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Theocratic Aid
to
Kingdom Publishers

CHAPTER I

ATTENTION, KINGDOM PUBLISHER!

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THE attention of Jehovah's Kingdom publishers was arrested nineteen centuries ago by the rousing command: "Go, disciple all the nations, . . . teaching them to observe all things which I have enjoined upon you." (Matt. 28:19, 20, Diaglott) The words were uttered by the Leader and Commander of all Christians, Christ Jesus. What were the 'things which he had enjoined' upon those early Christians? Relative to the twelve apostles, Jesus commanded: "Go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." To seventy others he later gave similar command and sent them forth to preach "The kingdom of God is come". (Matt. 10:5-7; Luke 10:1,9) The army of Kingdom publishers grew, and they all preached. That was what was enjoined upon them. Hence that is what new disciples as well as older ones were to be taught to observe and do. Thereafter they did go into all the nations round about and did teach others to observe the same command of Kingdom announcement enjoined upon them. All were attentive and responsive to the commission to make disciples.

But what of this day? This same command comes down through the centuries of time and reaches to Kingdom

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publishers now upon the earth. That this is true is shown by Christ Jesus' own words concerning the last days for which he foretold this work of discipling as one of the signs of his second coming: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14, Am. Stan. Ver., margin) As they preach "this gospel" and make disciples of all the nations the Kingdom publishers do a work of teaching, teaching others to observe the same commands they obey.

They themselves are and must continue to be taught. (Rom. 2:21) They are disciples themselves. "Disciple" means a "learner". Hence both veteran publishers and newly gathered "other sheep" learn to worship and serve their Creator. Spiritual Israelites and good-will "strangers" are under the same law. (Num. 15:15,16) All of the assembled ones, whether anointed or Jonadabs, obey the "one ordinance", namely, to preach the gospel as a Kingdom publisher. Both groups rightfully point to the same commission as their authority, which is recorded at Isaiah 61: 1,2, and which is the commission of their Leader and Commander. It is discretionary with an individual as to whether he will serve the Lord, but, once having made a consecration to do God's will, obedience to Jehovah's commands becomes mandatory. It is a matter of life or death. Hence any provision that will aid in fulfilling the commission has the serious attention of the Kingdom publisher.

As its name indicates, that is the purpose of this book. It is provided by the Watchtower Society in the line of duty. The commission placed upon Timothy by Paul now rests upon the Society, namely: "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:2) This course of study is provided that others may be well-trained teachers, teaching still others to observe and do the words and commands of Christ Jesus. A careful study of its contents by the Kingdom publisher

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will make him more efficient in meeting the exacting demands of the Christian's commission. It will aid him as he publishes from door to door, on the streets, at back-calls, book studies, and public meetings. It will enable the receptive Kingdom publisher to gird up the loins of his mind and wield with more telling effect than heretofore the "sword of the spirit" as he pushes forward in the work of 'discipling the nations'.

The book is well named. It gives aid, and that aid is Theocratic because from the Lord through his organization. His spirit or active force was at work in its production. It is passed to his people through the "faithful and wise servant" as "meat in due season" to strengthen them in the work of gospel-preaching. The principles set forth are in harmony with the logical mind, which Jehovah created. It follows the principles exemplified in the most sterling specimen of composition ever produced, God's Word, the Bible. Inasmuch as Jehovah inspired the Bible writers, all its good qualities as to choice of words and beauty of language and power of argument are attributable to him. Also, his holy prophets not only wrote but spoke as moved by his holy spirit, and this active force moved them to make an effective delivery of God's message. Logical thinking and writing and effective speaking originate with him. The principles relayed to the students of this publication are the same as those exemplified in God's Word. Hence it is Theocratic.

In what practical ways does the book offer aid? The Lord's Word admonishes all Christians to study. This publication contains lessons showing how to do it. The Bible speaks against babbling and wordiness. (2 Tim. 2:16; Job 38: 2; Eccl. 5:3; Matt. 6:7) These pitfalls are side-stepped by the Kingdom publisher through a knowledge of how to gather material and outline it for logical presentation. The book goes farther than this. The material in the mind does not make itself felt in gospel-preaching until it comes out of the mouth. This training course will enable the

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Kingdom publisher to present these ideas in correct and pleasing language with a minimum of words and maximum of thought content. It will train one to speak out the truth correctly on all occasions. "The Lord GOD has given me a tongue [a well-trained tongue, Moffatt] for teaching, that I may know how to succor the weary with a word."  —Isa. 50: 4, Smith-Goodspeed.

Instruction is given in the conduct of book studies, in street witnessing, in door-to-door work, in congregational meetings, and how to perform all this with Theocratic tact. Thorough discussion is given concerning Bible helps, and much information concerning the Bible itself and the use of its various translations further aids the Kingdom publisher. Finally, a section appears on the subject of religion. Concerning Satan the Devil the apostle Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth: "We are not ignorant of his devices." Certainly religion is Satan's original and main device in seeking to gain advantage over Jehovah's worshipers. All of this material will be of aid to the Kingdom publisher because it is especially adapted to his needs in gospel-preaching. It deserves his attention.

To gain the Theocratic aid offered, the Kingdom publisher must study this book. You cannot expect to read straight through this book and retain all it contains. To really grasp and retain its wide range of knowledge, you must go slowly, and patiently make each individual lesson the subject of your study and practice during the week for which it is scheduled. In the pursuit of this course, as in other Theocratic activities, the divine rule applies, 'As you sow, so shall you reap.' If you sow sparingly, then you will reap sparingly. (Gal. 6:7; 2 Cor. 9:6) The converse is true. If the Kingdom publisher sows bountifully, then he will reap manifold benefits. In view of the crucial times and the intensive campaign of education that is to be carried on by the Lord's servants, the importance of their training as efficient Theocratic educators cannot be over-stressed.

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The Kingdom work is increasing and expanding and calls for greater and more efficient activity on the part of its doers. Armageddon comes on apace, yet the completion of the Kingdom's announcement must beat out the breaking Armageddon's storm. Alongside the avalanche of the Devil's propaganda to sweep all peoples into his "new world order" orbit, the announcement of Jehovah's ever-abiding new world is proclaimed with growing volume. If there was reason to disciple all nations and preach the Kingdom as at hand nineteen centuries ago, at the time of the King's earthly sojourn, with how much greater reason and urgency does the Christian's commission press for fulfillment in these days when the King reigns enthroned in heaven's heights!

An efficient presentation of the Kingdom message is the need of the hour. This is no time to fight as one who beats the air. Concerning God's anointed Kingdom publishers his Word states: "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession [a people for a purpose, Diaglott]; that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Pet. 2: 9, Am. Stan. Ver.) And with that "holy nation" the Lord's "other sheep" are associated as companions, subject to the "one ordinance". God's purpose is to use his "possession" that the nations shall be discipled and the Kingdom gospel preached. (1 Cor. 6:20) That purpose will not fail, nor will those commissioned to fulfill that purpose fail. There is no reason or excuse for failure, because Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are their Teachers and through the Theocratic organization they send forth the necessary training to make the Kingdom publishers succeed as 'people for God's purpose' of gospel preaching. (Acts 15:14) This book, Theocratic Aid to Kingdom Publishers, is a vital provision to this end. Therefore it deserves the attention of every Kingdom publisher. Use it well!




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