Ibandla Ekubukweni Bibilikhu: I-Ekklesia: Isonto likaNkulunkulu kuwo wonke Ama-ages – Ukubusa Kwake – Ithemba Lethu

Igcube Yakwa Isibili: I-Ekklesia: Isonto likaNkulunkulu kuwo Wonke Ama-Esikhathi - Ukubusa Kwake - Uthando Lwethu

Matthew 16:13-20

Ngokuqala kukaDkt. Harry Reeder III

16 January 2010 - Isevisi Yentshonalanga

Itekhthi yethu yale ngxoxo itholakala ku Matthew 16 ngokubusa kukaKristu, “Ukubusa Kwake, Uthando Lwethu.” Sizobheka iziqephu ezimbalwa kule ngxoxo. Masibheke le tekhthi emangalisayo noJesu nabafundi Bakhe enyakatho ka-Israyeli, ngqo phansi kweNqaba i-Hermon endaweni ebizwa i-Caesarea Philippi. Matthew 16:13- 20 ithi

13 Jesu wayesefikile esifundeni saseCaesarea Philippi, wabuza abafundi Bakhe, “Yini abantu abathi uNdodana kaNkulunkulu ingubani?” 14 Abafundi Bakhe bathi, “Abanye bathi uYohana uMbhaptizi, abanye bathi u-Eliya, abanye bathi uJeremiya noma omunye wabaprofeti.” 15 Wathi kubo, “Nina, yini enathi ukuthi Ngingubani?” 16 USimon Petrus waphendula, “Wena ungumKristu, uNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.” 17 UJesu wamphendula, “Makube nawe, Simon Bar-Jona! Ngoba inyama negazi akakudalula lokhu, kodwa uBaba wami osezulwini. 18 Mina ngithi nawe, ungupetru, nalapha etsheni lami iNkosi yami isonto lami, amasango eHadi awuyikunqoba. 19 Ngiyakuweka izitshixo zombuso wezulwini, nokho kona ubophe emhlabeni kuyabopheka ezulwini, nokho kona ukhulula emhlabeni kuyakhululwa ezulwini.” 20 Wayesiyalela abafundi Bakhe ngokuqinileyo ukuba bangatsheli muntu ukuthi ungumKristu.

Utshani buchama, isikhala siyabutha, yena lo iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Liyahlala kuwo wonke ama-esikhathi, nangeNkosazana Yakhe nangobubele Bakhe, khona masiwushumire kuwe.

Isonto elidlule siqale izinyanga ezimbalwa zokufunda futhi isicelo sami sasi lokhu. Ngiyazi ngezindlela eziningi ukuthi lokho esizokufunda abantu abaningi bohlobo lwenu nakulwazi kodwa isicelo sami kwakungu lokhu njengoba i-Briarwood isuka eminyakeni engu-50 yokugubha ihambela phambili, angicabangi ukuthi into ebalulekile sihlakaniphe kabusha ukwakha kabusha isonto. Angicabangi ukuthi into ebalulekile siyamkela imigomo eyisisekelo uKristu ayinikeze isonto lakhe futhi sicela kuNkulunkulu ukuthi yenziwe ngobuhle, ukuthi uyandise ezinhliziyweni zethu, ukuthi zandise futhi sikuleke ekwenzeni izinto eziyisisekelo kahle, iziseko kahle. Ngakho-ke akukho ngengozi ukuthi umxholo wethu walo nyaka zintathu – umthandazo nesiGama. Awukwazi ukuthola okuyisisekelo kunokuxhumana kwethu noNkulunkulu ngesiGama sakhe nokuthi thina sixhumana naye ngomthandazo. Lokho kuyabalulekile.

Nasi indlela esiqale ngayo isonto elidlule. Isonto likaNkulunkulu yikhaya lethu, i-Ekklesia. IZwi elithi ‘Ekklesia’ lisho okuhlanganisiwe. Lokho yisonto. Isonto asiyona indlu. Ngiyazi ukuthi nonke ulwazi inhlanga yobusika beSonto, “Nansi isonto, nansi inhlanga, vula umnyango, nansi abantu.” Kulungile, umrhimo omuhle kodwa yitheolojiya embi. Isonto asiyona indlu. Isonto ngabantu. Isonto yindawo yokuhlangana yindlu. Thina bayabizwa ndawonye. Ngakho-ke tizibiza njengomndeni kaNkulunkulu kumnzani. Yikhaya lethu. Saphenya isonto elidlule kwathi Ephesians 2 ukuthi indlu kaNkulunkulu yakhiwe phezu kwesiseko sabapostoli nabaprofeti. UKristu uyitshe ekhoneni yikhaya lethu. Yisonto likaNkulunkulu, yikhaya lethu, lapho sihlala khona noYise ngamandla oMoya futhi yindawo yethu yokumkhonza. Ngakho-ke yiyo i-Ekklesia, isonto likaNkulunkulu, yikhaya lethu.

Nansi sikhona. Njengoko sele siqinisekisile, siyakuhambela phambili. Siyahambela phambili ngendlela eyayiyinxalenye yembali kunye nelifa lethisi chiese kodwa akunakuthathwa njenge nto leyal. Kufuneka igojwa. Kufuneka yandiswe. Kufuneka ikhuliswe, yaye le yinto esiyenzayo. Yiyo ukuphambili kukaKristo, hayi ukuphambili kwento enye ngaphandle kukaKristo. Akusiyo ukuphambili kukaBriarwood okanye umbutho wethu okanye nayiphi na inkonzo esithweni okanye umbonisi esithweni. Yiyo ukuphambili kukaKristo eyinto ebalulekileyo. Yonke uhambo luqala ngenyathelo lokuqala, yaye akwenzeki ukuthatha inyathelo lokuqala de wazi indlela ekuyo.

Ndingathanda ukubuya kwelo phakiso, kwasekuqaleni nditsho oku. Yintoni umsebenzi kaBriarwood? Ekupheleni kwethanscripti kukho umdwebo wento esiyigubungele kwisifundo sokugqibela. Umsebenzi wethu ngu Kweyabantwana bethu, uBriarwood uzibophelele ekuxhobiseni abaKrestu ukuncoma uThixo nokufika eBirmingham ukufika emhlabeni wonke ngenxa kaKristo. Ngaba uyafuna abantu abalahlekileyo basindiswe? Ewe, siyafuna, kodwa asibayi kubhenela kubo, sibaya kubo ngenxa kaKristo. Ngaba sifuna ukuncoma kuThixo? Ngokuqinisekileyo. Kutheni yaye njani? Yiyo ngenxa kaKristo. Ngaba sifuna iindaba ezilungileyo zisazwe? Ewe, siyafuna ngenxa kaKristo. Ngaba sifuna imisebenzi yeevangeli yenziwe ngumusa, uthando, ubulungisa nenceba? Ngokuqinisekileyo. Kutheni? Yiyo ngenxa kaKristo yaye ukuze sikristu-zenthwe. Oku kuthetha ukuba sinombono, yaye umbonono wethu nococeke, ngu: Kwizizukulwana ezizayo, uBriarwood unefiso lokuba yindawo yokuxhobisa enobungo bokristu, eqhutywa yiNgeli, igcwele uMoya, ndawo apho yonke ilungu liyinkonzo (linika indumiso kuThixo ngokuncoma) yaye liyimthunywa. Sinikonza ukuncoma kuThixo, sikonza iNgeli kwihlabathi wonke ngoku thuma, sikonza uthando kuthi thina, yaye sikonza umusa weNkosi uYesu kithi thina ukuze sikhule nzulu kwiNkosi. Yonke imkholwa ithatha loo Ngeli phambili.

Siyenza kanjani umsebenzi wethu wosizo? Siyenza ngoKristu. Uyini umsebenzi wosizo? Uyakuba kwizizukulwane ezizayo, isizukulwane esilandelayo samaBandla. Yile yisici esibalulekile kwisizukulwane esilandelayo samaBandla, abaphostoli, nabathumwa. Asikwazi ukuba yBandla elisekelwe ekutshalweni kwamaBandla noma ekufundiseni noma ekusizeni noma ekunquleni. Zonke izinto zidlala indima enkulu futhi zizokwenziwa kuphela uma sigxile kuKristu. Kufanele sigxile kuKristu. Yilowo umlegacy wethu. Msaduko eNkosini! Kufanele igcinwe. Akumele igxile eBriarwood. Uma sigcina ukuba sigxile kuKristu (siyothekisa ngoKithofi Gospel driven kanye noMoya oGcwele) uKristu uyakuba ngaphambili, yinto eyenza iBandla lakhe libe nomdlandla. Ukuba phambili kukaKristu yinto eyenza sibande. Ingqondo yethu iphambili kuye, ngakho konke esikuthandayo sikuthanda kuye, ngakuye, nakuKristu. Uyena wonke wethu. Yinto enjalo iyinto ebalulekile, nanibektha uma sihlala sigxile kuKristu singaba nabantu abasebenzayo kwisizukulwane esilandelayo sabantu abakholelwayo, abaphostoli, abathumwa namaBandla. Zonke izinto zizovela uma iBandla ligxile kuKristu. Ngakho masakhe phezu kwalokho imizuzu embalwa.

Ngakho sinjani ukuba sigxile kuKristu ukuze sibe Gospel driven, Moya oGcwele njalo yonke ilungu lithumwa njengomthumwa ekulungiseleleni umphakathi? Sinjani ukuba sigxile kuKristu? Masaqale ngomshicilelo omnye weZwi likaThixo naningalandeleyo. Ngiyathanda lo mbhalo oyisigidimi Matthew 16. Ngiyawufunda njalo uma ngiya e-Israel. Ngimi nhle kweyona ndlela uJesu awanika ngayo amazwi, yaye sihamba ngendlela yakhe. UJesu unengxoxo enkulu, yaye uyini ukuphambili kukaKristu nenyama yakhe? Masibuke ukuphambili kukaKristu nenyama yakhe kulo mbhalo.

Okokuqala, iNkosi iyavumela ukuthi sibone ingxoxo yemibuzo emibini noMseki, nezimpendulo ezimbili zikaMseki. Umbuzo wokuqala uthi ‘ubani “abantu” abathi ngim?’ Abantu bathi ngani ngoMina? Lo ngumbuzo ojwayelekile. Abapostoli baphendula, ‘UngumProfeti omkhulu. UnguJeremia, UnguEliyahu, UnguYohana uMbhaptizi.’ Ngifuna ukukutshela okuthi ngiyacinga ukuthi kuthiwa lapho. Ngiyacinga ukuthi abafundi bacabanga ukuthi badinga ukukhuthaza uJesu ngemuva kokuba ethe umbuzo lo, ngakho bathi izinto ezinjengo ‘UngumPrecheri omkhulu, Unje ngomProfeti. Abantu bakhuluma ngawe ngendlela efanayo nokuthi bakhuluma ngoEliyahu, nguJeremia, ngaloyo muntu osandla nje kuphila, uYohana uMbhaptizi. Bathi izinto ezinhle kakhulu ngawe.’

Khona uJesu asuka esikhathazo esivamile ngompendulo ovamile, ohlose ukwenza okuhle, kodwa asifikanga lapho thina kudingeka ukuba khona, yena ke uyaphambili asize esikhathazo esithile. Umbuzo wesiBili yithi ‘Yini “ina” nithi ukuthi ngingubani?’ Unesilinganiso ekusebenziseni inkulumo ethi ‘Ngiyilo’ yena othi igama likaThixo. Ngiyilo engiyilo. KuNgeli likaJohane bayathuthukisa, kwathi “Ngiyilo umnyango, ngiyilo indlela, ngiyilo iqiniso, ngiyilo uMalusi, ngiyilo…, ngiyilo…, ngiyilo… Ngokucacile lapho uJohane umkhulu ebhala iNgeli likaJohane uyagcizelela. Kana hona kulesi sintekhaya lapho uJesu akhuluma khona inkulumo ethi ‘Ngiyilo’ uPetro uyaphuma. Ungathembela kuPetro. Uyisibusiso sompreacher wezifaniso zonke ozithandayo. Akana lesi sifo sokuthi asakhulumi kodwa lesi sifo sokuthi inhliziyo yakhe iyaphuma emlonyeni wakhe, yisikhathi esithile ibuhle yisikhathi esithile ayilungile. Yena iphakeme kakhulu kulesi sikhathi kuthiwa uphendula “Wena ungumKristu, iNdodana kaThixo Ophilayo. Wena ungumProfethi, uMshumayeli, iNkosi. Wena ukhulu kunoMose noAroni, umProfethi. Wena ukhulu kunoMelkisedeki, uMshumayeli. Wena ukhulu kunoDavide, iNkosi. Wena ungumKristu, Oyagcotshwa, uThunywa. Wena unguThixo oze emflekweni.”

Khona uJesu athi okuthile kuPetro okuthi yena nawe wena othi ‘UJesu ungumKristu wami, uMsindisi wami’ Yena angakusho nawe. UJesu athi “Simoni, oyiNdodana kaJona, inyama negazi akakudalula lokhu kodwa uBaba wami osezulwini.” Ngamanye amazwi, awukwazi ukuza nokuvuma uKristu ngobukhazikhazi bakhe bonke ngaphandle kokuba uBaba athume uMoya ukuze avule inhliziyo yakho, akunike amehlo okubona nezindlebe zokuzwa. Uyablesswa. Izibusiso zifikile kusuka kuOne oBlessekileyo ukuze kukhulule ukuze ungibone njengoKristu. Lokhu akusukwazi kwabantu kodwa kusuka kwitrone yezulwini. UJesu athi eMatthew 16:17-18, 17 UJesu wamphendula, “Uyablesswa, wena Simoni, oyiNdodana kaJona! Ngoba inyama negazi akakudalula lokhu, kodwa uBaba wami osezulwini. 18 Futhi ngiyakutshela, wena ungupetru, nalitshe lobhu liyakhelwa ibandla lami, nezangozo zegehena aziyakulidlula.

Khona manje sihamba kusukela engxoxweni kuya kwendawaphi uKristu oPhakeme kunazo zonke anika isithembiso ngamazwi amabili okuthi. Icala elilodwa lokuthi ‘yena uyakhelakile ibandla lakhe’ icala lesibili lokuthi ‘ezangozo zegehena aziyakulidlula.’ Manje phawula into. Kwathi siyakubona lokhu siyangagquma kwathi siyezwa ‘yena uyakhelakile ibandla lakhe.’ Kukhona ukuzethemba okukhulu esinakho kusuka emlonyeni kaKristu ngesiphambano kaKristu, iqiniso elikhazimulisayo ukuthi ibandla likaKristu liyakunqoba. Yena uyakhelakile ibandla lakhe imisho yaye iyayebo njengoJesu njengakwinto zonke. Kuthi uJesu uyakhelakile ibandla lakhe.

Into yesibili ayo wathi amasango ejezebheli awonqobi ngalo. Ngifuna ukuwaphindupheli ngomzuzu owodwa. Akusho ukuthini na? Akusho ukuthi uJesu ungumakhi futhi usebenzisa thina njengabasebenzi, kulungile? Kukhona okunye akusho. Akusho ukuthi yiyitheka likaJesu. Ngakho masikhulume ngoBriarwood ngomzuzu owodwa. Ngenomthwalo wemfanelo wokukhulumela ngokufundamana futhi uma lokho engimuzayo kusebenza kwezinye amabandla, makadunyiswe iNkosi kodwa yinto esidinga ukukhumbuzwa ngayo. Lokhu niebandla likaHarry. Alingabiki kwi-PCA (iPresbyterian Church eMelika). Alingabiki kuwe. Lingabiki kuKristu. UKristu wathi, “Ngingakha ibandla Lami.” LikaKristu yilo futhi lingabiki kuKristu. Njengamanje ngifuna ukwenza njengokungathi ngalinalo ekusheni lokho akungakhe njengokuthi ngingumphathi kodwa LikaKristu yilo. LikaKristu yilo futhi liyingcwele. LikaKristu yilo. Yibandla LikaKristu, ibandla Lami, ukubusa kukaKristu.

Siyavumelana kwenye enyezi lesibili. Ngenxa Yakhe, yile yithembiso. Amasango eSheoli awonqobi ngaphezu kwayo. Inkulumo 'amasango eSheoli' ifanelwe ukuphathwa okuningi kakhulu kunalokho engizokunika khona kodwa bangaki abakini abake wanqotshwa yisango? Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi ibheka kanjani isango njengengakho yamandla ongayisebenzisa ekuzivikeleni kodwa yilo ashoyo ngemuva kwalokhu uSathana nombuso wakhe unqotshiwe. Bazokwenza njengathi basenqabeni kodwa empeleni basenokuzivikela. Izinsuku zakhe zibalwa kusukela ngosuku uKristo ayahamba ngalo ekhsteni wamnqotsha owonayo. Ngakho yile 'Ngenza ibandla Lami' na 'amasango eSheoli awonqobi ngaphezu kwayo' kodwa ngendlela, kushoyo lokho, masenze okunye kucace. Yini enye uYesu ayisho ngalokho? Uphinde ashoyo ukuthi ibandla lizohlushwa ngombuso wobumnyama noSathana. Kungani enika isithembiso sokuthi awonqobi uma singazami ukunqoba? Ngakho uSathana uhlushan ibandla eligxile kuKristo, eliqhutshwa yiNgilazi, eligcwele uMoya. uYesu uyakwakha ibandla Lakhe amasango eSheoli awonqobi ngaphezu kwawo kodwa lizohlushwa.

Yeka le. Ngifuna ukucacisa kakhulu kithi. UThixo usibusisile iminyaka engu-50. Izibusiso uKristo azinikeze le chesi akusivikeli ekuhlaseleni komthetho olubi esikhathini esizayo. Izibusiso zikaKristo akusivikeli ekugqilazweni kukaSathana, ekulingweni kwakhe, ekuhlaseleni kwakhe ngaphandle, noma ekuhlaseleni kwakhe ngaphakathi kwechesi. Makangivumele ngiye kude kancane. Ifa lethu lokubonga uThixo ngezibusiso ezivela ezibusisweni, nakho konke ukukhubeka kwethu kungabonakala, kodwa uThixo ube nesihawu kithi. Ifa lezibusiso zikaThixo kithi iminyaka yonke, iminyaka engu-50, akusivikeli ekuhlaseleni komthetho olubi esikhathini esizayo kodwa kunalokho likumisela njengoqondwa. USathana angathanda ukuthi sihlale esikhathini esedlule noma siyalilahla ikusasa. Angathanda ukuthi siyehlanya futhi siphazanywe. Angathanda ukuthi lapho uKristo bekuyinto yonke ukwenza yonke into uKristo akwenzile kithi into yonke esikhundleni sokuthi uKristo aqhubeke abe yinto yonke. Yeka inyani. USathana uyahlasele. UKristo uthembisile ukunqoba. Yakha chesi eyanqoba.

In other words, the church until Jesus comes back, is going to face exactly what Jesus faced when He came the first time. The Son of God comes to save sinners. What does Satan do? He attacks. He attacks in Bethlehem through the destruction of the innocence. He attacked in the wilderness. He attacks and attacks and attacks. He even attacked in this text. He says “Peter upon this rock,” which deserves quite a bit more treatment than I can give today because there’s a verse that Christendom has divided over for years now. They say “Who is the rock?” Peter (which means stone, rock), I say to you, upon this rock I will build My church. So the Roman church has said that Peter is the rock. The only problem is that is if that is true then the first time He makes the statement is four verses later. Jesus says “I’m going to go to Jerusalem, I’m going to die because they will put me to death and I’ll rise again” and Peter newly crowned who is supposedly in the seat of papal authority then says “God forbid that this should happen.” And Jesus says, “Get thee behind Me Satan.” That’s not too good for your first utterance in papal authority. I don’t think Peter is the rock. The protestant church has always said the rock is Christ. Look at all the text that we have to support that. So the protestant church says “It’s the confession that is the rock. It’s Peter’s confession.” It’s interesting that the first time Jesus says this to Peter that Satan’s first attack is through Peter. You are the personification of Satan, get thee behind Me Satan, you have set your mind on man’s interest not God’s interest. Right there Satan is attacking the church. So is it simply this confession that upon this rock I will build My church and the rock is the confession that Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah. Obviously, that is where I would kind of tend to but there is a third option.

becomes

Ngesiwe, ibandla likaThixo de uJesu abuye, lizokubhekana nezinto ezifanayo uJesu abhekana nazo xa wokuqala esafika. UThixo uNksz wokuza ukusindisa aboni. Yenzani uSathana? Uhlasela. Uhlasela eBethlehem ngokwabhubhisa ukumsulwa. Uhlasela ehlane. Uhlasela uhlasela uhlasela. Uhlasela kwanaphakathi kule ngxelo. Uthi “Petro phezu kweli liwazi,” elifanelwe yincoko eninzi kungekho xesha lokunika namhlanje kuba kukho umshumayelo ibandla likaKristu elwahlukana kuwo iminyaka. Bathi “Ngubani iliwazi?” Petro (elithetha icwenga, iliwazi), ndithi kuni, phezu kweli liwazi ndiya kwakha ibandla lam. Ngako oko ibandla lamaRoma lithi uPetro nguliwazi. Ingxaki kuphela kukuba ukuba oko kuyinyaniso ke xa kuqala uyenzi isitatimende kwivesi ezine kamva. UJesu uthi “Ndiya eYerusalem, ndiya kufa kuba baya kundibulala ndiphinde ndivuke” uPetro okorontwe kwakutsha nje onguye kuthiwa usihlalo sobunpapai ke uthi “Nkosi makube njalo.” UJesu uthi, “Nkosi yanga emva kwam USathana.” Akulunganga kangako kwinkulumo yokuqala ebunzima bobapapai. Andingacatsh’ uPetro anguliwazi. Ibandla lamaProthestanti lisoloko lithi uliwazi uKrestu. Jonga zonke iingxelo esinazo ukuze siwuxhase. Ngako oko ibandla lamaProthestanti lithi “Yinkoveli iliwazi. Inkcazo kaPetro yiyo.” Kuyathakazelisa xa uJesu uthi oku kuPetro uhlaselo lukaSathana lokuqala lu nguPetro. Ungumfanekiso kaSathana, yanga emva kwam USathana, ubeke ingqondo yakho kwintress yamuntu hayi kunonkcazo lukaThixo. Kulapho uSathana ahlasela ibandla. Ngaba yinkcazo le phezu kweli liwazi ndiya kwakha ibandla lam iliwazi yinkcazo yokuba uKrestu nguThixo uNksz, uMesiya. Ngokuvisisana, yiyinto apho ndingathanda uku ya kukholelwa kodwa kukho enye inketho.

I-othi yesithathu uPetro, egameni labapostola, abathethayo egameni labaprofethi, lapho abaprofethi beholela khona abapostola futhi sakhiwe phezu kwesisekelo sabapostola nabaprofethi bengaba yiTestamente Endala neTestamente Entsha futhi uKristo uyitshe ekhoneni. Kucabanga ukuthi yilo ayesho lapha ukuthi uPetro ngelIzwi likaNkulunkulu eliza ngabaprofethi nabapostola, isisekelo, sisekelwe futhi sihlinzeka kuKristo itshe ekhoneni. Ngakho isisekelo selIzwi likaNkulunkulu, sigxile kuKristo oloba iDwala lebandla elingakwazi ukunqotshwa nguSathana nezithwala zakhe ezizoqala ngaphandle kwenyoka. Kukhona ukuzethemba okunayo.

Kwa-kumele kuKristo nokuthwala kwakhe. Ingabe yinto yethu yokuthwala futhi ingabe kumele ibe yinto yethu yokuthwala? Ingabe ukwazi kuKristo kumele kube yinto yethu yokuthwala? Ngifuna ukubuka Colossians 1. Kuyathakazelisa kimi ngoba njengoba umthule wami ekuseni njengamanje encwadini yabaseKolose futhi kwageuza lesi sifungo sonke. Colossians 1:15-20 wathi

15 Yena (uKristo) ungumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu ongenakubonakala, ingozi yadala yonke. (Ukuthwala umzimba kuwubuhle bukaNkulunkulu obonakalayo.) 16 Ngoba yena yonke into yadala, (Kwa yenza uYise into yonke, kanjani? Ngaye.), ezulwini nase emini, kubonakala nangenakubonakala, zabaNkulu noma zabaPhathi noma zabaRulimenti noma zabaGunya—yonke into yadala ngaye futhi ngenxa yakhe. 17 Yena uphambili yonke into (Inkosana kaNkulunkulu ingunaphakade.), ngaye yonke into iphethwe. (Uyabathwala yonke into.) 18 Yena uyinhloko yomzimba, ibandla. Yena yisiqalo, ingozi yavuka phakathi kwabafileyo, lokhu yonke into ingaba phambili kuye. 19 Ngoba ngaye ubuhle bonkulunkulu bwanandipha ukuhlala, 20 ngaye ukubuyisana yonke into, ²wa emini noma ezulwini, nokuthula ngensangu yomnqamlezo wakhe.

Yilo lo Kristu, uKristu ophambanisiwe. Uyabona ukuthi kungani uApostola Pau lokhu ethi “Ngithanda ukwazi lutho phakathi kwenu ngaphandle kukaKristu, lokhu uKristu ophambanisiwe”? Kungenxa yokuthi uKristu yilo nalokho okwenziwa ekhreyithini. Yilo lo Kristu odlala indawo yonke. Yilo lo Kristu ophethe indawo yonke ngenxa yegama lamandla akhe. Yilo lo Kristu ofike waya ekhreyithini wafela izono zethu ukuze athenge ibandla lakhe, asimise yena lo Kristu uyabusa phakathi kwazo zonke izinto. Kuyisikhathi esedlule Colossians 1:18b-19 ithi “lokhu kuzo zonke izinto abe ngaphambili. 19 Ngokuthi kuye kwaneliseka konke ukugcwaleka kukaNkulunkulu…” sekufike ngenyama. Uyabona, uMdali wethu, uMkhululi wethu, uMgcini wethu, yena zonke izinto zivela kuye. Zonke izinto esinazo zivela kuye kithi kuye yena uyabusa. Angithandi ukuhumusha ukuthi uthi uyena owokuqala ngoba unazo zonke izindawo. Akayena phezulu ohlwini. Uyena ohlwini. ‘Kimi ukuphila uKristu.’ Uyena zonke izinto. Uyena oyabusa yena uyena osemthandweni wethu.

Yini kumele abe yintshiseko yethu? Ngifuna ukunika izizathu ezintathu. Nansi imbangela yokuthi ukuhleleka kwakhe kumele kube yintshiseko yethu njengesonto. Inombolo yokuqala, uKristo uyahleleka futhi intshiseko yethu ngoba uyasithanda isonto lakhe – iNkosi yakhe. Amadoda, kunumbhalo omuhle weSibhalo okudingeka niwufake ohlwini lwakini lokuqala. Ibizwa ngokuthi Ephesians 5. Ephesians 5:25-27 ithi 25 Madoda, thandani imifazini yenu, njengoba uKristo esithandile isonto waznikeza umphefumlo wakhe ngayo, 26 ukuze ayisucunge, eyihlanze ngokugeza kwamanzi ngezwi, 27 ukuze abonise isonto kuye ekhazikweni, lisengenali mhlanga noma ukukroba noma into enjalo, ukuze libe liyingcwele lisengenali lisozele. Ngiyathanda ukwenza imishado. Ngi namahora amabili afanelekayo emshadweni. Oyedwa “ungamsomula umkoti.” Ngiyathanda umzuzu onjalo ngoba ubuntu babo bonke buchile. Bonke abangenakho ubuntu ubusweni babo njengo kumele. Lapho oyedwa engenakho ubuntu omunye akena ubuntu, oyedwa uyabuya omunye uyaphakama. Uma bobabili abena ubuntu amazwi ami alandelayo “Kulungile, kwanele.” Kodwa isikhathi engisithandayo kakhulu emshadweni umkoti esefikile iminyango ivulekile umkoti uyabonwa. Ngiyathanda ukumbuka umkhwenyana. Kuyakuba izinyembezi, izinyumbezi ezingakwazi ukubambwa ngomlomo ogcwele amazinyumbezi noma inhlanganisela yazo zombili, lapho ebona umkoti. Ngingafuni ukuwenza abe sengathi lilizwe kodwa ngicabanga ukuthi lelo lizukulwana liyakuba likhazikile – umkoti uJesu asithandayo uyakulethwa “Baba yingakalahli elinye lani.” Lelo lizukulwana liyakuba likhazikile. Uyahleleka entshisekweni yethu ngoba yasithanda. Thina isonto lakhe.

Okwesibili, Uyingqintsa ekuthandweni kwethu ngoba Ungumthengi wethu, ibandla - umhlambi Wake. Ngifuna ukubuka ndima e Acts 20. Nayi ibandla elimangalisa elinomlando omkhulu. Ungathanda ukuba noMpostoli Paulo njengumfundisi wakho nomthengi webandla kweminyaka mitathu? Manje usekuzilethem. Uzobanjwa futhi uthi kithina ukuthi ngeke nasukubona futhi ngakho-ke unamazwi okugcina kithina anokuqala ngo Acts 20:17 aze afike ekupheleni kwesahluko kodwa ngifuna ukubuka kuphela imisho mitathu yalezo. Yilokhu athi kothishekileyo bebndla. Acts 20:28-30 uthi 28 Qaphelani ngokwakini nangomhlambi wonke, omoya oyiNgcwele enenze abanyameleyi, ukunakekela ibandla likaNkulunkulu, (yini imbangela kukwaNkulunkulu ibandla) awathola ngegazi lakhe. (Kwa yini?) 29 Ngiyazi ukuthi emva kokuhamba kwami kungeke kube khona izimpisi ezib狠 phakathi kwenu (abathishekileyo), zingak sparing umhlambi. 30 phakathi kwenu pat akuke khona abantu abakhuluma izinto ezigotshiweyo, badonse abafundi emva kwabo. UMpostoli Paulo uthi “Sengizohamba noSathana uya kuhlasele le bandla.” Umuntu angathi, “O Harry le bandla lizalile iColossae, Laodicea, naHierapolis. Batile plant Smyrna, Pergamum nawo wonke la ma bandla. Bayitshintshile iAsia Minor ngaph upside down nawe wathi uSathana uya kuhlasele iEfesu?” Ngokuqinisekile noSathana ngeke ayihlasela nje kuphela nguk persecution evela ngaphandle kodwa uya kuhlasele nangokungenisa kwakhe. Uya kungenisa ngaphakathi ngokugonqa nawo umoya wokugxeka. Uya kungenisa ithishekileyo nabaholi bamanga abagxile kubo beb fundisa izinto ezigotshiweyo. Yini imbangela uMpostoli Paulo ayazi? Kungenxa yokuthi uJesu usew told him uSathana uya kuhlasele kodwa Ubuye wathi Uya kuhlenga xa akha ibandla Lakhe. Namafikisa uMpostoli Paulo ayazi kungenxa yokuthi sele iqhubeka iminyaka mitathu xa elapho. Manje uya kuqhubeka nje nakakhulu xa ehamba.

Kwa hivyo ni nini hasa Paulo anawaambia kufanya? Unataka waangalieni nafsi zao ili waweze kuwashughulikia kanisa la Mungu alilo linalomiliki. Kanisa ni la Mungu. Kwanje? Kristo alilipatia kwa damu yake. Kwa hiyo umaalumu wake na shauku yetu ni kwa sababu alilipatia kanisa kwa damu yake. Kanisa ni kundi lake ambalo sisi ni sehemu yake.

Tatu, Kristo ana umaalumu na shauku yetu ni kwa sababu yuko ndani yake kwa Roho yake – mwili wake. Tunaitwa mwili wa Kristo. Yesu alikuja katika ulimwengu huu. Alipokea mwili, akaufanyia kazi Baba, akahubiri hadharani na alipomaliza alipokuwa anawaangalia wafuasi wake wachanga wa kanisa akasema “Kama Baba alinituma, sasa ninawatumia ninyi.” Yesu alikuja katika mwili nambari moja akaufanyia kazi Baba. Alipanda kwenda mbinguni na mpaka atakaporudi katika mwili huo ulio na utukufu sisi ni mwili nambari mbili. Tunawezaje kumiliki Kristo kama mwili wa Kristo? Ni kwa sababu yuko ndani yetu kwa kumimina Roho wake ndani yetu ili kutu influence na kutu empower.

Nina ufunguo mmoja tu. Ufunguo ni umaalumu wa Kristo ndio shauku yetu kwa sababu vitu vyote ni kutoka kwake, kwa ajili yake na kwa njia yake, basi utukufu wake ni milele na milele, Amina. Kila kitu unacho nacho, kila kitu, nyumba hiyo, watoto hao, familia hiyo, kazi hiyo, uhusiano huo, matarajio hayo, matumaini hayo, ndoto hiyo, changamoto hizo unazokabiliana nazo, kila kitu kimetokana naye kwako ili kwa njia yake kila kitu sasa kinaweza kurejeshwa kwake. Shauku yetu ni kwamba katika vitu vyote Kristo awe na umaalumu. Tunatakiwa tuwe na Kristo katikati. Yeye ndio katikati. Yeye ndio jumla. Yeye ndio kiini. Yeye ndio mduara mzima. Unapiga mduara vipi? Huanza na katikati. Unaweka katikati. Kkatikati yetu ni Kristo na Yeye ndio mduara wetu.

Uqala kanjani uhambo? Uqala ngesinyathelo sokuqala. Wazi kanjani ukuthi ungathatha isinyathelo sokuqala sika? Kungenxa yokuthi unekheli. Yena ndiye isinyathelo sokuqala futhi Yena ndiye ikheli. Yena ndiye umphakathi. Yena ndiye isamba. Yena ndiye into. Yena ndiye umjikelezo. Yena ndiye uKristo oyekho kuzo zonke izinto, ngazo zonke izinto futhi ozonikezwa zonke izinto. Singenza kanjani njengecawa ukuba nesib胆 esikhulu nokuba nomusa ngesikhathi esisodwa? Singenza kanjani ukuba sithembe, siqaphe, siqiniseke futhi sizibole? Zonke izinto zivela kwicawa futhi zenzeka ngicawa eyakhelwe kuKristo. Yicawa eyakhelwe kuKristo ndiye umphakathi, isamba, into kanye nomjikelezo wezinto zonke.

Kunezicawa ezingaki e Revelation 2 no-3? Zikhona eziyisikhombiso. Lithini igama lesithombe salezi zicawa e Revelation 2 no-3? Zibizwa ngokuthi izibani. Ubani oyekho phakathi? Yena ndiye uJesu. Yena ndiye umphakathi weCawa Yakhe. Yena ndiye umphakathi wicawa yendawo nganye, umphakathi wezicawa zonke ndawonye, uma Yena ekhona phakathi kwazo zonke izicawa yena uyamjikeleza. Kristo ndiye umphakathi wezinto zonke. Yena ndiye isamba sezinto zonke. Yena ndiye into yezinto zonke. Kristo uyakuba nokubusa okuphezulu ngoba Yena ndiye uMdali wethu, uMkhululi wethu nawo uMgcini wethu. Yena ndiye uMsindisi wethu. Yena ndiye uyena owabusa. Yena ndiye owanele. Yena uyakuba nokubusa okuphezulu ngoba Yena uyakwazi. Yena uyakuba nokubusa okuphezulu noyena owaziwa ngabantu. Yena ndiye owaziwa kwabantu. Yena ndiye uKristo. Thina sifuna abantu bezwe ngoKristo. Yena uyawasindisa aboni. Yena uyabathuthuzela abantu abathembekile. Yena ndiye owabathusa. Yena ndiye oyabagcina nabo bayakula.

Abongomshay, nabowesikhathi esizayo. I-legacy yethu ayisikhululi kulo. Siyahlaselwa ngaphandle. Siyahlaselwa ngaphakathi. Kuyakuba khona ukuhlasela njalo kukaSathana ukusiphazamisa, kusidukise nokuletha imifundisho eyamanga. Uyahlasele umsebenzi wabaphostoli kule chiese. Uyahlasele imiphakathi yeqembu, izikole zikaSonto, amaqembu amancane kanye nemisebenzi yale chiese. Uyahlasele ukukhulekwa kwethu. Uyafuna kube yinto engeyiyo uKristo oyinhloko nokukhulekwa kukaNkulunkulu. Uyahlasele umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Uyahlasele zonke izinto zalo. Njengoba ehlasela sizakunqoba ngoKristo ngoba uKristo uye wangena emnyango wejezuko. Uye wawashaya phansi futhi wathatha izikhiye. Uye wazinika thina futhi wathi “Ngamgana Wami, ngiye zanika izikhiye zeZulu, nalokho enikubophayo emhlabeni kube kuboshiwe ezulwini, nalokho enikudedelayo emhlabeni kube kudedelwe ezulwini.” UKristo uyaphumelela futhi ngoba yiyEbandla Lakhe, abantu bakhe bayaphumelela. Koba yena uyinhloko, yena uyiphina yethu. Koba kube njalo, kuyakuba njalo?

Ngivumele nibuze umbuzo. UBruce Stallings wayethandaza kuliphi ilanga namhlanje? Lokhu akunzima. Ingabe uzwile amazwi okugcina esithandazweni sakhe? Wathandaza “egameni likaJesu iKrestu, Amen.” Sithandaza ngesikhathi sikaKristu. Uyini yena okhona kwesokunene soBaba, ekhulumela yena njengamanje? Yena iKrestu. Ngenkathi ibandla libizwa ngokuthi umzimba, umzimba wobani yena? Umzimba kaKristu. Ngenkathi libizwa ngokuthi umakoti, umakoti wobani yena? Umakoti kaKristu. Ngenkathi libizwa ngokuthi butho, butho lowani yena? Butho lwaSenzi. Ngenkathi libizwa ngokuthi umhlambi, umhlambi wobani yena? Umhlambi kaKristu. Uyini yena uMalusi oyinhloko womhlambi? Yena iKrestu. Uyini yena owathenga ibandla? Yena iKrestu. Uyini yena osinikeze iLizwi likaThixo? Yena iKrestu. ILizwi likaThixo lisiyisa kowapi? ITestamente Endala lisiyisa Kuye iTestamente Entsha lichaza Yena. Qala kwaMose nawo wonke amazwi esiprofetho Yena wachaza Yena emBhalweni lonke. iKrestu ungubani oPhambili eLizwini.

Ubani owathi wathulula uMoya kaThixo wosinika ukuphila? Yena iKrestu. Ubani osinika izipho zoMoya? Yena iKrestu. Ubani osinike uMoya kaThixo ngawonke amazwi oMoya ukuze sifane noKrestu? Yini iKrestu asinike uMoya oNgcwele ngayo? Yena asinike uMoya oNgcwele ukuze abeerwe phambili. Kunothi eziningi zokufundisa ezingafaneleki kuMoya oNgcwele futhi iningi ngenxa yokuthi ibandla alikafundisi kahle kodwa nina nazi into enye. Ngenkathi siqonda uMoya kaThixo asisuze sikhulume kangaka ngoMoya kaThixo kodwa sisuze sinikele kuMoya kaThixo. Sihambe ngoMoya kodwa ubani esisuze sikhulume ngaye? uMoya oNgcwele ufikile ukuze afakaze ngoKrestu. Yena iKrestu osinike uMoya oNgcwele.

Yayena uKristu owathenga ibandla lakhe. Ubani onakekelayo ibandla? Uyena uKristu. Ubani othandayo ibandla? Uyena uKristu. Ubani ofe ibandla? Uyena uKristu. Ubani ovukile ukuze athabathe ibandla ekhazini? Uyena uKristu. Ubani ohambe ekhazini ukuze alungise indawo yethu? Uyena uKristu. Kungani alungisa indawo yethu? Kukuze sibe naye, uKristu. Ubani oncenga ngathi? Uyena uKristu. Ubani okuza kwathi? Uyena uKristu. Ubani othi vuka ukuze simhlangabe? Uyena uKristu. Ubani othi akwamkele ngamazwi ‘wenziwe kahle, wena wakhonza uNkulunkulu, oyisethembiso’? Uyena uKristu. Ubani yena othwele ngathi, onakekelayo? Uyena uKristu.

Ubani yena abangani bakho, umndeni nawo omakhelwane bakho obafuna basindiswe, badinga ukuzwa? Uyena uKristu. Ubani abafowabo nabasister bakho badinga ukuzwa lapho beboswa ekonweni noma bebhekana nemiphumela yecala noma lapho bedinga ukududuzwa? Badinga ukuthula kukaKristu. Badinga uthando lukaKristu. Badinga ukwazi ukubusa kukaKristu. Ubani yena ongeke asishiye noma asilahle? Uyena uKristu. UKristu ubu bukhulu futhi Uyena uyena wesifiso sethu, ngoba kuye, ngaye, kuye zinto zonke.

Kuye kube khazini, futhi 's kubaluleke kakhulu kithi njengesonto ukuba ningabi yenza iBriarwood yaba phakathi kwesonto. Isonto asiyena iBriarwood. Isizatho sokuthi iBriarwood inelifa labo phambili abasenza yaba ngeBriarwood. Bayenza iBriarwood yaba ngeKristu. Kube njalo kuze kube phakade, kuye kube khazini yena yedwa ofanelwe ukubusa, manje naphakade. Khona-ke kuthiwe ubone ubufakazi. Khona-ke kuthiwe sibone abafundi benziwa. Khona-ke kuthiwe sibone ukutshala isonto. Khona-ke kuthi sibone umsebenzi wosizo. Sizobona lokho lapho uKristu epakathi, isamba, into, nobunjani. Kuye kube khazini phakade, Amen. Masithandaze.

Umthandazo:

Tata, siyabonga kakhulu ngomzuzu esikwazile ukuba ndawonye kuLowo Mtowo. Siyabonga ngoMsindisi wethu ogqwesileyo. Yehova, sibonga kakhulu ngokuthi thina abangafanelanga futhi abangenelungelo sibe bahalaleli. Labo abasengaphambili kwethu nalabo abekhona manje, siya phambili. IYona ibandla lakho, ikhaya lethu uKristo ndio phakathi. Ngaphezu kwaloko, Ungumkhuliso, yisivuno, yisilinganiso, kuye kube khazikazi kuze kube phorisa konke kungenxa yakhe, ngaye, kuye. Ngakho Jesu, khona siyakuwe. Yaphakanyiswa kuze kube phorisa, ndiyakucela egameni likaJesu, Amen.