Lesson 58 Remain Loyal to Jehovah
[Image:] A family calmly walking past a group of apostates who are jeering at people arriving at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
True Christians are determined never to allow anything or anyone to interfere with their worship of Jehovah. No doubt that is how you feel. Jehovah values your loyalty. (Read 1 Chronicles 28.9.)
[Read scripture] 1 Chronicles 28.9: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul, for Jehovah searches through all hearts, and he discerns every inclination of the thoughts. If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him, he will reject you forever. [End of Read scripture]
What situations could test your loyalty to him, and how can you deal with them?
1. How could others test our loyalty to Jehovah?
Some people will try to prevent us from serving Jehovah. Who would do such a thing? Some who have left the truth tell lies about God’s organization in order to destroy our faith. They are called apostates. Also, some religious leaders spread false information about us to cause unsuspecting ones to leave the truth. It is dangerous for us to argue with any opposers, to read their books or blogs, to go to their websites, or to watch their videos. Regarding those who try to discourage others from loyally serving Jehovah, Jesus said: “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15.14)
2. What personal decisions may test our loyalty to Jehovah?
Love for Jehovah will move us to avoid having any involvement with false religion. Neither our job nor the organizations we belong to nor any activities we engage in should be connected with false religion. Jehovah warns us: “Get out of [Babylon the Great], my people.” (Revelation 18.2 and 4)
[Quotation] Revelation 18.2: And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: “She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen, and she has become a dwelling place of demons and a place where every unclean spirit and every unclean and hated bird lurks! [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Revelation 18.4: And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues. [End Quotation]
Dig Deeper
Learn how you can avoid letting anyone weaken your loyalty to Jehovah. Also see how you can show loyalty by getting out of Babylon the Great.
3. Beware of false teachers
How should we react if we hear negative things about Jehovah’s organization? Read Proverbs 14.15, and then discuss this question that follows.
[Read scripture] Proverbs 14.15: The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step. [End of Read scripture]
Why are we careful not to believe everything we hear?
Read 2 John 9 through 11, and then discuss the questions that follow.
[Read scripture] 2 John 9 through 11: Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.. [End of Read scripture]
How should we treat apostates?
Even if we do not interact directly with apostates, how could we come into contact with their teachings?
How do you think Jehovah would feel if we were to pay attention to negative speech about him or his organization?
4. Remain loyal to God when a brother sins
If we learn that someone in the congregation has committed a serious sin, what obligation do we have? Consider a principle from God’s Law to ancient Israel. Read Leviticus 5.1.
[Read scripture] Leviticus 5.1: “‘If someone sins because he has heard a public call to testify and he is a witness or has seen or learned about it and he does not report it, then he will answer for his error. [End of Read scripture]
As instructed in that verse, if we learn that a person has committed a serious sin, we should tell the elders what we know. Before doing so, however, it would be a kindness to urge the wrongdoer himself to go to the elders and confess his sin. If he fails to do so, our loyalty to Jehovah should prompt us to tell the elders what we know.
How does such an approach demonstrate loyal love for ...
Jehovah God?
the person who has sinned?
others in the congregation?
[Image:] Collage: A brother helps another brother who has done something wrong. 1. The brother is disturbed by what he sees on his cell phone. 2. The brother shows his cell phone to the other brother, but the other brother rejects his approach. 3. The brother shows his cell phone to two elders and talks with them. Caption: If a fellow believer is in trouble, help him!
5. Stay out of Babylon the Great
Play the video Get Out of Babylon the Great! (5:06).
[Click for Transcript]|[Get Out of Babylon the Great]
[Text: Reenactment]
Woman: Right about the time I started studying the Bible, an opportunity came up for me to start doing secretarial work at a church. I was the one who cared for all of the money that the church would receive. But at that moment, I didn’t see any problem with staying where I worked.
Man: I studied the Bible and learned that the festivals I used to participate in were displeasing to Jehovah. But it did not seem possible that I would be the only one not participating in those festivals. These opportunities brought families closer together, and they were fun too.
Woman: One night at a meeting, I was talking with an elder, and he told me that I wouldn’t even be able to give student parts at the Kingdom Hall, since I was still working as a secretary at the church. That made me very sad because I found myself just receiving guidance from Jehovah and learning his truths, but I was not giving back anything to him despite what he was doing for me. However, I have to admit that I still hadn’t completely made up my mind, since my husband had back surgery and wasn’t able to work at the time. We had our little daughter to care for, so I kept thinking: ‘What should I do? ‘Right now, this is the only money we have coming in.’
Man: I prayed a lot to Jehovah for help with this issue. I thought about Jehovah’s feelings. I didn’t want to do anything that hurt Jehovah. When I stopped participating in religious festivals, my family stopped speaking to me. When it was time for the festivals, it made me think that they were together, and I was by myself. So, at times, I cried. I meditated on God’s promise at Psalm 27:10. Jehovah promised me that if my parents abandoned me, he would receive me as his child. It helped me to stand firm. Personally, I tried to attend the meetings and participate in the ministry too. All of these activities made me feel that the congregation is like a family and that Jehovah is the Father of all of us. But I never forgot my parents. So, I tried to help them in whatever ways I could. I took about three or four days of vacation to go help them harvest rice.
Woman: I had great help from my instructor. Just as Jehovah doesn’t force us, she didn’t force me. As she told experiences and showed me in the Bible what really pleases Jehovah, it made me realize that I had to make a decision. As my Bible study got deeper, I began to realize that I really was already loving Jehovah and wanted to please him. Before Jehovah, my conscience was already affecting me. I had to make a decision on his side. That’s exactly what I did. Two weeks later, I got a job, and it was close to my home. I was able to gain a clean conscience before Jehovah. I have seen this in my life: Anyone who trusts in Jehovah is not helpless.
Man: When I told my parents that although I changed my religion, I still loved them, they started to open up and talk to me gradually. So, I invited them to attend a meeting. When my father attended the meeting, he said: “Oh! You made a good decision, my son.” Then I was very happy. I still hope that my family will one day study the Bible and worship Jehovah along with me.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2021 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
[Image:] A scene from the video Get Out of Babylon the Great! A Bible student walks away from a priest after she quit her job at a church. [Image:] A sister and her young son exiting a supermarket. They walk past a woman who is soliciting donations for a religious charity. Caption: What would you do if you were asked to contribute to a religious charity?
Read Luke 4.8 and Revelation 18.4 and 5, and then answer the questions that follow.
[Read scripture] Luke 4.8: In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Revelation 18.4 and 5: And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues. 5 For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind. [End of Read scripture]
Is my name still on the membership rolls of a false religion?
Do I belong to an organization that is connected with another religion?
Does my work support false religion in any way?
Are there any other areas in my life where I need to separate from false religion?
If I answered yes to any of these questions, what changes should I make?
In all cases, make a decision that leaves you with a clean conscience and reflects your loyalty to Jehovah.
[Box]
Some People Say: “I need to know what apostates are saying about Jehovah’s Witnesses so that I can defend the truth.” Would that be wise? Why, or why not? [End of box]
Summary
To remain loyal to Jehovah, we need to avoid associating with those who are disloyal to him. We also need to separate ourselves completely from false religion.
Review
Why should we not watch, read, or listen to the ideas of apostates?
How should we treat those who no longer want to be Jehovah’s Witnesses?
How can we heed the warning to flee from false religion?
Goal
If you are connected in any way with false religion, take steps to separate yourself from it. Set Other Goals
Explore
Learn how to react when others spread false reports about Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Do You Have the Facts?” (The Watchtower, August 2018)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
How can you identify organizations or activities that support Babylon the Great? “Keep Busy During the Last of ‘the Last Days’” (The Watchtower, October 2019, paragraphs 16 through 18)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
What have some opposers done to try to weaken our faith? Beware of Deceit (9:32)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
In the story “I Had Been Looking for God Since Childhood,” read about a Shinto priest who broke off ties with false religion. “The Bible Changes Lives” (The Watchtower, July 1, 2011)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]