Click or tap on the cloud icon on the side of the event tile. Select the video quality for the event you would like to download. Depending on your network bandwidth, we typically recommend choosing the highest quality available. How to View a Video in Full-Screen Mode. About JWTalk.net - Jehovah's Witnesses Online Community. Since 2006, JWTalk has proved to be a well-moderated online community for real Jehovah's Witnesses on the web. However, our community is not an official website of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or maintained by any legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses. JW Scheduler is the quickest and easiest way to schedule and organise the Christian Life and Ministry meeting, Public Talks, JW Secretary Records, Field Service schedules, Duties and even more! JW Scheduler 4.6.4.
On the week of March 30, millions of people will meet together (at the Kingdom Halls or via Videoconference) to see the 2020 Special Talk. Most of the congregations worldwide will see it on Sunday, April 5, 2020.Free Jw Bible Download
But one thing is unprecedented for this year's Special Talk and Memorial Talk. We think that because of the COVID-19 outbreak all over the world, the organization has made the Special Talk and Memorial Talk video public. It is now available for download at the JW.org website. But if you don't want to download it, you can watch it online. Just head over to JW.ORG, then LIBRARY, then VIDEOS. You can see it on 'Latest Videos'. (As of writing, the Memorial Talk video is not yet available. Surely, it will be released very soon.) Here is a snapshot of the 2020 Special Talk video:
| 2020 Special Talk on JW.ORG Page Screenshot |
The 2020 Special Talk has the theme 'Whose Leadership Can You Trust?'. Using the official JW.ORG page, you can choose your desired language (including sign languages).
Jw Public Talks Download
We think that the same thing is arranged for the 2020 Memorial Talk. We will keep you updated. Stay safe brothers!UPDATE APRIL 6, 2020: The 2020 Memorial Talk is already on JW.org.
| 2020 Memorial Talk |
As a matter of fact, you can also see it on the homepage. There are 2 buttons where you can select either you will 'Attend in Person' or 'Watch Online'.
From Jehovah and Jesus, We Learn What True Mercy Is
How would you describe mercy? What is mercy and how do we perceive it? Well, one dictionary describes it as 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm'.The Hebrew rendering for the word mercy is simply to be compassionate. There is certainly no fault on our part for showing mercy when we have the power to do so. However, imagine for a moment the following scenario.
You're a parent. You tell the child that you will punish him or her if they were to be disobedient.The child fails to be obedient despite your best efforts.Would it be in the child's best interests if you were to withhold that punishment?Well, some may think yes and others no or perhaps that it depends on the situation.Of course, the Bible tells us to use the 'rod of discipline' in order to train a child in a spirit of love and mildness in order to make him or her a better person in the fullness of time.
However, what we want and need to know, is what true mercy really is and when we can and should display it.How does mercy play a part in our families, christian congregation and with our neighbours?
Without any doubt whatsoever, we can look to Jehovah and his son Jesus as prime examples that answer these questions and help us to act accordingly.Turn with me to Ephesians chapter 2 verse 4.
(Ephesians 2:4) . . .But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us. Best desktop storage drive. . .
We learn from this verse that mercy is a quality of love and that Jehovah is rich in mercy.However, lets just harmonise that with the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 145 verses 8 and 9.
(Psalm 145:8, 9)8 Jehovah is compassionate and merciful, Slow to anger and great in loyal love. ט [Teth] 9 Jehovah is good to all, And his mercy is evident in all his works.
It's interesting to note how Jehovah is merciful in all his works, and how it is an abundant quality that he displays. Does this need to be true of us too? Well certainly it should be after all we were made in God's image and should abide by his standards. Of course, its interesting that we should say this because it is exactly what Jesus does.Jesus inherits all his qualities from Jehovah his father and the same rule should apply to us too. Turn with me for example to Matthew chapter 5 verse 7. In the Sermon of the mount Jesus said these following words.
(Matthew 5:7) . . .'Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
Now Jesus could quite rightly say this because he displayed mercy in his life on earth, setting an example for us to follow him closely. In Matthew 9 verse 13, Jesus says 'Go, then, and learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners'. So not only did he practice mercy, but he encouraged it in his disciples too.Therefore this subject of mercy is very important to true Christians.
However, Jehovah's mercy is far more reaching than simply holding back judgment or punishment for wrongdoing.If a person is repentant, that is sorry and turns back from his wrong course, Jehovah is known in the scriptures to show his mercy.Aforementioned the Hebrew description for the word mercy is simply to be compassionate, which is comparable to the pity or merciful feelings a nursing mother has for her child when hungry.Turn with me to Isaiah 49:15.
(Isaiah 49:15)15 Can a woman forget her nursing child Or have no compassion for the son of her womb? Even if these women forget, I would never forget you.
In Jesus dealings with two blind beggars, he revealed that mercy should be an active expression of compassionate feelings.In Matthew chapter 20 verses 30 to 34 we learn that these beggars were shouting 'Have mercy on us!' and that Jesus was moved with pity for them. So not only did he feel compassion, but he acted on his compassion too because when we read further in that account, we learn that he healed them.
He also showed mercy or compassion by giving to others too, both spiritually and materially.Let's look at an example in Matthew chapter 15 verses 32 to 38.
(Matthew 15:32-38) . . .But Jesus called his disciples to him and said: 'I feel pity for the crowd, because they have already stayed with me for three days and they have had nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for they may give out on the road.' 33 However, the disciples said to him: 'Where in this isolated place are we going to get enough bread to satisfy a crowd of this size?' 34 At this Jesus said to them: 'How many loaves do you have?' They said: 'Seven, and a few small fish.' 35 So after instructing the crowd to recline on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after offering thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And all ate and were satisfied, and they took up seven large baskets full of leftover fragments. 38 Now those eating were 4,000 men, as well as women and young children.
Jesus of course didn't have to feed that hungry crowd, there was no pressure on him to do so.As we see however, Jesus felt mercy and pity on them, and chose to act on his feelings.Therefore it is not enough to simply feel mercy, we need to put it into deeds, or our works too. We read Matthew 5:7 earlier, and we know that such ones who show mercy will be shown mercy themselves.On the other hand, certain individualals made gifts of mercy but they were condemned.Turn with me to Matthew chapter six verse 2.
(Matthew 6:2) . . .So when you make gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. . .
Well these individuals were condemned because their gifts of mercy were out of a wrong motive.
Bible Recommends Mercy That Stems From Right Motive
Sadly, the 'mercy' that individuals display are not always out of a good or proper motive, so our mercy needs to be based on genuine feelings.Sadly too, during Jesus day on earth, he encountered religious leaders whose mercy was far from of a good motive as we read there. Why? Verse 3 explains.
(Matthew 6:3) . . .But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. . .
They made gifts of mercy not out of compassion, but rather to be seen and commended by men.Sadly, we oftentimes see similar today. For example, celebrities may engage in fund raising for charities, but not without the attention of the press and the public.Sometimes material giving is merely an excuse for not mercifully providing what is really needed.For example, a husband may give expensive gifts to their wives and children because they fail to give time, affection and spiritual guidance.
On the other hand however, when mercy is shown with a proper motive, it can be positive, upbuilding, heart-warming and beneficial, and it can also give lasting satisfaction to the one displaying mercy.There might not be outward praise from onlookers, but in oneself there is the knowledge that we have a done a fine thing, and Jehovah sees all our acts of compassion too.
Certainly, when we see individuals in the congregation who are in need of help, clothing, food and even spiritual help, and we help them, it engenders desirable qualities in the recipient too as mercy begets mercy.Turn with me to Luke chapter 6 verses 36 and 38.
(Luke 6:36, 38) . . .Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
38 Practice giving, and people will give to you
Mercy with the right motive also encourages empathy and kindness in others too and puts us in line for Jehovah's blessing. Proverbs 11:25 tells us that 'The generous person will prosper, And whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.'
Seek to Show Mercy In Your Daily Life
Now certainly, our Christianity and the qualities that entails are not merely for use at Kingdom Halls or other places of worship.Rather, these qualities should be engaged in at all times.At work, school, in the family and with our neighbour. In other words, mercy needs to be shown towards all people. Does this bring about a famous parable to mind?Well, if it does well done. You're probably thinking about Jesus parable about the man who was robbed and left on the side of the road in Luke chapter 10 verses 29 to 37.And we note of course how the Samaritan who helped the victim not only had feelings of mercy, but acted on them too.The point of this parable was that it was a Samaritan, as they had no dealings with the Jews, was the man who showed compassion.In other words, he showed mercy toward all people.Certainly, we should be no part of the world, but this doesn't mean that we are calloused to those in the world. It's the bad practices, false religions and such that we have no dealing with. Our Christian ministry shows our love and mercy toward all people not a select few.So we do show mercy and love to individuals in the world and bring relief and the message of good news to them.We also show kindness and patience toward them too.
Obviously, in what manner and extent one can help depends on circumstances.Turn with me to Proverbs chapter 3 verse 27.
(Proverbs 3:27) . . .Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it If it is within your power to help.
So when it is in our power to help, or we have the means to do it, then we should action our mercy toward them.On the other hand, if we see someone struggling in a body of water and yet we can't swim, it would be foolish to jump in and rescue that person.We would look for something to throw in like a life ring or float. So we do our upmost to show mercy, but when its in our means to do so. This of course depends on circumstances and is a personal decision.
What would be your response to a begging child, a person in poverty or even a disabled person?Although we want to show mercy to situations that are out of their control, we certainly wouldn't want to encourage laziness, drunkenness amongst other things forbidden in the Bible.For example, Proverbs chapter 20 verse 4 says 'The lazy one does not plow in winter, So he will be begging during the harvest when he has nothing'. If someone has been made redundant or is unable to work then yes we should action gifts of mercy.However, if they are in poverty simply because of laziness or spent all their money on drunken bouts then we need to act with caution. We wouldn't want to encourage someone to continue on a wrong course.This would not be true mercy. However, preparing a meal for a sick neighbour or helping to care for children for example would be genuine people requiring our acts of mercy.
Spiritual giving of course has the greatest emphasis in the scriptures.For example, the main pattern of Jesus acts on earth was related to the preaching of the Kingdom and teaching others about spiritual things. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 4 verse 23.
(Matthew 4:23) . . .Then he went throughout the whole of Galʹi·lee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people.
So yes Jesus showed mercy towards the sick and cured the infirm, but only met these individuals by seeking out people and preaching to them about the Kingdom good news.By his teachings, he gave people what was needed to change their lives for the better. The apostles also continued to do the same, even after Jesus had been resurrected and had returned to heaven.
Certainly, with the new world so close at hand now, what would be more beneficial, a Christian organisation that gave medical help or financial assistance or an organisation that helped people get to know about the Kingdom good news that will usher them into that new world where sickness and death is to eradicated? John 17:3 tells us that everlasting life is gained through this knowledge, so our emphasis should be to mercifully preach this message to everyone we meet. Turn with me to John chapter 6 verse 27. What did Jesus say here?
(John 6:27) . . .Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you; for on this one the Father, God himself, has put his seal of approval. . .
So certainly, we want to help people in every way, but especially by giving them the knowledge needed to attain everlasting life in the new world. All of us can exert ourselves in spiritual giving as much as we possibly can.
Certainly, we also want to show mercy to those who make a mistake or err in some way.Turn with me to Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 to 4.
(Matthew 7:1-4) . . .'Stop judging that you may not be judged; 2 for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you. 3 Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother's eye but do not notice the rafter in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the straw from your eye,' when look! a rafter is in your own eye?
So we don't want to hold a grudge when a brother or sister commits a wrong and repents or perhaps doesn't see the wrong as yet.It may be the merciful course to overlook wrong, unless it is something extremely serious.
If there is someone in the congregation who is depressed or has some emotional problem, then we certainly want to comfort individuals as much as we can.1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 14 tells us to 'On the other hand, we urge you, brothers, to warn the disorderly, speak consolingly to those who are depressed, support the weak, be patient toward all'. Do you know anyone who may require such comfort?
Work to Increase the Influence of Mercy In Our Lives
Certainly, having this knowledge of what mercy means can have a positive impact on ourselves and those around us.We can work to increase its influence in our own personal lives and conduct. However, this quality shouldn't be forced our artificial but it needs to come from the heart.Such feelings we can learn to cultivate and apply. In the world it can be the case that we face an unmerciful spirit, but its of greater benefit to act more mercifully toward others.
Jehovah showed us the greatest act of mercy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for our sins so that those exercising faith may have everlasting life.Does this not spur us on to be merciful also? Are you are merciful person?
Gmail download on desktop. If you would like a free home Bible study at a time and place to suit you, please visit http://www.jw.org and follow the link at the foot of the page.
