Ukakhela phezu kweThempeli

Ukakhela phezu kweThekwe

IzEnzo 9:31

NguWiley Lowry

Uma ungathanda ukuvula iBhayibheli lakho uze ufike ku IzEnzo isahluko 9; itholakala ekhasini 918 kwiBhayibheli labantu abahlezi emabandleni. Uma usuke wabekhona lapha, uzwile ukuthi sivame ukuphinda umbuzo wokuqala kanye nempendulo yeWestminster Shorter Catechism. Futhi ngumgibelo ocacile kakhulu futhi owusizo wokufingqa injongo yempilo. “Injongo enkulu yomuntu ukuMkhazimulisa uThixo nokumjabulisa kuze kube phakade.” Uma ngingakwazi ukwengeza into eyodwa kulokho – futhi ngiqinisekile ukuthi abantu abahlezi eJerusalema Chamber kwiWestminster Assembly babengathanda kakhulu ukuzwa engikushoyo! Kodwa uma ngingakwazi ukwengeza into eyodwa ngingayisho lokhu. Injongo enkulu yomuntu ukuMkhazimulisa uThixo nokumjabulisa ndawonye kuze kube phakade. Futhi isizathu sokuthi ngikusho lokho kungenxa yokuthi ibandla liyingxenye ebalulekile yenjongo kaThixo kubantu Bakhe. Futhi lokho esikubonayo ku IzEnzo isahluko 9 verse 31 ukuthi ibandla lakhiwa phezu kukaKristu. Futhi njengoba lakhiwa phezu kukaKristu, bahamba “ngesaba sikaThixo nangethemba loMoya oNgcwele.” Uyabona, bakhazimulisa uThixo futhi bajabula Ndawonye.

Kwa leyo ndlela, masiye kuye ekuthandazeni, bese sifunda lokhu ngokuhlwa.

Yise, sicela ukuthi unike usaba lukaThixo, unike nethemba 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 lelo bandla kuJudea yonke, eGalile neSamaria lathola ukuthula, lwakhiwa. Andele ngesaba sikaThixo nangethemba loMoya oNgcwele, landa.

Utshani bufe, izimbali ziyawa, kodwa iLizwi likaThixo wethu lihlala phakade.

Ngingathanda ukuthi sifunde lo msebenzi ngalo amagama amabili kuleli sonto. Owokuqala uthi – yakhiwe phezulu. Futhi owesibili uthi – yakhiwe ngaphandle. Yakhiwe phezulu, yakhiwe ngaphandle. Sizochitha isikhathi esiningi kowokuqala, yaye yilapho sizoqala khona, ngokuthi yakhiwe phezulu.

Yakhiwe Phezulu

Kuthiwa “iBandla kulo lonke Judea neGalile neSamaria lalinompilo, yaye liyakhiwa phezulu.” Enye indlela esingayisho ngayo ukuthi liyakhiwa. Liyaqiniswa. Amandla eBandla yinto enkulu. iBandla liyathimba likaKristu; yibride kaKristu. Yifuyo loM牧 Shepherd. Yabuthana ngokomyalezo kaNkulunkulu onaphakade, ivikelwe ngokuchitheka kwegazi elimnandi likaKristu, yaye ilawulwa nguNkosi Jesu Kristu oyivukile yaye enqobile. Iphephile ukuthi ukukhula namandla eBandla kuncike kuKristu.

Kwaye kulo msebenzi, ngicabanga ukuthi sibona izinto ezintathu, izindlela ezintathu lapho uKristu eyakhelwe khona iBandla. Izindlela ezintathu lapho iBandla likhule khona kuKristu. Eyokuqala uthi iBandla lakhiwa phezu komyalezo kaKristu. Siyabona futhi ukuthi iBandla lakhiwa phezulu njengoBandla likaKristu. Futhi siyabona ukuthi lakhiwa phezulu ngokuzibophelela kwaKristu. Masibuke lezo zinto ezintathu.

Yakhiwe Phezu Omyalelo KaKristu

Inani yokuqala, sibona ukuthi ibandla lakhiwa ekugcwalisekeni nasekuthobeleni kwemiyalo kaKristu. Uyazi ukuthi enye yezinto ezimenza umshumayeli walo mshumayelo ugqwame eNcwadini yezEnzo ukuthi iyisifingqo. Iyisifingqo sayo yonke into eyenzekile ngaphambi kwayo eNcwadini yezEnzo, kodwa iyisifingqo esisilungiselela ukusitshela ukuthi kuyokwenzeka ntoni engxenyeni yokuqala yale Ncwadini yezEnzo. Futhi njengesifingqo, umshumayelo we-31 usitshela ukuthi ibandla, kulo lonke uJudea neGalile neSamaria, lalakhiwa. Manje ngokubala lezo zindawo ezintathu, ikakhulukazi, sihlelwa ekuyeni ngqo kunhloso nasekuyeni ngqo nasekucwangceni kweNcwadini yezEnzo. Ngoba uyabona, iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala ngapi? iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala eJerusalema iqale noJesu yena esephethe abafundi bakhe yena wabatshela ukuba balinde eJerusalema, ukuba balinde uMoya oNgcwele othe uThixo athembisile. Futhi ngaphambi kokukhuphuka kwakhe, uJesu wabatshela abafundi bakhe lokhu. Wabatshela, “Niyakuthola amandla loMoya oNgcwele eze nina, niyakuba izitifikelo zami eJerusalema naseJudeni yonke naseSamaria nasekugcineni komhlaba.” iNcwadini yezEnzo iqala noJesu eJerusalema. Iphela noPawuli eRoma. Futhi iyalandela lo mzila wezindawo uJesu abanika abafundi bakhe – eJerusalema, eJudea, eSamaria, nasekugcineni komhlaba.

“Kudwala Lokhu”

Kwayo-ke, emvesini 31, sithola ukuthi njengoba izwi lokuvuka kukaJesu lisakazeka, ibandla lakhiwa ngokuThula – kuphi? “Kulo lonke Judea neGalile neSamaria.” Njengoba uJesu wayala, njengoba uJesu wayala, ibandla lakhula futhi laqiniswa. Uyabona, uKristu uyala, uKristu uyakha. Ngenkathi uKristu ebiza abafundi Bakhe, abalandeli Bakhe ukuba bangofakazi futhi benze abafundi, uyakwenza ukuthi afeze uMyalo Wakhe. Uyakwenza futhi anikeze izithelo zomsebenzi wabo Ngaye ngoba lo ngumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu lo ngumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Uyakhumbula emigibeni yama-apostola ukuthi uPetro wavuma ukuthi uJesu ungumKristu – yini uJesu athi kuPetro? Uthi, “Kulo lithwala,” loku kuvuma kukaJesu njengumKristu, “Kulo lithwala, ngiyakwakha ibandla Lakhe iminyango yaseHadu ngeke iyinqobe.” Kwaye kwaba nokuxhashazwa okukhulu nokuphikisana nebandla ngesikhathi seNcwadI yama-Act. Abafundi, abapostola, baphonswa ejele. Babekwa icala lokuthi bangakhulumi ngoJesu. Sifunda ngoStephen kanye nendlela ayesolwa ngayo ubiwa ngamatshana; um martyra wokuqala ebandleni lokuqala. Sifunda, ngisho neshaphalo ngaphambi kwalokhu, ukuthi kwakunguSauli, owaba uPawulu – wayechitha ibandla.

Kodwa uma besifaneleka nje ukubilisa umyalezo weZenzo zibe ngamazwi ambalwa, singasho ukuthi yobufakazi bokuvuka kwabangcwele ngamandla nangokwesatshwa. Futhi yilokho esikuthola – ukuthi umyalezo wevangeli, ukuthi uJesu uvukile kwabafileyo, uphuma nje ngamandla oMoya oNgcwele ibandla liyandekile futhi likhula futhi lakha futhi liqinile ekugcwaleni kwemiyalo kaKristu nangaphambi kokwesatshwa okukhulu. Manje singathatha izifundo ezimbalwa kule ndawo, nje kule ndawo, ngoba siphila esikweni lapho, ngendlela eyodwa, yonke into iyaphambana neendlela zikaNkulunkulu; iyaphambana neqiniso likaNkulunkulu. Sibona izenzo zokuhlukumeza, okuyinto eyenzeka phantse njengento yeviki, futhi iyacindezela kakhulu engqondweni zabantu. Futhi nokho yini esiyibona kule ndima? Kuthi yize ibandla libonakala likhathazekile, lidinga ukuvuselelwa, isidingo sangempela si ukulungisa; isidingo sangempela si ukubuya emuyalezweni wokuvuka futhi ekuthembeleni kuMoya oNgcwele uyazi ukuthi yindlela uKristu akha ngayo futhi eqinisa ibandla Lakhe.

Ngiwakhuthaza nathi. Mhlawumbe abanye benu bayangibuza ukuthi kufanelekile yini ukuzinikela ebandleni? Kufanelekile yini ukhonze futhi unikeze futhi wenza uyazenzele lula ebuphokweni bebandla? Mhlawumbe abanye benu benkonze ebandleni iminyaka eminingi; ukhathele? Mhlawumbe nje asisiyona into ebalulekile njengoba kwakunjalo ngaphambili? Yini esiyibona lapha ukuthi ukukhula kwebandla, amandla ebandla, yimiyalo kaKristu. Yisehlelo lukaNkulunkulu futhi uNkulunkulu uyobona umsebenzi Wakhe ufezeke, ukufezeka, ekupheleni kwakho konke, ngobuhle bukaKristu nangobuhle babantu Bakhe. Le ndima isitsho kithi, “Buka lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzayo ebandleni Lakhe, nebandla Lakhe. Unika lokho akuyalayo.” Yilinde! Thandazela lokho. Linda lokho. Futhi zinikela ebandleni Lakhe.

Zakhiwa njengebandla likaKristu

Lokhu ke kusiyisa kwinto yesibili. Yiyiphi ibandla? Yibandla likaKrestu! Libandla likaKrestu elakhiwa. UKrestu uyintloko yebandla kwaye kukho ibandla elinye; ibandla elinye elinomthendeleko noxolo kuKrestu. Bhekani emuva kwivesi apho, kwivesi 31. Bhekani into etsho. Itsho, “KwaBandla,” ibandla elilodwa, “lalinomthendeleko walo belakhiwa.” Libandla elinye, nangona liko ezindaweni eziningi. Likho eJudeni naseGalile naseSamariya, kodwa libandla elinye. Ngokwenyaniso, ukuba besingayiguqulela loo nto “phakathi kwayo yonke,” kwindawo etsho “phakathi kwayo yonke,” besingayithetha, “kuyo yonke.” Kweza kuthetha ukuba libandla “kuyo yonke iJudeni naseGalile naseSamariya.” Kwaye loo nto ngesiGrike ngenxa yalo naloo nto, sifumana loo nto, “Catholic.” Nantso into esiyivumayo okanye esiyiqaphelayo xa sisithi iKredithi yabaPostoli size sithi sikholwa “kibandla likathولي elingcwele.” Asisithi sikholwa ebandla likaRoma Katoliki, kodwa sibuthi sikholwa ebandla elinye, elibanzi, ibandla likaKrestu jikelele. Siyaqinisekisa ukholo lwethu nothando lwethu kulo. Ibandla elakhiwe ngabakholekileyo abavela kulo lonke uhlanga, lonke lithi, ulimi lonke, nabantu bonke.

Ibandla Elinye Ku Krestu Jesu

Yileyo uJesu wayethandaza ngaphambi kokubulawa kwakhe. Wathandaza nabafundi bakhe ukuthi “bonke abakholekile kuye babe yinto eyodwa, njengakuye noYise bengabanye.” Yileyo into uJesu ayiyalela abafundi bakhe yenza ekupheleni kukaMateyu lapho ethi, “Hambani benze abafundi kuzo zonke izizwe.” Futhi yini esiyathola sifikile eNcwadini yeSambulo kodwa yinto nje yokuthi umkhumbi oxubile engenakubalwa usaphambi kwetrone uyathimba uGundolo, uyathimba iKristu. Yile yintengo kaThixo, ebuyela emva kwintengo yakhe ku-Abrahama ukuthi ngenzalo ka-Abrahama kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba ziyasikelelwa. Yinto eyodwa ibandla futhi liko Jesu Kristu. Futhi sibona ukuqala kweyunithi leyo ngqo lapha eNcwadini yeZenzo ekulweni 31 kwesahluko 9 njengabantu abavela eJudiya naseGalile naseSamaria behlanganiswa ndawonye bayathokozela ukuthula bayathokozela ukwakhiwa, bakhiwa.

Ukunqoba Imigoqo

Ngesikhathi esivele kule ngxenye yencwadi yezenzo, isonto sesinqobile imigoqo emikhulu. Uyazi uma uthatha la mazwi amathathu, “Judéa neGalile neSamariya,” kukhona kula mazwi amathathu umlando olukhuni futhi odabukisayo. Khona kukhona ubuzenkhe, kukhona impi yombani, kukhona inzondo, kukhona ukuxexwa, kukhona ukwahlulela, kukhona ukwehlanya, kukhona ukuziphakamisa. Judéa yayindawo yethempeli. Yindawo okahlala kuyo abaholi benkolo nabo babekhona. IGalile yayindawo yamaJuda kodwa yayithonywe kakhulu futhi yathintshwa yizinto zenkultsho yamaRoma namaGrike. ISamariya yayiphakathi kwalezi ezimbili nabo babengasuki osukwini olusulungekile lwamaJuda babalandela izenzo zenkolo ezahlukene. AmaJuda ayewenzonda amaSamaritani. Sitshelwa ukuthi labo abavela eGalile lapho behla badela eJudéa babewela iRiphabliki Jordan ukuze bagweme indawo yaseSamariya. Babebofunge ukuthinta labo bantu. Futhi ngezikhathi ezithile, ukuqhuma kwenziwa phakathi kwamaqembu abantu. Kodwa lapha sitshelwa ukuthi kwakunye isonto kulezi ndawo nalesonto lalinompumelelo kwakulebula. Ayikho nje kuphela yokuba khulula ekuphikisaneni; kwakunompumelelo phakathi kwabo. Kwakunompumelelo phakathi kwabantu abake baba nogcwele kuNkulunkulu kodwa basakholelwa kabusha kuBaba wabanikwa isipho sokuphila njengalokhu uJesu Kristu, isipho seMoya oNgcwele. Labo bantu abake baba nogcwele omunye nomunye, kodwa basajabheleni ndawonye ngokujabha, ngokholo, nasenkundleni. Futhi elo gama lesonto elinali, lisho ngqo, “abiziwe.” Babebiziwe “abiziwe” kubo zendlela zabo zangaphambili nakwimvelaphi yabo eyahlukene ukuze bangenise isonto elilodwa, umzimba elilodwa, abantu elilodwa ngenxa yokukhazimula kukaKristu.

Naphe umzekelo ocace kakhulu wenguquko enkulu abantu abayifumanayo nguenguquko eyenzeka kuSauli noma uPawuli. Umluntu lo wayengumshushisi oyinhloko nomcindezeli webandla, yaye manje uyangeniswa ebandleni, ekuthembiseni kwaba ngcwele. Futhi hhayi nje kuphela ukuthi akasengumshushisi kodwa yena uyithuluzi elikhulu ekwakheni ibhandele. Yenguquko enkulu eyenzeka lapha kule nkathi, kule vesi esitshelwa yona. Ukukhula kwebandla kunisa ukuthula phakathi kwabahlukahlukene nabahlukanisiwe. Kutheni kuhlobeka? Kutheni kuhlobeka ukuba nomanyano phakathi kwalokho kuhlukahluka? Ngoba akukho okunye okungenza lokho; uKristu yedwa ongakwenza. Kuyenzeka kuphela ebandleni likaKristu, yaye lokho kunisa inkazimulo egameni likaKristu. Futhi siyabona lokho lapha kule vesi.

Kwakhiwa Ngokuqiniseka kukaKristu

Into yesithathu esiyibona ngokuthi ibhandele lakhiwa kanjani kuKristu yilolu chazo lwendlela eyajabuleka phakathi kwabakholekileyo. Siyabona lapha ukuqiniseka kukaKristu okuqhubekayo, umsebenzi wakhe ebandleni. Ibhandele lakhiwa ngokuqiniseka kukaKristu kubo. Ivesi lisitshela ukuthi “bahamba ekwesabeni kweNkosi nasekududuzweni kweMoya oNgcwele.” Manje cabanga ngezici zendlela kaJesu. Zaziyini izici zendlela kaKristu? Nokho, ungakhomba lezi zici zimbili lapha, aw? Ngoba konke uJesu akwenza nokwathi kwakwenziwa ngenxa yenkazimulo kaThixo. Ukuqiniseka kwakhe ukuchitha isikhathi noYise emthandazweni. Yonke imisebenzi yakhe emikhulu nezimangaliso nezibonakaliso kanye nokufundisa ayekwenza kwakungenxa yokunisa uThixo inkazimulo. Futhi nokuya ekufeni kwakhe emsalangeni nokuthwala ukuthukuthela koYise, lokho kwakwenziwa ngenxa yokulalela nokuzithoba ekuthandeni koYise. Kwakukwesaba kweNkosi okwaxazulula yonke indlela kaKristu.

Nkuthi uMoya oNgcwele, lo Moya oNgcwele owasebenza imisebenzi emangalisayo yesiphepho enempilo kaJesu' nasemisebenzini Yakhe, lo Moya oNgcwele yilo olandelayo lwemisebenzi Yakhe phakathi kwabo bonke abakholelwa kuKristu. uJesu wayethembisile lokho. Wayethembisile ukuthi uyawashiya abafundi Bakhe kodwa akawashiyi bodwa kodwa uyawathumela uMoya oNgcwele ukuze abaxhase, ukuze abafundise ukuze bakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wabo egameni Lakhe. Elinye igama loMoya oNgcwele, sitshelwa, nguMthuthuzeli noma uMkhululi. Yini esiyibonayo kwenzeka ngqo kule ngxenye? Kuyinto yokuthi uMthuthuzeli uyathuthuza. Bahamba "ngesaba sikaNkosi nokuthuthuzwa koMoya oNgcwele." Lokho kuyisibonakaliso sokuthi uKristu wayesebenza ecabeni Lakhe. Wayeziboleka ecabeni Lakhe. Wayeqhubeka efundisa abantu Bakhe ngoba babonakalisa ukwesaba kukaNkosi nokuthuthuzwa koMoya oNgcwele. Izici ezimbili zihlala zihamba ndawonye - ukwesaba, ukuhlonipha, ukuzinikela, nokukhulekelwa kwaNkosi okuhambisana nokukhuthazwa nokuthuthuzwa, injabulo nokubonga koMoya oNgcwele.

Ukwesaba kukaNkosi

Siyezwa kancane ngokwesaba iNkosi, akunjalo? Kuvele ukuthi yinto yegama elidala loTestamente, mhlawumbe. Futhi ngokuqinisekile, lokho kwakuyimpendulo efanelekile ekhazikweni likaNkulunkulu kuwo wonke uTestamente Olidala ukwesaba iNkosi. Kodwa kuTestamente Entsha, ngezikhathi eziningi, ababhali bayasibiza ukuba sesabe ekukhanyeni kweqiniso leVangeli. Ngoba uyabona, yile nto leVangeli eliyifundisa kithi. IVangeli lifundisa ukuba sesabe iNkosi. IVangeli lifundisa ukuthi izono zethu zifanelwe yintshisekelo nentukuthelo nokujeziswa kukaNkulunkulu. Ukuthi akukho esingakwenza ukuze sisuse izono zethu futhi sifanelwe ukubusiswa kukaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukusindiswa kwethu kufika kungaphezu kwako konke ukufa nokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu, uMwana kaNkulunkulu. Yilowo isimo sethu sokuphelelwa yithemba ngaphandle kukaKristu. Yilowo umkhatshana wokusindiswa kwethu. Yini enye impendulo efanelekile kunokwesaba nokumthanda nokumhlonipha nokumdumisa uNkulunkulu? Yini enye impendulo efanelekile kunaleyo uJ.I. Packer, noma ukuboleka esihlokweni sakhe sencwadi, ukuze “kumthatha uNkulunkulu ngokungathi sína”? Siyabuzwa ukuthi uma singaniki uNkulunkulu uthando lwethu olukhulu, singakujabulela kanjani ukuthuthuzeka kweHoly Spirit?

Ngingathi ke kuphephile ukusho ukuthi sonke sifisa futhi silangazelela ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi, kodwa ingabe siyathatha uNkulunkulu ngokungathi sína? Ngiyazibuza uma sibuza abantwana bethu, uma sibuza abamelwane bethu, abasebenzi bethu, “Yini eyinhloko ephambili ezimpilweni zethu?” Ngiyazibuza 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 kakhudlwana kulokho kunokusabalala kwe-selfie? Sifuna ukuthatha isithombe sathi. Futhi uma sizithatha ngokungathi sína, sifuna ukubatshela abanye ngathi. Ngakho-ke siyabona lokho esikweni lethu. Kodwa ingabe siyathatha uNkulunkulu ngokungathi sína? Ngivuma ukuthi ngifuna iNkosi ishintshe izimpilo, kodwa ingabe ngihlala ngenza lokho ngokulindela nangokulangazelela lokho uNkulunkulu angakwenza? Futhi ingabe ngifuna ukuthola ikhredithi encane kulokho endleleni? Ngiyazibuza ukuthi zingakanani kathi sifuna abantwana bethu, sifuna abasebancane bakhule futhi bajabule ngokuthuthuzeka kweNkosi, bakhululeke ekukholweni, bakhule ekulandeleni uKristu, kodwa nje inqobo nje uma bejabula ngokuzenza. Futhi singakanani sivame ukubonisa ukwesaba okufanele uNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwethu nakwi-priorities esizikhethela ezimpilweni zethu? Sonke sivame ukufuna ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi futhi sikudele ukwesaba uNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukuthuthuzeka kweNkosi kuhamba nokwesaba uNkulunkulu.

Ngekephandle lokhu uma ngikhuluma ngokwesaba iNkosi ngiqonde ukuziphatha okumnyama noma okudabukisayo. Kukhona ukufudumala kulokhu, ukujabula ekwesabeni iNkosi. Kukhona inkululeko nokwethembeka, ithemba ngezikhathi zovavanyo; ukuzethemba ngezikhathi zokuhlupheka. Amandla nokujula kanye nobumbano bakhiwa njengesonto likaKristu. Lokhu yisithombe esihle sokuthi isonto lakhiwa eNcwadini yezEnzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Isonto liyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokuzidumisa kukaKristu nokwenzeka kwabantu Bakhe. Uyazi, emwhleni wethu, sesiphenduke ohlanya ngenxa yezinyoni. Ngeke ngithethe kakhulu ngalokhu ngoba angazi ukuthi ngifuna ukuveza kangakanani ngalokhu, 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 uNkulunkulu akwenzayo ekwakheni isonto? Wathatha umYahudi nomGentile, umGalile nomSamaretha, isigqila nomkhulula, umcebile nompoor, wabahlanganisa njengesonto Lakhe, njengesonto likaKristu ekazidumisa, lesi sithombe esihle sokuhamba ekwesabeni iNkosi nasekuthuthweni kweSpiritu Oyikho? Lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzayo ekwakheni isonto Lakhe. Kakhulu isonto lakhiwa. Liyakhiwa.

Siphinde sitsheliwe ekugcineni kwelesi siqephu ukuthi njengoba yakhiwa phezulu, yakhiwa ngaphandle. Lokhu kuyingqayizivele yokugcina ebusuku. 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. Lokhu akusiyo umzimba omile wabakholekile. Lokhu akusiyo iklabhu ekhethekile. Lokhu umphakathi ophanayo esitshelwa ngawo lapha. Enye yamagama angukhiye ebandla namuhla, esikweni lethu, ngicabanga, “umphakathi – ukwenza impilo ndawonye.” Futhi lokho ngokuqinisekile enye yezinto ezibalulekile zalesi siqephu; yinto ebahle lapha. Bayakwazi ukujabulela umphakathi ndawonye. Kodwa enye yezingozi zokuphakamisa nokugxila emphakathini ukuthi ukugxila kungaba ngaphakathi futhi umphakathi ungakhula ngaphakathi. Futhi kungaba nzima ukwamukela abasha noma abangaphandle. Futhi ngiqiniseka ukuthi abaningi bethu baye bakubona lokhu emaqenjini amancane noma eSikoleni seSonto noma izinto zalezo.

Zakhiwa 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 lokhu sibona njengoba ibandla lifinyelela ngaphandle, izimfanelo ezanika amandla ebandla yizimfanelo ezifanayo ezanika ukukhula. Izinto ezazikhona futhi zibonakala emsebenzini kaKristu kubo – ukwesaba kweNkosi nokududuza kweMoya oNgcwele – lezo yizinto ezimbili ezibathumela ngaphandle, ezibaqhuba ngaphandle, futhi eziletha ukwanda kwabo abangaphandle kwebandla. Njengoba behamba ekwesabeni kweNkosi nasekududuzweni kweMoya oNgcwele ibandla landa. Yakhiwa ngaphandle.

Ukakhiwa Kuholela Ekwandeni

Yileyo ngokuyisisekelo isimiso osithile sebenzisa u-Ed kusukathi, ukuthi “okungena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo ihamba kabanzi emhlabeni.” Kuthi njengoba ibandla lakhiwa, lakhiwa ngaphandle. Imvamisa siveza emikhonferensini yeMisebe uJohane Piper’s ikusho elithi, “Umsebenzi wokuhambisa khona ngenxa yokuthi ukukhulekela akukho!” Siphinde sithi umsebenzi wokuhambisa ukhona ngenxa yokuthi ukukhulekela kukhona. Yile yinto uPiper ayikhuluma ngayo kulelo sikhulumi lapho ekhuluma khona. Kuthi ukwakhiwa kwebandla kuholela ekwandisweni. Nengakho yinto ebaluleke kakhulu yingoba ibandla lithuthuka libe ezindaweni ezinzima; liyahamba kubantu abangempela, nezidingo ezijulile. Ngoba yini isimo somhlaba? Yini isimo sabo abangaphandle kwebandla? Hhayi, yinto ephambene nalokho esikubonayo apha. Banawo ukwesaba kukaNkulunkulu nabanawo ukududuza koMoya oNgcwele. Akukho ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu. Akukho ithemba nokuthula nokududuza kodwa kun pride futility. Angicabangi ukuthi sidinga ukunika imibanolampilo yindlela ekhulukisa umhlaba osizungezile, kodwa uKristu usinika into engcono. Usinika Yena. Futhi kuye, sibizwa ukuba siqinise nokufezeka nothando nokuthula nokumangala nothando. Sibizwa ukuba kupila, kupila okuphakade kuye.

Njengoba sinethemba lezo zinto, sithandaza lezo zinto, silindelezo zinto, enye yezinto esizikhuthazayo yingoba sithandaza ngokuvuselela. Sithandaza ngokulungiswa, ukuvuselela, ukuvuselelwa. Ingabe uzwile “re” ? Sibuza uNkulunkulu enze into ayenzile ngaphambili. Sithandaza ayenze loko. Futhi singaba nesifiso ngenxa yokuthi siyabona ayenzile ngaphambili. Futhi ubufakazi baloko luke wathi apha eZenzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Sibiza uNkulunkulu enze loko futhi ngenxa yokuzukiswa kukaKristu nangokuhle kwabantu bakhe.

Ndifunda incwadi njengamanje mayelana nosikhukhula saseMississippi River ngo-1927, i-Rising Tide. Futhi incwadi iyamangalisa! Omunye wabantu ababalulekile ekukhululweni kwincwadi yiMississippi River. Yiyo eyodwa kubantu abanamandla kakhulu ekukhululweni kwincwadi. Futhi kuyamangalisa ukuzwa indlela achaza ngayo amandla kanye nobukhali boMfula njengoba ugeza phansi futhi njengoba ukhuphuka phezulu. Futhi kuwo wonke amaphuzu enzira, umfula ubheke ukuphuka ngezigodlo. Ubheke ukukhuphuka ngaphezu kwezigodlo futhi usabalele ngaphandle kwemigwaqo yoMfula. Yiyona amandla kanye nobukhali boMfula.

Yiyona esiyibona ngebandla njengoba ibandla lakhiwa, njengoba liswela, njengoba likhula. Ibheke ukwelula futhi lakhe ngaphandle futhi likhule futhi lizidishe ngenxa yokukhazimula kukaKristu. Yiyona ibandla elikwenzayo. Yiyona esiyibona likwenza lapha eNcwadini yezEnzo isahluko 9 verse 31. Siphetha ukuthi yilokho elikwenza ngosuku lwethu.

Ukuphila Komula

Ngivumele nje ngiqede ngamazwana ambili ukuze ngiphele. Uyazi njengoba ngifika ephasikini njengaleyo ndifuna ukuthi ukushumayela nokufundisa ngokwesaba iNkosi kube yinto ekunzima kakhulu. Mhlawumbe yisikhulu sikaThixo; kunzima ukuyibeka ngamazwi futhi ukubamba hhayi nje ukwesaba kodwa ukwesaba okukhulu nothando. Ngakho yini lokhu kubukeka? Yini ukubukeka kwukwesaba iNkosi nokuthunjiswa koMoya oNgcwele? Amazwi ambalwa afika engqondweni. Futhi oyedwa, ngingathi yilo – yimpilo yomula. Uyazi sibalekezela kakhulu futhi sibethelwe kakhulu isikhathi sethu. Sibethelwe ukugcwalisa isikhathi esithile sokuphumula noma ukuthula ngomsindo noma ngokukhuthazwa kwesithombe. Kodwa kukhona ukubizwa lapha, ngingathi kwethu ukuthula. Ngingathi njengokuthandaza uDavide ngaphambili, “zimisele futhi wazi ukuthi NginguThixo,” nokuthatha isikhathi sokumangala nokumangala ekudalweni kukaThixo; ukukhumbula Iminikelo Yakhe, ukukhumbula iVangeli, nokumnika izibuko ngalokho. Ukukhula ekwaziseni ngalokho Ayenzile.

Kukhona futhi ukulula esikubonayo esizukulwaneni sokuqala sebandla. Akunjalo? Uma sibuyela esahlukweni sesibili, besenzani sebandla phakathi nesikhathi sebandla lokuqala? Kwakungezelelwe lutho. Babedela ekudumiseni nasekuthandazeni. Babedela ekulaleleni ilizwi nasezibusiso. Futhi babedela ekubonana nasekupha. Kukulula kodwa kungavamile. Akunjalo? Futhi njengoba bezidela kwezo zinto, babekulungele ukubonakala benzehlukile emhlabeni owabazungezile, ukuba usawu nokukhanya emhlabeni wabo. Kukhona ukulungele ngakubodwa ukubeka imizamo, ukubeka izinhlupheko, ukuhlupheka, ngethemba, nokulungele ukunikeza impendulo kulabo ababona isizatho sethemba labo. Kungani babene themba elikhulu kangaka? Kungenxa yokuvuka kwakhe; kungenxa yobuphile baphakade kuKristo Jesu. Futhi babekanye beh укрепля ukuhlupheka komunye nomunye phakathi nezikhathi ezinzima. Futhi babekulungele ukuba yisif witnesseso sikaKristo.

Kungenzeka ukuthi yikhona lapho sikala khona lokhu. Uma sinqwenela ukunqwenela nokuthwala imithwalo yabo bonke abalahlekile, mhlawumbe asikazange siqonde ngokugcwele isibusiso sokwesaba iNkosi nokududuza koMoya oNgcwele. Mhlawumbe asikazange siqonde ngokugcwele ilungelo elikhulu lesandla sikaNkulunkulu, kodwa futhi nesidingo esikhulu sabalahlekile. Kungenzeka ukuthi sidinga ukubuyela kwelo esasiqala kulo umsebenzi, Isihlava 3, ukubizwa kokukhonzwa – “Masikhangeke sifunde izindlela zethu, sibuyele kuNkosi, maphakamise 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 izindumiso zakho. Sithandazela ukuthi wena, ngomoya wakho, usenzebenze kithi ukuze usivuselele nosivuselele futhi usinike injabulo kuKristo nasinike inhliziyo yabalahlekileyo nasinike amathuba okwelula. Futhi njengoba sakha, ukuthi sakhe ngaphandle, ngenxa yenkazimulo yakho, ngenxa yenkazimulo kaKristo nangenxa yenzuzo yethu engenziwa. Futhi sithandazela lezi zinto egameni likaKristo, amen.