‘Hambani Niyokwenza Abafundi, Nibabhapathize’

“Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize . . . , nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho.”—MATHEWU 28:19, 20.

1. Isiphi isinqumo isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esasenza phansi kweNtaba YaseSinayi?

EMINYAKENI engaba ngu-3 500 edlule, isizwe esithile senza isifungo kuNkulunkulu. Ama-Israyeli ayebuthene phansi kweNtaba YaseSinayi avuma obala: “Konke uJehova akukhulumile sizimisele ukukwenza.” Kusukela ngalowo mzuzu kuqhubeke, ama-Israyeli aba isizwe esizinikezele kuNkulunkulu, aba ‘impahla yakhe ekhethekile.’ (Eksodusi 19:5, 8; 24:3) Ayebheke phambili ekutholeni isivikelo sakhe nasekuphileni iminyakanyaka ezweni “eligeleza ubisi noju.”—Levitikusi 20:24.

2. Ibuphi ubuhlobo abantu abangaba nabo noNkulunkulu namuhla?

² Nokho, njengoba umhubi u-Asafa avuma, ama-Israyeli “awasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, enqaba ukuhamba emthethweni wakhe.” (IHubo 78:10) Ehluleka ukugcina isifungo oyise abasenza kuJehova. Ekugcineni, lesi sizwe salahlekelwa yilobo buhlobo obuyingqayizivele noNkulunkulu. (UmShumayeli 5:4; Mathewu 23:37, 38) Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu ‘wanaka izizwe ukuze athathe kuzo isizwe segama lakhe.’ (IzEnzo 15:14) Futhi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ubuthela ndawonye “isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu [okwaziyo] ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga nabantu nezilimi,” esivuma ngenjabulo ukuthi: “Insindiso yethu ivela kuNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakulo iWundlu.”—IsAmbulo 7:9, 10.

3. Iziphi izinyathelo umuntu okumelwe azithathe ukuze abe nobuhlobo bomuntu siqu noNkulunkulu?

³ Ukuze umuntu abe phakathi kwalabo ababa nalobo buhlobo obuyigugu noNkulunkulu, kumelwe azinikezele kuJehova futhi akubonakalise obala ngokubhapathizwa emanzini. Lokhu kuvumelana nomyalo oqondile uJesu awunikeza  abafundi bakhe: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Ama-Israyeli alalela lapho kufundwa “incwadi yesivumelwano.” (Eksodusi 24:3, 7, 8) Ngakho, ayeziqonda izibopho zawo kuJehova. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla kubalulekile ukuba umuntu abe nolwazi olunembile ngentando kaNkulunkulu etholakala eZwini lakhe, iBhayibheli, ngaphambi kokuba athathe isinyathelo sokubhapathizwa.

4. Umuntu kumelwe enzeni ukuze afanelekele ukubhapathizwa? (Hlanganisa nebhokisi elingenhla.)

⁴ Ngokusobala, uJesu wayefuna ukuba abafundi bakhe babhapathizwe sebenesisekelo esiqinile sokholo lwabo. Akazange nje ayale abalandeli bakhe ukuba bahambe bayokwenza abafundi kodwa wabayala nokuba babafundise ‘ukugcina konke abayale ngakho.’ (Mathewu 7:24, 25; Efesu 3:17-19) Ngakho-ke, labo abafanelekela ukubhapathizwa ngokuvamile basuke betadishe iBhayibheli izinyanga ezithile noma ngisho unyaka owodwa noma emibili, ukuze bangenzi isinqumo ngamawala noma ngaphandle kolwazi olwanele. Ngesikhathi sokubhapathizwa, abazobhapathizwa bavuma ngoyebo emibuzweni emibili ebalulekile. Njengoba uJesu agcizelela ukuthi ‘u-Yebo wethu makasho uYebo, u-Cha wethu, asho uCha,’ kuyosisiza sonke ukukubukeza ngokucophelela lokho okushiwo yile mibuzo yobhapathizo.—Mathewu 5:37.

Ukuphenduka Nokuzinikezela

5. Iziphi izinyathelo ezimbili ezibalulekile umbuzo wokuqala wobhapathizo ozigcizelelayo?

⁵ Umbuzo wokuqala wobhapathizo ubuza ozobhapathizwa ukuthi usephendukile yini enkambweni yakhe yangaphambili futhi wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova ukuba enze intando yakhe. Lo mbuzo ugcizelela izinyathelo ezimbili ezibalulekile okumelwe zithathwe ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa, okungukuthi ukuphenduka nokuzinikezela.

6, 7. (a) Kungani ukuphenduka kudingeka kubo bonke abafuna ukubhapathizwa? (b) Iziphi izinguquko okumelwe zenziwe ngemva kokuba umuntu esephendukile?

⁶ Kungani umuntu kumelwe aphenduke ngaphambi kokuba abhapathizwe? Umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza: “Sonke sake saziphatha ngokuvumelana nezifiso zenyama yethu.” (Efesu 2:3) Ngaphambi kokuba sibe nolwazi olunembile ngentando kaNkulunkulu, sasiphila ngendlela yezwe, ngokuvumelana nezimiso nezindinganiso zalo. Inkambo yethu yokuphila yayilawulwa unkulunkulu walesi simiso, uSathane. (2 Korinte 4:4) Nokho, njengoba sesiyazi intando kaNkulunkulu, senza isinqumo sokuba ‘singabe sisaphilela izifiso zabantu, kodwa siphilele intando kaNkulunkulu.’—1 Petru 4:2.

⁷ Le nkambo entsha isilethela imivuzo eminingi. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, isivulela ithuba lokuba nobuhlobo obuyigugu noJehova, uDavide abuqhathanisa nokumenyelwa “etendeni” likaNkulunkulu ‘nasentabeni yakhe engcwele’—ilungelo elikhulu ngempela. (IHubo 15:1) Kunengqondo ukuthi uJehova ngeke ameme noma ubani kodwa uyomema kuphela  labo ‘abahamba ngokungenaphutha futhi abakwenza umkhuba ukulunga futhi abakhuluma iqiniso enhliziyweni yabo.’ (IHubo 15:2) Ukuhlangabezana nalezi zimfuneko kungase kusho ukuthi kumelwe senze izinguquko ezithile—kokubili ekuziphatheni nasebuntwini bethu—kuye ngokuthi izimo zethu zazinjani ngaphambi kokuba sifunde iqiniso. (1 Korinte 6:9-11; Kolose 3:5-10) Into esishukumisela ukuba senze lezi zinguquko ukuphenduka—ukuzisola ngokujulile ngenkambo yethu yangaphambili nokuzimisela ngokuqinile ukuthokozisa uJehova. Lokhu kuholela ekuguqukeni ngokuphelele—ukuyeka indlela yokuphila yezwe yobugovu nokuphishekela inkambo ethokozisa uNkulunkulu.—IzEnzo 3:19.

8. Sizinikezela kanjani, futhi lokho kuhlobene kanjani nobhapathizo?

⁸ Ingxenye yesibili yombuzo wokuqala wobhapathizo ibuza abazobhapathizwa ukuthi sebezinikezele yini kuJehova ukuba benze intando yakhe. Ukuzinikezela kuyisinyathelo esibalulekile okumelwe sithathwe ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa. Sizinikezela ngomthandazo, siveze isifiso sethu sokunikela ukuphila kwethu kuJehova ngoKristu. (Roma 14:7, 8; 2 Korinte 5:15) UJehova ube eseba iNkosi yethu noMnikazi wethu, futhi njengoJesu siyakujabulela ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 40:8; Efesu 6:6) Lesi sithembiso esiqotho sokuzinikezela kuJehova senziwa kanye kuphela. Nokho, njengoba sizinikezela ngasese, ukuvuma obala ngosuku lobhapathizo kwenza wonke umuntu azi ukuthi siye sazinikezela ngobuqotho kuBaba wethu osezulwini.—Roma 10:10.

9, 10. (a) Ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kuhilelani? (b) Ukuzinikezela kwethu kwaqashelwa kanjani ngisho nayizikhulu zamaNazi?

⁹ Ukulandela isibonelo sikaJesu sokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kuhilelani? UJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Uma umuntu efuna ukungilandela, makazidele athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa angilandele njalo.” (Mathewu 16:24) Zintathu izinto azichaza lapha. Okokuqala ukuba ‘sizidele.’ Ngamanye amazwi, siyenqaba ukubuswa ukuthambekela kwethu kokungapheleli kobugovu, samukele iseluleko nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu. Okwesibili, ‘sithatha isigxobo sethu sokuhlushwa.’ Ngosuku lukaJesu isigxobo sokuhlushwa sasifanekisela ihlazo nokuhlupheka. NjengamaKristu, siyavuma ukuthi siyohlupheka ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle. (2 Thimothewu 1:8) Nakuba izwe lingase lisiklolodele noma lisigxeke, ‘siyalidelela ihlazo’ njengoKristu, sethaba ngokwazi ukuthi sithokozisa uNkulunkulu. (Hebheru 12:2) Okokugcina, silandela uJesu “njalo.”—IHubo 73:26; 119:44; 145:2.

¹⁰ Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi ngisho nabanye babaphikisi bethu bayakuqaphela ukuzinikezela oFakazi BakaJehova abakwenzile kuNkulunkulu ukuze bamkhonze ngokungagodli. Ngokwesibonelo, ekamu lokuhlushwa laseBuchenwald laseJalimane lobuNazi, oFakazi abenqaba ukulahla ukholo lwabo kwakudingeka basayine la mazwi alandelayo ayenyathelisiwe: “NgisengumFundi WeBhayibheli ozibophezele futhi angisoze ngasephula isifungo sami engasenza kuJehova.” Impela la mazwi asiveza kahle isimo sengqondo sazo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizinikezele nezithembekile!—IzEnzo 5:32.

Ukubonakaliswa Njengomunye WoFakazi BakaJehova

11. Iliphi ilungelo elitholwa umuntu ozobhapathizwa?

¹¹ Umbuzo wesibili uqala ngokubuza ozobhapathizwa ukuthi uyaqonda yini ukuthi ubhapathizo  lwakhe lumbonakalisa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngemva kokucwiliswa, uba isikhonzi esimisiwe esiphatha igama likaJehova. Lokhu kuyilungelo elikhulu kuphinde kube umthwalo wemfanelo ongathí sina. Kubuye futhi kubeke obhapathizwayo ohlwini lokuthola insindiso yaphakade, uma ezohlala ethembekile kuJehova.—Mathewu 24:13.

12. Isiphi isibopho esihambisana nelungelo lokuphatha igama likaJehova?

¹² Ngokuqinisekile, kuyilungelo eliyingqayizivele ukuphatha igama likaNkulunkulu onguMninimandla onke, uJehova. Umprofethi uMika wathi: “Zonke izizwe, ziyohamba yileso naleso ngegama likankulunkulu waso; kodwa thina, siyohamba ngegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube nini nanini, yebo kuze kube phakade.” (Mika 4:5) Noma kunjalo, leli lungelo lihambisana nesibopho. Kumelwe silwele ukuphila ukuphila kwethu ngendlela edumisa leli gama esiliphethe. Njengoba uPawulu akhumbuza amaKristu eRoma, uma umuntu engaphili ngokuvumelana nesifungo sakhe, igama likaNkulunkulu “liyahlanjalazwa” noma kukhulunywe kabi ngalo.—Roma 2:21-24.

13. Kungani izinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele zinomthwalo wemfanelo wokufakaza ngoNkulunkulu wazo?

¹³ Lapho umuntu eba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, wamukela nomthwalo wemfanelo wokufakaza ngoNkulunkulu wakhe. UJehova wamema isizwe sika-Israyeli esizinikezele ukuba sibe ofakazi bakhe ukuze sifakazele ubuNkulunkulu bakhe baphakade. (Isaya 43:10-12, 21) Kodwa leso sizwe sahluleka ukufeza le ndima, futhi ekugcineni salahlekelwa umusa kaJehova ngokuphelele. Namuhla, amaKristu eqiniso ayaziqhenya ngokuba naleli lungelo lokufakazela uJehova. Senza kanjalo ngoba simthanda futhi silangazelela ukuba igama lakhe lingcweliswe. Singathula kanjani nempela sibe sazi iqiniso ngoBaba wethu osezulwini futhi sazi nenjongo yakhe? Sizizwa ngendlela umphostoli uPawulu ayezizwa ngayo lapho ethi: “Kubekwé isidingo phezu kwami. Empeleni, maye kimi uma ngingazimemezelanga izindaba ezinhle!”—1 Korinte 9:16.

14, 15. (a) Inhlangano kaJehova inayiphi indima ekukhuleni kwethu ngokomoya? (b) Imaphi amalungiselelo esenzelwe wona okusisiza ngokomoya?

¹⁴ Umbuzo wesibili nawo ukhumbuza ozobhapathizwa ngomthwalo wakhe wemfanelo wokusebenza ngokubambisana nenhlangano kaJehova eqondiswa ngomoya. Asisodwa ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu, futhi siyaludinga usizo, ukusekelwa nesikhuthazo sabo “bonke abazalwane.” (1 Petru 2:17; 1 Korinte 12:12, 13) Inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ifeza indima ebalulekile ekukhuleni kwethu ngokomoya. Isinikeza intilibathwa yezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezisisiza ukuba sikhule olwazini olunembile, senze ngokuhlakanipha lapho sibhekene nezinkinga futhi sihlakulele ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu. Njengomama oqinisekisayo ukuthi umntanakhe udla futhi anakekelwe kahle, “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” isilungiselela inala yokudla okungokomoya okufika ngesikhathi ukuze sithuthuke ngokomoya.—Mathewu 24:45-47; 1 Thesalonika 2:7, 8.

¹⁵ Emihlanganweni yebandla yamasonto onke, abantu bakaJehova bathola ukuqeqeshwa nesikhuthazo abasidingayo ukuze baqhubeke bengoFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile. (Hebheru 10:24, 25) ISikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini noMhlangano Wenkonzo kuyasiqeqesha ukuba sethule isigijimi sethu ngendlela ephumelelayo. Emihlanganweni yethu nalapho sizenzela isifundo somuntu siqu ngezincwadi zeBhayibheli, siyakubona ukusebenza komoya kaJehova,  uqondisa inhlangano yakhe. Ngala malungiselelo esihlinzekwa ngawo njalo, uNkulunkulu usiqaphelisa izingozi, asiqeqeshe ukuba sibe izikhonzi eziphumelelayo, futhi asisize ukuba sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya.—IHubo 19:7, 8, 11; 1 Thesalonika 5:6, 11; 1 Thimothewu 4:13.

Okusishukumisela Ukuba Senze Isinqumo

16. Yini esishukumisela ukuba sizinikezele kuJehova?

¹⁶ Ngakho le mibuzo emibili yobhapathizo ikhumbuza abazobhapathizwa ngalokho okushiwo ukubhapathizwa emanzini kanye nemithwalo yemfanelo ehambisana nako. Khona-ke, yini okumelwe ibashukumisele ukuba benze isinqumo sokubhapathizwa? Siba abafundi ababhapathiziwe, hhayi ngoba sicindezelwa othile, kodwa ngoba uJehova ‘esidonsa.’ (Johane 6:44) Njengoba ‘uNkulunkulu eluthando,’ ubusa indawo yonke ngothando, hhayi ngokucindezela. (1 Johane 4:8) Sidonsekela kuJehova ngenxa yezimfanelo zakhe zomusa nendlela asebenzelana ngayo nathi. UJehova wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ngenxa yethu futhi usithembisa ikusasa elihle ukudlula noma yini esiyaziyo. (Johane 3:16) Sibe sesishukunyiselwa ukuba simnike ukuphila kwethu—sizinikezele kuye.—IzAga 3:9; 2 Korinte 5:14, 15.

17. Yini esingazinikezelanga kuyo?

¹⁷ Asizinikezelanga enkolelweni noma emsebenzini othile, kodwa sizinikezele kuJehova ngokwakhe. Umsebenzi uNkulunkulu afuna abantu bakhe bawenze uyoshintsha, kodwa ukuzinikezela kwabo kuyohlale kunjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, lokho atshela u-Abrahama ukuba akwenze kwakuhluke kakhulu kulokho akutshela uJeremiya. (Genesise 13:17, 18; Jeremiya 1:6, 7) Nokho, bobabili bayifeza imisebenzi eqondile uNkulunkulu abanika yona ngoba bemthanda uJehova futhi befisa ukwenza intando yakhe ngokwethembeka. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi sokuphela, bonke abalandeli bakaKristu ababhapathiziwe balwela ukufeza umyalo wakhe wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Ukwenza lowo msebenzi ngenhliziyo yonke kuyindlela enhle yokubonisa ukuthi siyamthanda uBaba wethu osezulwini nokuthi sizinikezele ngempela kuye.—1 Johane 5:3.

18, 19. (a) Imaphi amazwi okuvuma kwasobala esiwashoyo lapho sibhapathizwa? (b) Yini ezocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Ngokungangabazeki, ubhapathizo luvula indlela yokuthola izibusiso eziningi, kodwa alusona isinyathelo okumelwe sithathwe kalula. (Luka 14:26-33) Luyisibonakaliso sesinqumo okumelwe size kuqala ngaphezu kwayo yonke eminye imithwalo yemfanelo esinayo. (Luka 9:62) Lapho sibhapathizwa, sisuke sivuma la mazwi obala: “Lo Nkulunkulu unguNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube nini nanini, yebo kuze kube phakade. Yena uqobo uyosihola kuze kube yilapho sifa.”—IHubo 48:14.

¹⁹ Isihloko esilandelayo sizohlaziya eminye imibuzo engase iphakame mayelana nobhapathizo lwamanzi. Zingaba khona yini izizathu ezizwakalayo ezingenza umuntu ukuba azindele ukubhapathizwa? Ingabe ubudala bomuntu okufanele bunqume? Iliphi iqhaza abantu bonke abangaba nalo ukuze isenzakalo sokubhapathizwa sibe esihloniphekile?

Ungachaza?

• Kungani umKristu ngamunye kudingeka ukuba aphenduke ngaphambi kokuba abhapathizwe?

• Ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu kuhilelani?

• Imiphi imithwalo yemfanelo ehambisana nelungelo lokuphatha igama likaJehova?

• Yini okufanele isishukumisele ukuba senze isinqumo sokubhapathizwa?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 22]

Imibuzo Emibili Yobhapathizo

Ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu Kristu, ingabe usuphendukile ezonweni zakho, wazinikezela kuJehova ukuba wenze intando yakhe?

Ingabe uyaqonda ukuthi ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa kwakho kukubonakalisa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova ozihlanganise nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu eqondiswa ngumoya?

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Ukuzinikezela kuyisithembiso esibalulekile esenziwa kuJehova ngomthandazo

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela uyisibonakaliso sokuzinikezela kwethu kuNkulunkulu