1. Yini emaKhristu lokufanele ayente kuze acedzele umncintiswano wekuphila?

EMAKHRISTU asemncintiswaneni wekuphila. Ngisho sisandza kucala kugijima kulomncintiswano nobe sesinekhatsi lesidze sikuwo, kufanele sichubeke sigijima size siyoshaya intsambo. Seluleko umphostoli Pawula lasiniketa emaKhristu aseFiliphi singasikhutsata kutsi siwucedze lomncintiswano. Lamanye emalunga elibandla laseFiliphi besekaneminyaka leminyenti akhonta Jehova ngesikhatsi atfola incwadzi levela kuPawula. Bekasolo amkhonta ngekwetsembeka, kodvwa Pawula wawakhumbuta kutsi kufanele achubeke agijima ngekucinisela. Bekafuna kutsi amlingise ‘ngekuchubeka atimisela emgomeni.’—Fil. 3:14.

2. Kungani seluleko saPawula lebesiya kubaseFiliphi sefika ngesikhatsi lesifanele?

² Seluleko saPawula lebesiya kubaseFiliphi sefika ngesikhatsi. Lelibandla labhekana nekuphikiswa kusukela lacaliswa. Loku kwacala ngesikhatsi Pawula naSilasi befika eFiliphi cishe nga-50 C.E., ngemuva kwekutfola simemo lesivela kuNkulunkulu lebesitsi: “Yewelela eMasedoniya.” (Imis. 16:9) Nabefika lapho, bahlangana nemfati lokutsiwa nguLidiya, futsi ‘wabalalela, Jehova wavula inhlitiyo yakhe’ kuze yemukele tindzaba letimnandzi. (Imis. 16:14) Ngekushesha lomfati wabhajatiswa kanye nabo bonkhe lebebahlala endlini yakhe. Kodvwa Develi wacala kubahlasela. Emadvodza akulelidolobha ahudvula Pawula naSilasi abayisa kubomantji futsi abamangalela ngemanga atsi babanga tinkinga. Ngenca yaloko, Pawula naSilasi bashaywa, baboshwa, futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi bacelwa kutsi bahambe kulelidolobha. (Imis. 16:16-40) Baphela emandla yini? Cha! Kwentekani kubazalwane nabodzadze bakulelibandla lebelisandza kusungulwa? Lokuhle kutsi nabo bacinisela! Asingabati  kutsi bakhutsatwa sibonelo lesihle saPawula naSilasi.

3. Yini Pawula lebekayati, futsi ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ Pawula bekatimisele kungapheli emandla. (2 Khor. 4:16) Bekati kutsi kuze acedze umncintiswano, bekufanele ahlale anake umgomo wakhe. Yini lesingayifundza kuPawula? Ngutiphi tibonelo lesinato tebantfu besikhatsi salamuhla letingasikhombisa kutsi singakhona kucinisela ngisho nobe sibhekene netinkinga? Litsemba lesinalo ngelikusasa lingasisita njani kutsi sitimisele kuze singapheli emandla?

4. Pawula wakhona njani kuchubeka enta umsebenti waJehova ngisho nobe bekabhekene netimo letimatima?

⁴ Cabanga ngako konkhe Pawula lakwenta ngesikhatsi abhalela baseFiliphi. Bekaboshiwe eRoma, avalelwe endlini. Bekangakhoni kuphuma ayoshumayela. Nobe kunjalo, wachubeka ashumayela bantfu lebebamvakashela futsi abhala netincwadzi lebetiya emabandleni lakhashane. Nalamuhla, emaKhristu lamanyenti langakhoni kuphuma ayoshumayela, asebentisa onkhe ematfuba kuze ashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi kulabo labawavakashelako. Aphindze abhalele bantfu labangatfolakali emakhaya tincwadzi letikhutsatako.

5. Ngekusho kwemavi aPawula lakuFiliphi 3:12-14, yini leyamsita kutsi achubeke anake umvuzo?

⁵ Pawula akazange avume kuphatamiseka, kungaba kuphatanyiswa tintfo laphumelela kuto nobe emaphutsa lawenta esikhatsini lesendlulile. Ecinisweni, waze watsi ‘kukhohlwa tintfo letingemuva’ bekubalulekile kuze ‘alwele kutfola tintfo letitako,’ lobekusho kucedza umncintiswano. (Fundza Filiphi 3:12-14.) Ngutiphi letinye tetintfo lebetingaphatamisa Pawula? Kwekucala, Pawula waphumelela ekwenteni tintfo letinyenti ngesikhatsi asesenkholweni yebuJuda. Nobe kunjalo, tonkhe letintfo watitsatsa “njengencumbi yetibi.” (Fil. 3:3-8) Kwesibili, ngisho nobe kungenteka bekativa anelicala ngenca yekuhlupha emaKhristu ekucaleni, akayivumelanga indlela lebekativa ngayo kutsi imvimbele ekukhonteni Jehova. Kwesitsatfu, akazange acabange kutsi besetenele tintfo letinhle lebekatentele Jehova. Pawula wachubeka aphumelela emsebentini wakhe wekushumayela nanobe aboshwa, washaywa, wagcotjwa ngematje, wephukelwa ngumkhumbi, futsi weswela kudla kanye nekwembatsa. (2 Khor. 11:23-27) Ngisho nobe Pawula aphumelela kuletinye tintfo futsi wahlupheka, bekati kutsi kufanele achubeke akhonta Jehova. Natsi kufanele sente lokufanako.

6. Ngutiphi letinye “tintfo letingemuva” lokungadzingeka kutsi sitikhohlwe?

⁶ Singasilingisa njani Pawula ‘sikhohlwe tintfo letingemuva’? Kungenteka labanye betfu kudzingeke balwisane nemiva yelicala ngenca yetono labatenta esikhatsini lesendlulile. Nangabe kunjalo, kungaba lusito kudadisha sihloko lesikhuluma ngenhlawulo yaKhristu. Imiva yelicala ingaphela nangabe sidadisha lesihloko lesikhutsatako, sizindla ngaso futsi sithantaze. Singayekela kutiva sinelicala ngetono Jehova lasicolele tona. Cabanga nangalesinye sifundvo lesingasifundza kuPawula. Labanye kungenteka bayekele imisebenti lebeyingabenta banjinge kuze nje bente lokunyenti emsebentini waJehova. Nangabe kunjalo, kungaba kahle kutsi sikhohlwe ngetintfo nematfuba lesiwayekele lebekangasenta sinjinge. (Num. 11:4-6; Shu. 7:10) “Tintfo letingemuva” tingafaka ekhatsi tintfo lesiphumelele kutenta nobe luvivinyo lesikhone kulubeketelela esikhatsi lesendlulile. Liciniso likutsi kubona indlela Jehova lasibusise ngayo nendlela lasisekele ngayo kuyo yonkhe leminyaka, kusenta sisondzele kakhulu kuye. Nobe kunjalo,  asifuni kutitjela kutsi umsebenti wetfu sewuphelile ngenca yekutsi sesimentele lokunyenti Jehova.—1 Khor. 15:58.

7. Ngekusho kwemBhalo wa-1 Khorinte 9:24-27, yini lokufanele siyente kute siphumelele emncintiswaneni wekuphila? Shano sibonelo.

⁷ Pawula wawacondza kahle emavi aJesu latsi: “Timiseleni.” (Luk. 13:23, 24) Bekati kutsi njengaKhristu, naye bekufanele atimisele kuze kube sekugcineni. Kungako waze wacatsanisa kuphila kwemaKhristu nemncintiswano. (Fundza 1 Khorinte 9:24-27.) Ingijimi nayisemncintiswaneni inaka kakhulu kufika entsanjeni futsi ayitinaki tintfo letingayiphazamisa. Nasi sibonelo: Tingijimi letigijima etindzaweni letitfutfukile lamuhla tivame kugijima emigwacweni lenetitolo, nalenetintfo letingatiphatamisa. Ucabanga kutsi ingijimi lesemncintiswaneni ingema yini esitolo kuze ibuke tintfo letibekwe ngasemafasitelweni? Angeke! Njengobe natsi sikulomncintiswano wekuphila, kufanele singatinaki tintfo letingasiphazamisa. Nangabe sihlala sinake umgomo wetfu, futsi sikhonta Jehova ngekutimisela njengobe Pawula enta, sitawutfola umklomelo wetfu!

8. Ngutiphi tintfo letintsatfu lesitawucoca ngato?

⁸ Nyalo asesicoce ngetintfo letintsatfu letingasenta siphelelwe ngemandla: Kungenteki kwetintfo umuntfu latilindzele, kuhhohloka kwemphilo kanye netinkinga letitsatsa sikhatsi lesidze kutsi tiphele. Singazuza nasifundza indlela labanye labakhone ngayo kubhekana naletimo.—Fil. 3:17.

9. Kungenteki kwetintfo lesitilindzele kungasitsintsa njani?

⁹ Kungenteki kwaloko umuntfu lakulindzele. Sihlale sitilangatelela tintfo letinhle Jehova lasetsembise tona. Ngesikhatsi Habakhuki umphrofethi waJehova aveta sifiso sakhe sekutsi Jehova acedze bubi kaJuda, Jehova wamtjela kutsi akachubeke ‘alindzile.’ (Hab. 2:3) Nanobe kunjalo, nangabe tintfo lesitilindzele tephuta kwenteka, loko kungasicedza emandla. Singaphindze siphelelwe nangumfutfo. (Taga 13:12) Loku kwenteka kulabanye bazalwane ekucaleni kwelikhulu lesi-20 leminyaka. EmaKhristu lamanyenti lagcotjiwe bekalindzele  kutfola umvuzo wawo wekuyophila ezulwini nga-1914. Kodvwa loko akuzange kwenteke. Yini leyasita emaKhristu letsembekile ngesikhatsi loko lebekakulindzele kungenteki?

10. Royal naPearl benta njani ngesikhatsi kungenteki loko lebebalindzele kutsi kwenteke?

¹⁰ Cabanga ngesibonelo semaKhristu lamabili letsembekile labhekana nalenkinga. Umzalwane Royal Spatz wabhajatiswa nga-1908 aneminyaka lengu-20. Bekaciniseka kutsi ngekushesha bekatawutfola umvuzo wakhe wekuyophila ezulwini. Nga-1911 ngesikhatsi acela Pearl kutsi ashade naye, watsi kuye: “Uyakwati mosi lokutawenteka nga-1914. Nangabe sitoshada, kuncono sishade masinyane!” Royal naPearl baphelelwa ngemandla yini ekuchubeka bakulomncintiswano ngesikhatsi bangawutfoli umvuzo wabo wekuyophila ezulwini nga-1914? Cha, ngobe umgomo wabo loyinhloko bewukukhonta Jehova ngekwetsembeka, hhayi kutfola umvuzo. Bebatimisele kugijima kulomncintiswano ngekucinisela. Lokuhle kakhulu kutsi Royal naPearl bachubeka bakhonta Nkulunkulu ngekutimisela nangekwetsembeka futsi nyalo sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti bafa. Asingabati kutsi nawe ulangatelela kubona Jehova angcwelisa libito lakhe nebukhosi bakhe futsi afeza tetsembiso takhe. Ciniseka kutsi letintfo titawenteka ngesikhatsi saJehova lesifanele. Kuze kube nguleso sikhatsi, asichubeke sikhonta Nkulunkulu, singapheli emandla nobe siphelelwe ngumfutfo nangabe loko lesilindzele kutsi kwenteke solo kungenteki.

11-12. Kungani kufanele sichubeke sikhonta Jehova ngisho nobe sesite emandla njengasekucaleni? Shano sibonelo.

¹¹ Kuhhohloka kwemphilo. Ingijimi idzinga emandla lamanyenti kuze igijime emncintiswaneni, kodvwa tsine asidzingi kuba nemandla njengengijimi kuze sichubeke sicina ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu. Liciniso likutsi labanyenti lesebete emandla njengasekucaleni bayachubeka benta konkhe lokusemandleni abo kuze bakhonte Jehova. (2 Khor. 4:16) Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi umzalwane Arthur Secord * sekaneminyaka lengu-88, besekanemphilo lebutsakatsaka futsi besekakhonte eBethel iminyaka lengu-55. Ngalelinye lilanga kwefika lomunye dzadze atomnakekela njengobe bekalele embhedzeni. Lodzadze wambuka wase utsi kuye: “Mzalwane Secord, wente lokunyenti kakhulu emsebentini waJehova.” Nobe kunjalo, uMzalwane Arthur bekangakunaki lebekakwente esikhatsini lesendlulile. Wabuka lodzadze, wase utsi kuye: “Ucinisile. Kodvwa akusiko loko lesikwentile lokubalulekile. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sihlale setsembekile.”

¹² Kungenteka sewukhonte Jehova iminyaka leminyenti futsi nyalo imphilo lebutsakatsaka seyiyakuvimbela kutsi uchubeke wenta  lokunyenti emsebentini wakhe. Nangabe kunjalo, ungapheli emandla. Ciniseka kutsi Jehova uyawukhumbula umsebenti lomentele wona esikhatsini lesendlulile futsi uyawujabulela. (Heb. 6:10) Khumbula nekutsi kutinikela kuJehova ngalokuphelele akuyi ngaloko lesimentela kona. Kodvwa sikhombisa kutinikela kwetfu lokuphelele ngekutsi sibe nesimo sengcondvo lesihle futsi sente konkhe lesingakwenta kuze simkhonte. (Khol. 3:23) Jehova uyabati butsakatsaka betfu futsi akalindzeli kutsi sente lokungetulu kwaloko lesingakhona kukwenta.—Mak. 12:43, 44.

13. Lokwenteka ku-Anatoly naLidiya kusikhutsata njani kutsi sichubeke sikhonta Jehova ngisho nobe sinetinkinga letinyenti?

¹³ Tinkinga letitsatsa sikhatsi lesidze kutsi tiphele. Sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti letinye tinceku taJehova tibeketelela kuhlupheka nebumatima. Nasi sibonelo: Anatoly Melnik * bekaneminyaka lengu-12 ngesikhatsi babe wakhe aboshwa, avalelwa ejele futsi ayiswa eSiberia, indzawo lebeyikhashane nemndeni wakhe lobewuseMoldova ngemakhilomitha langetulu kwalangu-7 000. Ngemuva kwemnyaka, Anatoly, namake wakhe, nagogo wakhe kanye namkhulu wakhe nabo baboshwa bayiswa eSiberia. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi bagcine sebakhona kuya emihlanganweni, kodvwa bekufanele bahambe emakhilomitha langu-30 endzaweni lebeyinelichwa, futsi bebabeketelela emakhata lashubisa umnkantja. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi umzalwane Melnik wahlala iminyaka lemitsatfu ejele futsi bekashiye ngemuva umfati wakhe Lidiya kanye nendvodzakati yabo lebeyinemnyaka munye. Nanobe kwaphela iminyaka leminyenti bahlupheka, Anatoly nemndeni wakhe bachubeka bakhonta Jehova ngekwetsembeka. Nyalo Anatoly sewuneminyaka lengu-82, futsi ulilunga Lekomidi Yeligatja leliseCentral Asia. Shengatsi singalingisa Anatoly naLidiya, sente konkhe lesingakwenta emsebentini waJehova, sichubeke sicinisela njengobe sentile esikhatsini lesendlulile.—Gal. 6:9.

14. Yini Pawula labona kutsi bekufanele ayente kuze atfole umvuzo wakhe?

¹⁴ Pawula bekaciniseka kutsi utawucedza umncintiswano futsi atfole umvuzo wakhe. Njengobe bekangumKhristu logcotjiwe, bekakubuke ngalabovu kutfola “umvuzo welubito lwasezulwini loluvela kuNkulunkulu.” Nobe kunjalo, kuze awutfole lomvuzo, wabona kutsi bekufanele achubeke ‘atimisela.’ (Fil. 3:14) Pawula wasebentisa umfanekiso lomuhle kuze asite baseFiliphi bachubeke banake umvuzo wabo.

15. Pawula wawusebentisa njani umfanekiso wekuba sakhamuti kuze akhutsate emaKhristu aseFiliphi kutsi achubeke ‘atimisela’?

 ¹⁵ Pawula wakhumbuta baseFiliphi kutsi batakhamuti tasezulwini. (Fil. 3:20) Kungani bekufanele bakukhumbule loku? Kulawo malanga, kubasakhamuti saseRoma bekunetinzuzo letinyenti. * Nobe kunjalo, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe bekatakhamuti tahulumende loncono kakhulu, lobewutawaniketa tinzuzo letinyenti kakhulu. Ngako nakucatsaniswa nekuba sakhamuti sahulumende wasezulwimi, kuba sakhamuti saseRoma bekunetinzuzo letincane kakhulu. Ngenca yaloku, Pawula wakhutsata baseFiliphi kutsi bachubeke ‘batiphatsa ngendlela lefanele tindzaba letimnandzi ngaKhristu.’ (Fil. 1:27) Lamuhla, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe abeka sibonelo lesihle njengobe atimisela kuze atfole umvuzo wawo wekuphila phakadze ezulwini.

16. Ngekusho kwemBhalo waFiliphi 4:6, 7, yini lokufanele sichubeke siyenta ngisho sinelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni nobe ezulwini?

¹⁶ Ngisho nobe sinelitsemba lekuphila phakadze ezulwini nobe emhlabeni lolipharadisi, kufanele sichubeke sitimisela kuze sitfole umvuzo wetfu. Kunobe ngusiphi simo lesingabhekana naso, akukafaneli sibuke tintfo lesitishiye emuva, nobe sivumele tintfo letitsite kutsi tisiyekelise kukhonta Jehova. (Fil. 3:16) Kufezeka kwetetsembiso lesitilindzele kungabonakala ngatsi kuyephuta, futsi emandla lebesinawo ekucaleni angancipha. Kungenteka sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti sibeketelela bumatima nekuhlupheka. Kunobe ngusiphi simo, ‘asingakhatsateki ngalutfo.’ Kunaloko, ticelo tetfu atatiwe nguNkulunkulu ngekuncusa futsi yena utasinika kuthula lokwendlula konkhe kucondza.—Fundza Filiphi 4:6, 7.

17. Yini lesitawucoca ngayo esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

¹⁷ Njengobe ingijimi itimisela naseyiyofika entsantjeni, shengatsi singatimisela emgomeni wetfu wekufika entsantjeni kulomncintiswano wekuphila. Nangabe emandla kanye netimo tetfu kusasivumela, shengatsi singatimisela futsi sitfutfuke kuze sitfole tintfo letinhle letisembikwetfu. Yini lokufanele siyente kuze sitimisele endleleni lengiyo, futsi sigijime ngelitubane lesitawukhona kuchubeka ngalo? Sihloko lesilandzelako sitasisita kutsi sikwati lokufanele kute kucala ekuphileni kwetfu nekutsi singakhona kanjani ‘kuciniseka ngetintfo letibaluleke kakhulu.’—Fil. 1:9, 10.