Ofakazi AbangamaKristu Bobukhosi Baphezulu
“‘Nimemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ balowo owanibiza ukuba niphume ebumnyameni ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.”—1 PETRU 2:9.
1. Yibuphi ubufakazi obuphumelelayo obanikezwa ngoJehova ngezikhathi zangaphambi kobuKristu?
EZIKHATHINI zangaphambi kobuKristu, uhlu olude lofakazi lwakufakazela ngesibindi ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Heberu 11:4–12:1) Beqinile okholweni lwabo, balalela imithetho kaJehova ngokungesabi futhi benqaba ukuhlehla ezindabeni zokukhulekela. Babufakazela ngamandla ubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke.—IHubo 18:21-23; 47:1, 2.
2. (a) Ubani uFakazi kaJehova omkhulu kunabo bonke? (b) Obani abathatha isikhundla sesizwe sakwa-Israyeli njengofakazi kaJehova? Sazi kanjani?
2 Ufakazi wokugcina nomkhulu kunabo bonke wangaphambi kobuKristu kwakunguJohane uMbhapathizi. (Mathewu 11:11) Waba nelungelo lokumemezela ukuza koKhethiweyo, futhi wethula uJesu njengoMesiya othenjisiwe. (Johane 1:29-34) UJesu unguFakazi kaJehova omkhulu kunabo bonke, “ufakazi okholekileyo noqinisileyo.” (IsAmbulo 3:14) Ngenxa yokuthi u-Israyeli ongokwenyama wamenqaba uJesu, noJehova wamenqaba u-Israyeli wayesemisa isizwe esisha, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ongokomoya, ukuba abe ufakazi wakhe. (Isaya 42:8-12; Johane 1:11, 12; Galathiya 6:16) UPetru wacaphuna isiprofetho esiphathelene no-Israyeli futhi wabonisa ukuthi sasisebenza ‘ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,’ ibandla lobuKristu, lapho ethi: “‘Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, isizwe sokuba yimpahla ekhethekile, ukuze nimemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ balowo owanibiza ukuba niphume ebumnyameni ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.”—1 Petru 2:9; Eksodusi 19:5, 6; Isaya 43:21; 60:2.
3. Uyini umthwalo wemfanelo oyinhloko ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ‘nowesixuku esikhulu’?
3 Amazwi kaPetru abonisa ukuthi umthwalo wemfanelo oyinhloko ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ukufakaza obala ngenkazimulo kaJehova. Osukwini lwethu “isixuku esikhulu” sofakazi naso esikhazimulisa uNkulunkulu obala siye sazihlanganisa nalesi sizwe esingokomoya. Simemeza ngezwi elikhulu ukuze kuzwe bonke: “Insindiso yethu ivela kuNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakulo iWundlu.” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10; Isaya 60:8-10) U-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu nabangane bakhe bangakufeza kanjani ukufakaza kwabo? Ngokholo lwabo nokulalela.
Ofakazi Bamanga
4. Kungani amaJuda osuku lukaJesu ayengofakazi bamanga?
4 Ukholo nokulalela kuhilela ukuphila ngezimiso zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Ukubaluleka kwalokhu kubonakala kulokho uJesu akusho ngabaholi benkolo bamaJuda bosuku lwakhe. ‘Babezihlalise esihlalweni sikaMose’ njengabafundisi boMthetho. Bathumela ngisho nezithunywa zevangeli ukuba ziyoguqula abangakholwa. Kodwa uJesu wathi kubo: “Nidabula ulwandle nezwe elomile ukuba nenze umproselithe oyedwa, futhi lapho eba uye nimenza isisulu seGehena ngokuphindwe kabili kunani.” Laba bashisekeli benkolo babengofakazi bamanga—ababeqhosha, benobuzenzisi, futhi bengenaluthando. (Mathewu 23:1-12, 15) Ngesinye isikhathi uJesu wathi kumaJuda athile: “Nina nivela kuyihlo uDeveli, futhi nifisa ukwenza izifiso zikayihlo.” Kungani ayengase asho into enjalo emalungwini esizwe sikaNkulunkulu esikhethiwe? Ngoba ayengafuni ukulalela amazwi kaFakazi kaJehova omkhulu kunabo bonke.—Johane 8:41, 44, 47.
5. Sazi kanjani ukuthi eLobukholwa liye lanikeza ubufakazi bamanga ngoNkulunkulu?
5 Ngendlela efanayo, phakathi namakhulu eminyaka kusukela esikhathini sikaJesu, amakhulu ezigidi kweLobukholwa aye athi angabafundi bakhe. Nokho, awazange enze intando kaNkulunkulu futhi ngalokho uJesu uyawaphika. (Mathewu 7:21-23; 1 Korinte 13:1-3) ELobukholwa liye lathumela izithunywa zevangeli, eziningi zazo ezaziqotho ngempela. Kodwa zafundisa abantu ukuba bakhulekele unkulunkulu onguZiqu-zintathu oshisa izoni esihogweni somlilo, futhi iningi labantu ezabaguqula alibonisi bufakazi bokuba amaKristu. Ngokwesibonelo, izwe lase-Afrika laseRwanda liye laba insimu evundile yezithunywa zevangeli zamaRoma Katolika. Noma kunjalo, amaKatolika aseRwanda aye ahlanganyela ngokukhululekile empini yamuva yobuhlanga kulelozwe. Isithelo esikuleyo nsimu yalezo zithunywa zevangeli sibonisa ukuthi ayibutholanga ubufakazi bobuKristu bangempela kweLobukholwa.—Mathewu 7:15-20.
Ukuphila Ngezimiso Zokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu
6. Kungaziphi izindlela ukuziphatha okulungile kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokunikeza ubufakazi?
6 Ukuziphatha okungalungile kwalabo abathi bangamaKristu kuhlazisa “indlela yeqiniso.” (2 Petru 2:2) UmKristu wangempela uphila ngezimiso zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Akebi, akawaqambi amanga, akakhohlisi, noma aziphathe kabi. (Roma 2:22) Akalokothi abulale umakhelwane wakhe. Amadoda angamaKristu ayiphatha ngothando imikhaya yawo. Amakhosikazi akusekela ngenhlonipho lokho kuphatha. Abantwana baqeqeshwa abazali babo futhi ngalokho balungiselelwa ukuba babe abantu abadala abangamaKristu abanokwethenjelwa. (Efesu 5:21–6:4) Yiqiniso, sonke asiphelele futhi senza amaphutha. Kodwa umKristu wangempela uyazihlonipha izindinganiso zeBhayibheli futhi wenza umzamo wangempela wokuzisebenzisa. Abanye bayakubona lokhu futhi kunikeza ubufakazi obuhle. Ngezinye izikhathi, labo ababeliphikisa iqiniso, baphawula ukuziphatha okulungile komKristu futhi bazuzeka.—1 Petru 2:12, 15; 3:1.
7. Kubaluleke kangakanani ukuba amaKristu athandane?
7 UJesu wabonisa isici esibalulekile sokuziphatha kobuKristu lapho ethi: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35) Izwe likaSathane ligcwele “ukungalungi, ukukhohlakala, ukukhanuka, ububi, begcwele umona, ukubulala ngokungemthetho, ukuxabana, inkohliso, isimo esibi, bengabahlebayo, izinyevuzi, abazonda uNkulunkulu, abeyisayo, abazidlayo, abazazisayo, abasunguli bezinto ezilimazayo, abangalaleli abazali.” (Roma 1:29, 30) Endaweni enjalo, inhlangano enothando yomhlaba wonke iyoba ubufakazi obunamandla bokusebenza komoya kaNkulunkulu—ubufakazi obuphumelelayo. OFakazi BakaJehova bakha inhlangano enjalo.—1 Petru 2:17.
Ofakazi Bangabafundi BeBhayibheli
8, 9. (a) Umhubi waqiniswa kanjani ukufunda kwakhe uMthetho kaNkulunkulu nokuzindla ngawo? (b) Yiziphi izindlela ukufunda iBhayibheli nokuzindla okuyosiqinisa ngazo ukuba siqhubeke sinikeza ubufakazi?
8 Ukuze aphumelele ekunikezeni ubufakazi obuhle, umKristu kumelwe azi futhi athande izimiso zikaJehova zokulunga futhi akuzonde ngempela ukukhohlakala kwezwe. (IHubo 97:10) Izwe linamandla ekuthuthukiseni ukucabanga kwalo, futhi kungaba nzima ukumelana nomoya walo. (Efesu 2:1-3; 1 Johane 2:15, 16) Yini engasisiza ukuba silondoloze isimo sengqondo esifanele? Isifundo seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke nesinenjongo. Umbhali weHubo 119 wakuphinda kaningi ukuthanda kwakhe uMthetho kaJehova. Wayewufunda futhi ezindla ngawo njalo, “usuku lonke.” (IHubo 119:92, 93, 97-105) Ngenxa yalokho, wabhala: “Amanga ngiyawazonda, ngiyawenyanya; umthetho wakho ngiyawuthanda.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uthando lwakhe olujulile lwamshukumisela esenzweni. Uthi: “Kasikhombisa ngosuku ngiyakudumisa ngezahlulelo zokulunga kwakho.”—IHubo 119:163, 164.
9 Ngendlela efanayo, isifundo sethu sasikhathi sonke seZwi likaNkulunkulu nokuzindla ngalo kuyothinta izinhliziyo zethu futhi kusishukumisele ukuba ‘simdumise’—sifakaze ngoJehova—kaningi, ngisho ‘nakasikhombisa ngosuku.’ (Roma 10:10) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, umbhali wehubo lokuqala uthi umuntu ozindla njalo ngamazwi kaJehova “unjengomuthi otshaliwe ngasemifuleni yamanzi, othela isithelo sawo ngesikhathi sawo, oqabunga lawo lingabuni, nakho konke akwenzayo uyakuba-nenhlanhla kukho.” (IHubo 1:3) Nomphostoli uPawulu wabonisa amandla eZwi likaNkulunkulu lapho ebhala: “Yonke imiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu futhi inenzuzo yokufundisa, yokusola, yokuqondisa izinto, yokuyala ekulungeni, ukuze umuntu kaNkulunkulu afaneleke ngokugcwele, ayihlomele ngokuphelele yonke imisebenzi emihle.”—2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17.
10. Yini esobala ngabantu bakaJehova kulezi zinsuku zokugcina?
10 Ukukhula ngokushesha kwenani labakhulekeli beqiniso kuleli khulu lama-20 kubonisa isibusiso sikaJehova. Ngokungangabazeki, njengeqembu, labofakazi bosuku lwanamuhla bobukhosi baphezulu baye bahlakulela uthando ngomthetho kaJehova ezinhliziyweni zabo. Njengomhubi, bashukunyiselwa ukuba balalele umthetho waKhe futhi ngokukholeka bafakaze “imini nobusuku” ngenkazimulo kaJehova.—IsAmbulo 7:15.
Imisebenzi KaJehova Yamandla
11, 12. Zafezani izimangaliso ezenziwa uJesu nabalandeli bakhe?
11 Ekhulwini lokuqala, umoya ongcwele wanikeza ofakazi abangamaKristu abakholekile amandla okwenza izimangaliso, ezanikeza ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi ubufakazi babo babuyiqiniso. Lapho uJohane uMbhapathizi esejele, wathuma abafundi ukuba bayobuza uJesu: “Ingabe wena unguYe Ozayo, noma kumelwe silindele omunye?” UJesu akazange aphendule ngoyebo noma ngocha. Kunalokho, wathi: “Hambani nibikele uJohane lokho enikuzwayo nenikubonayo: Izimpumputhe ziyabona futhi, nezinyonga ziyahamba, abanochoko bayahlanzwa nezithulu ziyezwa, nabafileyo bayavuswa, futhi kumenyezelwa izindaba ezinhle kwabampofu; futhi uyajabula ongayitholi imbangela yokukhubeka kimi.” (Mathewu 11:3-6) Lemisebenzi yamandla yaba ubufakazi kuJohane bokuthi uJesu wayenguye ngempela “Ozayo.”—IzEnzo 2:22.
12 Ngendlela efanayo, abanye babalandeli bakaJesu baphulukisa ababegula baze bavusa ngisho nababefile. (IzEnzo 5:15, 16; 20:9-12) Lezi zimangaliso zazinjengobufakazi obabuvela kuNkulunkulu uqobo ngenxa yabo. (Heberu 2:4) Futhi imisebenzi enjalo yayibonakalisa amandla kaJehova angenakulinganiswa. Ngokwesibonelo, kuyiqiniso ukuthi uSathane, “umbusi walelizwe,” uyakwazi ukubangela ukufa. (Johane 14:30; Heberu 2:14) Kodwa lapho uPetru evusa kwabafileyo owesifazane owayekholekile uDorka, wayengakwenza ngamandla kaJehova kuphela, ngoba nguYe kuphela ongabuyisela ukuphila.—IHubo 16:10; 36:9; IzEnzo 2:25-27; 9:36-43.
13. (a) Izimangaliso zeBhayibheli zisawafakazela ngayiphi indlela amandla kaJehova? (b) Ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho kunayiphi indima ebalulekile ekufakazeleni ubuNkulunkulu bukaJehova?
13 Namuhla, leyo misebenzi yamandla ayisenzeki. Injongo yayo seyafezwa. (1 Korinte 13:8) Noma kunjalo, sisenombhalo wayo ogciniwe eBhayibhelini, ofakazelwa abaningi ababebukele. Lapho amaKristu namuhla edonsela ukunakekela kulokhu kulandisa okungokomlando, leyo misebenzi yamandla isawafakazela ngokuphumelelayo amandla kaJehova. (1 Korinte 15:3-6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, emuva osukwini luka-Isaya, uJehova wabhekisela esiprofethweni esinembile njengobufakazi obuvelele bokuthi unguNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Isaya 46:8-11) Iziprofetho eziningi zeBhayibheli eziphefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu ziyagcwaliseka namuhla—eziningi zazo ebandleni lobuKristu. (Isaya 60:8-10; Daniyeli 12:6-12; Malaki 3:17, 18; Mathewu 24:9; IsAmbulo 11:1-13) Ngaphandle kokuveza ukuthi siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina,” ukugcwaliseka kwalezi ziprofetho kulwela uJehova njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso.—2 Thimothewu 3:1.
14. Kungaziphi izindlela umlando wosuku lwanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova uwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uJehova uyiNkosi enguMbusi?
14 Okokugcina, uJehova usabenzela izinto ezinkulu, izinto ezimangalisayo, abantu bakhe. Ukukhanya okwandayo kweqiniso leBhayibheli kuqondiswa ngumoya kaJehova. (IHubo 86:10; IsAmbulo 4:5, 6) Ukwanda okuvelele okubikwa emhlabeni wonke kuwubufakazi bokuthi uJehova ‘uyakusheshisa ngesikhathi sakho.’ (Isaya 60:22) Lapho kuqubuka ukushushiswa okunzima emazweni ahlukahlukene phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina, abantu bakaJehova baye bakwazi ukukhuthazela ngesibindi ngenxa yokusekela okuqinisayo komoya ongcwele. (IHubo 18:1, 2, 17, 18; 2 Korinte 1:8-10) Yebo, umlando wosuku lwanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova uwodwa uwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uJehova uyiNkosi enguMbusi.—Zakariya 4:6.
Izindaba Ezinhle Okumelwe Zishunyayelwe
15. Yibuphi ubufakazi obandisiwe obabuzonikezwa yibandla lobuKristu?
15 UJehova wamisa u-Israyeli ukuba abe ufakazi wakhe ezizweni. (Isaya 43:10) Nokho, ambalwa ama-Israyeli ayalwa ngokwaphezulu ukuba ayoshumayela kwabangewona ama-Israyeli, futhi lokhu ngokuvamile kwakwenzelwa ukumemezela izahlulelo zikaJehova. (Jeremiya 1:5; Jona 1:1, 2) Noma kunjalo, iziprofetho ezisemiBhalweni YesiHeberu zibonisa ukuthi ngolunye usuku uJehova wayeyophendulela ukunakekela kwakhe ezizweni kabanzi, futhi lokhu uye wakwenza ngo-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ongokomoya. (Isaya 2:2-4; 62:2) Ngaphambi kokunyukela ezulwini, uJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi.” (Mathewu 28:19) Nakuba uJesu ayegxile “ezimvwini ezilahlekile zendlu ka-Israyeli,” abalandeli bakhe bathunyelwa kuzo “zonke izizwe,” ngisho “nasezingxenyeni eziqhele kakhulu zomhlaba.” (Mathewu 15:24; IzEnzo 1:8) Ubufakazi bobuKristu kwakumelwe buzwiwe yiso sonke isintu.
16. Yikuphi ukuthunywa okwafezwa ibandla lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala, futhi ngezinga elingakanani?
16 UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi wayekuqonda kahle lokhu. Ngonyaka ka-61 C.E., wayengase athi izindaba ezinhle “zithela isithelo futhi zanda ezweni lonke.” Izindaba ezinhle zazingagcini esizweni esisodwa noma ehlelweni elilodwa, njengalelo elalihileleke ‘ekukhulekelweni kwezingelosi.’ Kunalokho, zazishunyayelwa ngokukhululekile “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kolose 1:6, 23; 2:13, 14, 16-18) Ngakho, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ekhulwini lokuqala wakufeza ukuthunywa kwakhe ‘“kokumemezela kabanzi ubuhle” balowo owambiza ukuba aphume ebumnyameni angene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.’
17. UMathewu 24:14 uqhubeka kanjani ugcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu?
17 Noma kunjalo, lowo msebenzi wokushumayela wekhulu lokuqala wawumane uyisandulela salokho okwakuyofezwa phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina. Ebheke phambili ikakhulukazi esikhathini sethu, uJesu wathi: “Futhi lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14; Marku 13:10) Siye sagcwaliseka yini lesi siprofetho? Yebo. Kusukela esiqalweni esincane ngo-1919, ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle manje kuye kwenabela emazweni angaphezu kuka-230. Ubufakazi buzwiwa eNyakatho eneqhwa nasemazweni ashisayo aneshisandlu. Kuhlanganiswa amazwekazi amakhulu, futhi kufunwa neziqhingi ukuze abahlala kuzo bathole ubufakazi. Ngisho naphakathi kwezinxushunxushu ezinkulu, njengempi eBosnia naseHerzegovina, izindaba ezinhle ziyaqhubeka zishunyayelwa. Njengasekhulwini lokuqala, ubufakazi buthela izithelo “ezweni lonke.” Izindaba ezinhle zimenyezelwa obala “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” Umphumela? Okokuqala, abasele baka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu baye baqoqwa bevela “kuzo zonke izizwana nezilimi nabantu nezizwe.” Okwesibili, izigidi ‘zesixuku esikhulu’ ziye zaqala ukungeniswa ziphuma “kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.” (IsAmbulo 5:9; 7:9) UMathewu 24:14 uyaqhubeka egcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu.
18. Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezifezwa ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke?
18 Ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke kusiza ekufakazeleni ukuthi ukuba khona kukaJesu ebukhosini sekuqalile. (Mathewu 24:3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuyindlela eyinhloko “isivuno somhlaba” esivunwa ngayo, njengoba kuqondisa abantu kokuwukuphela kwethemba langempela lesintu, uMbuso kaJehova. (IsAmbulo 14:15, 16) Njengoba kungamaKristu angempela kuphela ahlanganyela ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle, lomsebenzi obalulekile usiza ekuhlukaniseni amaKristu eqiniso kwawamanga. (Malaki 3:18) Ngalendlela, kuphumela ekusindisweni kwabashumayelayo nalabo abasabelayo. (1 Thimothewu 4:16) Okubaluleke nakakhulu, ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuletha udumo kuJehova uNkulunkulu, owayala ukuba kwenziwe, osekela abakwenzayo, futhi okwenza kube nezithelo.—2 Korinte 4:7.
19. AmaKristu akhuthazwa ukuba azimisele ngani njengoba eqala unyaka wenkonzo omusha?
19 Kungakho umphostoli uPawulu ashukunyiselwa ukuba athi: “Maye kimi uma ngingazimemezelanga izindaba ezinhle!” (1 Korinte 9:16) AmaKristu azizwa ngaleyo ndlela namuhla. Kuyilungelo elikhulu nomthwalo wemfanelo omkhulu ukuba “yizisebenzi ezikanye noNkulunkulu,” ezinikeza ukukhanya kweqiniso kulelizwe elimnyama. (1 Korinte 3:9; Isaya 60:2, 3) Umsebenzi owaba nesiqalo esincane ngo-1919 manje usufinyelele isilinganiso esimangalisayo. AmaKristu acishe abe izigidi ezinhlanu afakazela ubukhosi baphezulu njengoba esebenzisa amahora angaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane ngonyaka ekuyiseni isigijimi sensindiso kwabanye. Yeka ukuthi kujabulisa kanjani ukuhlanganyela kulomsebenzi ongcwelisa igama likaJehova! Njengoba siqala unyaka wenkonzo ka-1996, masizimisele ukungayekethisi. Kunalokho, kunanini ngaphambili sizolalela amazwi kaPawulu kuThimothewu: “Shumayela izwi, ube kulo unomuzwa wokuphuthuma.” (2 Thimothewu 4:2) Njengoba senze njalo, sithandaza ngezinhliziyo zethu zonke ukuba uJehova aqhubeke ebusisa imizamo yethu.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Obani abathatha isikhundla sika-Israyeli sokuba “ufakazi” kaJehova ezizweni?
◻ Ukuziphatha kobuKristu kunayiphi ingxenye ekunikezeni ubufakazi?
◻ Kungani ukufunda iBhayibheli nokuzindla ngalo kubalulekile kuFakazi ongumKristu?
◻ Kungayiphi indlela umlando wosuku lwanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova uwubufakazi bokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso?
◻ Yini efezwa ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle?
[Izithombe ekhasini 15]
Kunokuba zivinjelwe, manje izindaba ezinhle zimenyezelwa “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu”