1, 2. Yintoni eyenzeka eFilipi ngaphambi kokuba uPawulos noSilas babanjwe? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

KUSEZINZULWINI zobusuku. Abashumayeli bevangeli ababini, uPawulos noSilas bakwelona gumbi liphakathi entolongweni kwisixeko saseFilipi. Iinyawo zabo zibotshelelwe ezitokisini, ibe nemiqolo yabo isebuhlungu ngenxa yokubethwa. (IZe. 16:23, 24) Izinto zakhawuleza zenzeka! Bengacingelanga, bathiwa hlasi liqela labantu basiwa emarikeni kwinkundla eyayidityaniswe ngokukhawuleza. Iimpahla ababezinxibile zakrazulwa baza babethwa ngeentonga. (IZe. 16:16-22) Yayingekho mthethweni ke le, kuba uPawulos, njengommi waseRoma, ityala lakhe lalifanele lichotshelwe ngendlela efanelekileyo. *

² Njengoko uPawulos ehleli ebumnyameni, ucinga ngezinto ezenzeke ngaloo mini. Ucinga ngabantu baseFilipi. Akukho nendlu yesikhungu kwesi sixeko, asifani nezinye izixeko uPawulos akhe wazityelela. AmaYuda kwakufuneka ahlanganisane ngaphandle kwamasango esixeko ngasemlanjeni. (IZe. 16:13, 14) Ngaba le nto yayisenziwa kukuba kungekho madoda  angamaYuda alishumi afunekayo ukuze kubekho indlu yesikhungu? Abantu baseFilipi babezidla nyhani ngokuba ngabemi baseRoma, nangona babengathathwa njengamaRoma ncam. (IZe. 16:21) Akungebi yile nto eyenza ukuba bangacingi nokucinga ukuba la maYuda, uPawulos noSilas, ngabemi baseRoma? Asazi, kodwa ke bavalelwa ngondlela mnyama.

3. Yintoni esenokuba yayimbhida uPawulos ngokubanjwa kwakhe; kodwa wayithatha njani le nto?

³ Mhlawumbi uPawulos ucinga nangezinto ezenzeke kwiinyanga ezidlulileyo. Ngelo xesha wayengaphesheya kweAegean Sea, eAsia Minor. Xa wayelapho umoya oyingcwele wamnqanda kaninzi ukuba angashumayeli kwezinye iindawo. Yayingathi umoya oyingcwele umqhubela kwenye indawo. (IZe. 16:6, 7) Phi? Waphenduleka embonweni xa wayeseTrowa. Kwathiwa kuye: “Welela ngapha eMakedoni.” Xa kwacacayo ukuba uYehova ufuna kwenziwe ntoni, uPawulos wasamkela ngoko nangoko eso simemo. (Funda iZenzo 16:8-10.) Yintoni eyalandelayo? Ngokukhawuleza nje akufika eMakedoni, wazibona sele esentolongweni! Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova ayivumele le nto yenzeke kuPawulos? Wayeza kuvalelwa ixesha elingakanani? Nakuba ingqondo kaPawulos yayithatha ibeka ngenxa yale mibuzo, akazange avume ukuba iphelise ukholo novuyo lwakhe. BenoSilas “babethandaza, bedumisa uThixo ngengoma.” (IZe. 16:25) Iintliziyo neengqondo zabo zathonyalaliswa luxolo lukaThixo.

4, 5. (a) Imeko yakho inokufana njani nekaPawulos? (b) Imeko kaPawulos yatshintsha njani ngesiquphe?

⁴ NjengoPawulos, mhlawumbi kukho ixesha apho waye walandela ukhokelo lomoya kaThixo, kodwa izinto azahamba ngendlela obuyilindele. Mhlawumbi waba neengxaki ezinkulu, okanye kwakho into etshintsha ubomi bakho kakhulu. (INtshu. 9:11) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba xa ucinga ngale nto uye uzibuze ukuba kutheni uYehova wazivumela zenzeka ezo zinto. Ukuba kunjalo, yintoni enokukunceda uqhubeke unyamezela kwaye umthembe ngokupheleleyo uYehova? Ukuze uphenduleke, makhe sibuyele kwingxelo kaPawulos noSilas.

⁵ Njengoko uPawulos noSilas becula iingoma zendumiso, kulandela uthotho lweziganeko ezingalindelekanga. Ngesiquphe kubakho inyikima. Iminyango yentolongo ivuleka gengelele. Onke amabanjwa abebotshiwe ayakhululeka. UPawulos unqanda umgcini-ntolongo angazibulali. Umgcini-ntolongo nentsapho yakhe bayabhaptizwa. Ngentsasa elandelayo, oomantyi besi sixeko bathumela amagosa ukuba aye kukhulula uPawulos noSilas. Bayabacela ukuba bemke ngoxolo kwesi sixeko. Xa bebona ukuba uPawulos noSilas bangabemi baseRoma baze baqaphele ukuba benze impazamo enkulu, beza ngokwabo baze babakhaphe. Kodwa uPawulos noSilas bathi abanakuhamba bengamvalelisanga udadewabo osandul’ ukubhaptizwa uLidiya. Basebenzisa elo thuba ukuba bomeleze abazalwana. (IZe. 16:26-40) Izinto zaphinda zatshintsha ngokukhawuleza!

6. Siza kuthetha ngantoni ngoku?

⁶ Sifunda ntoni kwezi ziganeko? UYehova uyakwazi ukuyilungisa into ngendlela ebingalindelwanga, ngoko simele singabi naxhala xa sivavanywa. Asithandabuzi ukuba uPawulos yamfundisa lukhulu le nto, loo nto siyibona kumazwi awawabhalela abazalwana baseFilipi  ngexhala nangoxolo lukaThixo. Kuqala makhe sithethe ngamazwi kaPawulos akweyabaseFilipi 4:6, 7. (Yifunde.) Emva koko, siza kuthetha nangezinye iziganeko ezikwiZibhalo apho uYehova wathi gqi kwicala angalindelwanga kulo. Ekugqibeleni, siza kubona indlela “uxolo lukaThixo” olunokusinceda ngayo sinyamezele kwaye simthembe nyhani uYehova.

7. UPawulos wabafundisa ntoni abazalwana baseFilipi, ibe thina sinokufunda ntoni kumazwi akhe?

⁷ Asithandabuzi ukuba xa abazalwana baseFilipi bafunda incwadi ababeyibhalelwe nguPawulos, bakhumbula into eyayenzeke kuye nokuba akukho namnye kubo owayelindele ukuba uYehova enze ngendlela awaye wenza ngayo. Wayebafundisa ntoni uPawulos? Babengamele babe nexhala. Babemele bathandaze, ibe babeza kufumana uxolo lukaThixo. Kodwa masiqaphele ukuba ‘uxolo lukaThixo lungaphaya kokuqonda.’ Itheth’ ukuthini loo nto? Abanye abaguquleli basebenzisa ibinzana elithi “lungaphaya kwento esinokuyiphupha” okanye elithi “lungaphaya koko sinokukuceba.” Eyona nto yayithethwa nguPawulos apha kukuba, “uxolo lukaThixo” lumangalisa ngeyona ndlela. Ngoko nangona thina bantu sinokubona ngathi into ayinakusombululeka, uYehova uyazi ukuba unokuyilungisa njani, ibe unokuyilungisa ngendlela esingakhange siyicingele.—Funda eyesi-2 kaPetros 2:9.

8, 9. (a) Nangona uPawulos waye wavalelwa ngokungekho mthethweni eFilipi, yintoni entle eyenzekayo ngenxa yaloo nto? (b) Kutheni abazalwana baseFilipi babenokuwakholelwa amazwi kaPawulos?

⁸ Xa abazalwana baseFilipi babekhumbula ezi ziganeko emva kweminyaka elishumi zenzekile, bamele ukuba bakhuthazeka. Wayenyanisile uPawulos. Nangona uYehova wayevumele babanjwe ngokungekho mthethweni, loo nto yabangela ukuba ‘kuthethelelwe yaye kumiselwe ngokusemthethweni iindaba ezilungileyo.’ (Fil. 1:7) Oomantyi beso sixeko babengayi kudlalela kwibandla lamaKristu elalisandul’ ukumiselwa. Mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuchaza kukaPawulos ukuba ungummi waseRoma, ugqirha uLuka, awayehamba naye, wakwazi ukusala eFilipi xa uPawulos noSilas bemkayo. ULuka wayeza kutsho ancede eli bandla lisandul’ ukumiselwa kweso sixeko.

⁹ Xa abazalwana baseFilipi bafunda incwadi kaPawulos, babesazi ukuba ayibhalwanga sisifundiswa esihleli eofisini yaso phi phi phi. UPawulos wayebazi kuye ubunzima; sekunjalo, wabonisa ukuba unalo “uxolo lukaThixo.” Ngaphezu koko, xa wayebabhalela le ncwadi, wayevalelwe endlwini eRoma. Kodwa waqhubeka ebonisa ukuba ‘unoxolo lukaThixo.’—Fil. 1:12-14; 4:7, 11, 22.

10, 11. Kufuneka senze ntoni xa kukho into esixhalabisa ngokugqithisileyo, ibe sinokulindela ntoni?

¹⁰ Yintoni enokusinceda singabi naxhala lanto kwaye sibe ‘noxolo lukaThixo’? Amazwi kaPawulos awawabhalela abaseFilipi athi iyeza lexhala ngumthandazo. Ngoko xa sinexhala, kufuneka sithandaze. (Funda eyoku-1 kaPetros 5:6, 7.) Thandaza unokholo kuYehova, usazi ukuba ukukhathalele. Thandaza ‘umbulele,’ ungazilibali izinto akusikelele ngazo. Xa sikhumbula ukuba “unako ukwenza ngaphezu koko sikucelayo nesikuthelekelelayo, ngamandla akhe asebenzayo kuthi” siya kumthemba nangakumbi.—Efe. 3:20.

¹¹ Njengakwinto eyenzeka kuPawulos  nakuSilas eFilipi, ziya kusothusa izinto uYehova asenzela zona. Isenokungabi yinto etsala amehlo, kodwa iya kusoloko iyinto esiyidingayo. (1 Kor. 10:13) Kakade ke, le nto ayithethi kuthi masihlale nje sisong’ izandla, silinde uYehova ukuba alungise imeko okanye acombulule ingxaki. Kufuneka izenzo zethu zihambisane naloo nto siyithandazelayo. (Roma 12:11) Izinto esizenzayo zibonisa ukuba siyifuna nyhani loo nto siyicelayo kwaye noYehova uba nento anokuyisikelela. Kwangaxeshanye, kufuneka sikhumbule ukuba uYehova akaxhomekekanga kwizicelo, kumacebo nakwizinto esizilindeleyo. Ngamany’ amaxesha uye asothuse uYehova, athi gqi apho singalindelanga khona. Makhe sithethe ngeengxelo eziseBhayibhileni eziza kusenza simthembe nangakumbi uYehova ukuba uyakwazi ukwenza izinto ebesingazilindelanga.

12. (a) Wenza ntoni uKumkani uHezekiya xa woyikiswa nguKumkani uSenaribhe waseAsiriya? (b) Sifunda ntoni thina kwindlela uYehova awayilungisa ngayo loo ngxaki?

¹² Xa sifunda iZibhalo, siye sive ngendlela uYehova awenza ngayo izinto ezazingalindelwanga. Ngexesha likaKumkani uHezekiya, uKumkani uSenaribhe waseAsiriya wathimba zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaYuda, ngaphandle kweYerusalem. (2 Kum. 18:1-3, 13) Emva koko, uSenaribhe wafuna ukuhlasela iYerusalem. Wenza ntoni uKumkani uHezekiya xa wayeza kuhlaselwa? Wathandaza kuYehova waza waya kucela amacebiso kumprofeti uIsaya. (2 Kum. 19:5, 15-20) UHezekiya wazama ukuyilungisa imeko ngokuthi abhatale imali eyayifunwa nguSenaribhe. (2 Kum. 18:14, 15) Ethubeni, uHezekiya waxhobela ukungqingwa kwesixeko. (2 Kron. 32:2-4) Kodwa yalungiswa njani loo meko? UYehova wathumela ingelosi yabulala amajoni ayi-185 000 kaSenaribhe ngobusuku obunye. Ngokwenene, kwanoHezekiya wayengalindelanga ukuba iza kuphuma kwelo cala!—2 Kum. 19:35.

13. (a) Sifunda ntoni kwinto eyenzeka kuYosefu? (b) Yintoni eyayingalindelekanga eyenzeka kuSara?

¹³ Omnye umzekelo ngokaYosefu, unyana kaYakobi. Xa wayekwintolongo yaseYiputa, ngaba wakhe wayicinga into yokuba angaze abe ngowesibini ngegunya kwelo lizwe, okanye uYehova wayeza kumsebenzisa asindise intsapho yakowabo ingafi yindlala? (Gen. 40:15; 41:39-43; 50:20) UYehova wenza into engaphaya kweyayilindelwe nguYosefu. Kanti omnye umzekelo ngokaSara, ukhokhokazi kaYosefu. Ngaba uSara owayesele aluphele wayelindele ukuba uYehova uza kumnceda abe nonyana, ingabi ngulowa wayemfumene ngesicakakazi sakhe kuphela? USara wayengazange  ayiphuphe nokuyiphupha into yokuzalwa kukaIsake.—Gen. 21:1-3, 6, 7.

14. Yintoni esimthembileyo ukuba unokuyenza uYehova?

¹⁴ Asilindelanga ukuba uYehova aziphelise zonke iingxaki esinazo kungekafiki ihlabathi elitsha, kwaye asithi makenze imimangaliso etsala amehlo ebomini bethu. Kodwa siyazi ukuba nguThixo wethu, uYehova, owanceda abakhonzi bakhe ngokwenza le mimangaliso. (Funda uIsaya 43:10-13.) Le nto isenza simthembe sitsho sibe nokholo kuye. Siyazi ukuba unokwenza nantoni na ukuze asinike amandla okwenza ukuthanda kwakhe. (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Sifunda ntoni kwezi ngxelo zeBhayibhile? Umzekelo kaHezekiya, uYosefu, noSara usifundisa ukuba, xa sihlala sithembekile kuYehova unokusinceda soyise izinto esibona ngathi asinako ukuzoyisa.

15. Yintoni eza kusinceda sihlale ‘sinoxolo lukaThixo,’ ibe ingenzeka njani loo nto?

¹⁵ Sinokuhlala njani ‘sinoxolo lukaThixo’ naxa sisengxakini? Kufuneka sibugcine bubuhle ubuhlobo esinabo noYehova uThixo. Obo buhlobo sinokuba nabo kuphela “ngoKristu Yesu,” owazinikela waba yintlawulelo ngenxa yethu. Eli lungiselelo lentlawulelo ngomnye wemisebenzi emangalisayo kaBawo wethu. UYehova usebenzisa intlawulelo ukuze asixolele, asenze sibe nesazela esicocekileyo kwaye sikwazi ukusondela kuye.—Yoh. 14:6; Yak. 4:8; 1 Pet. 3:21.

16. Yintoni umphumo wokufumana “uxolo lukaThixo”? Zekelisa.

¹⁶ Uba yintoni umphumo xa sifumana “uxolo lukaThixo olungaphaya kokuqonda”? IZibhalo zithi “luya kuzilinda iintliziyo zenu namandla enu engqondo ngoKristu Yesu.” (Fil. 4:7) Igama lesiGrike eliguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘ukulinda’ lalisetyenziswa emkhosini. Lalibhekisela kwiqela lamajoni elalithunyelwa ukuba lilinde isixeko esinqatyisiweyo mandulo. NeFilipi yayinawo loo majoni. Abemi baseFilipi babelala obehlayo, besazi ukuba amajoni alinde amasango eso sixeko. Ngokufanayo, xa ‘sinoxolo lukaThixo,’ iintliziyo neengqondo zethu aziphakuzeli. Siyazi ukuba uYehova usihoyile ibe ufuna siphumelele. (1 Pet. 5:10) Ukwazi loo nto kusenza singabi naxhala kwaye singadimazeki.

17. Yintoni eza kusinceda simthembe ngokupheleyo uYehova xa sicinga ngekamva?

¹⁷ Kungekudala abantu baza kufikelwa yeyona mbandezelo inkulu kwezakha zakho kulo mhlaba. (Mat. 24:21, 22) Asizazi zonke iinkcukacha ngezinto eziza kwenzeka kumntu ngamnye apha kuthi. Kodwa loo nto ayithi masibe nexhala ngokugqithiseleyo. Nangona singazazi zonke izinto uYehova aya kuzenza, siyamazi uThixo wethu. Xa sijonga izinto uYehova awabenzela zona abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo, siyabona ukuba uya kusoloko eyiphumeza injongo yakhe nokuba sekumnyam’ entla, ibe ngamanye amaxesha uyiphumeza ngendlela ebesingayilindelanga. Qho uYehova esenzela into, siba ‘noxolo lukaThixo olungaphaya kokuqonda.’