Special Assembly Day
October 28, 2013
There was a series of 7 questions we were to make a point of applying.
These notes are not of all the talks. Just the talks that answered the 7 questions.
I didn't include interviews or demos and I didn't put all of my notes on the talks, just the main points.
The theme: God's Word Exerts Power ~ Heb 4:12
10am The Voice of Jehovah is Powerful.... Bro. Christianson
What leaves you in "awe"? Does Jehovah's power leave you in awe? What will help us to deepen our view.
1) Consider what he has created...this perfect home
2) Miracles Jesus preformed: Controlling the weather, turning water into wine, the resurrection
3) The way he executes judgement
Ps 29:4.... the voice of Jehovah is powerful
Gen 1:3... God said let there be light...and there was light..
In each of what he said, it happened.
Matt 14:28.... command me to come to you... Jesus said "come" ...and Peter put faith in that one word and then he walked on water...
We can have confidence in what Jehovah has said.
QUESTION #1 Why should we have confidence in Jehovah's word?
PS 29:4 ... the voice of Jehovah is powerful....
Jehovah puts his full power to transform each one of us because his voice is powerful.
10:15 Experience the Power of God's Word.... Fred Fabian
Ps 34:8.... Taste and see that Jehovah is good...
To get full benefits of a banana we have to eat and digest it. Same with the Bible. We need to read and study God's word to get it.
What we need to do to taste and see...
1) Ps 1:2... his delight is in the law...day and night he reads in an undertone...
Read the Bible DAILY!
2) Research what we read. Deep study helps us get more nourishment from the Bible.
3) Beg Jehovah for Holy Spirit to help us apply what we learn.
Joh 4:24... those worshiping him ...with spirit and truth. Truth has to be guided by Holy Spirit.
4) BELIEVE that God's Word CAN help you/me. Develop strong faith that God's Word can help us!
5) Apply what we learn
QUESTION #2 How can we experience the power of God's Word in our own lives?
PS 34:8... taste and see...
The benefits of daily bible reading and study
10:30 Unleash the Power of God's Word in Your Ministry .... C.O. Jason Tomilak
Many times we can say things with passion and power but nothing happens. Unlike us, whatever God says has the power to do anything he needs to.
2 Tim 3:16 & 17... All scripture is inspired of God... beneficial for...
It can stir our emotions, our intention to go along with what he directs.
Say we lack skills in teaching, that can change if we practice these 3 steps
1) Draw attention to God's Word in a way that shows respect... "Let's see what God's thinking is on the matter" or "What God says about it".
2) Really read and explain the scriptures
Acts 17:2-4... he reasoned with them from the scriptures...many became believers....
3) Reason from the scriptures and make application. Use one or two scriptures and not a boatload of scriptures.
Slow down when reading. pause at strong verbs. show emotion. ask a question to draw out those we talk to. Hastily reading can't reach the heart.
Maybe we feel physically that we have little power. Or as a teacher we are weak. Jehovah will help us to improve and unleash our power.
QUESTIONS #3 How can you unleash the power of God's Word in our own lives?
2 Tim 3:16... all scripture is inspired of God...
Draw attention to the scriptures and then explain
11:05 Reject the Deceptive Power of Satan's World .... Bro Bernett ... Patterson Bethel
The Trojan Horse. They thought the horse was a blessing, but it destroyed them.
Satan is that horse. Creating a desire in us for things that are wrong.
Luke 4:5-7... Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms... I will give these if you do an act of worship...
Jesus rejected his offer. Satan was not able to appeal to Jesus's pride.
Jehovah helps us by educating us of Satan's agenda.
1 John 5:19 & 20... the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one... but we have God's son to give us insight. Satan wants us to believe having more money will give us security.
WT 2013 Jan 15th, pag 13, par 14-16... The brother investing in the stock market until he lost everything.
some have drown hanging onto a fish they couldn't lift instead of just letting go.
It is better to live a simple life.
WT 98 7/15 pg 13, par 18... Beware there should ever develop... lacking faith... a wicked heart
Who is closer to you than your own mind. If your negative, you will open the door for Satan to get you out of the truth. Satan wants you to feel your not good enough.
We have to stop being righteous over much. Being negative about everyone in the cong and what we think they are doing wrong WILL lead to religious deception and apostasy.
We also have to beware of apostates. it can be tempting to see what they say BUT DON'T!!!!!!!
Acts 20:29 & 30... oppressive wolves...within the cong...
Rom 16:17 & 18... keep your eye on those who create division...smooth talk & flattering speach...
Don't go looking for them and walk away if you come across them.
WT 89 7/15 pg 22
an individual seeks a mental escape. viewing the whole framework is wrong. that is the start of apostasy.
Prov 22:3...the shrewd one conceals himself.
QUESTION #4... HOw can we avoid falling prey to the deceptive power of Satan's world?
1 John 5:19...
Recognize Satan is the source of the deception.
2:15 Young People - Do You Trust in the Power of God? Orien Oreskovich
The young have much vitality and energy. If used in the right way, it can accomplish much.
Pioneering, Bethel Service, School for single brothers, school for married couples, missionary work....
Set goals and work to achieve them, doing so leads to a rich and satisfying life.
Powerful forces are working against us
1) Satan
2) Imperfection
3) disappointments
How do we combat these?
With the help of God's power.
Jer 17:7... blessed is the man who puts his trust in Jehovah...
QUESTION #5 How can you as a youth attain spiritual success?
Jer 17:7... Trust in Jehovah and use his power.
Pray, ask for his power and work in harmony with it.
2:30 When We Are Weak, Then We Are Powerful Jacob Skidmore
1) Our power to endure ONLY comes from Jehovah. It is imperative that we lean on him.
2 Cor 12:7-10... a thorn in the flesh... for when I am weak, then I am powerful....
Jehovah gave Paul the power he needed to endure, and will for us, no matter what we are facing.
2) Stay fully involved in the cong. Especially working together in the ministry.
It is easy to view setbacks as failures. But if you focus on the good, rely on Jehovah, keep working to reach our goals then Jehovah will bless us.
QUESTIONS #6 How can we become powerful even when we are weak?
2 Cor 12:10... Keep leaning on Jehovah...
Keep busy in the truth, stay close to God & accept his help through his Word and his Org.
2:55 Let the Power of God's Word Keep Transforming You Michael Bernett
*******WHEN YOU MEDITATE YOU BECOME STRONG**************
Heb 4:12...the Word of God is alive and exerts power....
The Word of God is His promise.
WT 2011 7/15 pg 32 par 20
Paul was not referring to the Bible, but to the promise Jehovah gives.
The Bible has power and can change lives. It's more penetrating than than anything, (such as a two edged sword) It reaches not just on the outside, but what we are on the inside. It makes us genuine through and through.
We don't want to give up thinking we are a horrible person. Pick one or two points to work on this year.
How many times have we failed to conqueror our short comings. We beat ourselves up for it and give up thinking we will never be able to be good enough. Giving up is what Satan wants. Jehovah wants us to get up and try again. We will eventually succeed.
2 Cor 10:4 & 5... for overturning strongly entrenched things...
Rom 12:12... stop being molded by this system of things...but making your mind over... for the good
Ps 119:1-3... I hate the half hearted ones...
Eph 4:22.... you were taught to strip off the old personality ....continue to be made new... mental attitude
WHITE SMILE, BLACK HEART
In Liberia there was a smooth talker who went from cong to cong and stirred the pot with the young people. Brother Bernett was serving there and tried time and again to talk with the young people and that smooth talker. Bro Bernett was even fooled by his "white smile".
Then Bro B warned when the army arrives to flee. the smooth talker didn't listen and was captured and forced to join the military. He learned how to plant bombs. One day, his bombs didn't go off and when he approached to see what was wrong, the bombs went off and he was killed.
When the young ones learned what happened to the smooth talker, and how he failed to heed the warning to flee, it shook them up and they changed their ways.
DOES IT TAKE SOMETHING EXTREME TO MOVE US OR COULD WE MAKE CHANGES NOW? WE KNOW WE NEED TO!! SO LETS JUST DO IT NOW!!!!!!!
How to overcome wrong thinking? The more we think about spiritual things the more the old sinful thoughts dry up. Don't give up, just keep working at it if we have a weak moment. Jehovah wants us to keep trying. Satan wants us to give up.
Points we can work on (Pick one or two to really work hard on this year)
1) Show impartiality in all our dealings. We will be living together forever, so learn to love each other now.
2) Maintain a simple life. Not just having less but not thinking about it constantly. Does it take a civil war to wake up?
3) Avoid degrading entertainment. Do we say no to entertainment that promotes immorality, spiritism or violence?
4) Cultivate and demonstrate the fruitage of God's spirit.
Luke 17:3... apy attention... if your brothers commit a sin, rebuke him... if he repents, forgive even if it is 7 times, you MUST forgive... this give us more faith...
So dealing with others, you need more faith. Instead of studying their faults, study deeper, then that other stuff won't matter.
WT 2011 4/15 pg 25 & 26 par 11 & 12
A married couple was having trouble, they started studying "kindness" together and now they extend each other kindness.
In this country "sarcasm" means dog tearing flesh. When someone is hurt by it, they say, they were just teasing, or don't be so sensitive. Would you say to Jehovah what you say in sarcasm to others? Then why would you do it to the image of God as we are all made in his image.
5) Discern and apply bible principles.
Jesus was not rigid but he flexed as he did with the leprous man
QUESTION #7 What is the key to ongoing transformation even with regard to strongly entrenched habits and attitudes?
Eph 4: 23... Continue to be made new in your dominate mental attitude. Slow down in our study and mediate.
These notes are not of all the talks. Just the talks that answered the 7 questions.
I didn't include interviews or demos and I didn't put all of my notes on the talks, just the main points.
The theme: God's Word Exerts Power ~ Heb 4:12
10am The Voice of Jehovah is Powerful.... Bro. Christianson
What leaves you in "awe"? Does Jehovah's power leave you in awe? What will help us to deepen our view.
1) Consider what he has created...this perfect home
2) Miracles Jesus preformed: Controlling the weather, turning water into wine, the resurrection
3) The way he executes judgement
Ps 29:4.... the voice of Jehovah is powerful
Gen 1:3... God said let there be light...and there was light..
In each of what he said, it happened.
Matt 14:28.... command me to come to you... Jesus said "come" ...and Peter put faith in that one word and then he walked on water...
We can have confidence in what Jehovah has said.
QUESTION #1 Why should we have confidence in Jehovah's word?
PS 29:4 ... the voice of Jehovah is powerful....
Jehovah puts his full power to transform each one of us because his voice is powerful.
10:15 Experience the Power of God's Word.... Fred Fabian
Ps 34:8.... Taste and see that Jehovah is good...
To get full benefits of a banana we have to eat and digest it. Same with the Bible. We need to read and study God's word to get it.
What we need to do to taste and see...
1) Ps 1:2... his delight is in the law...day and night he reads in an undertone...
Read the Bible DAILY!
2) Research what we read. Deep study helps us get more nourishment from the Bible.
3) Beg Jehovah for Holy Spirit to help us apply what we learn.
Joh 4:24... those worshiping him ...with spirit and truth. Truth has to be guided by Holy Spirit.
4) BELIEVE that God's Word CAN help you/me. Develop strong faith that God's Word can help us!
5) Apply what we learn
QUESTION #2 How can we experience the power of God's Word in our own lives?
PS 34:8... taste and see...
The benefits of daily bible reading and study
10:30 Unleash the Power of God's Word in Your Ministry .... C.O. Jason Tomilak
Many times we can say things with passion and power but nothing happens. Unlike us, whatever God says has the power to do anything he needs to.
2 Tim 3:16 & 17... All scripture is inspired of God... beneficial for...
It can stir our emotions, our intention to go along with what he directs.
Say we lack skills in teaching, that can change if we practice these 3 steps
1) Draw attention to God's Word in a way that shows respect... "Let's see what God's thinking is on the matter" or "What God says about it".
2) Really read and explain the scriptures
Acts 17:2-4... he reasoned with them from the scriptures...many became believers....
3) Reason from the scriptures and make application. Use one or two scriptures and not a boatload of scriptures.
Slow down when reading. pause at strong verbs. show emotion. ask a question to draw out those we talk to. Hastily reading can't reach the heart.
Maybe we feel physically that we have little power. Or as a teacher we are weak. Jehovah will help us to improve and unleash our power.
QUESTIONS #3 How can you unleash the power of God's Word in our own lives?
2 Tim 3:16... all scripture is inspired of God...
Draw attention to the scriptures and then explain
11:05 Reject the Deceptive Power of Satan's World .... Bro Bernett ... Patterson Bethel
The Trojan Horse. They thought the horse was a blessing, but it destroyed them.
Satan is that horse. Creating a desire in us for things that are wrong.
Luke 4:5-7... Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms... I will give these if you do an act of worship...
Jesus rejected his offer. Satan was not able to appeal to Jesus's pride.
Jehovah helps us by educating us of Satan's agenda.
1 John 5:19 & 20... the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one... but we have God's son to give us insight. Satan wants us to believe having more money will give us security.
WT 2013 Jan 15th, pag 13, par 14-16... The brother investing in the stock market until he lost everything.
some have drown hanging onto a fish they couldn't lift instead of just letting go.
It is better to live a simple life.
WT 98 7/15 pg 13, par 18... Beware there should ever develop... lacking faith... a wicked heart
Who is closer to you than your own mind. If your negative, you will open the door for Satan to get you out of the truth. Satan wants you to feel your not good enough.
We have to stop being righteous over much. Being negative about everyone in the cong and what we think they are doing wrong WILL lead to religious deception and apostasy.
We also have to beware of apostates. it can be tempting to see what they say BUT DON'T!!!!!!!
Acts 20:29 & 30... oppressive wolves...within the cong...
Rom 16:17 & 18... keep your eye on those who create division...smooth talk & flattering speach...
Don't go looking for them and walk away if you come across them.
WT 89 7/15 pg 22
an individual seeks a mental escape. viewing the whole framework is wrong. that is the start of apostasy.
Prov 22:3...the shrewd one conceals himself.
QUESTION #4... HOw can we avoid falling prey to the deceptive power of Satan's world?
1 John 5:19...
Recognize Satan is the source of the deception.
2:15 Young People - Do You Trust in the Power of God? Orien Oreskovich
The young have much vitality and energy. If used in the right way, it can accomplish much.
Pioneering, Bethel Service, School for single brothers, school for married couples, missionary work....
Set goals and work to achieve them, doing so leads to a rich and satisfying life.
Powerful forces are working against us
1) Satan
2) Imperfection
3) disappointments
How do we combat these?
With the help of God's power.
Jer 17:7... blessed is the man who puts his trust in Jehovah...
QUESTION #5 How can you as a youth attain spiritual success?
Jer 17:7... Trust in Jehovah and use his power.
Pray, ask for his power and work in harmony with it.
2:30 When We Are Weak, Then We Are Powerful Jacob Skidmore
1) Our power to endure ONLY comes from Jehovah. It is imperative that we lean on him.
2 Cor 12:7-10... a thorn in the flesh... for when I am weak, then I am powerful....
Jehovah gave Paul the power he needed to endure, and will for us, no matter what we are facing.
2) Stay fully involved in the cong. Especially working together in the ministry.
It is easy to view setbacks as failures. But if you focus on the good, rely on Jehovah, keep working to reach our goals then Jehovah will bless us.
QUESTIONS #6 How can we become powerful even when we are weak?
2 Cor 12:10... Keep leaning on Jehovah...
Keep busy in the truth, stay close to God & accept his help through his Word and his Org.
2:55 Let the Power of God's Word Keep Transforming You Michael Bernett
*******WHEN YOU MEDITATE YOU BECOME STRONG**************
Heb 4:12...the Word of God is alive and exerts power....
The Word of God is His promise.
WT 2011 7/15 pg 32 par 20
Paul was not referring to the Bible, but to the promise Jehovah gives.
The Bible has power and can change lives. It's more penetrating than than anything, (such as a two edged sword) It reaches not just on the outside, but what we are on the inside. It makes us genuine through and through.
We don't want to give up thinking we are a horrible person. Pick one or two points to work on this year.
How many times have we failed to conqueror our short comings. We beat ourselves up for it and give up thinking we will never be able to be good enough. Giving up is what Satan wants. Jehovah wants us to get up and try again. We will eventually succeed.
2 Cor 10:4 & 5... for overturning strongly entrenched things...
Rom 12:12... stop being molded by this system of things...but making your mind over... for the good
Ps 119:1-3... I hate the half hearted ones...
Eph 4:22.... you were taught to strip off the old personality ....continue to be made new... mental attitude
WHITE SMILE, BLACK HEART
In Liberia there was a smooth talker who went from cong to cong and stirred the pot with the young people. Brother Bernett was serving there and tried time and again to talk with the young people and that smooth talker. Bro Bernett was even fooled by his "white smile".
Then Bro B warned when the army arrives to flee. the smooth talker didn't listen and was captured and forced to join the military. He learned how to plant bombs. One day, his bombs didn't go off and when he approached to see what was wrong, the bombs went off and he was killed.
When the young ones learned what happened to the smooth talker, and how he failed to heed the warning to flee, it shook them up and they changed their ways.
DOES IT TAKE SOMETHING EXTREME TO MOVE US OR COULD WE MAKE CHANGES NOW? WE KNOW WE NEED TO!! SO LETS JUST DO IT NOW!!!!!!!
How to overcome wrong thinking? The more we think about spiritual things the more the old sinful thoughts dry up. Don't give up, just keep working at it if we have a weak moment. Jehovah wants us to keep trying. Satan wants us to give up.
Points we can work on (Pick one or two to really work hard on this year)
1) Show impartiality in all our dealings. We will be living together forever, so learn to love each other now.
2) Maintain a simple life. Not just having less but not thinking about it constantly. Does it take a civil war to wake up?
3) Avoid degrading entertainment. Do we say no to entertainment that promotes immorality, spiritism or violence?
4) Cultivate and demonstrate the fruitage of God's spirit.
Luke 17:3... apy attention... if your brothers commit a sin, rebuke him... if he repents, forgive even if it is 7 times, you MUST forgive... this give us more faith...
So dealing with others, you need more faith. Instead of studying their faults, study deeper, then that other stuff won't matter.
WT 2011 4/15 pg 25 & 26 par 11 & 12
A married couple was having trouble, they started studying "kindness" together and now they extend each other kindness.
In this country "sarcasm" means dog tearing flesh. When someone is hurt by it, they say, they were just teasing, or don't be so sensitive. Would you say to Jehovah what you say in sarcasm to others? Then why would you do it to the image of God as we are all made in his image.
5) Discern and apply bible principles.
Jesus was not rigid but he flexed as he did with the leprous man
QUESTION #7 What is the key to ongoing transformation even with regard to strongly entrenched habits and attitudes?
Eph 4: 23... Continue to be made new in your dominate mental attitude. Slow down in our study and mediate.
Posted by Robyn Nelson.
