1, 2. UJehova ukhuluma kanjani nezinceku zakhe?

KUWO WONKE umlando weBhayibheli, abantu abahlukahlukene baye bathola isiqondiso esivela kuJehova ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Abanye uNkulunkulu wakhuluma nabo ngezingelosi noma ngemibono noma ngamaphupho, ngaleyo ndlela ebembulela lokho okwakuzokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo. UJehova wabanika nomsebenzi oqondile nezabelo. (Num. 7:89; Hez. 1:1; Dan. 2:19) Abanye bathola isiqondiso ngabameleli bakaJehova abangabantu ababekhonza engxenyeni esemhlabeni yenhlangano yakhe. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bakaJehova babelithola ngayiphi indlela izwi lakhe, labo abazilandela iziqondiso zakhe babusiswa.

² Namuhla, uJehova uqondisa abantu bakhe ngeBhayibheli, umoya wakhe ongcwele nangebandla. (IzE. 9:31; 15:28; 2 Thim. 3:16, 17) Isiqondiso esisithola sivela kuye sicace kangangokuthi kunjengokungathi ‘izindlebe zethu zizwa izwi ngemva kwethu lithi: “Nansi indlela. Hambani ngayo.”’ (Isaya 30:21) Empeleni, noJesu udlulisela izwi likaJehova kithi njengoba eqondisa ibandla ‘ngenceku ethembekile neqondayo.’ (Math. 24:45) Akumelwe sisithathe kancane lesi siqondiso ngoba ukuphila kwethu okuphakade kuxhomeke ekulaleleni kwethu.—Heb. 5:9.

3. Yini engase iphazamise indlela esisabela ngayo esiqondisweni sikaJehova? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

³ USathane uDeveli uphokophele ukululaza isiqondiso esisindisa ukuphila uJehova asinikeza sona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ‘inhliziyo  yethu ekhohlisayo’ ingaphazamisa indlela esisabela ngayo eziqondisweni zikaJehova. (Jer. 17:9) Ngakho-ke, ake sicabangele indlela esingazinqoba ngayo izithiyo ezenza kube inselele ukulalela izwi likaNkulunkulu. Ake sixoxe nangokuthi ukukhulumisana njalo noJehova kungabulondoloza kanjani ubuhlobo bethu naye kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekene nezimo ezinjani.

4. USathane uzama kanjani ukuthonya ukucabanga kwabantu?

⁴ USathane uzama ukuthonya ukucabanga kwabantu ngokubanikeza ukwaziswa okungamanga nenkulumo-ze ekhohlisayo. (Funda eyoku-1 Johane 5:19.) Ngaphezu kokwaziswa okusezincwadini, umhlaba—kuhlanganise nezingxenye zomhlaba ezisemajukujukwini—uthola inqwaba yokwaziswa ngomsakazo, i-TV nange-Internet. Nakuba le mithombo ingase ibe nezinto ezithakazelisayo, ngokuvamile ikhuthaza ukuziphatha nezindinganiso eziphambene nezindinganiso zikaJehova. (Jer. 2:13) Ngokwesibonelo, imithombo yezindaba nezimboni zokuzijabulisa zikhuluma ngemishado yongqingili njengokungathi iyinto eyamukelekayo, futhi abantu abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngobungqingili kuyeqisa.—1 Kor. 6:9, 10.

5. Singakugwema kanjani ukungakhukhulwa inkulumo-ze kaSathane?

⁵ Abantu abathanda ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu bangakugwema kanjani ukukhukhulwa inkulumo-ze kaSathane egcwele izwe lonke namuhla? Bangakuhlukanisa kanjani okulungile kokubi? ‘Ngokuhlala beqaphile ngokuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu.’ (IHu. 119:9) IZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe liqukethe isiqondiso esidingekayo esisisiza ukuba sihlukanise phakathi kokwaziswa okuyiqiniso nokuyinkulumo-ze ekhohlisayo. (IzAga 23:23) Ecaphuna imiBhalo, uJesu wathi ‘umuntu kumelwe aphile ngawo wonke amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.’ (Math. 4:4) Kudingeka sifunde ukuthi singazisebenzisa kanjani izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni kwethu. Ngokwesibonelo, esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuba uMose alobe umthetho kaJehova ngokuphinga, insizwa uJosefa yaqonda ukuthi ukuziphatha okunjalo kwakuyisono kuNkulunkulu. Ayizange icabangele ukungamlaleli uJehova ngisho nalapho umkaPotifari ezama ukuyiyengela ekwenzeni okungalungile. (Funda uGenesise 39:7-9.) Naphezu kokumcindezela kwakhe isikhathi eside, uJosefa akazange avumele izwi lakhe ukuba limvale izindlebe angalizwa izwi likaNkulunkulu. Ukuze sikwazi ukuhlukanisa okulungile nokungalungile, kubalulekile ukuba silalele izwi likaJehova futhi sivale inkulumo-ze kaSathane ebeleselayo ukuze ingalivimbanisi.

6, 7. Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sigweme izeluleko ezimbi zikaSathane?

⁶ Izwe licwile kakhulu ezimfundisweni nasezinkolelweni zenkolo eziphikisanayo kangangokuthi abantu abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi kuyize ukufuna inkolo yeqiniso. Nokho, uJehova uye wenza isiqondiso sakhe sacaca kakhulu kulabo abazimisele ukusisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo. Kumelwe sinqume ukuthi ubani esiyomlalela. Njengoba cishe kungenakwenzeka ukulalela amazwi amabili akhuluma ngasikhathi sinye, kudingeka ‘silazi izwi’ likaJesu futhi simlalele. Nguye  uJehova ammise phezu kwezimvu zaKhe.—Funda uJohane 10:3-5.

⁷ UJesu wathi: “Kunakeni lokho enikuzwayo.” (Marku 4:24) Iseluleko sikaJehova sicacile futhi sinembile, kodwa kumelwe sisinake futhi sisilalele ngokulungisa izinhliziyo zethu ukuba zisamukele. Uma singanakile, singalalela izeluleko ezimbi zikaSathane esikhundleni sokulalela iseluleko sothando sikaNkulunkulu. Ungalokothi uvumele umculo wezwe, ama-video, izinhlelo ze-TV, izincwadi, abangane, othisha noma labo okuthiwa bangochwepheshe ukuba balawule ukuphila kwakho.—Kol. 2:8.

8. (a) Inhliziyo yethu ingasenza kanjani sibe izisulu ezilula zamaqhinga kaSathane? (b) Yini engenzeka kithi uma sizishaya indiva izimpawu eziyisixwayiso?

⁸ USathane uyazi ukuthi sithambekele esonweni futhi uzama ukusinxenxa ukuba sanelise lezo zifiso zesono. Lapho uSathane esihlasela ngale ndlela, kuvele kube inselele enkulu ukulondoloza ubuqotho bethu. (Joh. 8:44-47) Singakwazi kanjani ukubhekana nale nselele ngokuphumelelayo? Cabanga ngendaba yomuntu othatheka kakhulu yinjabulo azoyithola okwaleso sikhathi kangangokuthi agcine esenza into engalungile abecabanga ukuthi akasoze ayenza. (Roma 7:15) Yini emholele kuleso simo esidabukisayo? Cishe lo muntu ubelokhu eba buthuntu kancane kancane ekuzweni izwi likaJehova. Kungaba ukuthi akazange azibone izimpawu eziyisixwayiso zalokho okwenzekayo enhliziyweni yakhe noma wakhetha ukuzishaya indiva. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzeka ukuthi ubeseyekile ukuthandaza, engasayikhuthalele inkonzo noma eseqale ukuphutha imihlangano yebandla. Ekugcineni isifiso sakhe samnqoba futhi wenza into aziyo ukuthi ayilungile. Singaligwema iphutha elibi kanjalo uma sihlale siphaphamele noma iziphi izimpawu eziyisixwayiso futhi sithatha izinyathelo ngokushesha zokulungisa isimo. Uma silalela izwi likaJehova, ngeke nakancane sifune ukulalela imibono yezihlubuki.—IzAga 11:9.

9. Kungani kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sisheshe sikubone ukuthambekela esonweni esinakho?

⁹ Uma isifo sisheshe satholakala kuyakusindisa ukuphila komuntu. Ngokufanayo, singagwema inhlekelele uma sisheshe sikubone ukuthambekela okungasiholela ekulingweni. Lapho nje sesikubonile ukuthambekela okunjalo, kuyoba ukuhlakanipha ukuba sithathe isinyathelo ngokushesha—ngaphambi kokuba ‘sibanjwe nguSathane siphila ukuba senze intando yakhe.’ (2 Thim. 2:26) Kufanele senzeni uma siqaphela ukuthi siye savumela ukucabanga nezifiso zethu ukuba kuhlehle kulokho uJehova akufunayo kithi? Kumelwe sithobeke sibuyele kuye ngaphandle kokulibala, sivule izindlebe zethu ukuba zizwe iseluleko sakhe futhi simlalele ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. (Isaya 44:22) Kumelwe  siqaphele ukuthi ukwenza isinqumo esibi kungasishiya nesibazi esibi kakhulu esingenza ukuba sibhekane nemiphumela ebuhlungu kulesi simiso sezinto. Yeka ukuthi kungcono kanjani ukugwema ukunhlanhlatha ngokuthatha isinyathelo ngokushesha sokuvimbela iphutha elibi kanjalo!

10, 11. (a) Ukuqhosha kungazibonakalisa kanjani? (b) Isiphi isifundo esisifunda enkambweni embi kaKhora, uDathani no-Abhiramu?

¹⁰ Kumelwe siqaphele ukuthi inhliziyo yethu ingasidukisa. Yeka ukuthi ukuthambekela kwesono kunamandla kangakanani kithi! Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngokuqhosha nokuhaha. Cabanga ngendlela ngasinye salezi zici esingasiphazamisa ngayo singalilaleli izwi likaJehova futhi sisenze sithathe inkambo eholela enhlekeleleni. Umuntu oqhoshayo unombono oweqisayo ngaye ngokwakhe. Angase abe nomuzwa wokuthi unelungelo lokwenza noma yini ayithandayo nokuthi akekho ongamtshela ukuthi kumelwe enzeni. Ngakho angase abe nomuzwa wokuthi akasidingi isiqondiso neseluleko samaKristu akanye nawo, abadala noma ngisho nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu. Kumuntu onjalo, izwi likaJehova ligcina lingasazwakali ngokucacile.

¹¹ Ngesikhathi sokufuduka kwama-Israyeli ehlane, uKhora, uDathani no-Abhiramu bavukela igunya likaMose no-Aroni. Ngenxa yokuqhosha, lezi zihlubuki zazenzela awazo amalungiselelo okukhulekela uJehova. UJehova wasabela kanjani? Wazibulala. (Num. 26:8-10) Yeka isifundo esibalulekile esisifundiswa yilokhu kulandisa! Ukuvukela uJehova kuholela enhlekeleleni. Masikhumbule nokuthi “ukuziqhenya kwandulela ukuphahlazeka.”—IzAga 16:18; Isaya 13:11.

12, 13. (a) Nikeza isibonelo esibonisa indlela ukuhaha okungaholela ngayo enhlekeleleni. (b) Chaza indlela ukuhaha okungakhula ngayo ngokushesha uma kunganqandwa.

¹² Cabanga nangendaba yokuhaha. Umuntu ohahayo ngokuvamile weqa imingcele yokuziphatha okufanele. Ngemva kokuba induna yempi yaseSiriya, uNahamani, iphulukiswe ochokweni lwayo, yacela ukunika umprofethi u-Elisha izipho kodwa wazenqaba. Nokho, isikhonzi sika-Elisha, uGehazi, sazifisa lezo zipho. UGehazi wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Kuphila kukaJehova, ngizogijima ngimlandele [uNahamani] ngithathe okuthile kuye.” Akamtshelanga u-Elisha, wagijima walandela uNahamani futhi wafike wasebenzisa amanga aluhlaza cwe ukuze acele “ithalenta lesiliva nezingubo ezimbili zokushintsha.” Kwenzekani kuGehazi ngokwenza lokhu nangokuqamba kwakhe amanga kumprofethi kaJehova? Phela, uchoko lukaNahamani lwanamathela kuye uGehazi ohahayo!—2 AmaKh. 5:20-27.

¹³ Ukuhaha kungase kuqale kukuncane, kodwa uma kunganqandwa, kungakhula ngokushesha futhi kumnqobe umuntu. Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuka-Akhani kuwabonisa kahle amandla okuhaha. Phawula indlela ukuhaha kwakhe okwakhula ngayo ngokushesha. Wathi: “Lapho ngibona empangweni isembatho sezikhulu saseShinari, esihle, namashekeli esiliva angamakhulu amabili nesigaxa esisodwa segolide, isisindo saso singamashekeli angamashumi amahlanu, ngakuthanda, ngakuthatha.” Esikhundleni sokusisusa leso sifiso esingalungile, u-Akhani ngokuhaha wazeba lezo zinto wazifihla etendeni lakhe. Lapho ububi buka-Akhani budalulwa, uJoshuwa wamtshela ukuthi uJehova wayeyomlethela inhlekelele. Yena nomkhaya wakhe bakhandwa ngamatshe bafa ngalo lolo suku. (Josh. 7:11, 21, 24, 25) Ukuhaha kuhlale kuyingozi engasehlela noma nini. Ngakho ‘masiqaphe yonke inhlobo yokuhaha.’ (Luka 12:15) Nakuba kungenzeka ukuba ngezinye izikhathi sifikelwe umcabango omubi noma sicabange ngokuziphatha okubi, kubalulekile ukuba silawule izingqondo zethu futhi singavumeli izifiso zethu ukuba zikhule kuze kube seqophelweni lokwenza isono.—Funda uJakobe 1:14, 15.

14. Kufanele senzeni uma siqaphela ukuthi sinokuthambekela kokuqhosha nokuhaha?

¹⁴ Kokubili ukuqhosha nokuhaha kungaholela  enhlekeleleni. Ukuzindla ngomphumela wokuphishekela inkambo engalungile kungasisiza ukuba singavumeli ukuthambekela okunjalo kuvimbanise izwi likaJehova. (Dut. 32:29) EBhayibhelini, uNkulunkulu weqiniso akagcini ngokusitshela ukuthi ikuphi okuyinkambo elungile kodwa usichazela nezinzuzo zokuhamba ngayo kanye nemiphumela yokunhlanhlatha. Uma inhliziyo yethu isishukumisela ukuba sicabange ngokwenza okuthile okushukunyiswa ukuqhosha noma ukuhaha, yeka ukuthi kuyoba ukuhlakanipha kanjani ukucabanga ngemiphumela! Kufanele sicabangisise ngokuthi ukwenza okubi kuyosithinta kanjani thina nabathandekayo bethu futhi ikakhulu ukuthi kuyobuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo bethu noJehova.

15. Isibonelo sikaJesu sisifundisani ngokukhulumisana?

¹⁵ UJehova usifunela okungcono kakhulu. (IHu. 1:1-3) Usinika isiqondiso esanele ngesikhathi esisidinga ngaso kanye. (Funda amaHebheru 4:16.) Nakuba ayephelele, uJesu wancika kakhulu ekukhulumisaneni noJehova njalo, futhi ethandaza engaphezi. UJehova wamsekela futhi wamqondisa ngezindlela ezinhle kakhulu. Wathumela izingelosi ukuba zimkhonze, wamnika umoya waKhe ongcwele ukuba umsize futhi wamqondisa lapho ekhetha abaphostoli abangu-12. Izwi likaJehova lezwakala livela ezulwini lisho ukuthi uyamsekela futhi uyamamukela uJesu. (Math. 3:17; 17:5; Marku 1:12, 13; Luka 6:12, 13; Joh. 12:28) NjengoJesu, kudingeka sithululele izinhliziyo zethu kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo. (IHu. 62:7, 8; Heb. 5:7) Singakhulumisana njalo noJehova ngomthandazo futhi sihambe ngempumelelo enkambweni yokuphila emdumisayo.

16. Singaluthola kanjani usizo lukaJehova lokuzuza ikhono lokuzwa izwi lakhe?

¹⁶ Nakuba uJehova enza ukuba iseluleko sakhe sitholakale ngesihle, akaphoqi muntu ukuba asilandele. Kudingeka siwucele umoya wakhe ongcwele, futhi uyosipha wona ngesandla esivulekile. (Funda uLuka 11:10-13.) Nokho, kubalulekile ukuba ‘sinake indlela esilalela ngayo.’ (Luka 8:18) Ngokwesibonelo, kungaba ubuzenzisi ukucela uJehova ukuba asisize sinqobe ukuthambekela kokuziphatha okubi sibe siqhubeka sibuka izithombe ezingcolile noma sibuka amabhayisikobho anokuziphatha okubi. Empeleni kudingeka sibe sezindaweni noma ezimweni umoya kaJehova okuzo. Siyazi ukuthi umoya wakhe usemihlanganweni yebandla. Izinceku zikaJehova eziningi ziye zagwema inhlekelele ngokulalela uJehova emihlanganweni yethu. Ngenxa yalokho, ziye zakwazi ukuqaphela izifiso ezimbi ezikhulayo ezinhliziyweni zazo futhi zalungisa izindlela zazo.—IHu. 73:12-17; 143:10.

17. Kungani kuyingozi ukuncika kithi ngokwethu?

¹⁷ Cabanga ngoDavide, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli wasendulo. Lapho esemncane wanqoba isiqhwaga esingumFilisti, uGoliyati. UDavide waba ibutho, waba inkosi, umvikeli nomenzi wezinqumo zesizwe. Kodwa lapho encika kuye ngokwakhe, inhliziyo yakhe yamkhohlisa futhi wenza isono esibi noBhati-sheba, waze wahlela nokuba kubulawe umyeni wakhe, u-Uriya. Lapho enikezwa isiyalo, wathobeka wasivuma isiphambeko sakhe futhi walungisa ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova.—IHu. 51:4, 6, 10, 11.

18. Yini engasisiza ukuba siqhubeke silalela izwi likaJehova?

¹⁸ Masilalele iseluleko esikweyoku-1 Korinte 10:12 futhi singazethembi ngokweqile. Njengoba singakwazi ‘ukuqondisa isinyathelo sethu,’ kungaba ukuthi siyolalela izwi likaJehova noma siyogcina sesilalela izwi leSitha sakhe. (Jer. 10:23) Kwangathi singathandaza njalo, silandele ukuhola komoya ongcwele futhi ngaso sonke isikhathi silalele izwi likaJehova.