Monday, April 28 2025 Faith Like that of Abraham

[PJ54]

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Monday, April 28 2025​

[Abraham] put faith in Jehovah, and He counted it to him as righteousness.—Gen. 15:6.

Jehovah does not say that if we want to be declared righteous we must do exactly what Abraham did. In fact, there are many ways in which we can manifest faith through our works. We can welcome new ones in the congregation, help brothers and sisters who are in genuine need, and do good to our family members, all of which are things that God will approve of and bless. (Rom. 15:7; 1 Tim. 5:4, 8; 1 John 3:18) An especially fine work that gives evidence of our faith is our zealously sharing the good news with others. (1 Tim. 4:16) All of us can show by our deeds that we have faith that Jehovah’s promises will come true and that his ways are best. And if we do, we have the firm assurance that God will count us as righteous and will call us his friends. w23.12 2 ¶3; 6 ¶15
Examining the Scriptures Daily—2025​

Faith Like that of Abraham

Tuesday, November 24 [Abraham] came to be called Jehovah’s friend.—Jas. 2:23. Jehovah referred to the patriarch and ancestor of the Israelites as “Abraham my friend.” Second Chronicles 20:7 also calls Abraham a friend of God. What was the basis for that faithful

e-watchman.com

Tuesday, November 24 2015​

[Abraham] came to be called Jehovah’s friend.—Jas. 2:23.

Jehovah referred to the patriarch and ancestor of the Israelites as “Abraham my friend.” Second Chronicles 20:7 also calls Abraham a friend of God. What was the basis for that faithful man’s enduring friendship with his Creator? It was Abraham’s faith.Like Abraham, the more you learn about Jehovah, the stronger your faith in him becomes, and your love for him deepens. Think back to the time when you discovered that God is a real Person, someone with whom you could develop a close relationship. When we learned about his provision of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and exercised faith in that provision, we began to build a friendship with God. As we look back now, we might well ask ourselves: ‘Am I making progress in my friendship with God? Is my trust in him strong, and is my love for my beloved Friend, Jehovah, growing each day?’

COMMENTARY​

Unfortunately, although the Watchtower has sponsored a remarkable, worldwide educational program that has helped millions of people come to a basic knowledge of the truth, in so doing, it — the organization — has come the centerpiece around which the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses revolves.

That this is the case is even demonstrated by the fact that large numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been stumbled by the Watchtower. But that would not be possible if such persons did not look to the Watchtower — at least prior to their being stumbled by it — as the infallible mouthpiece of God, which, of course, is the attitude nurtured by the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

But there was no visible organization when Abraham became God’s friend. For that matter, there was no earthly organization when Job was upon the earth either. What’s the point? Those men had to demonstrate their faith without the support of any organization. And in the case of Job, we know that it was absolutely essential that Job stand alone in order to satisfy the demand of Satan, who accused God of putting a protective barrier around him.

In the modern era there is no question that Jehovah has used the Watchtower to accomplish an important phase of his work. He has protected and nurtured it up until now. But we should not suppose that that will always be the case. In order for Jehovah’s Witnesses to demonstrate that they really have faith, that they really are friends of God, it must be that they too must stand alone without the tutorship of the Watchtower Bible and tract Society.

This is the message contained in prophecy.

The 29th chapter of Isaiah foretells the end of Jehovah’s earthly organization. But the end result is the complete accomplishment of Jehovah’s purpose. That is expressed in the closing words of the 29th chapter: “So this is what Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: ‘Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and no more will his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, who are the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who are wayward in spirit will acquire understanding, and those who complain will accept instruction.'”

 

[MickHewitt]

Faith Like that of Abraham

Tuesday, November 24 [Abraham] came to be called Jehovah’s friend.—Jas. 2:23. Jehovah referred to the patriarch and ancestor of the Israelites as “Abraham my friend.” Second Chronicles 20:7 also calls Abraham a friend of God. What was the basis for that faithful

e-watchman.com

Tuesday, November 24 2015​

[Abraham] came to be called Jehovah’s friend.—Jas. 2:23.

COMMENTARY​

Unfortunately, although the Watchtower has sponsored a remarkable, worldwide educational program that has helped millions of people come to a basic knowledge of the truth, in so doing, it — the organization — has come the centerpiece around which the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses revolves.

That this is the case is even demonstrated by the fact that large numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been stumbled by the Watchtower. But that would not be possible if such persons did not look to the Watchtower — at least prior to their being stumbled by it — as the infallible mouthpiece of God, which, of course, is the attitude nurtured by the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

But there was no visible organization when Abraham became God’s friend. For that matter, there was no earthly organization when Job was upon the earth either. What’s the point? Those men had to demonstrate their faith without the support of any organization. And in the case of Job, we know that it was absolutely essential that Job stand alone in order to satisfy the demand of Satan, who accused God of putting a protective barrier around him.

In the modern era there is no question that Jehovah has used the Watchtower to accomplish an important phase of his work. He has protected and nurtured it up until now. But we should not suppose that that will always be the case. In order for Jehovah’s Witnesses to demonstrate that they really have faith, that they really are friends of God, it must be that they too must stand alone without the tutorship of the Watchtower Bible and tract Society.

This is the message contained in prophecy.

The 29th chapter of Isaiah foretells the end of Jehovah’s earthly organization. But the end result is the complete accomplishment of Jehovah’s purpose. That is expressed in the closing words of the 29th chapter: “So this is what Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: ‘Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and no more will his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, who are the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who are wayward in spirit will acquire understanding, and those who complain will accept instruction.'”

Do you remember when Christ said to the Samaritan woman at the well 'We worship what we know you worship what you do not know.' We are in a similar setting. Our bro's under the spell of Bethel, Bethel who have taken all worship that belongs to Jehovah and usurped it for themselves. Again Christ's truth is proven when He said
'Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and
it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father
with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for
ones like these to worship him.'
No mention of a Watchtower mediatory!

 

[Watchman]

Why would Jacob, also known as Israel, be ashamed? Why might Jacob's face grow pale? For context, the 29th chapter of Isaiah opens with God pronouncing woe upon Ariel, a cryptic name for Jerusalem. Isaiah then describes Jerusalem being put under siege by God: "I will encamp on all sides against you, and I will besiege you with a palisade and raise up siegeworks against you."

A "palisade" is a fence of pointed stakes, which is what Christ foretold would befall Jerusalem in the first century, but also the "Jerusalem" that would be brought to desolation by a disgusting thing during the great tribulation.

As I have pointed out many times, Jerusalem represents Christianity, not Christendom. Ariel, being the town where David encamped, is a reference to the congregation where the greater David is the head and commander. The human leaders of Jehovah's earthly organization have no inkling, no expectation, that God is going to lay siege to his organization. That is why Jacob will be ashamed and his face will grow pale. Back up a few verses: "The meek will rejoice greatly in Jehovah, and the poor among men will be joyful in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more, the boaster will come to his finish, and all those keeping alert to do harm will be destroyed, those who with a false word make others guilty, who lay traps for the defender in the city gate, and who with empty arguments deny justice to the righteous one."

The tyrant and the boaster who will come to their finish, who lay traps and deny justice to the righteous, are the prophets and visionaries whom Jehovah blinds. (vs 10) They are handed the scroll of Isaiah, but can't make any sense of it. They hand to someone else who confesses to being illiterate. That perfectly illustrates the GB's inability to understand God's judgments, but in their ignorance, they boast of being the overseers and spiritual paradise and persecute anyone who points out obvious truths they refuse to acknowledge.

Meanwhile, the collapsing Anglo empire has ignited a simmering hotspot in Kashmir to draw India and Pakistan into war. Both of these nations possess nuclear weapons. The day after the vice president of the US visited India, Modi shut off water in the Indus River complex, which Pakistan considers an act of war. Simultaneously, terrorists, most likely Mossad, have used shipping containers packed with explosives to destroy Iran's largest port. War and reports of wars.

In response, Turkey is sending Pakistan advanced weaponry. In case you are not keeping up, London is intent on blowing up China's Belt and Road and the BRICS+, which includes Iran. It appears that the spreading conflicts are as close to global war as you can get without actually being at war.

Do you think the Governing Body might have reason to be ashamed when it all blows up and they have to admit that 1914 was a sham? Maybe they will have Gage Feagle to give an update and shed new light on why the GB is getting out of the prophecy business.

 

[Bk Kevin]

@Watchtower

“‘Look! The eyes of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah are upon the sinful kingdom,+ and he will certainly annihilate it from upon the surface of the ground.+ Nevertheless, I shall not completely annihilate the house of Jacob,’+ is the utterance of Jehovah. ‘For, look! I am commanding, and I will jiggle the house of Israel among all the nations,+ just as one jiggles the sieve, so that not a pebble falls to the earth By the sword they will die—all the sinners of my people,+ those who are saying: “The calamity will not come near or reach as far as us.”’+“‘In that day I shall raise up+ the booth*+ of David that is fallen,+ and I shall certainly repair their breaches. And its ruins I shall raise up, and I shall certainly build it up as in the days of long ago,+ to the end that they may take possession of what is left remaining of Eʹdom,+ and all the nations* upon whom my name has been called,’+ is the utterance of Jehovah, who is doing this.*
Read more Amos 9: https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/bi12/books/amos/9/#v30009010

 

[SusanB]

… In order for Jehovah’s Witnesses to demonstrate that they really have faith, that they really are friends of God, it must be that they too must stand alone without the tutorship of the Watchtower Bible and tract Society.

This is the message contained in prophecy.

The 29th chapter of Isaiah foretells the end of Jehovah’s earthly organization. But the end result is the complete accomplishment of Jehovah’s purpose. That is expressed in the closing words of the 29th chapter: “So this is what Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: ‘Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and no more will his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, who are the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who are wayward in spirit will acquire understanding, and those who complain will accept instruction.'”

This is one of those things that has the “ring of truth” and helps me to understand what has happened to the ORG and the brothers and sisters. Even though the Watchtower is still there and most still cling to it in an illogical way, there have been “signs” that should alert each of us that in regards to the Watchtower, something has gone terribly wrong. And, then when you look into the scriptures for understanding this one is like a neon light.

 

[Bk Kevin]

This is one of those things that has the “ring of truth” and helps me to understand what has happened to the ORG and the brothers and sisters. Even though the Watchtower is still there and most still cling to it in an illogical way, there have been “signs” that should alert each of us that in regards to the Watchtower, something has gone terribly wrong. And, then when you look into the scriptures for understanding this one is like a neon light.

All the signs are there, perhaps they're really not studying their Bible as to make sure of all things or they just like it that way as Jeremiah exclaimed.

An astonishing situation, even a horrible thing, has been brought to be* in the land:+The prophets themselves actually prophesy in falsehood;+ and as for the priests, they go subduing according to their powers.*+ And my own people have loved [it] that way;+ and what will YOU men do in the finale of it?”+

Jeremiah 5:30-31​