1. Kungani uJesu acela uJehova ukuba aqaphe abalandeli bakhe?

 NGOBUSUKU bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu wenza isicelo esikhethekile kuYise osezulwini. Wacela uJehova ukuba aqaphe abalandeli bakhe. (Joh. 17:15, 20) Kuyavunywa, uJehova ubelokhu ebaqaphile​—ebanakekela futhi ebavikela—​abantu bakhe. Noma kunjalo, uJesu wayazi ukuthi uSathane wayeyobashushisa ngonya abalandeli bakhe. Wayazi nokuthi babeyodinga usizo lukaJehova ukuze bakwazi ukumelana nokuhlasela kukaDeveli okunonya.

2. NgokweHubo 33:18-20, kungani kungadingeki sesabe ukubhekana nobunzima?

² Isimiso sikaSathane siwacindezela kakhulu amaKristu eqiniso namuhla. Sibhekana nobunzima obusiqeda amandla, obuvivinya nobuqotho bethu kuJehova. Kodwa njengoba sizobona kulesi sihloko, akukho lutho okufanele silwesabe. UJehova usiqaphile​—uyazibona izinkinga zethu futhi uhlale ekulungele ukusisiza sibhekane nazo. Ake sihlole izibonelo ezimbili eziseBhayibhelini ezibonisa ukuthi uJehova ‘ubaqapha kanjani abamesabayo.’​—Funda iHubo 33:18-20.

3. Kunini lapho singase sizizwe sisodwa?

³ Nakuba siyingxenye yomndeni omkhulu wezikhonzi zikaJehova, ngezinye izikhathi singase sizizwe sisodwa. Ngokwesibonelo, abasebasha bangase bazizwe bebodwa lapho kudingeka bachaze izinkolelo zabo phambi kwabafunda nabo noma lapho bethuthela ebandleni elisha. Abanye kithi bangase baphatheke kabi noma bacindezelwe imizwa engemihle, becabanga ukuthi kudingeka babhekane naleyo mizwa bebodwa. Singase singabaze ukutshela abanye indlela esizizwa ngayo ngoba sikhathazeke ngokuthi bangase bangaqondi. Kanti ngezinye izikhathi, singase sizibuze ukuthi ukhona ngempela yini onendaba nathi. Ukuzizwa sisodwa​—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iyini  imbangela—​kungasenza siphelelwe amandla futhi sicindezeleke. UJehova akafuni nanini sizizwe ngaleyo ndlela. Kungani sisho kanjalo?

4. Kungani u-Eliya athi: “Sekusele mina kuphela”?

⁴ Cabanga ngesibonelo sendoda ethembekile, u-Eliya. UJezebeli wayefunge ukuthi uzombulala, ngakho kwase kuphele izinsuku ezingaphezu kwezingu-40 ebaleka. (1 AmaKh. 19:1-9) Ekugcineni, eyedwa emgedeni, wakhala kuJehova: ‘Yimina kuphela [umprofethi] osesele.’ (1 AmaKh. 19:10) Babesekhona abanye abaprofethi ezweni ngoba u-Obadiya wayesindise abaprofethi abayikhulu ezandleni zikaJezebeli ezichitha igazi. (1 AmaKh. 18:7, 13) Pho kungani u-Eliya azizwa eyedwa kangaka? Ingabe wayecabanga ukuthi base befile bonke abaprofethi u-Obadiya ayebasindisile? Ingabe mhlawumbe wayezizwa eyedwa ngenxa yokuthi akekho owaqala ukukhonza uJehova kanye naye ngemva kokuhluleka kukaBhali eNtabeni iKarmeli? Ingabe kungenzeka wayenomuzwa wokuthi akekho owaziyo ukuthi usengozini engakanani, noma kungenzeka wayezibuza ukuthi ukhona yini onendaba naye? Ukulandisa akuyichazi ngokuphelele imizwa ka-Eliya. Kodwa esiqiniseka ngako ukuthi uJehova wayeqonda ukuthi kungani u-Eliya ayezizwa eyedwa futhi wayazi kahle ukuthi angamsiza kanjani.

5. UJehova wamqinisekisa kanjani u-Eliya ukuthi wayengeyedwa?

⁵ UJehova wamsiza ngezindlela eziningi u-Eliya. Wamkhuthaza ukuba akhulume. Wambuza kabili: “Ubekwa yini lapha?” (1 AmaKh. 19:9, 13) Isikhathi ngasinye uJehova walalela njengoba u-Eliya ethulula isifuba sakhe. UJehova wamphendula ngokumbonisa ukuthi ukhona nokuthi unamandla amakhulu. Wamqinisekisa nangokuthi kwakusenezikhonzi eziningi ezikanye naye. (1 AmaKh. 19:11, 12, 18) Ngokungangabazeki, u-Eliya wazizwa ekhululekile ngemva kokuthululela isifuba sakhe kuJehova nangemva kokuzwa impendulo yaKhe. UJehova wamnikeza izabelo eziningi ezibalulekile. Wamcela ukuba agcobe uHazayeli abe yinkosi eSiriya, uJehu abe inkosi yakwa-Israyeli no-Elisha abe umprofethi. (1 AmaKh. 19:15, 16) Ngokunikeza u-Eliya  lezi zabelo, uJehova wamsiza wagxila ezintweni ezinhle. UNkulunkulu wamnika nomngane oseduze, u-Elisha. Ungaluthola kanjani usizo lukaJehova lapho uzizwa uwedwa?

6. Yini ongayithandazela lapho uzizwa uwedwa? (IHubo 62:8)

⁶ UJehova ukumema ukuba uthandaze kuye. Uyakubona obhekene nakho futhi ukuqinisekisa ngokuthi uzoyilalela noma yinini imithandazo yakho. (1 Thes. 5:17) Uyakujabulela ukulalela izikhonzi zakhe. (IzAga 15:8) Yini ongayithandazela uma uzizwa uwedwa? Njengoba kwenza u-Eliya, thululela isifuba sakho kuJehova. (Funda iHubo 62:8.) Mtshele ngezinto ezikukhathazayo nokuthi zikwenza uzizwe kanjani. Mcele akusize ukwazi ukubhekana nendlela ozizwa ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, uma uzizwa uwedwa noma wesaba lapho ufakaza esikoleni, cela uJehova akuphe isibindi osidingayo ukuze ukwazi ukukhuluma. Ungamcela ngisho nokuhlakanipha ukuze uchaze izinkolelo zakho ngendlela engacunuli. (Luka 21:14, 15) Uma ucindezelwe imizwa engemihle, cela uJehova akusize ukhulume ngayo nomKristu ovuthiwe. Ungacela uJehova asize lowo oxoxa naye ukuba akulalele futhi ayiqonde indlela ozizwa ngayo. Thululela isifuba sakho kuJehova, ubone indlela aphendula ngayo imithandazo yakho futhi wamukele usizo lwabanye; umuzwa wokuzizwa uwedwa uyoncipha.

7. Ufundani esibonelweni sikaMauricio?

⁷ UJehova usinike sonke umsebenzi owanelisayo okumelwe siwenze. Ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uyakubona futhi uyakwazisa konke okwenzayo ukuze ufeze izabelo zakho ebandleni nasenkonzweni. (IHu. 110:3) Ukuzigcina umatasa enkonzweni kungakusiza kanjani lapho uzizwa uwedwa? Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaMauricio, umzalwane osemusha. * Ngemva nje kokubhapathizwa kukaMauricio, omunye wabangane bakhe abaseduze waqala ukushiya iqiniso kancane kancane. Uthi: “Ukumbona eshiya uJehova kwaphazamisa ukuzethemba kwami. Ngangizibuza ukuthi kazi ngiyokwazi yini ukufeza isifungo sami sokuzinikezela, ngihlale ngiyingxenye yomndeni kaJehova. Ngazizwa ngingedwa futhi ngangicabanga ukuthi akekho ongaqonda indlela engangizizwa ngayo.” Yini eyasiza uMauricio? Uthi: “Ngandisa inkonzo yami. Lokho kwangisiza ngangagxila kimi nasemizweni yami engemihle. Njengoba ngangisebenza nabanye enkonzweni ngazizwa ngijabule futhi umuzwa wokuzizwa ngingedwa wancipha.” Impela, ngisho noma singakwazi ukushumayela nabafowethu ngokoqobo, kuyasiqinisa ukuhlanganyela nabo ezicini ezifana nokufakaza ngokubhala izincwadi nangocingo. Yini enye eyasiza uMauricio? Uyanezela: “Ngazigcina ngimatasa nasebandleni.  Ngangizikhandla lapho ngilungiselela futhi ngenza izabelo zabafundi. Lezi zabelo zangenza ngazizwa ngiyigugu kuJehova nakwabanye.”

8. Singazizwa kanjani lapho sibhekene novivinyo olunzima?

⁸ Sikulindele ukubhekana novivinyo phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina. (2 Thim. 3:1) Noma kunjalo, isikhathi nohlobo lovivinyo esibhekana nalo kungasizuma. Kungazelelwe singase sibhekane nezinkinga zemali, sithole ukuthi sinesifo esibi kakhulu noma sishonelwe umuntu esimthandayo. Ezikhathini ezinjalo singase sizizwe sicindezelekile futhi sikhungathekile, ikakhulu uma kubonakala sengathi sibhekana novivinyo lulandelana noma sibhekene nezinto eziningi ezisivivinyayo ngesikhathi esisodwa. Kodwa khumbula, uJehova usiqaphile futhi ngosizo lwakhe singabhekana nanoma yiluphi uvivinyo ngesibindi.

9. Chaza uvivinyo uJobe abhekana nalo.

⁹ Cabanga ngendlela uJehova asiza ngayo indoda ethembekile, uJobe. Wabhekana nezinto eziningi ezamvivinya nezamcindezela ngesikhashana nje. Ngosuku olulodwa, uJobe wezwa ngezenzakalo ezinodlame nezishaqisayo ezabulala imfuyo yakhe, zabulala izinceku zakhe, okubi nakakhulu, zabulala ngisho nezingane zakhe. (Jobe 1:13-19) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, esabhekene nosizi olunzima, uJobe washaywa ngesifo esibuhlungu nesinyantisayo. (Jobe 2:7) Indlela isimo sikaJobe esasisibi ngayo, waze wathi: “Ngiyakwenyanya ukuphila kwami; angisafuni ukuphila.”​—Jobe 7:16.

10. UJehova wamnika kanjani uJobe lokho ayekudinga ukuze akhuthazelele uvivinyo? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

¹⁰ UJehova wayemqaphile uJobe. Ngenxa yokuthi wayemthanda uJobe, wamnika lokho ayekudinga ukuze alukhuthazelele ngokuphumelelayo uvivinyo. Wakhuluma noJobe wamkhumbuza ngokuhlakanipha kwaKhe okungenamkhawulo nothando analo ngendalo yaKhe. Wakhuluma ngezilwane eziningi ezikushiya umangele. (Jobe 38:1, 2; 39:9, 13, 19, 27; 40:15; 41:1, 2) Wasebenzisa nensizwa ethembekile okuthiwa u-Elihu ukuze aqinise futhi aduduze uJobe. U-Elihu wamqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uhlale ezivuza izikhonzi zakhe ngokukhuthazela kwazo. Kodwa uJehova waphinde washukumisela u-Elihu ukuba eluleke uJobe ngothando. U-Elihu wamsiza ukuba angagxili kuye ngokumkhumbuza ukuthi wayemncane kangakanani uma eqhathaniswa noJehova, uMdali wezulu nomhlaba. (Jobe 37:14) UJehova wanikeza noJobe isabelo; kwakufanele athandazele abangane bakhe abathathu ababonile. (Jobe 42:8-10) UJehova usisekela kanjani namuhla lapho sibhekene novivinyo olunzima?

11. IBhayibheli lisiduduza kanjani lapho sivivinywa?

¹¹ UJehova akakhulumi nathi ngokuqondile njengoba enza kuJobe, kodwa ukhuluma nathi ngeZwi lakhe iBhayibheli. (Roma. 15:4) Uyasiduduza ngokusinikeza ithemba ngekusasa. Cabanga ngamavesi ambalwa aseBhayibhelini angasiduduza lapho sibhekene novivinyo. EmiBhalweni, uJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi akukho lutho​—lokho kuhlanganisa novivinyo olunzima—​‘olungasihlukanisa nothando [lwakhe].’ (Roma 8:38, 39) Usiqinisekisa nangokuthi “useduze nabo bonke abambiza” ngomthandazo. (IHu. 145:18) Usitshela ukuthi uma sithembele kuye, singakwazi ukukhuthazelela noma yiluphi uvivinyo, size sithole nenjabulo ngezinga elithile lapho sihlupheka. (1 Kor. 10:13; Jak. 1:2, 12) IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisikhumbuza nokuthi uvivinyo  lwethu lungolwesikhashana futhi lufushane uma luqhathaniswa nomvuzo ohlala phakade asithembisa wona. (2 Kor. 4:16-18) UJehova usinikeza ithemba eliqinisekisiwe lokuthi uzoziqeda izimbangela eziyinhloko zalo lonke uvivinyo lwethu​—uSathane uDeveli nalabo abalingisa izindlela zakhe ezimbi. (IHu. 37:10) Akhona yini amavesi eBhayibheli aduduzayo osuwabambe ngekhanda angakusiza ukhuthazelele uvivinyo esikhathini esizayo?

12. UJehova ulindele ukuba senzeni uma sifuna ukuzuza ngokugcwele eZwini lakhe?

¹² UJehova ulindele ukuba sihlele isikhathi sokutadisha iBhayibheli njalo futhi sizindle ngalokho esikufundayo. Lapho sikusebenzisa esikufundayo, ukholo lwethu luyaqina futhi sisondela nakakhulu kuBaba wethu osezulwini. Ngenxa yalokho, siba namandla okukhuthazelela uvivinyo. UJehova uphinde abanike umoya wakhe ongcwele labo abathembela eZwini lakhe. Lowo moya ungasinika “amandla angaphezu kwavamile” okukhuthazelela noma iluphi uvivinyo.​—2 Kor. 4:7-10.

13. Ukudla okungokomoya okulethwa “inceku ethembekile neqondayo” kusisiza kanjani sikhuthazelele uvivinyo?

¹³ Ngosizo lukaJehova, “inceku ethembekile neqondayo” ikhipha inqwaba yezihloko, amavidiyo nomculo okungasisiza sakhe ukholo oluqinile futhi sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya. (Math. 24:45) Kudingeka siwasebenzise ngokugcwele la malungiselelo afike ngesikhathi. Muva nje, udade wase-United States wazwakalisa ukwazisa anakho ngakho konke lokhu kudla ongokomoya. Wathi: “Phakathi neminyaka engu-40 ngikhonza uJehova, ubuqotho bami buye bavivinywa ngokuphindaphindiwe.” Wabhekana novivinyo olunzima​—umkhulu wakhe wabulawa umshayeli odakiwe, abazali bakhe bagula futhi bashona kanti yena waphathwa umdlavuza kwaze kwaba kabili. Yini eyamsiza wakhuthazela? Wachaza: “UJehova ubehlale enginakekela. Ukudla okungokomoya akuletha ngenceku ethembekile neqondayo kuye kwangisiza ngakhuthazela. Ngenxa yako, ngizizwa njengoJobe, owathi: ‘Ngiyoze ngife ngingazange ngibulahle ubuqotho bami!’”​—Jobe 27:5.

14. UJehova ubasebenzisa kanjani esikholwa nabo ukuze basisekele lapho sivivinywa? (1 Thesalonika 4:9)

¹⁴ UJehova ufundise abantu bakhe ukuba bathandane futhi baduduzane ngezikhathi ezinzima. (2 Kor. 1:3, 4; funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 4:9.) Belingisa u-Elihu, abafowethu nodadewethu bayakulangazelela ukusisiza  sihlale sithembekile lapho sibhekene nobunzima. (IzE. 14:22) Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela ibandla uDiane akulo elamkhuthaza futhi lamsiza ngayo ukuba ahlale eqinile ngokomoya ngesikhathi umyeni wakhe egula kakhulu. Wathi: “Kwakunzima. Kodwa sasibona isandla sikaJehova sisisekela ngothando phakathi nalezo zinyanga ezazinzima. Ibandla lethu lenza izinto eziningi ukuze lisisekele. Basivakashela, basifonela futhi basanga​—yilokho kanye esasikudinga ukuze sikhuthazele. Njengoba ngingakwazi ukushayela, abafowethu nodadewethu babeqikelela ukuthi ngiyakwazi ukuya emihlanganweni nasenkonzweni yasensimini lapho izimo zivuma.” Kuyisibusiso ngempela ukuba yingxenye yomndeni wabafowethu nodadewethu abanothando kangaka!

15. Kungani siqiniseka ngokuthi singakwazi ukubhekana nobunzima?

¹⁵ Sonke sizobhekana novivinyo oluthile. Nokho, njengoba sifundile, akusoze kwadingeka sibhekane novivinyo sisodwa. Njengobaba onothando, uJehova uhlale esiqaphile. Useduze nathi, ukulungele ukulalela izicelo zethu futhi uyakulangazelela ukusisekela. (Isaya 43:2) Siyaqiniseka ngokuthi singakwazi ukubhekana nobunzima ngoba ngomusa, usinike konke esikudingayo ukuze sikhuthazele. Usinike isipho somthandazo, iBhayibheli, ukudla okungokomoya okuningi kanye nabafowethu abasithandayo, abakulungele ukusisiza lapho sibadinga.

16. Yini esingayenza ukuze sihlale singaphansi kwesivikelo sikaJehova esinothando?

¹⁶ Sikwazisa ngempela ukuba noBaba osezulwini osiqaphile! “Izinhliziyo zethu ziyajabula ngaye.” (IHu. 33:21) Singambonisa uJehova ukuthi siyakwazisa ukusinakekela kwakhe ngothando ngokuba siwasebenzise wonke amalungiselelo asenzele wona ukuze asisize. Ukuze sihlale singaphansi kwesivikelo sikaNkulunkulu, nathi kudingeka sidlale eyethu indima. Ngamanye amazwi, uma siqhubeka senza konke okusemandleni ukuze silalele uJehova futhi senze okuhle emehlweni akhe, uyosiqapha kuze kube phakade!​—1 Pet. 3:12.