SERMON - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JEHOVAH WITNESSES

What you need

To know about

Jehovah Witnesses

I have told you of other religious beliefs but erroneously neglected to tell you anything about the Jehovah Witnesses you see going door to door as they seek to spread their beliefs. Just today I read in the local newspaper about a young boy who died rather than accept a blood transfusion. With this in mind, I now say the following:

Charles Taze Russell was born into a Presbyterian family in 1852. As he grew up he became disillusioned with Denominational teachings and decided to start his own Denomination. He soon had a small group of followers and he began to write his thoughts and called his writings, ‘Zion’s Watchtower.’ This set of writings became the first publication of what we now know as the faith of Jehovah Witness.

In 1926, after Russell’s death, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, nicknamed ‘Judge’ took charge of the followers of Russell and gave the name of Jehovah Witness and dropped the name of Zion’s Watchtower. Rutherford began to teach that Christian Pastors and Catholic Priests were ‘the swine class,’ and began to mock Pastors and Priests saying, “Christians represent Satan’s organization.” This teaching continues to this very day.

Jehovah Witnesses claim to be, “the only true religion.” Just like so many Christian Denominations, the Mormons and the Muslims they claim that salvation is only to be had through their religious beliefs.

I caution you, BEWARE OF THAT WAY OF THINKING!

Jehovah Witnesses reject the Holy Trinity as they deny that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are One with God. To them the Trinity is corrupt and confusing and has no basis in Scripture. According to Rutherford, “Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than the doctrine of the Trinity.” He added, “It could have originated in one mind and that is in the mind of Satan.”

This continues to be taught this very day!

With the inability of any Jehovah Witness to grasp the thought of the Trinity, saying, “This is not possible,” if confronted with such and argument refer to the following:

Job 11: 7-9 Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything there is to know about the Almighty? Such knowledge is higher than the heavens-but who are you? It is deeper than the underworld-what can you know in comparison to Him? He is broader than the earth and wider then the sea.

Isaiah 55: 8-9 “My thoughts are completely different than yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought higher than your thoughts.”

Now, let us look what the Bible, God’s Word, sets forth respecting the Holy Trinity.

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Jesus said these words.) 

2 Corinthians 13:13 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

There are many other verses that refer to the Trinity without saying the word Trinity specifically. The actual word need not appear as the concept is clearly made apparent.

To the Jehovah Witness Jesus Christ is actually Michael the Archangel. In an effort to prove this as fact many portions of the bible used by a Jehovah’s Witness has been rewritten. The bible (no caps here) is known as the New World Translation, names Jesus Christ as a ‘lesser god.’ As Jesus said, “The Father is greater than I,” that is grasped by the Jehovah Witnesses as undeniable proof of this. Of course it is their bible used to prove their meanings.

To clarify this in a conversation with any Jehovah Witness simply ask, “At the time Jesus spoke these words was He still on earth? Was He entitled to use His human nature as it was He who came to earth, to live the life of a human and to set an example of true righteousness? 

In John 20:28 Thomas uttered these words, “My Lord and my God.” 

Even the bible used by the Jehovah Witnesses sets forth this scripture!

The Jehovah Witness will claim, “The Holy Spirit is, but a nature of God.” To that tell your adversary to read:

1 Corinthians 12: 11 It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person shall have.

HE HAS A WILL!

John 15: 26 “But I will send you the Counselor-the Spirit of Truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you about Me.

HE BEARS WITNESS!

John 16:13 When the Spirit if Truth comes, He will guide you to all truth.

HE IS OUR GUIDE!

Acts 13:2 One day these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for special work I have for them.”

HE REFERS TO HIMSELF AS A PERSON!

These verses do not refer to the Holy Spirit as a ‘nature,’ they are specifically clear. The Holy Spirit is One with God and Jesus Christ. The Blessed Trinity!

To Jehovah Witnesses heaven is limited to 144,000 people. It is only a select 144,000 that will be ‘born again.’ All other Jehovah Witnesses will enjoy a ‘life on earth,’ that will be ‘free from pain and suffering.’ This is what they say is the ‘Great Crowd.’

When you hear a Jehovah Witness say this merely ask: Do you read the New Testament? You see, the ordinary Jehovah Witness is not allowed to read the New Testament! So, use the following:

John 3:3 Jesus replied,” I assure you that unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”

You can now pose this, Isn’t this Scripture teaching that anyone who accepts Jesus Christ entitled to be born again? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then the next question is…” Aren’t you anyone?”

Heaven may only be attained through works. You must be active in door to door preaching. Reading Watchtower literature is a must! You must remain active in your church attendance. This is but a few of Jehovah Witness works and requirements.    

Church is a word for others, Jehovah Witnesses gather in Kingdom Halls.

Jehovah Witnesses are taught to fear and avoid, Worldly People; Close Relationships unless married to another JW; Fear Satan and His demons; any book or writing other than their bible and Watchtower writings; the internet is evil; leaving the JW faith and belief system is damnable; all other religions, especially Christianity must be avoided and condemned! Blood transfusions and medicines are to be avoided. Blood is sacred. (Truthfully they mainly practice a ‘Don’t ask- don’t tell’ way of life. 

To counter their fears and beliefs as well as their fear of being ‘shunned’ by other JWs,

(JW members must ‘shun’ all fallen members) read this to them:

Romans 8:15 So you should not be living like cowering fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into His family-calling Him, “Father, dear Father...”

JWs do not celebrate Christmas, national Holidays, any National flags or symbols as all are demonic and marks of Satan.  To them ‘Jesus did not resurrect in the body, it was in spirit alone.’

I close this by asking two simple questions: If a belief system is right, what fear should there be in investigating and learning about others? Is that not what you and I are doing?

(Closing prayer)

Almighty God, You are Our Father and we praise You. We worship you and thank You for all You have given us. You are God and we your servants. May Your will be done in our lives and may we live in Your Spirit.

Father, we meet many that seek to change our paths from You to paths that are man made and do not lead us to live by Your inalterable Word. Strengthen our hearts and spirits as You give us the power to teach Your Word to all that will listen. Open their ears to us Lord and allow us to be heard.

Lord, the celebration of Your birth as man to walk amongst us is nearing. We know that the date we celebrate is only a day that man has chosen but please know that it is our intention to honor You and to show our realization that You alone are our God, there is no other.

We ask that You protect our military and we thank You for their latest successes. It is by Your power that they seek to win the hearts and minds of men and women abroad. Father, guide our elected officials, our Judges and police forces and the many that work to keep us from harm. See to it that Your Word is their guide…

These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, You Son and our Savior, Who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever,

Amen, amen and amen.