in order to give their prayers a meaningful foundation.”

⁶ His daughters continued to draw close to Jehovah even when they grew up. They are now married and are serving Jehovah full-time with their husbands. The best gift that parents can give their children is to teach them that Jehovah is a real Person and that they can be his close friend. But each child needs to keep this close friendship with Jehovah.​—Psalm 5:11, 12; 91:14.

“LET YOUR NAME BE SANCTIFIED”

7. What honor do we have, but what must we do?

⁷ We have the honor of knowing God’s name and of being “a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14; Isaiah 43:10) We pray, “Let your name be sanctified,” that is, for it to be made holy. We also ask Jehovah to help us not to do or say anything that might dishonor him. We should not be like some in the first century who did not do what they taught others to do. Paul wrote to them: “The name of God is being blasphemed among the nations because of you.”​—Romans 2:21-24.

8, 9. Give an example of how Jehovah helps those who want to sanctify his name.

⁸ We do everything we can to honor Jehovah’s name. A sister in Norway who was left alone with a two-year-old son after her husband died says: “It was a very difficult time in my life. I prayed every day, nearly every hour, for strength to keep my emotional balance so that I would not give Satan reason to taunt Jehovah because of any unwise decision or unfaithfulness on my part. I wanted to sanctify Jehovah’s name, and I wanted my son to see his father again in Paradise.”​—Proverbs 27:11.

⁹ Did Jehovah answer her prayers? Yes. By regularly being with the brothers and sisters, she was encouraged. Five years later, she married an elder. Her son, who is now 20 years old, is a baptized brother. She says: “I am so happy that my husband helped me to raise him.”

10. How will God sanctify his name completely?

¹⁰ Jehovah will sanctify his name completely when he removes all those who dishonor him and reject him as their Ruler. (Read Ezekiel 38:22, 23.) At that time, humans will become perfect, and everyone in heaven and on earth will worship Jehovah and honor his holy name. At last, our loving Father will “be all things to everyone.”​—1 Corinthians 15:28.

“LET YOUR KINGDOM COME”

11, 12. In 1876, what did Jehovah help his people to understand?

¹¹ Before Jesus returned to heaven, his disciples asked: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” Jesus answered that it was not yet time for them to know when God’s Kingdom would begin to rule. He told his disciples to focus on the important preaching work. (Read Acts 1:6-8.) But he also taught them to pray for God’s Kingdom to come and to look forward to that time. That is why we still pray for the Kingdom to come.

¹² When the time was near for Jesus to start ruling in heaven, Jehovah helped his people understand in what year that would happen. In 1876, Charles Taze Russell wrote the article “Gentile Times: When Do They End?” He explained that the “seven times” in Daniel’s prophecy are the same as “the appointed times of the nations” in Jesus’ prophecy. The article explained that those times would end in 1914.a (See footnote.)​—Daniel 4:16; Luke 21:24.

13. What happened in 1914, and what do world events since 1914 prove?

¹³ In 1914, war began in Europe and very soon it spread to the whole world. Because of the war, there were terrible famines. And by the end of the war, in 1918, a deadly flu killed more people around the world than the war itself. All these things were part of “the sign” that Jesus gave. The sign proved that Jesus became King in heaven in 1914. (Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:10, 11) In that year, he “went out conquering and to complete his conquest.” (Revelation 6:2) Jesus threw Satan and his demons out of heaven and down to the earth. After that, the prophecy began to be fulfilled: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.”​—Revelation 12:7-12.

14. (a) Why do we still pray for God’s Kingdom to come? (b) What important work must we do now?

¹⁴ That prophecy in Revelation chapter 12 helps us to understand why terrible things started to happen on earth about the time that Jesus became King of God’s Kingdom. Even though Jesus is ruling in heaven, Satan is still ruling the earth. But soon Jesus will “complete his conquest” by removing all wickedness from the earth. Until then, we keep praying for God’s Kingdom to come, and we keep busy preaching about that Kingdom. Our work fulfills Jesus’ prophecy: “This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”​—Matthew 24:14.

“LET YOUR WILL TAKE PLACE . . . ON EARTH”

15, 16. Is it enough to pray for God’s will to be done on earth? Explain.

¹⁵ About 6,000 years ago, God’s will was being done on earth. That is why Jehovah said that everything “was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Then Satan rebelled, and since that time, most people have not done God’s will. But today there are about eight million people serving Jehovah. They pray for God’s will to be done on earth, and they also do God’s will. They live in a way that pleases God and zealously teach others about his Kingdom.

¹⁶ For example, an 80-year-old missionary in Africa, who was baptized in 1948, says: “I often pray that all sheeplike people will be contacted and helped to come to know Jehovah before it is too late. Also, when I am about to witness to someone, I ask for wisdom to reach the person’s heart. And regarding sheeplike ones who have already been found, I pray that Jehovah will bless our efforts to care for them.” This elderly sister has helped many to learn about Jehovah. Can you think of other older ones who are zealously doing Jehovah’s will?​—Read Philippians 2:17.

17. How do you feel about what Jehovah will do in the future for humans and for the earth?

¹⁷ Until Jehovah removes his enemies from the earth, we will keep praying for his will to be done. Then the earth will be made into a paradise, and billions of people will be resurrected. Jesus said that “the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28, 29) Imagine how happy we will be when we welcome back our loved ones! God “will wipe out every tear” from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4) Most of those who will be resurrected will be “the unrighteous,” those who had never learned the truth about Jehovah and Jesus. We will enjoy teaching them about God’s will so that they can have “everlasting life.”​—Acts 24:15; John 17:3.

18. What does mankind need the most?

¹⁸ When God’s Kingdom comes, it will sanctify his name, and everyone in the universe will unitedly worship Jehovah. Yes, God will give mankind the things they need the most when he answers the first three requests of the model prayer. In the next article, we will discuss what other important needs Jesus taught us to pray for.

1-3. Why did one sister feel sure that Jehovah knew what she needed?

LANA, a regular pioneer, will never forget what happened when she was visiting Germany in 2012. She feels that Jehovah answered two of her prayers. While she was on a train going to the airport, she asked Jehovah to help her find someone to preach to. When she arrived at the airport, she found out that her flight was delayed until the next day. Lana asked Jehovah for help because she had used most of her money and she needed somewhere to stay that night.

² As soon as Lana finished her prayer, she heard someone say, “Hello, Lana, what are you doing here?” It was a young man whom she had gone to school with. He was with his mother and grandmother, who were saying good-bye to him because he was leaving for South Africa. When Lana told them about her situation, the mother and grandmother invited Lana to stay at their house. They asked many questions about her beliefs and her work as a pioneer.

³ The next morning after breakfast, Lana answered more of their questions about the Bible. Lana asked them for their contact information so that someone could continue to answer their questions. Lana returned home safely, and she is still pioneering. She feels that Jehovah heard her prayers, knew what she needed, and helped her.​—Psalm 65:2.

4. What needs will we discuss?

⁴ When we suddenly have a problem, it is easy to pray for Jehovah’s help, and he is happy to hear our prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8) But Jesus’ model prayer teaches us that there are more important needs that we must pray for. In this article, we will discuss how the last four requests of the model prayer can help us to be loyal to Jehovah.​—Read Matthew 6:11-13.

“GIVE US TODAY OUR BREAD FOR THIS DAY”

5, 6. Why did Jesus teach us to ask for “our bread” even if we have plenty of food?

⁵ Jesus taught us to ask for “our bread,” not just “my bread.” Victor, a circuit overseer in Africa, explains: “I often sincerely thank Jehovah that my wife and I don’t have to be seriously concerned about where our next meal will come from, nor do we have to worry about who will pay the rent. Our brothers kindly look after us every day. But I do pray that those helping us will manage to handle the economic pressures they face.”

⁶ We may have plenty of food, but many of our brothers are poor. Also, some have been affected by disasters. Not only can we pray for them but we can do something to help them. For example, we can share what we have with them. We can also regularly contribute to the worldwide work of Jehovah’s people. We know that our contributions help our brothers in need.​—1 John 3:17.

7. How did Jesus teach that we should “never be anxious about the next day”?

⁷ After Jesus taught the model prayer, he taught us not to focus on material things. He said that if Jehovah takes care of wildflowers, “will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? So never be anxious and say, . . . ‘What are we to wear?’” Then, he repeated: “Never be anxious about the next day.” (Matthew 6:30-34) We do not need to worry about our future needs. Instead, we should be content with our basic needs for each day. For example, we can pray for a place to live, a job to take care of our family, and wisdom to make good decisions about our health. But there is something even more important that we need to pray for.

8. What do Jesus’ words about our daily bread remind us of? (See opening picture.)

⁸ Jesus’ words about our daily bread remind us of something else that he said: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matthew 4:4) So we should pray that Jehovah will keep teaching us and will give us what we need to stay close to him.

“FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS”

9. Why are our sins like debts?

⁹ Jesus said: “Forgive us our debts.” On another occasion, he said: “Forgive us our sins.” (Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4) He said this because our sins are like debts. In 1951, The Watchtower explained that when we sin, it is as if we are in debt to Jehovah. We owe Jehovah our love and obedience. So when we sin against God, we are not giving him what we owe him. The Watchtower said that if he wanted to, Jehovah could break his friendship with us. It added: “Sin is unloving toward God.”​—1 John 5:3.

10. Why can Jehovah forgive our sins, and how should we feel about that?

¹⁰ How grateful we are that Jehovah provided Jesus’ ransom sacrifice to forgive our sins! We need Jehovah’s forgiveness every day. Jesus died for us almost 2,000 years ago, yet we benefit from the ransom today. We should always thank Jehovah for this precious gift. None of us could ever have paid the ransom that was needed to free us from sin and death. (Read Psalm 49:7-9; 1 Peter 1:18, 19.) The words in the model prayer “forgive us our sins” remind us that just as we need the ransom, our brothers and sisters do too. Jehovah wants us also to think of them and their relationship with him. This includes quickly forgiving them when they sin against us. Usually these are only small mistakes, but when we forgive our brothers, we prove that we love them. We also prove that we are grateful that Jehovah forgives us.​—Colossians 3:13.

11. Why is it important to forgive others?

¹¹ Because we are imperfect, sometimes it may be difficult to forgive those who offend us. (Leviticus 19:18) If we start talking about what they have done to us, others in the congregation may get involved, and this would affect the unity of the congregation. If we allow this to continue, it would show that we do not value God’s gift of the ransom, and we would not receive its benefits. (Matthew 18:35) When we do not forgive others, Jehovah cannot forgive us. (Read Matthew 6:14, 15.) Also, if we want Jehovah to forgive us, we must not keep doing anything that he hates.​—1 John 3:4, 6.

“DO NOT BRING US INTO TEMPTATION”

12, 13. (a) What happened to Jesus after he was baptized? (b) Why should we not blame others if we give in to temptation? (c) What did Jesus prove by remaining faithful until death?

¹² The words of the model prayer “do not bring us into temptation” remind us of what happened to Jesus shortly after he was baptized. God’s spirit led him into the wilderness “to be tempted by the Devil.” (Matthew 4:1; 6:13) Why did Jehovah allow this to happen? Jehovah sent Jesus to earth to settle an issue that arose when Adam and Eve rejected Jehovah’s rule. Their rebellion raised questions that needed time to be answered. For example, was there something wrong with the way Jehovah created humans? Could a perfect human stay loyal to Jehovah when tempted by “the wicked one”? And would it be better for humans if they ruled themselves? (Genesis 3:4, 5) In the future, when all these questions have been answered to Jehovah’s satisfaction, everyone in heaven and on earth will know that Jehovah’s way of ruling is best.

¹³ Jehovah is holy, so he never tempts anyone with evil things. It is Satan who is “the Tempter.” (Matthew 4:3) Satan tries to tempt us in many ways. But we have a choice. Each one of us can decide whether to resist temptation or not. (Read James 1:13-15.) When tempted by Satan, Jesus immediately rejected him by quoting God’s Word. Jesus was loyal to God. However, Satan did not give up. He waited “until another convenient time” to tempt Jesus. (Luke 4:13) But no matter what Satan did, Jesus always obeyed God as his Ruler. He proved that a perfect human can be loyal to Jehovah even in extremely difficult situations. Yet, Satan tries to tempt Jesus’ followers, including you, to disobey Jehovah.

14. What do we need to do to resist temptation?

¹⁴ The questions raised about Jehovah’s rule still need to be answered. So for now, Jehovah allows Satan to tempt us. Jehovah does not “bring us into temptation.” Actually, he is confident that we can stay loyal to him, and he wants to help us. But he never forces us to do what is right. He respects our free will. So he allows us to decide for ourselves whether we will be loyal or not. To avoid giving in to temptation, we need to do two things: stay close to Jehovah and keep praying for his help. How does Jehovah answer our prayers to resist temptation?

15, 16. (a) What are some temptations that we need to resist? (b) Who is to blame if we give in to temptation?

¹⁵ Jehovah gives us his powerful holy spirit to help us fight against Satan’s temptations. Jehovah has also given us the Bible and the congregation to warn us of dangers. For example, he warns us not to use most of our time, money, and energy on things that we do not really need. Espen and Janne live in a wealthy country in Europe. For many years, they were regular pioneers in a part of the country where there was a need for publishers. When they had a baby, they had to stop pioneering, and now they have two children. Espen says: “We often pray to Jehovah that we may not fall into temptation now that we are unable to spend as much time as we previously did in theocratic activities. We ask Jehovah to help us maintain our spirituality and zeal for the ministry.”

¹⁶ Another temptation that we need to resist is looking at pornography. If we give in to this temptation, we cannot blame Satan. Why? Because Satan and his world cannot force us to do anything that is wrong. Some watch pornography because they do not reject wrong thoughts. But many of our brothers and sisters have resisted this temptation, and we can too.​—1 Corinthians 10:12, 13.

“DELIVER US FROM THE WICKED ONE”

17. (a) How can we show that we want Jehovah to “deliver us from the wicked one”? (b) What relief is near?

¹⁷ How can we show that we want Jehovah to “deliver us from the wicked one”? We must be “no part of the world” and must “not love either the world or the things in the world.” (John 15:19; 1 John 2:15-17) What a relief it will be when Jehovah removes Satan and destroys this wicked world! But until then, we need to remember that Satan has “great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.” He will do everything he can to stop us from serving Jehovah. So we must keep praying that Jehovah will protect us from Satan.​—Revelation 12:12, 17.

18. If we want to survive the end of Satan’s world, what must we do?

¹⁸ Do you want to live in a world without Satan? Then keep praying for God’s Kingdom to come, for God’s name to be sanctified, and for his will to be done on earth. Always rely on Jehovah to take care of you and to give you everything you need to stay loyal to him. Yes, do everything you can to live in harmony with the model prayer.