1. (a) Kungani sekuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi silwisane loSathane? (b) Sikwazi njani ukuthi singenelisa ukumnqoba uSathane?

USATHANE ulwa labagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni kanye ‘lezinye izimvu.’ (Joh. 10:16) Akuhlosileyo yikusebenzisa isikhathi esifitshane alaso ukuthi atshaye abhuqe izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi. (Bala iSambulo 12:9, 12.) Singenelisa yini ukumnqoba uSathane? Singamehlula sibili ngoba iBhayibhili lithi: “Menqabeni uSathane, uzalibalekela.”—Jak. 4:7.

2, 3. (a) USathane uncedakala njani nxa abantu besithi kakho? (b) Ukwazi njani ukuthi uSathane ukhona?

² Abanengi bakubona kuyibuthutha ukukholwa ukuthi uSathane ukhona. Bazitshela ukuthi uSathane lamadimoni akhe ngabalingiswa nje abatholakala ezindabeni ezingasilo qiniso ezisemabhukwini, kumafilimu esabisayo lasemidlalweni yamavidiyo. Bacabanga ukuthi akulangqondo ukukholwa ukuthi kulezidalwa zomoya ezimbi. Kambe uSathane kuyamhlupha yini nxa abantu bezitshela ukuthi yena labasekeli bakhe abangamadimoni kabakho? Kumele ukuthi akumkhathazi ngitsho! Phela nxa abantu bekholwa ukuthi kakho, kuba lula ukuthi anqunde izingqondo zabo. (2 Khor. 4:4) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi leli ngelinye iqhinga alisebenzisayo ukuze adukise abantu.

 ³ Kodwa thina esiyizinceku zikaJehova kasivumi ukudukiswa. Siyakwazi ukuthi uDeveli ukhona ngoba nguye owakhuluma lo-Eva esebenzisa inyoka. (Gen. 3:1-5) Waphinda wasola uNkulunkulu ngesikhathi ekhuluma ngoJobe. (Jobe. 1:9-12) Nguye futhi owazama ukulinga uJesu. (Mat. 4:1-10) Kanti njalo uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wathi usungulwa ngo-1914, nguSathane owaqalisa ‘ukulwa impi’ labagcotshiweyo ababesemhlabeni. (Isam. 12:17) Impi le ilokhu isadla ubhedu njalo uSathane ufuna ukuluqeda nya ukholo lwabagcotshiweyo abalokhu besemhlabeni kanye lezinye izimvu. Yikho-ke ukuze sinqobe empini le, kumele simenqabe uSathane njalo sihlale siqinile ekukholweni. Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngezindlela ezintathu esingamnqoba ngazo.

4. USathane watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazigqaja kakhulu?

⁴ USathane uyazigqaja okumangalisayo. Waba lesibindi sokufuna ukuhluthunela uJehova ilungelo lakhe lokubusa abantu njalo wafuna ukuthi abe ngunkulunkulu lanxa wayeyingilosi nje. Akula kuzigqaja lokuzikhukhumeza okwedlula lokhu. Yikho-ke enye indlela esingamenqaba ngayo uSathane yikuzama ukuba ngabantu abathobekileyo kulokuthi sibe ngabazigqajayo. (Bala u-1 Phetro 5:5.) Kodwa kuyini sibisibili ukuzigqaja? Kukhona yini ukuzigqaja okuhle?

5, 6. (a) Kukhona yini ukuzigqaja okuhle? Chasisa. (b) Yikuphi ukuzigqaja okuyingozi, njalo yiziphi izibonelo eziseMibhalweni eziveza lokhu?

⁵ Esinye isichazamazwi sithi ukuzigqaja “yikuzizwa ulesithunzi njalo uhlonipheka” njalo siphinda sithi “yikusuthiseka obalakho nxa ubona into enhle olayo loba oyenzileyo kumbe eyenziwe ngumuntu omthandayo.” Akulanto embi ngalokhu. Umphostoli uPhawuli wake watshela abaseThesalonika wathi: “Thina siyazincoma [“siyazigqaja,” NW ] ngokuqinisela kwenu lokukholwa phakathi kwakho konke lokhu kuhlukuluzwa kanye lokuhlupheka elikubekezelelayo.” (2 Thes. 1:4) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi kuhle ukuzigqaja ngesikwenzileyo loba ngokwenziwe ngabanye abantu. Akumelanga siyangeke ngokuthi sizalwa kobani, ngokuthi sidabuka kuwuphi umkhono welizwe loba ngamasiko ethu.—ImiSeb. 21:39.

⁶ Lanxa kunjalo, kukhona ukuzigqaja okungaqeda ubungane kuphinde kusehlukanise loJehova. Kungabangela lokuthi singalaleli iseluleko njalo sizonde nxa sikhuzwa kulokuthi sithobeke sisamukele. (Hubo. 141:5) Ukuzigqaja lokhu kuchazwa ngokuthi “yikuzibona angani uqakatheke kakhulu” loba “yikuzikhukhumeza kwabantu abakholwa ukuthi bona bangcono kulabanye lanxa kanengi kuyabe kungela sizatho sokuthi bacabange njalo.” UJehova uyakuzonda ukuziphakamisa. (Hez. 33:28; Amos. 6:8) Kodwa uSathane uyathokoza nxa ebona abantu abazigqajayo ngoba bayabe befuze yena. Wayenjalo uNimrodi, uFaro kanye lo-Abhsalomi. Kumele ukuthi uSathane wayehleka kuze kuvele elomhlathi nxa ebona amadoda la ezitshaya isifuba. (Gen. 10:8, 9, NW; Eks. 5:1, 2; 2 Sam. 15:4-6) Phela ukuzigqaja yikho okwawisa uKhayini. Lanxa uNkulunkulu wamkhuza, yena wakhetha ukuba ngukhanda limtshela okwakhe. Kazange alalele iseluleko sikaJehova kodwa waphulukundlela wayaziwisela egodini.—Gen. 4:6-8.

7, 8. (a) Kuyini ukubandlululana ngombala, njalo kuhambelana njani lokuzigqaja? (b) Chaza ukuthi ukuzigqaja kungabangela njani ukuthi kube lokungazwanani ebandleni.

⁷ Lamuhla abantu batshengisa ukuthi bayazigqaja ngezindlela ezinengi ezidala umonakalo. Umuntu ozigqajayo wandise ukukhetha abantu ngemihlobo. Esinye isichazamazwi sithi lokhu “yikubandlulula loba yikuzonda abantu abalombala otshiyene lowakho,” njalo “yikukholwa ukuthi abantu abalombala othile balobuntu lobuciko obutshiyene labantu beminye imihlobo, kanye  lokuthi mdabuko wabo bangcono kulabanye kumbe kabasilutho nxa beqathaniswa labeminye imihlobo.” Ubandlululo lolu lubangela iziphithiphithi, izimpi kanye lokubulawa kwezigidi zabantu.

⁸ Ebandleni lobuKhristu akumelanga kube lobandlululo. Lanxa kunjalo, ukuzigqaja kungenza ukuthi abazalwane baxabane njalo izingxabano lezi zingalavuka zibe ngumlilo ongabhulekiyo. Kukhanya lokhu yikho okwasekusenzakala phakathi kwamanye amaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala. Yikho uJakhobe wawalobela umbuzo lo othi: “Kuyini okubangela ukulwa lezingxabano phakathi kwenu na?” (Jak. 4:1) Ngakho-ke nxa ezinzikini zezinhliziyo zethu sizonda abazalwane njalo sizibona singcono kulabo, singacina sibazwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu ngamazwi langezenzo zethu. (Zaga. 12:18) Kuyacaca ukuthi ukuzigqaja kungenza ukuthi ebandleni kube lokungazwanani.

9. IBhayibhili lisinceda njani ukuthi singabandlululani ngombala njalo singazigqaji? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁹ Nxa silomkhuba wokuzibona siqakatheke kakhulu kulabanye kumele sikhumbule ukuthi “uJehova uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo.” (Zaga. 16:5) Kungaba kuhle lokuhlolisisa ukuthi sibabona njani abantu beminye imihlobo, abakwamanye amazwe kanye labalamasiko atshiyene lawethu. Nxa sizigqaja ngokuthi silombala onjani loba ngokuthi sivela kuliphi ilizwe siyabe sesikhohlwa ukuthi “ngomuntu oyedwa” uNkulunkulu “wenza zonke izizwe zabantu.” (ImiSeb. 17:26) Lokhu kusitshengisa ukuthi sonke savela kukhokho wethu u-Adamu. Yikho-ke kuyibuwula obuphindiweyo ukucabanga ukuthi abantu abalombala othile bangcono kulabanye kumbe kabasilutho. Singenza njalo siyabe senze iqhinga likaSathane laphumelela ngoba kafuni ukuthi amaKhristu athandane njalo amanyane. (Joh. 13:35) Kumele singazigqaji ngezinto ezimbi nxa sifuna ukulwisana loSathane simnqobe.—Zaga. 16:18.

10, 11. (a) Kungani kungaba lula ukuthi kancane kancane sicine sithanda umhlaba lo? (b) UDemasi angabe wakutshengisa njani ukuthi wayethanda umhlaba?

¹⁰ USathane ‘uyinkosi yalo umhlaba’ njalo umhlaba wonke usemandleni akhe. (Joh. 12:31; 1 Joh. 5:19) Yikho-ke izinto ezinengi ezithandwayo emhlabeni ziyaphikisana lezimiso eziseBhayibhilini. Kodwa akusikho ukuthi zonke izinto ezisemhlabeni lo zimbi. Lanxa kunjalo uSathane angasebenzisa umhlaba lo ukuze asiyenge ukuthi senze isono kumbe siqale ukuthanda izinto zomhlaba lo kulokuthi siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova.—Bala u-1 Johane 2:15, 16.

¹¹ Akhona amanye amaKhristu ngekhulu lokuqala acina esethanda umhlaba. Ngokwesibonelo uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “UDemasi, ngenxa yokuthi ubethanda umhlaba lo usengibalekele.” (2 Tim. 4:10) IBhayibhili kalikuthi bhadla okuyikho sibili okwakuthandwa nguDemasi njalo okwacina kubangela ukuthi abalekele uPhawuli. Mhlawumbe waqala ukuthanda izinto zomhlaba ukwedlula inkonzo yakhe. Nxa kunjalo, walahlekelwa yimisebenzi emihle yenkonzo. Akulalutho uDemasi ayengaluphiwa ngumhlaba lo olwalungedlula izibusiso uJehova ayengamupha zona aluba waqhubeka esebenza loPhawuli.—Zaga. 10:22.

12. Inkohliso yenotho’ ingasihuga njani?

¹² Lathi umjibila lo ungasibamba. Wonke amaKhristu ayafuna ukuthola okokuziphilisa kanye lokondla kuhle izimuli zawo. (1 Tim. 5:8) Phela uJehova wafaka u-Adamu lo-Eva endaweni enhle kakhulu. (Gen. 2:9) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ufuna sibe lenhlalakahle. Kodwa uSathane angasihuga ‘ngenkohliso yenotho.’ (Mat. 13:22) Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi imali yiyo engabenza bathokoze  lokuthi ukuba lenotho yikho ukuphumelela. Lokhu yikuqilwa libalele sibili njalo kungabangela ukuthi silahlekelwe ligugu esilalo, ukuba lobungane obuhle loJehova. UJesu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Kakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili. Mhlawumbe uzathanda enye azonde enye, loba uzabambelela kwenye azonde enye. Lingazake likhonze uNkulunkulu njalo leMali.” (Mat. 6:24) Nxa singakhonza iMali siyabe sesingasamkhonzi uJehova. Lokhu yikho kanye uSathane akufunayo. Akumelanga siqakathekise imali kumbe izinto esingazithenga ukwedlula ubungane bethu loJehova. Akumelanga sigijimisane lemali kodwa kufanele sisuthiseke ngezinto esilazo nxa sifuna ukulwisana loSathane.—Bala u-1 Thimothi 6:6-10.

13. Umhlaba lo wenza ukuthi abantu bawubone njani umtshado lezemacansini?

¹³ Omunye umjibila kaSathane yikuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini. Abanengi lamuhla bacabanga ukuthi ukutshada lokuhlala uthembekile kotshade laye yisidala njalo yikuzincitsha inkululeko. Ngokwesibonelo, owesifazana odumileyo ongumlingiswa wemidlalo ebukelwayo wathi: “Akwenzakali ukuthi umuntu athandane lomuntu oyedwa. Angikaze ngimbone mina umuntu othembekileyo kumbe ofuna ukuthembeka.” Enye indoda layo engumdlali wamafilimu yathi: “Angiboni ukuthi vele sadalelwa ukuthi sisuthiseke ngokuthandana lomuntu oyedwa okwempilo yethu yonke.” Kumele ukuthi uSathane uyathaba nxa abantu abadumileyo beseyisa umtshado, isipho esivela kuNkulunkulu. UDeveli kafuni lakuzwa ngomtshado kumbe ukubona abantu bephumelela emtshadweni. Ngakho-ke nxa sifuna ukulwisana loSathane simehlule, kufanele sihloniphe isipho lesi esasinikwa nguNkulunkulu.

14, 15. Singakubalekela njani ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini?

¹⁴ Kumele sizame ngamandla onke ukwenqaba konke ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini kungelani lokuthi sitshadile loba kasitshadanga. Kulula yini lokhu? Akulula sibili. Ngokwesibonelo, mhlawumbe ungezwa abanye ofunda labo esikolo bezitshaya isifuba ngokuthi bayalala laloba ngubani abafuna ukuya laye emacansini kumbe bezigqaja ngokuthumelana imilayezo lemifanekiso yezemacansini ngamafoni. Kwezinye izindawo ukuthumelana izinto lezi kufana lokuthumela umuntu imifanekiso lamavidiyo abantwana behlukuluzwa kwezemacansini. IBhayibhili lithi: “Lowo owenza isono sobufebe wenza isono emzimbeni wakhe.” (1 Khor. 6:18) Abantu abanengi bayahlupheka njalo bayafa ngenxa yokumemetheka kwegciwane lengculaza kanye leminye imikhuhlane ethelelwana emacansini. Kanti njalo abasakhulayo abanengi abaya emacansini bengakatshadi bathi bayazisola ngabakwenzayo. Okuphuma kuma-T.V, kumarediyo, emabhukwini kanye laku-Inthanethi kwenza kukhanye angani akulanto embi engasehlela nxa singaziphatha kubi kwezemacansini futhi kungenza sicine sicabanga ukuthi akuntshintshi lutho nxa singephula imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi abantu ‘bakhohliswe yisono.’—Heb. 3:13.

¹⁵ Pho kuyini ongakwenza nxa uhlala uhugeka ukuthi uziphathe kubi kwezemacansini? Vuma ukuthi uhlupho ulalo. (Rom. 7:22, 23) Thandaza kuNkulunkulu ucele amandla. (Flp. 4:6, 7, 13) Balekela loba yini engenza ukuthi ucine uwele esilingweni. (Zaga. 22:3) Nxa usulingwa, kufanele uhle uthi nyawo mbeletha!—Gen. 39:12.

16. UJesu wenzani ngesikhathi elingwa nguSathane, futhi lokhu kusifundisani?

¹⁶ UJesu wasitshiyela isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuthi singalwisana njani lezilingo. Kazange avume ukuyengwa yizithembiso zikaSathane njalo kazange atshone ecabanga kabili kodwa wahle wathi: “Kulotshiwe.” (Bala uMathewu 4:4-10.) UJesu wayelazi  iLizwi likaNkulunkulu njalo lokhu kwamnceda ukuthi lapho eselingwa aphendule masinyane esebenzisa imibhalo. Nxa sifuna ukulwisana loSathane simnqobe, akumelanga sivume ukuwela esilingweni sokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini.—1 Khor. 6:9, 10.

17, 18. (a) Yiziphi ezinye izikhali uSathane alazo esiphaleni sakhe, njalo kungani kungamelanga kusimangalise lokhu? (b) USathane uzakwenziwani, futhi lokhu kukukhuthaza njani ukuthi uqhubeke uqinile?

¹⁷ Ukuzigqaja, ukuthanda izinto zomhlaba kanye lokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini yizikhali ezintathu nje uSathane asihlasela ngazo. Kodwa ulezinye ezinengi. Ngokwesibonelo amanye amaKhristu ayahlukuluzwa ngamalunga ezimuli zawo, amanye achothozwa ngabanye esikolo njalo amanye kenelisi ukutshumayela ekhululekile ngenxa yemithetho yeziphathamandla zikahulumende. Ubunzima lobu kabusimangalisi ngoba uJesu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami, kodwa lowo omayo aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa.”—Mat. 10:22.

¹⁸ Manje singamnqoba njani uSathane? UJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Uma lisima liqine lizazisindisa.” (Luk. 21:19) Akulamuntu ongasitshabalalisa. Akulamuntu ongaqeda ubungane bethu loNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokuthi thina simvumele. (Rom. 8:38, 39) Phela lanxa uSathane angabulala izinceku zikaJehova uyabe ekhe phansi ngoba uJehova uzazivusa. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Kuye kumnyama phambili. Ngemva kokubhujiswa kwabantu bomhlaba lo omubi, uzaphoselwa emgodini ongelamkhawulo okweminyaka eyinkulungwane. (Isam. 20:1-3) Nxa uJesu esebuse okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, uSathane “uzakhululwa entolongweni yakhe” okwesikhatshana nje abesezama okokucina ukudukisa abantu abapheleleyo abazabe bengasela sono. Sekwenzakele lokhu uDeveli uzatshabalaliswa. (Isam. 20:7-10) USathane uzabhujiswa loba sekutheni kodwa wena ulalo ithemba lokuphila kuze kube nininini. Yikho-ke menqabe uSathane, uqine ekukholweni. Ungenelisa ukulwisana loSathane umnqobe!