-
Share Joyfully with Jesus Christ in Jehovah’s WorkThe Watchtower—1978 | June 1
-
-
Share Joyfully with Jesus Christ in Jehovah’s Work
“My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.”—John 5:17.
1. What can contribute to one’s becoming a joyful worker, and with what results?
ARE you a joyful worker? Have you always been one, or have there been times when for some reason you felt tired and frustrated, sapped of all energy and initiative? You felt that you just could not do another stroke of work. Then something happened unexpectedly. You were given a different kind of job, something more productive, yielding a fine fruitage or harvest. Then, instead of feeling out of favor and criticized by the one setting you to work, you now got a smile and words of commendation. What a difference it made! You felt stimulated and encouraged to press forward with enthusiasm and zeal. Nothing could hold you back. Yes, you became a joyful worker!
2. How does Isaiah 12:1-6 tell of an unexpected happening for our day, and how has it worked out in a fine way?
2 Remarkably, the Bible speaks exactly in the same way about the experiences of Jehovah’s people in this our day. It tells of something that happened unexpectedly in the year 1919 C.E. We read of it at Isaiah chapter 12: “And in that day you will be sure to say: ‘I shall thank you, O Jehovah, for although you got incensed at me, your anger gradually turned back, and you proceeded to comfort me. Look! God is my salvation. I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jah Jehovah is my strength and my might, and he came to be the salvation of me.’” Then it describes our grand work: “With exultation you people will be certain to draw water out of the springs of salvation. And in that day you will certainly say: ‘Give thanks to Jehovah, you people! Call upon his name. Make known among the peoples his dealings. Make mention that his name is put on high. Make melody to Jehovah, for he has done surpassingly. This is made known in all the earth. Cry out shrilly and shout for joy, O you inhabitress of Zion, for great in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.’”—Isa 12 Vss. 1-6.
‘SOW BOUNTIFULLY, REAP BOUNTIFULLY’
3. (a) Similarly, in what way does Psalm 126 speak of a reversal causing great rejoicing? (b) What striking contrast is described at Psalm 126:5, 6?
3 Along the same line, take a look at Psalm 126, entitled “A Song of the Ascents,” one of a group of psalms that the Israelites likely sang on their way up to Jerusalem when they joyfully attended the three annual festivals held there. Like Isaiah chapter 12, it tells of those who have come into Zion, God’s organization. Notice how it reads: “When Jehovah gathered back the captive ones of Zion, we became like those who were dreaming.” It seemed too good to be true! And the account goes on to say: “At that time our mouth came to be filled with laughter, and our tongue with a joyful cry.” Then notice the encouraging change in occupation mentioned in the last two verses of the psalm: “Those sowing seed with tears will reap even with a joyful cry. The one that without fail goes forth, even weeping, carrying along a bagful of seed, will without fail come in with a joyful cry, carrying along his sheaves.” (Ps. 126:1, 2, 5, 6) Though at first this one had a hard time of it, with seemingly nothing to show for his labor, his diligence in patiently continuing to sow is at last rewarded with a harvest more bountiful than his fondest expectation.
4. Did Jesus have something to say of note as to harvesttime, leading to what question?
4 Yes, this is the harvesttime. We are now in the conclusion of the system of things, and as Jesus said in one of his parables: “The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things.” (Matt. 13:39) Jesus had some interesting things to say about the harvest and the work in connection with it, and especially about himself as a worker. So let us turn to our key scripture at John 5:17. The Jews were persecuting Jesus for doing a good work on the Sabbath, and he answered them, saying: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” Do we know how long Jehovah has kept working?
5. Jehovah is what kind of worker, and how is this shown in the Scriptures? (Ps. 33:4, 5)
5 Amazingly, there is a scripture that helps us to answer that question and that evidently refers to Jesus in his prehuman existence as “the Word” (mentioned at John 1:1). This one, speaking under the personification of “wisdom,” says, as recorded at Proverbs 8:22, 23: “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago . . . from times earlier than the earth.” Ah! yes, Jehovah is a productive worker and that is the key to being a happy worker. Jehovah is a happy worker because he produces good things that reflect his fine qualities. He is “the Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice . . . righteous and upright is he.” Jehovah is the “Most High God, Producer of heaven and earth.”—Deut. 32:4; Gen. 14:19, 22.
6. What amazing insight does the Bible give us respecting Jesus as a worker?
6 Proverbs chapter 8 also tells us something about when Jesus commenced as a worker. Starting at verse 29, we read: “When he [Jehovah] decreed the foundations of the earth, then I came to be beside him as a master worker . . . [I] being glad at the productive land of his earth.” So the one who became Christ Jesus was a worker from the time of his creation, sharing joyfully with his Father, “being glad before him all the time.”—Prov. 8:29-31.
7. How was cooperation manifest between these two workers, leading to what good results?
7 The close cooperation between those two grand workers was evident right through to the act that crowned earthly creation, when God said: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” Both the man and the woman were made to be joyful workers when “God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection . . . every living creature that is moving upon the earth.’” And “God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.” It was made to be productive.—Gen. 1:26-31.
THE SPIRIT OF HARVESTING
8. (a) In all his ministry, what attitude did Jesus display regarding work? (b) How was his love for the people made manifest in this connection?
8 When Jesus came to earth and commenced his ministry he showed the same attitude. He worked and showed others how to work. He expressed himself about this in connection with harvesting, as we read at John 4:34, 35: “My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say that there are yet four months before the harvest comes? Look! I say to you: Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.” To make sure what kind of harvest Jesus had in mind, we read of another occasion: “Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching . . . and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease . . . On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples: ‘Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’” (Matt. 9:35-38) So in both these accounts it is evident that the harvest about which Jesus spoke was not one of grain. It was one of people, whom Jesus very much wanted to see gathered in.
9. What is the spirit of harvesting, prompting what desire?
9 There is a close parallel between that day and our day, and Jesus wants us who are his followers to enter into the spirit of harvesting. And that spirit is one of rejoicing, a spirit of keen appreciation of how worth while the work is, prompting a desire in one to see it fully accomplished. As expressed at Isaiah 9:3: “You have made the nation populous; for it you have made the rejoicing great. They have rejoiced before you as with the rejoicing in the harvesttime, as those who are joyful when they divide up the spoil.”
10. (a) How does Jehovah provide more workers for the harvest? (b) What should we learn from Proverbs 10:4, 5?
10 In that same spirit we beg the Master to send out more workers. Jehovah does not provide these ‘more workers’ miraculously. In fact, that is all part of the harvest work, not only being instrumental in bringing people into the truth, but, as Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . teaching them to observe [to carry out] all the things I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) That is the spirit we need to show. We want more workers in the field. That means keeping busy and wide awake ourselves. Proverbs 10:4, 5 makes this contrast: “The one working with a slack hand will be of little means, but the hand of the diligent one is what will make one rich. The son acting with insight is gathering during the summertime; the son acting shamefully is fast asleep during the harvest.”—Terrible! What a contrast! For such slackers, the opposite of joy.
NONESSENTIALS MUST BE PUT ASIDE
11. How is harvesting to be viewed, and why?
11 Another thing about harvesttime is that it is a special time for farmers. They cannot and do not take the point of view that the ordinary routine is good enough, that what is not done today can be done tomorrow. The harvest must be brought in when the crop is ready. All the farm workers know that too—there is no time to be lost. Other things, the nonessentials, are put aside. They are ready to work in the fields from sunup to sundown.
12. In what way did Jesus stress the importance of harvesttime, and how can we apply this today?
12 Jesus showed the same attitude. Immediately after telling the disciples to beg the Master to send out workers into his harvest, the record says: “So he summoned his twelve disciples . . . These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: . . . go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This they did with the Kingdom message. And Jesus stressed the urgency, saying: “Do not procure gold or silver or copper for your girdle purses, or a food pouch for the trip, or two undergarments, or sandals or a staff; for the worker deserves his food.” (Matt. 10:1-10) Jesus did not want them to get involved with a lot of other things. He does not want his followers today to get sidetracked by materialism or any other diversion. It is harvesttime!
13. In the first century, what remarkable harvesting was accomplished?
13 We might ask, Was there a harvest in the first century? There certainly was! Consider what happened in the city of Jerusalem on that day of Pentecost of the year 33 of our Common Era. After listening to Peter’s “thorough witness” and exhortation, “about three thousand souls” were baptized and were added to the original congregation of about 120. (Acts 1:15; 2:37-42) And the congregation itself was really only one day old!
14. In the face of what opposition was there striking evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on his servants?
14 Not long after that the Jewish clergy, furious at seeing great crowds giving heed to the Kingdom witness, said to the apostles: “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” Though the apostles were ‘positively ordered not to keep teaching,’ they kept talking and the harvest kept coming in. (Acts 5:28, 29) There must have been quite a good ratio of witnesses in that city of about one square mile, but they did not slow down. They showed a positive attitude and kept looking for more people. As stated at Acts 6:7: “The word of God went on growing, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much; and [even] a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.” Truly, it was a bounteous harvest!
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO!
15, 16. (a) Could we say today that Jehovah’s work is about finished? (b) Cite instances from the 1978 Yearbook showing that our efforts are richly blessed, giving a fine potential.
15 How do we view the world scene today? Has the territory been covered so much and so frequently that we can say that the work is done? No, there is more, much more, to do! Consider, for example, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zambia. The 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses shows that the ratio there is one publisher for every 103 of the population. The Zambian Witnesses keep on preaching, keep on talking to the people, and they are finding more who respond and come right along. Actually, 2,399 were immersed there last year.
16 When we look around the earth, we appreciate that a rich harvest is being gathered. The Catholic countries of Europe continue to experience a grand increase. In just two years since 1975 the number of Kingdom proclaimers in Spain has grown by 25 percent, in Portugal by 26 percent and in Italy by 29 percent, so that more than 125,000 of Jehovah’s Witnesses are now active in these former strongholds of Babylon the Great. In the same two years, the truth has penetrated into many more islands of the sea; Jehovah’s servants in Tahiti report a 42-percent increase in that area, with 40 out of 60 inhabited islands now receiving a thorough witness. Jehovah’s work keeps on penetrating into new areas in the Orient, with Hong Kong reporting 52-percent increase and Japan more than 8,000 additional Kingdom witnesses from 1975 to 1977. And in the Americas and Europe, wherever the house-to-house preaching of the Kingdom is vigorously pursued, congregations are sharing in a similar joyful harvest.
17. In this regard, what warning and encouragement do the Scriptures give us? (Luke 21:34-36)
17 Should we not be glad that Jehovah has held off the “great tribulation” to this hour so that these precious “sheep” might be gathered? But make no mistake! That day of reckoning with the nations is hastening ever closer! “For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.”—Hab. 2:3.
18. What principle is expressed at 1 Corinthians 3:7, and how can we apply this to ourselves today?
18 Jehovah has given us every indication that the work has not yet been brought to a completion. We must continue at it, not until we decide that it is done, but until Jehovah finishes it according to his good pleasure. Indeed, Jehovah keeps showing us that the work has not yet come to its finale. This is seen in the fact that he keeps bringing in the harvest. We should never lose sight of the principle that Paul so clearly expressed at 1 Corinthians 3:7: “Neither is he that plants anything nor is he that waters, but God who makes it grow.” So all the credit for this abundant, quality harvest goes to him through Christ Jesus.
19. In the context at 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, what grand encouragement and incentive do we find?
19 As Paul had mentioned at 1 Corinthians 3:5, it is a privilege for persons to make “believers, even as the Lord granted each one [his work].” And he is still granting us to gather others into his storehouse. In the 1977 service year over 124,000 new ones took the step of water immersion, signifying their whole-souled dedication to God to do his will. Why should we not continue to expect it to keep growing? The harvest is not yet over. It is time to keep harvest-minded until all are gathered in. The time continues for harvest joys!
-
-
Co-Workers in the HarvestThe Watchtower—1978 | June 1
-
-
Co-Workers in the Harvest
“[Jesus] said to his disciples: ‘Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’”—Matt. 9:37, 38.
1. Intense opposition to our work can be viewed in what way?
HARVESTING is not always done under easy or favorable conditions but with perseverance. Stiff opposition rises up in some places, but the point is that the ingathering continues. Experience shows that it is often because of opposition that some people, who otherwise were not interested in Jehovah’s Witnesses, are prompted to take a fresh look at the situation. At the end of the report in the 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 18 other countries are grouped in one entry, countries where the opposition is particularly severe. And in those 18 countries there were 9,673 immersed just last year!
2. What severe opposition was encountered in Nehemiah’s day, and how was it met?
2 To work, and to work hard, under conditions of fierce opposition is not a new experience for Jehovah’s servants. It is now as it was in the days of Nehemiah, when they were busy building Jerusalem’s wall and the neighboring peoples intensified their opposition to the point of conspiring to fight against the city. Nehemiah reports: “As for the builders on the wall and those who were carrying the burden of load bearers, each one was active in the work with his one hand while the other hand was holding the missile. And the builders were girded, each one with his sword upon his hip, while building; and the one to blow the horn was alongside me.”—Neh. 4:17, 18.
3. (a) How was it then that God’s people had a good “heart for working”? (b) In what parallel way does the prophecy of Isaiah encourage us today?
3 In that same chapter, at Ne 4 verse 6, it says that “the people continued to have a heart for working.” Do we know the secret of that fine heart condition? It is mentioned later at Nehemiah 8:10: “For the joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.” The same is true of us today, is it not? Are we not reminded of what Jehovah said through his prophet Isaiah, showing the contrast between the true and the false servants: “Look! My own servants will rejoice, but you yourselves will suffer shame. Look! My own servants will cry out joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, but you yourselves will make outcries because of the pain of heart and you will howl because of sheer breakdown of spirit.” Then Jehovah went on to say: “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth . . . But exult, you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For here I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation.”—Isa. 65:13-18.
WORKING JOYFULLY WITH GOD’S WORD
4. What provisions has Jehovah made for us to be joyful workers?
4 We certainly have every reason to be joyful workers. We have Jehovah’s blessing. We have Jehovah’s spirit, and “joy” is part of the fruitage of that spirit. (Gal. 5:22) We have also “the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word.” (Eph. 6:17) What a joy it is to use this in preaching the “good news” to others! The following real-life experiences show this.
5-7. In the experience relative to the Truth book, in what ways was Jehovah’s blessing manifest?
5 ‘While working in the field service from house to house one day, my service companion and I met a young woman who manifested some interest in our Scriptural presentation, accepting the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. She had several questions, in answer to which we directed her attention to the Bible. She listened intently to what the Bible had to say on her questions. Since she and her husband were about to go on a trip, we made arrangements to return after they got back. As we were leaving the house, however, her husband drove into the driveway. I hesitated momentarily, then decided it would be better to speak with him on this occasion and perhaps forestall any problems later on. We briefly related our purpose in calling, mentioning that his wife had accepted a Bible study aid and that we would like to return at a later date to discuss the Bible further. His reply was most cordial, saying that he and his wife didn’t know much about the Bible, but they sure would like to!
6 ‘When my husband and I called back the first Saturday in June, we were warmly greeted and enjoyed a fine discussion. The following week, upon returning, we learned that they had both read the Truth book through and had a page-long sheet of questions. The following week they began attending the public talk and Watchtower study. Shortly thereafter they began attending the book study, and the following month they enrolled in the Theocratic School. Even before attending all the meetings, though, they had begun to make radical changes in their lives, giving up the tobacco habit and discontinuing their worldly associations. They taught their two-year-old to sit quietly at meetings, and the month after they began attending all the meetings, they were enjoying the field service with us. About three months later they were both baptized and are having more and more privileges in the congregation.
7 ‘One’s having a quick response from a person and then seeing his interest dissipate is something most of us have experienced, so naturally this thought came to mind at first. However, after that second call, where such a heartfelt desire to serve God was apparent, my husband and I concluded that there could be no doubt that the angels are directing Jehovah’s work under Jesus’ supervision. Upon being questioned as to why they had shown such an immediate response to our presentation of the “good news,” they answered: “It was the Bible.” When they saw it in the Bible, they knew it was true; so, their conclusion was—Why wait? They wanted to get involved, and they wasted no time in doing so. Jesus said it: “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”’
HIGHLIGHTING THE THEME OF THE BIBLE
8, 9. When we are witnessing, how can the Bible be put to good use?
8 ‘While another Witness and I were calling from house to house, a lady invited us in, and we began talking with her about the “good news,” asking her to get her own copy of the Bible. Since she mentioned that she had read the Bible many times and attended church, we asked whether she had learned what the theme of the Bible is. We read together Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:10, and so forth. We then asked her if she could see now what the theme of the Bible is, and she responded, “Yes, it’s the Kingdom!” We then read scriptures explaining what the benefits of that Kingdom rule over the earth will be. We must have been there for over an hour. When we invited her to the talk for Sunday, she said that if she decided to come she could come on her own.
9 ‘Lo and behold! I couldn’t believe it when there she was this morning for the meeting, and she had walked three miles from her house to the Kingdom Hall. She stayed for the whole program and wanted to have another discussion. We arranged a study with her in the book Good News to Make You Happy. But the most interesting thing about this woman is that she has always been very opposed to the truth up until now. In fact, when we were walking up to her door, my companion had been thinking about how opposed this woman was to the message. So, people do change!’
WITH HELP FROM GOD’S SPIRIT
10. How do the Scriptures tell of Jehovah’s mightiness? (Isa. 46:9-11)
10 Jehovah’s spirit is dynamic in operation. Referring to himself as the Creator of all that we see when we raise our eyes heavenward, he says: “Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing.” The apostle Paul also tells of that one mighty sweep of Jehovah’s power, “the mightiness of his strength, with which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up from the dead [from nonexistence] and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above . . . [all else], not only in this system of things, but also in that to come.”—Isa. 40:26; Eph. 1:19-21.
11. In line with this, how does Revelation 11:7-12 describe a wonderful unexpected happening fulfilled in our day?
11 Coming down to our own day, by the early summer of 1918 the political “wild beast,” mentioned at Revelation 11:7, dealt a deathblow to the anointed remnant, symbolized by “two witnesses,” bringing an end to their organized witnessing, and the leading members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses were railroaded off to the penitentiary for a 20-year imprisonment. In the eyes of their enemies they appeared as unburied corpses. Then what? The unexpected thing happened! After a short symbolic “three and a half days,” in the spring of 1919, “spirit of life from God [the same spirit of life that raised Christ from the dead] entered into them [the two witnesses], and they stood upon their feet . . . And they heard a loud voice out of heaven say to them: ‘Come on up here.’ And they went up into heaven,” restored to God’s favor and having renewed spiritual life and activity in the sight of all.—Rev. 11:7-12.
12. In what provision can Jehovah’s servants always put their trust, and how does it operate?
12 The holy spirit or active force from God is with Jehovah’s truly dedicated servants at all times. Jesus told of his heavenly Father’s willingness to “give holy spirit to those asking him,” and it is that spirit that keeps us going as “joyful workers.” (Luke 11:13) As Jesus said: “Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:24) Cooperate with that holy spirit and trust in it. As Paul wrote: “For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me.” (Phil. 4:13) And recall his argument at Romans 8:11: “If, now, the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you.” What grand assurance that gives us!
13. Besides those with the heavenly hope, who else can share and rejoice in Jehovah’s provisions? (Isa. 61:5-7)
13 While it is true that some of these scriptures apply particularly to those with the heavenly hope, the spiritual Israelites, God’s Word also speaks of a “great crowd” of others, referring to them as “foreigners” in comparison, yet it also invites them to be joyful workers. “And the foreigners that have joined themselves to Jehovah to minister to him and to love the name of Jehovah, in order to become servants to him [and work for him], . . . I will also bring them to my holy mountain and make them rejoice inside my house of prayer . . . For my own house will be called even a house of prayer for all the peoples.”—Isa. 56:6, 7.
CO-WORKERS WITH GOD AND CHRIST
14. Do we ever need to feel that we are working alone?
14 How comforting it is to realize that we do not work alone! As Jesus so invitingly expressed it: “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you [marginal reading: “Get under my yoke with me”] and become my disciples, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is kindly and my load is light.”—Matt. 11:28-30.
15. In what way should the overseers among God’s people set a fine lead?
15 All of us should have this same spirit—working together with Jehovah and his Son. The elders see the example set by Christ Jesus and should take the lead in working with others, especially in the house-to-house service. How pleasant it is when that spirit is manifest! Paul appealed to the Philippians, saying: “Make my joy full in that you [all of you] are of the same mind and have the same love, . . . doing nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind considering that the others are superior to you”—mild-tempered, lowly.—Phil. 2:2, 3.
16, 17. What encouragement might we find when serving during the heat of the day?
16 How wonderfully are God’s servants blessed when they serve with the same spirit of self-sacrifice as shown by Jesus! Indeed, they become joyful workers, as the examples here cited show:
DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY
17 ‘My wife and a few fellow Witnesses were out in the field service during the heat of the day. There was only one more house to visit, and my wife called there. She approached the girl at the door with a comment regarding the present world conditions and asked her if she thought anyone could solve the problems of the world. This young lady answered that it was strange that my wife should ask that question, as she and her mother had just been discussing that very subject. My wife started a study then and there, and, since we were only visiting, she turned it over to another Witness. We have recently heard that, not only this young lady, but four other persons that she contacted, have since dedicated their lives to Jehovah as a result of that last call on a hot afternoon.’
THE PLEASURE OF PIONEERING
18-22. What advantages do full-time servants enjoy, and what qualities are particularly needed? (Phil. 3:16)
18 ‘I just had to write you about the wonderful time I am having in my field service. It has really been a pleasure to pioneer, especially these past few months. I consider [the adjustment in the hour requirement] a great blessing from Jehovah . . . Many of the friends are arranging their affairs so that we can work together in service. I find myself not worrying about my time. I now enjoy thinking about my return visits and Bible studies.
19 ‘Jehovah has given me another blessing in the form of a progressive Bible study. I would like to share this experience with you. I was working from house to house one Saturday morning in July. I was invited into a house, and while we were discussing the Bible, Carol, the next-door neighbor, came over. Seeing that we were Jehovah’s Witnesses, right away she wanted to know what we believed, since, as she said, she had been looking for the true religion and had not yet found it. Seeing how sincere she was, I made arrangements to show her how to study the Bible.
20 ‘It was over a month before I found her again; this time it was at a grocery store. I offered to take her home and asked if she still wanted to study the Bible, and if so, when I could find her at home. Several weeks later I found her at home, and we had a two-hour study; she had many questions. After a few more studies, my companion Witness invited her to the Kingdom Hall, and she hasn’t missed a single meeting since October 10. . . . She sees the need to have a close relationship with Jehovah and to be one of his people. She says that the truth has brought her and her children closer together. It has made her calmer and happier. She says that she knows this is the truth because we back up everything from the Bible.
21 ‘I could not begin to thank Jehovah enough for letting me have this privilege of studying with someone and seeing that one progress in the truth. I can see the value of having a Bible study. It has made me even more determined to continue pioneering so that I may have more of an opportunity to share in finding those who are thirsting for the truth.’
JOY FROM STARTING NEW BIBLE STUDIES
22 ‘I was baptized in August of 1960. All together this will be my fifth year in regular pioneering, and I have been privileged to help over 50 persons to come to a knowledge of the truth. I usually average about six Bible studies, but this month I will report eight. I have found that the best way to start studies is in the door-to-door field service. First you find the interest, then you make a return visit and establish a Bible study.’
THE HARVEST MUST CONTINUE!
23. How are Jesus’ final words at Matthew 28:20 both a warning and an encouragement?
23 Are there still people to be gathered in during this harvesttime? Reports from the worldwide field indicate that there are. What are we going to do about it? Will we keep on working together with Christ Jesus, under his yoke? We are assured that he would be with us right down to the conclusion of the system of things. So, let us keep working until the harvest is completely gathered, all working with Christ, all working joyfully together. This is Jehovah’s work for his people today.
24, 25. (a) In what way do we have more reason to rejoice than did Paul? (b) On what grounds do we have a grand incentive to share in Jehovah’s work? (1 Cor. 3:9)
24 Paul rejoiced because he was entrusted with the “glorious good news of the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) Surely we have even more reason to rejoice as we are entrusted with the good news of the established Kingdom to “be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations” before the end comes. (Matt. 24:14) If the birth of Jesus was a proper occasion for the angel to declare “good news of a great joy that all the people will have,” surely his enthronement as heavenly King is a far greater occasion for rejoicing, when “the kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.” (Luke 2:10; Rev. 11:15) This declaring of the “good news” is Jehovah’s work for his people today. Our taking a firm stand on the side of that kingdom and loyally working for its interests will cause even Jehovah’s heart to rejoice. “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.”—Prov. 27:11.
25 What a privilege is ours! What an incentive to share joyfully with Jesus Christ in Jehovah’s work!
-