1. Bobani labasita ekucaliseni libandla laseFiliphu?

NGESIKHATSI umphostoli Pawula, anaSilasi, Lukha kanye naThimothi befika eFiliphi lebekulidolobha lebelibuswa ngemaRoma, batfola bantfu labanyenti lebebafuna kuva tindzaba letimnandzi. Labazalwane labane lebebakhutsele basita kuze kucaliswe libandla, futsi bonkhe bafundzi labasha bacala kuhlangana ndzawonye. Kungenteka nekutsi bebahlangana ekhaya ladzadze lebekabitwa ngekutsi nguLidiya, lobekakutsandza kwemukela tivakashi.—Imis. 16:40.

2. Nguyiphi inkinga lelibandla lelabhekana nayo ngekushesha?

² Ngekushesha nje, lelibandla lebelisandza kucaliswa labhekana nesimo lesimatima. Sathane wenta kutsi bantfu labenyanya liciniso bamelane nemsebenti wekushumayela lobewentiwa nguPawula nebangani bakhe. BoPawula naSilasi baboshwa, bashaywa ngemizaca futsi bavalelwa ejele. Ngemuva kwekukhululwa ejele, bavakashela labafundzi labasha futsi babakhutsata. Pawula, Silasi kanye naThimothi babese bayahamba kulelidolobha bashiya Lukha. Lelibandla lelisha lachubeka njani? Jehova walisita ngemoya wakhe longcwele, futsi labafundzi bachubeka bamkhonta ngekutimisela. (Fil. 2:12) Pawula bekanesizatfu lesivakalako sekutigcabha ngabo!

3. Njengobe kubhalwe kuFiliphi 1:9-11, yini Pawula layithantazela?

³ Ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-10, Pawula wabhalela libandla laseFiliphu incwadzi. Nawufundza lencwadzi, usheshe uyibone indlela Pawula lebekabatsandza ngayo labazalwane bakhe. Wabhala watsi: “Nginikhumbula ngelutsandvo lolukhulu lolunjengalolo Khristu Jesu lanalo.” (Fil. 1:8) Wabatjela kutsi uhlale abathantazela. Wacela Jehova kutsi abasite kuze lutsandvo lwabo lukhule, nekutsi baciniseke ngetintfo letibaluleke kakhulu,  babe msulwa, bangakhubi muntfu, futsi bachubeke batsela sitselo sekulunga. Lamuhla, natsi singafundza lokunyenti kulamavi aPawula latsintsa inhlitiyo. Asesifundze ngaloko Pawula lakubhalela baseFiliphu. (Fundza Filiphi 1:9-11.) Sitawubese sicoca ngetintfo lakhuluma ngato, nekutsi singatisebentisa njani.

4. (a) Ngekusho kwa-1 Johane 4:9, 10, Jehova ukhombise njani kutsi uyasitsandza? (b) Kufanele simtsandze kangakanani Nkulunkulu?

⁴ Jehova wakhombisa kutsi usitsandza kakhulu ngekutsi atfumele indvodzana yakhe emhlabeni kuze itofela tono tetfu. (Fundza 1 Johane 4:9, 10.) Indlela Nkulunkulu lasitsandza ngayo isenta kutsi simtsandze. (Rom. 5:8) Kufanele simtsandze kangakanani Nkulunkulu? Jesu wawuphendvula lombuto ngesikhatsi atjela lomunye umFarisi atsi: “Kufanele utsandze Jehova Nkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yakho, nangawo wonkhe umphefumulo wakho, nangayo yonkhe ingcondvo yakho.” (Mat. 22:36, 37) Sifuna kutsandza Nkulunkulu ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe. Indlela lesimtsandza ngayo sifuna ikhule onkhe malanga. Pawula watjela baseFiliphi kutsi lutsandvo lwabo kufanele “lukhule kakhulu.” Yini lokufanele siyente kuze simtsandze kakhulu Nkulunkulu?

5. Singayikhulisa njani indlela lesimtsandza ngayo Nkulunkulu?

⁵ Kufanele simati Nkulunkulu kuze simtsandze. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Nobe ngubani lote lutsandvo akamati Nkulunkulu, ngobe Nkulunkulu ulutsandvo.” (1 Joh. 4:8) Umphostoli Pawula watsi indlela lesimtsandza ngayo Nkulunkulu itawukhula njengoba sichubeka sitfola ‘lwati lolungulonalona nekucondza lokuphelele’ ngaye. (Fil. 1:9) Ngesikhatsi sicala kudadisha liBhayibheli, sacala kumtsandza Jehova ngisho nobe bekukuncane lebesikwati ngaye. Satsi nasichubeka sifundza ngaye, indlela lesimtsandza ngayo yakhula. Kungako kudadisha liBhayibheli njalo kanye nekuzindla ngalo kubaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwetfu!—Fil. 2:16.

6. Ngekusho kwa-1 Johane 4:11, 20, 21, yini lesingayenta kuze lutsandvo lwetfu lukhule?

⁶ Indlela Nkulunkulu lasitsandza ngayo itawusenta kutsi sibatsandze bazalwane betfu. (Fundza 1 Johane 4:11, 20, 21.) Kungenteka sicabange kutsi kutawuvele kutentakalele kutsi sibatsandze bazalwane nabodzadze wetfu. Loku kungentiwa kutsi sikhonta Jehova futsi setama kufana naye. Kungentiwa nakutsi silingisa Jesu ngobe wasitsandza kakhulu waze wanikela ngekuphila kwakhe ngenca yetfu. Kodvwa ngaletinye tikhatsi kungaba matima kulalela umyalo lotsi sitsandzane. Asesifundze ngaloko lokwenteka ebandleni laseFiliphu.

7. Yini lesiyifundza eselulekweni Pawula lasinika Evodiya naSintike?

⁷ Evodiya naSintike bebabodzadze labakhutsele “lebebasebenta” nemphostoli Pawula. Nobe kunjalo, kungenteka kwake kwaba nekungaboni ngaso linye emkhatsini wabo lokwabehlukanisa. Encwadzini Pawula layibhalela libandla lebebakulo labodzadze, wayala Evodiya naSintike ngalokucondzile kutsi “babe mcondvo munye.” (Fil. 4:2, 3) Pawula wabona kunesidzingo sekutsi aliyale lonkhe lelibandla, watsi: “Chubekani nenta tonkhe tintfo ngaphandle kwekukhonona nekuphikisana.” (Fil. 2:14) Siyaciniseka kutsi leseluleko saPawula lebesicondzile asigcinanga nje ngekusita labodzadze labetsembekile, kepha sasita nalo lonkhe libandla kutsi litsandzane kakhulu.

8. Yini lengenta kube matima kutsandza bazalwane betfu, futsi yini lesingayenta kuze sibatsandze?

⁸ Njenga-Evodiya naSintike, natsi singakutfola kumatima kutsandza bazalwane betfu, futsi singatikhandza sesinaka kakhulu  emaphutsa. Onkhe malanga, sonkhe siyawenta emaphutsa. Nangabe sihlala sinake emaphutsa alabanye, kutawuba matima kutsi sibatsandze. Nasi sibonelo, nangabe umzalwane angasisiti nakuhlantwa liHholwa leMbuso, singativa sicansuka.Nasingacala kunaka onkhe emaphutsa lentiwe ngulomzalwane, singatfukutsela kakhulu futsi singacala kungasamtsandzi. Nakungenteka sititfole sisesimeni lesifanako, kungasisita kucabanga nganali liciniso: Jehova uyawabona emaphutsa etfu nemaphutsa alomzalwane. Ngisho nobe awabona lamaphutsa, uyachubeka amtsandza lomzalwane futsi natsi uyachubeka asitsandza. Ngenca yaloko, kufanele silingise indlela Jehova lasitsandza ngayo futsi sihlale sinake lokuhle kubazalwane betfu. Nasenta konkhe lesingakwenta kute sitsandze bazalwane betfu, sisuke sicinisa bunye betfu nabo.—Fil. 2:1, 2.

9. Tifaka ekhatsi ini ‘tintfo letibaluleke kakhulu’ Pawula lakhuluma ngato encwadzini layibhalela emaKhristu aseFiliphu?

⁹ Umoya longcwele wabangela kutsi Pawula ayale onkhe emaKhristu laseFiliphu ngekutsi ‘aciniseke ngetintfo letibaluleke kakhulu.’ Natsi kufanele sente lokufanako lamuhla. (Fil. 1:10) Letintfo letibalulekile tifaka ekhatsi kungcweliswa kweligama laJehova, kufezeka kwetinjongo takhe, kuthula kanye nebunye belibandla. (Mat. 6:9, 10; Joh. 13:35) Nangabe letintfo tibaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwetfu, sisuke sikhombisa kutsi siyamtsandza Jehova.

10. Yini lokufanele siyente kuze sikhombise kutsi simsulwa?

¹⁰ Pawula waphindze watsi kufanele sibe “msulwa.” Loku akusho kutsi kufanele singawenti emaphutsa. Ngeke sibe msulwa njengaJehova Nkulunkulu. Kodvwa Jehova utasitsatsa njengalabamsulwa nangabe senta konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kuze sikhulise lutsandvo lwetfu, futsi siciniseke ngetintfo letibaluleke kakhulu. Lenye indlela lesikhombisa ngayo kutsi siyabatsandza labanye, kutsi singabakhubi.

11. Kungani kufanele singabakhubi labanye?

¹¹ Umyalo lotsi ningakhubi muntfu ubaluleke kakhulu. Singabakhuba njani labanye? Singabakhuba ngalesikhetsa kutijabulisa ngako, ngetimphahla lesitigcokako nobe ngemsebenti lesiwukhetsako. Kungenteka lesikwentako asikubi kuJehova. Kodvwa nangabe intfo lesikhetsa kuyenta ilimata nembeza walomunye umuntfu, bese loyo muntfu uyakhubeka, loko-ke kubi. Jesu watsi kungaba ncono kutsi kuboshelwe litje lelikhulu entsanyeni yaloyo muntfu bese ujikwa elwandle kunekutsi akhube imvu yakhe!—Mat. 18:6.

12. Yini lesiyifundza kulokwentiwa ngemahlahlandlela lashadene?

¹² Lenye indvodza nemfati wayo lebebangemahlahlandlela basisebentisa njani leseluleko saJesu? Bebakhonta kulelinye libandla lapho bekunalenye indvodza nemfati wayo lebebasandza kubhajatiswa, futsi lebebakhulele emindenini lapho khona tintfo letinyenti betingakavumeleki kutsi tentiwe. LamaKhristu lebekasandza kubhajatiswa bekakholelwa kutsi emaKhristu akukafanele ayobukela ema-movie ngisho nobe lawo ma-movie ahlantekile. Akhubeka nakeva kutsi lamahlahlandlela bekaye kuyobukela i-movie. Ngemuva kwaloko, lamahlahlandlela abese ayayekela kuyobukela ema-movie kwaze kwaba ngulapho lamaKhristu lebekasandza kubhajatiswa sekaceceshe bonembeza bawo futsi sekakhona kwehlukanisa lokuhle nalokubi. (Heb. 5:14) Ngekwenta loku, lamahlahlandlela akhombisa kutsi ayawatsandza lamaKhristu lasemasha, hhayi nje  ngemavi kuphela kodvwa nangetento.—Rom. 14:19-21; 1 Joh. 3:18.

13. Singamlinga njani umuntfu kutsi ente sono?

¹³ Lenye indlela lesingakhuba ngayo umuntfu kutsi simlinge kuze ente sono. Kungenteka njani loku? Asewucabange nganasi simo. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesidze sekulwa kamatima nekunatsa tjwala, umuntfu lofundzelwa liBhayibheli sewuyakhona kulawula indlela lanatsa ngayo. Uyabona kutsi kufanele ayekele kunatsa tjwala. Uyachubeka atfutfuka futsi ubese uyabhajatiswa. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, lomunye umzalwane ummema emcimbini lotsite futsi amnike tjwala, bese utsi: “SewungumKhristu nyalo, futsi sewunemoya waJehova. Incenye yesitselo semoya longcwele kutibamba. Nangabe ukhona kutibamba, ungakhona nekutikalela tjwala longabunatsa.” Kungaba buhlungu kakhulu nangabe lomzalwane losandza kuba ngumKhristu angasilalela leseluleko lesibi futsi aphindze agcilatwe tjwala!

14. Imihlangano yebuKhristu isisita njani kutsi sisebentise seluleko lesikuFiliphi 1:10.

¹⁴ Imihlangano yebuKhristu isisita ngetindlela letinyenti kutsi sisebentise seluleko lesibhalwe kuFiliphi 1:10. Kwekucala, lesikufundza kulemihlangano kusikhombisa loko Jehova lakutsatsa njengalokubaluleke kakhulu. Kwesibili, sifundza indlela yekukusebentisa loko lesikufundzako kuze sibe msulwa. Kwesitsatfu, sikhutsateka “elutsandvweni nasemisebentini lemihle.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nasikhutsatwa bazalwane betfu, indlela lesitsandza ngayo Nkulunkulu wetfu kanye nebazalwane betfu ikhula kakhulu.  Nangabe sitsandza Nkulunkulu nebazalwane betfu ngenhlitiyo yonkhe, sitawenta konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kuze singabakhubi bazalwane betfu.

15. Kusho kutsini ‘kugcwaliswa ngesitselo sekulunga’?

¹⁵ Pawula wawathantazela ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni emaKhristu aseFiliphu kutsi ‘agcwaliswe ngesitselo sekulunga.’ (Fil. 1:11) Siyaciniseka kutsi ‘lesitselo sekulunga’ besifaka ekhatsi kutsandza Jehova kanye nebantfu bakhe. Loko bekuphindze kufake ekhatsi kutsi acocele labanye ngekukholwa kwawo kuJesu kanye nangelitsemba lawo lelimangalisako UmBhalo waFiliphi 2:15 usebentisa lomunye umfanekiso lotsi, ‘nikhanya njengetibane eveni.’ Lomfanekiso usikhumbuta ngemavi aJesu lawasho kubafundzi bakhe nakatsi ‘bakukhanya kwelive.’ (Mat. 5:14-16) Wayala balandzeli bakhe kutsi ‘bente bafundzi,’ waphindze watsi bebatawuba ‘bofakazi bakhe kuto tonkhe tincenye temhlaba.’ (Mat. 28:18-20; Imis. 1:8) Sisuke sitsela ‘sitselo sekulunga’ nangabe siwenta ngekutimisela lomsebenti lobaluleke kakhulu.

16. Filiphi 1:12-14 usikhombisa njani kutsi singakhanya njengetibane ngisho nobe sibhekene netimo letimatima? (Buka sitfombe lesisekhasini lekucala.)

¹⁶ Kunobe ngusiphi simo lesibhekene naso, singakhanya njengetibane. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, tintfo letingasivimbela kutsi sishumayele tindzaba letimnandzi tingaphindze tisivulele litfuba lekushumayela. Cabanga ngemphostoli Pawula, bekavalelwe endlini eRoma ngesikhatsi abhala incwadzi lebeyiya kubaseFiliphu. Kodvwa tinketane lebekaboshwe ngato atizange timvimbele kutsi ashumayele lebebamgadzile nalebebamvakashela. Nanobe bekakulesimo, Pawula washumayela ngekutimisela futsi loko kwabakhutsata bazalwane bakhe kwaphindze  kwabanika sibindzi “sekukhuluma livi laNkulunkulu ngekungesabi.”—Fundza Filiphi 1:12-14; 4:22.

17. Labanye bazalwane nabodzadze bakhona njani kuchubeka bashumayela ngisho nobe bebabhekene netinkinga?

¹⁷ Bazalwane betfu nabodzadze labanyenti bayasilingisa sibonelo saPawula sekuba nesibindzi. Bahlala emaveni lapho umsebenti wekushumayela uvinjelwe khona, ngako basebentisa letinye tindlela kuze bashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi. (Mat. 10:16-20) Kulelinye lalamave, lomunye umbonisi wesigodzi waveta umbono wekutsi ummemeteli ngamunye akahlanganise “insimu” yakhe lebeyakhiwa tihlobo takhe, bomakhelwane, lafundza nabo, lasebenta nabo kanye nebantfu labatiko. Ngeminyaka nje lemibili, lakhula kakhulu linani lemabandla kuleso sigodzi. Kungenteka kutsi awukavinjelwa umsebenti wekushumayela eveni lesihlala kulo. Nanobe kunjalo, singafundza sifundvo lesibalulekile kulabazalwane betfu labenta ngekuhlakanipha: Kufanele sihlale sifuna tindlela tekuwenta ngekutimisela lomsebenti sibe sinelitsemba lekutsi Jehova utasinika emandla lesiwadzingako kuze sibhekane nanobe ngutiphi tinkinga.—Fil. 2:13.

18. Yini lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta?

¹⁸ Kulesikhatsi lesiphila kuso, shengatsi singatimisela kusebentisa seluleko lesiphefumulelwe lesisencwadzini leyabhalwa nguPawula leya kubaseFiliphu. Shengatsi singaciniseka ngetintfo letibaluleke kakhulu, sibe msulwa, sigweme kukhuba labanye futsi sitsele sitselo sekulunga. Nasenta njalo, lutsandvo lwetfu lutawukhula futsi sitawuletsa ludvumo kuJehova, longuBabe wetfu lonelutsandvo.