1, 2. Ngiziphi izinto ezenzeka eFilipi ezarholela bona kubotjhwe uPowula noSilasi? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

KUPHAKATHI nobusuku. Abatjhumayeli ababili, uPowula noSilasi bavalelwe ngejele edorobheni leFilipi. Iinyawo bezibotjhwe zaqiniswa, kanti ngebanga lokuthi bebaqeda ukubetjhwa, imizimbabo beyibuhlungu. (IzE. 16:23, 24) Izinto zenzeka msinyana! Bathi bangakatjheji, balandwa siqubuthu sabantu sabadosela endaweni yeentolo sabafaka ekhotho. Iimpahla zabo bezirathuliwe, begodu bebabetjhwe kabuhlungu ngemitja. (IzE. 16:16-22) Okumbi ngalokho kukuthi akhenge kube nobulungisa kikho koke lokho, ngombana umuntu ohlala eRoma kufanele anikelwe ithuba lokulandisa nakanomlandu. *

² Njengombana uPowula asejele, ucabanga ngalokho ebekwenzeka ngelangelo. Ucabanga godu nangabantu beFilipi. Bebanganayo ngitjho nendlu yokulotjha uZimu njengamanye amadorobho uPowula akhe wawavakatjhela. Ekhabolakhona, amaJuda bekahlangana ngaphandle kweyege ledorobho ngasemlanjeni. (IzE. 16:13, 14) Inga-kghani lokhu bekwenziwa kukuthi bekangafiki nasesibalweni setjhumi amaJuda ababantu bembaji edorobhenelo  bona bangakha ibandla? Okusemtarini kukuthi abantu beFilipi bebazikhakhazisa ngokuba zizakhamuzi zeRoma. (IzE. 16:21) Inga-kghani ngikho lokhu ebekubenza bangacabangi nokucabanga ukuthi amaJuda la okunguPowula noSilasi bangaba zizakhamuzi zeRoma? Nanyana ngikuphi kilokhu, iqiniso kukuthi babaphatha kumbi bebabafaka ejele.

3. Yini ebeyingarara uPowula ngokubotjhwa kwakhe, kodwana wabusingatha njani ubujamo bakhe?

³ Mhlamunye uPowula ucabanga ngezinye izinto ezenzekako eenyangeni ezimbalwa ezindlulileko. Ngesikhathi akelinye ihlangothi leLwandle i-Aegean, e-Asiya, ummoya ocwengileko wamkhandela bona atjhumayele kezinye iindawo ezithileko. Bekungasuthi ummoya ocwengileko umthuma kwenye indawo. (IzE. 16:6, 7) Bewumsaphi? Ipendulo wayifumana ngombono ngesikhathi aseTrowasi. Nakhu uPowula atjelwa khona: “Akhese uze eMasedoniya hle, uzosisiza!” UPowula akhenge asariyada, wasamukela isibaweso ngombana besikhambisana nentando kaJehova. (Funda izEnzo 16:8-10.) Yini eyenzeka ngemva kwalokho? Wathi nakaqeda ukufika eMasedoniya, walilelwa ziinsimbi! Kubayini uJehova avumela lokho bona kwenzeka kuPowula? Kungenzeka bona noPowula waba nawo umbuzo lo, kodwana khenge awuvumele bona urhurhule ukukholwa kwakhe nethabo lakhe. Bobabili noSilasi bathoma “bathandaza bavuma iingoma badumisa uZimu.” (IzE. 16:25) Iinhliziyo zabo nemikhumbulwabo kwazala ukuthula okuvela kuZimu.

4, 5. (a) Ubujamo bakho bungafana njani nobujamo bakaPowula? (b) Ubujamo bakaPowula batjhuguluka njani angakalindeli?

⁴ Kungenzeka bona nawe njengoPowula khekwaba nesikhathi lapho uzizwa ngasuthi ulandela iinqophiso zakaZimu, kodwana izinto akhenge zikhambe ngendlela ebewucabanga bona zizokuba ngayo. Waqalana neentjhijilo, namkha wazifumana usebujamweni obumabhombo obaletha amatjhuguluko ekuphileni kwakho. (UMtj. 9:11) Nawuthi uqala emuva, usala urarekile ngalokho okwenzekileko, uzibuza ukuthi kubayini uJehova avumela bona ezinye izinto zenzeke. Nakhibe usebujamwenobo, yini engakusiza bona uragele phambili ukghodlhelela begodu umthemba uJehova? Akhesibuyele endabeni kaPowula noSilasi ukwenzela bona sifumane ipendulo.

⁵ Njengombana uPowula noSilasi babhina iingoma zokudumisa, kwalandela izehlakalo ezinengi ngokulandelana ebebangakazilindeli. Kwaba nokusikinyeka kwephasi okukhulu. Kwavuleka amasango wejele. Amaketangi wejele avuleka. UPowula wakhandela nonogada wejele bona angazibulali. Kwathi ukusuka lapho, unogada lo nomndenakhe babhajadiswa. Kwathi nakuthoma ilanga elilandelako, ekuseni kwakhona amajaji athumela bona kutjhatjhululwe uPowula noSilasi. Bomthetho babawa bona bakhambe ngokuthula edorobhenelo. Kwathi bona balemuke ukuthi uPowula noSilasi bazizakhamuzi zeRoma nokuthi batjhaphile, amajaji la abakhambisa, abakhupha ngedorobhenelo. Kodwana ngaphambi kobana bakhambe, babawa bona bayokulayelisa umfundi omutjha obekasanda ukubhajadiswa uLidiya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, basebenzisa ithubeli bona bakhuthaze abazalwana. (IzE. 16:26-40) Akhucabange nje bona izinto zatjhuguluka msinyana njani!

6. Yini esizokucoca ngayo, begodu yini esizoyibuyekeza esifundwenesi?

⁶ Sifundani endabeni le? UJehova angasenzela izinto esingakazilindeli, yeke akukafuzi bona sisabe nasiqalene neentjhijilo. Asingabazi bona isifundo uPowula  asifumana samthinta khulu njengombana lokho sikufumana emazwinakhe awatlolela abazalwana beFilipi malungana nokutshwenyeka kunye nokuthula kwakaZimu. Akhesithome ngokucoca ngamezwakhe asencwadini yebeFilipi 4:6, 7. (Ifunde.) Ngemva kwalokho, sizokuhlola nezinye iimbonelo ezisemiTlolweni zendlela uJehova enzela ngazo abanye izinto ezithileko bangakalindeli. Sizophetha ngokuhlolisisa ukuthi “ukuthula kwakaZimu” kungasisiza njani sikghodlhelele begodu sinethemba kuye.

7. Ngiziphi iimfundo uPowula akhuluma ngazo lokha nakakhuluma nabazalwana beFilipi, begodu ngiziphi iimfundo esingazifunda emezwinakhe?

⁷ Kusemtarini ukuthi abazalwana beFilipi nabafunda incwadi uPowula abatlolele yona, bakhumbula koke okwenzeka kuye nendlela uJehova enza ngayo ngesikhathi boke bangakalindeli. Ngisiphi isifundo uPowula ebekabafundisa sona? Kuhlekuhle uPowula bekabatjela ukuthi bangatshwenyeki. Kwakufuze bathandaze khona bazofukumana ukuthula kwakaZimu, akube ngiso leso nakithi. Kodwana tjheja ukuthi “ukuthula kwakaZimu . . . kudlula koke ukuzwisisa.” Atjho ukuthini amezwi la? Abanye abatjhugululi batjhugulule amezwi la ngokuthi “kudlula woke amabhudangwethu” namkha “kudlula koke ukuhlela komuntu.” UPowula bekathi, “ukuthula kwakaZimu” kuhle ukudlula nanyana yini esingayicabanga. Iye khona ngezinye iinkhathi angeze sayibona indlela yokuphuma lokha nasiqalene neentjhijilo, kodwana uJehova yena uyayibona begodu angenza okuthileko esingakakulindeli.—Funda 2 Pitrosi 2:9.

8, 9. (a) Ngitjho nanyana uPowula aqalana nezenzo ezinganabulungiswa eFilipi, zaletha miphi imiphumela? (b) Kubayini abazalwana beFilipi bawathathela ehloko amezwi kaPowula?

⁸ Siyaqiniseka bona njengombana bebacabanga ngezinto ezenzeka eminyakeni elitjhumi eyadlulako, bakhuthazeka. UPowula akutlolako bekuliqiniso. Nanyana uJehova avuma bona kube khona ukungabi nobulungisa, kodwana lokho kwarholela ‘ekuvikelweni kunye nekuqiniseni ivangeli.’ (Flp. 1:7) Amajaji la bewazokucabangisisa qangi ngaphambi kobana enze nanyana yini manqophana nebandla elitjha lamaKrestu edorobhenelo. Mhlamunye ngebanga lezenzo zakaPowula edorobhenelo, uLukasi udorhodere wakghona ukusala eFilipi nakukhamba uPowula noSilasi. Begodu lokho bekuzokusiza ibandla lamaKrestu ngedorobhenelo.

⁹ Kwamambala, ngesikhathi abazalwana beFilipi bafunda incwadi kaPowula, bebazi kuhle bona amezwi la akusiwo amezwi wesifundiswa esithileko esiwatlole sihleli e-ofisini elithileko. UPowula khewaqalana nobujamo obubudisi tle, kodwana watjengisa ukuthi ‘unokuthula kwakaZimu.’ UPowula nakazakutlolela abazalwanaba, begade asibotjhwa eRoma. Nanyana kunjalo, waragela phambili atjengisa ukuthi ‘bekanokuthula kwakaZimu.’—Flp. 1:12-14; 4:7, 11, 22.

10, 11. Yini okufuze siyenze nasigandelelwa matshwenyeko, begodu yini okufuze siyilindele?

¹⁰ Yini engasisiza bona singatshwenyeki begodu sifumane “ukuthula kwakaZimu”? Amezwi kaPowula awatjela baseFilipi asitjengisa ukuthi isisombululo sokulwisana nokutshwenyeka kukobana sithandaze. Yeke lokha nasitshwenyekile, kufuze sithandaze. (Funda 1 Pitrosi 5:6, 7.) Thandaza kuJehova unokukholwa, wazi bona unendaba nawe. Thandaza kuye ‘ngokuthokoza’ ufumane neembusiso. Lokha nasikhumbula ukuthi “unamandla wokwenza okukhulu ngokungalinganisekiko ukudlula lokho esikukhombelako namkha esikucabangako,” ukukholwa kwethu kuyaqina.—Efe. 3:20.

¹¹ Nasiqala indaba kaPowula noSilasi ngesikhathi  baseFilipi, nathi zingasimangaza izinto uJehova angasenzela zona. Kungenzeka kungabi yinto esimangaliso kodwana kuzokuhlala kuyinto esiyitlhogako. (1 Kor. 10:13) Lokho akutjho bona sizozigedla singenzi litho, silindele uJehova asilungiselele imitjhaphwethu namkha alungise ubujamo bethu. Kufuze senze ngokuvumelana nalokho esikuthandazelako. (Rom. 12:11) Indlela esenza ngayo izinto izokutjengisa ukuzimisela kwethu begodu izokunikela uJehova okuthileko azokubusisa. Kodwana ngesikhathi esifanako, kuhle ukukhumbula bona ayikho into uJehova angekhe akghona ukuyenza, angasenzela ngokweembawo zethu, amahlelo wethu kunye nalokho esikufisako. Ngezinye iinkhathi angasimangaza ngokusenzela izinto esingakazilindeli. Akhesihlole iindaba eziseBhayibhelini ezenza sithembe ikghono lakaJehova lokusenzela lokho esingakakulindeli.

12. (a) Yenzani iKosi uHezekiya lokha nayithuselwa yiKosi ye-Asiriya uSanirheribu? (b) Sifundani endleleni uJehova alungisa ngayo ikinga uHezekiya ebekaqalene nayo?

¹² Njengombana sihlola qobe imitlolo, isikhathi ngasinye sihlangana neembonelo lapho uJehova enza khona izinto ezingakalindelwa. IKosi uHezekiya yaphila ngesikhathi iKosi uSanirheribu ye-Asiriya ihlasela amaJuda ithumba woke amadorobho ngaphandle kweJerusalema. (2 Kho. 18:1-3, 13) Kodwana izinto zatjhuguluka, uSanirheribu wathoma wahlasela iJerusalema. Yenza njani iKosi uHezekiya njengombana phela nasi ikosi ye-Asiriya imthusela? Akhenge isariyada, yathandaza, yakhuluma noJehova, akhenge kuphele lapho, yakhuluma godu no-Isaya, yabawa amezwakhe ahlakaniphileko. (2 Kho. 19:5, 15-20) UHezekiya naye wenza okufaneleko wabhadela uSanirheribu lokho akufunako. (2 Kho. 18:14, 15) UHezekiya wathoma ijima walungiselela ipi. (2 Kron. 32:2-4) Yaphetha njani-ke indaba le? UJehova wathumela ingilozi, yabulala amasotja kaSanirheribu azii-185 000 ngobusuku bunye. Kwamambala, le yona, ngitjho noHezekiya bekangakayilindeli!—2 Kho. 19:35.

13. (a) Sifundani kilokho okwenzeka kuJosefa? (b) Yenzeka njani into angakayilindeli uSara?

¹³ Akhesikhulume ngendodana kaJakobe, uJosefa lokha nakasesemutjha. Ngesikhathi asejele leGibhide, inga-kghani khewacabanga bona angabe anikelwe isikhundla esiphezulu khulu enarheni leyo namkha acabange bona angasetjenziswa nguJehova asindise umndenakhe endlaleni? (Gen. 40:15; 41:39-43; 50:20) Kwamambala, uJehova wenza okudlula lokho uJosefa ebekakulindele. Cabanga godu nangokhokho kaJosefa uSara. Ucabanga bona umnyaka uSara ebekakiwo bekangakghona bona abelethe indodanakhe? Ukubelethwa kwaka-Isaka kwaba sisenzo ebekangakasilindeli.—Gen. 21:1-3, 6, 7.

14. Kubayini singamthemba uJehova?

¹⁴ Siyavuma ukuthi uJehova angekhe  amane nje asuse yoke imirarwethu lingakafiki iphasi elitjha; ngesikhathi esifanako angekhe salindela bona asenzele izinto ezingaphezu kwezivamileko epilwenethu. Kodwana khona siyazi ukuthi uZimu owasiza iinkhonzi zakhe ngeendlela ezingakavami kusese nguye lo nathi esimlotjhako. (Funda u-Isaya 43:10-13.) Lokhu kusenza simthembe uJehova. Siyazi ukuthi angenza nanyana yini bona asinikele amandla wokwenza intandwakhe ngokuzeleko. (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Ngiziphi iimfundo esizifumana eembonelweni eziseBhayibhelini ezinjengalezi esesicoce ngazo? Nasiqala izinto ezehlela uSara, uJosefa noHezekiya, siyakghona ukubona ukuthi mbala uJehova angakghona ukusisiza sihlule ubujamo obungasuthi angekhe sabuhlula, kodwana lokho sizokwenza nange sihlala sithembela kuJehova.

15. Yini engasisiza bona sihlale ‘sinokuthula okuvela kuZimu,’ begodu lokho kungenzeka njani?

¹⁵ Singamthemba njani uJehova begodu sihlale ‘sinokuthula okuvela’ kuye? Kufuze sibe nobuhlobo obuhle naye. Lokho sizokwenza ‘ngesizo lakaJesu Krestu,’ owanikela ngokuphila kwakhe bona kube mhlatjelo. Ilungiselelweli ngenye yeendlela ezimangazako zakaBabethu, uJehova. Usebenzisa isihlengo ukusilibalela izono zethu, ukwenzela bona sibe nesazela esihlanzekileko begodu sitjhidelane naye.—Jwa. 14:6; Jak. 4:8; 1 Pit. 3:21.

16. Yini ezokuba mphumela wokufumana “ukuthula kwakaZimu”? Sitjela ngesibonelo.

¹⁶ Yini ebamphumela wokufumana “ukuthula kwakaZimu okudlula koke ukuzwisisa”? ImiTlolo iphendula ngokuthi ‘kuzakubulunga iinhliziyo zethu nemikhumbulwethu kuKrestu uJesu.’ (Flp. 4:7) Igama lamambala elithi “kuzakubulunga” bekuligama elisetjenziswa masotja wepi. Liqalisele ebuthweni lepi ebelabelwe bona ligade idorobho eenkhathini zekadeni. IFilipi bekulidorobho elinjalo. Izakhamuzi zeFilipi bezilala zife ebusuku, bezazi ukuthi ibutho elivikelako beligadile emasangweni wedorobho. Ngendlela efanako, ‘nasinokuthula kwakaZimu,’ iinhliziyo nemikhumbulwethu iba nokuthula. Siyazi ukuthi uJehova unendaba nathi begodu ufuna ukusibona siphumelela. (1 Pit. 5:10) Ukwazi lokho kuyasisiza kusenze singagandelelwa matshwenyeko namkha ukudana.

17. Yini ezosisiza bona siqale isikhathi esizako sinethemba?

¹⁷ Msinyana nje boke abantu bazokuqalana nesizi elikhulu elingakhenge khelibonwe ephasinapha. (Mat. 24:21, 22) Asazi bona lokho kuzokutjho ukuthi ngathi. Nanyana kunjalo, akutlhogeki bona sitshwenyeke. Nanyana singakwazi koke uJehova azokwenza, naku esikwaziko, siyamazi yena uZimethu. Siyibonile indlela asebenzelane ngayo nabantu bakhe esikhathini sangaphambili, ukuthi nanyana yini engenzeka, uJehova uzokuhlala ayifeza intandwakhe. Ngezinye iinkhathi, wenza izinto singakalindeli. Esikhathini ngasinye uJehova asenzela okuthileko, sikghona ukubona ukuthula kwakhe “okudlula koke ukuzwisisa.”