Obok Th. Jaracza przemówienie miał brat McKenzie, który w wykładzie zatytułowanym: "Okazywanie szacunku dla Organizacji Jehowy" wskazał, że Ciało Kierownicze oraz starsi w zborach wykonują wolę Bożą a podejmowane przez nich decyzje pochodzą od Jehowy.
Manuskrypt:
Utrecht 10. April
“Showing Appreciation for Jehovah’s Organisation”
Br. McKenzie
Jehovah organizes his organisation from top to bottom. The top doesn’t tell Jehovah what to do, but Jehovah tells the top what they must do.
1 Corinthians 14:33: ”For God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace.”
So what requirements must the organisation meet to belong to Jehovah? A chaotic organisation does not qualify. When we find Peace, it must be Jehovah’s organisation.
Jehovah organized the heavenly angels into three groups. Let’s review these three groups in the Bible.
Psalms 80:1: ”O Shepherd of Israel, do give ear, You who are conducting Joseph just like a flock. O you who are sitting upon the cherubs, do beam forth.”
Please notice that the shepherd sits upon the cherubs. The cherubs are special servants who are upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty. Why is this also applicable to us here on earth? Because in Jehovah’s organisation we have to reflect this too. Overseers are also upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty. This also means that they have to see to it that persons who aren’t upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty are kept outside the congregation.
By that they are upholding Jehovah’s decisions, just like the cherubs guarded the entrance of the Garden of Eden to the tree of life, so that Adam and Eva couldn’t enter anymore.
Genesis 3:24: ”And so he drove the man out and posted at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning itself continually to guard the way to the tree of life.”
So, if we want to cooperate with Jehovah’s organisation, we’ll have to cooperate with the elders. Let’s consider the next group of angels.
Isaiah 6:2, 3: ”Seraphs were standing above him. Each one had six wings. With two he kept his face covered, and with two he kept his feet covered, and with two he would fly about. And this one called to that one and said: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies. The fullness of all the earth is his glory.”“
Notice the difference between the cherubs and the seraphs. Jehovah sits upon the cherubs, but the seraphs are above Jehovah, so they perform another kind of work. They have to proclaim the holiness of Jehovah.
The organisation and the congregations have to work together. How can we do that? By not allowing uncleanness, immorality and other things which reproach Jehovah’s Name to be part of the congregation.
These things are forbidden! Therefore we must closely cooperate with the elders in the congregation.
1 Corinthians 10:31: ”Therefore, whether YOU are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.”
That’s what we can do to cooperate with Jehovah’s organisation.
There’s one group of angels left. These are the ones that bring messages. This is an important task. Just think about the angel who had to warn Joseph in a dream that Jesus was in danger of being killed because of the king who commanded that all boys of Jesus age were to be killed. It was extremely important that this message was brought one time and correctly (it was about the Son of God). Jesus life depended on it. Did the angel take a vacation first? Or did he went straight away and did exactly what Jehovah had asked him? Of course we know the answer. What should we do then?
Revelation 14:6: ”And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people…
The angel declared everlasting good news! Fear God and give him glory. These scriptures apply to the time of the end. That’s our generation, isn’t it? But, did you hear an angel speaking today with everlasting good news? No! We on earth however do proclaim everlasting good news! So, we’re the ones who are cooperating with that angel and bring this message on earth. What a wonderful privilege. We can cooperate with the angels who are near to Jehovah! So, Jehovah has a heavenly organisation with which we cooperate here on earth.
But Jehovah started his organisation here on earth with a small group of people. For that Jehovah sended Jesus to the earth. But, why Jesus?
When you visit a chic party, who do you go to to make a costume? To a carpenter? Or do you go to a tailor? And we you want a nice cake for your party, who do you go to? To the car mechanic or to a baker? Of course you go to the person who is most competent for the job. Jehovah couldn’t find anyone better to set up his organisation on earth. Jesus taught the first Christians, gave them ministry instructions and taught them how to arrange meetings. Today we follow the same pattern! When Jesus returned to heaven he gave the holy spirit to his disciples to help them non that he wasn’t going to be around anymore. So, although Jesus isn’t around anymore, he rules the congregation.
Acts 1:8: ”But YOU will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon YOU, and YOU will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.”
Jesus still rules the congregation.
Acts 10:45: ”And the faithful ones that had come with Peter who were of those circumcised were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations.”
This wasn’t the idea of Peter, no, they were amazed, they didn’t expected it!
How was Jesus active? He always cited scriptures. The foundation was the Bible. The holy spirit was poured out upon the first apostles and they are the cornerstones of our organisation today.
An example of the fact that Jesus rules the organisation:
Galatians 1:1: ”Paul, an apostle, neither from men nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him up from the dead…”
No human was involved when Paul was appointed, it happened through Jehovah and Jesus. The governing body was formed in a similar way back then. The congregations had to acknowledge the governing body and could pose their questions to them. This was Jehovah’s arrangement, so when the governing body makes a decision, it’s Jehovah’s decision.
Acts 16:4, 5: ”Now as they travelled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem. Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day…”
The decisions that were made by the governing body had Jehovah’s blessing, that was obvious from the growth of the congregation. They increased by number everyday! Today, the governing body does exactly the same!
It’s interesting that Jesus posed a question in regards to the faithful and discreet slave. Who is the faithful and discreet slave (Personal Note: The speaker leaves out the word "really" ! ) Did Jesus ask this because he himself was curious about who this faithful slave would be? No, he asked this so we would think about it! Now also! It’s very important to identify the correct slave. We’ve seen that Jesus arranged the governing body back then. Now also! All members of the governing body will rule with Jesus in heaven. Jesus also entrusted this slave with a duty. He had to provide spiritual food and preach the good news. Who are doing that now? Nobody but Jehovah’s Witnesses. So, we can identify the faithful and discreet slave and we’ll have to acknowledge them. We’ll have to acknowledge the spiritual food they provide and we have to cooperate with them. This organisation is used by Jehovah to function between Jehovah and us.
But, how do we know for sure that it is Jehovah who appoints the overseers? How are elders appointed?
Acts 20:28: ”Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.”
So, they’re being appointed by Jehovah. But, nowadays we don’t see a dove or a flame above their heads appear. How can we be sure then? By what they are doing, by the acts of the slave and the overseers. De requirements for such a brother are spelled out in the Bible, these are compared to the brother to see if he meets these requirements. Who’s requirements are written in the Bible? Jehovah’s. So, that way it’s Jehovah who appoints these brothers. When persons are appointed it’s by spirit.
We have to ask ourselves two questions:
1) How should we view appointed elders?
2) How do you feel about them?
These brothers are appointed by the spirit, so they don’t make human decisions, but the decisions they make are coming from Jehovah! (Personal note: Make no mistake about it, these were literal words from the speaker! )
What will happen to those how rebel against Jehovah’s arrangements? Example of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. (Numbers 12)
Aaron and Miriam had something against Moses. They had problems with seeing him as their spiritual leader. They thought Moses was too big for his boots. Did he really think that Jehovah would only speak through him? Jehovah observed it all and answered in verse 9 and 10:
”And Jehovah’s anger got to be hot against them, and he went his way. And the cloud turned away from over the tent, and, look! Miriam was struck with leprosy as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and, look! she was struck with leprosy.”
They thought wrong, from their own fleshy point of view. Moses was appointed by Jehovah and those who rebelled against that were rebellious. Aaron immediately apologized (verse 11) and called Moses his lord! He realised he wasn’t showing any respect and apologized. What a lesson for us! We must have respect. Although elders are approachable and friendly, we have to show respect. We have to cooperate with them and follow the instruction from the Governing Body.
Hebrews 13:17: ”Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among YOU and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over YOUR souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to YOU.”
So, we have to obedient and submissive and we must humbly work together. Some will say: You’re right, but what if the elder does something that’s wrong? Sometimes it doesn’t mean that the elder really did something wrong, but that you see it the wrong way. But, let’s say the elder did something wrong. What should you do? Let’s look at a biblical example.
12 spies, promised land. 10 gave a bad report and 2 gave a good report. Whom did they listen to? They followed the 10. The 2 found themselves in a trial some period. But, what did they do? Did they leave and start their own nation? No, they remained loyal to Jehovah’s people Israel. This lasted for 40 years and during that time there was an enormous pressure upon Joshua and Caleb, but they stayed with Jehovah’s organisation and they could enter the land as their reward, while the other 10 were prevented from that.
It’s the same right now, it’s better to stay with Jehovah’s organisation then to float away.
Now, for the young ones that are here. How do you view elderly people. Young people are often impatient and think of old people as slow.
From this we also have a biblical example. David, Saul and Samuel. Saul asks something to Samuel and Samuel responds: I’m not going to answer that right away, I’ll get back to you later. Saul became impatient and starts to do things on his own initiative. Saul was important, but he wasn’t appointed like Samuel was. What were the consequences for Saul? He lost his privileges. Is there a lesson for us? Yes, we must be patient. What do elderly people have that young people don’t? Experience! So, we must be submissive.
When Jesus was on earth, some of his disciples thought he was going to become king on earth. They didn’t comprehend some things.
John 6:68: ”Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life…””
So, when questions arise about the organisation, we’ll have to ask ourselves the following question:
Which instrument of Jehovah has fed me with spiritual food? And the answer will be, nobody else than Jehovah’s Witnesses!
Jehovah’s organisation is designed to accomplish HIS will!
Jehovah’s organisation is not designed to accomplish mine or your will!
The organisation works through holy spirit from above and we have to have appreciation for that. The earthly organisation is closely connected to Jehovah’s heavenly organisation. Let’s be thankful to be a part of that. Let’s go forward in serving Jehovah and let us thank Him that we are part of his organisation.
Jehovah’s blessings!
Tekst jest narazie po angielsku. Ciekawsze fragmenty zostana wstawione ewentualnie w pozniejszym czasie.
