Lalela Lokho Umoya Okushoyo!
“Onendlebe makezwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni.”—ISAMBULO 3:22.
1, 2. Isiphi iseluleko esiphindaphindwayo mayelana nemiyalezo kaJesu emabandleni ayisikhombisa akusAmbulo?
IZINCEKU zikaJehova kumelwe ziwalalelisise amazwi aphefumulelwe umoya uJesu Kristu awasho emabandleni ayisikhombisa encwadini yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo. Empeleni, ngamunye wale miyalezo unalesi seluleko: “Onendlebe makezwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni.”—IsAmbulo 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.
2 Sesixoxile kakade ngemiyalezo kaJesu ayisho ezingelosini, noma kubabonisi, base-Efesu, eSmirna, nasePhergamu. Singazuza kanjani kulokho akusho ngomoya ongcwele kulawa amanye amabandla amane?
Engelosini YaseThiyathira
3. Yayikuphi iThiyathira, futhi imuphi umkhiqizo eyayidume kakhulu ngawo?
3 “INdodana kaNkulunkulu” iyalincoma futhi ilisole ibandla laseThiyathira. (Funda isAmbulo 2:18-29.) IThiyathira (esiyi-Akhisar) yayakhiwe yagudla umngenela woMfula iGediz (iHermus yasendulo) entshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Lo muzi wawudume ngobuciko obuningi. Abathaki bodayi bakhona babesebenzisa impande ye-madder ukuze bathole umbala wabo obomvu, noma onsomi, owawubatshazwa. ULidiya, owaba umKristu lapho uPawulu ehambele eFilipi eGrisi, ‘wayengumthengisi wokunsomi, wasemzini waseThiyathira.’—IzEnzo 16:12-15.
4. Ibandla laseThiyathira lanconyelwani?
4 UJesu uncoma ibandla laseThiyathira ngezenzo zalo ezinhle, uthando, ukholo, ukukhuthazela, nomsebenzi walo enkonzweni. Empeleni, ‘izenzo zabo zamuva zazingaphezu kwezangaphambili.’ Nokho, ngisho noma sinomlando omuhle, akumelwe neze singakunaki ukuziphatha kwethu.
5-7. (a) Kwakungubani “lowo wesifazane uJezabeli,” futhi kwakufanele kwenziweni ngethonya lakhe? (b) Umyalezo kaKristu ebandleni laseThiyathira ubasiza ukuba benzeni abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu?
5 Ibandla laseThiyathira lalibekezelela ukukhonzwa kwezithombe, imfundiso yamanga, nokuziphatha okubi kobulili. Kulo, kwakukhona “lowo wesifazane uJezabeli”—mhlawumbe iqembu labesifazane abaziphatha njengoJezabeli indlovukazi embi yombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi. Ezinye izazi zisikisela ukuthi ‘abaprofethikazi’ baseThiyathira bazama ukuyenga amaKristu ukuba akhulekele onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi benhlangano yezohwebo, ahlanganyele nasemikhosini enokudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe. Makungabikho mprofethikazi ozibekile ofuna ukulawula abanye ebandleni lobuKristu lanamuhla!
6 UKristu ‘wayesezomphonsa okhukhweni lwabagulayo owesifazane uJezabeli, nalabo abaphinga naye abaphonse osizini olukhulu, ngaphandle uma bephenduka ezenzweni zakhe.’ Ababonisi kufanele bangalokothi bavumele imfundiso nethonya elibi kanjalo, futhi akukho mKristu okudingeka afebe ngokomoya nangokwenyama noma akhonze izithombe ukuze abone ukuthi “izinto ezijulile zikaSathane” zimbi ngokuphelele. Uma silalela isixwayiso sikaJesu, ‘siyobambelela ngokuqinile kulokho esinakho,’ singabuswa isono. Ngenxa yokuthi benqaba imikhuba emibi, izinkanuko, nezinhloso, abagcotshiwe abavusiwe bathola “igunya phezu kwezizwe” futhi bayohlanganyela noKristu ekuziphihlizeni zibe izicucu. Amabandla anamuhla anezinkanyezi ezingokomfanekiso, futhi abagcotshiwe bayonikwa ‘inkanyezi yokusa ekhanyayo,’ uMyeni, uJesu Kristu, lapho bevuselwa ezulwini.—IsAmbulo 22:16.
7 Ibandla laseThiyathira laxwayiswa ukuba lingalibekezeleli ithonya elibi labesifazane abahlubukayo. Umyalezo kaKristu ophefumulelwe umoya kuleli bandla usiza abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu ukuba bahlale besendaweni yabo abayabelwe uNkulunkulu namuhla. Abazami ukulawula abesilisa futhi abayengeli mzalwane ebufebeni obungokomoya noma obungokwenyama. (1 Thimothewu 2:12) Kunalokho, abesifazane abanjalo babeka isibonelo emisebenzini emihle nasenkonzweni, kube udumo kuNkulunkulu. (IHubo 68:11; 1 Petru 3:1-6) Uma ibandla likuqapha lokho elinako—imfundiso nokuziphatha okumsulwa nenkonzo yoMbuso eyigugu—uKristu uyoletha imivuzo ebusisekile, hhayi imbubhiso.
Engelosini YaseSardesi
8. (a) Yayikuphi iSardesi, futhi iziphi ezinye zezinto ezaziwayo ngayo? (b) Kungani ibandla laseSardesi lalidinga usizo?
8 Ibandla laseSardesi lalidinga usizo oluphuthumayo ngoba lalifile ngokomoya. (Funda isAmbulo 3:1-6.) ISardesi yayingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 eningizimu yeThiyathira, iwumuzi ochumayo. Ezentengiselwano, ukunotha kwezwe, nokukhiqizwa kwendwangu nokhaphethi woboya kwasiza ekuyenzeni umuzi ocebile owake waba nezakhamuzi ezingaba ngu-50 000. Ngokwesazi-mlando uJosephus, ekhulwini lokuqala B.C.E. iSardesi yayinezakhamuzi eziningi ezingamaJuda. Emanxiweni alo muzi kunesinagoge nethempeli likankulunkulukazi wase-Efesu u-Arthemisi.
9. Kufanele senze njani uma inkonzo yethu kungeyokugcina icala?
9 UKristu watshela ingelosi yebandla laseSardesi: “Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho, ukuthi unegama lokuthi uyaphila, kodwa ufile.” Kuthiwani uma saziwa njengabaphapheme ngokomoya kodwa sibe silele ngokuqondene namalungelo obuKristu, inkonzo yethu kungeyokugcina icala, futhi ‘sesilungele ukufa’ ngokomoya? Kudingeka ‘siqhubeke sikhumbula ukuthi sasamukela kanjani futhi sasizwa kanjani’ isigijimi soMbuso, futhi kufanele sivuselele imizamo yethu enkonzweni engcwele. Nakanjani kudingeka siqale ukuhlanganyela ngenhliziyo yonke emihlanganweni yobuKristu. (Hebheru 10:24, 25) UKristu waxwayisa ibandla laseSardesi: “Ngaphandle kokuba uvuke, ngiyofika njengesela, futhi ngeke wazi nhlobo ukuthi iliphi ihora engiyokufikela ngalo.” Kuthiwani ngosuku lwethu? Maduze kuzodingeka silandise.
10. Ngisho nasesimweni esinjengeseSardesi, amaKristu ambalwa kungenzeka akusiphi isimo?
10 Ngisho nasesimweni esinjengeseSardesi, kungase kube nabambalwa ‘abangazingcolisi izingubo zabo zangaphandle, abakwaziyo ukuhamba noKristu ngezimhlophe ngoba bayakufanelekela.’ Bahlala bebonakala ukuthi bangamaKristu, bengangcolile, bengenabala lokuziphatha noma lenkolo elivela kuleli zwe. (Jakobe 1:27) Ngakho, uJesu ‘akasoze awasula amagama abo encwadini yokuphila, kodwa uyowavuma phambi kukaYise nezingelosi.’ Njengoba kuthiwa siyakufanelekela ukuhamba noKristu, isigaba somlobokazi wakhe sabagcotshiwe siyovunula ngelineni elikhanyayo, elihlanzekile, nelicolekileyo elifanekisela izenzo zokulunga zabangcwele bakaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 19:8) Amalungelo enkonzo amangalisayo abalindele ezulwini abashukumisela ukuba balinqobe leli zwe. Nalabo abalindele ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni bagcinelwe izibusiso. Nawabo amagama alotshwe encwadini yokuphila.
11. Yini okufanele siyenze uma siqala ukozela ngokomoya?
11 Akekho kithi ofuna ukuba sesimweni esidabukisayo ngokomoya sebandla laseSardesi. Kodwa kuthiwani uma sibona ukuthi sesiqala ukozela ngokomoya? Kufanele sithathe isinyathelo ngokushesha, okuyosiza thina. Ake sithi sidonsekela ezindleleni zokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu noma siyayidebesela imihlangano noma inkonzo yethu. Masifune usizo lukaJehova ngomthandazo oqotho. (Filipi 4:6, 7, 13) Ukufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke nokutadisha imiBhalo nezincwadi ‘zomphathi othembekile’ kuyosisiza sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya. (Luka 12:42-44) Siyobe sesiba njengalabo baseSardesi ababamukelwa nguKristu, sibe isibusiso nakwesikholwa nabo.
Engelosini YaseFiladelfiya
12. Ungasichaza kanjani isimo senkolo eFiladelfiya yasendulo?
12 UJesu walincoma ibandla laseFiladelfiya. (Funda isAmbulo 3:7-13.) IFiladelfiya (esiyi-Alasehir) yayiyisikhungo esichumayo sesifunda esikhiqiza iwayini entshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Empeleni, unkulunkulu wayo oyinhloko kwakunguDionysus, unkulunkulu wewayini. Kubonakala sengathi amaJuda aseFiladelfiya azama, kodwa ahluleka, ukuthonya amaKristu angamaJuda ayelapho ukuba agcine imikhuba ethile yoMthetho KaMose noma abuyele kuyo.
13. UKristu usisebenzise kanjani ‘isihluthulelo sikaDavide’?
13 UKristu ‘unesihluthulelo sikaDavide,’ futhi ngenxa yalokho uphathiswe konke okuphathelene noMbuso nokuqondisa indlu yokholo. (Isaya 22:22; Luka 1:32) UJesu wasebenzisa leso sihluthulelo ukuze avulele amaKristu aseFiladelfiya yasendulo nakwezinye izindawo amathuba namalungelo oMbuso. Kusukela ngo-1919 uye wabeka phambi ‘komphathi othembekile’ “umnyango omkhulu” oholela ekushumayeleni ngoMbuso, okungekho mphikisi ongawuvala. (1 Korinte 16:9; Kolose 4:2-4) Yebo, umnyango oya emalungelweni oMbuso uvaliwe kulabo ‘besinagoge likaSathane,’ ngoba abawona ama-Israyeli angokomoya.
14. (a) Isiphi isithembiso uJesu asenza ebandleni laseFiladelfiya? (b) Singakugwema kanjani ukuwa “ehoreni lokuvivinywa”?
14 UJesu wénza lesi sithembiso kumaKristu aseFiladelfiya yasendulo: “Ngenxa yokuthi uligcinile izwi lokukhuthazela kwami, nami ngiyokugcina ukuba ungangeni ehoreni lokuvivinywa, eliyofika phezu komhlaba wonke owakhiwe.” Ukushumayela kudinga ukukhuthazela okufana nalokho okwaboniswa uJesu. Akazange alokothe aziyekelele esitheni kodwa waqhubeka enza intando kaYise. Ngakho, uKristu wavuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini okungenakufa. Uma sinamathela esinqumweni sethu sokukhulekela uJehova, sisekele uMbuso ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle, siyolondeka singawi kule nkathi yokuvivinywa yamanje, ‘ihora lokuvivinywa.’ ‘Siyoqhubeka sibambelele ngokuqinile kulokho esinakho’ okuvela kuKristu ngokulwela ukwandisa lokho okuphathelene noMbuso. Ukwenza kanjalo kuyolethela abagcotshiwe umqhele wasezulwini ongenakuqhathaniswa, nokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni kubangane babo abaqotho.
15. Kudingekani kulabo abayoba ‘izinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu’?
15 UKristu uyanezela: “Onqobayo—ngiyomenza insika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wami, . . . futhi ngiyoloba kuye igama likaNkulunkulu wami negama lomuzi kaNkulunkulu wami, iJerusalema elisha elehla livela ezulwini kuNkulunkulu wami, naleliya gama lami elisha.” Ababonisi abagcotshiwe kumelwe basekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kumelwe baqhubeke besemgqeni wokuba amalungu ‘eJerusalema elisha’ ngokushumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nangokuhlala behlanzekile ngokomoya. Lokhu kuyadingeka uma befuna ukuba yizinsika ethempelini lasezulwini elikhazinyulisiwe nokuba negama lomuzi kaNkulunkulu njengezakhamuzi zawo zasezulwini, babe nanegama likaKristu njengomlobokazi wakhe. Yebo, kumelwe futhi babe nezindlebe ‘ezikuzwayo lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni.’
Engelosini YaseLawodikeya
16. Yini eyaziwayo ngeLawodikeya?
16 UKristu walisola ibandla laseLawodikeya elalizithele ngabandayo. (Funda isAmbulo 3:14-22.) ILawodikeya yayingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-150 empumalanga ye-Efesu, lapho kuhlangana khona imizila emikhulu yokuhweba esigodini esinothile soMfula iLycus, yayiwumuzi ochuma kakhulu owakha izinto noyisikhungo sokulondoloza imali. Izingubo zoboya obumnyama ezisuka kule ndawo zazaziwa kakhulu. Njengoba yayinesikole esidumile sezokwelapha, iLawodikeya cishe yiyo eyakha umuthi wamehlo owaziwa ngokuthi i-Phrygian powder. U-Asclepius, unkulunkulu wezokwelapha, wayengomunye wonkulunkulu bomuzi abayinhloko. Kubonakala sengathi eLawodikeya kwakunamaJuda amaningi, amanye awo ngokusobala ayecebile impela.
17. Kungani abaseLawodikeya basolwa?
17 Ekhuluma nebandla laseLawodikeya ‘ngengelosi’ yalo, uJesu ukhuluma ngegunya ‘njengofakazi othembekile noqinisile, isiqalo sendalo kaNkulunkulu.’ (Kolose 1:13-16) AbaseLawodikeya basolwa ‘ngokungabandi’ kwabo bebe ‘bengashisi futhi’ ngokomoya. Ngenxa yokuthi babesivivi, uKristu wayezobahlanza baphume emlonyeni wakhe. Kumelwe ukuba baliqonda lelo phuzu. EHiyerapholi eseduze kwakuneziphethu ezishisayo, kanti iKolose yayinamanzi abandayo. Nokho, njengoba amanzi kwakudingeka adonswe ngamapayipi ibanga elide eya eLawodikeya, cishe ayefika emzini esesivivi. Kwenye indawo endleleni, ayehamba emseleni. Eduze naseLawodikeya, ayehamba ngaphakathi kwamatshe avulwe imbobo ayesehlanganiswa ngokhonkolo.
18, 19. AmaKristu anamuhla angasizwa kanjani njengawaseLawodikeya?
18 Abantu abafana nabaseLawodikeya namuhla abashisi ngendlela eshukumisayo kodwa futhi ababandi ngokuqabulayo. Njengamanzi asivivi, bayophinyiswa! UJesu akabafuni ukuba babe abakhulumeli bakhe, ‘njengamanxusa’ agcotshiwe “abambele uKristu.” (2 Korinte 5:20) Ngaphandle uma bephenduka, bayolahlekelwa ilungelo labo lokuba abamemezeli boMbuso. AbaseLawodikeya babefuna ingcebo yasemhlabeni, ‘bengazi ukuthi bangabosizi, nabokudatshukelwa nokuthi bampofu, bayizimpumputhe futhi bahamba-ze.’ Ukuze babususe ubumpofu, ubumpumputhe, nobuze babo obungokomoya, noma obani abanjengabo namuhla kudingeka bathenge kuKristu ‘igolide elicwengisisiwe’ eliwukholo oluvivinyiwe, “nezingubo zangaphandle ezimhlophe” eziwukulunga, “nomuthi wamehlo” owenza umuntu abone kangcono ngokomoya. Ababonisi abangamaKristu bayakujabulela ukubasiza ukuba baqaphele isidingo sabo esingokomoya ukuze babe “abacebile okholweni.” (Jakobe 2:5; Mathewu 5:3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ababonisi kudingeka babasize bagcobe ‘umuthi wamehlo’ ongokomoya—bamukele futhi bavumelane nemfundiso, iseluleko, isibonelo, nesimo sengqondo sikaJesu. Leli khambi lelapha “isifiso senyama nesifiso samehlo nokugabisa ngalokho umuntu aziphilisa ngakho.”—1 Johane 2:15-17.
19 UJesu usola futhi ayale bonke abathandayo. Ababonisi abangaphansi kwakhe kumelwe benze okufanayo ngomusa. (IzEnzo 20:28, 29) AbaseLawodikeya kwakudingeka ‘bashiseke futhi baphenduke,’ benze izinguquko ekucabangeni kwabo nasendleleni yabo yokuphila. Ingabe abanye bethu sebejwayele indlela yokuphila eyenza inkonzo yethu engcwele kuNkulunkulu ibe isici esingabalulekile kangako ekuphileni? ‘Masithenge umuthi wamehlo kuJesu’ ukuze sikwazi ukubona ukubaluleka kokufuna uMbuso kuqala ngentshiseko.—Mathewu 6:33.
20, 21. Obani abavulela uJesu njengoba ‘engqongqoza’ namuhla, futhi ayini amathemba abo?
20 “Bheka!” kusho uKristu, “Ngimi emnyango ngiyangqongqoza. Uma umuntu ezwa izwi lami avule umnyango, ngizongena endlini yakhe ngidle naye isidlo sakusihlwa naye adle nami.” UJesu wayevame ukufundisa ngezinto ezingokomoya lapho edla. (Luka 5:29-39; 7:36-50; 14:1-24) Manje ungqongqozela ibandla elinjengelaseLawodikeya. Ingabe amalungu alo azomvulela, avuselele uthando lwawo ngaye, amamukele phakathi kwawo, amvumele awafundise? Uma enza kanjalo, uKristu uyokudla nawo, wona azuze kakhulu ngokomoya.
21 “Ezinye izimvu” zanamuhla ziyamngenisa ngokomfanekiso uJesu, futhi isenzo esinjalo siholela ekuphileni okuphakade. (Johane 10:16; Mathewu 25:34-40, 46) Ngamunye ogcotshiwe onqobayo, uKristu uyomnika ilungelo ‘lokuhlala naye esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, njengoba nje naye anqoba wahlala noYise esihlalweni saKhe sobukhosi.’ Yebo, abagcotshiwe abanqobayo, uJesu ubathembisa umvuzo omkhulu wokuhlala naye esihlalweni sobukhosi kwesokunene sikaYise ezulwini. Futhi ezinye izimvu ezinqobayo zilindela ngokulangazela indawo esemhlabeni ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso.
Isifundo Kithi Sonke
22, 23. (a) Angazuza kanjani wonke amaKristu emazwini uJesu awasho emabandleni ayisikhombisa? (b) Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?
22 Akungabazeki ukuthi wonke amaKristu angazuza kakhulu emazwini kaJesu emabandleni ayisikhombisa ase-Asia Minor. Ngokwesibonelo, bephawula ukuthi uKristu wancoma lapho kufaneleka, abadala abangamaKristu anothando bashukumiseleka ukuba babancome abantu namabandla aqhubeka kahle ngokomoya. Lapho kukhona khona ubuthakathaka, abadala bayabasiza abakholwa nabo ukuba basebenzise amakhambi asemiBhalweni. Sonke singaqhubeka sizuza ezicini ezihlukahlukene zeseluleko uKristu asinika amabandla ayisikhombisa, uma nje sisisebenzisa ngosizo lomthandazo futhi singapholisi maseko.a
23 Lezi zinsuku zokugcina azisona isikhathi sokuzithela ngabandayo, sokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, noma sanoma yini enye engase isenze sinikele kuNkulunkulu inkonzo yokugcina icala. Ngakho wonke amabandla mawaqhubeke ekhanya bhá njengezinti zezibani uJesu azigcina endaweni yazo. NjengamaKristu athembekile, masizimisele njalo ukunaka lapho uKristu ekhuluma futhi silalele lokho umoya okushoyo. Ngokwenza kanjalo siyoba nenjabulo yaphakade njengabaphathi bokukhanya, kube inkazimulo kuJehova.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a IsAmbulo 2:1–3:22 kuyaxoxwa ngaso nasezahlukweni 7 kuya ku-13 zencwadi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, enyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Wayengubani “lowo wesifazane uJezabeli,” futhi kungani abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu bengamlingisi?
• Kwakunasiphi isimo ebandleni laseSardesi, futhi yini esingayenza ukuze sigweme ukuba njengamaKristu amaningi akhona?
• Iziphi izithembiso uJesu azenza ebandleni laseFiladelfiya, futhi zisebenza kanjani namuhla?
• Kungani abaseLawodikeya basolwa, kodwa amaKristu ashisekayo anikwa maphi amathemba?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Izindlela ezimbi ‘zalowo wesifazane uJezabeli’ kumelwe zigwenywe
[Izithombe ekhasini 18]
UJesu ubeke phambi kwabalandeli bakhe “umnyango omkhulu” oya emalungelweni oMbuso
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Uyamamukela yini uJesu, umlalele?