Monite ‘Okatopa 31, 2022

THE GLORY OF HAPPINESS

KO E LANGILANGI ‘O E MO’UI FIEFIA

PHILIPPIANS 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

FILIPAI 4:4

Mou fiefia ‘i he ‘Eiki ma‘u ai pē: ‘io, ka u toe ‘ai atu, Mou fiefia.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

Part of God's fulness which He communicates is His happiness. This happiness consists in enjoying and rejoicing in Himself, and so does also the creature's happiness. It is a participation of what is in God, and God and His glory are the objective ground of it. The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted.

Joy, or the exulting of the heart in God's glory, is one thing that belongs to praise. So that God is all in all, with respect to each part of that communication of the divine fulness which is made to the creature. What is communicated is divine, or something of God; and each communication is of that nature that the creature to whom it is made is thereby conformed to God and united to Him, and that in proportion as the communication is greater or less. And the communication itself is no other, in the very nature of it, than that wherein the very honour, exaltation, and praise of God consists.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e tapa ‘o e tu’unga kakato ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ne fakahā mai kiate kitautolu ‘o ‘ene fiefia.  Ko e fiefia ko eni ko e lato mo’oni ‘a e mo’ui mo fiemālie ‘iate Ia tokotaha pe, ‘io ko e makatu’unga ia ‘o ‘ene fiefia.  Ko ‘ete kau fakataha mo e ‘Otua ‘iate Ia, pea ko e ‘Otua mo hono langilangi, ko e kaveinga pe ia ‘e taha ‘oku te tulia.  Ko e fiefia ‘a e tangata ‘oku makatu’unga ia ‘i he’ete fiefia ‘i he ‘Otua, he ‘oku ne hanga ke fakahikihiki’i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he’ene me’a kotoa pe.

Ko e fiefia, pe ko e fakahikihiki’i ‘e he loto ‘a e ‘Otua ki hono langilangi, ko e me’a ia ‘e taha ‘oku ma’u ‘i he fakafeta’i.  Koe’uhi ko e ‘Otua ‘a e me’a kotoa, ‘o fekau’aki mo ‘ene tapa mai kiate kitautolu ‘i hono tu’unga kakato faka’Otua.  Ko ‘ene tapa mai kiate kitautolu, ko e a’u mai ia ‘a e ‘Otua mo hono uho’i ‘Otua kiate kitautolu; pea ko e konga kotoa pe ‘oku lave mai ai ‘a e natula ‘o e ‘Otua ki he tangata, ‘oku ne liliu ‘a e tangata ki he ‘ulungaanga faka’Otua.  ‘Oku ne taha mo e ‘Otua ‘i he ‘ulungaanga ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku ne ala mai ai kiate ia.  Ko e fetu’utaki mai ‘a e ‘Otua ki he tangata ‘oku tuha pe ia pea mo e natula ‘o e langilangi mo e fakahikihiki ‘oku ne ha’iha’i ‘a e fakafeta’i ‘oku fai ‘e he kakai ‘a e ‘Otua ki honau Hau langilangi’ia.

Sapate ‘Okatopa 30, 2022

HOLY WONDER

OFOOFO TOPUTAPU

PSALM 104:1

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

SAAME 104:1

FAKAFETA‘I kia Sihova ē, ‘A hoku laumālie. Sihova ko hoku ‘Otua, ‘oku ke mā‘olunga faufau; Ko e ngeia mo e lāngilangi ‘a ho kofu.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very difficult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship, for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God's glory, though it may not express itself in song or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshiped as "the Wonderful."

That God should consider His fallen creature, man, and instead of sweeping Him away with the besom of destruction, should Himself undertake to be man's Redeemer and to pay his ransom price, is indeed marvellous! But to each believer redemption is most marvellous as he views it in relation to himself. It is a miracle of grace indeed that Jesus should forsake the thrones and royalties above to suffer ignominiously below for you. Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘E ‘ikai tuku ‘etau ofo ‘i he mafi ‘o e ‘Otua.  ‘E faingata’a ketau fakafaikehekehe’i ‘a e ofoofo ‘a e mo’ui pea mo e lotu mo’oni, he ko e laumālie ‘oku kāpui ‘e he masani ‘o e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘e ‘ikai ke hiva pe punou ia ‘o lotu, ka ‘oku tu’u fakalongo ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e mafimafi ko ia.  Ko hotau ‘Otua kuo hoko ‘o kakano ‘oku taau ketau hū kiate Ia ko e tumutumu ia ‘o e lelei kotoa pe.

Ko hono ‘ofa’i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e me’a fakatupu kuo hinga (tangata) na’e ‘ikai te ne faka’auha ai leva, ka ne huhu’i ia ‘aki ha totongi mā’ongo’onga, ko ha ngaue fakaofo fau mo’oni.   Kā ki he tokotaha tui kotoa pe, ko hono huhu’i ko e ngaue fakaofo mo lahitaha ia ‘i he’ene mo’ui.  Ko e mana mo e kelesi ‘a e li’aki ‘e Sisu ‘a hono talani mo hono langilangi ka ne tali ke falengamamahi koe’uhi ko kitaua.  Tukuange ho laumālie ke tēkina ‘i he fakaofo ko ia, he ko e mo’ui ofoofo ko ha ongo  ‘oku ofi kiate kitautolu.  Ko ‘ete ofo ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku ne tataki ai kita ke hū kiate Ia mo e loto hounga’ia mei he laumālie ‘o e fakafeta’i.

Tokonaki ‘Okatopa 29, 2022

EMANATION OF PERFECTION

TAPA MAI ‘A ‘ENE HAOHAOA

PSALM 36:9

With you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

SAAME 36:9

He ko e matavai ‘o e mo‘ui ‘oku ‘i he ‘Afiona: ‘I ho‘o maama te mau sio maama.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

As there is an infinite fulness of all possible good in God-a fulness of every perfection, of all excellency and beauty, and of infinite happiness and as this fulness is capable of communication, or emanation outward; so it seems a thing amiable and valuable in itself that this infinite fountain of good should send forth abundant streams.

And as this is in itself excellent, so a disposition to this in the divine Being must be looked upon as an excellent disposition. Such an emanation of good is, in some sense, a multiplication of it. And if the fulness of good that is in the fountain is in itself excellent, then the emanation is excellent.

Thus it is fit, since there is an infinite fountain of light and knowledge, that this light should shine forth in beams of communicated knowledge and understanding; and, as there is an infinite fountain of holiness, moral excellence, and beauty, that so it should flow out in communicated holiness. And that, as there is an infinite fulness of joy and happiness, so these should have an emanation, and become a fountain flowing out in abundant streams, as beams from the sun.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e lelei ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ta’efakangatangata – ‘oku kakato ‘a ‘ene haohaoa, mo e lelei mo e masani kotoa, pea mo e fiefia ‘oku ta’efakangatangata – pea ko e tu’unga kakato ko ‘eni ‘oku malava ke fakatafe ke hā kitu’a; pea kapau ko ia ko e fauniteni ta’efakangatangata ko eni ‘oku taau ke tafe atu hono ngaahi matavai.

Ko e ngaahi ‘ulungaanga lelei ko ‘eni ‘oku tafe mei he ‘Otua ‘oku faka’ofo’ofa mo lelei lahi.  Ko hono fakahoko ‘o e lelei ko ‘eni ‘oku fou ‘ia ‘i he mo’ui ‘oku tupulaki.  Pea kapau ‘oku lelei ‘a e kakato ‘a e fauniteni ko eni ‘iate ia pe, pea ‘oku pehe foki pea mo e lelei ‘a e taimi ‘oku tafe atu ai ki he ‘ātaki.

‘I he’ene pehē, ko e fauniteni ta’efakangatangata ‘o e maama mo e ‘ilo, ke ulo atu ‘a e maama ko ia ke ne faka’inasi ‘i he ‘ilo pea mo e mahino ke tofuhia ‘a mamani ‘i he fauniteni ‘o e mā’oni’oni, mo’ui taau, faka’ofo’ofa, ke tuha pea mo e mo’ui mā’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e tafe ko eni mei he fauniteni ‘o e fiefia mo e lato, ke nau mapunopuna ‘o ‘inasi ai ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata, ‘o hange ko e huelo ‘o e la’aa.

Falaite ‘Okatopa 28, 2022

A SINGLE PURPOSE

KO E KAVEINGA PE TAHA

ISAIAH 43:10

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before: me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."

‘AISEA 43:10

Ko kimoutolu ‘a e kau fakamo‘oni ‘a‘aku–ko Sihova ia mei he Ta‘ehāmai–mo e sevāniti ‘a‘aku kuo u fili: koe‘uhi ke mou ‘ilo au, mo tui mai, ‘o mahino kiate kimoutolu ko au ia; na‘e ‘ikai ha ‘Otua ‘e fa‘u ‘i mu‘a ‘iate au, pea hili au ‘e ‘ikai.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

When we misuse our Master's property, we are false to our trust. We are entrusted with a certain amount of talent, and strength, and influence, and we have to use this trust-money with a single purpose. Our purpose is to promote the Master's honour and glory. We are to seek God's glory, and nothing else.

By all means, let every man use his best influence on the right side in politics; but no minister has liberty to use his position in the church to promote party ends. I do not censure workers for temperance, but even this admirable movement must not push out the gospel: I trust it never does. I hold that no minister has a right to use his ability or office to cater for the mere amusement of the multitude.

The Master has sent us to win souls: all is within the compass of our commission which tends toward that end; but that is chiefly our work which drives directly and distinctly at that end.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘I he taimi ‘oku tau ngaue hala’aki ai ‘a e koloa ‘a e ‘Eiki, ‘e ‘eke kiate kitautolu ‘a e ngaue ko ia.  Kuo foaki kiate kitautolu ha ngaahi taleniti, mo ha mafai, mo ha faingamalie ke faka’aonga’i ‘a e koloa kuo tuku kiate kitautolu ke fakakakato ‘ene kaveinga.  Ko e kaveinga kuo tuku mai kiate kitautolu ketau talaki ‘a e mafai mo e langilangi ‘a hotau ‘Eiki.  Ko ‘etau taumu’a pe ia, ketau kumi ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘o ‘ikai mo ha toe me’a kehe.

Ketau ngaue’aki ‘a e mafai kotoa pe, pea ketau fai hotau tukuingata ‘i he tapa kotoa ‘o e mo’ui; ketau ngaue ‘aonga’aki ‘a e mafai ‘i he pule’anga mo e siasi ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua.  Ketau talaki ‘a e koosipeli i he mala’e kotoa pe pea ke fai ‘e he kau faifekau honau lelei taha fekau’aki mo honau lakanga tauhi ke nau ngaue tōnunga ma’a e ‘Otua ‘o ‘ikai fakahōhōloto ki he kakai. 

Kuo ‘osi fekau’i kitautolu ‘e he ‘Eiki ketau ma’u Laumālie: ‘oku ha’iha’i kotoa ‘i he fekau lahi ketau ō ki mamani ‘o ngaohi kakai; pea ‘oku fai kotoa eni ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua.

Tu’apulelulu ‘Okatopa 27, 2022

GOD'S GLORY SHOULD BE KNOWN

KE ‘ILOA ‘A E LANGILANGI ‘O E ‘OTUA

PSALM 145:3

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

SAAME 145:3

‘Oku lahi ‘a Sihova, Pea fungani hono fakamālooa; Pea ko hono lahi ‘oku ta‘emahakulea.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

It seems to be a thing in itself fit and desirable that the glorious perfections of God should be known, and the operations and expressions of them seen, by other beings besides Himself. If it be fit that God's power and wisdom, etc., should be exercised and expressed in some effects, then it seems proper that these exercises should appear.

God as perfectly knew Himself and His perfections, had as perfect an idea of the exercises and effects they were sufficient for, antecedently to any such actual operations of them. If, therefore, it be nevertheless a thing in itself valuable and worthy to be desired, that these glorious perfections be actually exhibited in their correspondent effects, then it seems also that the knowledge of these perfections and discoveries is valuable in itself absolutely considered; and that it is desirable that this knowledge should exist. It is a thing infinitely good in itself, that God's glory should be known by a glorious society of created beings.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘Oku tuha mo taau ke fakahaa’i ‘e he kakai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘a e tu’unga haohaoa mo e langilangi’ia ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘a ‘ene ngaahi ngaue ke hā ki mamani, ‘o fai eni ‘i he’ene me’a fakatupu ‘o ‘ikai ke fakahaa’i pe ‘e he ‘Otua ‘iate Ia tokotaha pe ‘oku taau ke fakahaa’i ‘a e ivi mo e poto ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i ha ngaahi founga kehekehe ‘o tuha mo hono mafimafi.

Ko e ‘Otua ‘i hono tu’unga haohaoa mo mā’oni’oni, na’e ‘i ai ‘ene palani haohaoa ke fakahaa’i hono naunau ki mamani.  Ko ia ai ko e fakahā’anga ‘o e langilangi mo e haohaoa ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku fakafou ia ‘i he ola ‘o ‘ene ngaahi ngaue ko ia.  ‘Ikai ko ia pe ka ko e ngaahi ‘ilo loloto fekau’aki mo e naunau ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku taau ke fakae’a.  ‘Io, ko e lelei ta’e fakangatangata ‘a e ‘Otua pea mo hono langilangi ‘oku taau ke fakahā ‘i he kalauni ‘o ‘ene me’a fakatupu ko e tangata.

Pulelulu ‘Okatopa 26, 2022

WHOLLY THE LORD'S

ME‘A KOTOA ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 84:10

For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness.

SAAME 84:10

He ko ha fo‘i ‘aho ‘i ho loto‘ā ‘oku lelei hake ‘I ha afe‘i ‘aho ‘i ha potu ange. Te u fili mu‘a ke u le‘o matapā ‘i he fale ‘o hoku ‘Otua, ‘I ha‘aku nofo ‘i he ngaahi tēniti ‘o e angahala.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

We have a choice between these two: to be eaten up by our corruptions, or by the zeal of God's house. It needs no hesitation; the choice of every man among us is to be wholly the Lord's ardently, passionately, vehemently the Lord's servants, let the divine fervour cost us what it may of brain, and heart, and life. Our only hope of honour, and glory, and immortality lies in the fulfillment of our dedication unto God; as devoted things, we must be consumed with fire, or else be rejected.

For us to turn aside from our life-work and to seek distinction elsewhere is absolute folly; a blight will be upon us, and we shall not succeed in anything but the pursuit of God's glory through the teaching of the Word. "This people have I formed for Myself," saith God; "they shall shew forth My praise"; and if we will not do this, we shall do less than nothing. For this one thing we are created; and if we miss this, we shall live in vain.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku tau fili ‘i he ongome’a ko ‘eni ‘e ua:  Ko hono kāpui kitautolu ‘e he kovi ‘o mamani, pe ko e kumi ‘a e lelei ‘o e fale ‘o e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha toe tāla’a; ko e fili ‘a e tangata kotoa pe ke ‘a e ‘Otua ia – ‘aki hono kotoa, ‘a hono ivi ke ne tauhi ki he ‘Otua, ke hoko ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e ‘Otua ko ha me’a ke ne kāpui hotau ‘atamai, loto, mo e mo’ui.  Ko ‘etau ‘amanaki ki ha lelei, ki ha langilangi, pea mo e kaha’u ko ‘etau fakakakato ‘etau tukupā ke ngaue mateaki ma’a e ‘Otua.  ‘I he’etau fai ‘osikiavelenga ma’a e ‘Otua, kuo pau ketau fai ‘aki hotau kotoa.

Kapau te tau afe mei he ui kuo fai kiate kitautolu ke kumi ha’atau langilangi, ko e muna pe ‘a e feinga ko ia.  ‘E ‘ikai ha ola lelei te tau ma’u ‘i ha me’a te tau fai ‘o kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te tau kumi ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o fou ‘i he’ene Folofola.  “Ko e kakai kuo u ngaohi ma‘aku”, ko e folofola mai ia ‘a e ‘Otua, “te nau ‘a‘au hoku fakamālō” (‘Aisea 43:21). Pea ka ‘ikai ‘a e fo’i ngaue na’e makatu’unga ai hotau fakatupu, ko e muna pe ‘etau mo’ui.  

Tusite ‘Okatopa 25, 2022

TRUE VIRTUE

KO E MO‘UI LOTU MO’ONI

PSALM 34:3

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

SAAME 34:3

Mou kau mo au ke viki ‘a Sihova, Pea tau hākeaki‘i hono huafa fakataha.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe    

It appears that the truly virtuous mind, being as it were under the sovereign dominion of love to God, above all things seeks the glory of God, and makes this his supreme, governing, and ultimate end. This consists in the expression of God's perfections in their proper effects; the manifestation of God's glory to created understandings; the communications of the infinite fulness of God to the creature; the creature's highest esteem of God, love to, and joy in Him; and in the proper exercises and expressions of these.

And so far as a virtuous mind exercises true virtue in benevolence to created beings, it chiefly seeks the good of the creature; consisting in its knowledge or view of God's glory and beauty, its union with God, conformity and love to Him, and joy in Him. And that disposition of heart, that consent, union, or propensity of mind to being in general, which appears chiefly in such exercises, is virtue, truly so called; or in other words, true grace and real holiness. And no other disposition or affection but this is of the nature of true virtue.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘Oku hā mahino mai ko e loto ‘o e tokotaha tui, ‘i he’ene tukulolo kakato ki he pule aoniu ‘a e ‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ne feinga ke fai ‘ene me’a kotoa pe ke langilangi’ia ai ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ko ‘ene kaveinga taupotu taha ia ‘oku fakalele’aki ‘ene mo’ui.  ‘Oku ne fakahaa’i ‘a e mo’oni ko ‘eni ‘i he tapa kotoa ‘o ‘ene mo’ui; ‘oku ne fakahaa’i ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i he tapa kotoa ‘o ‘ene mo’ui; ‘oku hā ai ‘a e kakato ‘o e tokonaki ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he’ene mo’ui; ko e tumutumu ‘o ‘ene mo’ui lotu ki he ‘Otua, ‘ofa mo ‘ene fiefia ‘oku litaula kotoa pe kiate Ia; pea ‘oku ‘ākilotoa ‘a ‘ene me’a kotoa pe ‘i he fakaha’anga ‘o e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua.

‘I he taimi ‘oku nofo ai ‘a e tokotaha lotu mo’oni ke ne tulituli ki he ngaahi mo’oni ko ‘eni, ‘oku ne fai ‘a e me’a ‘oku lelei mo hono kaungā fononga; ‘o makatu’unga ‘i he ‘ilo mo ‘ene vakai ki he langilangi mo e masani ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘a ‘ene taha mo Ia, ‘ene fakaangatatau ia kiate Ia mo ‘ene ‘ofa kiate Ia, pea ‘oku kakato ‘iate Ia ‘a ‘ene fiefia.  Ko e tūkunga mo’ui ko ‘eni, ‘a e fiefia, taha, mo e hu’unga ‘o hono loto, ko e uho eni ‘o e lotu mo’oni; ko hono toe fakalea ‘e taha; ko e kelesi mo’oni eni pea mo e mā’oni’oni ‘oku mo’oni.  ‘Oku ‘ikai mo ha toe to’onga mo’ui te ne fakauoua’i ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e tokotaha kuo ne luva kakato ‘ene mo’ui ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua.

Monite ‘Okatopa 24, 2022 

HIS GLORY CELEBRATED

KATOANGA’I ‘A HONO LANGILANGI

EPHESIANS 1:11-12

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

‘EFESO 1:11-12

‘io, ‘i He‘ene ‘Afio ‘a ia ne fai ‘iate ia foki homau fili mōno tofi‘a, ‘o toka tu‘utu‘uni kimautolu ki ai, ‘o fakatatau ki he finangalo ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia ‘oku ne ngāue‘i ‘a e ngaahi me‘a kotoa pē ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o e fakakaukau ‘o hono finangalo; koe‘uhi ke nofo kimautolu mo‘o fakamālō‘ia ‘ene lāngilangi‘ia, ‘a kimautolu ne falala tōmu‘a kia Kalaisi.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe    

The glory of God may sometimes be concealed, or imperfectly exhibited. But in the Ephesians God had given proofs of His goodness, that His glory might be celebrated and openly proclaimed.

The frequent mention of the glory of God ought not to be regarded as superfluous, for what is infinite cannot be too strongly expressed. This is particularly true in commendations of the divine mercy, for which every godly person will always feel himself unable to find adequate language. He will be more ready to utter, than other men will be to hear, the expression ofpraise; for the eloquence both of men and angels, after being strained to the utmost, falls immeasurably below the vastness of this subject. We may likewise observe that there is not a more effectual method of shutting the mouths of wicked men than by shewing that our views tend to illustrate, and theirs to obscure, the glory of God.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku fa’a fakapuliki meiate kitautolu pea ‘ikai ke fa’a fakae’a mai.  Kā ‘i he ‘ipiseli ki he kakai ‘Efeso, ‘oku ‘omi ‘e he ‘Otua ha ngaahi fakamo’oni ‘o ‘ene ngaahi lelei, koe’uhi ke fakae’ee’a ‘a hono langilangi mo talaki.

Ko hono toutou fakahā ‘o e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a si’i, he ko e ngaahi me’a ‘o ‘Itaniti ‘e ‘ikai fe’unga ‘a hono talaki.  ‘Oku kau heni ‘a hono fakahā mai ‘o ‘ene meesi faka’Otua, ‘a e tapuaki ‘oku ‘ikai fa’a lava ke fakamatala’i ‘e he tangata ‘a e koloa faka’Otua ‘oku ne ‘inasi ai.  ‘Oku ne veekeveke ke kalanga mo tala ‘i he’ene fakafeta’i neongo ‘oku ‘ikai fe’unga ke fakamatala ‘e he tangata pe ko e kau ‘angelo ‘a e ta’efa’alaua mo e kaafakafa ‘a ‘ene failelei.  Ko hono fakafepaki’i ‘o e kau ta’elotu ‘a ‘enau feinga ke faka’ikai’i ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘oku fai’aki pe ia ‘a ‘etau fakahikihiki’i mo tau fakafeta’i ke fakahaa’i ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i he’etau lea mo ‘etau to’onga. 

Sapate ‘Okatopa 23, 2022

A LOVELY HOLINESS

KO E MA’ONI’ONI ‘OKU MASANI

EXODUS 15:11

Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

‘EKISOTO 15:11

Ko hai ‘i he ngaahi ‘otua ‘oku tatau mo koe, ‘e Sihova? Ko hai ‘oku tatau mo koe, ko e lāngilangi‘ia ‘i he mā‘oni‘oni, Ko e manavahē‘ia ‘i he fakamālō, ko e fai me‘a fakaofo?

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

A true sense of the divine and superlative excellency of the things of religion; a real sense of the excellency of God and Jesus Christ, and of the work of redemption, and the ways and works of God revealed in the Gospel: there is a divine and superlative glory in these things; an excellency that is of a vastly higher kind, and more sublime nature, than in other things, a glory greatly distinguishing them from all that is earthly and temporal. He that is spiritually enlightened truly apprehends and sees it, or has a sense of it.

He does not merely rationally believe that God is glorious, but he has a sense of the gloriousness of God in his heart. There is not only a rational belief that God is holy, and that holiness is a good thing, but there is a sense of the loveliness of God's holiness. There is not only a speculatively judging that God is gracious, but a sense how amiable God is on account of the beauty of this divine attribute.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e ngaahi tu’unga ope atu mo faka-‘Otua ‘o e lotu mo’oni; ko ‘ete ‘ilo’i ‘a e faka’ofo’ofa ‘o e ‘Otua pea mo Sisu Kalaisi, pea mo e ngaue ‘o e huhu’i, pea mo e ngaahi founga ‘o e ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku fakaha mai ‘e he kosipeli: ‘oku ‘i ai ha langilangi ‘oku ope atu ‘i he ngaahi me’a ni; ko ha lelei ‘oku makehe atu ‘a hono anga, pea ope atu ‘a hono natula ‘i ha toe me’a, ko ha fa’ahinga langilangi ‘oku ope atu ‘i ha toe me’a ‘i mamani.  Ko ia kuo fakamaama ‘a hono laumālie ‘oku ne mamata ‘o ‘ilo ‘a e ngaahi me’a ni pea ne mahino’i.

‘Oku ‘ikai te ne tui faka’atamai pe ki he langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ka kuo ne a’usia mo’oni ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i hono loto.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha tui faka’atamai pe ‘oku mā’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ko e mā’oni’oni ko ha me’a lelei pe, ka ‘oku ne tofanga ‘i he faka’ofo’ofa ‘o e mā’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i he’ene sivi ‘a e lelei ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne nofoma’u ‘i he faka’ofo’ofa mo e masani ‘o e ngaahi ‘ulungaanga faka’Otua ‘oku ne ‘inasi ai.

Tokonaki ‘Okatopa 22, 2022 

WALK HUMBLY

LAKA MO E ANGAVAIVAI

PSALM 29:2

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

SAAME 29:2

Tuku kia Sihova ‘a e kolōlia ‘o hono huafa; Hū kia Sihova ‘i he teunga tāpuhā.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

God's glory is the result of His nature and acts. He is glorious in His character, for there is such a store of everything that is holy, and good, and lovely in God that He must be glorious. The actions which flow from His character are also glorious; but while He intends that they should manifest to His creatures His goodness, and mercy, and justice, He is equally concerned that the glory associated with them should be given only to Himself. Nor is there aught in ourselves in which we may glory; for who maketh us to differ from another? And what have we that we did not receive from the God of all grace?

Then how careful ought we to be to walk humbly before the Lord! The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the Sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the Man who fashioned it upon the wheel?

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua ko e ola pe ia ‘a hono natula mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaue.  ‘Oku ne langilangi’ia ‘i hono ‘ulungaanga faka-‘Otua, he ‘oku fakatahataha’i ‘iate Ia ‘a e me’a kotoa pe ‘oku haohaoa, lelei, mo faka’ofo’ofa ‘i he ‘Otua tokotaha pe pea ‘oku masani mo langilangi’ia.  Ko e ngaahi ngaue ‘oku tafe mei hono anga faka-‘Otua ‘oku fakalangilangi; pea neongo ko hono finangalo ke tapa mai ‘a e naunau ko ‘eni ‘i he’ene me’a fakatupu koe’uhi ko ‘ene angalelei, mo ‘ene meesi, mo ‘ene fakamaau totonu, ka ‘oku ne toe tokanga ke fakamahino ko e ngaahi langilangi ko ‘eni ‘oku ‘a’ana tokotaha pe ia.  ‘Io ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a ketau polepole ai; pe ko e ha ‘a hotau makehe’anga mei hotau kaungā tangata?  He ko e ha ha me’a kuo tau ma’u?  Na’e ‘ikai foaki mei he ‘Otua koe’uhi ko ‘ene kelesi?

Ko e mahu’inga eni ketau matu’aki laka mo e loto fakatokilalo ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku tau polepole ai ‘i ha me’a kuo tau fai, pea koe’uhi ‘oku taha pe ‘a e tokotaha ke fakalangilangi’i ‘i he ‘univeesi ‘oku tau fakauoua’i ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua taupotu.  ‘E ‘i ai ha ‘inisekite te ne futa’aki ha’ane lelei ‘oku ma’u ‘i ha fo’i houa ‘e taha koe’uhi ko ‘ene ma’u mo’ui mei he la’aa?  ‘E polepole ‘a e ipu ‘o laka hake ‘i he tangata na’a ne ngaohi ia mei he takainga ‘umea?

Falaite ‘Okatopa 21, 2022 

THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

KO E FAKATUPU ‘O E ME’A KOTOA PE

GENESIS 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

SENESI 1:1

‘I he kamata‘anga na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ngaahi langi mo māmani

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe    

This is the fountainhead of my religion, to recognize God as the uncreated Creator of all things, who sole and alone has all things in His power and freely giveth us all things. They therefore overthrow this first foundation of faith who attribute to the creature what is the Creator's alone. For we confess in the creed that it is the Creator in whom we believe. It cannot, therefore, be the creature in whom we should put our trust.

Since we know that God is the Source and Creator of all things, it cannot be that we should understand that there is anything either before Him or along with Him that is not from Him. For if there could be anything which was not from Him, He would not be infinite, for He would not extend to where that other was that was outside of Him. Hence, though we see that in the Scriptures God is called Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, these are not different creatures or gods, but these three are one; the persons are three, but they are all and each one and the same God.

ULRICH ZWINGLI

Ko e fauniteni eni ‘o ‘eku lotu, ke u fakamo’oni ko  e ‘Otua ko e tokotaha fakatupu ia (na’e ‘ikai fakatupu ia ‘e ha toe tokotaha kehe), pea ko ia tokotaha pe ‘oku ne fālute ‘a e ‘uuni me’a kotoa ‘i he ‘Univeesi ‘aki hono maafimafi pea ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e me’a kotoa pe.  Ko ia ai ‘oku faka’ikai’i ‘e he mo’oni ko eni ha toe tui ‘oku ne lau ki he me’a fakatupu ha mafai, ka ‘oku foaki kotoa ki he Fakatupu tokotaha pe.  ‘Oku tau fakamo’oni ‘i he’etau tefito’i tui, ‘oku makatu’unga ‘etau tui ki he Fakatupu ‘o e ‘univeesi.  Ko ia ai, ‘e ‘ikai te tau tuku ‘etau falala ki he me’a fakatupu.

Pea koe’uhi ko ‘etau ‘ilo ko e ‘Otua ‘a e fauniteni mo e fakatupu ‘o e me’a kotoa pe, ‘e ‘ikai te tau toe tali ha tui ‘oku ne talamai ‘oku toe ‘i ai ha toe tokotaha kehe ‘oku mavahe pe kākunga ki he ‘Otua.  He kapau ‘oku toe ‘i ai ha me’a kehe ‘oku ‘ikai fou meiate ia, ‘e ‘ikai ke lau ia ‘oku ta’efakangatangata, koe’uhi he’ikai ke a’u ia ki he me’a ‘oku mavahe pe ‘ata’ata meiate ia.  Pea neongo ‘oku tau ma’u mei he Folofola, ko e ‘Otua ko e Tamai, ‘Alo mo e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha toe fakatupu mavahe pe ngaahi ‘otua eni, ka ko e toko tolu ko ‘eni ko e taha pe; ko e pesona ‘e toko tolu, ka ko e ‘Otua pe ‘e taha ‘a kinautolu taautaha.