Falaite Sepitema 1, 2017

Ke fakalangilangi‘i pe ‘a e ‘Otuá

To Glorify God

Fehu‘i #6

‘E founga fēfē ha‘atau fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

(How can we glorify God?) 

‘Oku tau fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otuá ‘aki ‘a e tu‘u mo‘oni ‘etau manakó ‘iate Ia, ‘ofá  kiate Ia , falalá  kiate Ia, mo talangofua ki hono finangaló, mo ‘ene ngaahi tu‘utu‘uní , mo ‘ene laó́ .

(We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.)

Teutalonome 11:1

Ko ia te ke ‘ofa kia Sihova ko ho ‘Otua, ‘o tauhi hono fatongia, mo hono ngaahi lao, mo ‘ene konisitūtone, mo ‘ene ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni, ma‘u ai pē.

Deuteronomy 11:1

You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.

Komeniteli (tohi vete) – Lisiate Sipe

Commentary – Richard Sibbes

Koe‘uhí  ko ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e me‘a kotoa pe mei he ‘Otuá, ‘oku totonu ke tau hinga lafalafa ‘i hono to‘ukupu kelekelé ‘o pehē, “ ‘E ‘ikai te u fie fai angahala he ‘oku ‘ikai fakahoifua ia ki he finangalo ‘o hoku ‘Otuá ”

Ko e tau‘atāina mo‘oní, ‘oku ma‘u ia ‘i hono fakafo‘ou ‘e he Laumālié ‘a e lotó, ‘o ne fakalahi ke hoko ‘o lalo‘aoa ki he ‘Otuá ‘ia Kalaisi. ‘Oku toki tonu mo vovo ‘a e mo‘ui ‘a ha tokotaha ‘i he‘ene fakavaivai‘i ia ki he ‘Otuá pea ‘oku tohoaki ia ke hohoi ki he ‘Otuá, he kuo fakatau‘atāina ia ‘e he ‘Otua mohu kelesí. Ko hono finangaló, ke tau kaveinga‘aki ‘a e tulia hono langilangí pea te ne toki ‘omi ‘ene kelesí mo hono kolōliá  ke nofo‘ia kitautolu.

As we receive all from God, so we should lay all at his feet, and say, “I will not live in a course of sin that will not stand with the favor of my God.”…

True freedom is found when, by the Spirit, the heart is renewed, is enlarged, and becomes subordinate to God in Christ. A man is in a sweet frame when his heart is made subject to God, and drawn out towards him, for the God of all grace sets it at liberty. God will have us make his glory our aim, and then he will bestow grace and glory too on us.

Tu‘apulelulu ‘Akosi 31, 2017

“Everything is under his loving, benevolent care”

Fehuʻi #5

Ko e hā ha toe me‘a na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ?

(What else did God create?)

Na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e me‘a kotoa pe ‘aki ‘a e mālohi ‘o ‘Ene Folofolá  pea na‘e lelei ‘a e me‘a kotoa; na‘e lato ‘a e me‘a kotoa ‘i he malumalu ‘o ‘ene pule anga‘ofá.

(God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule)

Komeniteli ‘a Keni Hausia

Commentary – R. Kent Hughes

Pea ko hono ‘uhingá  leva eni, ‘i hono tu‘unga ko e fakatupu ‘o e me‘a kotoa pe, pea ko e me‘a kotoa pe leva ‘oku ‘i he malumalu ‘o ‘ene tauhi lelei mo anga‘ofá.  Kuopau foki ke tau manatu‘i, ko e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangatá, ‘a ē ko e tumutumu ‘o ‘ene fakatupú, na‘e ngaohi kitautolu ‘i he ‘imisi ‘o e ‘Otuá. Ka koe‘uhí ko e kakai kitautolu ia kuo fanau‘i fo‘ou, pea ‘oku tau toe ma‘u ‘e kitautolu ‘a e ‘imisi ‘o Kalaisí.  Pea ‘oku ‘uhinga ia, ‘oku tau nofo malu mo mālōlō ‘i he‘ene faileleí mo hono ivi lahi fakatupú pea ‘oku ne pule‘i ‘a e tapa kotoa ‘o e mo‘uí, pea ‘oku tau tupu ma‘ui‘ui ‘i hono malumalú.

And that means that, as he’s the creator of all things, everything is under his loving, benevolent care. We must also keep in mind that as human beings, the apex of creation, we were made in the image of God. But as regenerate people, we also have the image of Christ. Which means we can rest in his goodness, and his great creation power, and he controls all of life, and we can flourish under him.

Lotu

‘E ‘Otua na‘a ke Folofola pea ‘i ai ‘a Mamani, ‘oku mau ofoofo ‘i ho‘o fakatupú, neongo ‘a hono fakamele‘i ‘e he angahalá. Ko ho faka‘ofo‘ofá ‘oku fakae‘a mai ‘i he Masani ‘o e ngaahi fetu‘ú.  Ko ho iví  ‘oku hā mai ia ‘i he mālohi ‘o e afāá. Ko e maau ho‘o fokotu‘utu‘ú  ‘oku faka‘ali‘ali ‘i he matematiká.  Ke fakafeta‘i ‘a e me‘a mo‘ui kotoa pe ‘oku mānava koe‘uhí  ko e ngaahi ngaue ‘a ho to‘ukupú. ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Lord who Spoke the World into Existence, we marvel at your creation, even though it has been corrupted. Your beauty is revealed in the splendor of the stars. Your might is shown fourth in the strength of a hurricane. Your order is displayed in the laws of mathematics. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord for the works of his hands. Amen.

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 30, 2017

“For by Him, all things were created”

Senesi 1:31

Pea na‘e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otuá ki he me‘a kotoa pē kuo ne ngaohi, pea tā kuo lelei ‘aupito . . .

Genesis 1:31

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it  was very good . . .

Komeniteli ‘a Keni Hausia

Commentary – R. Kent Hughes

Pea ‘oku tau a‘u mai leva ki he ta‘anga laulōtaha ko eni ‘i he tohi ‘a Kolosé, ‘a ‘ene pehē kau kia Sisu: “‘io, kuo ngaohi ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē ‘iate ia pea ma‘ana, pea ko e mu‘a ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio kae kimui ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē, pea ‘oku fema‘uma‘utaki ‘iate ia ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē: koe‘uhi na‘e tefito kiate ia ‘a e ngaohi ‘o e me‘a kotoa pē, ‘a e me‘a ‘i he langi mo e me‘a ‘i māmani, ‘a e me‘a hā mai mo e me‘a ta‘ehā mai, neongo ko ha fa‘ahinga ma‘u taloni, pe ko ha fa‘ahinga hou‘eiki, pe ko ha fa‘ahinga pule, pe ko ha fa‘ahinga ma‘u tu‘unga;”

‘Oku ou fa‘a fakakaukau loto (hangē ha‘a ku misí) kapau ne malava ke u ma‘u ‘a e vaka vavā mei he polokalama televīsone ‘a e Star Trek, ke u puna kitu‘a māmani ki he kalakesió ‘o kolosi atu he ngaahi palanité, pea tuku‘i atu ki he oma taha ‘a e vaká  ke u laku kimui e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi ‘elemeniti ‘o e ‘univeesí; pea kapau te u a‘u ki he ngata‘anga ‘o e tu‘apuipui ‘o taimí pea u a‘u ki ha efuefu ‘o e sitelá, na‘a mo ia na‘e fakatupu mo pukepuke ‘e Kalaisi. Ko e mingimingi‘i me‘a kotoa pe na‘e fakatupu ‘e Kalaisi.

Ko e pupunga maama ‘o ‘Alakituló, ko e maama ‘oku ne fakaulo ‘a e fanga ki‘i lango uló, ‘a e ngaahi naunau kehekehe ‘i natulá, ‘a e ngaahi fuó mo e fotungá, ngaahi me‘a ‘i langi, ngaahi me‘a ‘i mamani, ngaahi me‘a ‘i lolofonua mo e loloto ‘o e tahí, katokatoa, na‘e fakatupu mo fakama‘uma‘uluta ‘iate Ia.

And then you come to that incredible, lyrical song in Colossians 1:16 – 17, which speaks of Jesus: “for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

I’ve often thought that if I could commandeer the enterprise from Star Trek, and I could travel out to our galaxy and across the Milky Way, and then kick it into warp speed eight so the galaxies would fly by like fence posts, and finally come to the very backwater of the universe, make a right turn and find a piece of stellar dust, it would have been created by Christ and sustained by Christ. Everything is made by Christ. The fires of Arcturus, the fires that light a firefly, all textures, all shapes, things in heaven, things on earth, things under the earth, things under the sea, everything is created and sustained by him.

Tusite ‘Akosi 29, 2017

‘Oku ma‘uma‘uluta ‘a e ‘univeesí ‘iate Ia

Fehuʻi #5

Ko e hā ha toe me‘a na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ?

(What else did God create?)

Na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e me‘a kotoa pe ‘aki ‘a e mālohi ‘o ‘Ene Folofolá  pea na‘e lelei ‘a e me‘a kotoa; na‘e lato ‘a e me‘a kotoa ‘i he malumalu ‘o ‘ene pule anga‘ofá.

(God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule)

Komeniteli ‘a Keni Hausia

Commentary – R. Kent Hughes

‘I he‘etau a‘u mai ki he Fuakava Fo‘oú pea mo e levelēsio ‘oku toe kakato ange fekau‘aki mo Sisu Kalaisí, ‘oku tau ako ai ‘o ‘ilo na‘e fakatupu ‘e Kalaisi ‘a e ‘univeesí. ‘A ia ko e laine ‘uluaki ‘o e koosipeli ‘a Sione, “ ‘I he kamata‘angá  kuo ‘i ai ‘a FOLOFOLA, pea na‘e feangai mo e ‘Otuá ‘a Folofola, pea na‘e ‘Otua ‘a Folofola. Ko e toko taha ko iá na‘e ‘i he kamata‘anga, ‘o feangai mo e ‘Otua. Ko e hoko mai ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē na‘e fou ‘iate ia; pea na‘e ‘ikai ha momo‘i me‘a ‘e taha ‘e hoko mai, ‘o ‘ata‘atā mo ia” (Sioné 1:1-3). Pea ko e me‘a ‘oku hā atu hení ko e Kalaisi ia ‘o e ‘univeesí, ko e Fakatupu ‘o e me‘a kotoá. ‘Ikai ngata aí, ka ‘oku fakatahataha‘i ‘e Paula ongo fo‘i mo‘oni ko ení ‘ia 1 Kolinito 8:6 ‘i he‘ene pehē, ko ‘etau mo‘uí (hoko mai ki mamaní) ko e ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua pe taha ko e Tamai pea mo e ‘Eiki pe ‘e taha ko Sisu Kalaisí. ‘Oku fālute ‘a e me‘a kotoa ‘e kinaua.

When we come to the New Testament and the fuller revelation of Jesus Christ, we learned that the cosmos is created by Christ himself. So the opening line of the gospel of John, “in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, and without him was not anything made that was made.” And so what we have here is the cosmotic Christ, the creator of all things. In fact, the apostle Paul brings both together in 1 Corinthians 8:6 when he says that our existence is due to the one God and father and the one Lord Jesus Christ. All our existence depends on them.

Monite ‘Akosi 28, 2017

“Kuo lelei ‘aupito”

Senesi 1:31

Pea na‘e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otuá ki he me‘a kotoa pē kuo ne ngaohi, pea tā kuo lelei ‘aupito . . .

Genesis 1:31

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it  was very good . . .

Komeniteli ‘a Keni Hausia

Commentary – R. Kent Hughes

‘Oku ‘i ai e taimi ‘oku ou tomu‘a kamata ‘eku lau Folofolá mo ‘eku lotú, ‘aki ‘eku fakakaukau loto ki he faufaua ‘a e lahi ‘o e ‘univeesí - ko e kalakesio ‘e tahá, ‘oku ‘i ai ha ngaahi fetu‘u ‘e taha kilu miliona, pea ‘oku taha kilu miliona ‘a e lahi ‘o e ngaahi kalakesió mo honau ngaahi fetu‘u ‘e taha kilu miliona, pea ko e kalakesio ‘oku tau ‘i aí, ‘oku fe‘unga hono fālahí mo e ta‘u maama ‘e teau, pea ko e vā mama‘o ‘o e ngaahi kalakesió  ko e ta‘u maama ‘e 3 miliona. ‘Oku taumama‘o fau mo fakaofo!

Ko e laine ‘uluaki ‘o e Fuakava Motu‘á  ‘oku pehē mai, “i he kamata‘angá na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e ngaahi langí mo mamani” (Senesi 1:1).  Pea ‘i hono fakataha‘i ‘o e ongo fo‘i lea ko ení, - langi mo mamani – ongo me‘a fehangahangai, pea ‘oku ‘uhinga leva ia, na‘a ne fakatupu ‘a e me‘a kotoa pe. ‘A ia, ‘e malava pe ke ke lau ia ‘o pehé ni, “ ‘i he kamata‘angá, na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e ‘univeesí”. Pea na‘á  ne pehē, “kuo lelei”. Pea ‘ikai ngata aí, ka ‘i he kakato ‘o ‘ene fakatupú , na‘a ne folofola ‘o pehē, “kuo lelei ‘aupito”!

Sometimes I begin my personal time of prayer and devotion by reflecting on the mind-boggling size of the universe – that a little galaxy has 100,000 million stars, that there are 100,000 million more galaxies each with 100,000 million stars, that our galaxy and each of those galaxies is a hundred light years across, and that there are 3 million light years between each of those galaxies. Absolutely phenomenal and amazing.

The opening line of the Old Testament says, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Now when it juxtaposes two words – heavens and earth – two opposites, it means he created everything. So you could really read that as, “in the beginning God created the cosmos.” And then he said it was good, but he said even more than that. He said it was very good.

Sapate ‘Akosi 27, 2017

Ko e Sio‘ata ‘o e Ta‘ehāmai

Fehuʻi #5

Ko e hā ha toe me‘a na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ?

(What else did God create?)

Na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e me‘a kotoa pe ‘aki ‘a e mālohi ‘o ‘Ene Folofolá  pea na‘e lelei ‘a e me‘a kotoa; na‘e lato ‘a e me‘a kotoa ‘i he malumalu ‘o ‘ene pule anga‘ofá.

(God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule)

Senesi 1:31

Pea na‘e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otuá ki he me‘a kotoa pē kuo ne ngaohi, pea tā kuo lelei ‘aupito . . .

Genesis 1:31

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it  was very good . . .

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Kalavini

Commentary – John Calvin

Kuo foaki mai ‘e he ‘Otuá  kiate kitautolu, ‘o fou ‘i he ngaahi fokotu‘utu‘u ‘o e mamani ko ení, ‘a e ngaahi fakamo‘oni pau ‘o ‘ene poto lau ‘itānití, leleí, mo e malohí; pea neongo ‘oku ta‘ehāmai, ka ‘oku hā mai kiate kitautolu ‘o fou ‘i he‘ene ngaahi ngaué.

‘Oku mo‘oni ‘aupito hono ui ‘o e mamani ko ení, ko e sio‘ata ‘o e ta‘ehāmaí; ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia kuo ma‘u ‘e he tangatá ‘a e ‘ilo kanokato ki he ‘Otuá  ‘i he‘ene mamata pe ki he fo‘i mamaní, ka kuo fakahā mai ‘e he ‘Otuá  Ia pea ‘oku ‘ikai lava ‘a e tangatá  ke kalo mei mo‘oni ko ení.  Ko kinautolu ‘oku nau faitōnungá, kuo foaki ha maama fe‘unga ke nau mamata ki ha ngaahi fetapaki ‘o hono langilangí , pea ‘oku nau mafola ‘o ‘ufi‘ufi e tapa kotoa ‘o e fakatupú.  ‘Io, na‘e fakatupu ‘a e ‘univeesí  ke hoko ko ha fu‘u fale hele‘uhila ‘o e naunau mo e ngeia ‘o e ‘Otuá.

God has given us, throughout the whole framework of this world, clear evidences of his eternal wisdom, goodness, and power; and though he is in himself invisible, he is in a manner becomes visible to us in his works.

Correctly then is this world called the mirror of divinity; not that there is sufficient clearness for man to gain the full knowledge of God, by looking at the world, but that he has thus far revealed himself, that the ignorance of the ungodly is without excuse. The faithful, to whom he has given eyes, see sparks of his glory, as it were, littering in every created thing. The world was no doubt made, that it might be the theater of the divine glory.

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 26, 2017

Hono Fakangeingei mo fakaofo hoku ngaohí ē

Saame 139:14

Te u fakafeta‘i kiate koe;

Hono kuo fakangeingei mo fakaofo hoku ngaohi ē.

Ko ho‘o ngaahi ngāue ko e koto fakaofo pē,

Pea ‘oku mātu‘aki ‘ilo ia ‘e hoku laumālie.

Psalm 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

Fehuʻi #4

Na‘e founga fēfē hono fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá pea ko e ha ‘a e ‘uhinga na‘a ne fakatupu ai kitautolú ?

(How and why did God create us?)

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá, ko e tangata mo e fefine ‘i hono ‘imisí, ke tau ‘ilo‘i Ia, ‘ofa kiate Ia, nonofo mo Ia pea ke fakalangilangi‘i Ia. Pea ‘oku totonu mo e fa‘ahinga na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otuá ke nau mo‘ui ko hono fakahoifua.

(God created us male and female in his image to know him, love him, live with, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.)

Lotu

‘E ‘Otua Fakatupu ‘o e me‘a kotoa, ‘oua mu‘a te ke tukuange kimautolu mo e kotoa ‘o e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangatá,  ke puli ‘iate kimautolu, na‘á  ke fakatupu kimautolu ‘i ho ‘imisí. ‘Oua mu‘a te ke tukuange ke mau veiveiua ‘i he‘emau tui ki he mo‘oni ko ení. ‘Oua mu‘a na‘a ke tukuange kimautolu ke mau ta‘etoka‘i mo ha taha kehe, pe tangata pe fefine, he ka mau fai pehē, ko ‘emau fakasīkaka‘i ia ‘a e langilangi ‘oku tuha m oho huafá.  Ko ho tatau ‘oku tapa ‘iate kimautolú,  ko ha fakamo‘oni ia ‘oku mau kau kiate koe, ‘i he sino mo e laumālie. ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Maker of all, let us not lose sight that we, and every human being you have made, are created in your image. Never let us doubt this about ourselves. Never let us doubt this about any other man or woman, for to do so denies you the glory that is due to your name. Your likeness glimpsed in us testifies that we belong to you, body and soul. Amen.

Falaite ‘Akosi 25, 2017

Radiating God’s glory to one another

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Paipa

Commentary – John Piper

Ko ia, ‘oku tau sio fakamama‘u kia Sisu, ‘oku tau ‘ofa kiate ia, pea ‘i he tu‘unga ko iá, ‘oku fai ai hotau takao ke hokosi ‘a hono ‘imisi.

‘I he pehē ko ē ‘e he ‘Otuá na‘a ne ngaohi kitautolu ko e tangata mo e fefine ke fakaola ‘ene palaní, na‘e ‘ikai ‘uhinga pe ia ki hono fakatupulaki ‘o mamaní, ka ko e founga eni ia ‘oku fakahoko lelei taha ‘i he “komiunitī” (fā‘ūtaha ‘a e loto ‘o e tangatá ke fekau‘aki mo hono hakó). ‘Oku ‘ikai lelei ke nofo tokotaha ‘a e tangatá. Ko hai te ne fakalangilangi‘i ki ai ‘a e ‘Otuá ? Ko ia, ko e ki‘i komiunitī si‘isi‘i ko eni na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘i he kamata‘angá pea ui ko e tangata mo e fefiné, ko e fakafofonga ia ‘o e komiunitī ‘oku taufetongi ai mo fetafe‘aki ai ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otuá ‘i hona vāá, pea tapa atu ai foki ki mamani.

Tau kau fakataha ke fakahoko e fo‘i ngaue mahu‘inga ko ení. Ke tau fetokoni‘aki ke fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otuá.

So we look at Jesus, we treasure him, we love him, and in that we are being shaped into his image.

When God says he made us male and female to do this, not only does that mean we want generations to go on doing this, so there’s going to be procreation here, but it means this happens best in community. Is not good for the man to be alone. Who is he going to glorify God to? So this little community that’s created in the beginning called male and female is representative of the community where the glory of God radiates back and forth to each other and then out to the world.

Let’s do this together. Let’s help each other glorify God.

Tu‘apulelulu ‘Akosi 24, 2017

The Transforming glory of the Gospel

Fehuʻi #4

Na‘e founga fēfē hono fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá pea ko e ha ‘a e ‘uhinga na‘a ne fakatupu ai kitautolú ?

(How and why did God create us?)

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá, ko e tangata mo e fefine ‘i hono ‘imisí, ke tau ‘ilo‘i Ia, ‘ofa kiate Ia, nonofo mo Ia pea ke fakalangilangi‘i Ia. Pea ‘oku totonu mo e fa‘ahinga na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otuá ke nau mo‘ui ko hono fakahoifua.

(God created us male and female in his image to know him, love him, live with, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.)

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Paipa

Commentary – John Piper

Pea ko e potu ‘oku hā mahino taha ai ‘a e kolōlia (langilangi) ko ení, ko e koosipeli ‘o e pekia ‘a Kalaisí; pekia ‘a e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otuá ma‘ae angahalá. ‘Oku makatu‘unga eni ‘i he fakamatala ‘a 2 Kolinito 4:4 ‘oku pehe ai, “Kuo fakakui ‘e he ‘otua ‘o e tu‘u ko eni” (‘a ia Setane ia),  “‘a e ‘atamai ‘o e kau ta‘etui, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a hulu‘ia ‘e he ulo mei he Kōsipeli ‘o e lāngilangi ‘o Kalaisi, ‘a ia ko e ‘īmisi ‘o e ‘Otua.”

‘Oku ke fie ‘ilo pe ko e fē ‘a e potu ‘oku ulo lahi taha ai ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua? ‘Oku ulo lahi taha ‘ia Kalaisi mo e Koosipelí. Ko ia, kapau te tau fie fakaangatatau kitautolu ki hono ‘imisí́ mo fakatapa atu ki mamani ‘a e naunau mo e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘oku talamai ‘e he fo‘i veesi kimu‘a pe ‘i he veesi ko ení, “Ka ko kitautolu kotoa pē, lolotonga ‘etau lau ta‘epūlou, ‘o sio ki he lāngilangi ‘o e ‘Eiki hangē ha ma‘ali mai ‘i ha sio‘ata, ‘oku tau liliu ai ki hono ‘īmisi ko ia, ‘o fai mei ha lāngilangi ki ha lāngilangi” (2 Kolinitō 3:18). ‘Oku fou mai eni mei he Lamālié.

And the place where the glory is shown most clearly is the gospel where Christ dies; the son of God dies for sinners. I say that because in 2 Corinthians 4:4 it says, “the god of this world,” that’s Satan, “has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Do you want to know where the glory of God is shining most brightly? It is shining in Christ and the gospel most brightly. So if we want to be conformed fully into his image and display to others his glory, there’s a verse just before that that says “beholding the glory of the Lord, [we] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). And that comes from the Spirit.

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 23, 2017

You are my All in All

Senesi 1:27

Pea na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e tangatá ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o‘ona, ‘io, ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o e ‘Otuá na‘á ne fakatupu ia; na‘á ne fakatupu ‘a kinaua ko e tangata mo e fefine.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Paipa – hoko atu

Commentary – John Piper – cont.

‘Oku fiema‘u ke tau fakakaukau mo mo‘ui mo ngaue mo lea ‘i ha founga ke tataki e tokanga ‘a e kakaí  ki he ngaahi tu‘oni haohaoa ‘a e ‘Otuá. Pea ko e founga lelei taha ke tau fakahoko ai ‘a e me‘á ni, ko ‘etau tomu‘a fakahaa‘i ‘oku tau fiemālie mo nonga ‘i he ngaahi tu‘unga faka-‘Otua ko ení. ‘Oku tau fakahaa‘i ‘oku laka hake eni ia ‘i he pa‘angá, hulu atu ‘i he ongoongoá, vovo ange ia he felātani ‘o e nofo malí mo ha toe me‘a pe ‘oku hu‘u ki ai hotau lotó.

Pea ‘i he mamata ‘a mamani ki he‘etau mahu‘inga‘ia pehē fau ‘i he ‘Otuá mo ‘etau lato ‘i hono langilangí pea te nau fakamo‘oni mai ko Ia tokotaha pe ‘etau mata‘ikoloa. Te nau loto ke toe fakahā ange ‘a e lelei ko ení. ‘Oku ou tui ko hono fakalangilangi‘i ia ‘o e ‘Otuá ‘i he‘etau ma‘u hono ‘imisí.

We want to think and live and act and speak in such a way that we draw attention to the manifold perfections of God. And I think the way we do that best is by being totally satisfied in those perfections ourselves. They mean more to us than money and more to us than fame and more to us than intimate romantic relations or anything else that might compete for our affections.

And when people see us valuing God that much and his glory being that satisfying, they see that he is our treasure. “Show me more!” I think that’s what it means to glorify God by being in his image.

Tusite ‘Akosi 22, 2017

Tapa mai, ke tapa atu hono langilangí

Fehuʻi #4

Na‘e founga fēfē hono fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá pea ko e ha ‘a e ‘uhinga na‘a ne fakatupu ai kitautolú ?

(How and why did God create us?)

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá, ko e tangata mo e fefine ‘i hono ‘imisí, ke tau ‘ilo‘i Ia, ‘ofa kiate Ia, nonofo mo Ia pea ke fakalangilangi‘i Ia. Pea ‘oku totonu mo e fa‘ahinga na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otuá ke nau mo‘ui ko hono fakahoifua.

(God created us male and female in his image to know him, love him, live with, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.)

** Me‘a fakaofo ko hotau ngaohí pea fungani mo hotau kaveingá . Vakai na‘a ke fakaongo ki he ngaahi fokotu‘utu‘u fakapoto ‘a e maama ko ení ‘o taku ko e fakalaka. ‘E ‘ikai ha fakalakalaka ‘e ‘aonga kapau te nau faka‘ikai‘i ‘a e taumu‘a lelei ne toka tu‘utu‘uni mei mu‘a ‘e hotau ‘Otuá **

Komeniteli ‘a Sione Paipa

Commentary – John Piper

Ko e hā ‘oku ngaohi ‘imisi ai ha taha? ‘Oku ngaohi pe ha ‘imisi ke tapa atu ‘a e ‘ata ko iá. Ka fatu ha ‘imisi ‘o Napōleone, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ke tapa atu ‘a e ‘ata ‘o Napoleoné, ‘o ‘ikai ko e ‘imisi na‘e ngaohí. Pea ‘oku ngaohi ‘a e ‘imisi ko iá  ke fakahaa‘i ha ‘ulungaanga pau ‘o Napoleone.

‘A ia, na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otuá  kitautolu ‘i hono ‘imisí. ‘Oku kei tālanga‘i pe ko ‘etau fakakaukaú, mōlalé pe mafai ke filí ‘oku tapa mai ai ‘a e ‘imisi ‘o e ‘Otuá. Ka ko e tefito‘i fakakaukaú, na‘e ngaohi tangata ‘a e ‘Otuá  ‘i hono ‘imisí  ke ne tapa mai ai kiate kitautolu. ‘A ia leva, ko ‘etau mo‘uí, ke fakahaa‘i mai ha fo‘i taumu‘a pau, ‘a ‘ia, ko hono langilangí. Pea ‘oku ‘uhinga eni ki hono tu‘unga haohaoá - ‘a e ulo mai hono naunaú́ - ‘a e masani faka‘ofo‘ofa ‘a hono tu‘unga ma‘a ‘asinisiní.

Why do people make images? People make images to image. They want to image forth something. If you make a statue of Napoleon, you want people to think not so much about the statue as Napoleon. And you make the statue in a way that shows something specific about the character of Napoleon.

So God makes us in his image. We could argue about whether it is our rationality, or our morality, or our volition that makes us in his image. The point is, he makes humans in his image to image something, namely, himself. So our existence is about showing God’s existence or, specifically, it’s about showing God’s glory. Which I think means God’s manifold perfections – the radiance, the display, the screaming out of his many-colored, beautiful perfections.

Monite ‘Akosi 21, 2017

In my life Lord, be glorified

Senesi 1:27

Pea na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tangata ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o‘ona, ‘io, ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o e ‘Otua na‘a ne fakatupu ia; na‘a ne fakatupu ‘a kinaua ko e tangata mo e fefine.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Komeniteli ‘a R.C. Ryle – hoko atu

Commentary – cont.

Ko ha fa‘ahinga me‘a pe te tau ala fakalangilangi‘i‘aki ‘a e ‘Otuá, ko e talēniti ia; ko hotau ngaahi tufakangá, ko ‘etau lavame‘á, ‘etau pa‘angá, ‘etau ‘iló, ‘etau mo‘ui leleí, hotau iví, hotau taimí, hotau ngaahi ongo‘angá, ‘etau fakakaukaú, hotau poto faka‘atamaí, ‘etau manatú, ‘etau ngaahi manakó, hotau tāpuaki ‘etau kau ki he Siasi ‘o Kalaisí, ngaahi mafai ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘i he‘etau ma‘u ‘a e Tohitapú.. me‘a kotoa pe.. ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me‘á ni ko e talēniti ia.

Na‘e hoko mai ‘a e ngaahi me‘á ni ‘ane fe? Ko e nima ‘o hai ne fou mai ai? Ko e ha e ‘uhinga ‘oku tau pehé ni ai? Ko e ha e ‘uhinga na‘e ‘ikai ke tau hoko ai ‘o hangē ko e ‘unufe ‘oku totolo he kelekele? ‘Oku taha mātē pe ‘a e tali ki he ngaahi fehu‘í ni. Ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me‘a ‘oku tau ma‘ú, ko e nō mei he ‘Otua. Ko e kau sētuata pe kitautolu ‘a e ‘Otuá. Ko e kau ngaue mo‘ua pe kitautolu ki he ‘Otuá. Tuku ke tō ke loloto ‘a e mo‘oni ko ení ki hotau lotó.

Anything whereby we may glorify God is a talent, our gifts, our influence, our money, our knowledge, our health, our strength, our time, our senses, our reason, our intellect, our memory, our affections, our priviledges as members of Christ’s Church, our advantages as possessors of the Bible – all, all are talents. Whence came these things? What hand bestow them? Why are we what we are? Why are we not the worms that crawled the earth? There is only one answer to these questions. All that we have is a loan from God. We are God’s stewards. We are God’s debtors. That this thought sink deeply into our hearts.

Sapate ‘Akosi 20, 2017

“God our Creator”

Fehuʻi #4

Na‘e founga fēfē hono fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá pea ko e ha ‘a e ‘uhinga na‘a ne fakatupu ai kitautolú ?

(How and why did God create us?)

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá, ko e tangata mo e fefine ‘i hono ‘imisí, ke tau ‘ilo‘i Ia, ‘ofa kiate Ia, nonofo mo Ia pea ke fakalangilangi‘i Ia. Pea ‘oku totonu mo e fa‘ahinga na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otuá ke nau mo‘ui ko hono fakahoifua.

(God created us male and female in his image to know him, love him, live with, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.)

Senesi 1:27

Pea na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tangata ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o‘ona, ‘io, ‘i he ‘īmisi ‘o e ‘Otua na‘a ne fakatupu ia; na‘a ne fakatupu ‘a kinaua ko e tangata mo e fefine.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Komeniteli ‘a R.C. Ryle

Commentary

Ko e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otuá ‘oku totonu ke hoko ia ko e tumutumu ‘o e vivili ‘a e fanau ‘a e ‘Otuá . Ko e kaveinga eni ‘o e taha ‘o e ngaahi lotu ‘a e ‘Eiki: “‘Alā Tamai, ke ke fakalāngilangi‘i ho‘oú huafa.” (Sione 12:28). Ko e taumu‘a eni na‘e fakatupu ai ‘a mamaní. Ko e ‘uhinga eni na‘e ui mo fakamo‘ui ai ‘a e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangatá . Ko e tefito‘i kaveinga eni ke tau kumi ki ai, “koe‘uhi ke fakahīkihiki‘i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē” (1 Pita 4:11)…

The glory of God is the first thing that God’s children should desire. It is the object of one of our Lord’s own prayers: “father, glorify thy name” (John 12:28). It is the purpose for which the world was created. It is the end for which the Saints are called and converted. It is the chief thing we should seek, that “God in all things may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:11)…

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 19, 2017

“‘Oku mahu‘inga fau ‘a e ‘ilo ko ení”

Komeniteli ‘a Kēvini TeiʻIongi

Commentary – Kevin DeYoung

Uá, ‘i he‘etau ma‘u ‘a e Tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá, ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘unga lau‘itāniti ‘o e ‘ofá. Na‘e tomu‘a ‘i ai pe ‘a e ‘ofa ia mei tuai. Kapau leva ko e ‘Otuá ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha pēsona ‘e tolu, kuopau ke ne fakatupu ha me‘amo‘ui ke ‘ofa ki ai, ke fakahā ki ai ‘ene ‘ofá. Ka ko e Tamaí, ‘Aló, mo e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, ‘i honau tu‘unga lau‘itānití, na‘a nau tomu‘a ma‘u pe ‘a e feohi vāofi ‘o e ‘ofá mo e fe‘ofa‘akí. ‘A ia, ko e ‘ofá na‘e ‘ikai ko ha me‘a na‘e toki fakatupu. Na‘e ‘ikai toe fiema‘u ke kumi ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e ‘ofá ‘o ‘atā meiate Ia (kitu‘a). ‘Oku ta‘engata ‘a e ‘ofá. Pea ‘i he‘etau ma‘u ‘a e Tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá, ‘oku tau ma‘u kakato ‘a e ‘Otua ko ‘ofá.

Faka‘osí, pea ko e poini mahu‘inga tahá eni, ko e ‘uhinga ‘oku fu‘u mahu‘inga pehē ai ‘a e tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī ki he Kalisitiané, he ‘oku ‘ikai mo ha toe kaveinga fisifisimu‘a ‘i he mamani ko ení ka ko hono ‘ilo‘i ‘o e ‘Otuá. Kapau ‘oku mo‘ui ‘a e ‘Otuá ‘i ha pesona ‘e toko tolu, pea ‘okapau ko e uho pe ‘e taha ‘oku mo‘ui ai ‘a e Tamaí, ‘Aló mo e Laumalié, pea kapau ‘oku papitaiso kitautolu ki he ‘i he huafa ‘o e tolu-taha‘i-‘Otua ko ení, pea ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke ta‘e‘ilo ha Kalisitiane ki he ngaahi mo‘oni ko ení. ‘I hono aofangatukú, ‘oku mahu‘inga ‘a e Tulinitīí he ‘oku mahu‘inga ‘a e ‘Otuá.

Second, when you have a triune God, you have the eternality of love. Love has existed from all time. If you have a god who is not three persons, he has to create a being to love, to be an expression of his love. But Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in eternity have always had this relationship of love. So love is not a created thing. God didn’t have to go outside of himself to love. Love is eternal. And when you have a triune God, you have fully this God who is love.

Finally, and most importantly, the doctrine of the Trinity is crucial for the Christian because there is nothing more important in all the world than knowing God. If God exists as one God in three persons, if one divine essence subsists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, if we are baptized into this triune name, then no Christian should want to be ignorant of these Trinitarian realities. In the end, the Trinity matters because God matters.

Falaite ‘Akosi 18, 2017

“Unity in diversity”

Komeniteli ‘a Kēvini TeiʻIongi

Commentary – Kevin DeYoung

‘Oku toe fihi foki mo fakatupu fifili ki he tokolahi ‘a e fehu‘i ko ení, “Ko e ha hano ‘aonga? ‘Oku ou mahino‘i pe ‘a e tolú mo e tahá, pea mo e taha ‘a e tolú. Ka ko e hā ha‘a ne kaunga ki he‘eku mo‘ui faka-kalisitiané?” Ka ‘i he hisitōlia ‘o e Tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá, ‘oku ‘i ai ha ngaahi mo‘oni ‘e tolu ‘oku mahu‘inga fekau‘aki mo e tokāteliné ni.

‘Uluakí, ‘oku tokoni ‘a e “Tiulinitī” (Tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá) ke tau mahino‘i ‘a e fā‘ūtaha ‘a e faikehekehé. Ko e taha foki ení ia ha kaveinga ‘oku tokangaekina ‘e mamani. ‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e ni‘ihi ‘oku tāfataha pe ‘enau tokangá ki he tu‘unga kehekehé; ‘a e kehekehe ‘a e kakaí. ‘Oku ‘ikai te nau sio ki he me‘a ‘oku fai ai e faaitahá (tatau). Pea ‘i he taimi tatau, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ni‘ihi ia ‘oku nau feinga ke fā‘ūtaha mo fakatahataha‘i ‘a e ngaahi fakakaukaú, taha ‘a e pule‘angá, pea taha mo e fakafōtungá. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he Tiulinitī ‘a e loloto mo mo‘oni ‘o e faaitaha ‘a e kehekehé, pea lava ai ki he Tamaí, mo e ‘Aló pea mo e Laumālié ke nau ngāue ‘i he taha mo‘oni fekau‘aki mo hotau fakamo‘uí. ‘Oku tu‘utu‘uni ‘a e Tamaí. ‘Oku ngāue ‘a e ‘Aló. Pea fakahoko ‘e he Laumālié. ‘Oku tau fakafeangai ki he ‘Otuá ‘i he tu‘unga ‘Otua kakato ‘i he Tamaí, ‘i he ‘Aló, pea ‘i he Laumālié. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fetuiaki pea ‘ikai ha fakafekiki ngaue.

Even more confusing to people is the question, “Why does this even matter? Okay, I understand I got three in one, one in three. What difference does this make for anything in my Christian life?” In good Trinitarian fashion, I think there are three important things that the doctrine means for us.

First, the Trinity helps us to understand how there can be unity in diversity. This is one of the most pressing questions in our world. Some folks focus almost exclusively on diversity, on the fact that people are so different. They don’t see any common ground. Others want to press for complete uniformity in thought, in government, and in expression. The Trinity shows us that you can have a profound, real, organic unity with diversity, so that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working in complete union in our salvation. The Father appoints. The Son accomplishes. The Spirit applies. We encounter God as fully God in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. And yet, their divine work is neither interchangeable nor redundant.