1, 2. N’ciyani cidacitikira Paulo na Sila ku Firipo? (Onani cithunzi-thunzi pa tsamba lino.)

KUMBUKIRANI cakucitikaci. Pakati pa usiku, amisiyonario awiri, Paulo na Sila, akhali m’kawoko momwe mukhana m’dima wadzawoneni mu mzinda wa Firipo. Iwo angadakwanisa lini kucoka thangwe minyendo yawo ikhadamangiriridwa ndipo misana yawo ikhawawa thangwe akhadamala tsapanopa kumenyedwa. (Mabasa 16:23, 24) Nsiku imweyo Paulo na Sila anati kuikhidwa m’kawokomo, thimu la wanthu lidawakwekweta mpaka ku msika. Kumweko mwakusaya kucedwa iwo adatongesedwa. Iwo adawang’ambira bzakubvala aciwamenya kazinji kense na mitcamu. (Mabasa 16:16-22) Kumweku kukhali kusaya cirungamo! Paulo akhali nzika ya ku Roma ndipo iye akhafunikira kutongedwa mwakubverana na malamulo ya ku Romako. *—Onani mafala ya m’nyansi.

² Pomwe Paulo akhali m’kawokomo, pinango akhakumbukira bzomwe bzikhadawacitikira nsiku imweyi na bza wanthu omwe akhakhala ku Firipoko. Kusiyana na mizinda minango yomwe Paulo  akhadaifika kale, wanthu wa ku Firipo akhalibe sinagoga mu mzinda mwawo. Na tenepo Ajuda akhambanamatira kunja kwa mzindayo pafupi na mkulo. (Mabasa 16:13, 14) Kodi bzimwebzi bzikhacitika thangwe rakuti kumweko kukhana Ajuda ang’ono-ng’ono omwe akhakwana lini khumi, mulewengo omwe ukhafunikira kuti pakhale na sinagoga? Wanthu omwe akhakhala ku Firipo akhasamwa kwene-kwene thangwe ra kukhala nzika za Roma. (Mabasa 16:21) Ndipo pinango ndibzo bzomwe bzidacitisa wanthuwo kuti aleke kukumbukira kuti Ajuda awiriwa, Paulo na Sila, angakhalembo nzika za Roma. Tikudziwa lini cadidi cace, koma comwe tikudziwa n’cakuti iwo adaikhidwa m’kawokomo mwakusaya cirungamo.

3. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Paulo pinango akhakumbukira pomwe adaikhidwa m’kawoko, tsono n’ciyani comwe iye adacita?

³ Pinango Paulo akhakumbukira thangwe lomwe adayendera ku Firipo. Minyezi ming’ono-ng’ono bzimwebzi bzinati kumucitikira, Paulo akhali ku ng’ambo inango ya mkulo wa Egeu, ku Asia Menor. Pomwe iye akhali kumweko, mzimu wakucena, mwakubwereza-bwereza ukhamuletsa kuyenda kukapalizira mbuto zinango. Bzikhakhala ninga kuti mzimu wakucena ukhamupfuwa kuti ayende ku mbuto zinango. (Mabasa 16:6, 7) Kodi mbutozo n’ziponi? Pomwe Paulo akhali ku Trowa, adauzidwa m’matsomphenya kuti: ‘Bwerani ku Masedoniya kuno.’ Bzimwebzi ndibzo bzomwe Yahova akhafuna! Mwakusaya kucedwa, Paulo adayenda ku Masedoniya. (Werengani Mabasa 16:8-10.) Kodi n’ciyani cidacitika patsogolo pace? Pomwe iye adayenda ku Masedoniya, mwakusaya kukhalisa adaikhidwa m’kawoko! Kodi n’thangwe ranyi Yahova adalekerera kuti bzimwebzi bzicitikire Paulo? Kodi iye angadamala nthawe zingasi m’kawokomo? Napo penu Paulo adakumbukira bzinthu bzimwebzi, iye adapitiriza kukhala wakukhulupirika na wakukondwa. Paulo pabodzi na Sila ‘akhambapemba acimbaimba nyimbo zakutumbiza Mulungu’ m’kawokomo. (Mabasa 16:25) Mtendere wa Mulungu udadjedjeresa mitima na makumbukidwe yawo.

4, 5. (a) Kodi bzinthu pa moyo wathu bzingandendemerane tani na bzomwe bzidacitikira Paulo? (b) Kodi bzinthu bzidacinja tani kuna Paulo mwakusaya kudikhirika?

⁴ Kodi mudabvambo kale ninga momwe Paulo adabvera? Pinango pa nthawe inango pa moyo wanu mudakumbira Mulungu kuti akuthandizeni kucita cakusankhula cinango ndipo mudakwanisa kuwona kuti mzimu wakucena unkukutsogolerani. Koma patsogolo pace, mudagumana na bzineso bzizinji, ayai pinango mudadzawona kuti mukhafunika kucinja bzinthu bzinango pa moyo wanu. (Mpalizi 9:11) Tsapano, mukakumbukira bzomwe bzidacitikabzo, mungadabwe kuwona kuti Yahova adalekerera bzinthu bzimwebzi kukucitikirani. Penu bziri tenepo, kodi n’ciyani comwe cingakuthandizeni kuti mupitirize kupirira, mucithemba Yahova na mtima wense? Tingagumane mtawiro mwa kuwona bzomwe bzidacitikira Paulo na Sila.

⁵ Pomwe Paulo na Sila akhaimba, padayamba kucitika bzinthu bzinango bzakusaya kudikhirika. Cakuyamba padacitika citeketeke camphanvu. Pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo, misuwo ya m’kawoko idafunguka, ndipo bzingwe bzomwe akhadamangira anyam’kawoko bzidatsudzuka. Patsogolo pace, nyakunyang’anira m’kawoko akhafuna kubzipha koma Paulo adamuletsa, ndipo nyakung’anirayo pabodzi na banja lace lense adadzabatizidwa. Mangwana yace macibese, akulu-akulu wa boma adatumiza acikunda kuti akacose Paulo na Sila m’kawokomo ndipo adawauza kuti acoke mu mzindamo mwa mtendere. Pomwe akulu-akuluwo adazindikira kuti Paulo  na Sila akhali nzika za Roma, adadziwa kuti bzomwe akhadawacitirabzo bzikhadaphonyeka, ndipopa adacita makonzedwe yakuti awaperekeze mpaka kunja kwa mzindayo. Koma pomwe Paulo na Sila akhanati kucoka mu mzindamo, iwo adayenda kukagoneka Lidiya, mpfumakazi yawo yomwe ikhadabatizidwa tsapanopa. Ndipo na mpata ubodzi-bodziyo iwo adalimbisambo abale winango ku Firipo. (Mabasa 16:26-40) Bzinthu bzidacinjadi pa nthawe ing’ono-ng’ono!

6. Kodi tin’cezerana ciyani mu nkhani ino?

⁶ Kodi tingapfunze ciyani pa bzakucitika bzomwe bzalewedwabzi? Yahova angacite bzinthu bzakusaya kudikhirika, ndipopa tin’funika lini kumbakhala na thupo tikambagumana na bzineso. Bzimwebzi ndibzo bzomwe Paulo adazindikira ndipo timbadziwa bzimwebzi thangwe ra bzomwe iye adanembera abale wa ku Firipo pakulewa bza thupo na mtendere wa Mulungu. Mu nkhani ino tin’cezerana mafala ya Paulo ya pa Wafiripo 4:6, 7. (Werengani.) Patsogolo pace tin’dzawonambo nkhani zinango za m’Bibliya zakulewa bza bzinthu bzomwe Yahova adacita mwakusaya kudikhirika. Pakumalizira pace tin’dzacezerana momwe ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’ ungatithandizire kupirira mayezo mwa kuthemba Yahova na mtima wense.

7. Kodi Paulo adapereka pfunziro liponi kwa abale wa ku Firipo, ndipo ifepano tinkupfunzambo ciyani?

⁷ Kodi n’ciyani comwe abale wa ku Firipo adakumbukira pomwe akhawerenga tsamba lomwe Paulo akhadawanembera? Mwakusaya kupenukira, azinji wa iwo adakumbukira bzomwe bzikhadacitikira Paulo na Sila na momwe Yahova adawathandizira mwakusaya kudikhirika. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Paulo akhawalimbisa mu tsambamo? Iye akhawalimbisa kuti aleke kucita thupo ndipo ambapembe. Ndipo akhawalimbisambo kuti angadadzapasidwa ‘mtendere wa Mulungu, omwe umbaposa makumbukidwe yense.’ Kodi mafalaya yambathandauza ciyani? Mu ma Bibliya manango, mafalaya yadasanduliziridwa kuti “umbaposa maloto yathu yense” ayai “umbaposa bzakulinga bzense bza munthu.” Tenepo Paulo akhafuna kulewa kuti ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’ ngwabwino kwene-kwene kuposa momwe tingakumbukirire. Nthawe zinango tingadziwe lini bzomwe tingacite pa mabvuto yathu, koma Yahova ambadziwa. Ndipo iye angacite bzinthu bzomwe tikhabzidikhirira lini.—Werengani 2 Pedru 2:9.

8, 9. (a) Napo kuti Paulo adacitiridwa bzinthu mwakusaya cirungamo ku Firipo, kodi bzimwebzo bzidabweresa phindu liponi? (b) N’thangwe ranyi abale wa ku Firipo adalimbisidwa na mafala ya Paulo?

⁸ Tsamba la Paulo lidalimbisa abale wa ku Firipo kuti ambakumbukire bzomwe Yahova akhadawacitira m’magole khumi ya m’mbuyo. Napo kuti Yahova akhadalekerera Paulo na Sila kucitiridwa bzinthu mwakusaya cirungamo, bzinthu bzomwe bzidawacitikirabzo bzidathandiza ‘kukhotcerera bzipsa bzabwino na kukhazikisa  mwa lamulo bzipsa bzabwino.’ (Wafiripo 1:7) Akulu-akulu wa boma wale alibe kuyezera kuzunza pomwe gwere lipsa lacikristaulo. Pinango bzimwebzi bzidacitika thangwe ra bzomwe Paulo adalewa bzakuti akhali mbadwa ya Roma, ndipo mpostolo Luka adapitiriza kukhala ku Firipo pambuyo pa Paulo na Sila kucoka. Ndipo Luka akhathandiza akristau wapsa ku Firipo.

⁹ Pomwe abale wa ku Firipowo adawerenga tsamba la Paulo, iwo adadziwa kuti mafalayo yakhali lini kokha ninga mafala yakundolewedwa. Paulo akhadagumana na mayezo yamphanvu. Napo pomwe iye adanembera abalewo, iye akhali m’kawoko m’dziko lace lakubadwira ku Roma. Koma iye adapitiriza kulatiza kuti akhana ‘mtendere wa Mulungu.’—Wafiripo 1:12-14; 4:7, 11, 22.

10, 11. N’ciyani comwe tin’funika kucita tikakhala na thupo thangwe ra bvuto linango, ndipo tingadikhirire ciyani?

¹⁰ Kodi n’ciyani comwe cingatithandize kuleka kucita ‘thupo na cinthu ciri-cense’ ticikhala na ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’? Mafala ya Paulo yomwe adanembera abale wa ku Firipoya, yambalatiza kuti tikambakhala na thupo thangwe ra bvuto linango, mankhwala yace ni mpembo. Na tenepo, tikambakhala na thupo, tin’funika kumbapemba. (Werengani 1 Pedru 5:6, 7.) Mukapemba kwa Yahova, mbakhalani wakutsimikiza kuti iye ankuthandizani. Mbamutendani nthawe zense pa cisimbo ciri-cense comwe iye wakupasani. Ndipo lekani kuyebwa kuti Yahova ‘angakwanise kucita bzinthu bzikulu kwene-kwene kuposa bzense bzomwe timbakumbira ayai kukumbuka.’—Wayefezo 3:20.

¹¹ Ninga Paulo na Sila, tingadabwisike na bzomwe Yahova angacite kuti atithandize. N’cadidi kuti iye angaticitire lini bzakudabwisa caibzo, koma nthawe zense an’dzacita bzinthu bzomwe ifepano tinkufunikira. (1 Wakolinto 10:13) Bzimwebzi bzinkuthandauza lini kuti tindokhale phee ticileka kucita cinthu ciri-cense ticimbandodikhirira kuti Yahova alungamize bzinthubzo ayai kuti amalise bvutolo. Tin’funika kucita bzinthu mwakubverana na mipembo yathu. (Waroma 12:11) Bzicito bzathu bzin’dzalatiza kuti ndife wakukhulupirika ndipo tin’dzathemba Yahova kuti atisimbe. Tireke kuyebwa kuti Yahova angacite bzizinji kuposa bzomwe tingamukumbire ayai bzomwe tingadikhirire kuti aticitire. Nthawe zinango, iye angaticitire bzinthu bzomwe tikhabzidikhirira lini. Tsapano bwerani ticezerane bziratizo bzinango bzomwe bzin’limbisa cikhulupiro cathu pa mphanvu ya Yahova yakucita bzinthu bzomwe tikhabzidikhirira lini.

12. (a) Kodi Mambo Ezekiya adacitanyi pomwe adagopswedwa na Mambo Sanakerube? (b) Kodi tingapfunze ciyani na momwe Yahova adathandizira Mambo Ezekiya?

¹² Mu Bibliya, timbagumana bziratizo bzizinji bza bzinthu bzakusaya kudikhirika bzomwe Yahova adacita. Mwa ciratizo, Pomwe Ezekiya akhali mambo wa Juda, Sanakerube mambo wa Asiriya adapita mwamphanvu mu dziko la Juda acitenga wanthu wense m’mizinda, koma adandosiya Jeruzalemu yekha. (2 Wamambo 18:1-3, 13) Patsogolo pace Sanakerube adabwera kuti adzamenyane na Jeruzalemu. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Mambo Ezekiya adacita? Cinthu cakuyamba, iye adapemba kwa Yahova kuti amuthandize ndipo adakakumbira malango kwa Zaiya, mpolofeta wa Yahova. (2 Wamambo 19:5, 15-20) Patsogolo pace, Ezekiya adabvuma kupereka bzomwe Sanakerube adakumbira. (2 Wamambo 18:14, 15) Pakumalizira pace, Ezekiya adakonzekera. (2 Nkhani 32:2-4) Kodi bzinthu bzidamala tani? Yahova adatuma anjo m’bodzi ndipo  adakapfudza acikunda 185.000 wa Sanakerube usiku bubodzi bokha. Ezekiya akhadikhira lini kuti bzimwebzi bzingadacitika!—2 Wamambo 19:35.

13. (a) Kodi tingapfunze ciyani na bzomwe bzidacitikira Zuze? (b) Kodi ni cinthu cakusaya kudikhirika ciponi comwe cidacitikira Sara?

¹³ Kumbukirani bzomwe bzidacitikira Zuze pomwe akhali tswaka. Pomwe akhali m’kawoko ku Edjipito, iye akhadikhira lini kuti angadadzakhala munthu waciwiri wamphanvu mu Edjipito, ayai kuti angadadzaphatisidwa basa na Yahova kuti apulumuse wanthu wa m’banja lace pa nthawe ya njala. (Ciyambo 40:15; 41:39-43; 50:20) Mwakusaya kupenukira, bzomwe Yahova adacitira Zuze bzidaposa bzomwe Zuzeyo akhadikhira. Kumbukiranimbo bza Sara yavu wa Zuze. Kodi pomwe iye akhadakalamba, akhadikhira kuti Yahova angadamucitisa kuti abale mwana wace caiye, m’mbuto mwa kundokhala na mwana wa kapolo wace mkazi? Kubadwa kwa Izaki, cidakhala cinthu cabwino comwe Sara akhacidikhirira lini.—Ciyambo 21:1-3, 6, 7.

14. Kodi tina citsimikizo ciponi kuna Yahova?

¹⁴ Tingadikhirire lini kuti Yahova an’ticosera mwakudabwisa mabvuto yathu yense pomwe dziko lipsa linati kufika. Ndipo tin’funikambo lini kudikhira kuti Yahova an’cita bzinthu bzinango bzakudabwisa pa moyo wathu. Koma timbayebwa lini kuti Yahova adathandiza atumiki wace wakukhulupirika wakale mu njira zakudabwisa. Ndipo iye alibe kucinja. (Werengani  Zaiya 43:10-13.) Bzimwebzi bzimbatithandiza kuti timbamukhulupire. Tina citsimikizo cense cakuti iye an’dzatipasa mphanvu yomwe tin’funikira kuti tikwanise kucita kufuna kwace. (2 Wakolinto 4:7-9) Kodi tingapfunze ciyani na ciratizo ca Ezekiya, Zuze na Sara? Tinkupfunza kuti Yahova angatithandize tikapitiriza kukhala wakukhulupirika napo pa mabvuto makulu.

15. Kodi n’ciyani comwe cin’dzatithandiza kukhala na ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’ napo pomwe tinkugumana na mabvuto, ndipo kodi bzimwebzi bzimbakwanisika tani?

¹⁵ Kodi tingakhale tani na ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’ napo pomwe tinkugumana na mabvuto? Tin’funika kupitiriza kulimbisa uxamwali bwathu na Yahova. Uxamwali bumwebu bumbakwanisika kokha thangwe ra nsembe ya cakulombolera ya Kristu Jezu. Cakulombolera ni cibodzi mwa bzinthu bzakudabwisa bzomwe Yahova adacita. Thangwe ra cakulombolera, iye angatilekerere pikado zathu, ndipo tingakhale na cikumbu-mtima cakucena ticikhala pa mbverano wabwino na iye.—Juwau 14:6; Tiyago 4:8; 1 Pedru 3:21.

16. Kodi n’ciyani comwe cimbacitika tikatambira ‘mtendere wa Mulungu’? Fotokozani ciratizo.

¹⁶ Kodi n’ciyani cimbacitika tikatambira ‘mtendere wa Mulungu, omwe umbaposa makumbukidwe yense’? Bibliya limbalewa kuti mtendereyo ‘un’dzasunga’ mitima yathu pabodzi na makumbukidwe yathu. (Wafiripo 4:7) Fala lakuti ‘kusunga’ ni fala lomwe likhaphatisidwa basa pakulewa bza thimu la acikunda lomwe likhasankhulidwa kuti limbalindire mzinda unango. Wanthu omwe akhakhala ku Firipo akhalindiridwa na thimu limweri. Wanthuwo akhagona bwino-bwino usiku thangwe akhadziwa kuti mzinda wawo ukhalindiridwa. Mwakundendemerana na bzimwebzi, tikambakhala na ‘mtendere wa Mulungu,’ timbacita lini thupo ndipo mitima yathu pabodzi na makumbukidwe yathu bzimbakhala pa mbuto. Timbadziwa kuti Yahova ambatisamalira ndipo ambafuna kuti bzinthu bzimbatifambire bwino. (1 Pedru 5:10) Ndipo bzimwebzi bzimbatikhotcerera kuti tileke kumbakhala na thupo ayai kutaya mtima.

17. Kodi n’ciyani cin’dzatithandiza kuthemba Yahova pa nthawe ya citsautso cikulu?

¹⁷ Tsapanopali, citsautso cikulu cin’fikira wanthu wense. (Mateu 24:21, 22) Tin’dziwa lini bwino-bwino kuti n’ciyani comwe cin’dzacitikira munthu ali-wense payekha. Koma, tin’funika lini kukhala na thupo lakunyanya thangwe ra nthawe imweyi. Napo kuti tikudziwa lini cibodzi na cibodzi pa bzinthu bzomwe Yahova an’dzacita, koma iye, timbamudziwa bwino. Timbadziwa bzomwe iye adacitira atumiki wace wakukhulupirika wakale. Timbadziwa kuti pa ciri-cense comwe cingacitike, Yahova an’dzawonesesa kuti cakulinga cace cikwanisike. Ndipo iye an’dzacita bzimwebzi mu njira yomwe tingaidikhirire lini! Na tenepo, ciri-cense comwe Yahova angaticitire, cimbatithandiza kuwona kuti ‘mtendere wa Mulungu, umbaposa makumbukidwe yense.’