1, 2. Izikhathi zokubhaphathizwa zithokozisa obani?

NXA kuyikuthi usukhonze uJehova okweminyaka eminengi, kumele ukuthi usuzwe izinkulumo zobhaphathizo ezinengi emihlanganweni yaboFakazi bakaJehova emikhulu. Kungelani lokuthi usungene imihlangano emingaki, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi inhliziyo yakho iyathinteka ngazozonke izikhathi lapho ubona abayabe behlezi phambili enkundleni yomhlangano besukuma ukuze bazinikele ukuthi babhaphathizwe. Ngalesosikhathi, izilaleli zitshengisa ukuthokoza kakhulu ngokutshaya izandla. Amehlo akho angahlengezela izinyembezi njengoba ubona iqembu labantu abaligugu eselikhethe ukusekela uJehova. Izikhathi ezinjalo zisenza sithokoze kakhulu!

² Thina singabona abantu bebhaphathizwa izikhathi ezilutshwana nje ngomnyaka kodwa izingilosi zona zilamathuba amanengi okubona abantu bebhaphathizwa. Cabanga nje ukuthi kuba ‘lokuthokoza ezulwini’ okungakanani nxa izingilosi zibona izinkulungwane zabantu emhlabeni wonke zisiba yingxenye yenhlanganiso kaJehova iviki ngalinye? (ULukha 15:7, 10) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ziyathokoza kakhulu ngokubona ukwanda okunjalo!​—UHagayi 2:7.

3. Kungani uSathane ezulazula ‘njengesilwane esibhongayo,’ njalo ufuna ukwenzani?

³ Kodwa kulezinye izidalwa zomoya ezizonda kakhulu nxa zibona abantu bebhaphathizwa. USathane lamadimoni akhe  bayathukuthela kakhulu nxa bebona izinkulungwane zabantu zitshiya ukusekela umhlaba lo okhohlakeleyo. Lokho kungenxa yokuthi uSathane wafunga wagomela ngokuthi akulamuntu ongakhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke njalo lokuthi kakho ozenelisa ukuhlala ethembekile lapho elingwa kanzima. (Bala uJobe 2:4, 5.) Ngazozonke izikhathi lapho umuntu othile ekhetha ukuzinikela kuJehova, kuhle kukhanye ukuthi uSathane ulamanga. Kuba angani uSathane utshaywa ngezimpama eziyinkulungwane ebusweni iviki ngalinye. Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi ‘uyazulazula njengesilwane esibhongayo esidinga esingamudla’! (1 UPhetro 5:8) “Isilwane” lesi sizimisele ukusinithiza ngokomoya lokusenza ukuthi siqede ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu.​—IHubo 7:1, 2; 2 KuThimothi 3:12.

4, 5. (a) UJehova uvimbele ukusebenza kukaSathane ngaziphi izindlela ezimbili? (b) Yini umKhristu weqiniso angaqiniseka ngayo?

⁴ Lanxa silwisana lesitha esesabekayo, asilasizatho sokunqotshwa  yikwesaba. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uvimbele ngezindlela ezimbili eziqakathekileyo amandla ‘esilwane lesi esibhongayo.’ Yiziphi lezozindlela? Okokuqala, uJehova ubikezele ukuthi ‘ixuku elikhulukazi’ lamaKhristu eqiniso lizasinda “ekuhluphekeni okukhulu” okuzayo. (ISambulo 7:9, 14) Iziphrofetho zikaNkulunkulu kazekeli ukugcwaliseka. Yikho-ke, ngitsho loSathane kumele ukuthi uyakwazi ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bebonke kangeke abenze lutho.

⁵ Indlela yesibili uSathane avinjelwe ngayo ikhanya ngeqiniso elilula elakhulunywa ngomunye wamadoda athembekileyo kaNkulunkulu. Umphrofethi u-Azariya wathi eNkosini u-Asa: “UJehova ulawe nxa wena ukuye.” (2 ImiLando 15:2; bala u-1 Khorinte 10:13.) Izibonelo ezinengi eziseBhayibhilini zitshengisa ukuthi endulo uSathane ngasosonke isikhathi wehluleka ukunithiza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezahlala ziseduze loNkulunkulu. (KumaHebheru 11:4-40) Lamuhla, umKhristu ohlala eseduze loNkulunkulu uzenelisa ukumenqaba lokumnqoba uDeveli. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lize lisiqinisekise lisithi: “Menqabeni uSathane, uzalibalekela.”​—UJakhobe 4:7.

6. USathane ulwa njani lomKhristu ngamunye?

⁶ USathane kangeke anqobe empini le, kodwa anganqoba ngamunye wethu nxa singekela ukuqaphela. USathane uyakwazi ukuthi engasinithiza nxa engenza ubuhlobo bethu loJehova bubebuthakathaka. USathane uzama njani ukukwenza lokhu? Ngokusihlasela ngamandla, ngokusebenzisa ubuqili langokuhlasela umuntu ngamunye. Ake sihlole izindlela lezi uSathane azithembileyo.

7. Kungani uSathane ehlasela ngamandla abantu bakaJehova?

⁷ Ukuhlasela ngamandla. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Umhlaba wonke ungaphansi kwamandla omubi.” (1 UJohane 5:19) Amazwi la ayisixwayiso kuwo wonke amaKhristu eqiniso. Njengoba uSathane esenithize umhlaba wonke omubi wabantu, usengagxila njalo ahlasele ngamandla labo  asebembalekele, okutsho abantu bakaJehova. (UMikha 4:1; UJohane 15:19; ISambulo 12:12, 17) Uvutha ulaka ngenxa yokuthi uyakwazi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sifitshane. Ngakho-ke, usesengezelele ukuhlasela kwakhe. Lamuhla sikhangelane lemizamo kaSathane elesihluku yokufuna ukudiliza ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu.

8. Umphostoli uPhawuli utshoni nxa esithi ‘sibindana’ lemimoya emibi?

⁸ Ukulwa kwakho. Umphostoli uPhawuli waxwayisa amaKhristu ayelawo wathi: ‘Silwa [ngesiGiriki sibindana] lamabutho emimoya emibi emibusweni yasezulwini.’ (Kwabase-Efesu 6:12) Kungani uPhawuli wakubiza ngokuthi ‘ukubindana’? Ngenxa yokuthi ukubindana yikulwa abantu benqindana. Yikho-ke, uPhawuli wagcizelela ukuthi ngamunye wethu ulwa lemimoya emibi. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi nxa sizinikela kuJehova, kuba angani singena enkundleni yokulwa kungelani lokuthi siphila elizweni lapho okulabantu abakholwa emimoyeni loba hatshi. Kusukela umuntu ezinikela, uhle angene empini le. Yikho uPhawuli wabona kufanele ukuthi akhuthaze amaKhristu ase-Efesu isikhathi esidlula esisodwa ukuthi ‘ame aqine’!​—Kwabase-Efesu 6:11, 13, 14.

9. (a) Kungani uSathane lamadimoni akhe besebenzisa ‘amacebo obuqili’? (b) Kungani uSathane ezama ukuphambanisa ukucabanga kwethu njalo singalwa njani lemizamo yakhe? (Bona ibhokisi elithi “ Qaphela Ubuqili BukaSathane!“) (c) Yibuphi ubuqili esizabuhlola khathesi?

⁹ Amacebo obuqili. UPhawuli ukhuthaza amaKhristu ukuthi ame aqine alwisane ‘lamacebo obuqili’ kaSathane. (Kwabase-Efesu 6:11) Nanzelela ukuthi uPhawuli usebenzisa ubunengi. Imimoya emibi isebenzisa amacebo obuqili atshiyeneyo njalo ilesizatho esihle sokwenza njalo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abanye abazalwane ababeqinile lapho behlangana lesilingo esithile baye bawa lapho sebehlangana lezinye. Yikho-ke, uDeveli lamadimoni bayahlolisisa ukuziphatha komunye lomunye wethu ukuze babone lapho esibuthakathaka khona. Ngemva kwalokhu besebesebenzisa noma yibuphi ubuthakathaka esingaba labo ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu.  Esikubongayo yikuthi siyenelisa ukunanzelela izindlela ezinengi zikaDeveli azisebenzisayo ngoba ziyachazwa eBhayibhilini. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 2:11) Ekuqaliseni kwebhuku leli saxoxa ngezinto ezinjengokugijimisana lenotho, abangane ababi lokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini. Ake sihlole obunye ubuqili bukaSathane, ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni.

10. (a) Kuyini ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni? (b) UJehova ukubona njani ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni njalo wena ukubona njani?

¹⁰ Nxa umuntu ezihlanganisa lamadimoni, uyabe esebenzelana lemimoya emibi ngokwayo. Eminye imihlobo yokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni yikuchasisa ngemibono, ubuthakathi, ukuphosa kanye lokubuza kwabafileyo. Njengoba sikwazi, uJehova ubona ukuzihlanganisa lemimoya kuyinto ‘eyisinengiso.’ (UDutheronomi 18:10-12; ISambulo 21:8) Njengoba lathi kumele ‘sizonde okubi,’ akulangqondo ukuthi singacabanga ukudinga ubudlelwano lemimoya emibi. (KwabaseRoma 12:9) Lokhu bekungaba yisenzo sokuba ngumthengisi kuBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova!

11. Kungani kungaba yikunqoba okukhulu kuSathane nxa engaphumelela ukusiyenga ukuthi sizihlanganise lamadimoni? Nika umzekeliso.

¹¹ Ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni yikuba ngumthengisi omkhulu kakhulu kuJehova. USathane uzimisele ukwenza ukuthi abanye bethu bazihlanganise lamadimoni. USathane unqoba impi enkulu kakhulu sonke isikhathi nxa engayenga umKhristu ukuthi acine ezihlanganisa lamadimoni. Kungani? Cabanga ngomzekeliso lo: Nxa isotsha lingatshiya njalo lithengise ibutho lalo liyezihlanganisa lebutho lesitha, induna yebutho lesitha ingathokoza kakhulu. Induna le ingahle ibukise ngesotsha leli angathi lingumvuzo omkhulu ukuze nje icaphule induna yebutho okusuke khona isotsha lelo. Ngendlela efananayo, nxa umKhristu engazihlanganisa lamadimoni, uyabe ekwazi ukuthi usetshiya uJehova njalo lokho uyabe ekwenza ngokuzithandela, ezibeka ngaphansi kobukhokheli  bukaSathane. Cabanga nje ukuthi kungamthokozisa kangakanani uSathane ukuthi abukise ngalowo mthengisi njengomvuzo awuthole empini! Ngamunye wethu angafuna ukuthi enze uSathane anqobe yini? Hatshi! Thina kasisibo bathengisi.

12. USathane usebenzisa liphi icebo ukuze asenze sintshintshe indlela esibona ngayo ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni?

¹² Nxa sikuzonda ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni, uSathane ngeke aphumelele ukusiyenga esebenzisa wona. Ngakho uyaqaphela ukuthi kumele antshintshe indlela esicabanga ngayo. Njani? Ucinga izindlela angaphithanisa ngazo izingqondo zamaKhristu ukuze amanye awo acabange ukuthi ‘okubi kuhle, okuhle kubi.’ (U-Isaya 5:20) Ukuze enze njalo, uSathane usebenzisa elinye lamacebo akhe ahleliweyo, okuyikuvusa imibuzo ukuze enze ukuthi sithandabuze.

13. USathane uyisebenzise njani imibuzo ekwenzeni ukuthi kube lokuthandabuza?

¹³ Nanzelela ukuthi uSathane wayisebenzisa njani indlela leyo ezikhathini zakudala. E-Edeni wabuza u-Eva wathi: “Kambe uNkulunkulu watsho ngeqiniso wathi, ‘Lingadli noma yisiphi isihlahla esivandeni?’” Ngesikhathi sikaJobe, kulomhlangano wezingilosi ezulwini, uSathane wabuza wathi: “Kambe uJobe engesaba uNkulunkulu kungelalutho na?” Ngesikhathi uJesu eqalisa inkonzo yasemhlabeni, uSathane wathi kuKhristu: “Uma uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu tshela amatshe la abeyisinkwa.” Endabeni kaJesu, uSathane weyisa amazwi uJehova ayewakhulumile emavikini ayisithupha ayedlulile athi: “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.”​—UGenesisi 3:1; UJobe 1:9; UMathewu 3:17; 4:3.

14. (a) USathane ulisebenzisa njani icebo lakhe lokwenza ukuthi abantu bathandabuze ngobubi bokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni? (b) Kuyini esizaxoxa ngakho khathesi?

¹⁴ Lamuhla uDeveli usebenzisa icebo elifananayo ukuze enze abantu bathandabuze ngobubi bokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni.  Kuyadanisa ukuthi uphumelele ekwenzeni ukuthi amanye amaKhristu athandabuze. AmaKhristu la aqalise ukuthandabuza ukuthi eminye imihlobo yokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni mibi. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 11:3) Singabanceda njani abanjalo ukuthi bantshintshe indlela abacabanga ngayo? Singaqiniseka njani ukuthi icebo likaSathane lokusenza ukuthi sithandabuze kaliphumeleli? Ukuze siphendule umbuzo lo, kasixoxeni ngezimo ezimbili empilweni uSathane azenze ngobuqili ukuthi zingcoliswe yizinto zobudimoni. Yizinto zokuzilibazisa kanye lezempilakahle.

15. (a) Abantu abanengi emazweni ase-Europe le-America bakubona njani ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni? (b) Umbono womhlaba wokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni uwuntshintshe njani umcabango wamanye amaKhristu?

¹⁵ Emazweni ase-Europe le-America, ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni, ubuthakathi kanye leminye imihlobo yobudimoni kubonwa njengezinto nje ezingelampumela emibi. Amafilimu, amabhuku, izinhlelo ze-TV kanye lemidlalo yamakhompiyutha kuqhubeka kutshengisa imikhuba yokuzihlanganisa lamadimoni njengemnandi, etshengisa ukuhlakanipha njalo engalimaziyo. Amanye amafilimu lamabhuku agxile ezintweni zobudimoni asedume kakhulu njalo labo abawathandayo sebelamakilabhu alabantu abathanda izinto ezinjalo. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi amadimoni asephumelele ekwenzeni abantu bacabange ukuthi ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni akulampumela emibi. Lokhu kwenze amaKhristu acabanga ukuthi izinto ezinjalo kazilampumela emibi. Isibonelo salokho ngesomunye umKhristu owabukela ifilimu eyayilobudimoni, ngemva kwalokho wathi, “Ngiyibukele ifilimu yakhona, kodwa kangizange ngenze izinto zobudimoni.” Kungani ukucabanga okunjalo kuyingozi?

16. Kungani kuyingozi ukukhetha okokuzilibazisa okugxile ezintweni zobudimoni?

¹⁶ Lanxa kulomahluko phakathi kokwenza izinto zobudimoni lokuzibukela, lokho akutsho ukuthi akulangozi  ukubukela izinto ezinjalo. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Cabanga ngalokhu: iLizwi likaNkulunkulu litshengisa ukuthi uSathane loba amadimoni akhe kabakwazi esikucabangayo. * Ngakho njengoba sike satsho, ukuze imimoya emibi ibone ukuthi sicabangani lokuthi kuyini okungenza ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu bube buthakathaka, kumele ikhangelisise indlela esenza ngayo, okugoqela izinto zokuzilibazisa esizikhethayo. UmKhristu utshengisa amadimoni lokho akucabangayo uma ethanda amafilimu kumbe amabhuku agxile ezindabeni zezinyanga labathakathi, amasalamusi, ukwenza komuntu olamadimoni kumbe izindaba eziphathelane lamadimoni. Nxa esenza njalo uwatshengisa lokho okungenza ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova bubebuthakathaka! Amadimoni wona angasebenzisa ubuthakathaka lobo ukuthi ahlasele lowomKhristu aze amlahlele phansi, amnqobe. Iqiniso yikuthi abanye abaqalisa ukuthokozela izinto zobudimoni ngenxa yokuthi babezilibazisa ngazo, kwabenza bacina sebezihlanganisa lawo.​—Bala uGalathiya 6:7.

17. USathane angasebenzisa yiphi indlela yobuqili ekulingeni labo abagulayo?

¹⁷ USathane kasebenzisi isifiso sethu sokuzilibazisa kuphela kodwa usebenzisa lesidingo sethu sokuba lempilakahle. Njani? UmKhristu ongaphilanga kuhle njalo osezame ukuthola ukwelatshwa kodwa kwehlula angahle acine engaselathemba. (UMakho 5:25, 26) Lokhu kungapha uSathane lamadimoni akhe ithuba elihle lokuthi bamhlasele. Amadimoni angenza lowo ogulayo ukuthi acine esedinga ukwelatshwa ngendlela egoqela ubudimoni. (U-Isaya 1:13) Nxa icebo lelo lobuqili lamadimoni lingaphumelela, kungenza ubuhlobo loNkulunkulu balowo ogulayo bubebuthakathaka. Ngayiphi indlela?

18. Yiziphi izindlela zokwelatshwa okumele umKhristu angazivumi njalo kungani kumele enze njalo?

 ¹⁸ UJehova waxwayisa ama-Israyeli ayesedinga ukwelatshwa ngezindlela zobudimoni esithi: “Lapho lichaya izandla zenu likhuleka, ngizalifihlela amehlo ami; loba selikhuleka imikhuleko eminengi, angiyikulalela.” (U-Isaya 1:15) Kuliqiniso ukuthi ngazozonke izikhathi sifuna ukubalekela loba yini engenza uJehova angayilaleli imithandazo yethu kumbe engenza ukuthi angasisekeli ngesikhathi sigula. (IHubo 41:3) UmKhristu weqiniso kumele angavumi nxa kukhanya angani ukwelatshwa kumbe ukuhlolwa komkhuhlane alawo kutshengisa ukuthi kulomkhuba olobudimoni phakathi. (UMathewu 6:13) Nxa angenza njalo, uzaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyamsekela.​—Bona ibhokisi elithi “ Yikuzihlanganisa Lamadimoni Sibili Yini?”

19. (a) UDeveli uqile abantu abanengi ukuthi bakholweni ngamandla akhe? (b) AmaKhristu eqiniso kumele abalekele izindaba ezinjani?

¹⁹ Abantu abanengi emazweni ase-Europe lase-America kabayiboni ingozi yamandla kaSathane. Amanye amazwe wona acabanga ukuthi amandla kaSathane ayingozi. Emazweni anjalo, uDeveli uqile abantu abanengi ekukholweni ukuthi yena ulamandla amakhulu kakhulu ukwedlula lawo alawo sibili. Abantu abanengi baphila besesaba imimoya emibi, kungelani lokuthi bayadla, balele, loba basemsebenzini. Izindaba ezinjalo  lezenzo ezilamandla zamadimoni ziyanda. Izindaba lezo zilandiswa ngomdlandla omkhulu njalo abantu bayazithanda izindaba ezinjalo. Kumele lathi sizimemethekise yini lezozindaba? Akumelanga senze njalo ngoba kulezizathu ezimbili eziqakathekileyo ezenza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zingamemethekisi izindaba ezinjalo.

20. Umuntu angawamemethekisa njani amanga kaSathane engahlosanga?

²⁰ Okwakuqala, nxa umuntu engamemethekisa izindaba lezi eziphathelane lezenzo zamadimoni, uyabe ekhuthaza okufunwa nguSathane. Njani? ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi uSathane uyenelisa ukwenza imisebenzi emangalisayo, kodwa lixwayisa ngokuthi usebenzisa ‘izimangaliso zamanga’ kanye ‘lokukhohlisa.’ (2 KwabaseThesalonika 2:9, 10) Njengoba uSathane engumkhohlisi omkhulu, uyakwazi ukuyenga izingqondo zalabo abathanda izinto zobudimoni njalo uyenelisa ukubenza bakholwe izinto ezingamanga. Abantu abanjalo  bangakholwa sibili ukuthi babone kumbe bazwe okuthile, njalo bangaxoxela abanye ngalokho bebatshela ukuthi kuliqiniso. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, izindaba lezo zicina sezifakwe itswayi ngokuqhubeka lokhu zikhulunywa. Nxa umKhristu engamemethekisa izindaba ezinjalo, iqiniso yikuthi uyabe esenza intando kaDeveli, ‘onguyise wamanga.’ Uyabe ememethekisa amanga kaSathane.​—UJohane 8:44; 2 KuThimothi 2:16.

21. Sifuna ukuhlala sixoxa ngani?

²¹ Okwesibili yikuthi lanxa umKhristu wake wahlutshwa yimimoya emibi esikhathini esadlulayo, kumele angabe elokhu exoxela amanye amaKhristu ephindaphinda izindaba ezinjalo. Kungani? Siyakhuthazwa ukuthi: “Kasikhangeliseni amehlo ethu kuJesu, uMqalisi loMphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu.” (KumaHebheru 12:2) Kumele sigxile kuKhristu hatshi kuSathane. Kuyathokozisa ukuthi uJesu esesemhlabeni kazange axoxele abafundi bakhe ngezindaba eziphathelane lemimoya emibi. UJesu wayengenelisa ukubatshela okunengi kakhulu ngalokho uSathane ayenelisa ukukwenza kanye lalokho angenelisi ukukwenza. Kulokuthi enzenjalo, uJesu wagxila kumlayezo woMbuso. Ngakho lathi sifuna ukulingisela uJesu labaphostoli bakhe ngokuthi sihlale sikhuluma ‘ngezimangaliso zikaNkulunkulu.’​—ImiSebenzi 2:11; ULukha 8:1; KwabaseRoma 1:11, 12.

22. Singaqhubeka Ngayiphi indlela sisenza ukuthi kube ‘lentokozo ezulwini’?

²² Kuliqiniso ukuthi uSathane usebenzisa amacebo obuqili atshiyeneyo, okugoqela ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni, ukuze azame ukuphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova. Kodwa ngokuzonda okubi njalo sinamathele kokulungileyo, kasimniki uDeveli ithuba lokuthi asenze singasazimiseli ukungazihlanganisi lamadimoni ngezindlela zonke. (Bala u-Efesu 4:27.) Cabanga ngobukhulu ‘bentokozo’ ebakhona ‘ezulwini’ nxa singaqhubeka ‘simelana lamacebo obuqili kaSathane’ aze abhujiswe!​—ULukha 15:7; Kwabase-Efesu 6:11.