1, 2. Ngemva kokunyukela kukaJesu ezulwini, yini okungenzeka abaphostoli bazibuza yona?

ABAPHOSTOLI bakaJesu bama eNtabeni Yeminqumo begqolozele isibhakabhaka. Babesanda kubona inkosi nomngane wabo uJesu enyukela phezulu futhi esithwa yifu. (IzE. 1:9, 10) Cishe kwase kuyiminyaka emibili uJesu ebafundisa, ebakhuthaza futhi ebahola. Manje wayengasekho. Babezokwenzenjani?

² UJesu wayenike abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi: “Nizoba ofakazi bami eJerusalema nakulo lonke elaseJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.” (IzE. 1:8) Babeyokwazi kanjani ukuwufeza lowo msebenzi? Yiqiniso, uJesu wayebaqinisekise ngokuthi maduze babezothola umoya ongcwele. (IzE. 1:5) Noma kunjalo, umkhankaso wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke wawudinga isiqondiso nokuhleleka. Ukuze aqondise futhi ahlele abantu bakhe endulo, uJehova wasebenzisa abameleli bakhe basemhlabeni. Ngakho, kungenzeka ukuthi abaphostoli bazibuza, ‘Ingabe uJehova uzomisa umholi omusha?’

3. (a) Ngemva kokuba uJesu esenyukele ezulwini, yisiphi isinqumo esibalulekile esenziwa abaphostoli abathembekile? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

 ³ Kamuva engakapheli amasonto amabili, abafundi bakaJesu bahlola imiBhalo, bathandazela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu base bekhetha uMathiya ukuba athathe indawo kaJuda Iskariyothe njengomphostoli weshumi nambili. (IzE. 1:15-26) Kungani ukukhethwa kwalo mphostoli kwakubalulekile kubo nakuJehova? UMathiya wavala isikhala esibalulekile enhlanganweni. * UJesu akakhethanga abaphostoli bakhe ukuze nje bamphelezele enkonzweni kodwa ukuba bafeze indima ebalulekile kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Yayiyini leyo ndima futhi uJehova esebenzisa uJesu wabaqeqesha kanjani ukuba bayifeze? Yiliphi ilungiselelo elifanayo elikhona phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla? ‘Singabakhumbula kanjani abaholayo phakathi kwethu’, ikakhulukazi “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo”?—Heb. 13:7; Math. 24:45.

4. Iyiphi indima eyafezwa abaphostoli nabanye abadala eJerusalema ngekhulu lokuqala?

⁴ NgePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., abaphostoli baqala ukuhola ebandleni lobuKristu. Kuleso senzakalo, “uPetru wasukuma nabayishumi nanye” futhi wakhuluma ngamaqiniso asindisa ukuphila esixukwini esikhulu samaJuda namaproselithe. (IzE. 2:14, 15) Iningi labo laba amakholwa. Ngemva kwalokho, la maKristu amasha ‘aqhubeka ezinikela ekufundiseni kwabaphostoli.’ (IzE. 2:42) Abaphostoli babenakekela izimali zebandla. (IzE. 4:34, 35) Babenakekela nezidingo ezingokomoya zabantu bakaNkulunkulu, bethi: “Thina sizogxila emthandazweni nasenkonzweni yezwi.” (IzE. 6:4) Babela amaKristu ayenesikhathi eside engamakholwa ukuba ashumayele emasimini amasha. (IzE. 8:14, 15) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abanye abadala abagcotshiwe basiza abaphostoli ekunakekeleni izindaba zebandla. Njengendikimba ebusayo, babekhipha iziqondiso eziya kuwo wonke amabandla.—IzE. 15:2.

5, 6. (a) Umoya ongcwele wayinika kanjani indikimba ebusayo amandla? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Izingelosi zayisiza kanjani indikimba ebusayo? (c) IZwi likaNkulunkulu layiqondisa kanjani indikimba ebusayo?

⁵ AmaKristu angekhulu lokuqala ayeqaphela ukuthi indikimba ebusayo yayiqondiswa uJehova uNkulunkulu esebenzisa uMholi wawo uJesu. Ayengaqiniseka kanjani ngalokhu? Okokuqala, umoya ongcwele wanika indinkimba ebusayo amandla. (Joh. 16:13) Umoya ongcwele wathululelwa kuwo wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe kodwa ngokukhethekile wenza abaphostoli nabanye abadala eJerusalema bakwazi ukufeza indima yabo njengabaqondisi. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-49 C.E., umoya ongcwele waqondisa indikimba ebusayo ukuba yenze isinqumo mayelana nendaba yokusoka. Amabandla alandela isinqumo sayo futhi “aqhubeka eqiniswa okholweni futhi anda ngesibalo usuku nosuku.” (IzE. 16:4, 5) Incwadi eyayinaleso sinqumo yaphinde yembula ukuthi indikimba ebusayo yayibonisa izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu, ezihlanganisa uthando nokholo.—IzE. 15:11, 25-29; Gal. 5:22, 23.

⁶ Okwesibili, izingelosi zayisiza indikimba ebusayo. Ngaphambi kokuba uKhoneliyu abhapathizwe njengomKristu Wezizwe wokuqala ongasokiwe, ingelosi  yamyala ukuba abize umphostoli uPetru. Ngemva kokuba uPetru eshumayeze uKorneliyu nezihlobo zakhe, umoya ongcwele wathululelwa kubo yize abesilisa babengasokiwe. Lokhu kwenza abaphostoli nabanye abazalwane bathobela intando kaNkulunkulu futhi bamukela Abezizwe abangasokile ebandleni lobuKristu. (IzE. 11:13-18) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngentshiseko izingelosi zasekela futhi zaqhubezela umsebenzi wokushumayela owawuqondiswa indikimba ebusayo. (IzE. 5:19, 20) Okwesithathu, iZwi likaNkulunkulu laqondisa indikimba ebusayo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babexazulula izindaba ezimayelana nezimfundiso eziyisisekelo noma babekhipha isiqondiso, labo badala abagcotshiwe babeqondiswa imiBhalo.—IzE. 1:20-22; 15:15-20.

7. Kungani singathi uJesu wayehola amaKristu okuqala?

⁷ Nakuba indikimba ebusayo yayinegunya ebandleni lokuqala, yayiqaphela ukuthi uMholi wayo uJesu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala, “[UKristu] waphana ngabanye njengabaphostoli.” “Masikhule ngothando kuzo zonke izinto sikhulele kuye oyinhloko, uKristu.” (Efe. 4:11, 15) Kunokuba baziqambe ngegama lomphostoli owayevelele, “ngokwelungiselelo laphezulu abafundi [babizwa] ngokuthi amaKristu.” (IzE. 11:26) Yiqiniso, umphostoli uPawulu wakubona ukubaluleka ‘kokubambelela ngokuqinile ezimfundisweni’ ezisekelwe emiBhalweni, ezazifundiswa abaphostoli namanye amadoda ayehola. Noma kunjalo, wanezela: “Kodwa ngifuna ukuba nazi ukuthi inhloko yawo wonke amadoda [kuhlanganise nawo wonke amalungu endikimba ebusayo] nguKristu; . . . nenhloko kaKristu nguNkulunkulu.” (1 Kor. 11:2, 3) Yebo, ngaphansi kweNhloko yakhe—uJehova uNkulunkulu—uJesu uKristu ongabonakali nokhazinyulisiwe nguye owayehola ibandla.

8, 9. Kusukela ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, iyiphi indima ebalulekile uMfoweth’ uRussell ayifeza?

⁸ Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, uCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe bazikhandla ukuze babuyisele ukukhulekela kobuKristu beqiniso. Ngo-1884 kwasungulwa iZion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, okwakuyinhlangano esemthethweni eyayenganyelwe uMfoweth’ uRussell, ukuze ibasize basakaze iqiniso leBhayibheli ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene. * Wayengumfundi weBhayibheli ovelele futhi ngesibindi wadalula izimfundiso zamanga ezinjengoZiqu-zintathu nokungafi komphefumulo. Wafinyelela isiphetho sokuthi ukubuya kukaKristu kwakungeke kubonwe ngamehlo nokuthi “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe” zaziyophela ngo-1914. (Luka 21:24) UMfoweth’ uRussell wanikela ngesikhathi sakhe, amandla nemali ngokungazigodli ukuze atshele abanye la maqiniso. Ngokusobala, ngaleso sikhathi esibalulekile, uMfoweth’ uRussell wayesetshenziswa uJehova nenhloko yebandla.

⁹ UMfoweth’ uRussell akazange afune ukudunyiswa abantu. Ngo-1896, wabhala: “Asifuni ukuba kudunyiswe, noma kuhlonishwe thina noma izincwadi zethu; futhi asifisi ukubizwa ngokuthi Mfundisi noma Rabi. Futhi asifisi kube neqembu eliqanjwe ngathi.” Kamuva wathi: “Lo msebenzi akuwona owomuntu.”

10. (a) UJesu wayimisa nini “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo”? (b) Bonisa ukuthi kuye kwathuthukiswa kanjani ukuqondwa komehluko phakathi kweNdikimba Ebusayo ne-Watch Tower Society?

¹⁰ Ngo-1919, sekuphele iminyaka emithathu uMfoweth’ uRussell ashona, uJesu  wamisa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.” Ukuze yenzeni? Ukuze inike abendlu yakhe “ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele.” (Math. 24:45) Ngisho nangaleyo minyaka yasekuqaleni, iqenjana labazalwane abagcotshiwe elalikhonza endlunkulu eBrooklyn, eNew York, lalungiselela futhi lasakaza ukudla okungokomoya kubalandeli bakaJesu. Inkulumo ethi “indikimba ebusayo” yaqala ukuvela ezincwadini zethu ngawo-1940 futhi kwakucatshwanga ukuthi isho into eyodwa ne-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Nokho, ngo-1971, kwacaciswa umehluko phakathi kweNdikimba Ebusayo ne-Watch Tower Society nabaqondisi bayo—i-Watch Tower Society isingatha kuphela izinto ezingokomthetho. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi iNdikimba Ebusayo yakhiwa abazalwane abagcotshiwe abangebona abaqondisi be-Watch Tower Society. Eminyakeni yamuva, abazalwane abafanelekayo ‘bezinye izimvu’ baye bakhonza njengabaqondisi beNhlangano engokomthetho nabezinye izinhlangano ezisetshenziswa abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ukuze iNdikimba Ebusayo igxile ekunikezeni iziqondiso ezingokomoya. (Joh. 10:16; IzE. 6:4) INqabayokulinda ka-July 15, 2013, yachaza ukuthi “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” yakhiwa iqembu elincane labazalwane abagcotshiwe abakha iNdikimba Ebusayo.

11. Isebenza kanjani iNdikimba Ebusayo?

¹¹ INdikimba Ebusayo izenza ngokubambisana izinqumo ezibalulekile. Kanjani? Amalungu ahlangana masonto onke, okwenza kube nokuxhumana okuseduze nobunye. (IzAga 20:18) Minyaka yonke, bayashintshana ngokuba usihlalo kuleyo mihlangano, njengoba lingekho ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo elibaluleke okwedlula amanye. (1 Pet. 5:1) Baphinde bashintshane nangokuba usihlalo kula makomiti ayisithupha njalo ngonyaka. Ilungu ngalinye lendikimba alizibheki njengomholi, kodwa lizibheka njengomunye “wabendlu,” owondliwa inceku ethembekileyo futhi othobela igunya.

12. Njengoba iNdikimba Ebusayo ingaphefumulelwe futhi ingaphelele, lokho kuphakamisa miphi imibuzo?

¹² INdikimba Ebusayo ayiphefumulelwe futhi ayiphelele. Ngenxa yalokho, ingawenza amaphutha ezimfundisweni ezithile noma ekuqondiseni inhlangano. Empeleni, iNcwadi Yokucwaninga inesihloko esithi “Ukucaciswa Kwezinkolelo Zethu,” esibonisa ukulungiswa kwendlela esiqonda ngayo izimfundiso ezingokomBhalo. UJesu akashongo ukuthi inceku yakhe ethembekileyo yayizokhipha ukudla okungokomoya okungenaphutha. Ngakho singawuphendula kanjani umbuzo kaJesu othi: “Ngubani ngempela oyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo?” (Math. 24:45) Yibuphi ubufakazi esinabo obubonisa ukuthi iNdikimba Ebusayo ifeza leyo ndima? Ake sihlole izinto ezintathu ezaqondisa indikimba ebusayo ngekhulu lokuqala.

13. Umoya ongcwele uyisize kanjani iNdikimba Ebusayo?

¹³ Ubufakazi bokuthi isizwa umoya ongcwele. Umoya ongcwele uye wasiza iNdikimba Ebusayo ukuba iqonde amaqiniso angokomBhalo ayekade engaqondakali. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela okuye kwalungiswa ngayo indlela esiqonda ngayo izimfundiso ezingokomBhalo okukhulunywe ngakho esigabeni esidlule. Ngokuqinisekile, akekho umuntu okufanele anikwe udumo ngokuqonda nokuchaza lezi ‘zinto ezijulile zikaNkulunkulu.’ (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 2:10.) INdikimba Ebusayo ilingisa lokho okwabhalwa  umphostoli uPawulu, owathi: “Lezi zinto futhi siyazikhuluma, hhayi ngamazwi esiwafundiswe ukuhlakanipha kwabantu, kodwa ngamazwi esiwafundiswe umoya.” (1 Kor. 2:13) Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka okuhlubuka nobumnyama obungokomoya, ingabe kukhona okunye ngaphandle komoya ongcwele okungabangela intuthuko endleleni esiqonda ngayo amaqiniso angokomoya kusukela ngo-1919?

14. NgokwesAmbulo 14:6, 7, izingelosi zibasiza kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla?

¹⁴ Ubufakazi bokuthi isizwa izingelosi. INdikimba Ebusayo namuhla inomsebenzi omkhulu wokuqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke ohilela abamemezeli abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-8. Kungani uye waba impumelelo lowo msebenzi? Isizwa izingelosi. (Funda isAmbulo 14:6, 7.) Ezimweni eziningi, abamemezeli baye bashumayeze abantu abebekade becela usizo ngomthandazo! * Intuthuko yomhlaba wonke yomsebenzi wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi naphezu kokuphikiswa okukhulu kwamanye amazwe, yenzeke kuphela ngenxa yosizo lwezingelosi.

15. Yimuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kweNdikimba Ebusayo nabaholi beLobukholwa? Nikeza isibonelo.

¹⁵ Incika eZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Funda uJohane 17:17.) Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka ngo-1973. INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-June 1, yayinombuzo othi: “Ingabe . . . umuntu ongakayeki ukuba  umlutha kagwayi uyakufanelekela ukubhapathizwa?” Impendulo yathi: “Ubufakazi obungokomBhalo busenza siphethe ngokuthi cha akafaneleki.” Ngemva kokucaphuna imiBhalo embalwa, INqabayokulinda yachaza ukuthi kungani umlutha kagwayi ongaphenduki kufanele ususwe ekuhlanganyeleni. (1 Kor. 5:7; 2 Kor. 7:1) Yathi izindinganiso eziqinile aziveli kubantu kodwa zivela kuNkulunkulu, “okhuluma nathi ngeZwi lakhe elilotshiwe.” Ingabe ikhona enye inhlangano engokwenkolo eyake yazimisela ukuncika ngokuphelele eZwini likaNkulunkulu, ngisho noma ukwenza kanjalo kuwaphonsela inselele amanye amalungu ayo? Incwadi yamuva yezenkolo e-United States ithi: “Abaholi bobuKristu baye bashintsha izimfundiso zabo ukuze zivumelane nezinkolelo nemibono esekelwa amalungu abo nomphakathi wonkana.” Uma iNdikimba Ebusayo ivumela izinqumo zayo ziqondiswe iZwi likaNkulunkulu kunemibono yabantu, ubani ngempela ohola abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla?

16. Iyiphi indlela esingakhumbula ngayo iNdikimba Ebusayo?

¹⁶ Funda eyamaHebheru 13:7. Igama elithi “khumbulani” lisho ukungakhohlwa. Ngakho enye indlela ‘ongakhumbula ngayo abaholayo’ ukuthandazela iNdikimba Ebusayo. (Efe. 6:18) Sikhumbule umsebenzi wabo wokusinika ukudla okungokomoya, ukuqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke nokusingatha ezezimali. Ngempela kuyadingeka sibanxusele njalo!

17, 18. (a) Singayikhumbula kanjani iNdikimba Ebusayo? (b) Ukushumayela kuyisekela kanjani inceku ethembekileyo noJesu?

¹⁷ Ukukhumbula iNdikimba Ebusayo kuhilela okungaphezu kokuyithandazela, kuhilela nokulandela isiqondiso sayo. INdikimba Ebusayo ikhipha isiqondiso ngezincwadi zethu nangemihlangano emikhulu nemincane. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imisa ababonisi bezigodi, bona abamisa abadala bebandla. Ababonisi bezigodi nabadala bakhumbula iNdikimba Ebusayo ngokunamathela eziqondisweni abazinikwayo. Sonke sibonisa ukuthi siyamhlonipha uMholi wethu, uJesu, ngokulalela nokuthobela amadoda awasebenzisayo ukuze asiqondise.—Heb. 13:17.

¹⁸ Enye indlela esikhumbula ngayo iNdikimba Ebusayo ukuzikhandla emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu ukuba alingise ukholo lwalabo abaholayo phakathi kwawo. Inceku ethembekileyo iye yabonisa ukholo oluqinile nokuzikhandla ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Ingabe ungomunye wezinye izimvu osekela abagcotshiwe kulo msebenzi obalulekile? Cabanga ngendlela oyozizwa ngayo lapho uMholi wakho, uJesu, ethi: ‘Ngezinga okwenze ngalo komunye wabancane kunabo bonke walaba bafowethu, ukwenzile nakimi.’—Math. 25:34-40.

19. Kungani uzimisele ukulandela uMholi wethu, uJesu?

¹⁹ Lapho uJesu ebuyela ezulwini, akazange abalahle abalandeli bakhe. (Math. 28:20) Wayeyiqonda kahle indlela umoya ongcwele, izingelosi neZwi likaNkulunkulu okwamsiza ngayo ukuba abe umholi ophumelelayo ngesikhathi esemhlabeni. Ngakho, uye wasekela inceku ethembekileyo namuhla ngosizo olufanayo. NjengamaKristu agcotshiwe, amalungu aleyo nceku ‘aqhubeka elandela iWundlu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi liyaphi.’ (IsAm. 14:4) Njengoba silandela isiqondiso sayo, kufana nokuthi silandela uMholi wethu, uJesu. Maduze uzosiholela ekuphileni okuphakade. (IsAm. 7:14-17) Akekho umholi ongumuntu ongasithembisa lokho!