1, 2. (a) Yini lesita emaKhristu lasemasha kutsi ancobe imphi layilwa naSathane nemadimoni akhe? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.) (b) Sitawucoca ngani kulesihloko?

UMPHOSTOLI Pawula wafananisa emaKhristu nemasotja lasemphini. Asilwi nebantfu, kepha silwa naSathane nemadimoni akhe. Sebanetinkhulungwane teminyaka balwa nebantfu baNkulunkulu futsi sebanelikhono lekulwa. Kungabonakala singeke siphumelele nasilwa nabo ikakhulukati emaKhristu lasemasha. Bantfu labasha bangakhona yini kuncoba letidalwa temoya letinemandla? Ecinisweni bayakhona futsi bayaphumelela. Kungani? Kungobe ‘bachubeka batfola emandla eNkhosini.’ Kodvwa ngephandle nje kwekutfola emandla lavela kuNkulunkulu, kunalokunye labakwentako. Njengemasotja laceceshwe kahle, nabo bagcoke “tembatfo temphi letiphelele letivela kuNkulunkulu.”​—Fundza Efesu 6:10-12.

² Ngesikhatsi akhuluma ngalomfanekiso, kungenteka Pawula bekacabanga ngetembatfo temphi lebetigcokwa ngemasotja aseRoma. (Imis. 28:16) Ase sihlole kutsi kungani lomfanekiso ufaneleka. Naka kutsi labanye labasebasha batsini ngetinkinga kanye netinzuzo tekugcoka tonkhe tembatfo temphi.

3, 4. Liciniso lelitfolakala eBhayibhelini lifana njani nelibhande lebeliboshwa ngemasotja aseRoma?

³ Fundza Efesu 6:14. Lisotja laseRoma belibopha libhande lebelivikela lukhalo lwalo futsi belenta sivikelo sesifuba sihlale endzaweni yaso. Kulelibhande lelicinile, lisotja belingakhona kufaka inkemba kanye nemukhwa. Nangabe lelisotja lilifase kahle belingaba nesibindzi sekulwa imphi.

⁴ Ngalokufanako emaciniso lesiwafundza eVini laNkulunkulu ayasivikela etimfundzisweni temanga. (Joh. 8:31, 32; 1 Joh. 4:1) Nasiwatsandza emaciniso lesiwatfola eVini lakhe, kuba melula kuphila ngetimiso takhe lokufana nekugcoka “sivikelo sesifuba.” (Hla. 111:7, 8; 1 Joh. 5:3) Ngetulu kwaloko, nangabe siwacondza kahle emaciniso laseBhayibhelini, singakhona kuwamelela ngekuciniseka nabasiphikisa.—1 Phet. 3:15.

5. Kungani kufanele sikhulume liciniso?

⁵ Nangabe liciniso leliseBhayibhelini liboshwe lacina etinkhalo tetfu, sitawukhutsateka kutsi siphile ngekuvumelana netimiso talo futsi sikhulume liciniso ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi. Kungani kufanele sigweme kucamba emanga? Kungoba emanga asikhali saSathane lesiphumelelako. Umuntfu locala emanga akatilimati yena kuphela, kodvwa ulimata naloyo lowakholelwako. (Joh. 8:44) Noma sinesono senta konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kutsi sigweme kucala emanga. (Ef. 4:25) Kepha loku akusimelula. Abigail loneminyaka lengu-18 utsi: “Kukhuluma liciniso kungahle kube lukhuni, ikakhulukati nangabe kucamba emanga kungakusita uphume enkingeni.” Kungani etama kukhuluma liciniso ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi? Utsi: “Nangikhuluma liciniso ngiba nanembeza lomsulwa embikwaJehova. Batali bami kanye nebangani bami bayangetsemba.” Victoria loneminyaka lengu-23 utsi: “Bantfu bangakuhlupha nangabe ukhuluma liciniso futsi umelela loko lokukholelwako. Noma kunjalo, nawukhuluma liciniso utfola tinzuzo letinyenti letifaka ekhatsi kutetsemba, kusondzela kuJehova, kanye nekuhlonishwa bantfu labakutsandzako.” Kuyacaca kutsi kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi uhlale ubophe libhande leliciniso elukhalo.

6, 7. Kungani kulunga kufananiswa nesivikelo sesifuba?

⁶ Lolunye luhlobo lwesivikelo sesifuba lebesigcokwa ngemasotja aseRoma besakhiwe ngensimbi. Letinsimbi betigotjwa kuze tilingane nesifuba selisotja futsi betifaswa ngemabhande esikhumba. Emahlombe alo bekambonywe ngetinsimbi letinyenti nato lebetifaswe ngemabhande. Lesivikelo sesifuba besenta lisotja lingakhoni kuhamba kahle futsi bekudzingeka lihlale lihlola kutsi lesivikelo sisendzaweni yaso yini. Letembatfo temphi betivikela lisotja kutsi inkemba ingalihlabi enhlitiyweni noma kuletinye titfo temtimba letibalulekile.

⁷ Timiso taJehova letilungile tifanana nesivikelo sesifuba ngoba tivikela tinhlitiyo tetfu. (Taga 4:23) Lisotja ngeke lishintjise sivikelo salo lesakhiwe ngensimbi lecinile kuze sitfole sivikelo sesifuba lesakhiwe ngensimbi lengakacini. Ngako natsi angeke singatinaki timiso taJehova letilungile kuze nje sente loko lesicabanga kutsi kulungile. Angeke sikhone kuvikela tinhlitiyo tetfu. (Taga 3:5, 6) Kungako kufanele sihlale sihlola kutsi “sivikelo sesifuba” sisetivikele yini tinhlitiyo tetfu.

8. Kubaluleke ngani kuphila ngetimiso taNkulunkulu?

⁸ Kuyenteka yini ngaletinye tikhatsi uve ngatsi timiso taJehova tiyakucindzetela  noma tikuncisha inkhululeko? Daniel loneminyaka lengu-21 utsi: “Bothishela kanye nebantfwana lebengifundza nabo bebahlekisa ngami ngobe ngiphila ngetimiso letiseBhayibhelini. Besengingatetsembi futsi ngacindzeteleka.” Yini leyamsita? Utsi: “Ngabona kutsi kusita ngani kuphila ngetimiso taJehova. Lengifundza nabo bacala kusebentisa tidzakamiva, futsi labanye bayekela sikolwa. Bekubuhlungu kubona timphilo tabo tishintja. Jehova uyasivikela.” Madison loneminyaka lengu-15 utsi: “Kumatima kimi kuphila ngetimiso taNkulunkulu futsi ngingakwenti loko bontsanga yami labacabanga kutsi kuhle.” Yini lemsitako? Utsi: “Ngihlale ngitikhumbuta kutsi ngibitwa ngeligama laJehova futsi silingo siyindlela Sathane langidukisa ngayo. Ngiyajabula nangikhona kuphila ngetimiso taNkulunkulu.”

9-11. (a) Ngutiphi ticatfulo letingekwemfanekiso letigcokwa ngemaKhristu? (b) Yini lengasisita kutsi sikujabulele kakhulu kushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi?

⁹ Fundza Efesu 6:15. Nangabe lisotja laseRoma lingakagcoki tincabule belingakakulungeli kuya emphini. Tincabule talo betakhiwe ngesikhumba lesicinile, betifaswa kute tingaphumi. Letincabule betikahle futsi ticinile.

¹⁰ Tincabule lebetigcokwa ngemasotja aseRoma betiwasita kutsi aphumelele emphini, ngendlela lefanako ticatfulo letingekwemfanekiso lesitigcokako tisisita kutsi ‘sishumayele tindzaba letimnandzi tekuthula.’ (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15) Noma kunjalo, sidzinga sibindzi kuze sikhone kushumayela nakuvela litfuba. Bo, loneminyaka lengu-20 utsi: “Bengesaba kushumayela bantfwana lebengifundza nabo. Bengicabanga kutsi ngiyahlazeka. Kodvwa nyalo sengiyabona kutsi bengingahlazeki. Sengiyakujabulela kushumayela bontsanga yami.”

¹¹ Nangabe bakulungele, bantfu labasha labanyenti bakujabulela kakhulu kushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi. Yini longayenta kute ukulungele kahle kushumayela? Julia loneminyaka lengu-16 utsi: “Ngihlale nginetincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini kubhaki wami wesikolwa, futsi ngiyayilalelisisa imibono kanye netinkholelo tebantfu lengifundza nabo. Loko kungenta ngikhone kubona kutsi ngingabasita njani. Nangabe ngilungiselele, ngiyakhona kucoca nabo ngetintfo letingabasita.” Makenzie loneminyaka lengu-23 utsi: “Nangabe unemusa futsi ubalalelisisa bontsanga yakho, utawutfola kutsi yini lababhekana nayo. Ngiyaciniseka kutsi ngitifundza tonkhe tincwadzi letibhalelwe bantfu labasha. Loko kuyangisita kutsi ngikhone kutjela bontsanga yami tintfo letitabasita letiseBhayibhelini noma ku-jw.org.” Nangabe ukulungele kahle kushumayela, kufana nekutsi ugcoke ticatfulo letikulingana kahle.

12, 13. Ngutiphi letinye “tikhali letivutsako” Sathane latisebentisako?

¹² Fundza Efesu 6:16. Lisotja laseRoma beliphatsa “sihlangu lesikhulu”. Lesihlangu besisuka emahlombe alo size siyofika emadvolweni, futsi besilivikela nalihlaselwa ngenkemba kanye nangetikhali.

¹³ Lesinye ‘sikhali lesivutsako’ Sathane lasisebentisako, ngemanga latsi Jehova akakukhatsaleli futsi akakutsandzi. Ida, loneminyaka lengu-19 ulwisana nekutiva angasilutfo. Utsi: “Bengivame kuva ngatsi Jehova ukhashane nami futsi akafuni kuba ngumngani wami.” Yini layentako nakativa ngalendlela? Utsi: “Imihlangano ingisita  kakhulu kutsi ngicinise kukholwa kwami. Esikhatsini lesendlulile bengingaphendvuli nangisemihlanganweni ngobe bengicabanga kutsi kute lofuna kuva loko lebengifuna kukusho. Kodvwa nyalo sengiyayilungiselela imihlangano futsi ngetama kuphendvula kabili noma katsatfu. Kona akusiko melula, kodvwa ngitiva ngincono nangikhonile kuphendvula. Bazalwane nabodzadze bangikhutsata kakhulu. Njalo nangibuya emihlanganweni ngiyaciniseka kutsi Jehova uyangitsandza.”

14. Yini lesingayifundza kulokwenteka ku-Ida?

¹⁴ Lokwenteka ku-Ida kusifundzisa nali liciniso lelibalulekile: Sihlangu selisotja sihlale sinjengoba sinjalo akwenteki sikhule noma sinciphe, kodvwa kukholwa kwetfu kungakhula noma kunciphe. Ngitsi lokufanele sente sincumo. (Mat. 14:31; 2 Thes. 1:3) Kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sihlale sicinisa kukholwa kwetfu!

15, 16. Litsemba lifana njani nesigcoko?

¹⁵ Fundza Efesu 6:17. Sigcoko lebesigcokwa lisotja laseRoma besakhiwe ngendlela yekutsi sivikele inhloko, intsamo kanye nebuso. Letinye tigcoko betinesibambo lebesisita lisotja likhone kusiphatsa ngesandla.

¹⁶ Njengobe sigcoko besivikela ingcondvo yelisotja, “litsemba lensindziso” lingavikela  likhono letfu lekucabanga. (1 Thes. 5:8; Taga 3:21) Litsemba lisisita sihlale sinake loko Nkulunkulu lasetsembisa kona futsi tinkinga lesibhekana nato tingasicedzi emandla. (Hla. 27:1, 14; Imis. 24:15) Nangabe sifuna sigcoko setfu sisivikele, kufanele sisigcoke, singasiphatsi ngesandla.

17, 18. (a) Yini Sathane langayenta kuze asente sikhumule tigcoko tetfu? (b) Yini lesingayenta kuze sikhombise kutsi asikadukiswa nguSathane?

¹⁷ Yini Sathane langayenta kuze asente sikhumule tigcoko tetfu? Cabanga ngaloko letama kukwenta kuJesu. Sathane bekati kahle kutsi Jesu bekatawugcina abusa umhlaba. Kodvwa bekufanele alindze kuze kufike sikhatsi Jehova lasibekile. Njengobe lesikhatsi besisengakefiki, Jesu bekufanele ahlupheke futsi afe. Sathane wanika Jesu litfuba lekutsi acale kubusa ngekushesha. Watsi nakangaguca amkhonte, bekatamnika tonkhe tintfo ngaleso sikhatsi. (Luk. 4:5-7) Sathane uyati kutsi Jehova utasinika tintfo lesitidzingako emhlabeni lomusha. Kodvwa kufanele silindze kuze kugcwaliseke tetsembiso taJehova, futsi kungenteka sibhekane netinkinga. Sathane usilinga ngekusiniketa ematfuba ekutsi sitfole tonkhe tintfo lesitidzingako nyalo. Ufuna sinake kakhulu tintfo letisijabulisako kunekutsi sibeke uMbuso kucala.​—Mat. 6:31-33.

¹⁸ Sathane wehlulekile kudukisa lamanyenti emaKhristu lasemasha, lafaka ekhatsi Kiana loneminyaka lengu-20 lowatsi: “Ngiyati kutsi nguMbuso waNkulunkulu kuphela longacedza tinkinga.” Litsemba lanalo limsita njani ekuphileni kwakhe nasendleleni lacabanga ngayo? Limsita kutsi ahlale akhumbula kutsi tonkhe tintfo talelive tiyendlula. Ngako Kiana usebentisa sikhatsi nemandla akhe ekukhonteni Jehova kunekutsi alwele kuphila kahle kulelive lelibi.

19, 20. Singawatfutfukisa njani emakhono etfu ekusebentisa liVi laNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Ngesikhatsi Pawula abhala lencwadzi, emasotja aseRoma abesebentisa inkemba lebeyingemasentimitha langu-50 budze. Lamasotja bekanelikhono lekusebentisa tinkemba ngobe bekaticecesha onkhe malanga.

²⁰ Pawula wafananisa liVi laNkulunkulu nenkemba Jehova lasinikete yona. Kufanele sibe nelikhono lekuyisebentisa nasivikela tinkholelo tetfu noma nasilungisa indlela lesicabanga ngayo. (2 Khor. 10:4, 5; 2 Thim. 2:15) Singawatfutfukisa njani emakhono etfu ekusebentisa liVi laNkulunkulu? Sebastian loneminyaka lengu-21 utsi: “Njalo nangifundza sehluko lesitsite seliBhayibheli ngibhala phasi livesi lelilodvwa. Ngibese ngakha luhla lwemavesi lengiwatsandzako. Loko kungenta ngiyicondze kancono indlela Jehova lacabanga ngayo.” Daniel lesicoce ngaye utsi: “Nangifundza liBhayibheli ngikhetsa emavesi lengicabanga kutsi atawusita bantfu lengibatfola nangishumayela. Ngitfole kutsi bantfu labanyenti bayalalela nangabe babona kutsi ngiyakukholelwa lokushiwo liBhayibheli futsi ngitimisele kubasita.”

21. Kungani kungakafaneli simesabe Sathane nemadimoni akhe?

²¹ Letibonelo tebantfu labasha lesicoce ngabo tisifundzisa kutsi akukafaneli simesabe Sathane nemadimoni akhe. Kuliciniso kutsi banemandla, kodvwa Jehova unemandla lamakhulu kunabo futsi ngeke baphile phakadze. Madvutane, batawuboshwa futsi ngeke basachubeka nekudukisa bantfu ize iphele Iminyaka Leyinkhulungwane Yekubusa kwaKhristu. Ngemuva kwaloko batawubhujiswa. (Semb. 20:1-3, 7-10) Sisati kahle sitsa setfu, emacebo aso kanye nemigomo yaso. Jehova utasisita sikhone kumelana naso!