Kwakha phezu kweLitshe

Izenzo 9:31

NguWiley Lowry

Uma ningaphendukela eBhayibhelini yenu kuIzenzo isahluko 9; itholakala ekhasini 918 kwiBhayibheli zenu zezinga. Uma bekunguye lapho nina, uyawuzwa ukuthi sivame ukuphinda umbuzo wokuqala kanye nempendulo yeWestminster Shorter Catechism. Futhi ngempela iyisifinyezo esimangalisayo esicacile nesihlelenge sakho sokuphila. “Inhloso enkulu yomuntu ukuMkhazimula uThixo nokumujabulisa kuze kube phakade.” Uma ngingangeza into eyodwa kulokho – futhi ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi abantu abahlezi egunjini laseJerusalema eWestminster Assembly babengathanda kakhulu ukuzwa engikushoyo! Kodwa uma ngingangeza into eyodwa ngingayisho lokhu. Inhloso enkulu yomuntu ukuMkhazimula uThixo nokumujabulisa ndawonye kuze kube phakade. Futhi isizathu sokuthi ngikusho lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ibandla liyisikhungo senhloso kaThixo kubantu Bakhe. Futhi lokho esikubonayo kuIzenzo isahluko 9 verse 31 ukuthi ibandla lakhiwa phezu kukaKristu. Futhi njengoba lakhiwa phezu kukaKristu, bahamba “ngesaba sikaThixo nangethembelo loMoya oNgcwele.” Uyabona, bamkhazimulile uThixo futhi bajabulela Kuye ndawonye.

Kwa lokho engqondweni, masiye Kuye ekuthandazeni, kwase sizofunda lokhu ngokuhlwa.

Oyihlo, sicela ukuthi unike usabe lukaThixo, unike nethembelo loMoya oNgcwele njengoba sifunda le verse nesifunda ngokuhlwa. Futhi njengoba siphuma lapha, ukuthi siphume sikhazimulise Wena nokukujabulisa ndawonye kuze kube phakade. Sicela lezi zinto egameni likaKristu, amen.

Izenzo 9, verse eyodwa kuphela; verse 31:

“Kwa lebandla kulo lonke uJudea neGalile neSamaria lenziwa uxolo lwayo, lakhiwa. Andelela ngesaba sikaThixo nangethembelo loMoya oNgcwele, landa.

Utshani bufele, imifula iyawa, kodwa iLizwi likaThixo wethu lihlala phakade.

Ndifuna ukutsi sifundze lo verse ngeeminzani le mibini namhlanje. Eyokuqala yi – yakhiwa. Indawo yesibili yi – yakhiwa ngaphandle. Yakhiwa, yakhiwa ngaphandle. Sizochitha iningi lexesha lethu kule yokuqala, yona kanye lapho siqala khona, ngokuthi yakhiwa.

Yakhiwa

Kusho ukuthi “iBandla kulo lonke Judea neGalile neSamariya yayinomthula, yabe yakhiwa.” Enye indlela esingayisho ngayo ke, ukuthi yayikhuliswa. Yayiqiniswa. Amandla eBandla enziwa enkulu. iBandla lingumzimba kaKristu; yibride kaKristu. Yimfuyo yoMalusi oLungileyo. Yayihlanganiswa ngokwesuplanu omkhulu kaThixo, iqinisekiswa ngokuchitheka kwegazi elimthokozisa kaKristu, yabe ilawulwa nguThixo Jesu Kristu oyisiphakamiso nesiphumeleyo. Iphephile ukuthi ukhula namandla eBandla kuxhomeke kuKristu.

Kanye kule verse, ngicabanga ukuthi sibona izinto ezintathu, iindlela ezintathu apho iBandla likhiwa khona. Iindlela ezintathu apho iBandla likhiwa phezu kukaKristu. Eyokuqala yiBandla likhiwa phezu kwemiyalelo kaKristu. Sibonile ukuba iBandla yakhiwa njengoBandla likaKristu. Indawo yesibili sibonile ukuba yakhiwa ngenxa yokuqiniseka kukaKristu. Masibuke ezintathu.

Yakhiwa Phezu kwemiyalelo kaKristu

Indawo yokuqala, sibona ukuthi ibandla lakhiwa ekugcwalisekeni nasekuthobeleni umyalelo kaKristu. Uyazi ukuthi enye yezinto ezimenza umshumayeli weme phambili eNcwadini yezEnzo ukuthi iyisifingqo. Yisifingqo sayo yonke into eyenzekile ngaphambili eNcwadini yezEnzo, kodwa iyisifingqo esisungula ukusitshela ukuthi kuyokwenzeka ntoni kwesinye isahluko seNcwadini yezEnzo. Futhi njengesifingqo, umshumayeli we-31 usitshela ukuthi ibandla, kulo lonke uJudea neGalile neSamaria, lakhiwa. Manje ngokubandakanya lezo zindawo ezintathu, ikakhulukazi, sibandakanywa kwinjongo nasekuyeleni nasekuhlelweni kweNcwadini yezEnzo. Ngoba uyabona, iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala ngapi? iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala eJerusalema, iqala noJesu, yena nofundisi bakhe, wathi kubo ukuba balinde eJerusalema, balinde uMoya oNgcwele. Futhi ngaphambi kokunyuka kwakhe, uJesu wathi kubo. Wathi, “Niyakwamkela amandla aMoya oNgcwele anawufika, niyakuba izitifikelo zami eJerusalema, lo njudea, neSamaria, kuze kube semiphethweni yomhlaba.” iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala noJesu eJerusalema. Iphela noPauluse eRoma. Futhi iyalandela lo mkhondo wezindawo uJesu awanika abafundi bakhe – eJerusalema, uJudea, Samaria, kuze kube semiphethweni yomhlaba.

“Kudwala Lokhu”

Ndile, ngomshana we-31, thola ukuthi njengoba ibinzana likaJesu lokuvuka kwakhe lisakazeka, ibandla lakhiwa ngomthula – kuphi? “Kulo lonke Judea neGalile neSamariya.” Kunjengoba uJesu wayala, njengoba uJesu wayala, ibandla lakha futhi laqiniswa. Uyabona, lokho uKristu akuyala, uKristu akunika. Ngenkathi ethembisa abafundi bakhe, abalandeli bakhe ukuba bangofakazi futhi benze abafundi, uyakuzalisekisa lokho akuyalile. Uyakuletha futhi anike izithelo zomsebenzi wabo ngaye ngokuthi yile yisehlakalo sikaNkulunkulu yile umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Uyakhumbula emigibeni yamaJesu Kristu ngesikhathi uPetro avuma ukuthi uJesu ungumKristu – yini uJesu ayesho kuPetro? Uthi, “Kulo lithwala,” le mvuma kaJesu njengumKristu, “Kulo lithwala, ngiyakwakha ibandla lami iminyango yaseHadu inganqobi.” Kwaye kwaba nokuxeketha nokuphikisana okukhulu ngokumelene nebandla ngesikhathi sencwadi yeZenzo. Abafundi, abapostoli, baphonswa ejele. Babebekwa icala lokuthi bangakhulumi ngoJesu. Funda ngoStephen kanye nendlela ayebandlulwa ngayo wabe esewushaywa ngamatshe; um martyra wokuqala ebandleni lokuqala. Funda, kanye ngomshana owandulele lowo, ukuthi kwakunguSauli, owaba uPawulo – wayechitha ibandla.

Ngomunye umsebenzi, uma singakwazi ukuwisa umyalezo wezenzo zibe ngamazwi ambalwa, singasho ukuthi yinkomba yokuvuka kwabafileyo enamandla nenkosazelo. Futhi yilokho esikuthola – ukuthi umyalezo wevangeli, ukuthi uJesu uvukile kubafileyo, uyaphuma futhi ngamandla oMoya oNgcwele isonto liyandekala futhi likhula futhi lakha futhi liqinisa ekugcwaleni komyalo kaKristu nakubuso benkosazelo enkulu. Manje singathatha izifundo ezimbalwa kule ndawo, kule ndawo yodwa, ngoba siphila esikweni lapho, ngendlela eyodwa, konke kuyaphambana nemiyalezo kaNkulunkulu; kuphambana neqiniso likaNkulunkulu. Sibona izenzo zokulwela, okuyinto eyenzeka phantse njengenyani yeviki, futhi iyacindezela kakhulu engqondweni zabantu. Futhi nokho yini esiyabona kule ndima? Kuthi ngisho noma isonto libonakala likhathazekile, lidinga ukubuyekezwa, isidingo esikhulu sokuguqulwa; isidingo esikhulu sokubuya emyalezweni wokuvuka nasekuncikeni kuMoya oNgcwele uyazi ukuthi yindlela uKristu akha ngayo futhi eqinisa iSonto lakhe.

Kuyakhuthaza nakuwe. Mhlawumbe abanye benu bayangcweka ukuthi kufanelekile ukuzinikela esontweni? Ingabe kufanelekile ukukhonza nokuweka nokuzinikela ekuphileni kwesonto? Mhlawumbe abanye benu benkonza esontweni iminyaka eminingi; ukhathele? Mhlawumbe nje akusaprioriti njengoba kwakunjalo? Yini esiyabona lapha ukuthi ukukhula kwesonto, amandla esonto, yimyalezo kaKristu. Yisehlelo likaNkulunkulu naNkulunkulu uyabona umsebenzi wakhe wokugcwalela, ekugcwaleni, ekupheleni kwakho konke, ngenxa yokukhazeka kukaKristu nangenxa yenzuzo yabantu bakhe. Le ndima iyasitshela, “Buka lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzayo esontweni lakhe, ngesonto lakhe. Unika lokho akuyalayo.” Yilinde! Thandazela lokho. Linda lokho. Futhi zinikela esontweni lakhe.

Akhiwe njengesonto likaKristu

Khoya oko kusiletha kwinto yesiBili. Yiyiphi ibandla? Yibandla likaKrestu! Yibandla likaKrestu elakhiwa. UKrestu uyintloko yebandla kwaye kukho ibandla elinye; ibandla elinye elinomthendelezo noxolo lukaKrestu. Bhekani emuva kwivesi apho, kwivesi 31. Khangela oko kusithi. Yithi, “Ibandla,” ibandla elinye, “linomthendelezo walo belakhiwa.” Yibandla elinye, nangona liko iindawo ezininzi. Likho eYudea naseGalile naseSamariya, kodwa yibandla elinye. Ngokwenene, ukuba besiya kutafsira oko okuthi “phakathi kuko konke,” kwaphela, besiya kuthi, “kwonke.” Kweza kuthi yibandla “kwonke iYudea naseGalile naseSamariya.” Kwaye oko okuthi esiGrike kukwazo kwathi, “Catholic.” Yinto esiyivumayo okanye esiyiqaphelayo xa sithi iNkosi Apostles Creed sizuthi sikholwa “ibandla elingcwele catholic.” Asisithi sikholwa ibandla lamaRoma Catholic, kodwa sikholwa ibandla elinye jikelele, ibandla lenene likaKrestu. Siyaqinisekisa ukholo lwethu nothando lwethu kulo. Ibandla elakhiwe ngabakholekileyo kuwo wonke umnisi, phakathi kuko konke, kuwo wonke umlimi, phakathi kuko konke.

Ibandla EliNye KuKrestu Yesu

Ndiyo into uJesu wayithandazela ngaphambi kokubulawa kwakhe. Wathandazela nabafundi bakhe ukuthi “bonke abakholelwa Kuye babe yinto eyodwa, njenguKhe noyise.” Yinto awayithuma abafundi bakhe ukuba bayenze ekupheleni kukaMateyu xa ethi, “Hambani benze abafundi kuzo zonke izizwe.” Futhi yini esiyathola sifikile eNcwadini yeSambulo kodwa yinto ebhidayo engenakubalwa iningi ele phambi kwetrone lokhuleka uGundwane, lokhuleka uKristu. Lena yinto ethembiswe nguThixo, ukuya embuyela kwinto ethembiswe uAbrahama ukuthi ngokwenzalo kaAbrahama izizwe zonke zomhlaba ziyasikelelwa. Yinto eyodwa ibandla likaThixo, yinto ekhona kuJesu Kristu. Futhi siyabona ukuqala kweyunithi leyo ngqo apha eNcwadini yeZenzo evesini 31 yeshap 9 xa abo abakho eJudiya naseGalile naseSamaria behlangene yunye bayathokoza ngoxolo bayathokoza ngokwakhiwa.

Ukunqoba Imigoqo

Ndipo, kule nkalo yesibili yabasebenzi, ibandla selidlulile imigoqo emikhulu. Uyazi uma uthatha la mazwi amathathu, “iJudea neGalilee neSamaria,” kukhona kula mazwi amathathu umlando oyinkimbidzo n usizi. Ukhona ubuzenzela, kukhona impi yezizwe, kukhona inzondo, kukhona ukuxexeshelwa, kukhona ukwahlulela, kukhona ukuzingela umhlaba, kukhona ukuziphakamisa. iJudea yayindawo yethemple. Yindawo yokuhlala kwabalimi bezimboni nendawo abahlala kuyo. iGalilee yayindawo yamaJuda kodwa yayithonywe kakhulu n yathintshwa yizinto zenkultsho yamaRoma namaGrike. iSamaria yayiphakathi kwezi mbili abakuyo abakazange babe nokhokho olusulwa lwamaJuda babe nesiko lokholo elihlukile. AmaJuda ayewenzonda amaSamaritana. Sitshelwa ukuthi abavela eGalilee lapho behla beya eJudea babesuwela umfula iJordani ukuze bagweme indawo yaseSamaria. Bebengefuni ukuthinta labantu. Nengathi ngesinye isikhathi, kwakukhona ubudlova obukhulu phakathi kwamaqembu alabantu. Kodwa lapha sitshelwa ukuthi kwakunebandla elilodwa kulezi ndawo nebhandla lalinompumelelo nelikhulayo. Langesi nje kukhululeka ebadlulwini; kwakunompumelelo phakathi kwabo. Kwakunompumelelo phakathi kwalabantu ababekade benenzondo noThixo namanje besanxibelelana kabusha noYise bengabhalwa isipho sokuphila njengunaphakade kuJesu Kristo, isipho soMoya oNgcwele. Lababantu ababekade benenzondo phakathi kwabo, namanje babesagcinana ngayo, bekholo, nasekuthandaneni. Nalo igama elithi “ibandla” elinazo, limanene, “abathengiweyo.” Babebathengiweyo kubo ubwenzi babo bangaphambili nakwimvelaphi yabo eyahlukile ukuze bangenebandla elilodwa, umzimba omulodwa, abantu bomulodwa ngenxa yokukhazimula kukaKristo.

Ndingumzekelo ocacileyo wokuguqulwa okunobukhali abantu abafumana kukuba nguquko olwenzeka kuSauli noma uPauli. Umluntu lo wayengumshushisi omkhulu noyecinezela ibandla, yaye ngoku uliswelekezwe ebendleni, ekwenziweni kwabantu baseThixo. Yaye hhayi kuphela akasengumshushisi kodwa yena ngoku uyasetshenziswa kakhulu ekwakheni ibandla. Yilokhu uguquko olunobukhali olwenzeka lapha kule nkondlo, kule verse esitshelwa yona. Ukukhula kwebandla kunisa uxolo phakathi kwabo abahlukahlukene nabahlukanayo. Kutheni lokhu kubalulekile? Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba nenyumbazano phakathi kwalokhu ahlukahlukene? Ngoba akukho enye into engenza lokhu; uKristu yedwa ongakwenza. Lokhu kunenzeka kuphela ebandleni likaKristu, yaye lokhu kunisa inkazimulo egameni likaKristu. Yaye sibona lokhu kanye lapha kule verse.

Kwakhiwa Ngokuzinikela kukaKristu

Into yesiTatu esiyibona ngokuthi ibandla lakhiwa phezu kukaKristu yile nkcazo yobuphila eyajabule phakathi kwabalumeli. Sibona lapha ukuzinikela okuqhubekayo kukaKristu, umsebenzi wakhe ebandleni. Ibandla lakhiwa ngokuzinikela kwabo kukaKristu. Inkondlo isitshela ukuthi babeya "hamba ekuthokeni kweThixo nasekududuzweni kweMoya oyiNgcwele." Manje cinga ngeempawu zomsebenzi kaYesu. Zeziphi izimpawu zomsebenzi kaKristu? Nokho ungazibona kule mpawu zimbili, aw? Ngoba yonke into uYesu ayenzayo nayeshoyo yayiyenziwa ngenxa yenkazimulo yaboThixo. Ukuzinikela kwake ukuchitha isikhathi noYise ekuthandazeni. Onke umsebenzi wakhe omkhulu nezimangaliso nezibonakaliso nokufundisa ayekufundisa kwakwenziwa ukuze anise inkazimulo kuThixo. Yaye ekufeni kwake emsalangeni ekuthathweni kwakhe kwyaduma yoYise, lokhu kwenziwa ngenxa yokulalela nokuzinikela ekuthandeni koYise. Yekuthokeni kweThixo okwakugcwele umsebenzi kaKristu.

Ndiye uMoya oNgcwele, lo Moya oNgcwele lowenza imisebenzi emangalisayo ngaphezu kwemvelo ekuphileni kukaJesu nakuphathelwa kwakhe nguMoya oNgcwele, lo Moya oNgcwele owqhubeka nokwenza umsebenzi wakhe phakathi nangokusebenzisa bonke abakholelwa kuKristu. uJesu wayethembisile lokho. Wayethembisile ukuthi uyawashiya abafundi bakhe kodwa akawashiyi bodwa kodwa uyawathumela uMoya oNgcwele ukubaxhobisa, ukubafundisa ukuze bakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela egameni lakhe. Elinye igama loMoya oNgcwele, sitshelwa, nguMthuthuzeli noma uMhelper. Yini esiyibonayo kwenzeka ngqo kule ndima? Kuyinto yokuthi uMthuthuzeli uyathuthuza. Bahamba "ngesaba sikaNkosi nokuthuthuzwa koMoya oNgcwele." Lokho kuyisibonakaliso sokuthi uKristu wayesebenza ecabeni lakhe. Wayeziboleka ecabeni lakhe. Wayeqhubeka nokwenza umsebenzi phakathi kwabantu bakhe ngoba babonakalisa ukwesaba kukaNkosi nokuthuthuzwa koMoya oNgcwele. Izici ezimbili zihlala zihamba kunye - ukwesaba, ukuhlonipha, ukuzinikela, nokukh worship kaNkosi kunye nokukhuthazwa nokuthuthuzwa, ukujabha nokubonga koMoya oNgcwele.

Ukwesaba kukaNkosi

Sikuzwi kakhulu ngomkh fear kaNkosi, njengoba kunjalo? Kuyinto ebonakala sengathi yigama elisetshenziswa kakhulu eTestamenteni Elidala mhlawumbe. Futhi ngokuqinisekile, impendulo efanelekayo ekhazikweni kaNkosi kuTestamenteni Elidala yinto yokumkh fear kaNkosi. Kodwa eTestamenteni Elisha, ngezikhathi eziningi, ababhali bayasibiza ukuba simkh fear ekukhanyeni kweqiniso leVangeli. Ngoba uyabona, yinto leVangeli eyasifundisa yona. I-Vangeli iyasifundisa ukuba simkh fear kaNkosi. I-Vangeli iyasifundisa ukuthi izono zethu zifanelwe yintshisekelo kaNkosi nentukuthelo nokujeziswa. Kwenza kube sobala ukuthi akukho okungenziwa ngalokhu ukuze sisuse izono zethu futhi sifanelwe ukuthola ukubusiswa kaNkosi. Kodwa ukusindiswa kwethu kufika ngokufa nokuqilika kukaJesu Kristu, uMwana kaNkosi. Yinto leyo esingatholakala kuyo ngaphandle kukaKristu. Yinto leyo ebaluleke kakhulu ukusindiswa kwethu. Yini enye impendulo efanelekayo kunokumkh fear nokumkh awe nokumkh hlonipha nokumkh adora phambi kaNkosi? Yini enye impendulo efanelekayo kunaleyo uJ.I. Packer, noma ukut borrow kusuka kwisihloko sakhe sencwadi, “ukuthatha uNkosi njengento ebaluleke kakhulu”? Kungenzeka njani ukuba sijabule ngokuthola ukuthula koMoya oNgcwele uma singabanga ukunikeza uNkosi ukuzinikela kwethu okuphezulu?

Ndingacabanga ukuthi kuphephile ukusho ukuthi sonke sifisa futhi silindela ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi, kodwa ingabe siyathatha uNkulunkulu ngokungathi sína? Ngiyavunda ukuthi uma sibuza abantwana bethu, uma sibuza abamelwane bethu, abasebenzi bethu, “Yini eyinhloko ephambili ebomini bethu?” Ngiyavunda ukuthi bazosho ntoni! Sonke sivame ukuzithatha ngokungathi sína. Akunjalo? Siyawuthatha umsebenzi wethu ngokungathi sína, siyawuthatha umdlalo wethu ngokungathi sína, siyawuthatha ukubukeka kwethu, ukudla kwethu neziphuzo zethu, ukuzijabulisa kwethu, siyazithatha ngokungathi sína. Yini ecace kakhulu kuni ukwanda kwe-selfie? Sifuna ukuthatha isithombe sathi. Futhi uma sizithatha ngokungathi sína, sifuna ukubatshela abanye ngathi. Kungenxa yoko ukuthi sikubona lokho enkultureni yethu. Kodwa ingabe siyathatha uNkulunkulu ngokungathi sína? Ngivuma ukuthi ngifuna iNkosi ishintshe ubomi, kodwa ingabe ngihlala ngikwenza lokho ngokulindela nangokulangazela kw lokho uNkulunkulu angakwenza? Futhi ingabe ngifuna ukuthola ikhredithi encane yokwenza lokho ngendlela? Ngiyavunda ukuthi zingakanani kuthi thina sifuna abantwana bethu, sifuna abasebancane bakhule futhi bajabule ngokuthuthuzeka kweNkosi, bakhululeke ekholo, bakhule ekulandeleni, kodwa nje kuphela uma bejabula ngenkathi bekwenza lokho. Futhi zingakanani izikhathi esibonakalisa ukwesaba okufanele kweNkosi ebomini bethu nakwi-priorities esizikhethayo emindeni yethu? Sonke sivame ukufuna ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi futhi sikudele ukwesaba kweNkosi. Kodwa ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi kuhamba nokwesaba kweNkosi.

Naye lapho ngikhuluma ngokwesaba kweNkosi ngkhulumi ngesimo sokudabuka nokudunga. Kukhona ukufudumala koku, ukujabula ekwesabeni kweNkosi. Kukhona inkululeko nokwethembeka, ithemba ngezikhathi zovavanyo; ukuzethemba ngezikhathi zokuhlupheka. Amandla nokujula nokuhlanganiswa njengechechi likaKristu. Olu yisithombe esihle sechechi eyakhiwa eNcwadini yezEnzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Ichechi iyisehlelo sikaThixo sokuzukiswa kukaKristu nokuhle kwabantu bakhe. Uyazi, ekhaya lethu, sesiphenduke ohlanya ngenxa yezinyoni. Ngeke ngithi okuningi ngalokho ngoba angazi ukuthi ngifuna ukuveza kangakanani ngalokho, kodwa sinethemba kakhulu ngemisebenzi yezinyoni eyadini yethu! Futhi izolo ngahlangana nesidleke senyoni. Siyabona lezi njalo, kodwa nje wangishaya ukuthi lesi sidleke senyoni sasihle kanjani. Bekukhona utshani nemfuhlumpe nomhlaba kodwa lezi zinyoni ziyakwazi ukuzihlanganisa zenze isidleke amaqanda azo nazo. Akumangalisi lokho uThixo akwenzayo ekwakheni ichechi? Uthatha umYahudi nomGrike, umGalile nomSamaretha, isigqila nomkhulula, umcebisi nom穷, aze awahlanganise njengichechi yakhe, njengichechi kaKristu yokuzukiswa kwakhe, lesi sithombe esihle sokuhamba ekwesabeni kweNkosi nasekuthuthweni kweMoya oNgcwele? Lokho uThixo akwenzayo ekwakheni ichechi yakhe. Kakhulu ichechi iyakhiwa. Iyakhiwa.

Asiphinde satshelwa ekugcineni kwelesi siqephu ukuthi njengoba yakhiwa phezulu, yakhiwa ngaphandle. Lena iphuzu lokugcina namhlanje. Ibandla lakhiwa ngaphandle; ibandla landa. Njengoba ibandla lakhiwa, ibandla landa. Eqinisweni, singasho ukuthi enye yezimpawu zamandla ebandla ukuthi iqondiswe ngaphandle. Yakhiwa ngaphandle njengoba yakhiwa phezulu futhi yakhiwa phezulu njengoba yakhiwa ngaphandle. Lesi sihlava sabantu abakholelwayo esisebenzi. Lesi sihlava sabantu abakholelwayo. Lena umphakathi oqhuba phambili esitshelwa ngawo lapha. Enye yamagama anamatayo ebandla namhlanje, esikweni lethu, ngicabanga, “umphakathi – ukwenza impilo ndawonye.” Futhi lokho ngokuqinisekile enye yezinto ezibalulekile zesiqephu; enye yezinto ezinhle lapha. Bayakwazi ukujabhuza umphakathi ndawonye. Kodwa enye yezingozi zokuphakamisa nokugxila emphakathini ukuthi ukugxila kungaba ngaphakathi futhi umphakathi ungaba ngaphakathi. Futhi kungaba nzima ukwamukela abasha noma abangaphandle. Futhi ngiqiniseka ukuthi abaningi bethu baye bakubona lokho emaqenjini amancane noma ezikoleni zikaSonto noma izinto zalezo.

Yakhiwa Ngaphandle

Kodwa sibona lapha, ukuthi uma ukugxila kuNkulunkulu futhi uma ukugxila emyalweni kaKristu wokwakha ibandla lakhe nokuya nokwenza abafundi, ibandla lifinyelela ngaphandle futhi ukukhula kwebandla kunika inkazimulo egameni likaKristu. Futhi lokho sibona njengoba ibandla lifinyelela ngaphandle, izimfanelo ezanika amandla ebandla zifanayo nezimfanelo ezanika ukukhula. Izinto ezazikhona futhi zaziwa emsebenzini kaKristu kubo – ukwesaba kweNkosi nokuthuthuzwa kweMoya oNgcwele – lezo zinto ezimbili ezibathumela ngaphandle, ezibakhuthaza ngaphandle, futhi eziletha ukwanda kwabo abangaphandle kwebandla. Njengoba behamba ekwesabeni kweNkosi nasekuthuthuzweni kweMoya oNgcwele ibandla landa. Yakhiwa ngaphandle.

Ukakhiwa Kuholela Ekwandeni

Ndilo ngokuyisisekelo umgawo othiwe wakha Ed kusukela ngesikhathi kuya kwesinye, othi “okungena kakhulu ekutheni kwenzeka kakhulu emhlabeni.” Lokho njengoba ibandla lakhiwa, lakhiwa ngaphandle. Ngamanye amaxesha siveza kumasonto eMishini uJohn Piper ucatshulwa athi, “Umsebenzi ukhona ngenxa yokuthi ukukhanya akukho!” Siphinde sithi umsebenzi ukhona ngenxa yokuthi ukukhanya kukhona. Yilokho uPiper akusho ngakho kulelo sonto lapho ekhuluma khona. Kuthiwa ukwakhiwa kwebandla kuholela ekwandeni. Yena isizathu sokuthi kuhlanganiswe kakhulu emizini enzima; ihamba kubantu abangempela, nezidingo ezijulile. Ngoba yini isimo sehlabathi? Yini isimo sabo abangaphandle kwebandla? Hhayi, kukuphambene kwalokho esikubonayo apha. Banawo ukwesaba kweNkosi yaye benakho ukuthuthuka kweMoya oyiNgcwele. Akhona umuzwa wokuthembela kuThixo. Akhona ithemba yaye ukuthula nokuthuthuka kodwa kuphela uk pride yaye ukungenamsamo. Angicabangi ukuthi sifanele sinikeze imibanolampilo yindlela ekhombisa ihlabathi elizungezile, kodwa uKristu usinika into engcono. Usinika Yena. Yaye Kuye, sibizwa ekomeleleni yaye kusinye yaye injabulo yaye ukuthula yaye ukumangala yaye uthando. Sibizwa ebuphila, ebuphila eliqhubeka Kuye.

Njengoba sinethemba lezo zinto, sithandaza lezo zinto, silindelezo zinto, enye yezinto esizikhuthazayo ukuthi sithandaza ngokuvuselela. Sithandaza ngokulungiswa, ukuvuselela, ukuhlazeka. Ngabe ulizwe lathi “re”? Sibuza uThixo enze into ayenzile ngaphambili. Sithandaza yaye enze lokho. Yaye singaba nesifiso ngenxa yokuthi siyabona ayenzile ngaphambili. Yaye ubufakazi balokho buchaziwe apha eZenzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Sibiza uThixo enze lokho kwakhona ekhazikweni likaKristu yaye ebuphila bebandla Lakhe.

Ndifunda incwadi njengamanje ngomkhuzi weMississippi River wowe-1927, iRising Tide. Incwadi iyamangalisa! Omunye wabantu ababalulekile njengomkhuzi weMississippi River. Ungomunye wabantu ababusa kakhulu incwadi. Futhi kuyamangalisa ukuzwa indlela achaza ngayo amandla nobukhali bomkhuzi njengokuhamba phansi njengokukhuphuka phezulu. Futhi kuwo wonke amaphuzu endlela, umkhuzi ubheke ukuphuka nge levee. Ubheke ukukhuphuka phezu kwe levee nokusabalala ngaphandle kwemigwaqo yomkhuzi. Leyo yubukhali namandla omkhuzi.

Le yinto esiyibona ngebandla njengoba bandla bakhiwa, njengoba likhula, njengoba lisakazeka. Ibheke ukufinyelela nokwakha nokukhula nokuzala ngobukhazikhazi bukaKristu. Leyo yinto ibandla eliyenzayo. Leyo yinto esiyibona elikenzayo apha eNcwadini yezEnzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Siphetha ukuthi uyakwenza loko namsa.

Ukuphila Komlula

Ngivumele nje kuphela ukugcina amazwana omibili ukuze ngiqede. Uyazi njengoba ngifika ephasikini njengaleyo ndithembela ukuthi ukushumayela nokufundisa ngokwesaba iNkosi yinto enzima kakhulu. Mhlawumbe yinto yokuthi uNkulunkulu akhanya; kunzima ukuyibeka ngamazwi nokubamba hhayi nje ukwesaba kodwa ukuthandana okukhulu nokuthandana kuleso vesi. Kukhona amazwi ambalwa aqhamuka engqondweni. Futhi omunye, ngingathi yinto le – yinto yokuphila komlula. Uyazi siyaxakekiswa futhi sibhadela kakhulu. Sithelwa ukugcwalisa isikhathi esithile sokuphumula noma ukuthula ngomsindo noma ngokubonakalisa okubonakalayo. Kodwa kukhona ukubizwa apha, ndithembela kithi ukuthula. Ndifunela njengoba uDavide wathandaza ngaphambili, “zimisele wazi ukuthi NginguNkulunkulu,” nokuthatha isikhathi sokumangala nokumangala ngumdalo kaNkulunkulu; ukukhumbula iNhlanhla Zakhe, ukukhumbula iVangeli, nokum'thanda ngalokho. Ukukhula kuthokomaliseko ngalokho ahlakulele kona.

Kukhona ukulula esikubonayo esibandleni ezenzo. Akunjalo? Uma sibuya kwisahluko 2, benziwani ubandleni ngesikhathi sebandleni lokuqala? Kwakulula kakhulu. Bazinikela ekudumiseni nasekuthandazeni. Bazinikela ekulizweni nasekuthandazeni. Bazinikela ekulizweni nasezibusisweni. Futhi bazinikela ekubambisaneni nasekupha. Kulula kodwa kumnandi. Akunjalo? Futhi njengoba bazinikela kulezo zinto, babekulungele ukubonakala bahlukile emhlabeni owabazungezile, ukuba usawu nokukhanya emhlabeni wabo. Kwakukhona ukulungele ngabo ukubeka liso ekubekezeleni izilingo, ukubekezela ekubandleni, ukubandla, ngokuthemba, nokulungele ukunika i-akhawunti kulabo ababona isizathu sokuthemba kwabo. Kungani babenezithembo ezincomekayo? Kungenxa yokuvuka; kungenxa yobuphile obungenkile kuKristu Jesu. Futhi babekhona ndawonye beqinisa omunye nomunye ngesikhathi sezo. Futhi babekulungele ukuba yisif witnesses seKristu.

Kungenzeka ukuthi yiyapo lapho sikala khona. Uma sinqwenela ukunqwela nokuthwala imithwalo yabalulahlekile, mhlawumbe asikayiqondi ngokugcwele iblessing yokwesaba iNkosi nokuthuthuzeka kweMoya oNgcwele. Mhlawumbe asikayiqondi ngokugcwele ilungelo elikhulu lesibandleni, kodwa futhi nesidingo esikhulu sabalahlekile. Kungenzeka ukuthi sidinga ukubuya kwisindawo esiqale ngayo inkonzo, isahluko 3 seLamentations, ukubizwa kokukhonzwa – “Masikhangeke sifunde izindlela zethu, sibuye kuNkosi, masiphakamise izinhliziyo nezandla zethu kuNkulunkulu ezulwini.” Masiye kuye ekuthandazeni!

Baba, siyabonga kuwe ngenxa yelizwi lakho nangalolu suku lweNkosi oluzayo, ekuseni nasebusuku, ukuze sizwe ilizwi lakho sihlabelele izidumiso zakho. Sithandazela ukuba wena, ngomoya wakho, usebenze kithi ukuze usivuselele futhi usivuselele futhi usinike injabulo kuKristo y usinike inhliziyo yabalahlekileyo y usinike amathuba okwelula. Y njengoba sakha, ukuba sakhe ngaphandle, ngenxa yenkazimulo yakho, ngenxa yenkazimulo kaKristo nangenxa yenzululwazi yethu. Y sithandazela lezinto egameni likaKristo, amen.