1. Lapho abafundi behlangene ndawonye, yiluphi usizo abaluthola, futhi kungani babeludinga?

NGOKUSHESHA ngemva kokuvuswa kukaJesu, abafundi bahlangana ukuze bakhuthazane. Nokho, ngenxa yokwesaba izitha zabo, bahluthulela iminyango. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba ukwesaba kwabo kwashabalala ngayo lapho uJesu ebonakala phakathi kwabo ethi: “Yamukelani umoya ongcwele”! (Funda uJohane 20:19-22.) Kamuva, abafundi babuye bahlangana ndawonye futhi uJehova wathulula umoya ongcwele phezu kwabo. Yeka amandla abawazuza njengoba kwakusenomsebenzi wokushumayela owawubalindele!—IzE. 2:1-7.

2. (a) UJehova usinika kanjani amandla, futhi kungani siwadinga? (b) Kungani ilungiselelo lokuKhulekela Komkhaya libaluleke kangaka? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi nebhokisi elithi “ UkuKhulekela Komkhaya,” ikhasi 175.)

² Sibhekene nezinselele ezifana nalezo abafowethu bekhulu lokuqala ababhekana nazo. (1 Pet. 5:9) Ngezinye izikhathi kungenzeka abanye bethu bahlushwe ukwesaba abantu. Ukuze sikwazi ukukhuthazela emsebenzini wokushumayela, sidinga amandla avela kuJehova. (Efe. 6:10) Usinika lawo mandla ikakhulu ngemihlangano yethu. Okwamanje sinethuba lokuya emihlanganweni emibili efundisayo yamasonto onke—uMhlangano Weningi, iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda, nomhlangano waphakathi nesonto obizwa ngokuthi UMhlangano Wokuphila KobuKristu Nenkonzo Yethu. * Sibuye sibe nemihlangano emine yaminyaka yonke—owesifunda, emibili yesigodi neSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba khona kuyo yonke le mihlangano? Ithuthukiswe kanjani imihlangano yosuku lwethu? Isimo sethu sengqondo ngemihlangano sibonisani ngathi?

3, 4. Yini uJehova ayilindele kubantu bakhe? Nikeza izibonelo.

³ Selokhu kwathi nhlo uJehova ubelokhu efuna ukuba abantu bakhe bahlangane ndawonye ukuze bamkhulekele. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1513 B.C.E. uJehova wanika isizwe sakwa-Israyeli uMthetho wakhe futhi lowo Mthetho wawuhlanganisa neSabatha lamasonto onke ukuze umkhaya ngamunye ukwazi ukumkhulekela futhi ufundiswe uMthetho. (Dut. 5:12; 6:4-9) Lapho ama-Israyeli ewulalela lowo myalo, imikhaya yayiqina nesizwe sisonke sasihlale sihlanzekile futhi siqinile ngokomoya. Uma isizwe sihluleka ukusebenzisa uMthetho, singayinaki imfuneko yokuhlangana njalo ngenjongo yokukhulekela uJehova,  sasilahlekelwa umusa kaNkulunkulu.—Lev. 10:11; 26:31-35; 2 IziKr. 36:20, 21.

⁴ Cabanga nangesibonelo esabekwa uJesu. Masonto onke wayenomkhuba wokuya esinagogeni ngosuku lweSabatha. (Luka 4:16) Ngemva kokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu, abafundi bakhe baqhubeka nomkhuba wokuhlangana njalo ndawonye nakuba babengasekho ngaphansi komthetho weSabatha. (IzE. 1:6, 12-14; 2:1-4; Roma 14:5; Kol. 2:13, 14) Kuleyo mihlangano, amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala awatholanga ukuyalwa nokukhuthazwa nje kuphela kodwa abuye anikela ngemihlatshelo yokudumisa uNkulunkulu ngemithandazo yawo, izimpendulo nezingoma.—Kol. 3:16; Heb. 13:15.

5. Kungani siya emihlanganweni yamasonto onke neyaminyaka yonke emincane nemikhulu? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Imibuthano Yaminyaka Yonke Ehlanganisa Abantu BakaNkulunkulu,” ikhasi 176.)

⁵ Ngokufanayo, lapho siya emihlanganweni yethu yamasonto onke neyaminyaka yonke emincane nemikhulu, sisuke sibonisa ukuthi sisekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, sithola amandla ngomoya ongcwele futhi sikhuthaza abanye ngamazwi ethu okholo. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, sinethuba lokukhulekela uJehova ngemithandazo yethu, izimpendulo zethu nangezingoma. Nakuba imihlangano yethu ingase ihlelwe ngendlela ehlukile kweyama-Israyeli neyamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala, isabaluleke ngendlela efanayo. Ithuthukiswe kanjani imihlangano yosuku lwethu?

6, 7. (a) Iyini injongo yemihlangano yethu? (b) Imihlangano yayehluka kanjani ngokwamaqembu?

⁶ Ngesikhathi uMfoweth’ uCharles Taze Russell eqala ukufuna iqiniso elisekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu, wabona kunesidingo sokuhlangana nabanye ababenomgomo ofanayo. Ngo-1879, uRussell wabhala: “EPittsburgh, mina nabanye sahlela  ukuba sibe namakilasi eBhayibheli ukuze sihlole imiBhalo, sihlangana njalo ngamaSonto.” Abafundi be-Zion’s Watch Tower bakhuthazwa ukuba bahlangane ndawonye, futhi ngo-1881 kwase kuqhutshwa imihlangano njalo ngeSonto nangoLwesithathu ePittsburgh, ePennsylvania. INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-November 1895 yathi injongo yaleyo mihlangano kwakuwukuhlakulela “ubudlelwano nothando lobuKristu” kanye nokunikeza abakuyo ithuba lokukhuthazana.—Funda eyamaHebheru 10:24, 25.

⁷ Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi amaqembu abaFundi BeBhayibheli ehlukahluka endleleni ahlela ngayo imihlangano nokuthi iqhutshwa kangaki. Ngokwesibonelo, incwadi eyayibhalwe iqembu lase-United States, yanyatheliswa ngo-1911, yayithi: “Siba nemihlangano okungenani emihlanu ngesonto.” Leyo mhlangano yayiqhutshwa ngoMsombuluko, uLwesithathu, uLwesihlanu nakabili ngeSonto. Enye incwadi eyabhalwa iqembu lase-Afrika eyanyatheliswa ngo-1914 yayithi: “Siba nemihlangano kabili ngenyanga, kusukela ngoLwesihlanu kuze kube iSonto.” Nokho ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, imihlangano yahlelwa ngendlela eqhutshwa ngayo manje. Ake uzwe kafushane umlando womhlangano ngamunye.

8. Zazithini izihloko zokuqala zezinkulumo zeningi?

⁸ Umhlangano Weningi. Ngo-1880, ngemva konyaka uMfoweth’ uRussell anyathelisa i-Zion’s Watch Tower, walandela isibonelo sikaJesu wathatha uhambo lokushumayela kwezinye izindawo. (Luka 4:43) Kulolu hambo wabeka isibonelo salokho namuhla okubizwa ngokuthi uMhlangano Weningi. INqabayokulinda yamemezela ukuthi uRussell “wayezothanda ukwenza izinkulumo zeningi ezinesihloko esithi ‘Izinto eziphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu.’” Ngo-1911, ngemva kokumiswa kwamabandla emazweni amaningi, ibandla ngalinye lakhuthazwa ukuba lithumele izikhulumi ezifanelekayo ezindaweni eziseduze ziyonikeza izinkulumo eziyisithupha eziwuchungechunge ezinezihloko ezikhuluma ngesahlulelo nesihlengo. Ngemva kwenkulumo ngayinye, kwakumenyezelwa igama lesikhulumi kanye nesihloko senkulumo yesonto elilandelayo.

9. Ushintshe kanjani uMhlangano Weningi kule minyaka edlule, futhi ungawusekela kanjani?

⁹ Ngo-1945, INqabayokulinda yamemezela ukuqala komkhankaso womhlaba wonke woMhlangano Weningi owawuhlanganisa izinkulumo zeBhayibheli ezingu-8 eziwuchungechunge ezazikhuluma “ngezinkinga okwakuphuthuma ukuba zidingidwe ngaleso sikhathi.” Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi izikhulumi zenza izinkulumo zisebenzisa izihloko ezazilungiselelwe inceku ethembekile nalezo ezaziye zazihlelela zona ngokwazo. Ngo-1981 zonke izikhulumi zanxuswa ukuba zisekele izinkulumo zazo ezinhlakeni ezazithunyelwe emabandleni. * Ezinye izinhlaka zezinkulumo zeningi zazidinga ukuba izilaleli zihlanganyele ngezimpendulo noma ngemiboniso; kodwa ngo-1990 iziqondiso zathuthukiswa futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kwaqedwa ukuhlanganyela kwezilaleli enkulumweni yeningi. Ngo-January  2008 kwenziwa okunye ukulungisa lapho isikhathi sezinkulumo zeningi sincishiswa sisuka emizuzwini engu-45 siya kwengu-30. Nakuba kuye kwaba noshintsho endleleni ezenziwa ngayo, izinkulumo zeningi ezilungiselelwe kahle ziyaqhubeka zakha ukholo lwethu eZwini likaNkulunkulu futhi zisifundisa izici ezihlukahlukene ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (1 Thim. 4:13, 16) Ingabe uyakushisekela ukumema izimpindelo nalabo abangebona oFakazi ukuba bazolalela lezo zinkulumo ezibalulekile ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini?

10-12. (a) Yiziphi izinguquko eziye zenziwa endleleni iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda esiqhutshwa ngayo? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo owenza kahle ngokuzibuza yona?

¹⁰ ISifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Ngo-1922, abafowethu ababebizwa ngokuthi ama-pilgrim—izikhonzi ezazithunywa i-Watch Tower Society ukuba zinikeze izinkulumo emabandleni futhi zihole emsebenzini wokushumayela—basikisela ukuba kube nomhlangano oqhutshwa njalo owawuzogxila ekutadisheni INqabayokulinda. Lowo mbono wamukelwa futhi ekuqaleni izifundo ze-Nqabayokulinda zaziqhutshwa phakathi nesonto noma ngeSonto.

¹¹ INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-June 15, 1932 yanikeza iziqondiso ezengeziwe zendlela lo mhlangano okwakufanele uqhutshwe ngayo. Ulandela isibonelo sendlela lesi sifundo esasiqhutshwa ngayo emKhayeni WaseBethel, lo magazini wathi kufanele kube nomzalwane oqhuba lo mhlangano. Abazalwane abathathu babengahlala phambili endaweni yomhlangano bashintshane ngokufunda izigaba. Ngaleso sikhathi izihloko zazingenayo imibuzo enyathelisiwe, ngakho umqhubi wesifundo watshelwa ukuba acele izilaleli zibuze imibuzo ngendaba efundwayo. Ngemva kwalokho wayezocela izilaleli ziyiphendule leyo mibuzo. Uma kudingeka ukucacisa okwengeziwe, umqhubi wesifundo watshelwa ukuba anikeze incazelo “emfushane neshaya emhloleni.”

 ¹² Ekuqaleni, ibandla ngalinye lalivunyelwe ukukhetha umagazini iningi elithanda ukuwufunda. Kepha INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-April 15, 1933 yasikisela ukuba wonke amabandla asebenzise umagazini wamuva. Ngo-1937, kwakhishwa isiqondiso sokuba wonke amabandla aqhube lesi sifundo ngeSonto. INqabayokulinda ka-October 1, 1942 yanyathelisa ukuthuthukiswa okwengeziwe okwenza ukuba lo mhlangano uqhutshwe ngendlela oqhutshwa ngayo manje. Okokuqala, yathi ekugcineni kwekhasi ngalinye lesihloko esifundwayo sekuzoba nemibuzo okufanele isetshenziswe. Yabe isithi lo mhlangano kufanele uthathe ihora. Yabuye yakhuthaza abaphendulayo ukuba baphendule “ngamazwi abo” kunokufunda isigaba. ISifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda siyaqhubeka siwumhlangano oyinhloko inceku ethembekile esinika ngawo ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele. (Math. 24:45) Ngamunye wethu wenza kahle ngokuzibuza: ‘Ingabe ngiyasilungiselela isifundo se-Nqabayokulinda masonto onke? Ngiyawenza yini umzamo wokuphendula uma kungenzeka?’

13, 14. Uyini umlando weSifundo SeBhayibheli Sebandla, futhi yini oyijabulelayo ngalo mhlangano?

¹³ ISifundo SeBhayibheli Sebandla. Maphakathi nawo 1890, ngemva kokukhululwa kwemiqulu ye-Millennial Dawn, uMfoweth’ uH. N.  Rahn, umFundi WeBhayibheli owayehlala edolobheni laseBaltimore, eMaryland, e-U.S.A., wasikisela ukuba kuqhutshwe imihlangano ngamaqembu ayetadisha iBhayibheli ayaziwa ngokuthi ama-Dawn Circle. Ekuqaleni, le mihlangano ngokuvamile eyayiqhutshelwa emizini yabafowethu, yayiqhutshwa ngenjongo yokuhlola ukuthi izophumelela yini. Ngo-September 1895 yayisiqhutshwa ngempumelelo emadolobheni amaningi e-United States. Ngakho INqabayokulinda yangaleyo nyanga yasikisela ukuba bonke abafundi beqiniso bayiqhube leyo mihlangano. Yabuye yathi lowo owuqhubayo kufanele akwazi ukufunda kahle. Kwakufanele afunde umusho owodwa abese elindela abakhona ukuba bawukhulumele. Ngemva kokufunda nokuxoxa ngayo yonke imisho esesigabeni, kwakumelwe afunde nemiBhalo ekhonjiwe. Ekupheleni kwesahluko, bonke ababekhona kwakumelwe bakhulumele kafushane lokho isahluko ebesikuqukethe.

¹⁴ Igama lalo mhlangano lashintsha izikhathi eziningana. Waqale waziwa ngokuthi i-Berean Circles for Bible Study, okuyigama elisekelwe esenzweni sabaseBhereya bangekhulu lokuqala abahlola imiBhalo ngokucophelela. (IzE. 17:11) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi leli gama lashintsha kwathiwa iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla. Manje usubizwa ngokuthi iSifundo SeBhayibheli Sebandla futhi lonke ibandla lihlangana eHholo LoMbuso esikhundleni sokuhlangana ngamaqembu emizini yabazalwane. Kule minyaka edlule, bekufundwa izincwadi, izincwajana ngisho nezihloko ze-Nqabayokulinda kulo mhlangano. Kusukela waqala, bonke ababebakhona babekhuthazwa ukuba baphendule. Lo mhlangano uye wenza lukhulu ekujuliseni ulwazi  lwethu lweBhayibheli. Ingabe wenza konke ongakwenza ukuze uwulungiselele njalo lo mhlangano futhi ube nengxenye kuwo?

15. ISikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini sasiklanyelwe ukwenzani?

¹⁵ ISikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. UCarey Barber, ngaleso sikhathi owayekhonza endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn, eNew York, wathi: “Ngo-February 16, 1942, ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa, bonke abesilisa abangamalungu omkhaya waseBethel eBrooklyn bacelwa ukuba babhalise esikoleni kamuva esaziwa ngokuthi iSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini.” UMfoweth’ uBarber, okwathi kamuva wakhonza njengelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wachaza lesi sikole “njengesiphakathi kwezinto eziyingqayizivele ekusebenzelaneni kukaJehova nabantu bakhe ezikhathini zethu.” Lesi sikole saphumelela ukusiza abazalwane ukuba bathuthukise amakhono abo okufundisa nokushumayela kangangokuba kusukela ngo-1943 incwajana ethi Course in Theocratic Ministry kancane kancane yenziwa yatholakala emabandleni emhlabeni wonke. INqabayokulinda  ka-June 1, 1943, yathi iSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini samiswa ngenjongo yokusiza abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba “baziqeqeshele ukuba ofakazi abakahle abamemezela uMbuso.”—2 Thim. 2:15.

16, 17. Ingabe iSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini sasifundisa amakhono okukhuluma kuphela? Chaza.

¹⁶ Ekuqaleni, abaningi babekuthola kunzima ukukhuluma phambi kweningi. UClayton Woodworth, Jr., oyise wayeboshwe ngokungafanele noMfoweth’ uRutherford kanye nabanye ngo-1918, ukhumbula indlela azizwa ngayo ngesikhathi eqala ukubhalisa kulesi sikole ngo-1943. Uthi: “Kwakuwumqansa kimi ukubeka izinkulumo. Ulimi lwaluvele lubophane nginkwankwaze int’ ongayazi futhi ngangimemeza kakhulu noma nginswininize uma ngikhuluma.” Kodwa njengoba ikhono likaClayton lalithuthuka, wathola amalungelo amaningi okwenza izinkulumo zeningi. Lesi sikole samfundisa okuningi kakhulu kunamakhono okukhuluma nje kuphela. Samfundisa nokubaluleka kokuthobeka nokuncika kuJehova. Wathi: “Ngiye  ngaqonda ukuthi isikhulumi ngokwaso asibalulekile. Kodwa uma silungiselela kahle futhi sibeka lonke ithemba laso kuJehova, abasilalele bayosizwa kahle futhi bafunde okuthile.”

¹⁷ Ngo-1959, odade bavunyelwa ukubhalisa kulesi sikole. UDade Edna Bauer ukhumbula lapho ezwa lesi simemezelo emhlanganweni omkhulu ayekuwo. Uthi: “Ngikhumbula indlela odade ababejabule ngayo. Manje base bezoba nengxenye ethe xaxa.” Eminyakeni edlule, abazalwane nodade abaningi babhalisa eSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini ukuze bafundiswe uJehova. Namuhla sithola ukuqeqeshwa okufanayo emhlanganweni wethu waphakathi nesonto.—Funda u-Isaya 54:13.

18, 19. (a) Manje sesithola kanjani isiqondiso sokufeza inkonzo yethu? (b) Kungani sicula emihlanganweni yethu? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Ukucula Iqiniso.”)

¹⁸ UMhlangano Wenkonzo. Ngo-1919, kwahlelwa ukuba kube nemihlangano yenkonzo yasensimini. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakungebona bonke ababeya kuleyo mihlangano—kwakuya kuphela labo ababehileleke ngokuqondile ekusakazeni izincwadi. Engxenyeni enkulu ka-1923 uMhlangano Wenkonzo wawuqhutshwa kanye ngenyanga futhi lonke ibandla kwakufanele lihlanganyele kuwo. Ngo-1928 amabandla anxuswa ukuba abe noMhlangano Wenkonzo isonto ngalinye, kwathi ngo-1935 INqabayokulinda yakhuthaza wonke amabandla ukuba asekele uMhlangano Wenkonzo ekwazisweni okunyatheliswe kuyi-Director (kamuva eyabizwa ngokuthi i-Informant okwathi kamuva yabizwa ngokuthi INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso). Ngokushesha lo mhlangano waba yingxenye yesimiso sebandla ngalinye.

¹⁹ EMhlanganweni wethu waphakathi nesonto sithola isiqondiso sokwenza inkonzo. (Math. 10:5-13) Uma ukufanelekela ukuthola incwajana yomhlangano, ingabe uyayitadisha futhi usebenzise ukusikisela kwayo lapho usensimini?

20-22. (a) Kungani sikhumbula ukufa kukaJesu? (b) Iyiphi inzuzo oyithola ngokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni unyaka ngamunye?

²⁰ UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bakhumbule ukufa kwakhe aze afike. Njengomkhosi wePhasika, iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu siyisenzakalo saminyaka yonke. (1 Kor. 11:23-26) Lo mhlangano wethanyelwa izigidi unyaka ngamunye. Ukhumbuza abagcotshiwe ngelungelo abanalo lokuba izindlalifa zoMbuso. (Roma 8:17) Wenza abezinye izimvu bayihloniphe ngokujulile iNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi babe qotho kuyo.—Joh. 10:16.

²¹ UMfoweth’ uRussell nalabo ayebambisene nabo bakuqaphela ukubaluleka kokukhumbula iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa futhi babazi ukuthi kwakufanele basikhumbule kanye kuphela ngonyaka. INqabayokulinda ka-April 1880 yathi: “Sekuphele iminyaka eminingana kuwumkhuba wabaningi bethu lapha ePittsburgh  . . . ukukhumbula iPhasika [iSikhumbuzo] kanye nokudla izifanekiselo zomzimba negazi leNkosi yethu.” Ngokushesha kwaqhutshwa imihlangano emikhulu ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo. Imibiko yokuqala yalowo mbuthano  owawungo-1889 yalondolozwa futhi bangu-225 ababekhona, kwabhapathizwa abangu-22.

²² Manje asisasenzi iSikhumbuzo sibe ingxenye yesimiso somhlangano omkhulu, kodwa simema bonke abantu kunoma yimiphi imiphakathi esihlala kuyo ukuba bazohlanganyela nathi eHholo LoMbuso noma esakhiweni esiqashiwe. Ngo-2013, bangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-19 abakhumbula ukufa kukaJesu. Yeka ilungelo esinalo lokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni nokukhuthaza abanye ukuba bahlanganyele nathi kulobu busuku obungcwele! Ingabe uyakushisekela ukumemela abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka eSikhumbuzweni unyaka ngamunye?

23. Ukubheka kanjani ukuhlangana kwethu ndawonye?

²³ Izinceku zikaJehova eziqotho aziwubheki njengomthwalo umyalo wokuhlangana ndawonye. (Heb. 10:24, 25; 1 Joh. 5:3) Ngokwesibonelo, iNkosi uDavide yayikuthanda ukuya endlini kaJehova iyokhulekela. (IHu. 27:4) Yayikujabulela ngokukhethekile ukukhulekela phakathi kwabantu abathanda uNkulunkulu. (IHu. 35:18) Cabanga nangesibonelo sikaJesu. Ngisho nalapho esemncane, wayenesifiso esijulile sokuba sendlini kaYise yokukhulekela.—Luka 2:41-49.

24. Lapho siya emihlanganweni, yimaphi amathuba esiba nawo?

²⁴ Lapho siya emihlanganweni sisuke sibonisa uthando lwethu ngoJehova nesifiso sokwakha abafowethu. Futhi sibonisa ukuthi silangazelela ukufunda ukuphila njengezikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ngoba ngokuyinhloko kusemihlanganweni yebandla, emincane nemikhulu lapho sithola khona ukuqeqeshwa okunjalo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imihlangano yethu isinikeza ikhono namandla esiwadingayo ukuze sikhuthazele komunye yemisebenzi ebaluleke kakhulu eyenziwa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu namuhla—ukwenza nokuqeqesha abafundi beNkosi uJesu Kristu. (Funda uMathewu 28:19, 20.) Ngokungangabazeki, isifiso sethu esijulile sokuhlangana ndawonye sembula ukuthi ungokoqobo kangakanani uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kithi ngabanye. Kwangathi singahlale siyazisa njalo imihlangano yethu!