Hambisana Nenhlangano KaJehova

“Kwangathi uNkulunkulu wokuthula . . . anganihlomisa ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle ukuba nenze intando yakhe.”—HEBERU 13:20, 21.

1. Lingakanani inani labantu emhlabeni, futhi bangaki ababalwa njengamalungu ezinkolo ezithile?

NGONYAKA ka-1999, inani labantu emhlabeni lafika ezigidini eziyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha! I-World Almanac ibonisa ukuthi kuleli nani abangaba ngu-1 165 000 000 bangamaSulumane; abangu-1 030 000 000 bangamaRoma Katolika; abangu-762 000 000 bangamaHindu; abangu-354 000 000 bangamaBuddha; abangu-316 000 000 bangamaProthestani kanti abangu-214 000 000 bangama-Orthodox.

2. Kungathiwani ngesimo esingokwenkolo esikhona namuhla?

² Njengoba kunokuhlukana nokudideka ngokwenkolo namuhla, kungenzeka yini ukuthi zonke lezi zigidi zenza ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu? Cha, “ngoba uNkulunkulu uwuNkulunkulu wokuthula hhayi wesiyaluyalu.” (1 Korinte 14:33) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kuthiwani ngobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke bezinceku zikaJehova? (1 Petru 2:17) Ukuhlolisisa kubonisa ukuthi ‘uNkulunkulu wokuthula uzihlomisa ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle ukuba zenze intando yakhe.’—Heberu 13:20, 21.

3. Kwenzekani eJerusalema ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., futhi ngani?

³ Yiqiniso, inani lalabo abazihlanganise noFakazi BakaJehova alisona isici sokunquma ukuthi banawo yini umusa waphezulu; futhi izibalo azimhlabi umxhwele uNkulunkulu. Akawakhethanga ama-Israyeli ngoba ‘emaningi’ kunezinye izizwe. Eqinisweni, ‘ayeyingcosana’ kunazo zonke. (Duteronomi 7:7) Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi u-Israyeli akathembekanga, ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uJehova wadlulisela umusa wakhe ebandleni elisha elalakhiwe abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu. Bagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele kaJehova futhi baphuma ngentshiseko bamemezela iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu noKristu kwabanye.—IzEnzo 2:41, 42.

Ilokhu Iqhubekela Phambili

4. Kungani ungase uthi ibandla lobuKristu lokuqala lalilokhu liqhubekela phambili?

⁴ Ekhulwini lokuqala, ibandla lobuKristu lalilokhu liqhubekela phambili, livula amasimu amasha, lenza abafundi futhi lizuza ukuqonda okwengeziwe ngezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. AmaKristu okuqala ayehambisana nokukhanyiselwa  okungokomoya okwakunikezwa ngezincwadi eziphefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu. Eshukunyiswa ukuhambela kwabaphostoli nabanye, afeza inkonzo yawo. Lokhu kushicilelwe kahle emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki.—IzEnzo 10:21, 22; 13:46, 47; 2 Thimothewu 1:13; 4:5; Heberu 6:1-3; 2 Petru 3:17, 18.

5. Kungani inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ithuthuka namuhla, futhi kungani kufanele sihambisane nayo?

⁵ NjengamaKristu okuqala, oFakazi BakaJehova banamuhla baye bathuthuka besuka esiqalweni esiphansi. (Zakariya 4:8-10) Kusukela ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, bekulokhu kunobufakazi obucacile bokuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu ukanye nenhlangano yakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi asizange sithembele emandleni omuntu, kodwa esiqondisweni somoya ongcwele, siye saqhubeka sithuthuka ekuqondeni kwethu imiBhalo nasekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. (Zakariya 4:6) Manje njengoba ‘sisezinsukwini zokugcina,’ kubalulekile ukuba sihambisane nenhlangano kaJehova ethuthukayo. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Ukwenza kanjalo kusenza sikwazi ukugcina ithemba lethu liphila futhi sihlanganyele ekunikezeni ubufakazi ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe, ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto.—Mathewu 24:3-14.

6, 7. Yiziphi izici ezintathu esizozihlola, inhlangano kaJehova eye yathuthuka kuzo?

⁶ Phakathi kwethu kunabathile abaqala ukuzihlanganisa nenhlangano kaJehova ngawo-1920, 1930 nawo-1940. Ngaleyo minyaka yakudala, ubani nje phakathi kwethu owayengacabanga ngokwanda okumangalisayo nokuthuthuka kwenhlangano kuze kube namuhla? Cabanga ngezingqopha-mlando eziye zafinyelelwa emlandweni wethu wanamuhla! Kuyavuza ngempela ngokomoya ukucabanga ngalokho uJehova aye wakufeza ngabantu bakhe abahlelwe ngokwasezulwini.

⁷ UDavide wasendulo wahlabeka umxhwele ngokujulile lapho ecabanga ngemisebenzi kaJehova emangalisayo. Wathi: “Uma ngiyilanda, ngiyisho, miningi kunokuba ibalwe.” (IHubo 40:5) Nathi silinganiselwe ngokufanayo, asikwazi ukuzibala izenzo zikaJehova eziningi ezinkulu nezitusekayo osukwini lwethu. Nokho, ake sihlole izici ezintathu inhlangano kaJehova eye yathuthuka kuzo: (1) ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya okuthuthukayo, (2) inkonzo ethuthukile neyandile, kanye (3) nokulungisa okufika ngesikhathi ezinqubweni zenhlangano.

Siyabonga Ngokukhanyiselwa Okungokomoya

8. Ngokuvumelana nezAga 4:18, yini ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya okuye kwasenza sakwazi ukuyiqonda mayelana noMbuso?

⁸ IzAga 4:18 ziye zafezeka mayelana nokukhanyiselwa okuqhubekayo okungokomoya. Zithi: “Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube semini.” Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokukhanyiselwa okuqhubekayo okungokomoya esiye sakuthola! Emhlanganweni waseCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1919 kwaqokonyiswa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UJehova usebenzisa lo Mbuso ukuze angcwelise igama lakhe futhi alwele ubukhosi bakhe. Eqinisweni, ukukhayiselwa okungokomoya kuye kwasenza sakwazi ukuqonda ukuthi kusukela kuGenesise kuya kusAmbulo, iBhayibheli lifakaza ngenjongo kaJehova yokungcwelisa igama lakhe ngoMbuso ophethwe yiNdodana yakhe. Lilele lapho ithemba elihle labo bonke abathanda ukulunga.—Mathewu 12:18, 21.

9, 10. Ngawo 1920, yini eyaqondwa ngoMbuso nangezinhlangano ezimbili eziphikisanayo, futhi kuye kwasiza kanjani lokhu?

 ⁹ Emhlanganweni waseCedar Point ngo-1922, isikhulumi esiyinhloko, uJ. F. Rutherford, sanxusa abantu bakaNkulunkulu sathi, “memezelani, memezelani, memezelani iNkosi nombuso wayo.” Esihlokweni esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe,” esanyatheliswa kuyi-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-March 1, 1925, kwagxilwa ekuqondeni okungokomoya mayelana neziprofetho ezazikhulumé ngokumiswa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914. Kwaqondwa futhi ngawo-1920 ukuthi kunezinhlangano ezimbili eziphikisanayo—ekaJehova nekaSathane. Ziyalwa, futhi siyokuba sohlangothini olunqobayo kuphela uma sihambisana nenhlangano kaJehova.

¹⁰ Kuye kwasisiza kanjani ukukhanyiselwa okunjalo okungokomoya? Njengoba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu neNkosi uJesu Kristu ungeyona ingxenye yezwe, nathi asinakuba yiyo. Ngokuzigcina sihlukile ezweni, sibonisa ukuthi sisohlangothini lweqiniso. (Johane 17:16; 18:37) Lapho sibona izinkinga eziyinkimbinkimbi ezikhungethe lesi simiso esibi, yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi asiyona ingxenye yenhlangano kaSathane! Futhi yeka ukuthi sisemuseni kangakanani ngokuba nokulondeka okungokomoya enhlanganweni kaJehova!

11. Yiliphi igama elingokomBhalo elamukelwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngo-1931?

¹¹ Emhlanganweni waseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-1931, u-Isaya 43:10-12 wasetshenziswa ngendlela efanelekayo. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bamukela igama elihlukile elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. Yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo elikhulu kangakanani ukwenza igama likaNkulunkulu laziwe ukuze abanye balibize futhi basindiswe!—IHubo 83:18; Roma 10:13.

12. Yikuphi ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya mayelana nesixuku esikhulu okwanikezwa ngo-1935?

¹² Ngaphambi kwawo-1930, abaningi kubantu bakaNkulunkulu babengaqiniseki kahle ngethemba labo lokuphila okuzayo. Abanye babecabangé ngokuphila kwasezulwini kodwa bakhangwa yizimfundiso zeBhayibheli zomhlaba oyipharadesi. Emhlanganweni waseWashington, D.C., ngo-1935, kwavusa amadlingozi ukwazi ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo isahluko 7 siyisigaba esinethemba lasemhlabeni. Kusukela lapho, ukuqoqwa kwesixuku esikhulu kuye kwaqhubekela phambili ngejubane elikhudlwana. Asibongi yini ngokuthi akuyona imfihlakalo kithi ukuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu? Ukubona abantu beqoqwa ngobuningi kuzo zonke izizwe nezilimi kusishukumisela ukuba senyuse ijubane njengoba sihambisana nenhlangano kaJehova.

13. Iyiphi impikiswano eyinhloko eyaqokonyiswa emhlanganweni waseSt. Louis ngo-1941?

¹³ Impikiswano eyinhloko okufanele umphakathi wesintu uyikhathalele yaqokonyiswa emhlanganweni waseSt. Louis, eMissouri, ngo-1941. Iwukubusa, noma ubukhosi, bomhlaba wonke. Yilena impikiswano okufanele ixazululwe ngokushesha, futhi usuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lokwenziwa kwalokho lusondela ngokushesha! Okunye okwaqokonyiswa ngo-1941 kwakuyimpikiswano ehlobene nalena, yobuqotho, esivumela ukuba sibonise ukuthi simi kuphi ngabanye mayelana nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu.

14. Emhlanganweni wezizwe ngo-1950, yini eyacaciswa mayelana nezikhulu zika-Isaya 32:1, 2?

¹⁴ Emhlanganweni wezizwe owawuseNew York City ngo-1950, kwavezwa ngokucacile ukuthi zingobani izikhulu zika-Isaya 32:1, 2. Kwakuyinkathi evusa amadlingozi lapho uMfoweth’ uFrederick Franz ekhuluma ngale ndaba futhi echaza ukuthi izikhulu zomhlaba omusha ziphakathi kwethu. Kulowo mhlangano nakweyalandela, kuye kwaba nokubaneka okuningi kokukhanya okungokomoya. (IHubo 97:11) Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi indlela yethu ‘injengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo’!

Ukuqhubekela Phambili Enkonzweni Yethu

15, 16. (a) Saqhubekela kanjani phambili enkonzweni yethu phakathi nawo-1920 nawo-1930? (b) Yiziphi izincwadi eziye zafaka umfutho enkonzweni yobuKristu emashumini amuva eminyaka?

¹⁵ Indlela yesibili inhlangano kaJehova eye yaqhubekela phambili ngayo ihlobene nomsebenzi  wethu oyinhloko—ukushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 28:19, 20; Marku 13:10) Ukuze kufezwe lo msebenzi, inhlangano ibilokhu isikhumbuza ukubaluleka kokwandisa inkonzo yethu. Ngo-1922 wonke amaKristu anxuswa ukuba ahlanganyele emsebenzini wokushumayela. Kwakukumuntu ngamunye ukuba enze ukukhanya kwakhe kukhanye futhi kanjalo ahlanganyele mathupha ekufakazeni ngeqiniso. (Mathewu 5:14-16) Ngo-1927 kwathathwa izinyathelo zokubekela eceleni usuku lwangeSonto njengolwenkonzo yasensimini. Kusukela ngo-February 1940, kwaba yinto evamile ukubona oFakazi emigwaqweni nasezindaweni zamabhizinisi behambisa INqabayokulinda ne-Consolation (manje eyi-Phaphama!).

¹⁶ Ngonyaka ka-1937 kwethulwa incwajana ethi Model Study, eyagcizelela isidingo sokwenza izimpindelo ukuze kufundiswe abanye iqiniso leBhayibheli. Eminyakeni eyalandela, kwagcizelelwa kakhulu umsebenzi wezifundo zeBhayibheli. Lesi sici senkonzo safakwa umfutho lapho kunyatheliswa incwadi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso” ngo-1946 nethi Iqiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade ngo-1968. Njengamanje, sisebenzisa incwadi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade. Ukufunda ukwaziswa okunjalo kubeka isisekelo esingokomBhalo esiqinile sokwenza abafundi.

Ukuhambisana Nokulungisa Ekuhlelekeni Kwenhlangano

17. Ngokuvumelana no-Isaya 60:17, inhlangano kaJehova iye yaqhubekela kanjani phambili?

¹⁷ Indlela yesithathu inhlangano kaJehova eye yaqhubekela ngayo phambili ihlobene nokulungisa ekuhlelekeni kwenhlangano. Ngokuka-Isaya 60:17, uJehova wathembisa: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyakuletha igolide, nasesikhundleni sensimbi ngiyakuletha isiliva; esikhundleni somuthi ithusi, nasesikhundleni samatshe insimbi, ngibeke ukuthula kube ngababonisi bakho, nokulunga kube ngababusi bakho.” Ngokuvumelana nalesi siprofetho, kuye kwathathwa izinyathelo zokuthuthukisa indlela yokwengamela umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwaluswa komhlambi.

18, 19. Yikuphi ukulungisa okuye kwenziwa enhlanganweni phakathi neminyaka edlule?

¹⁸ Ngo-1919 kwamiswa umqondisi wenkonzo ebandleni ngalinye elacela ukuhlelelwa inkonzo yasensimini. Lokhu kwayifaka umfutho inkonzo yethu ensimini. Ukukhethwa kwabadala namadiyakoni kwayekwa ngo-1932, okwasho ukuyeka kwethu izindlela zentando yeningi. Enye ingqopha-mlando yafinyelelwa ngo-1938 lapho zonke izinceku ebandleni ziqala ukumiswa ngokuvumelana eduze kakhudlwana namalungiselelo okumiswa okungokwasezulwini ebandleni lobuKristu lokuqala. (IzEnzo 14:23; 1 Thimothewu 4:14) Ngo-1972 kwamiswa ababonisi nezinceku ezikhonzayo ukuba bakhonze, njengoba kwenzeka phakathi kwamaKristu okuqala. Kunokuba kube ngumuntu oyedwa okhonza njengombonisi webandla, eyabaseFilipi 1:1 neminye imibhalo ibonisa ukuthi labo abahlangabezana nezimfuneko ezingokomBhalo zababonisi bakha indikimba yabadala.—IzEnzo 20:28; Efesu 4:11, 12.

¹⁹ Ngo-1975 kwaqalwa ilungiselelo lokuba amakomiti eNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova engamele imisebenzi yomhlaba wonke yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu. Kwamiswa amaKomiti Amagatsha ukuba engamele umsebenzi emasimini awo ahlukahlukene. Kusukela lapho, kuye kwagxilwa ekwenzeni lula umsebenzi endlunkulu nasemagatsheni e-Watch Tower Society ukuze ‘kuqinisekwe ngezinto ezibaluleke ngokwengeziwe.’ (Filipi 1:9, 10) Imithwalo esemahlombe abelusi abangaphansi bakaKristu ihilela ukuhola emsebenzini wokushumayela ivangeli, ukufundisa ebandleni nokwalusa kahle umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.—1 Thimothewu 4:16; Heberu 13:7, 17; 1 Petru 5:2, 3.

Ukuhola KukaJesu Ngenkuthalo

20. Ukuhambisana nenhlangano kaJehova kudinga ukuba siqapheleni ngesikhundla sikaJesu?

²⁰ Ukuhambisana nenhlangano kaJehova ethuthukayo kudinga ukuba siqaphele indima uJesu Kristu ayabelwe nguNkulunkulu ‘njengenhloko yebandla.’ (Efesu 5:22, 23) Uyaphawuleka  futhi u-Isaya 55:4, lapho sitshelwa khona: “Bheka, [mina Jehova] ngimniké abe ngufakazi kubantu, umholi nomyali kubantu.” UJesu uyakwazi ngempela ukuhola. Uyazazi nezimvu zakhe nezenzo zazo. Eqinisweni, lapho ehlola amabandla ayisikhombisa ase-Asia Minor, washo kahlanu ukuthi: “Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho.” (IsAmbulo 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15) UJesu uyazazi nezidingo zethu, njengoba uYise, uJehova, ezazi. Ngaphambi kokunikeza uMthandazo Oyisibonelo, uJesu wathi: “UNkulunkulu uYihlo uyazi ukuthi yiziphi izinto enizidingayo nangaphambi kokuba nicele kuye.”—Mathewu 6:8-13.

21. Ukuhola kukaJesu kubonakala kanjani ebandleni lobuKristu?

²¹ Kubonakala kanjani ukuhola kukaJesu? Enye indlela ingababonisi abangamaKristu, ‘izipho ezingabantu.’ (Efesu 4:8) IsAmbulo 1:16 siveza ababonisi abagcotshiwe njengabasesandleni sokudla sikaKristu, belawulwa nguye. Namuhla, uJesu uqondisa ilungiselelo labadala, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lawo madoda anethemba lasezulwini noma lasemhlabeni. Njengoba kuchaziwe esihlokweni esandulele, amiswa ngumoya ongcwele ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko ezingokomBhalo. (1 Thimothewu 3:1-7; Thithu 1:5-9) Ekhulwini lokuqala, iqembu lamadoda amadala eJerusalema lalakha indikimba ebusayo eyayengamele amabandla nomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Namuhla kulandelwa isibonelo esifanayo enhlanganweni kaJehova.

Hambisana Nayo!

22. Yiluphi usizo olunikezwa yiNdikimba Ebusayo?

²² Izithakazelo zoMbuso emhlabeni ziye zaphathiswa “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” esimelelwa yiNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova. (Mathewu 24:45-47) INdikimba Ebusayo ikhathalela ngokuyinhloko ukunikezwa kwemfundo nesiqondiso esingokomoya ebandleni lobuKristu. (IzEnzo 6:1-6) Nokho, lapho esikholwa nabo behlaselwa yizinhlekelele zemvelo, iNdikimba Ebusayo icela inhlangano engokomthetho eyodwa noma ezengeziwe ukuba zinikeze usizo futhi zilungise noma zakhe kabusha imizi namaHholo OMbuso alimele. Uma amaKristu athile ephathwa ngokhahlo noma eshushiswa, kuthathwa izinyathelo zokuwakha ngokomoya. Futhi “ngenkathi enzima,” kwenziwa yonke imizamo yokugcina umsebenzi wokushumayela uqhubekela phambili.—2 Thimothewu 4:1, 2.

23, 24. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi behlelwa yini abantu bakhe, yini uJehova ayinikeza njalo, futhi yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²³ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bakhe behlelwa yini, uJehova ubanikeza njalo ukudla okungokomoya nesiqondiso abasidingayo. Futhi uNkulunkulu unikeza abazalwane abanomthwalo wemfanelo ukuqonda ukuze balungiselele ukuthuthuka nokulungisa okwengeziwe ekuhlelekeni okungokwasezulwini. (Duteronomi 34:9; Efesu 1:16, 17) Ngokungaphazami, uJehova usilungiselela esikudingayo ukuze sifeze umsebenzi wethu wokwenza abafundi nokufeza inkonzo yethu emhlabeni wonke.—2 Thimothewu 4:5.

²⁴ Siqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi uJehova akasoze abashiya abantu bakhe abathembekile; uyobakhulula “osizini olukhulu” oluzayo. (IsAmbulo 7:9-14; IHubo 94:14; 2 Petru 2:9) Sinazo zonke izizathu zokulondoloza ukuqiniseka esasinakho ekuqaleni sikwenze kungaxegi kuze kube sekupheleni. (Heberu 3:14) Ngakho-ke, masizimisele ukuhambisana nenhlangano kaJehova.

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Kungani singase sithi inhlangano kaJehova ilokhu iqhubekela phambili?

• Kunabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bajabulela ukukhanyiselwa okuqhubekayo okungokomoya?

• Kuye kwenziwa kanjani ukuthuthukisa enkonzweni yobuKristu?

• Yikuphi ukulungisa okufika ngesikhathi okuye kwenziwa ezinqubweni zenhlangano phakathi kwezikhonzi zikaJehova?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

NjengoDavide, asinakuyibala yonke imisebenzi kaJehova emangalisayo

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Umhlambi kaNkulunkulu uye wazuza ekulungiseni okufika ngesikhathi ezinqubweni zenhlangano