Kosonen

It sure is, for all of us.  I relate to what @4Jah2me said about developing a close relationship with the Father and Jesus since being out of the Watchtower. I have heard others who have left the organization say similar.  The scriptures and the wisdom within them, begin to speak to us as never before.  It reminds me of 1 Cor 1:20-25
  "Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 22 For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
I do cherish Proverbs 8 where we can spiritually visualize the wisdom of God and Jesus Christ.  
 

Those of Rev 17:14  wouldn’t be there if they were not obedient to BOTH the Father and the Son. Have you read this lately?
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have know my Father also. From now on you know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Am I with you so long a time and you have not known me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from myself, but the Father residing in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if not, believe because of the works themselves.  John 14:6-11
And this?
  “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and does them—I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood came, the river burst against that house and was not able to shake it, because it had been built well. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, which the river burst against, and immediately it collapsed—and the collapse of that house was great!”  Luke 6:47-49
Your words could not be any more truthful about your GB.  If they set down “decrees” necessary to maintain the seamless operation of the organization; and you are expected to follow them, have you maintained “the spiritual stance of obedience to the almighty”, or have you become obedient to men’s teachings about “organization”?  How do they practice “hate and division”?  Through their malicious words against the anointed.  Through the prejudice act of disfellowshipping.  For marking one as dead, who reject the commandments of men. 
Jesus prophesied of this to happen.  If we obey Christ, we expect division to take place among our own people. Matt 24:9; 19:29; 16:25; Luke 12:51-53; Matt 5:10-12
And the Lord said,
“Because this people draw near with its mouth,
    and with its lips it honors me,
and its heart is far from me,
    and their fear of me is a commandment of men that has been taught,…
 
The JW heart, the foundation of their very soul, has men’s faulty doctrine harbored within it, and they keep drinking it in. Rev 8:10,11  To you, “truth” is relative according to what your GB/elders teach in each new year.  To me, “truth” comes strictly from Jesus Christ.  This, is what they should be teaching.  John 15:5   Anything they add or take away from Christ’s words, they add and take away from the ability of JWs to know the Father. Matt 23:13 They are adding and taking away from the Word of God in like manner of the Pharisees. 
“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”  Deut 4:2
 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”  Matt 19:17
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   Matt 22:34-40
 What is the difference with “Israel’s" leaders today?  They wear a face of deception; that appears innocent and humble. Acts 20:29,30; 2 Cor 11:4,13-15  Yet, they are “wise in their own eyes”, not in the eyes of God.  Isa 5:21; Matt 24:4,5,24  They judge according to their commandments, just as the Pharisees did. Matt 23:4; 15:7-9   And they have the gall to compare themselves to Moses - a prophet of God.  
How dare these men defy the words of Christ.
… therefore look, I am again doing something spectacular
and a spectacle with this spectacular people.
And the wisdom of its wise men shall perish,
    and the discernment of its discerning ones shall keep itself hidden.”
15 Ah! Those who make a plan deep, to hide it from YHWH,
    and their deeds are in a dark place.
And they say, “Who sees us?
    And who knows us?”
16 Your perversity!
    As if a potter shall be regarded as the clay!
That the product of its maker says,
    “He did not make me,”
and the thing made into shape says of its potter,
    “He has no understanding.”  Isa 29:13-16
How arrogantly bold of the uninspired GB, to teach that their words supersede the words of Christ – who IS THE WORD OF GOD.  John 1:1 
“For wicked people are found among my people,
    they lie in wait like the hiding of fowlers,
they set up a trap,
    they catch humans. (Col 2:8; Rev 13:10)
27 Like a cage full of birds,
    so their houses are full of fraud.
Therefore they have become great,
    and they have become rich.
28 They have grown fat,
    they have grown sleek,
also, their evil deeds have no limit.
    They do not judge with justice,
the legal cause of the orphan,
    or allow it to succeed,
and the legal case of the poor,
    they do not defend.
29 Because of these things shall I not punish?” declares Yahweh,
    “and on a nation who is like this, shall I not take revenge?
30 A horrific event and something horrible has happened in the land.
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it so much. (2 Thess 2:9-12)
    But what will you do when the end comes?  Jer 5:26-31
 
 
 
 

If the CCJW is going to be God's / Christ's chosen Organisation to bring humans through 
Armageddon / Judgement Day
What serious changes need to take place in it first ?
As you know my feelings are that neither God nor Christ can use the CCJW as it is. But I am seriously trying to think on a more spiritual level so I'm trying not to be biased. By reading many comments on this forum I've noticed that even those JWs that resolve to stay firmly in the 'Org', still have some feelings of discontent. 
So the question I'm asking is more to those JWs who are remaining 'faithful' to the CCJW and it's GB. 
Do you see the need for big changes in the way the CCJW is run ?
Do you really believe that God & Christ are happy with the CCJW as it is ?
I am not deviating from my belief of a 'true Anointed' being 'raised up' in these 'last day', but as I've said before that 'true anointed' could well be within the CCJW.
I'm keeping my mind 'open' to all manner of thoughts, whilst trying to, hopefully with God's guidance, find truth. 
However, I am of the opinion that 'new light' via the GB, will not provide the answers or right direction that is needed. But that is just my personal opinion, and I may be proven wrong................

Hi friends, I have made a list of scriptures about Jesus' example of taking seriously the need to pray and also other scriptures about prayer.
And in John 17 we can get an insight to what Jesus could pray about in his intimate prayers.
It is remarkable that Jesus, who had lived for millions of years in heaven with his Father Jehovah God needed still to pray regularly and seriously.
 
Luke 5:16 However, he often went into the desolate areas to pray.

Luke 6:12  On one of those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Mark 1:35  Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went outside and left for an isolated place, and there he began praying.

Mark 6:45  Then, without delay, he made his disciples board the boat and go on ahead to the opposite shore toward Beth·saʹi·da, while he himself sent the crowd away. 46  But after saying good-bye to them, he went to a mountain to pray.
 
John 6:11 Jesus took the bread, and after giving thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there; he did likewise with the small fish, and they had as much as they wanted.
 
John 17:1 Jesus spoke these things, and raising his eyes to heaven, he said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you, 2  just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all those whom you have given to him. 3  This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. 5  So now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was. 6 “I have made your name manifest to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word. 7  Now they have come to know that all the things you gave me are from you; 8 because I have given them the sayings that you gave me, and they have accepted them and have certainly come to know that I came as your representative, and they have believed that you sent me. 9  I make request concerning them; I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those whom you have given me, because they are yours; 10 and all my things are yours and yours are mine, and I have been glorified among them. 11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. 12  When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 15  “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. 16 They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 17 Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth. 20 “I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word, 21  so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one. 23 I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me. 24 Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am, in order that they may look upon my glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the founding of the world. 25  Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you, but I know you, and these have come to know that you sent me. 26 I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.”
 
Luke 22:40  On arriving at the place, he said to them: “Carry on prayer so that you do not enter into temptation.” 41  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw away, and he bent his knees and began to pray, 42  saying: “Father, if you want to, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” 43  Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 But he was in such agony that he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as drops of blood falling to the ground. 45  When he rose from prayer and went to the disciples, he found them slumbering, exhausted from grief. 46  He said to them: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying, so that you do not enter into temptation.”

Mark 14:32  So they came to a spot named Geth·semʹa·ne, and he said to his disciples: “Sit down here while I pray.” 33  And he took Peter and James and John along with him, and he began to feel deeply distressed and to be greatly troubled. 34  He said to them: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch.” 35 And going a little way forward, he fell to the ground and began praying that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36  And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37  He returned and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Did you not have the strength to keep on the watch for one hour? 38  Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you do not come into temptation. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 39  And he went away again and prayed, saying the same thing.

Luke 11:1 Now he was in a certain place praying, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him: “Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”2  So he said to them: “Whenever you pray, say: ‘Father, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. 3  Give us each day our bread according to our daily needs. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is in debt to us; and do not bring us into temptation.’”

Matthew 6:9  “You must pray, then, this way:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10  Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth. 11  Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’

Luke 11:13  Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”

Luke 18:1 Then he went on to tell them an illustration about the need for them always to pray and not to give up, 2  saying: “In a certain city there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man. 3  There was also a widow in that city who kept going to him and saying, ‘See that I get justice from my legal opponent.’ 4  Well, for a while he was unwilling, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Although I do not fear God or respect any man, 5  because this widow keeps making me trouble, I will see that she gets justice so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out with her demand.’” 6  Then the Lord said: “Hear what the judge, although unrighteous, said! 7 Certainly, then, will not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, while he is patient toward them? 8  I tell you, he will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find this faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:9  He also told this illustration to some who trusted in their own righteousness and who considered others as nothing: 10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me, a sinner.’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 7:7-11 “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; 8  for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 9  Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? 11  Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him!


2 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, 2  concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness.

Mark 9:28  So after he entered into a house, his disciples asked him privately: “Why could we not expel it?” 29  He said to them: “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15  And if we know that he hears us concerning whatever we are asking, we know that we are to have the things we ask for, since we have asked them of him.

Ephesians 6:18 while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit. And to that end stay awake, constantly making supplication in behalf of all the holy ones.

Jude 20  But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, and pray with holy spirit,


1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray constantly. 18  Give thanks for everything. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16  I pray that he may grant you through the abundance of his glory to be made mighty in the man you are inside, with power through his spirit, 17  and that through your faith you may have the Christ dwell in your hearts with love. May you be rooted and established on the foundation, 18  in order that with all the holy ones you may be thoroughly able to comprehend fully what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of the Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness that God gives.

Here is a list of scriptures showing how deeply our heavenly Father Jehovah God wants to forgive our sins and give us everlasting life. This God proves to us, by going so far that He sent his most loved Son Jesus Christ to earth to teach us and die for our sins in a most painful way.
  So if we feel that we have failed one day, we can be sure we are forgiven if we try better next day. Our sanctification is not possible in one day. So we have to keep on trying to do better everyday. That is a repentive attitude we need in our ongoing sanctification.
 
 
John 3:16  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him.
 
1 Timothy 2:3  This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, 4  whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. 5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6  who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time.
 
Romans 5:8 But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more, then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10  For if when we were enemies we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
 
Titus 3:3  For we too were once senseless, disobedient, led astray, being slaves to various desires and pleasures, carrying on in badness and envy, detestable, hating one another. 4  However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5  (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit. 6  He poured this spirit out richly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that after being declared righteous through the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life.
 
Luke 18:10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me, a sinner.’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
Luke 5:30….“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31  In reply Jesus said to them: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are ill do. 32  I have come to call, not righteous people, but sinners to repentance.”
 
Luke 7:44  With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with her hair. 45  You gave me no kiss, but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not stop tenderly kissing my feet. 46 You did not pour oil on my head, but this woman poured perfumed oil on my feet. 47 Because of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48  Then he said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those reclining at the table with him started to say among themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50  But he said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
2 Timothy 1: 9  He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago,
 
Ephesians 2:8  By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9  No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting. 10  We are God’s handiwork and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God determined in advance for us to walk in them.
 
Romans 10:9  For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved.
 
Hebrews 10:10  By this “will” we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. ….14  For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect for all time. 15  Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.’” 17  Then it says: “And I will no longer call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind.” 18  Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19  Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20  which he opened up for us as a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22  let us approach with sincere hearts and complete faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from a wicked conscience and our bodies bathed with clean water.
 
Hebrews 9:28  so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many; and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.
 
Colossians 1:13…...his beloved Son, 14  by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.
 
Ephesians 1:7  By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.
 
Acts 26:17….I am sending you [apostle Paul] 18  to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by their faith in me.’
 
Acts 13:37  On the other hand, the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38  “Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this one a forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, 39  and that from all the things from which you could not be declared guiltless by means of the Law of Moses, everyone who believes is declared guiltless by means of this one.
 
Acts 10:34  At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, 35  but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent out the word to the sons of Israel to declare to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all. 37  You know the subject that was talked about throughout all Ju·deʹa, starting from Galʹi·lee after the baptism that John preached: 38 about Jesus who was from Nazʹa·reth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil, because God was with him. 39  And we are witnesses of all the things he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; but they did away with him by hanging him on a stake. 40 God raised this one up on the third day and allowed him to become manifest, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses appointed beforehand by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead.42  Also, he ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness that this is the one decreed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
 
Luke 24:45 5  Then he [Jesus] opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures, 46  and he said to them, “This is what is written: that the Christ would suffer and rise from among the dead on the third day, 47  and on the basis of his name, repentance for forgiveness of sins would be preached in all the nations—starting out from Jerusalem. 48  You are to be witnesses of these things.
 
Acts 3:19  “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself 20  and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.
 
Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all people and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord.
 
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

Thank you. I've just read it. It is very encouraging. 

Hi Jah4me2, I just created a new topic you in mind about God's willingness to forgive us, according to Scriptures.

Here is a list of scriptures showing how deeply our heavenly Father Jehovah God wants to forgive our sins and give us everlasting life. This God proves to us, by going so far that He sent his most loved Son Jesus Christ to earth to teach us and die for our sins in a most painful way.
  So if we feel that we have failed one day, we can be sure we are forgiven if we try better next day. Our sanctification is not possible in one day. So we have to keep on trying to do better everyday. That is a repentive attitude we need in our ongoing sanctification.
 
 
John 3:16  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him.
 
1 Timothy 2:3  This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, 4  whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. 5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6  who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time.
 
Romans 5:8 But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more, then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10  For if when we were enemies we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
 
Titus 3:3  For we too were once senseless, disobedient, led astray, being slaves to various desires and pleasures, carrying on in badness and envy, detestable, hating one another. 4  However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5  (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit. 6  He poured this spirit out richly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that after being declared righteous through the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life.
 
Luke 18:10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me, a sinner.’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
Luke 5:30….“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31  In reply Jesus said to them: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are ill do. 32  I have come to call, not righteous people, but sinners to repentance.”
 
Luke 7:44  With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with her hair. 45  You gave me no kiss, but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not stop tenderly kissing my feet. 46 You did not pour oil on my head, but this woman poured perfumed oil on my feet. 47 Because of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48  Then he said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those reclining at the table with him started to say among themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50  But he said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
2 Timothy 1: 9  He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago,
 
Ephesians 2:8  By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9  No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting. 10  We are God’s handiwork and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God determined in advance for us to walk in them.
 
Romans 10:9  For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved.
 
Hebrews 10:10  By this “will” we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. ….14  For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect for all time. 15  Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.’” 17  Then it says: “And I will no longer call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind.” 18  Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19  Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20  which he opened up for us as a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22  let us approach with sincere hearts and complete faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from a wicked conscience and our bodies bathed with clean water.
 
Hebrews 9:28  so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many; and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.
 
Colossians 1:13…...his beloved Son, 14  by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.
 
Ephesians 1:7  By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.
 
Acts 26:17….I am sending you [apostle Paul] 18  to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by their faith in me.’
 
Acts 13:37  On the other hand, the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38  “Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this one a forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, 39  and that from all the things from which you could not be declared guiltless by means of the Law of Moses, everyone who believes is declared guiltless by means of this one.
 
Acts 10:34  At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, 35  but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent out the word to the sons of Israel to declare to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all. 37  You know the subject that was talked about throughout all Ju·deʹa, starting from Galʹi·lee after the baptism that John preached: 38 about Jesus who was from Nazʹa·reth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil, because God was with him. 39  And we are witnesses of all the things he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; but they did away with him by hanging him on a stake. 40 God raised this one up on the third day and allowed him to become manifest, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses appointed beforehand by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead.42  Also, he ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness that this is the one decreed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
 
Luke 24:45 5  Then he [Jesus] opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures, 46  and he said to them, “This is what is written: that the Christ would suffer and rise from among the dead on the third day, 47  and on the basis of his name, repentance for forgiveness of sins would be preached in all the nations—starting out from Jerusalem. 48  You are to be witnesses of these things.
 
Acts 3:19  “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself 20  and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.
 
Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all people and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord.
 
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

Hi friends, I have made a list of scriptures about Jesus' example of taking seriously the need to pray and also other scriptures about prayer.
And in John 17 we can get an insight to what Jesus could pray about in his intimate prayers.
It is remarkable that Jesus, who had lived for millions of years in heaven with his Father Jehovah God needed still to pray regularly and seriously.
 
Luke 5:16 However, he often went into the desolate areas to pray.

Luke 6:12  On one of those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Mark 1:35  Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went outside and left for an isolated place, and there he began praying.

Mark 6:45  Then, without delay, he made his disciples board the boat and go on ahead to the opposite shore toward Beth·saʹi·da, while he himself sent the crowd away. 46  But after saying good-bye to them, he went to a mountain to pray.
 
John 6:11 Jesus took the bread, and after giving thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there; he did likewise with the small fish, and they had as much as they wanted.
 
John 17:1 Jesus spoke these things, and raising his eyes to heaven, he said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you, 2  just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all those whom you have given to him. 3  This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. 5  So now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was. 6 “I have made your name manifest to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word. 7  Now they have come to know that all the things you gave me are from you; 8 because I have given them the sayings that you gave me, and they have accepted them and have certainly come to know that I came as your representative, and they have believed that you sent me. 9  I make request concerning them; I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those whom you have given me, because they are yours; 10 and all my things are yours and yours are mine, and I have been glorified among them. 11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. 12  When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 15  “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. 16 They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 17 Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth. 20 “I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word, 21  so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one. 23 I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me. 24 Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am, in order that they may look upon my glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the founding of the world. 25  Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you, but I know you, and these have come to know that you sent me. 26 I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.”
 
Luke 22:40  On arriving at the place, he said to them: “Carry on prayer so that you do not enter into temptation.” 41  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw away, and he bent his knees and began to pray, 42  saying: “Father, if you want to, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” 43  Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 But he was in such agony that he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as drops of blood falling to the ground. 45  When he rose from prayer and went to the disciples, he found them slumbering, exhausted from grief. 46  He said to them: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying, so that you do not enter into temptation.”

Mark 14:32  So they came to a spot named Geth·semʹa·ne, and he said to his disciples: “Sit down here while I pray.” 33  And he took Peter and James and John along with him, and he began to feel deeply distressed and to be greatly troubled. 34  He said to them: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch.” 35 And going a little way forward, he fell to the ground and began praying that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36  And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37  He returned and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Did you not have the strength to keep on the watch for one hour? 38  Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you do not come into temptation. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 39  And he went away again and prayed, saying the same thing.

Luke 11:1 Now he was in a certain place praying, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him: “Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”2  So he said to them: “Whenever you pray, say: ‘Father, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. 3  Give us each day our bread according to our daily needs. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is in debt to us; and do not bring us into temptation.’”

Matthew 6:9  “You must pray, then, this way:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10  Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth. 11  Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’

Luke 11:13  Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”

Luke 18:1 Then he went on to tell them an illustration about the need for them always to pray and not to give up, 2  saying: “In a certain city there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man. 3  There was also a widow in that city who kept going to him and saying, ‘See that I get justice from my legal opponent.’ 4  Well, for a while he was unwilling, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Although I do not fear God or respect any man, 5  because this widow keeps making me trouble, I will see that she gets justice so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out with her demand.’” 6  Then the Lord said: “Hear what the judge, although unrighteous, said! 7 Certainly, then, will not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, while he is patient toward them? 8  I tell you, he will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find this faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:9  He also told this illustration to some who trusted in their own righteousness and who considered others as nothing: 10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me, a sinner.’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 7:7-11 “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; 8  for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 9  Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? 11  Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him!


2 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, 2  concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness.

Mark 9:28  So after he entered into a house, his disciples asked him privately: “Why could we not expel it?” 29  He said to them: “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15  And if we know that he hears us concerning whatever we are asking, we know that we are to have the things we ask for, since we have asked them of him.

Ephesians 6:18 while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit. And to that end stay awake, constantly making supplication in behalf of all the holy ones.

Jude 20  But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, and pray with holy spirit,


1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray constantly. 18  Give thanks for everything. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16  I pray that he may grant you through the abundance of his glory to be made mighty in the man you are inside, with power through his spirit, 17  and that through your faith you may have the Christ dwell in your hearts with love. May you be rooted and established on the foundation, 18  in order that with all the holy ones you may be thoroughly able to comprehend fully what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of the Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness that God gives.

Oh @Anna you make me laugh. you really do. Are you so blind ?
Do you not know of the perversions and immorality in your CCJW ? 
Do you honestly think that Almighty God and/or Christ is guiding your GB and its org ?
I think that your GB are Christians in name only. I think that CCJW is Christian in name only.
You only have to look at the way the GB's Lawyers treat Victims of CSA. And look at how they are still hiding Paedophiles in the American part of your Org. 
And there have been plenty of things mentioned on this forum, mentioned by JWs it would seem, that show up the CCJW for what it really is. 
Going back a couple of years we had JWs on here telling how many weapons they have stored up in their homes. and one of those JWs seems to think that God is not bothered by war. 
I'm sure you have heard many JWs say things that you are not happy with, so please don't be so quick to judge others outside of CCJW. 
As a non active one, i can say that my faith in God and Christ is much stronger.  I feel 'free' to do my own investigating into God's word. i think in a more spiritual way. My prayers are not hindered. I am not putting my trust in men. I am not relying on being spoon fed every Sunday Watchtower which is only men's thoughts and words. Those thoughts and words which are not inspired of God. 
And you must remember too, that your GB and its org deliberately shun anyone that leaves the Org. So your GB and its Org members are also not showing love, mercy, mildness or kindness. 

When it comes to identifying writings that belong in the inspired canon, we can look to whether the writing reflects the fruitages of the spirit. We can start with what we know, and then build from there using common sense and spiritual principles.
First of all, let's say we were to accept the restrictive criteria of modern scholars who don't really care for the spiritual value of the content of scripture. Even these scholars will generally all agree that Paul was the writer of several of the letters, and since Paul wrote them, it must have been between his conversion and his death. Therefore Google would return this on a query about Paul's actual letters:
Seven letters (with consensus dates) considered genuine by most scholars: First Thessalonians (c. 50 AD) Galatians (c. 53) First Corinthians (c. 53–54) Philippians (c. 55) Philemon (c. 55) Second Corinthians (c. 55–56) Romans (c. 57) Some would add another book or two, but these are considered to be a core set of Paul's writings that few would argue with. So now we could read these carefully and extrapolate that there is really nothing in Ephesians, Colossians, or 2 Thessalonians that teaches anything different from these books. And we could continue on from there. Any doctrine in those other letters conforms perfectly with the accepted letters. In fact, they could have easily grown out of combinations of writings that congregations from many places had collected from multiple real letters, real speeches, and real sayings. Just as John said of Jesus that many more scrolls could be written of things he did and said, the same could have been true of Paul, whose ministry was probably nearly 10 times longer than that of Jesus.
Of course, we also have Luke who said that there were many other Gospels about Jesus. And we have Paul already mentioning that letters might show up "as though from us [Paul and his companions]." The reason to be careful of any of these additional gospels or letters would be if they taught a different doctrine. Paul said that different doctrine should not be accepted, even if it came from an angel out of heaven. This is another way of saying that Paul knew the gospel he preached was authorized by Christ Jesus himself. His "word" or his "gospel" embodied the spirit of Christ.
So Paul's core writings can become the touchstone by which we could evaluate the rest of the Christian Greek Scriptures. (And by extension, quotes from Paul referencing the Hebrew Scriptures give us a core set of Hebrew Scritpures to do the same with if anyone were to doubt a core canon of Hebrew Scriptures.)
We know that already in the first century there were additional writings that were already beginning to represent Jesus within a different doctrinal structure. Jesus was not being accepted everywhere as a real physical person born in the line of David, who had preached, and been killed under Pontius Pilate, and had been resurrected to heaven. Some were beginning to teach an atheistic version of Jesus who had not really existed or died in a physical sense, but who merely embodied secret knowledge that only a few special teachers could explain.
But this actually helps us define the inspired canon. During Paul's life he made clear the full, necessary "gospel" and also made it clear that there were things that others might be saying that were not necessary, or even harmful to that message.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12-5:1) . . .  4 Finally, brothers, just as you received instruction from us on how you should walk in order to please God, just as you are in fact walking, we request you and appeal to you by the Lord Jesus to keep doing it more fully. 2 For you know the instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. . . .  just as we told you previously and also strongly warned you. . . .9 However, concerning brotherly love, you do not need us to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. . . . 11 Make it your aim to live quietly and to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk decently in the eyes of people outside and not need anything. . . . 18 So keep comforting one another with these words. 5 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you.
They needed no more doctrinal instruction. The spirit itself taught them by God how to love one another, and live decently. They needed nothing more to be written about the "times and seasons," either. There was a lot of "falsely called knowledge" being spoken about, but Paul focused on the important part of the Gospel.
(1 Corinthians 1:30-2:2) 30 But it is due to him that you are in union with Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from God, also righteousness and sanctification and release by ransom, 31 so that it may be just as it is written: “The one who boasts, let him boast in Jehovah.” 2 So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with extravagant speech or wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to you. 2 For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him executed on the stake.
After Paul, teachers would try to gain a following by creating new "knowledge" and "sacred secrets" and use human wisdom to create a Christian "philosophy" or "gnosis" even to the point of denying an actual human Christ who was impaled. It was based on Greek philosophies and human wisdom rather than wisdom from God.
But because of this development, we end up with statements about how to identify any writing from the first century that was acceptable and which ones were unacceptable. We can get to the canonicity of 1 John later, but it provides a perfectly good touchstone for identifying additional writings from the first century that were to be considered acceptable.
(1 John 4:1-6) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you know that the inspired statement is from God: Every inspired statement that acknowledges Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God. 3 But every inspired statement that does not acknowledge Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired statement that you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You originate with God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in union with you is greater than the one who is in union with the world. 5 They originate with the world; that is why they speak what originates with the world and the world listens to them. 6 We originate with God. Whoever comes to know God listens to us; whoever does not originate with God does not listen to us. By this we distinguish the inspired statement of truth from the inspired statement of error.
So, based on the well-attested idea that this was written by the end of the first century, it is saying that all known Christian writings up to that time were known to be "inspired" as long as they were not of the type that denied the physical, fleshly existence of Jesus Christ. This is a fairly simple criterion for first century Christian documents. No other significant doctrinal issue was competing with true Christian documents by the end of the first century. This was timely, too, because we know a lot about these gnostic beliefs from about 120 to 300 CE. Paul was in line with this same idea when he said:
(1 Corinthians 12:1-3) . . .Now concerning the spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were people of the nations, you were influenced and led astray to those voiceless idols, following wherever they might lead you. 3 Now I would have you know that nobody when speaking by God’s spirit says: “Jesus is accursed!” and nobody can say: “Jesus is Lord!” except by holy spirit.
Much more to say of course, but this is a long and complex topic.

Hi 4Jah2me,
According to these scriptures it is very good to examine scriptures to make sure. I check very often interlinear translations to see if the New world translation translates correctly.
1Thessalonians 5:21 Make sure of all things;
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·niʹca, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 

Yes that is a real problem. I don't think that is right that the GB tells to trust them and punishes jws if they tell aloud that they think the GB is wrong in some issues. It is so ridiculous that if you have a doctrinal question to the elders, the only answer the elders will give is what has been written in the litterature and if there is no answer in the litterature to clarify a question, then they say to wait on Jehovah. It is so ridiculous that elders and even circuit overseers will categorically refuse to reason on scriptures that show that a particular current JW doctrine is wrong.
Yes, really christians can survive spiritually without a JW GB. 
And Jesus told parabels about his slaves that got minas, and talents. And in these parabels Jesus sends these slaves directly himself without any middle man, such as GB. And when Jesus returns, then he himself will settle accounts with his slaves. So Jesus' slaves will not have a GB as master when he returns. 
Yes, everything points to the fact that the final years up to Jesus' return there will not exist any GB. 
Instead it looks like a single faithful and discreet slave will get the responibility to feed JWs the final years up to Jesus' return.
In Malachi, there is a prophecy that a modern day Elijah will come before the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah.
 
Malachi 4:5  “Look! I am sending to you E·liʹjah the prophet+ before the coming of the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah.+ 6  And he will turn the hearts of fathers back toward sons,+ and the hearts of sons back toward fathers, so that I may not come and strike the earth, devoting it to destruction.”
Yes, really as you have realized, there was no such Governing Body in the first century as the GB of JWs. The GB of JWs is more like the Jewish Sanhedrin that was in religious charge until Jesus came. 
In the Christian Greek scriptures I have only found once that a doctrinal matter was resolved by a group of apostles and elders of Jerusalem. 
The rest was already established by Jesus, while he was on earth and by individual letters from apostels and other writers of the Christian Greek scriptures.

Yes that is a real problem. I don't think that is right that the GB tells to trust them and punishes jws if they tell aloud that they think the GB is wrong in some issues. It is so ridiculous that if you have a doctrinal question to the elders, the only answer the elders will give is what has been written in the litterature and if there is no answer in the litterature to clarify a question, then they say to wait on Jehovah. It is so ridiculous that elders and even circuit overseers will categorically refuse to reason on scriptures that show that a particular current JW doctrine is wrong.
Yes, really christians can survive spiritually without a JW GB. 
And Jesus told parabels about his slaves that got minas, and talents. And in these parabels Jesus sends these slaves directly himself without any middle man, such as GB. And when Jesus returns, then he himself will settle accounts with his slaves. So Jesus' slaves will not have a GB as master when he returns. 
Yes, everything points to the fact that the final years up to Jesus' return there will not exist any GB. 
Instead it looks like a single faithful and discreet slave will get the responibility to feed JWs the final years up to Jesus' return.
In Malachi, there is a prophecy that a modern day Elijah will come before the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah.
 
Malachi 4:5  “Look! I am sending to you E·liʹjah the prophet+ before the coming of the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah.+ 6  And he will turn the hearts of fathers back toward sons,+ and the hearts of sons back toward fathers, so that I may not come and strike the earth, devoting it to destruction.”
Yes, really as you have realized, there was no such Governing Body in the first century as the GB of JWs. The GB of JWs is more like the Jewish Sanhedrin that was in religious charge until Jesus came. 
In the Christian Greek scriptures I have only found once that a doctrinal matter was resolved by a group of apostles and elders of Jerusalem. 
The rest was already established by Jesus, while he was on earth and by individual letters from apostels and other writers of the Christian Greek scriptures.

Quote @JW Insider  " This is not the topic with which to discuss the canon, or authenticity, .. "
Are you suggesting another topic to discuss such or are you saying we should not discuss such ?
I'm becoming of the opinion that there was NO 'Governing Body' of the 1st Century Christians. And that with the deaths of the Apostles and with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C. E. there was NO central form of 'rulership' over the Congregations of Christians of that time. 
Galatians 1, v 15 through 20
But when God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his undeserved kindness, thought good 16  to reveal his Son through me so that I might declare the good news about him to the nations,m I did not immediately consult with any human;* 17  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was, but I went to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus.n18  Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to visit Ceʹphas, and I stayed with him for 15 days. 19  But I did not see any of the other apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. 20  Now regarding the things I am writing you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.
I also read this account by Fred Franz 
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/239363/there-first-century-governing-body-fred-franzs-view
Which seems to make it clear that Jesus was not working through a central 'rulership' or GB at the time of Paul's missionary work.
""And they [members of the Antioch congregation] laid their hands upon Paul or Saul and Barnabas and sent them forth, as a number of translations read, sent 'em forth! And then they went forth by the Holy Spirit operating through the Antioch congregation and they went out on their first missionary assignment. So you see, the Lord Jesus Christ was acting as the head of the congregation and taking action directly, without consulting any body here on earth what he could do or what he could not do! And he acted in that way with regard to Saul and Barnabas, an they were both apostles of the Antioch congregation, and so they went out to the work and had great success..."
No matter what personal opinions people have of Fred Franz, his words above (if the quote is correct) seem to make good sense. 
The fact that there is a Governing Body of the Watchtower and CCJW is just a fact. But to try to say that they are based on a first century 'Governing Body' seems to be lies. There is no proof of any 1st Century Governing Body at all. 
So, the question remains, Did each congregation rule itself ?  This quote from FF above concerning Antioch seems to say that Antioch made it's own decisions whilst being guided by Holy Spirit. 
I can see that i need to do much more research. 
 

It shows the importance of TRUE INSPIRED PROPHECY.
But it also shows the importance of not pretending to be inspired and not trying to prophecy when you know you are not inspired. Unfortunately the GB have been put in a position whereby they have had to admit that they are not inspired. And it has been clearly seen that the things the GB and the JW Org have prophesied have not come true. 
So once again it has been proven that it is wise to believe God's written word as it is inspired, but unwise to believe the words of men that are not inspired. 
 

1 Thessalonians 5:20  Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
2 Peter 1:19  So we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place….
 Revelation 22:7 Look! I am coming quickly. Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.”
Revelation 1:3  Happy is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who observe the things written in it,....
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet keep striving for the spiritual gifts, but preferably that you may prophesy…...3 However, the one who prophesies builds up and encourages and consoles men by his speech.
22  Therefore, tongues are not a sign for the believers but for the unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for the believers…...31 For you can all prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged…..39  So, my brothers, keep striving to prophesy,....
Daniel 12:4  “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”.....9  Then he said: “Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.
 

1 Thessalonians 5:20  Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
2 Peter 1:19  So we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place….
 Revelation 22:7 Look! I am coming quickly. Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.”
Revelation 1:3  Happy is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who observe the things written in it,....
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet keep striving for the spiritual gifts, but preferably that you may prophesy…...3 However, the one who prophesies builds up and encourages and consoles men by his speech.
22  Therefore, tongues are not a sign for the believers but for the unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for the believers…...31 For you can all prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged…..39  So, my brothers, keep striving to prophesy,....
Daniel 12:4  “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”.....9  Then he said: “Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.
 

1 Thessalonians 5:20  Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
2 Peter 1:19  So we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place….
 Revelation 22:7 Look! I am coming quickly. Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.”
Revelation 1:3  Happy is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who observe the things written in it,....
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet keep striving for the spiritual gifts, but preferably that you may prophesy…...3 However, the one who prophesies builds up and encourages and consoles men by his speech.
22  Therefore, tongues are not a sign for the believers but for the unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for the believers…...31 For you can all prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged…..39  So, my brothers, keep striving to prophesy,....
Daniel 12:4  “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”.....9  Then he said: “Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.
 

Hi 4Jah2me, I like that you are seriously interested about the truth in connection with Jehovah God. You have apparently a thirst for righteousness and for spiritual things. That is a good foundation. Jesus said reassuringly:
Matthew 5:3 Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. ..... “6  “Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.
I have heard that some Jehovah's witnesses say that the Christian Greek scriptures were written for the anointed. But there is a big but. Jesus wanted that his unadulterated good news contained in the Christian Greek scriptures would be preached until he comes back. Matthew 28:19  "Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”
So, Jesus was inviting people to God's kingdom in the first century, and he sent his disciples to do the same until the end. Because that is included in "teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you."
So nobody should feel restricted to take to the heart what the Christian Greek scriptures contain. But as you have stated there is a huge lack of faith. But you don't have to be one of them. The lack of faith has hindered the full number of 144000 approved anointed to take place So the good news Jesus preached are still as timely as they were about 2000 years ago.
Think about the following words of Jesus, are not they as valid now as when Jesus spoke them?
John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him (Jesus) might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him (Jesus). 18 Whoever exercises faith in him (Jesus) is not to be judged. Whoever does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God…...35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36  The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
John 6:28  So they said to him: “What must we do to carry out the works of God?” 29  In answer Jesus said to them: “This is the work of God, that you exercise faith in the one whom he sent.”.....40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.”
John 12:44 However, Jesus called out and said: “Whoever puts faith in me puts faith not only in me but also in him who sent me; 45  and whoever sees me sees also the One who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone putting faith in me may not remain in the darkness. 47  But if anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I came, not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 Whoever disregards me and does not receive my sayings has one to judge him. The word that I have spoken is what will judge him on the last day.
I can just advise you to believe the Christian Greek scriptures and learn to live by the advice in them. I can only advice you to day by day to make progress in applying more and more of what is written there. 
In the end everyone has to do that to get everlasting life, be it here on earth or in heaven.
I wish you will succeed with this.
Your brother

Hi 4Jah2me,
Maybe Jesus wanted that they begin praying? Maybe they were not so good at that at all? Maybe that is why Jesus exaggerated a little bit saying that we would get what ever we ask if we really believe?
Here is a list of scriptures that might help to understand what we can get through prayer.
 
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15  And if we know that he hears us concerning whatever we are asking, we know that we are to have the things we ask for, since we have asked them of him.
Matthew 26:39 And going a little way forward, he fell facedown, praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

Luke 5:16 However, he often went into the desolate areas to pray.
 
Luke 21:36 Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that must occur and in standing before the Son of man.”
 
James 4:3 When you do ask, you do not receive because you are asking for a wrong purpose, so that you may spend it on your fleshly desires.
 
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, 2  concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness.
 
Luke 11:1 Now he was in a certain place praying, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him: “Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”2  So he said to them: “Whenever you pray, say: ‘Father, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our bread according to our daily needs. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is in debt to us; and do not bring us into temptation.’”
 
Luke 11:8  I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything because of being his friend, certainly because of his bold persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9  So I say to you, keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 11  Indeed, which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? 13 Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”
 
 
Ephesians 6:18 while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit. And to that end stay awake, constantly making supplication in behalf of all the holy ones.
 
Acts 4:24 Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, 25  and who said through holy spirit by the mouth of our forefather David, your servant: ‘Why did nations become agitated and peoples meditate on empty things? 26  The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one.’ 27 For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate with men of the nations and with peoples of Israel were gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28  to do what your hand and counsel had determined beforehand to occur. 29 And now, Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant to your slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness,
 

Daniel 8:23-25 says: 
And in the final part of their kingdom, as the transgressors act to a completion, a fierce-looking king who understands ambiguous sayings will stand up. 24  His power will become great, but not through his own power. He will bring ruin in an extraordinary way, and he will be successful and act effectively. He will bring mighty ones to ruin, also the people made up of the holy ones. 25  And by his cunning he will use deception to succeed; and in his heart he will exalt himself; and during a time of security he will bring many to ruin. He will even stand up against the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human hand.
Those highlighted characteristics above are things that the media tell about Trump already. 
And how do people around the world perceive Donald Trump's facial image? Soft? Gentle? Or fierce? Needless to say.

I just saw tv commentators talk about their fear of Trump revenge on his enemies. This is something actually prophecied in Daniel 8 in the prophecy about the fierce-looking king. Quite interesting.
Daniel 8:23 And in the final part of their kingdom, as the transgressors act to a completion, a fierce-looking king who understands ambiguous sayings*will stand up. 24  His power will become great, but not through his own power. He will bring ruin in an extraordinary way, and he will be successful and act effectively. He will bring mighty ones to ruin, also the people made up of the holy ones.+ 25  And by his cunning he will use deception to succeed; and in his heart he will exalt himself; and during a time of security he will bring many to ruin. He will even stand up against the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human hand.
Among those who will be brought to ruin could be his political opponents.
 

And more indications pile up pointing to Donald Trump as the king of the north in Daniel 11:37...but he will magnify himself over everyone. 38  But instead he will give glory to the god of fortresses; to a god that his fathers did not know he will give glory by means of gold and silver and precious stones and desirable things.
This god of fortress has been explained to mean military spending. And this is something Donald Trump has increased. He thinks this is a top priority. Here is a news clip commenting on that.
 
 

@TrueTomHarley The angel explained what the vision means that 3 horns were plucked off before him: 
Daniel 7:24 "As for the ten horns, ten kings will rise up out of that kingdom; and still another one will rise up after them, and he will be different from the first ones, and he will humiliate three kings."
I have been looking who those 3 kings would be? They should be a part of the same beast. So they should be 3 significant "western"  countries. 
Trump has been harsh against many countries, but could it be Germany, France and UK?
Trump has been hard on Merkel, Germany and the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russian to Germany. Trump has been hard on Macron and France. Trump was hard on Theresa May UK, and just recently Trump "tore into" Boris Johnson over Huawei. https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/donald-trump-boris-johnson-huawei/index.html