Sapate ‘Epeleli 8, 2018

‘Oku tataki mo fakahinohino ‘e he Tohitapú ‘etau lotú

(The Bible informs and aligns our hearts in our prayers )

Fehu‘i #40

Ko e hā ‘a e lotu te tau faí ?

‘Oku tataki kitautolu mo hinoi‘i mei he tapa kotoa ‘o e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá  ‘a e me‘a ke tau lotuá, ‘o kau ai mo e lotu na‘e ako‘i kiate kitautolu ‘e Sisuú.

What should we pray?

The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

‘EFESO 3:14-21

‘Io, koe‘uhiā ko e me‘a ko ia, ko ia ‘oku ou peluki hoku tui ki he Tamai, ‘a ia ‘oku tauhingoa ki ai ‘a e ngaahi fāmili kotoa pē ‘i langi mo māmani, ko ‘eku kole ke foaki kiate kimautolu, ‘o taau mo e mohu me‘a ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ke ne tuku ke fou mai ha ivi ‘i hono Laumālie ki homou tangata-‘i-loto ke mou mālohi ai; kae fale ‘a Kalaisi ‘i homou loto, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; pea ‘i ho‘omou aka leva ‘i he ‘ofa, mo pulusi ki he tu‘unga ko ia, ke mou faifai pea mou lava ‘aupito ke lave‘i, hangē ko e kau mā‘oni‘oni kotoa pē, hono māukupu, mo hono lōloa, mo hono mā‘olunga, mo hono loloto– ‘io, ke ‘ilo ‘a e ‘ofa ‘a Kalaisi, ‘a ia ‘oku hulu atu ‘i he ngata‘anga ‘o e ‘ilo; kae fakafonu kimoutolu ke a‘usia hono kātokatoa kotoa ‘o e ‘Otua. Pea ko ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia ‘oku ne lava ke fai ma‘atautolu ‘o hulu atu noa pē ‘i he ngaahi me‘a ‘oku tau fa‘a kolea pe fakakaukau ki ai, koe‘uhi ko e ivi ‘oku ngāue ‘i hotau loto, ‘io, ke ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio ‘a e kolōlia ‘i he Siasi, pea ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū, kae ‘osi ‘a e ngaahi to‘utangata ‘o e ngaahi kuonga ‘o ‘ītāniti! ‘Ēmeni.

EPHESIANS 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadtlh and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Commentary - ALISTAIR BEGG

When we're asking what we should pray about, we instinctively turn to the Bible, because it's the Bible that inspires us and directs us. So whether it's Jesus reminding us that we should always pray and not faint or Paul reminding the Philippians not to be anxious about anything but in everything to turn to God in prayer, it is the Bible that keeps us on track. As we pray, we're really asking God to bring our lives and the lives of others into line with his purposes. And when we pray in that way, we're able to pray with confidence.

Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 7, 2018

‘Oku tu‘u kakato ‘a e Folofolá  ke fakamaama ki he‘etau lotú

(The whole of Scripture informs our prayer life )

Fehu‘i #40

Ko e hā ‘a e lotu te tau faí ?

‘Oku tataki kitautolu mo hinoi‘i mei he tapa kotoa ‘o e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá  ‘a e me‘a ke tau lotuá, ‘o kau ai mo e lotu na‘e ako‘i kiate kitautolu ‘e Sisuú.

What should we pray?

The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

‘EFESO 3:14-21

‘Io, koe‘uhiā ko e me‘a ko ia, ko ia ‘oku ou peluki hoku tui ki he Tamai, ‘a ia ‘oku tauhingoa ki ai ‘a e ngaahi fāmili kotoa pē ‘i langi mo māmani, ko ‘eku kole ke foaki kiate kimautolu, ‘o taau mo e mohu me‘a ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ke ne tuku ke fou mai ha ivi ‘i hono Laumālie ki homou tangata-‘i-loto ke mou mālohi ai; kae fale ‘a Kalaisi ‘i homou loto, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; pea ‘i ho‘omou aka leva ‘i he ‘ofa, mo pulusi ki he tu‘unga ko ia, ke mou faifai pea mou lava ‘aupito ke lave‘i, hangē ko e kau mā‘oni‘oni kotoa pē, hono māukupu, mo hono lōloa, mo hono mā‘olunga, mo hono loloto– ‘io, ke ‘ilo ‘a e ‘ofa ‘a Kalaisi, ‘a ia ‘oku hulu atu ‘i he ngata‘anga ‘o e ‘ilo; kae fakafonu kimoutolu ke a‘usia hono kātokatoa kotoa ‘o e ‘Otua. Pea ko ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia ‘oku ne lava ke fai ma‘atautolu ‘o hulu atu noa pē ‘i he ngaahi me‘a ‘oku tau fa‘a kolea pe fakakaukau ki ai, koe‘uhi ko e ivi ‘oku ngāue ‘i hotau loto, ‘io, ke ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio ‘a e kolōlia ‘i he Siasi, pea ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū, kae ‘osi ‘a e ngaahi to‘utangata ‘o e ngaahi kuonga ‘o ‘ītāniti! ‘Ēmeni.

EPHESIANS 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Commentary - JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Great is the profit to be derived from the sacred Scriptures and assistance is sufficient for every need. Paul was pointing this out when he said, "Whatever things have been written have been written for our instruction, upon whom the final age of the world has come that through the patience and the consolation afforded by the Scriptures we may have hope." (Rom. 15:4; see 1 Cor. 10:11) The divine words, indeed, are a treasury containing every sort of remedy, so that, whether one needs to put down senseless pride, or to quench the fire of concupiscence [lust] or to trample on the love of riches, or to despise pain, or to cultivate cheerfulness and acquire patience-in them one may find in abundance the means to do so.

Falaite ‘Epeleli 6, 2018

Ko e ‘Otua falala‘anga ‘oku tau lotu ki ai

(we can trust God’s heart even when we can’t trace his hand)

Fehu‘i #39

Ko e hā ‘a e loto ‘oku totonu ke fai‘aki ‘etau lotú ?

Mei he loto ‘ofa, tuiaki mo e hounga‘ia, ‘i he fakatōkilalo mo e fakavaivai ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘i he ‘ilopau, koe‘uhí  ko Kalaisi, ‘oku ne ongona ma‘u pe ‘etau lotú.

With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness, in humble submission to God's will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

FILIPAI 4:6

Neongo pe ko e hā ‘a e me‘a, ‘oua te mou lotomo‘ua ai; ka ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē tuku ke hā ki he ‘Otua ho‘omou ngaahi kole, ‘i he lotu mo e hūfia, pea fai mo e fakafeta‘i.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary - THABITI ANYABWILE (cont…)

Even when we can't trace God's hand, as the saying goes, we can trust his heart because we know God is good, and we're grateful for his goodness. That spurs us on in our prayer and perseverance, and it turns us again in love toward Christ our Savior, God our Father and the Spirit our Comforter

Prayer

Loving Father, we come to you in the name of your beloved Son. Give us perseverance in prayer, even when we do not immediately see answers. Let us believe that you will not keep back any good thing from us, and trust that you will withhold those things we seek that would harm us. Your ways are higher than our ways, and we entrust our requests to your sovereign kindness. Amen.

Tu‘apulelulu ‘Epeleli 5, 2018

Ko e lotú  ko e fakahā‘anga ‘o e hounga‘ia

(prayer ought to be an expression of gratitude)

Fehu‘i #39

Ko e hā ‘a e loto ‘oku totonu ke fai‘aki ‘etau lotú ?

Mei he loto ‘ofa, tuiaki mo e hounga‘ia, ‘i he fakatōkilalo mo e fakavaivai ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘i he ‘ilopau, koe‘uhí  ko Kalaisi, ‘oku ne ongona ma‘u pe ‘etau lotú.

With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness, in humble submission to God's will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

FILIPAI 4:6

Neongo pe ko e hā ‘a e me‘a, ‘oua te mou lotomo‘ua ai; ka ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē tuku ke hā ki he ‘Otua ho‘omou ngaahi kole, ‘i he lotu mo e hūfia, pea fai mo e fakafeta‘i.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary - THABITI ANYABWILE (cont…)

Finally, prayer ought to be an expression of gratitude. Let us count the blessings of the Lord. Let us mark his providences. Let us observe the divine interruptions that have broken into our lives, such that we might receive not only Christ but everything in Christ, and receive and experience it in surprising ways, in opportune times, in times later than we had hoped for or expected. The divine interruptions of God, which are blessings and distributions of his kindness to us, ought to cultivate gratitude in us. Our prayers ought to express that gratitude so that we're conscious of the kindness and goodness of the Lord.

Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 4, 2018

Fiema‘u ke tau tuiaki mo kītaki atu ‘i hono fai ‘o e lotú

(In Prayer, we need to persevere and press in)

Fehu‘i #39

Ko e hā ‘a e loto ‘oku totonu ke fai‘aki ‘etau lotú ?

Mei he loto ‘ofa, tuiaki mo e hounga‘ia, ‘i he fakatōkilalo mo e fakavaivai ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘i he ‘ilopau, koe‘uhí  ko Kalaisi, ‘oku ne ongona ma‘u pe ‘etau lotú.

With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness, in humble submission to God's will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

FILIPAI 4:6

Neongo pe ko e hā ‘a e me‘a, ‘oua te mou lotomo‘ua ai; ka ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē tuku ke hā ki he ‘Otua ho‘omou ngaahi kole, ‘i he lotu mo e hūfia, pea fai mo e fakafeta‘i.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary - THABITI ANYABWILE (cont…)

In prayer there should also be perseverance, steadfastness, pressing in, continuously knocking at the door. This perseverance is necessary to prevail against our flesh. Our flesh wars against the spirit. And, boy, I tell you, when we pray, don't we sometimes experience a wandering, distracting mind? When we pray, don't we sometimes experience our frailty, our weakness, our fatigue? I've fallen asleep praying just as our Lord's apostles did in the garden of Gethsemane. So we need perseverance, and we need that pressing into the things of God, that pushing out the distractions of the world, that crucifying of the flesh, again, that we might have this fuller communion with the Lord.

Tusite ‘Epeleli 3, 2018

Ko e lotú ko e fakahā‘anga ia ‘o e ‘ofá

(real prayer is an expression of love )

Fehu‘i #39

Ko e hā ‘a e loto ‘oku totonu ke fai‘aki ‘etau lotú ?

Mei he loto ‘ofa, tuiaki mo e hounga‘ia, ‘i he fakatōkilalo mo e fakavaivai ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘i he ‘ilopau, koe‘uhí  ko Kalaisi, ‘oku ne ongona ma‘u pe ‘etau lotú.

With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness, in humble submission to God's will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

FILIPAI 4:6

Neongo pe ko e hā ‘a e me‘a, ‘oua te mou lotomo‘ua ai; ka ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē tuku ke hā ki he ‘Otua ho‘omou ngaahi kole, ‘i he lotu mo e hūfia, pea fai mo e fakafeta‘i.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary - THABITI ANYABWILE (cont…)

But real prayer is an expression of love. Real prayer is an expression of perseverance. It's an expression of gratefulness. Why love? Because in prayer we're communing with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We're praying to the Father in the name of the Son through the Spirit. And in the act of prayer, we're meant to enjoy them and to get to know them and to commune with them. How can prayer be communion without love?

Ko e lotu mo‘oní  ko e fakaha‘anga ia ‘oku ‘ofá.  Ko e lotu ‘oku mo‘oní  ‘oku ne fakahāsino mai ‘a e kītakí.  Ko e fakahā‘anga ‘o e lotu hounga‘ia. Ka ‘oku anga fēfē ‘a e kau ki ai ‘a e ‘ofá ? Koe‘uhí, ko e lotú  ko e feohi fe‘inasi‘aki mo e ‘Otua ko e Tamaí, ‘Otua ko e ‘Aló mo e ‘Otua ko e Laumālié. ‘Oku tau lotu ki he Tamaí ‘i he huafa ‘o e ‘Aló ‘o fou ‘i he Laumālié. Pea ‘i he fai ‘o e lotú, ‘oku malava ke tau feohi mo e tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá, fiefia mo vivili ke tau ‘ilo kinautolu. Pea ‘e anga fēfē ai leva ha‘a tau feohi mo fe‘inasi‘aki mo e ‘Otua tapuhā ta‘e kau ai ‘a e ‘ofá ?

Monite ‘Epeleli 2, 2018

Ko e lotú  ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha faka‘ali‘ali

(prayer is not a show)

Fehu‘i #39

Ko e hā ‘a e loto ‘oku totonu ke fai‘aki ‘etau lotú ?

Mei he loto ‘ofa, tuiaki mo e hounga‘ia, ‘i he fakatōkilalo mo e fakavaivai ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otuá, ‘i he ‘ilopau, koe‘uhí  ko Kalaisi, ‘oku ne ongona ma‘u pe ‘etau lotú.

With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness, in humble submission to God's will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

FILIPAI 4:6

Neongo pe ko e hā ‘a e me‘a, ‘oua te mou lotomo‘ua ai; ka ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē tuku ke hā ki he ‘Otua ho‘omou ngaahi kole, ‘i he lotu mo e hūfia, pea fai mo e fakafeta‘i.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary - THABITI ANYABWILE

Hypocritical prayer is an oxymoron; hypocrisy and prayer just don't go together. Anything that we properly call prayer should be divorced from hypocrisy. The Lord teaches us this in the Gospels when he talks about those who pray for an audience; for them prayer is a show. And if you've been praying any length of time, you know that you don’t need an audience for your prayers to be a show. Sometimes we’re watching ourselves pray. We're admiring the eloquence of our appeal. We like the turn of phrase. So our prayer can go from being an act of communion with God to a demonstration of pride.

‘Oku ‘ikai ke tonu ‘etau ‘ai ‘a e fakalea, ko e lotu mālualoi; ko e mālualoí  mo e lotú  ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke na ō fakataha kinaua. Ka ‘i ai pe ha me‘a te tau ui ko e lotu, ‘oku totonu ke mātu‘aki tu‘usi ‘aupito ia mei he mālualoí. ‘Oku akonaki‘i kitautolu ‘e he ‘Eikí  ‘i he Koosipelí  fekau‘aki mo e me‘a ni ‘i he‘ene fakamatala ki he fa‘ahinga ‘oku nau lotu ‘i he uhouhonga ‘o e kakaí;  ko e fa‘ahinga pehe ní, ‘oku hoko pe ‘a e lotú  ko e fo‘i faka‘ali‘ali. Pea kapau kuo ki‘i fuoloa ho‘o fai ‘a e lotú, ‘oku ke ‘osi a‘usia ‘a e me‘a ni – ‘oku ‘ikai toki fai pe ‘a e faka‘ali‘alí  ka ‘i ai ha kakai. Taimi ‘e ni‘ihi, ‘oku tau toe nofo hifo pe ‘oku siofi ‘etau to‘onga lotú. ‘Oku tau toe mālie‘ia pe ‘i he‘etau tufunga leá. ‘Oku mālie mo e ngaahi kupu‘i lotú.  Pea kuo hiki leva ‘a e lotú  mei tu‘unga totonú, ko e feohi mo e ‘Otuá, ‘o hoko pe ia ko ha faka‘ali‘ali ‘o ‘etau mo‘ui ‘afungí.