Can the Devil control people?

 SOME PEOPLE SAY that control by the Devil is a hoax whole others dread being possessed by evil spirits. What do you think? 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS 

The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) The Devil exerts great influence over mankind, but he does not control every human. 

WHAT ELSE CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLE? 

. The Devil uses deception to increase his influence. - 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14.

. Wicked spirits can in some cases take control of people. - MATTHEW 12:22.

. With God's help, you can successfully "oppose the Devil." - JAMES 4:7. 

Next time: Should Christians Worship at Shrines?

From the jw.org publications

What Does the Bible Say?/Who or What is the Devi?

 Would you say that the Devil is . . .

. A spirit person?

. A symbol of the evil inside a person?

. A product of human imagination?

What the Bible says

The Devil conversed with and "tempted" Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-4) So the Devil is not imaginary, nor is he just a symbol of evil. He is a wicked spirit person. 

WHAT ELE CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLE? 

. The Devil was originally a holy angel, but "he did not stand fast in the truth." (John 8:44) He became a liar and rebelled against God. 

. Other angels joined Satan's rebellion. - REVELATION 12:9.

. The Devil blinds many people to his existence. - 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4. 

Next time: Can the Devil Control People?

From the jw.org publications 

How Chapters and Verses Are Designated

 A chapter-and-verse reference lets you know where to find any passage of scripture. In this magazine, the reference "Isaiah 40:13," for example, identifies the following:

a. the book, Isaiah

b. the chapter, 40

c. the verse, 13

There, we find Isaiah's words: "Who has taken the measurements of the spirit of Jehovah, and who can instruct him as his adviser?"   Paul's use of these words can now be found easily at ROMANS 11:34 and 1 CORINTHIANS 2:16. 

Next time: What Does the Bible Say?/Who or What is the Devil? 

From the jw.org publications

A BOON FOR BIBLE STUDENTS

 It seems to be such a simple idea-numbered chapters and verses. This gives each verse in the Bible a unique "address"-like a postal code. True, the chapter and verse divisions are not inspired by God, and they do at times break up the Bible text in strange places. But they make it easier for us to pinpoint quotes    and to highlight or share individual verses that may have special meaning for us- just as we highlight expressions or phrases that we specially want to remember in a document or a book.

Convenient though the chapter-and-verse divisions are, always keep in mind the importance of getting the big picture-understanding the whole message God gave. Cultivate the habit of reading the context rather than isolated verses. Doing so will help you to become more and more familiar with all "the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation." - 2 TIMOTHY 3:15.

Next time: How Chapters and Verses Are Designated

From the jw.org publications

WHO ADDED THE VERSES?

Some 300 years later, in the middle of the sixteenth century renowned French printer-scholar Robert Estienne made thing even easier. His aim was to popularize Bible study. He realized how valuable it would be to have a uniform system of both numbered chapters and verses.

Estienne did not come up with the idea of dividing the Bible text into verses. Others had done that already. Centuries earlier, Jewish copyists, for example, had divided the whole Hebrew Bible, or the part of the Bible commonly known as the Old Testament, into verses but not into chapters. Again, as the development of chapters, there was no uniform system.

Estienne divided the Christian Greek Scriptures, or what is called the New Testament, into a new set of numbered verses and combined them with those already in the Hebrew Bible. In 1553, he published the first compete Bible (and edition in French) with basically the same chapters and verses that most Bibles use today. Some people were critical and said those verses broke the Bible text into fragments making it appear as a series of separate and detached statements. But his system was quickly adopted by other printers.

Next time: A BOON FOR BIBLE STUDENTS

From the jw.org publications

 

WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS? - Conclusion

 All of that, however, created a problem. The scholars produced many different and incompatible systems. In one of them, Mark's Gospel was divided into almost 50 chapters, not the 16 we have now. In Paris in Langton's day, there were students from many countries, and they brought with them Bibles from their native lands. However, lectures and students could not share references. Why? Because the chapter divisions in their manuscripts simply did not match.

So Langton developed new chapter divisions. His system "caught the imagination of readers and scribes, "states The Book-A History of the Bible, and it "spread rapidly across Europe." He gave us the chapter numbering we find in most Bible today. 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE VERSES? 

From the jw.org publications

WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS?

 English cleric Stephen Langton, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, is credited with adding the chapter divisions to the Bible. He did this early in the 13th century C.E., when he was a teacher at the University of Paris in France.

Before Langton's day, scholars had experimented with different ways of dividing the Bible into smaller sections or chapters, mainly, it seems, for reference purposes. You can imagine how much easier it would have been for them to find a passage if they had to search through only one chapter rather than a whole book, such as the book of Isaiah with its 66 chapters. 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS? - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES - Conclusions

 The lack of chapters or verses, however, did pose a problem. Paul could only identify his quotations with such words as "just as it is written" or "just as Isaiah foretold." (Romans 3:10; 9:29) And it would have been very difficult to find those quotations unless you were very familiar with all "the holy writings." 

Furthermore, those "holy writings" were not one simple message from God. By the end of the first century C.E., they consisted of a collection of 66 separate books! That is why most Bible readers today are glad to have numbered chapters and verses that help them find specific information, such as the many quotations in Paul's letters.

'So, you might ask, 'who put the chapters and verse numbers in the Bible?' 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS 

From the jw.org publications

NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES

Consider what the manuscripts of "the holy writings" that were available in Paul's day looked like. One is shown here-a portion of the book from the Dead Sea Scrolls. What do you see?  Solid blocks of text! No punctuation. And none of the numbered chapters and verses we use today. 

Bible writers did not divide their message into chapters or verses. They just wrote down the whole message God gave them so that the readers could also get the whole message, not just tiny parts of it. Is that not what you what you want when you get an important letter from someone you love? You read the whole letter, not just bits and pieces of it. 

Next time: NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

Chapters and Verses-Who Put Them in the Bible?

 IMAGINE that you are a Christian living in the first century.  Your congregation has just received a letter from the apostle Paul. As you listen to it being read, you notice that Paul often quotes from "the holy writings," that is, the Hebrew Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:15) 'I would really like to see the text she is quoting from him,' you say to yourself. But that would not have been easy. Why not?

Next time: NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -LEARNING AN IMPORTANT LESSON

 After several years in the circuit work, we were invited in 1978 to serve at Canada Bethel. Not long after, I learned a painful but important lesson. I was assigned to give a one-and-a -half-hour talk in French at a special meeting in Montreal. Sadly, my talk did not hold the audience's attention, and a brother from the Service Department offered me counsel about it. Frankly, I should have realized then, as I have since, that I am not the most gifted speaker. But I did take the counsel very well. Our personalities seemed to clash. I felt that he was being overly critical-he did not offer any commendation. I made the mistake of judging the counsel based on the way it was given and the way I perceived the person who was giving it.

A few days later, a member of the Branch Committed spoke to me about the matter. I admitted that I had not responded well to the counsel and expressed regret. Next I spoke to the brother who had counseled me. He graciously accepted my apology. That experience became an object lesson in humility that I will never forget. (Proverbs 16:18) I have prayed to Jehovah many times about this, and I am determined never again to view counsel negatively.

I have now been at Canada Bethel for over 40 years, and since 1985, I have had the privilege of serving on the Branch Committee. In February 2021, my dear Sheila fell asleep in death. In addition to coping with her loss, I am facing my own health limitations. But Jehovah's service keeps me busy and happy that I "hardly notice the passing days." (Ecclesiastes 5:20) Although my days have had some challenges, the joys have far outweighed them. Putting Jehovah first in my life and enjoying 70 years in full-time service have been truly rewarding. I pray that our young brothers and sisters continue to put Jehovah first too, for I am convinced that they will also enjoy a rewarding and exciting life that is only possible when we serve Jehovah. 

Next time: Chapters and Verses -Who Put Them in the Bible? 

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION - Conclusion

 I began to volunteer on Saturdays at the construction site of a new Assembly Hall in Norval, Ontario. In time, i was asked to serve as the Assembly Hall overseer. Sheila's health was improving, and we felt that she could handle this assignment. So we moved into the Assembly Hall apartment of June 1974. We were so happy to be back in full-time service!

Thankfully, Sheila's health continued to improve. Two years later, we were able to accept an assignment in the circuit work. The circuit was located in Manitoba, a Canadian province known for its frigid winters. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the warm fellowship of the brothers and sisters there. We learned that it does not really matter where we serve-the key is to keep on serving Jehovah wherever we are.

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - LEARNING AN IMPORTANT LESSON

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION

 In 1973 we had to make a very difficult decision. Sheila had been coping with some serious health problems. While we were in New York for a convention, she broke down and told me: "I just can't go on! I'm exhausted and sick so much of the time." She had been serving with me in West Africa for over 14 years. I was so proud of her faithful service, but we needed to make some changes. After discussing our situation and praying long and hard about it, we decided that we should return to Canada were we could better care for her health. Leaving our missionary assignment and the full-time service were by far the most difficult and heartrending decisions we had ever had to make.

After arriving in Canada, I obtained employment with a longtime friend who ran a car dealership in a town north of Toronto. We rented an apartment, bought second-hand furniture, and were able to make the move without going into debt. We wanted to keep our life simple, hoping that one day we might be able to get back into full-time service. To our surprise, that hope was realized sooner than we ever thought possible. 

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -SERVING TOGETHER IN CAMEROON

 In 1961 we were assigned to the country of Cameroon. Being asked to help establish a new branch office, I was very busy. As a new branch servant, I had a lot to learn.  Then in 1965 we learned that Sheila was pregnant. I admit the thought of becoming parents took some time to get use to.  But just as we were getting excited about this new responsibility and making plans to return to Canada, we experienced a devastating loss. 

Sheila suffered a miscarriage.  The doctor informed that our unborn child was a boy. That was over 50 years ago, but we never forgot it. Although deeply saddened by what happened, we remained in our foreign assignment, which we dearly loved. 

Brothers in Cameroon often faced persecution because of their political neutrality. The situation was particularly tense during presential elections. Our worse fears were realized on May 13, 1970, when Jehovah's Witnesses were officially banned. The beautiful new branch facility, which we moved into only five months earlier, was confiscated by the government. Within a week, all the missionaries-including Sheila and me were expelled from the country. It was hard to leave the brothers and sisters behind because we cared so much for them and worried about how they would fare in the days ahead. 

We spent the next six months at the branch office in France. There I continued to do all I could to care for the needs of our brothers in Cameroon. In December of that year, we were assigned to the Nigeria branch, which began looking after the work in Cameroon. The brothers and sisters in Nigeria received us warmly, and we enjoyed serving there for several years. 

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -A DIFFICULT DECISION

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - GILEAD AND POSTPONED EXPECTATIONS - Conclusion

 The days between assemblies, I showed or film The New York Society in Action in nearby villages. To do so, I would project the film onto a white canvas sheet strung up between two poles or two trees. The villagers loved it! For many, it was the first movie they had ever seen. They applauded with great vigor when they watched the scenes of people getting baptized. That film really helped those who saw it to realize that we were a united worldwide organization. 

After some two years in Africa, I was excited to attend the 1958 international convention in New York City. What a joy to see Sheila, who came down from Quebec, where she was serving as a special pioneer.  We had been corresponding by letter, but now that we were together again, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted. I wrote brother Knorr and asked whether Sheila could attend Gilead and join me in Africa. He agreed. Sheila finally arrived in Ghana. We were married in Accra, on October 3, 1959. We felt that Jehovah had truly blessed us for putting him first in our lives.

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - SERVING TOGETHER IN CAMEROON

From the jw.org publications