1-2. Yisiphi isenzakalo esimangalisayo esenzeka ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E.?

ISONTO ekuseni eJerusalema. Unyaka u-33 C.E. futhi usuku lwePentekoste. Iqembu labafundi abangaba ngu-120 lihlangene ekamelweni eliphezulu lomuzi othile. (IzE. 1:13-15; 2:1) Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kwalokhu, uJesu wayebayale ukuba bahlale eJerusalema ngoba babezothola isipho esikhethekile. (IzE. 1:4, 5) Kube sekwenzekani?

² “Kungazelelwe [kuzwakala] umsindo uvela ezulwini ufana nowesivunguvungu esinamandla.” Umsindo uzwakala indlu yonke. Ngemva kwalokho “okunjengamalangabi” kuhlala phezu kwamakhanda abafundi futhi bonke “bagcwala umoya ongcwele.” (IzE. 2:2-4) Ngale ndlela emangalisayo, uJehova uthululela umoya wakhe ongcwele kuleli qembu. (IzE. 1:8) Baba obokuqala abagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele * futhi banikwa ithemba lokubusa noJesu ezulwini.

3. Kungani labo ababekhona ngePentekoste babengangabazi ukuthi bagcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele?

³ Ukube wawuphakathi kwalabo bafundi ababehlangene ekamelweni eliphezulu ngalolo suku, wawungeke uphinde ukukhohlwe okwenzeka. Kwehla okuthile okunjengelangabi  kwahlala ekhanda lakho futhi waqala ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi! (IzE. 2:5-12) Wawuyoqiniseka ngempela ukuthi ugcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele. Kodwa ingabe kwenzeka isimangaliso esifanayo kubo bonke abagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele futhi ingabe bagcotshwa bonke ngesikhathi esifanayo? Cha. Sazi kanjani?

4. Ingabe wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe angekhulu lokuqala agcotshwa ngesikhathi esifanayo? Chaza.

⁴ Ake sicabange ngesikhathi sokugcotshwa. Akuwona wodwa amaKristu angaba ngu-120 agcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E. Kamuva ngalo lolo suku, abantu abangaba ngu-3 000 nabo bawuthola umoya ongcwele. Bona bagcotshwa ngesikhathi bebhapathizwa. (IzE. 2:37, 38, 41) Kodwa eminyakeni eyalandela, akuwona wonke amaKristu agcotshwa lapho ebhapathizwa. AmaSamariya agcotshwa ngemva kwesikhathi esithile ebhapathiziwe. (IzE. 8:14-17) Esimweni esasingavamile, uKorneliyu nomndeni wakhe bagcotshwa bengakabhapathizwa ngisho ukubhapathizwa.—IzE. 10:44-48.

5. Ngokweyesi-2 Korinte 1:21, 22, kwenzekani lapho umuntu egcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele?

⁵ Ake sicabange nangalokho okwenzekayo lapho umuntu egcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele. Kungase kube nzima ngabanye abagcotshiwe ukwamukela ukuthi uJehova uye wabakhetha. Bangase bazibuze, ‘Kungani uNkulunkulu ekhethe mina?’ Abanye bangase bangazizwa kanjalo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu usabela kanjani, umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza ukuthi kwenzekani kubo bonke abagcotshiwe: “Ngemva kokuba senikholiwe, nabekwa uphawu * ngomoya ongcwele othenjisiwe, oluphawu olunikezwa kusengaphambili lwefa lethu.” (Efe. 1:13, 14) Ngakho, uJehova usebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze akwenze kucace kulawo maKristu ukuthi uwakhethile. Ngaleyo ndlela, umoya ongcwele ‘uwuphawu [noma isithembiso]’ abanikezwa  lona ukuze baqiniseke ngokuthi esikhathini esizayo bazophila phakade ezulwini hhayi emhlabeni.—Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:21, 22.

6. Yini umKristu ogcotshiwe okumelwe ayenze ukuze athole umvuzo wakhe wasezulwini?

⁶ Uma umKristu egcotshiwe, ingabe kusho ukuthi uyothola umvuzo wakhe wasezulwini ngokuzenzakalelayo? Cha. Uyaqiniseka ukuthi ukhethiwe ukuba aye ezulwini. Nokho, kufanele akhumbule la mazwi: “Bazalwane, yenzani nangokwengeziwe konke okusemandleni enu ukuze niziqinisekisele ukubizwa nokukhethwa kwenu; ngoba uma niqhubeka nenza lezi zinto anisoze nahluleka nanini.” (2 Pet. 1:10) Ngakho, ngisho noma umKristu ogcotshiwe ekhethiwe, noma ethole ubizo lokuba aye ezulwini, umvuzo wakhe uyowuthola kuphela uma ehlala ethembekile.—Fil. 3:12-14; Heb. 3:1; IsAm. 2:10.

7. AmaKristu agcotshiwe azi kanjani ukuthi anobizo lwasezulwini?

⁷ Umuntu wazi kanjani ukuthi ugcotshiwe? Impendulo siyibona ngokucacile emazwini kaPawulu awabhalela labo ‘ababebizelwe ukuba babe ngabangcwele’ eRoma. Wabatshela: “Anamukelanga umoya wobugqila obangela ukwesaba futhi, kodwa namukela umoya wokutholwa njengamadodana, umoya esikhamuluka ngawo sithi: “Abha, Baba!” Umoya ngokwawo ufakazelana nomoya wethu ukuthi singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 1:7; 8:15, 16) Ngakho ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, uNkulunkulu ukwenza kucace kulabo abagcotshiwe ukuthi banobizo lwasezulwini.—1 Thes. 2:12.

8. Eyoku-1 Johane 2:20, 27 ibonisa kanjani ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe awadingi ukuqinisekiswa abanye ukuthi agcotshiwe?

⁸ UJehova wenza ukuba labo abagcotshiwe bangakungabazi nakancane ukuthi ubamemele ukuphila ezulwini. (Funda eyoku-1 Johane 2:20, 27.) Kuyiqiniso ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe kudingeka afundiswe uJehova ebandleni njengawo wonke umuntu. Kodwa awadingi muntu ozowaqinisekisa ngokuthi agcotshiwe. UJehova uye wasebenzisa amandla amakhulu kunawo wonke emhlabeni, umoya wakhe ongcwele, ukuze awaqinisekise ukuthi agcotshiwe!

9. Lapho othile egcotshwa, yini eshintshayo kulowo muntu, njengoba kuboniswe kweyabase-Efesu 1:18?

⁹ Kungase kube nzima ngamanye amaKristu amaningi namuhla ukuqonda lokho okwenzeka kumuntu lapho uNkulunkulu emgcoba. Kungani? Yingoba wona awagcotshiwe. UNkulunkulu wadala abantu ukuze baphile phakade emhlabeni, hhayi ezulwini. (Gen. 1:28; IHu. 37:29) Kodwa uNkulunkulu uye wakhetha abathile ukuba baphile ezulwini. Ngakho lapho ebagcoba, ushintsha ngokuphawulekayo ithemba labo nendlela abacabanga ngayo ukuze balangazelele ukuyophila ezulwini.—Funda eyabase-Efesu 1:18.

10. Kusho ukuthini ‘ukuphinde uzalwe’? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹⁰ Lapho amaKristu egcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele, “aphinde azalwe.” * UJesu naye wabonisa ukuthi umuntu ogcotshiwe akakwazi ukuchazela umuntu ongagcotshiwe ukuthi kunjani kahle-hle ‘ukuphinde uzalwe’ noma ‘ukuzalwa ngumoya.’—Joh. 3:3-8.

11. Chaza ushintsho oluba khona endleleni umuntu acabanga ngayo lapho egcotshwa.

 ¹¹ Kuba naluphi ushintsho endleleni amaKristu acabanga ngayo lapho egcotshwa? Ngaphambi kokuba uJehova awagcobe la maKristu, ayelazisa ithemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ayelangazelela isikhathi lapho uJehova eyosusa bonke ububi bese enza umhlaba ube yipharadesi. Mhlawumbe ayecabanga ngesikhathi lapho ayezokwamukela khona ilungu lomndeni noma umngane ovusiwe. Kodwa lapho esegcotshiwe, aqala ukucabanga ngendlela ehlukile. Kungani? Akukona ukuthi awanelisekile ngethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Isifiso sawo asishintshi ngenxa yokucindezeleka noma izinkinga. Awabi nomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila phakade emhlabeni kuzoba isicefe. Kunalokho, uJehova nguye osebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze ashintshe indlela acabanga ngayo, ashintshe nethemba ayelilangazelela.

12. Ngokweyoku-1 Petru 1:3, 4, amaKristu agcotshiwe azizwa kanjani ngethemba analo?

¹² Umuntu ogcotshiwe angase azizwe engalifanelekele leli lungelo eliyigugu. Kodwa akakungabazi nakancane ukuthi uJehova uye wamkhetha. Inhliziyo yakhe ichichima injabulo nokwazisa lapho ecabanga ngethemba analo lokuphila ezulwini.—Funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:3, 4. 

13. Abagcotshiwe bazizwa kanjani manje njengoba besaphila emhlabeni?

¹³ Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abagcotshiwe bafuna ukuvele bafe? Umphostoli uPawulu uyawuphendula lowo mbuzo. Wafanisa umzimba wabo wenyama netende wabe esethi: “Eqinisweni, thina esikuleli tende siyabubula, njengoba sisindwa; ngenxa yokuthi esikufunayo akukhona ukulikhumula, kodwa ukugqoka lelo elinye, ukuze lokho okufayo kugwinywe ukuphila.” (2 Kor. 5:4) La maKristu asakujabulela ukuphila lapha emhlabeni futhi awafuni ukusheshe afe. Usuku nosuku ajabulela ukukhonza uJehova nemindeni yawo kanye nabangane. Nokho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi enzani, ahlale ecabanga ngethemba lawo elimangalisayo azolijabulela esikhathini esizayo.—1 Kor. 15:53; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Joh. 3:2, 3; IsAm. 20:6.

14. Yiziphi izinto ezingabonisi ukuthi umuntu ugcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele?

¹⁴ Mhlawumbe uyazibuza ukuthi ugcotshiwe yini ngomoya ongcwele? Uma kunjalo, cabanga ngale mibuzo ebalulekile: Ingabe unesifiso esikhulu sokufuna ukwenza intando kaJehova? Ingabe unentshiseko ephawulekayo emsebenzini wokushumayela? Ingabe uyakujabulela ukutadisha iBhayibheli nokufunda ‘izinto ezijulile zikaNkulunkulu’? (1 Kor. 2:10) Ingabe unomuzwa wokuthi uye wathola imiphumela emihle kakhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela? Ingabe uzizwa unesibopho esikhulu sokusiza abanye bafunde ngoJehova? Ingabe uye wabona ubufakazi bezindlela uJehova aye wakusiza ngazo ekuphileni kwakho? Uma uphendula ngoyebo kuyo yonke le mibuzo, ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi ugcotshiwe? Cha. Kungani sisho kanjalo? Yingoba zonke izinceku zikaJehova zingazizwa ngale ndlela, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zigcotshiwe noma cha. Esebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele, uJehova anganika noma iyiphi inceku yakhe amandla okwenza lezi zinto, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi inethemba lokuphila kuphi. Empeleni, uma usazibuza noma ungaqiniseki ukuthi ugcotshiwe yini, lokho nje kukodwa kubonisa ukuthi awugcotshiwe. Labo abathola lolu  bizo kuJehova abangabazi ukuthi bagcotshiwe! Bayazi!

15. Sazi kanjani ukuthi akubona bonke abantu abathola umoya kaNkulunkulu abakhethwa ukuba baye ezulwini?

¹⁵ EBhayibhelini kunezibonelo eziningi zabantu ababenokholo abathola umoya ongcwele; nokho, babengenalo ithemba lokuphila ezulwini. UDavide wayeqondiswa umoya ongcwele. (1 Sam. 16:13) Umoya ongcwele wamsiza waqonda izinto ezijulile ngoJehova futhi wamqondisa ukuba abhale izingxenye ezithile zeBhayibheli. (Marku 12:36) Noma kunjalo, umphostoli uPetru wathi uDavide “akazange anyukele emazulwini.” (IzE. 2:34) UJohane umBhapathizi ‘wagcwala umoya ongcwele.’ (Luka 1:13-16) UJesu wathi akekho owayemkhulu ukwedlula uJohane, kodwa futhi wathi uJohane wayengeke abe yingxenye yoMbuso wasezulwini. (Math. 11:10, 11) UJehova wasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze anike bonke laba bantu amandla okwenza izinto ezimangalisayo, kodwa akazange awusebenzisele ukubakhetha ukuba bayophila ezulwini. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi babethembeke kancane kunalabo abakhethwa ukuba babuse ezulwini? Cha, kumane kusho ukuthi uJehova uzobavusela emhlabeni oyiPharadesi.—Joh. 5:28, 29; IzE. 24:15.

16. Yimuphi umvuzo olindelwe izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziningi namuhla?

¹⁶ Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziningi namuhla azinalo ithemba lokuphila ezulwini. Njengo-Abrahama, uSara, uDavide, uJohane umBhapathizi nabanye abesilisa nabesifazane ababephila ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, zilindelwe ukuphila emhlabeni lapho ziyobe zibuswa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Heb. 11:10.

17. Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ Namuhla, basekhona abagcotshiwe esisaphila nabo, ngakho singase sibe nemibuzo. (IsAm. 12:17) Ngokwesibonelo, abagcotshiwe kufanele bazibheke kanjani? Lapho othile ebandleni okulo eqala ukudla izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo, kufanele umphathe kanjani? Kuthiwani uma inani lalabo abathi bagcotshiwe lilokhu likhula? Ingabe kufanele kukukhathaze lokho? Sizophendula le mibuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.