ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Falaite ‘Epeleli 8, 2022

FAITH IS OUR SHIELD

KO E TUI KO HOTAU PĀ

EPHESIANS 6:16

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

‘EFESO 6:16

kae‘uma‘ā kuo mou to‘o ‘a e pā ko e tui, ‘a ia te mou lava ‘aki ke tāmate‘i ‘a e ngaahi ngahau vela kotoa pē ‘a e fili.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

The truth is that unbelief reigns not in the hearts of believers, but only assails them from without; does not wound them mortally with its darts, but annoys them, or, at the utmost, gives them a wound which can be healed. Faith, as Paul declares, is our shield, which receiving these darts, either wards them off entirely, or at least breaks their force and prevents them from reaching the vitals. Hence when faith is shaken, it is just as when, by the violent blow of a javelin, a soldier standing firm is forced to step back and yield a little; and again when faith is wounded, it is as if the shield were pierced, but not perforated by the blow.

The pious mind will always rise, and be able to say with David, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4). Since the prevailing thought is that God is present and providing for ſour] safety, the feeling of security overcomes that of fear.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko hono mo’oni, ko e ta’etui, ‘oku ‘ikai nofo ‘i he loto ‘o e kakai tui, ka ‘oku fai tau mei tu’a; ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakalavea ‘a e laumalie ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi ngahau, ka ko e fakafe’atungia pe - pea ka fakalavea, ‘e toe iku pe ‘o mo’ui. Ko e TUI, fakatatau ki he lau ‘a Paula, ko hotau PA, pea ‘i he hoko mai ‘a e ngaahi ngahau, ‘oku ne tali teke’i, pea ka ‘ikai, ‘oku ne pale’i mo holoki ‘a e malohi ‘o ‘ene hoko mai pea malu’i foki mei he ngaahi ‘okani pelepelengesi. Ko ia ai, ‘i he taimi ‘oku ngalulu ai ‘a e tui, ‘oku hange pe ia ha fu’u tao ‘oku velohi ‘aki ha sotia, pea ne ki’i holomui ke kalofi. ‘I he founga tatau, ka lavea ‘a e tui, ‘oku hange pe ia ha fu’u pa kuo hoka’i, ka ‘oku ‘ikai laiki ‘e he malohi ‘o e ngahau.

Ko e loto ‘o e tangata lotu, ‘oku ne tu’u hake mo lea fakataha mo Tevita, ‘Io, neongo ‘ete ‘alu pē ‘I he tele‘a ‘oku malu‘aki ai ‘a Mate, ‘E ‘ikai te u manavahē ki ha kovi; He ko koe ‘oku ma feohi” (Saame 23:4). Pea koe’uhi ‘oku ‘i heni ‘a Sihova pea ne fai hotau malu’i, ‘oku tau ma’u ai pe mo e pau’ia ‘a ‘etau ikuna’i ‘a e loto ilifia.