1, 2. Kodi kuzunzidwa ndi kumwazikana kwa Akhristu kunathandiza bwanji kuti uthenga wabwino ufalikire m’nthawi ya atumwi?

 AKHRISTU anayamba kuzunzidwa kwambiri, ndipo Saulo anali mmodzi mwa anthu amene ankazunza “mpingo mwankhanza.” (Mac. 8:3) Ophunzira a Khristu anathawa, ndipo mwina ena ankaganiza kuti cholinga cha Saulo chothetseratu Chikhristu chitheka. Koma kumwazikana kwa Akhristuwo kunachititsa kuti pachitike zinthu zimene sankaziyembekezera. Kodi panachitika zotani?

² Akhristu amene anabalalitsidwawo anayamba ‘kulalikira uthenga wabwino’ kumadera kumene anathawirako. (Mac. 8:4) Zimenezitu n’zochititsa chidwi. Anthu a Mulunguwo sanasiye kufalitsa uthenga wabwino chifukwa chozunzidwa, m’malomwake kuzunzidwa kwawo kunachititsa kuti uthenga ufalikire. Anthu amene ankazunza n’kubalalitsa Akhristuwo, mosadziwa anathandizira kuti ntchito yolalikira za Ufumu ifalikire m’madera akutali. M’ndime zotsatira tiona zitsanzo zosonyeza kuti zoterezi zikuchitikanso masiku ano.

3. (a) Kodi Filipo anali ndani? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani anthu ambiri ku Samariya anali asanamve uthenga wabwino, nanga Yesu ananeneratu kuti chidzachitike n’chiyani kudera limeneli?

³ Mmodzi mwa ophunzira “amene anabalalika” anali Filipo. a (Mac. 8:4; Onani bokosi lakuti “ Filipo Anali ‘Mlaliki.’”) Iye anapita kumzinda wa Samariya kumene anthu ambiri anali asanamve uthenga wabwino. Anthu ambiri kumeneko anali asanamve uthenga chifukwa chakuti pa nthawi ina, Yesu analangiza atumwi kuti: “Musalowe mumzinda uliwonse wa Asamariya. M’malomwake, nthawi zonse muzipita kwa nkhosa zosochera za nyumba ya Isiraeli.” (Mat. 10:5, 6) Komabe Yesu ankadziwa kuti nthawi ina ophunzira akewo adzachitira umboni mokwanira ku Samariyako, chifukwa asanapite kumwamba ananena kuti: “Mudzakhala mboni zanga mu Yerusalemu, ku Yudeya konse ndi ku Samariya, mpaka kumalekezero a dziko lapansi.”​—Mac. 1:8.

4. Kodi Asamariya anatani Filipo atawalalikira, nanga n’chiyani chinachititsa zimenezo?

 ⁴ Filipo anaona kuti mumzinda wa Samariya “mwayera kale ndipo m’mofunika kukolola.” (Yoh. 4:35) Uthenga wake unali ngati kamphepo kayaziyazi kwa anthu okhala kumeneko. N’chifukwa chiyani tikutero? Ayuda sankagwirizana ndi Asamariya ndipo zochita za Ayuda ambiri zinkasonyeza kuti ankadana nawo kwambiri. Koma Asamariya atamva uthenga wabwino, anaona kuti uthengawo unkapita kwa anthu onse mopanda tsankho, ndipo unali wosiyana kwambiri ndi zimene Afarisi omwe anali atsankho ankakhulupirira. Filipo analalikira Asamariyawo mwakhama komanso mopanda tsankho, ndipo zimenezi zinasonyeza kuti iye sanatengere tsankho limene anthu omwe ankanyoza Asamariya anali nalo. Choncho n’zosadabwitsa kuti Asamariya ambiri ‘anamvetsera zimene Filipo ankanena.’​—Mac. 8:6.

5-7. Perekani zitsanzo zosonyeza kuti kubalalitsidwa kwa Akhristu kwachititsa kuti uthenga wabwino ufalikire m’madera ena.

⁵ Mofanana ndi m’nthawi ya atumwi, masiku anonso anthu a Mulungu sanasiye kulalikira chifukwa chozunzidwa. Nthawi zambiri, Akhristu amakakamizidwa kuchoka kumalo ena n’kukakhala kumalo ena, mwina kundende kapena kudziko lina, ndipo zimenezi zachititsa kuti uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu ufalikire kwa anthu ena kumene apitako. Mwachitsanzo, pa nthawi ya nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse, a Mboni za Yehova ankalalikirabe ngakhale  pamene anali m’ndende zozunzirako anthu za Nazi. Myuda wina amene anakumana ndi a Mboni kundendeko anafotokoza kuti: “Akaidi amene anali a Mboni za Yehova anali olimba mtima kwambiri, ndipo zimenezi zinanditsimikizira kuti chikhulupiriro chawo chinalidi chochokera m’Malemba, choncho inenso ndinakhala wa Mboni.”

⁶ Nthawi zina timatha kulalikira ngakhale kwa anthu amene akutizunzawo, ndipo iwo amamvetsera uthenga wabwino. Mwachitsanzo, munthu wina wa Mboni dzina lake Franz Desch atamusamutsira ku ndende yozunzirako anthu ya Gusen m’dziko la Austria, anayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndi msilikali wina. Tangoganizani mmene amuna awiriwa anasangalalira atakumananso pamsonkhano wachigawo wa Mboni za Yehova patapita zaka zambiri, onse ali ofalitsa uthenga wabwino.

⁷ Zoterezi zinachitikiranso Akhristu ena amene anathawa m’dziko lawo kupita m’dziko lina chifukwa chozunzidwa. Mwachitsanzo, m’zaka za m’ma 1970, a Mboni a ku Malawi amene anathawira ku Mozambique anagwira ntchito yaikulu yolalikira anthu a m’dziko limeneli. Ntchito yolalikira inapitirizabe ngakhale pamene a Mboni anayamba kuzunzidwa ku Mozambique. M’bale wina dzina lake Francisco Coana ananena kuti: “N’zoona kuti ena a ife tinamangidwa mobwerezabwereza chifukwa cha ntchito yathu yolalikira. Komabe, poona kuti anthu ambiri akumvetsera uthenga wa Ufumu, tinali otsimikiza kuti Mulungu akutithandiza ngati mmene anathandizira Akhristu a m’nthawi ya atumwi.”

8. Kodi kusintha kwa zinthu pa ndale komanso pa zachuma kwakhudza bwanji ntchito yolalikira?

⁸ Komabe si kuzunzidwa kwa Akhristu kokha kumene kwachititsa kuti Chikhristu chifalikire m’madera ena. M’zaka zaposachedwapa, kusintha kwa zinthu pa ndale komanso zachuma, kwachititsa kuti uthenga wa Ufumu ufalikire kwa anthu a zilankhulo komanso mitundu yosiyanasiyana. Anthu ena anathawa m’madera amene mukuchitika nkhondo kapena kumene kuli mavuto azachuma n’kupita kumalo ena ndipo kumeneko anayamba kuphunzira Baibulo. Anthuwa amalankhula zilankhulo zosiyanasiyana ndipo zimenezi zachititsa kuti pakhale kufunika koti anthuwa azilalikiridwa m’zilankhulo zawo. Kodi mukuyesetsa kulalikira kwa anthu ochokera “m’dziko lililonse, fuko lililonse, mtundu uliwonse ndi chilankhulo chilichonse” amene ali m’dera lanu?​—Chiv. 7:9.

9. Kodi Simoni anali ndani, nanga zikuoneka kuti ankachita chidwi ndi Filipo chifukwa chiyani?

⁹ Filipo ankachita zinthu zambiri zozizwitsa ku Samariya. Mwachitsanzo, ankachiritsa anthu olumala ndiponso ankatulutsa mizimu yoipa. (Mac. 8:6-8) Munthu wina anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi mphatso yochita zozizwitsa imene Filipo anali nayo. Munthu ameneyu anali Simoni, wamatsenga amene anthu ankamulemekeza kwambiri ndipo ankamunena kuti: “Ali ndi mphamvu yaikulu ya Mulungu.” Koma Simoni ataona Filipo akuchita zozizwitsa, anaona mphamvu yeniyeni ya Mulungu imene Filipoyo ankagwiritsa ntchito,  ndipo anakhala wokhulupirira. (Mac. 8:9-13) Koma kodi cholinga chake pokhala Mkhristu chinali chiyani?

10. (a) Kodi Petulo ndi Yohane anachita chiyani ku Samariya? (b) Kodi Simoni anatani ataona kuti ophunzira atsopano akulandira mzimu woyera, Petulo ndi Yohane akawagwira pamutu?

¹⁰ Atumwi atadziwa kuti ophunzira akuchulukirachulukirabe ku Samariya, anatumizako mtumwi Petulo ndi mtumwi Yohane. (Onani bokosi lakuti “ Petulo Anagwiritsa Ntchito ‘Makiyi a Ufumu.’”) Atumwiwa atafika kumeneko, anayamba kugwira ophunzira atsopanowo pamutu ndipo aliyense wa ophunzirawo analandira mzimu woyera. b Simoni ataona zimenezi, anachita chidwi kwambiri, ndipo anauza atumwiwo kuti: “Inenso mundipatseko mphamvu imeneyi, kuti aliyense amene ndingamugwire pamutu azilandira mzimu woyera.” Ndipotu Simoni anafika pofuna kupereka ndalama kwa atumwiwo, poganiza kuti angathe kugula mphamvu zimene Mulungu anaperekazo.​—Mac. 8:14-19.

11. Kodi Petulo anapereka uphungu wotani kwa Simoni, nanga Simoniyo anachita chiyani?

¹¹ Mtumwi Petulo anayankha Simoni mosapita m’mbali kuti: “Siliva wakoyo uwonongeke naye limodzi, chifukwa ukuganiza kuti mphatso yaulere ya Mulungu ungaigule ndi ndalama. Ntchito imeneyi sikukukhudza ndipo ulibe gawo lililonse chifukwa mtima wako si wowongoka pamaso pa Mulungu.” Kenako Petulo analimbikitsa Simoni kuti alape ndi kupemphera kuti machimo ake akhululukidwe. Iye anati: “Upemphe Yehova mochonderera kuti ngati n’kotheka, akukhululukire chifukwa cha maganizo oipa amene ali mumtima  mwakowa.” Zikuoneka kuti Simoni sanali munthu woipa, chifukwa ankafuna kuchita zinthu zoyenera, kungoti pa nthawiyi anachita zinthu mosazindikira. Choncho anachonderera atumwiwo kuti: “Ndipempherereni kwa Yehova mochonderera kuti zonse zimene mwanenazi zisandichitikire.”​—Mac. 8:20-24.

12. Kodi “chisimoni” n’chiyani, nanga n’chiyani chikusonyeza kuti n’chofala m’matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu?

¹² Chenjezo limene Petulo anapereka kwa Simoni likupitanso kwa Akhristu masiku ano. Ndipotu mawu akuti “chisimoni” anayamba chifukwa cha zimene zinachitika pa nthawiyi. Mawu amenewa amatanthauza kugula kapena kugulitsa udindo, kumene kumachitika makamaka m’zipembedzo. Zimenezi n’zofala kwambiri m’matchalitchi ampatuko amene amati ndi a Chikhristu. Ndipotu buku lina limene linalembedwa m’chaka cha 1878 linanena kuti: “Munthu akamaphunzira mbiri ya misonkhano imene inkachitika pofuna kusankha Papa, amakhala wotsimikiza kuti palibe chisankho chimene chinachitikapo popanda chisimoni. Ndipo m’misonkhano yambiri yosankha Papa munkachitika chisimoni mochititsa manyazi kwambiri komanso moonetsera.”​—The Encyclopædia Britannica, ninth edition.

13. Kodi Akhristu ayenera kupewa chisimoni m’njira ziti?

¹³ Akhristu ayenera kupewa tchimo la chisimoni. Mwachitsanzo, Akhristu asamapereke mphatso kapena kutamanda kwambiri anthu amene akuganiza kuti angathe kuwapatsa maudindo mumpingo, n’cholinga choti aziwakonda. Komanso anthu amene ali ndi mphamvu zopereka maudindo ayenera kupewa kukondera anthu achuma. Zonsezi ndi zitsanzo za chisimoni. Ndithudi, atumiki onse a Mulungu ayenera kukhala odzichepetsa, ndipo ayenera kuyembekezera mzimu wa Yehova kuti uike munthu pa udindo. (Luka 9:48) Anthu amene ‘amadzifunira okha ulemerero’ alibe malo m’gulu la Yehova.​—Miy. 25:27.

14, 15. (a) Kodi “nduna ya ku Itiyopiya” inali ndani, nanga inakumana bwanji ndi Filipo? (b) Kodi munthu wa ku Itiyopiyayo anatani atamva uthenga wa Filipo, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani sitinganene kuti anapupuluma kubatizidwa? (Onani mawu a m’munsi.)

¹⁴ Tsopano mngelo wa Yehova anauza Filipo kuti ayende mumsewu wochokera ku Yerusalemu kupita ku Gaza. N’kutheka kuti Filipo ankadzifunsa kuti n’chifukwa chiyani akumuuza kuti apite kumeneko, ndipo funso limeneli  linayankhidwa pamene anakumana ndi nduna ya ku Itiyopiya imene ‘inkawerenga mokweza ulosi wa mneneri Yesaya.’ (Onani bokosi lakuti “ Kodi Munthu wa ku Itiyopiya Uja Anali ‘Wofulidwa’?”.) Mzimu woyera wa Yehova unalimbikitsa Filipo kuti ayandikire galeta la munthuyo. Ndiyeno Filipo akuthamanga m’mbali mwa galetalo, anafunsa munthu wa ku Itiyopiyayo kuti: “Kodi mukumvetsa zimene mukuwerengazo?” Poyankha, iye anati: “Ndingamvetse bwanji popanda wondimasulira?”​—Mac. 8:26-31.

¹⁵ Ndunayo inapempha Filipo kuti akwere m’galetalo. Iwotu ayenera kuti anakambirana mfundo zolimbikitsa kwambiri. Kwa nthawi yaitali, anthu sankadziwa tanthauzo la mawu akuti “nkhosa,” kapena akuti “mtumiki” otchulidwa mu ulosi wa Yesayawu. (Yes. 53:1-12) Koma pamene anali m’galetalo, Filipo anafotokozera nduna ya ku Itiyopiyayo kuti ulosi umenewu unakwaniritsidwa pa Yesu Khristu. Mofanana ndi anthu amene anabatizidwa pa Pentekosite mu 33 C.E., ndunayo nthawi yomweyo inadziwa zoyenera kuchita chifukwa inali italowa kale chipembedzo cha Chiyuda. Anauza Filipo kuti: “Taonani, madzitu awo! Chikundiletsa kubatizidwa n’chiyani?” Nthawi yomweyo Filipo anabatiza nduna ya ku Itiyopiyayo. c (Onani bokosi lakuti “ Anabatizidwa ‘M’madzi Ambiri.’”) Kenako mzimu wa Yehova unatsogolera Filipo kuti apite ku Asidodi kumene anapitiriza kulalikira uthenga wabwino.​—Mac. 8:32-40.

16, 17. Kodi angelo akugwira nawo bwanji ntchito yolalikira masiku ano?

¹⁶ Akhristu masiku ano ali ndi mwayi wogwira nawo ntchito imene Filipo ankagwira. Nthawi zambiri, iwo amalalikira uthenga wa Ufumu ngakhale kwa anthu amene angokumana nawo mwamwayi akakhala pa ulendo. Akakumana ndi munthu wachidwi, nthawi zambiri zimakhala zoonekeratu kuti zimenezi sizinangochitika zokha. Zimenezi ziyenera kuchitika chifukwa Baibulo limanena momveka bwino kuti angelo akutsogolera ntchito yolalikira n’cholinga choti uthengawu ufike kwa anthu a “fuko lililonse, chilankhulo  chilichonse, ndi mtundu uliwonse.” (Chiv. 14:6) Yesu ananeneratu kuti angelo adzatitsogolera pa ntchito yathu yolalikira. Mufanizo lake la tirigu ndi namsongole, Yesu ananena kuti m’nthawi yokolola, kapena kuti mapeto a nthawi ino, amene adzagwire ntchito ‘yokololayi ndi angelo.’ Iye ananenanso kuti angelo amenewa “adzachotsa mu Ufumu wake zinthu zonse zopunthwitsa ndiponso anthu osamvera malamulo.” (Mat. 13:37-41) Pa nthawi yomweyi, angelowo adzasonkhanitsa anthu amene adzalamulire mu Ufumu wakumwamba. Kenako, adzasonkhanitsanso “khamu lalikulu” la anthu a “nkhosa zina,” amene Yehova akufuna kuwakokera m’gulu lake.​—Chiv. 7:9; Yoh. 6:44, 65; 10:16.

¹⁷ Umboni woti zimenezi zikuchitika ndi wakuti ena mwa anthu amene timakumana nawo mu utumiki, amanena kuti ankapemphera kuti Mulungu awathandize. Tiyeni tione zimene zinachitikira ofalitsa Ufumu ena awiri amene anapita kolalikira ndi kamwana kena. Atalalikira mpaka masana, anaganiza zoti aweruke, koma kamwana kaja kankafunitsitsabe kuti apite panyumba ina yotsatira. Ndipo kanapitadi kokha n’kukagogoda pachitseko. Kenako m’nyumbamo munatuluka mtsikana, ndiye ofalitsa awiri aja anapita kukalankhula naye. Iwo anadabwa kwambiri atamva mtsikanayo akufotokoza kuti ankapemphera kuti kubwere munthu woti adzamuthandize kumvetsa Baibulo. Mtsikanayo anayamba kuphunzira Baibulo.

18. N’chifukwa chiyani sitiyenera kuona utumiki wathu mopepuka?

¹⁸ Popeza kuti inuyo muli mumpingo wa Chikhristu, muli ndi mwayi wogwira ntchito limodzi ndi angelo pamene ntchito yolalikira ikufalikira kwa anthu ambiri. Muziyamikira mwayi umenewu ndipo musauone ngati ndi waung’ono. Pitirizani kugwira ntchito imeneyi mwakhama, ndipo mudzakhala wosangalala kwambiri chifukwa chouza ena “uthenga wabwino wonena za Yesu.”​—Mac. 8:35.