Monite Fepueli 28, 2022

ASKING FOR ILLUMINATION

KOLE HA FAKAMAAMA

PSALM 25:5

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long

SAAME 25:5

Tataki au ‘i ho‘o mo‘oni, pea ako kita; He ko koe hoku ‘Otua Fakamo‘ui‘anga; Ko koe ‘oku ou ‘amanaki ki ai he ‘aho kotoa.

 

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We have known other men who were not so strong, who felt that they could not even understand the Word of God without divine illumination, and who went to the great Father of lights for that illumination. Trembling and afraid, they have asked to be helped to speak the mind of God, and not their own mind; and God has spoken through them, and they have been strong.

They were weak, for they were afraid lest their thoughts should stand in the way of God's thoughts; they were fearful lest their mind should darken the Word of God. Yet they have been truly strong, and humble people have listened to them and said that God spake through them. Sinners have listened, and though they have become angry, they have come again, and at last have yielded themselves to Christ. Verily, God spoke through that Man.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku tau ‘ilo ‘a e kakai tokolahi ‘oku ‘ikai te nau ma’u ‘a e malohi fe’unga, pea ‘oku nau ongo’i ‘oku ‘ikai te nau mahino’i ‘a  e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o kapau ‘e ‘ikai te nau ma’u ‘a e maama fakalangi, pea ‘oku nau ‘alu hangatonu ki he Tamai ‘o e ngaahi maama ke nau ma’u maama mei ai.  ‘Oku nau tu’u tetetete mo ilifia mo’oni, ‘oku nau kole tokoni ke nau ma’u ‘a e ‘atamai ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘o ‘ikai ko e ‘atamai pe ‘o kinautolu; pea kuo lea ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate kinautolu pea kuo nau malohi.

Na’a nau vaivai, he na’a nau manavahe na’a faifaiange kuo kapu ‘e he’enau fakakaukau ‘o fakafepaki ki he ngaahi fakakaukau ‘a e ‘Otua; na’a nau manavahe na’a faiaiange kuo tapua honau ‘atamai ke fakapuliki ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  Kā na’a nau nau ma’u malohi, pea na’e fanongo ‘a e tokolahi kiate kinautolu pea na’a nau fakamo’oni na’e lea ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o fou ‘i he kau sevaniti ko ‘eni.  Na’e omi ‘a e kau angahala ‘o fanongo, pea neongo na’e ‘ita ‘a e tokolahi, ka na’a nau kei omi pe, pea iku pe ‘o nau fakatomala ‘o tafoki kia Kalaisi.  ‘Io, na’e lea ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o fou ‘i he tangata ko ia.  

Sapate Fepueli 27, 2022 

HOLD FAST TO THE TRUTH

PUKE MAʻU KI HE MOʻONI

1 THESSALONIANS 5:20-22

Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil

1 TESALONAIKA 5:20-22

‘oua ‘e ta‘etoka‘i ‘a e ngaahi malanga palofisai; ka mou sivi kotoa pē: ‘ilonga pē ‘a e lelei, puke ma‘u ia; ‘ilonga ha me‘a ‘oku fa‘ahinga mo e kovi, faka‘ehi‘ehi mei ai.

 

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Like Paul, we struggle with the Word of God against the fanatical Anabaptists of our day; and our efforts are not entirely in vain. The trouble is there are many who refuse to be instructed. They will not listen to reason; they will not listen to the Scriptures, because they are bewitched by the tricky devil who can make a lie look like the truth. Since the devil has this uncanny ability to make us believe a lie until we would swear a thousand times it were the truth, we must not be proud but walk in fear and humility, and call upon the Lord Jesus to save us from temptation.

Although I am a doctor of divinity, and have preached Christ and fought His battles for a long time, I know from personal experience how difficult it is to hold fast to the truth. I cannot always shake off Satan. I cannot always apprehend Christ as the Scriptures portray Him. Sometimes the devil distorts Christ to my vision. But thanks be to God, who keeps us in His Word, in faith, and in prayer.

MARTIN LUTHER

Hange ko Paula, ‘oku tau fa’a fepaki ‘i he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua mo e ngaahi tui kehekehe; pea hange ai ‘oku kulanoa ‘etau ngaue.  Ko e palopalema, he ‘oku tokolahi ‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘ikai te nau loto ke akonaki’i kinautolu.  ‘Oku ‘ikai te nau fie fanongo ki ha fakamatala fakapoto; pea ‘ikai tenau fie fanongo ki he Folofola, he kuo fakahee’i kinautolu ‘e he tevolo ‘o nau tala ‘a e mo’oni ko e loi.  ‘Oku potopoto’i ‘a e tevolo ‘i hono lohiaki’i kitautolu ketau tui ki he’ene loi ‘o tau pau’ia ai pe ko e mo’oni ia.  Kuo pau ketau ma’u ‘a e loto fakatokilalo mo e ‘apasia ketau ui ki he ‘Eiki ko Sisu Kalaisi ke ne fakahaofi kitautolu mei he fakatauele ‘a e fili.

Pea neongo te u ma’u ha’aku mata’itohi ‘i he Tohitapu, pea u malanga’i ‘a Kalaisi o lauta’u, ka ‘oku kei faingata’a pe ke u pukema’u ki he mo’oni.  Ko e fili ‘oku takaofi ma’u pe.  ‘Oku ‘ikai te u lava ‘i hoku ivi fakaetangata ke u pukema’u kia Kalaisi ‘o fakatatau ki he Folofola.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e taimi ‘oku fakanenefu ‘e he tevolo ‘a e ‘imisi ‘o Kalaisi kiate au.  Kae fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua, he ko ia pe ‘oku ne pukepuke kitautolu ‘i he’ene Folofola ‘i he tui pea ‘i he lotu lilo.

Tokonaki Fepueli 26, 2022

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL

KO E LAO´ MO E KOOSIPELI´

HEBREWS 1:1-2

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

HEPELŪ 1:1-2

NA‘E fakakongokonga mo anga kehekehe ‘a e fai mu‘a ‘e he ‘Otua ‘ene folofola ki he Mātu‘a ‘i he kau Palōfita, ka ‘i he faka‘osi ‘o ono‘aho na‘a ne folofola kiate kitautolu ‘i ha ‘Alo; 2‘a e Toko Taha na‘a ne tu‘utu‘uni ko e ‘ea ‘e ‘o‘ona ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē, ‘a ia foki na‘e fou ai ‘ene ngaohi ‘a e ngaahi ‘univeesi;

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The majority of men, blinded by the just judgement of God, have indeed never seriously considered what curse the Law subjects us to, nor why it has been ordained by God. And, as for the Gospel, they have nearly always thought that it was nothing other than a second Law, more perfect than the first. From this has come the erroneous distinction between precept and advice; there has followed, little by little, the total ruin of the benefit of Jesus Christ.

Now, we must besides consider these things. The Law and the Gospel have in common that they are both from the one true God, always consistent with Himself (Heb 1:1-2). We must not therefore think that the Gospel abolishes the essence of the Law. On the contrary, the Law establishes the essence of the Gospel (Rom 10:2-4). For both set before us the same God and the essence of the same righteousness (Rom 3:31), which resides in perfect love to God and our neighbour.

THEODORE BEZA

Ko e tokolahi ‘o e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata, kuo fakakuihi ‘e he fakamaau ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘ikai te nau fifili ki he mala’ia ‘oku nau tofanga ai koe’uhi ko e lao pea mo e tu’utu’uni ‘a e ‘Otua.  Pea ‘i he’ene fekau’aki mo e kosipeli, ‘oku nau pehe pe ko hano fakafo’ou pe ia ‘o e lao, ‘o leleiange ‘i he ‘uluaki.  Pea ‘oku tafe mei heni ‘a e tui hala hono fakafaikehekehe’i ‘o e lao pea mo e fale’i; pea mei heni ‘a e tohala ‘a e tokolahi mei he’enau a’usia ‘a e fakakoloa ‘o Sisu Kalaisi. 

Te tau vakai ki he me’a ni.  Ko e lao mo e kosipeli ‘oku na tatau, he ‘oku na fou loua mei he ‘Otua mo’oni, pea ‘oku ma’uma’uluta mo pau (Hepelu 1:1-2).  ‘Oku ‘ikai ke fakata’e’aonga’i ‘e he kosipeli ‘a e lao.  Ka ‘oku hoko ‘a e lao ko e makatu’unga ia mo e uho ‘o e kosipeli (Loma 10:2-4).  ‘Oku ‘omi loua ‘e he ongome’a ni ‘a e ‘Otua tatau pea mo e natula ‘o ‘ene ma’oni’oni (Loma 3:31), pea ‘oku fa’oaki ai ‘a e ‘ofa haohaoa ki he ‘Otua pea mo hotau kaunga’api.

Falaite Fepueli 25, 2022 

THE AROMA OF CHRIST

KO E NGANGATU ‘O KALAISI

2 CORINTHIANS 2:15

We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishin

2 KOLINITO 2:15

He ko e ngangatu kimautolu ‘o Kalaisi ki he ‘Otua ‘iate kinautolu ‘oku fakatau ki he mo‘ui, mo kinautolu ‘oku fakatau ki mala:

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

We should always read Scripture in this light: we should consider the Word to be as a mirror into which Christ looks down from heaven; and then we, looking into it, see His face reflected as in a glass-darkly, it is true, but still in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing Him as we shall see Him face-to-face.

This volume contains Jesus Christ's letters to us, perfumed by His love. These pages are the garments of our King, and they all smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Scripture is the royal chariot in which Jesus rides, and it is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy Child, Jesus; unroll them and you find your Savior. The quintessence of the Word of God is Christ.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku totonu ke pehe ni ma’u pe ‘a ‘etau lau ‘a e Folofola: ko e Folofola ko e sio’ata ‘oku fofonga hifo ai ‘a Kalaisi mei Langi; pea ko kitautolu ‘i heʻetau vakai hake ki he sio’ata´, ‘oku tau mamata ai ki hono fofonga, neongo ‘oku ‘ikai ketau ma’u hono kakato´ (he ‘oku kei nenefu pe ‘etau sio´), ka ‘oku tau kei ma’u ‘a e tapuaki ‘o ‘etau mamata kiate Ia ‘i taimi ka te tau toki mamata kiate Ia ‘i hono tu’unga kakato´ ‘i he ‘aho ko ēe´, mata-ki he mata.

Ko e voliume ‘oku tau ma’u ko ‘eni, ‘i he ngaahi tohi ‘a Sisu Kalaisi kiate kitautolu, pea ‘oku manongi mo ‘alaha mai ai ‘a ‘ene ‘ofa.  Ko hono ngaahi peesi ko e ngaahi kofu ia ‘a hotau Tu’i, pea ‘oku ‘alaha ‘i he mula, mo e ‘aloe, mo e kasia.  Ko e Folofola ko e saliote fakatu’i ‘oku heka mai ai ‘a Sisu, pea ‘oku tanu’aki ia ‘a e ‘ofa mei he ngaahi ‘ofefine ‘o Selusalema.  Ko e Folofola ko e kofu fakatamasi’i valevale ‘o e ki’i valevale haohaoa ‘o Petelihema; folofolahi hake ia pea te ke ‘ilo ai ‘a e fakamo’ui.  Ko e uho fungani ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ko Sisu Kalaisi.

Tu’apulelulu Fepueli 24, 2022 

THE WORD OF LIFE

KO E FOLOFOLA ‘O E MO‘UI

JOHN 1:4

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

SIONE 1:4

‘Ilonga ha me‘a kuo hoko mai na‘e nofo ‘i he toko taha ko ia ko e mo‘ui; pea ko e mo‘ui ko ia ‘a e maama ‘a e tangata

 

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Just as the word life was interpreted differently from the meaning intended by the Evangelist, so was also the word light. There has been much foolish speculation as to how the Word of God in its divinity could be a light, which naturally shines and has always given light to the minds of men even among the heathen. Therefore the light of reason has been emphasized and based upon this passage of Scripture. These are all human, Platonic, and philosophical thoughts, which lead us away from Christ into ourselves; but the Evangelist wishes to lead us away from ourselves into Christ.

For he would not deal with the divine, almighty, and eternal Word of God, nor speak of it, otherwise than as flesh and blood that sojourned upon earth. He would not have us diffuse our thoughts among the creatures which He has created, so as to pursue Him, search for Him, and speculate about Him as the Platonic philosophers do; but he wishes to lead us away from Those vague and high-flown thoughts and bring us together in Christ.

MARTIN LUTHER

Hange pe ko hono fakatonulea’i ‘o e ‘uhinga ‘o e fo’ilea “mo’ui” ‘o kehekehe ‘i hono ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Evangelioo´ (Sione), ‘oku tatau pe mo hono ngaue’aki ‘o e “maama”.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi fifili noa’ia fekau’aki mo e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o taku ko e maama´, ‘oku pehe ‘oku ulo mo fakamaama ‘a e ‘atamai ‘a e tangata´ ‘o a’u pe ki he kau Hiteni´ (kau taʻelotu)  ‘Oku faka’uhinga’i leva ‘e he tokolahi ‘a e maama ‘oku ma’u ‘e he tangata´ ‘o makatu’unga ‘i he potu tohi ko ‘eni.  Ka ko e maama ‘o e ‘ilo fakaetangata´ mo e ngaahi poto fakafilosefa´, ‘oku nau tataki kitautolu meia Kalaisi ‘o ‘omi ki he kita´; ka ko e taumu’a ‘a e ‘Evangelio´ ke tataki kitautolu mei hotau kita´ ke hanga kia Kalaisi.

Kapau na’e ‘uhinga pe eni ki he maama fakaetangata, na’e ‘ikai ke to ‘a e fakamamafa ‘a Sione´ ‘i he ngaahi me’a fakalangi, mo lau’itaniti fekau’aki mo e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘E ‘ikai te ne fakamamafa’i ‘a e fekumi ki he ‘Otua ‘o makatu’unga ‘i he ‘ilo faka’atamai pe kiate Ia ‘o fakatupu ai ‘a e ‘afungi ki he tangata; ka na’a ne faka’amu ‘e to’o ‘a e faka’uhinga fakaetangta ka ke ‘omi kitautolu ki he ngaahi mo’oni te tau taha ai mo Kalaisi.

Puelulu Fepueli 23, 2022

WAITING OUT THE PROMISES

TATALI KI HE‘ENE NGAAHI PALOMESI

HABAKKUK 2:3

"The revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of an end and will not prove false."

HAPAKUKI 2:3

He ‘oku sio ‘a e vīsone ki ha taimi atu kuo tu‘utu‘uni, pea ‘oku holi ia ke a‘u, pea ‘e ‘ikai loi: kapau ‘oku ngali tuai, piki pē ki ai; he kuo pau te ne ha‘u: ‘e ‘ikai tuai.

 

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On the whole,how necessary the reinforcements of hope are to establish faith will be better appear if we reflect on the numerous forms of temptation by which those who have embraced the Word of God are assailed and shaken. First, the Lord often keeps us in suspense, by delaying the fulfillment of His promises much longer than we could wish. Here the office of hope is to perform what the prophet enjoins, “Though it tarry, wait for it" (Habakkuk 2:3). Here there is still greater necessity for the aid of hope, that we may be able to say with another prophet, “I will wait upon the LORD that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him” (Isaiah 8:17).

On account of this connection and affinity Scripture sometimes confounds the two terms faith and hope. For when Peter says that we are "kept by the power of God through faith until salvation, ready to be revealed in the last times” (1 Peter 1:5), he attributes to faith what more properly belongs to hope. And not without cause, since we have already shown that hope is nothing else than the food and strength of faith.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku mahu’inga ‘a e fakava’e totonu ‘a ‘etau ‘amanaki ki hono langa hake ‘etau tui koe’uhi ko e ngaahi fakatanga ‘oku fai ke ne lulu’i ‘a e piki ‘a e kalisitiane ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Uluaki pe, ‘oku fa’a fakatatali ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a ‘ene fakaai ‘ene ngaahi palomesi ki he’ene kakai.  Pea ko e mahu’inga eni ‘o e ‘amanaki ki he kalisitiane ‘o hange ko e lau ‘a e palofita, “he ‘oku sio ‘a e visone ki ha taimi atu kuo tu’utu’uni, pea ‘oku holi ia ke a’u, pea ‘ikai ke loi:  kapau ‘oku ngali tuai, piki pe ki ai; he kuo pau ke ne ha’u; ‘e ‘ikai tuai” (Hapakuki 2:3).  ‘Io ko e mahu’inga eni ‘o e mo’ui ‘amanaki, ketau lea fakataha mo e palofita, “kau tatali ‘e au kia Sihova, ‘a ia ‘oku ne fufu hono fofonga mei he fale ‘o Sekope ‘oku fakatu’a kiate ia” (‘Aisea 8:17). 

‘I he fekau’aki mo e mo’oni ko ia, ‘oku fa’a fetaiaki ‘e he Folofola ‘a e tui mo e ‘amanaki.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku pehe ai ‘e Pita, “’a kimoutolu ‘oku le’ohia, he kapui ‘e he mafimafi ‘a e ‘Otua ko e me’a ‘i he tui, ke lava’i ‘a e fakamo’ui ‘a ia kuo ‘osi sauna ke fakae’a mai ‘i he kuonga fakamui” (1 Pita 1:5), ‘oku ne ngaue’aki ‘a e tui, ka ‘e tonu ange ‘a hono ngaue’aki ‘a e ‘amanaki.  Kae hange ko e me’a na’a tau ‘osi lave ki ai, ‘oku kei tonu pe ia he ko e ‘amanaki ko e me’atokoni ia ‘oku ne fakaivia ‘a e tui.

Tusite Fepueli 22, 2022 

THE PRECEDENCE OF DOCTRINE

KO E FUNGANI ‘O E TOKĀTELINE

2 CORINTHIANS 2:17

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.

2 KOLINITO 2:17

He tala‘ehai ko ‘emau anga ke hangē ko e tokolahi ke hu‘i ‘a e folofola ‘a e ‘Otua: kaekehe, ko e anga ‘o ‘emau lea ‘ia Kalaisi, ko e lea ‘a ha taha ‘oku loto hanga taha, ko e lea ‘a ha taha ‘oku ha‘u tonu mei he ‘Otua, ko e mātu‘aki lea ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Small faults grow into big faults. To tolerate a trifling error inevitably leads to crass heresy. The doctrine of the Bible is not ours to take or to allow liberties with. We have no right to change even a tittle of it. When it comes to life, we are ready to do, to suffer, to forgive anything our opponents demand as long as faith and doctrine remain pure and uncorrupt.

The apostle James says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” This passage supports us over against our critics, who claim that we disregard all charity to the great injury of the churches. We protest we desire nothing more than peace with all men. The pure doctrine takes precedence before charity, apostles, or an angel from heaven. Let others praise charity and concord to the skies; we magnify the authority of the Word and faith. Charity may be neglected at times without peril, but not the Word and faith. If we do not love God and His Word, what difference does it make if we love anything at all?

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e ngaahi fehalaaki iiki´ ‘oku nau fakatupu ha fehālaaki ‘oku toe lahi ange.  Kapau te tau ta’e tokanga ki ha fehālaaki si’i ‘e iku ‘o ne fakatupu ha’atau ta’e tokanga ki ha tokateline fakahē ‘oku toe lahi ange.  Ko e tokateline ‘o e Tohitapu ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a si’i ketau ta’etokanga ki ai.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha’atau totonu ke liliu ha me’a mei ai.  ‘I he’etau mo’ui faka’aho, ‘oku malava pe ketau kataki’i mo fakamolemole’i ha me’a ‘e fakafepaki’i’aki kitautolu ‘e ha taha, kae’oua pe ko ha me’a te ne fakafepaki’i ‘etau tui mo e tokateline haohaoa ‘oku tau tu’u ai.

‘Oku talamai ‘e he ‘apositolo ko Semisi, “he ko ia kuo ne tauhi hono kotoa ‘o e lao, ka ne humu ‘i ha me’a ‘e taha, kuo ne mo’ua ki hono kotoa” (Semisi 2:10).  Ko e potutohi eni ‘oku ne malu’i kitautolu mei he kau fakaanga ‘oku nau pehe ‘oku ‘ikai ketau tokanga ki he ‘ofa.  Ka ‘oku tau tokana ke nofo melino mo e tokotaha kotoa.  Ka ‘i he taimi tatau ‘oku tau feinga ke malu’i ‘a e tokateline ‘oku mo’oni mo haohaoa, ‘o tatau ai pe  ‘e toe ha’u ha palofita, ‘apositolo, pe ko ha ‘angelo mei langi mo ha toe tokateline kehe.  Tuku ki he kakai ‘o mamani ke nau fakalangilangi’i ‘a e ‘ofa mo e tauhi vā ke tau ki langi; ‘oku tau fakahikihiki’i mo fakalangilangi’i ‘e kitautolu ‘a e mafai ‘o e Folofola pea mo e tui mo’oni.  ‘Oku malava pe ketau li’aki ‘a e ‘ofa mo e tauhi vā pea ‘e ‘ikai ketau mala’ia ai, ka ‘okapau te tau fakalahi pe to’o ha me’a mei he Folofola, ko e mala’ia ia.  Kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ketau ‘ofa ki he ‘Otua mo ‘ene Folofola, ko e ha hano ‘aonga ketau ‘ofa ki ha me’a kehe.

Monite Fepueli 21, 2022

TAUGHT OF THE LORD

AKONEKINA ‘E HE ‘OTUA

DANIEL 11:32 ESV

The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

TANIELA 11:32

Pea ko kinautolu ‘oku hia ki he Kovinānite te ne fakatafoki ‘aki ‘ene ngaahi fakalai; ka ko e kakai ‘oku ‘ilo ‘a honau ‘Otua te nau mālohi pea fai me‘a.

PAAKI ‘A UESI

ka e malohi akinautolu ‘oku ‘ilo ho nau ‘Otua, bea te nau fai me‘a lahi.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge, and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith.

Knowledge strengthens love as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love Him; we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know at least in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what He has done for us, and what He is doing now, we cannot love Him much; but the more we know Him, the more we shall love Him.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e kalisitiane kotoa pe ‘oku ne mahino’i ko e ‘ilo ki he ‘Otua ko e maama ma’olunga taha ia ‘o e ‘ilo ‘a e tangata, pea ko e ‘ilo fakalaumālie ko ‘eni ko e fauniteni ia ‘o e ivi ‘o e kalisitiane.  ‘Oku malohi ai ‘a ‘ene tui.  Ko e kau kalisitiane, ko e kakai ‘oku fakamaama mo akonekina ‘e he ‘Eiki, ‘o fakatatau ki he Folofola; ‘oku lea ‘a e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni kiate kinautolu, pea ‘oku tataki kinautolu ‘e he Laumālie, pea ‘oku fai kotoa eni ke tupulaki ai ‘enau tui. 

Ko e ‘ilo, ‘oku ne fakaivia ‘a e ‘ofa pea mo e tui ‘i he mo’ui ‘a e kalisitiane.  ‘Oku fakaava ‘e he ‘ilo ‘a e matapa, pea ‘oku fou ‘i he matapa ko ia ‘a ‘etau  mamata ai ki hotau Fakamo’ui.  ‘I hono toe fakalea ‘e taha, ko e ‘ilo ‘oku ne ta valivali ‘a e ‘ata ‘o Sisu, pea ‘i he’etau mamata ki he ‘ata ko ia, ‘oku ne fakalanga ‘iate kitautolu ‘a e ‘ofa kiate Ia; ‘oku ‘ikai malava ketau hohoi mo ‘ofa ki ha Kalaisi ‘oku ‘ikai ketau ‘ilo ki ai.  Kapau ‘oku si’i ‘etau ‘ilo ki he fungani mo e lelei lahi ‘o Sisu, mo e ngaue kaāfakafa kuo ne fai ma’a kitautolu, mo e ngaue ‘oku ne fai ‘i he taimi lolotonga, ‘oku ‘ikai ke malava ketau ‘ofa kiate Ia; ko e lahiange ‘etau ‘ilo kiate Ia, ko e lahi ange ia ‘etau ‘ofa kiate Ia.

Sapate Fepueli 20, 2022

THE WORD SATISFIES

‘OKU FAKAMAKONA ‘A E FOLOFOLA

PSALM 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect: the LORD's word is flawless.

SAAME 18:30

Ko e me‘a ki he ‘Otua–ko hono ‘alunga ‘oku haohaoa: Ko e folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kuo ‘osi-‘a-sivi ia; Ko e fakaū ia ki he kakai ‘oku hūfanga kiate ia.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Angels being the ministers appointed to execute the commands of God must, of course, be admitted to be His creatures, but to stir up questions concerning the time or order in which they were created' bespeaks more perverseness than industry. Moses relates that the heavens and the earth were finished, with all their host; what avails it anxiously to inquire at what time other more hidden celestial hosts than the stars and planets also began to be?

Not to dwell on this, let us here remember that on the whole subject of religion one rule of modesty and soberness is to be observed, and it is this, in obscure matters not to speak or think, or even long to know, more than the Word of God has delivered. A second rule is that in reading the Scriptures we should constantly direct our inquiries and meditations to those things which tend to edification, not indulge in curiosity, or in studying things of no use. And since the Lord has been pleased to instruct us, not in frivolous questions, but in solid piety, in the fear of his name, in true faith, and the duties of holiness, let us rest satisfied with such knowledge.

JOHN CALVIN

‘I he’ene fekau’aki mo e kau ‘angelo, ko e kau talafekau ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ko ‘ene fakatupu ‘a kinautolu, ka ko hono toe fakafehu’i ‘a e taimi na’e fakatupu ai kinautolu ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘aonga ia kia kitautolu.  ‘Oku fakamatala pe ‘e Mosese fekau’aki pea mo e ngaahi langi mo mamani ‘ene kakato ‘a hono fakatupu mo hono ngaahi naunau; ka ‘oku ‘ikai ketau ma’u ha fakaikiiki ‘o e fakatupu ‘o e ngaahi hoosite ‘o langi ‘o mavahe mei he ngaahi fetu’u mo e ngaahi palanite.

‘Oku taau ke tau manatu, ko e kaveinga ‘o e lotu ‘oku fiema’u ketau ma’u ‘a e loto angavaivai mo matu’aki tokanga ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku tala ‘e he Folofola, tautefito ki he ngaahi kaveinga ‘oku fufuu ‘e he ‘Otua meiate kitautolu ke ‘oua te tau toe vivili ki he ngaahi me’a ‘o makehe atu mei he maama kuo ‘osi ‘omi ‘e he ‘Otua ma’a kitautolu.  Ko e lao hono ua fekau’aki mo e lau ‘a e Folofola, ke tataki ‘etau tokanga mo ‘etau fakalaulauloto ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku ne langa hake kitautolu ‘o ‘ikai ko e ngaahi me’a noa’ia ‘oku fa’a fifili ki ai ‘a e tangata ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘aonga kiate ia.  Pea koe’uhi kuo finangalo lelei ‘a e ‘Otua ke ne ako’i kitautolu, fekau’aki mo e lotu mo’oni, pea ketau takaofi kiate Ia ‘i he ‘apasia, mo e tui ‘oku mo’oni, mo e mo’ui ma’oni’oni, tuku ke makona hotau laumālie ‘i he ‘ilo ‘o e ngaahi mo’oni ko ia.

Tokonaki Fepueli 19, 2022 

MEDITATE ON THE WORD

FAKALAULAULOTO ‘I HE FOLOFOLA

PSALM 1:1-2

Blessed is the one ... whose delight is in the law of the LORD

SAAME 1:1-2

MONŪ‘IA Ā, ka ko e tangata ko ē, Kuo ‘ikai fou ‘i he fakakaukau ‘a e faka‘otuamate, Pe tu‘u ‘i he hala ‘o e kau faikovi, Pe nofo ‘i he nofo‘anga ‘o ha‘a manuki: Ka ko e Lao ‘a Sihova ‘a ‘ene manako, ‘Io, ‘i he lao ‘o‘ona ‘oku ne fakalaulauloto ‘aho mo e pō

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Study the Bible, dear brethren, through and through, with all helps that you can possibly obtain. Remember that the appliances now within the reach of ordinary Christians are much more extensive than they were in our fathers' days, and therefore you must be greater biblical scholars if you would keep in front of your hearers. Intermeddle with all knowledge, but, above all things, meditate day and night in the law of the Lord.

Be well instructed in theology, and do not regard the sneers of those who rail at it because they are ignorant of it. Many preachers are not theologians, and hence the mistakes which they make. It cannot do any hurt to the most lively evangelist to be also a sound theologian, and it may often be the means of saving him from gross blunders.

Had ſour fathers] been able to compare spiritual things with spiritual, had they understood the analogy of the faith, and had they been acquainted with the holy learning of the great Bible students of past ages, they would not have been quite so fast in vaunting their marvelous knowledge.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ako ‘a e Folofola, si’i kainga, ‘ilo kanokato ki ai, ngaue’aki ‘a e ngaahi tohi huluhulu kotoa ke tokoni kiate koe. Manatu‘i ‘oku mahulu hake ‘a e ngaahi fakamaama mo e ngaahi tohi tokoni ki he Folofola, ‘oku ‘ataa ki ai ‘a e kalisitiane he ngaahi ‘aho ni, ‘o fakatatau ki ono’aho. Pea ‘i he’ene pehee, kuopau ke ke hoko ko ha taukei ‘i he Folofola kapau te ke hoko ko ha fakamo’oni ‘a Sisu. Ako ki he ngaahi mo’oni kehekehe, kae mahulu hake ho’o fakalaulauloto ‘aho mo e po ki he ngaahi lao ‘a Sihova.

Ako ke ke ‘ilo lelei ki he ngaahi tokateline, pea ‘oua te ke tokanga ki he kau fakalotosi’i atu kau ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku ‘ikai te nau ‘ilo ki ai. ‘Oku tokolahi ‘a e kau malanga ‘oku ‘ikai te nau faka’ile’ila ki he teolosia, pea ko e vaivai pe ia ‘anautolu. ‘E ‘ikai ke kau kovi ki he kau malanga ‘evangelioo, kapau te nau toe ako ke fekefeka ‘enau tui fakatokateline, ke nau hao ai mei ha ngaahi palopalema faka-tokateline te nau to ki ai.