1. (a) Kungani imphi lesiyilwa naSathane ibaluleke kakhulu nyalo? (b) Sati njani kutsi singamncoba Sathane?

SATHANE ulwa nalabagcotjiwe labasemhlabeni kanye ‘naletinye timvu.’ (Johane 10:16) Kulesikhashana lesimsalele, Develi utimisele ngawo onkhe emandla akhe kucedza kukholwa kwetinceku taJehova letinyenti. (Fundza Sembulo 12:9, 12.) Kodvwa singamncoba Sathane. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Nimelane naDeveli, futsi utanibalekela.”—Jakobe 4:7.

2, 3. (a) Kungani Sathane angafuni bantfu bakholelwe kutsi ukhona? (b) Wati njani kutsi Sathane ukhona mbamba?

² Bantfu labanyenti bakubona kubulima kukholelwa kutsi Sathane ukhona. Kubo, Sathane nemadimoni akhe bamane nje babadlali lokukhulunywa ngabo etincwadzini, kumabhayisikobho lesabekako nasemidlalweni yema-video. Bantfu labanjalo bacabanga kutsi nawuhlakaniphile ngeke ukholelwe kutsi imimoya lemibi ikhona mbamba. Kuyamkhatsata yini Sathane kutsi bantfu abakholelwa kutsi yena nemadimoni akhe bakhona mbamba? Cha. Kumelula ngaSathane kudukisa labo labangabatako kutsi ukhona. (2 Khorinte 4:4) Ecinisweni  Sathane ukhutsata imibono lenjena kuze adukise bantfu.

³ Njengobe sitinceku taJehova, asidukiswa. Siyati kutsi Develi ukhona mbamba. Sikwati njani loko? LiBhayibheli lisitjela kutsi Sathane wakhuluma na-Eva asebentisa inyoka. (Genesisi 3:1-5) Wakhuluma naJehova angabata tisusa taJobe. (Jobe 1:9-12) Sathane wetama kulinga Jesu. (Matewu 4:1-10) Ngemuva kwekutsi Jesu abe yiNkhosi nga-1914, Sathane wacala ‘kulwa’ nalabagcotjiwe labasemhlabeni. (Sembulo 12:17) Lemphi iyachubeka njengobe Develi etama kucedza kukholwa kwalabagcotjiwe nekwaletinye timvu. Kuze sincobe kulemphi, kufanele silwe naSathane futsi sigcine kukholwa kwetfu kucinile. Lesihloko sikhuluma ngetindlela letintsatfu tekwenta loku.

4. Sathane ukhombise njani kutsi utigcabha sibili?

⁴ Sathane utigcabha sibili. Lengilosi lembi yaba nesibindzi sekungabata lilungelo laNkulunkulu lekubusa, futsi yetama kwenta labanye kutsi bakhonte yona esikhundleni saJehova. Ihamba embili ngekutigcabha nangekutigabatisa. Ngako lenye indlela lesingalwa ngayo naSathane kutsi sibalekele kutigcabha futsi sitfobeke. (Fundza 1 Phetro 5:5.) Kodvwa kuyini kutigcabha? Kubi ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi yini?

5, 6. (a) Kutigcabha kubi ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi yini? Chaza. (b) Nguluphi luhlobo lwekutigcabha loluyingoti, futsi ngutiphi tibonelo letiseBhayibhelini talo?

⁵ Ngekusho kwalesinye sichazamagama, kutigcabha kukutetsemba nekutati. Kuphindze kube “ngumuva wekwenetiseka loba nawo ngenca yekutsi wena nobe umuntfu losondzelene naye nente lokutsite lokuhle nobe ninentfo lenhle.” Akusikubi kutiva ngalendlela. Nguloko umphostoli Pawula lakutjela bazalwane baseThesalonika, watsi: “Siyatigcabha ngani emabandleni aNkulunkulu ngenca yekubeketela nekukholwa kwenu kuko konkhe kuphatfwa kabi nekuhlupheka lenibhekana nako.” (2 Thesalonika 1:4) Ngako kuwujabulela umsebenti walabanye nekutigcabha ngatsi kungasizuzisa. Akukafaneli sitive sinemahloni ngemindeni yetfu, emasiko nobe indzawo lesikhulele kuyo.—Imisebenti 21:39.

⁶ Nanobe kunjalo, kuneluhlobo lolutsite lwekutigcabha lolungalimata budlelwane betfu nalabanye bantfu, ikakhulukati budlelwane betfu naJehova. Loluhlobo lwekutigcabha lungenta kutsi sitfukutsele naselulekwa. Lungaphindze lusente singasilaleli seluleko lesinikwa sona esikhundleni sekutsi sisemukele ngekutitfoba. (Tihlabelelo 141:5) Loluhlobo lwekutigcabha luchazwa ngekutsi kutikhandza sibaluleke kakhulu nobe “kusimo sengcondvo sekutigabatisa lesivetwa bantfu labacabanga kutsi bancono kunalabanye ngisho kute sidzingo sekucabanga kanjalo.” Jehova uyakwenyanya kutigabatisa. (Hezekeli 33:28; Amose 6:8) Kodvwa Sathane uyajabula nangabe bantfu balingisa kutigcabha kwakhe ngekutsi batigabatise. Cabanga ngendlela Sathane lajabula ngayo ngesikhatsi boNimrodi, Faro, na-Absalomu bakhombisa kutigcabha lokubi. (Genesisi 10:8, 9; Eksodusi 5:1, 2; 2 Samuweli 15:4-6) Kutigcabha kwenta Khayini walahlekelwa buhlobo bakhe naNkulunkulu. Jehova wamecwayisa, kodvwa Khayini abetigcabha kakhulu kutsi angalalela. Abenenkhani, wangasilaleli secwayiso saNkulunkulu futsi kwaba melula kutsi one kuJehova.—Genesisi 4:6-8.

7, 8. (a) Luyini lubandlululo, futsi luhlobana njani nekutigcabha? (b) Chaza indlela kutigcabha lokungakulimata ngayo kuthula kwelibandla.

 ⁷ Lamuhla, bantfu bakhombisa kutigcabha ngetindlela letinyenti letimbi. Ngalesinye sikhatsi kutigcabha kuhlobana nekubandlululana ngebuve. Ngekusho kwalesinye sichazamagama, kubandlulula kukuchwensa bantfu balesinye sive. Kuphindze kube “kukholelwa kutsi bantfu balesinye sive banebuntfu nemakhono lehlukile nekutsi ngekwemvelo lesinye sive sincono kunalesinye nobe sibukeleka phansi kunalesinye.” Kubandlulula kuphumele emibangweni, etimphini nasekubulaweni kwebantfu labanyenti.

⁸ Kuliciniso kutsi loku akukafaneli kwenteke ebandleni lebuKhristu. Kodvwa kutigcabha kungase kubange timphikiswano emkhatsini webazalwane nabodzadze futsi tigcine tingasalawuleki. Loko kwake kwenteka kulamanye emaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala, ngako Jakobe wawabuta nangu umbuto lobalulekile: “Tivelaphi timphi nekulwa emkhatsini wenu?” (Jakobe 4:1) Nangabe senyanya labanye futsi sicabanga kutsi sincono kunabo, singase sisho nobe sente lokutsite lokungabavisa buhlungu. (Taga 12:18) Kuyacaca-ke kutsi kutigcabha kungakulimata kuthula kwelibandla.

9. LiBhayibheli lisisita njani kutsi silwisane nelubandlululo kanye naletinye tinhlobo tekutigcabha letiyingoti? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

⁹ Nangabe kwenteka sicabange kutsi sincono kunalabanye, kufanele sikhumbule kutsi Jehova uyamenyanya “umuntfu lotiphakamisako” enhlitiyweni yakhe. (Taga 16:5) Kufanele sihlole tinhlitiyo tetfu futsi sitibute: ‘Ngicabanga kutsi ngincono yini kunebantfu balesinye sive nobe bantfu labanalamanye emasiko?’ Nangabe kunjalo, sisuke singalinaki liciniso lekutsi Nkulunkulu “tive tonkhe watenta ngemuntfu munye.” (Imisebenti 17:26) Ngako ngandlela tsite, sonkhe sisive sinye ngobe sivela ku-Adamu. Kubulima kucabanga kutsi Nkulunkulu wenta letinye tive taba ncono kunaletinye. Nasicabanga ngalendlela, sivumela Sathane kutsi acedze lutsandvo lwetfu lwebuKhristu kanye nebunye. (Johane 13:35) Kuze silwe naSathane futsi simncobe, kufanele sitibalekele tonkhe tinhlobo tekutigcabha letiyingoti.—Taga 16:18.

10, 11. (a) Kungani kungaba melula kutsandza lelive? (b) Waba yini umphumela wekutsi Demasi atsandze lelive?

¹⁰ Sathane ‘ungumbusi walelive’ futsi uyalicondzisa. (Johane 12:31; 1 Johane 5:19) Tintfo letinyenti letikhutsatwa ngulelive tiphambene netimiso letiseBhayibhelini. Kuliciniso kutsi tikhona tintfo letingasitimbi kulelive. Nanobe kunjalo, siyati kutsi Sathane angalisebentisa kute asitakale ngetifiso tetfu futsi etame kusenta sone. Angetama nekusenta sitsandze lelive futsi singasakunaki kukhonta Jehova.—Fundza 1 Johane 2:15, 16.

¹¹ Lamanye emaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala abetsandza live. Nasi sibonelo: Pawula wabhala watsi: “Demasi ungishiyile ngenca yekutsi utsandza lelive.”  (2 Thimothi 4:10) LiBhayibheli alisho ngalokucondzile kutsi yini Demasi labeyitsandza kulelive leyamenta kutsi ashiye Pawula. Kungenteka kutsi Demasi wacala kutsandza umcebo kakhulu kunemsebenti labewentela Jehova. Nangabe loko kuliciniso, Demasi walahlekelwa litfuba lelihle lekuba nemalungelo lajabulisako ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu. Kwamzuzisa yini loko? Cha. Demasi bekangachubeka angumsiti waPawula. Live belingeke limnike lokuncono kunaloko Jehova labengamnika kona!—Taga 10:22.

12. Sathane angasitakala njani ngetifiso tetfu asebentisa ‘kuyenga kwemcebo’?

¹² Loku kungenteka nakitsi lamuhla. Njengobe singemaKhristu, kuyintfo levamile kutsi sibe nesifiso sekutinakekela tsine kanye nemindeni yetfu. (1 Thimothi 5:8) Jehova ufuna sikujabulele kuphila. Siyakwati loko ngobe wabeka bo-Adamu na-Eva epharadisi lelihle. (Genesisi 2:9) Kodvwa Sathane angasitakala ngetifiso tetfu asebentisa ‘kuyenga kwemcebo.’ (Matewu 13:22) Bantfu labanyenti bacabanga kutsi imali nemcebo kungabenta bajabule nobe baphumelele. Kucabanga ngalendlela kungasenta silahlekelwe budlelwane betfu naJehova, lobuyintfo leligugu kakhulu kitsi. Jesu wecwayisa watsi: “Kute umuntfu longasebentela emakhosi lamabili, ngobe utawutondza lenye atsandze lelenye, nobe ahloniphe lenye edzelele lelenye. Ngeke nikhonte Nkulunkulu kanye nemcebo.” (Matewu 6:24) Nangabe sikhonta umcebo, sisuke sesiyekele kukhonta Jehova. Nguloko Sathane lafuna sikwente. Asingacali sivumele imali nobe tintfo lesingatitsenga ngayo kube ngulokubaluleke kakhulu kwendlula buhlobo betfu naJehova. Kuze silwe naSathane futsi simncobe, kufanele sibe nembono lokahle ngemcebo.—Fundza 1 Thimothi 6:6-10.

13. Lelive liwukhutsate njani umbono longasiwo ngemshado nangekuya ecansini?

¹³ Kutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi kungulolunye lugibe lwaSathane. Bantfu labanyenti bacabanga kutsi kwetsembeka kumuntfu loshade naye, ngisho nekushada imbala, kusidzala futsi kubemuka inkhululeko. Nasi sibonelo: Lomunye umdlali wemabhayisikobho watsi ngeke kwenteke kutsi wetsembeke kumuntfu munye. Wengeta watsi: “Kute ngisho namunye lengimatiko lowetsembekile nome lofuna kwetsembeka.” Lomunye watsi: “Angiciniseki kutsi kungekwemvelo mbamba yini kutsi sihlale nemuntfu munye imphilo yetfu yonkhe.” Sathane ujabula kakhulu nangabe bantfu labadvumile bahlambalata sipho saNkulunkulu semshado. Develi akahambisani nelilungiselelo lemshado futsi akafuni imishado iphumelele. Ngako-ke kute silwe naSathane futsi simncobe, kufanele sibe nembono waNkulunkulu ngemshado.

14, 15. Yini longayenta nawulingeka kutsi utiphatse kabi ngekwelicansi?

¹⁴ Ngisho sishadile nome singakashadi,  sonkhe kufanele silwe kamatima nato tonkhe tinhlobo tekutiphatsa lokubi ngekwelicansi. Kumelula yini? Cha akusimelula! Nasi sibonelo: Nangabe usemusha, ungeva lofundza nabo batishaya sifuba ngekuya ecansini nanome ngubani labamfunako. Bangaphindze batishaye sifuba ngekutfumelelana titfombe kanye nemilayeto lengcolile ngamahlalekhikhini. Ecinisweni, kulamanye emave kutfumelelana titfombe kanye nemilayeto lengcolile ngamahlalekhikhini kutsatfwa njengentfo lembi kakhulu kunekutfumelela umuntfu kwatiswa lokunekungcola lokutsintsa bantfwana. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Loyo lowenta budlundlulu wona umtimba wakhe.” (1 Khorinte 6:18) Tifo letitfolakala ngekuya ecansini tibangele kuhlupheka lokunyenti kanye nekufa. Bantfu labanyenti labasha labaya ecansini bangakashadi batsi bayatisola ngesincumo labasenta. Tekutijabulisa talelive tifuna sicabange kutsi ayibikhona imiphumela nasephule imitsetfo yaNkulunkulu. Nangabe siwakholelwa lamanga, singadukiswa ‘kuyenga kwesono.’—Hebheru 3:13.

¹⁵ Yini longayenta nangabe ulingeka kutsi utiphatse kabi ngekwelicansi? Vuma kutsi unebutsakatsaka lobutsite. (Roma 7:22, 23) Thantaza kuNkulunkulu ucele emandla. (Filiphi 4:6, 7, 13) Balekela timo letingakwenta kutsi utiphatse  kabi. (Taga 22:3) Nakuvela silingo, sibalekele ngekushesha.—Genesisi 39:12.

16. Yini Jesu layisho ngesikhatsi Sathane etama kumlinga, futsi singafundzani esibonelweni sakhe?

¹⁶ Jesu wasibekela sibonelo lesihle. Akazange ayengwe tetsembiso taSathane. Akazange acabange ngisho nekucabanga ngato. Esikhundleni saloko, ngekushesha watjela Sathane watsi: “Kubhaliwe.” (Fundza Matewu 4:4-10.) Jesu abelati liVi laNkulunkulu, ngako kwaba melula kutsi acaphune imibhalo ngekushesha ngesikhatsi Sathane etama kumlinga. Kuze silwe naSathane futsi simncobe, akukafaneli sivume kuncotjwa silingo sekutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi.—1 Khorinte 6:9, 10.

17, 18. (a) Ngutiphi letinye tingibe Sathane latisebentisako, futsi kungani sitilindzele? (b) Yini letawenteka kuSathane, futsi loko kukukhutsata njani kutsi ubeketele?

¹⁷ Kutigcabha, kutsandza umcebo nekutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi kumane nje kutingibe letintsatfu taSathane. Kunaletinye letinyenti latisebentisako. Nasi sibonelo: Lamanye emaKhristu aphikiswa ngemalunga emndeni nobe ahlekwe ngulafundza nabo esikolweni. Lamanye ahlala emaveni lapho hulumende angawavumeli khona kutsi ashumayele. Sikulindzele kuhlangabetana nalobumatima. Jesu wasecwayisa watsi: “Niyawutondvwa bantfu bonkhe ngenca yelibito lami, kodvwa loyo loyawucinisela kudzimate kube sekugcineni, nguye loyawusindziswa.”—Matewu 10:22.

¹⁸ Singalwa njani naSathane futsi simncobe? Jesu watsi: “Ngekubeketela kwenu, nitawusindzisa imiphefumulo yenu.” (Lukha 21:19) Tonkhe tintfo bantfu labangasenta tona titawendlula. Kute umuntfu longasemuka budlelwane betfu naNkulunkulu ngaphandle nangabe simvumela. (Roma 8:38, 39) Nanobe letinye tinceku taJehova letetsembekile tingafa, loko akusho kutsi Sathane sewuphumelele. Jehova utativusa. (Johane 5:28, 29) Kodvwa Sathane ute likusasa. Ngemuva kwekubhujiswa kwalelive lelibi, utawujikijelwa emgodzini longenamkhawulo ahlale khona iminyaka lengu-1 000. (Sembulo 20:1-3) Ekugcineni kweminyaka leyinkhulungwane yekubusa kwaKhristu, Sathane “utawukhululwa ekuboshweni kwakhe” futsi utawetama kwekugcina kudukisa bantfu labete sono. Ngemuva kwaloko, utawubhujiswa. (Sembulo 20:7-10) Nanobe Develi ete likusasa, kodvwa wena unalo! Chubeka ulwa naSathane futsi ugcine kukholwa kwakho kucinile. Ungalwa naSathane futsi umncobe!