1. Khuyini umpostoli uPowula ayivumako?

UMPOSTOLI uPowula uyavuma ukuthi khekwaba neenkhathi la azizwa khona abogaboga. Wavuma ukuthi umuntu anguye ngaphandle ‘uyonakala,’ ukuthi nakazokwenza okuhle kufuze alwe budisi nokuthi uJehova bekangayiphenduli imithandazwakhe ngendlela ebekacabanga ukuthi uzoyiphendula ngayo. (2 Kor. 4:16; 12:7-9; Rom. 7:21-23) UPowula wakuvuma godu ukuthi abaphikisi bakhe bebamqala njengomuntu obogabogako. * Kodwana khenge avumele izinto ezimbi ezitjhiwo babantu namkha izinto azicabangako ezingakhi bona zimenze aphelelwe mamandla.—2 Kor. 10:10-12, 17, 18.

2. Ngokomtlolo weyesi-2 kwebeKorinte 12:9, 10, ngisiphi isifundo esiqakathekileko uPowula asifundako?

² UPowula wafunda isifundo esiqakatheke khulu sokuthi umuntu angaba namandla ngitjho nanyana azizwa abogaboga. (Funda yesi-2 kwebeKorinte 12:9, 10.) UJehova watjela uPowula ukuthi ‘amandlakhe enziwa aphelele ekubogabogeni’ okutjho bona amandla kaJehova bewazokwenza uPowula abe namandla ngesikhathi awatlhoga ngaso. Kokuthoma akhesibone bona kubayini kungakafuzi sitshwenyeke lokha abaphikisi bethu nabasithukako.

3. Kubayini kufuze sithabe nasithukwako?

³ Akakho umuntu ofuna ukuthukwa. Nanyana kunjalo, nangabe amanabethu ayasithuka begodu akutjhoko kusitshwenya,  lokho kungasenza sidane. (IzA. 24:10) Kufuze senzeni-ke nawasithukako? NjengoPowula ‘kufuze sikuthabele ukuthukwa.’ (2 Kor. 12:10) Kubayini kunjalo? Kungombana ukuthukwa nokuphikiswa kutjengisa ukuthi sibalandeli bakaJesu. (1 Pit. 4:14) UJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe bazokuhlunguphazwa. (Jwa. 15:18-20) Amezwakhe abaliqiniso ngeenkhathi zabapostoli. Kazi ngesikhatheso, abantu ebebathanda isiko lamaGirigi bebaqala amaKrestu njengabantu abangakafundi nababogabogako. AmaJuda bewathi amaKrestu ababantu ‘abangakafundi begodu abajayelekileko,’ njengompostoli uPitrosi noJwanisi. (IzE. 4:13) AmaKrestu bewabonakala abogaboga ngombana bewanganaso isiqhema sezepolotiki namkha isiqhema sezepi begodu abantu bebabaqala njengabantu abagathandwako emphakathini.

4. AmaKrestu wangeenkhathi zabapostoli enzani ngezinto ezingakhiko ebezitjhiwo baphikisi?

⁴ Inga-kghani amaKrestu weenkhathi zabaPostoli avumela imibono emimbi yabantu ababaphikisako yabakhandela? Awa, akhenge, kunalokho umpostoli uPitrosi noJwanisi bakuqala njengelungelo ukuphikiswa ngebanga lokufundisa njengoJesu. (IzE. 4:18-21; 5:27-29, 40-42) Bekungananto ekufuze abalandeli bakaJesu babe neenhloni ngayo. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi amaKrestu wangeenkhathi zabapostoli athobekileko la kunengi okuhle akwenzako kunalokho ebekwenziwa baphikisi. Ngokwesibonelo, iincwadi eziphefumulelwe nguZimu asebenzisa abapostolaba zisaragela phambili zisiza begodu zinikela iingidi zabantu ithemba. UmBuso ebebawuthuthukisa sele ukhona begodu kungasikade uzokubusa abantu boke. (Mat. 24:14) Ngokuhlukileko umbuso wezepolotiki ebewuphikisana namaKrestu wangesikhatheso, awusafaniswa nokufaniswa namhlanjesi, sele uphelile, kukulapho abalandeli bakaJesu abathembekilekwaba, sikhuluma nje sele bamakhosi ezulwini. Bese kuthi abaphikisi babo nabo bahlongakele, nakungenzeka ukuthi bavuswe, bazokubuswa mBuso obuswa maKrestu la ebebawahloya.—IsAm. 5:10.

5. Ngokuya ngokwakaJwanisi 15:19, kubayini abantu bakaZimu baqalelwa phasi?

⁵ Njengabantu bakaZimu namhlanjesi ngezinye iinkhathi abantu basiqalela phasi bahlekise ngathi bathi asikahlakaniphi begodu siyabogaboga. Lokho bakwenza ngebanga lokuthi asivumelani nezenzo zabantu abanengi esiphila nabo. Silinga ukuthobeka nokulalela. Iphasi esiphila kilo likhuthaza abantu bona bazikhakhazise, babe nekani begodu bangalaleli. Ukungezelela kilokho, thina asizihlanganisi nezepolotiki namkha nezombanganarha. Asivumi ukubunjwa liphaseli, ngikho basithatha njengabantu abangakaqakatheki.—Funda uJwanisi 15:19; Rom. 12:2.

6. Ngimuphi umsebenzi omkhulu uJehova asiza abantu bakhe bona bawenze?

⁶ Zinengi izinto iphaseli elizicabangako ngathi, nanyana kunjalo, uJehova usebenzisa thina ukufezekisa intandwakhe. Usebenzisa thina bona sitjhumayele iindaba ezimnandi ephasini loke, umsebenzi lo wenziwa khulu ephasini namhlanjesi. Abantu abalotjha uZimu namhlanjesi batjhugulula iincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini ephasini loke begodu basebenzisa iBhayibheli ukusiza iingidigidi zabantu zithuthukise ukuphila kwazo. Umuntu ekufuze simthokoze ngomsebenzi lo nguJehova ngombana nguye osebenzisa abantu, ngitjho nalabo okungenzeka babonakale bangakahlakaniphi kangako, uJehova ubapha amandla bona benze umsebenzi. Alo kuthiwani-ke ngathi? Inga-kghani uJehova angasisiza sibe namandla? Nangabe angasisiza, khuyini thina ekufuze siyenze? Okwanje, akhesicoce ngezinto ezintathu esingazifunda kumpostoli uPowula.

7. Khuyini esikufunda kuPowula?

⁷ Isifundo esisifumana kuPowula ngilesi: Ungathembeli emandlenakho namkha ekghonweni lakho nawulotjha uJehova. Bekubulula ngoPowula bona azikhakhazise begodu athembele emandlenakhe. UPowula bekafundile tle! waya eenkolweni eziphakemeko begodu wafundiswa mdosiphambili wamaJuda ohlonitjhwako, uGamaliyeli. (IzE. 5:34; 22:3) UPowula khewaba lilunga lomphakathi wamaJuda elihlonitjhwako. Wathi: “Bengithuthuka khulu ekolweni yobuJuda ukudlula iintanga zami esitjhabeni sekhethu.” (Gal. 1:13, 14; IzE. 26:4) UPowula khenge athembele emandlenakhe.

8. Ngokomtlolo kaFilipi 3:8, uPowula waziqala njani izinto azilisako begodu kubayini ‘athaba ngokubogaboga kwakhe’?

⁸ UPowula wakuthabela ukulisa zoke izinto ebezimenza abe mumuntu oqakathekileko kwabanye. Ekhabolakhona, izinto ebezimenza abe ngasuthi mumuntu oqakathekileko, bekaziqala “njengeenzibi ezinengi.” (Funda yebeFilipi 3:8.) UPowula waqalana neentjhijilo ezinengi ngebanga lokuba mlandeli kaKrestu, wahloywa yinarhekhabo. (IzE. 23:12-14) Abantu bekhabo, amaRoma, ambetha amfaka ngejele. (IzE. 16:19-24, 37) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wabona ukuthi unesono begodu bekubudisi bona enze okulungileko. (Rom. 7:21-25) Akhenge alise ukulandela uKrestu ngebanga lemiraro neentjhijilo zakhe, kunalokho wathi, “uZimu ukhethe izinto ezibudlhadlha zephasi.” Lokhu kungebanga lokuthi kungesikhathi abogaboga nakazakubona amandla kaZimu asebenza ekuphileni kwakhe.—2 Kor. 4:7; 12:10.

9. Kufuze sizizwe njani ngezinto ezisenza sizizwe sibogaboga?

⁹ Nasifuna amandla avela kuJehova akukafuzi sicabange ukuthi ukuba namandla, ifundo ephakemeko, ukuvela esikweni elithileko elaziwako mhlamunye nokuba nemali enengi kuqakathekile. Izintwezi akusingizo ezenza bona samukeleke kuJehova. Ekhabolakhona, ebantwini bakaZimu “abasibanengi abahlakaniphileko ngomqondo ongokwenyama, abasibanengi ababelethelwe ebukhosini.” Kunalokho, uJehova ukhethe ukusebenzisa “izinto ezibogabogako zephasi.” (1 Kor. 1:26, 27) Yeke, nangabe awunazo izinto esikhulume ngazo, ungakghona  ukuragela phambili ulotjha uJehova. Qala ubujamo okibo njengethuba lokubona indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla ngebanga lakho. Ngokwesibonelo, nawuzizwa ubasaba abantu abakuhlaselako ngebanga leenkolelo zakho, thandaza kuJehova, umbawe akunikele isibindi namandla wokukhuluma ngalokho okukholelwako. (Efe. 6:19, 20) Nangabe uqalene nomraro wokubasirhole namkha ukugula okuthileko mhlamunye ukugula ngokomkhumbulo okwenza bona ukuphila kwakho kube sitjhijilo, ngaso soke isikhathi nawubona uJehova asebenzisa amandlakhe bona akusize, ukukholelwa kwakho kuye kuyakhula begodu uyaqina ube namandla.

10. Kubayini kufuze sifunde ngeembonelo zabantu abathembekileko ezitlolwe eBhayibhelini njengesikumaHebheru 11:32-34?

¹⁰ UPowula bekakukhuthalele ukufunda imiTlolo. Bekakujayele ukufunda iliZwi lakaZimu begodu wafunda izinto ezinengi kilokho okwenzakalela abantu bakaZimu. Nakatlolela amaKrestu weHebheru, uPowula wawabawa bona acabange ngeembonelo ezihle zeenkhonzi ezithembekileko zakaJehova. (Funda amaHebheru 11:32-34.) Akhesicoce ngesibonelo seKosi uDavida. Ngesinye isikhathi kwafuze alwisane namanabakhe, ingasi wona kwaphela, kodwana nabanye ekhebaba bangani bakhe esikhathini esidlulileko. Njengombana sifunda ngesibonelo sakaDavida, sizokubona ukuthi khuyini okwaqinisa uPowula begodu kwamenza wazindla ngokuphila kwakaDavida, sizokufunda nokuthi thina singamlingisa njani uPowula.

11. Kubayini uDavida bekabonakala anganamandla? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

¹¹ UGoliyadi nakaqala uDavida, wambona anganamandla. UGoliyadi nakabona uDavida “wamnyaza.” Nawucabanga ngayo indaba le, vele uGoliyadi bekamkhulu begodu abandulelwe ukulwa. Bese kuthi nawuqala uDavida, bekanganalo ilwazi lokulwa begodu ngesikhatheso bekangakakulungeli ukulwa. Nanyana bekabonakala asibaga, kulapho la aba namandla khona, wathembela kuJehova bona nguye ozomupha amandla wokuhlula inaba lakhe.—1 Sam. 17:41-45, 50.

12. Ngiziphi ezinye iinqabo uDavida ekwafuze aqalane nazo?

¹² UDavida wabuye waqalana godu nesinye isitjhijilo okungenzeka samenza wazizwa aphelelwe mamandla. Bekathembekile, asebenza ngaphasi kweKosi yakwa-Israyeli uSawula njengombana beyikhethwe nguJehova. Ekuthomeni, iKosi uSawula beyimhlonipha uDavida. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi izinto zatjhuguluka, ukuzikhakhazisa kwenza iKosi uSawula yaba nomona. Yaphatha uDavida kabuhlungu, yabe yalinga nokumbulala.—1 Sam. 18:6-9, 29; 19:9-11.

13. Khuyini uDavida ayenzako iKosi uSawula nayingamphathi kuhle?

¹³ Ngitjho nanyana iKosi uSawula yamphatha kabuhlungu kangaka uDavida, waragela phambili ayihlonipha iKosi le ngebanga lokuthi beyikhethwe nguJehova. (1 Sam. 24:6) Akhenge abeke uJehova umlandu ngalokho okwenziwa nguSawula. Kunokobana enze njalo, wathembela kuJehova bona amuphe amandla awatlhogako bona akghodhlelele ubudisi ebekaqalene nabo.—Rhu. 18:1.

14. Ngibuphi ubujamo obufana nebakaDavida uPowula aqalana nabo?

¹⁴ Umpostoli uPowula naye waqalana nobujamo epheze bufane nobakaDavida. Amanaba kaPowula amanengi bewanamandla adlula wakhe. Ababusi abanengi abanamandla bangesikhathi sakhe bebamhloyile. Bebenza amano wokuthi abetjhwe bese uphoselwa ejele. Wafana noDavida ngombana abantu ebekufuze babe bangani bakhe ngibo ebebamphatha kabuhlungu. Abanye  abantu ebebamphatha kabuhlungu babantu ebebasebandleni naye. (2 Kor. 12:11; Flp. 3:18) UPowula wabahlula boke ebebaphikisana naye, lokho kwabonakala ngokuthi aragele phambili atjhumayela ngitjho naphezu kweenqabo aqalene nazo. Wahlala athembekile kubafowabo nabodadwabo, ngitjho nanyana bebamphethe kabuhlungu. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, wathembeka kuZimu bekwaba sekupheleni kwepilwakhe. (2 Thim. 4:8) Wahlula iinqabo ezikulu, ingasi ngombana bekanamandla kodwana ngebanga lokuthi bekathembele kuJehova.

15. Khuyini esizimisele ukuyenza begodu singakghona njani ukuyifikelela?

¹⁵ Inga-kghani uqalene neentjhijilo, mhlamunye ukuthukwa namkha ukutjhutjhiswa babantu ofunda nabo, osebenza nabo namkha umndenakho ongasiboFakazi bakaJehova? Wakhe waphathwa kabuhlungu mumuntu osebandleni naye? Nangabe kunjalo, cabanga ngokwenzeka kuDavida nakuPowula. Hlala ulwela ‘ukuhlula okumbi ngokuhle.’ (Rom. 12:21) Wena uhlukile kunoDavida, yena bekufuze aphose uGoliyadi ngelitje epandla kodwana wena usebenzisa iliZwi lakaZimu bona ufundise abazokulalela. Ungakghona ukusiza abantu ngokuthi uthembele eBhayibhelini nawubaphendulako, ubahloniphe begodu ube nomusa ngitjho nalokha bakuphatha kumbi. Kufuze ube nomusa kibo boke abantu ngitjho nabantu abamanabakho.—Mat. 5:44; 1 Pit. 3:15-17.

16-17. Khuyini uPowula angakhenge ayilibale?

¹⁶ Ngaphambi kobana umpostoli uPowula abe mlandeli kaKrestu, bekalisokana elidelelako ebelihlunguphaza abalandeli bakaJesu. (IzE. 7:58; 1 Thim. 1:13) UJesu walisisa uPowula obekaziwa ngokuthi nguSawula ngesikhatheso ukuhlunguphaza ibandla lamaKrestu. UJesu wakhuluma noPowula asezulwini, wamenza wangasabona emehlweni. Bona abuye abone godu emehlweni, kwafuza abawe isizo ebantwini ebakabahlunguphaza. Wathobeka wamukela ukusizwa mfundi kaJesu obizwa ngokuthi ngu-Ananiyasi bona avuleke amehlo, abone godu.—IzE. 9:3-9, 17, 18.

¹⁷ Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uPowula wabamKrestu owaziwako ngesikhathi sakhe, kodwana akhenge asilibale isifundo uJesu amfundisa sona nakasendleleni eya eDamaseku.  Wahlala athobekile begodu bekazimisele ukwamukela isizo elivela kubafowabo nabodadwabo. Watjheja ukuthi “Bebamthombo wenduduzo ekulu.”—Kol. 4:10, 11.

18. Khuyini engasenza sidose iinyawo nakufuze samukele ukusizwa babanye?

¹⁸ Khuyini esingayifunda kuPowula? Nasisathoma ukuhlangana naboFakazi bakaJehova, kungenzeka bekulula kithi ukwamukela ukusizwa babanye abantu ngombana besazi ukuthi kusesekunengi ekusafuze sikufunde ngoJehova. (1 Kor. 3:1, 2) Inga-kghani sisesenjalo nanje na? Kuthiwani nangabe sele sinesikhathi eside silotjha uJehova begodu sele kukunengi esikwaziko ngaye nangehlanganwakhe? Singakwamukela na ukusizwa babanye abantu, khulukhulu abantu abanesikhathi esincani khulu bamaKrestu? Kufuze sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova, kanengi usebenzisa abafowethu nabodadwethu bona basiqinise. (Rom. 1:11, 12) Nasifuna bona uJehova asisize kufuze sikulindele ukusizwa bafowethu nabodadwethu.

19. Kubayini uPowula bekaphumelela?

¹⁹ Zinengi izinto uPowula aphumelela ukuzenza ngemva kokuba mKrestu. Lokhu kungombana walemuka ukuthi ukuphumelela akukasami ekutheni unamandla angangani, ufunde kangangani, unemali engangani namkha ungewasiphi isitjhaba, kodwana kudzimelele ekutheni uthobeke kangangani nokuthi uthembele kangangani kuJehova. Kwanga soke singalingisa isibonelo sakaPowula (1) ngokuthembela kuJehova, (2) Ngokufunda kilokho okwenzeka ebantwini ekutlolwe ngabo eBhayibhelini begodu, (3) ngokwamukela isizo elivela kubafowethu nabodadwethu. Nasenza njalo, nanyana singazizwa sibogaboga kangangani, uJehova uzosipha amandla!