Falaite Fepueli 7, 2022

FULFILLED PROMISES

PALOMESI ‘OKU FAKAHOKO

2 CORINTHIANS 1:20

No matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.

1 KOLINITO 1:20

He neongo pe ‘oku fiha ‘a e ngaahi tala‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku tu‘u kotoa pē ‘iate ia hono ‘Io; ko ia ‘oku fou ‘iate ia foki hono ‘Ēmeni; ke ai ha ongoongolelei ‘e hoko ki he ‘Otua ‘iate kimautolu.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

If He is our God, we can say assuredly that His virtues are ours, and that there is nothing in them which does not contribute to our salvation. For example, if God is all-good, it is to do us well. If He is all-wise, it is to guide us. If He is all-powerful, it is to defend us. If He is just, it is to avenge Himself of our enemies. If He is merciful, it is to pardon our crimes. If He is faithful, it is to grant us the fulfillment of His promises.

Finally (not to prevent us from considering His other excellent virtues, for the sake of which both men and angels exult in admiration), if He is all-powerful and sufficient for Himself, it is to assure us that He will also be so for us, and that there is nothing we could desire which we would not find in this inexhaustible spring of good things. On this all those excellent promises are founded, which God gives us in His Word, of which there is none that does not relate to one of these glorious attributes.

FRANCIS TURRETIN

Kapau ko Ia ‘a hotau ‘Otua, ‘oku tau pau’ia ko hono ngaahi ‘ulungaanga, ko e ‘ulungaanga mo ia ‘o kitautolu, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a ‘i he ngaahi ‘ulungaanga ko ia ‘e ta’e kau ki hotau fakamo’ui.  Fakatātā; kapau ‘oku lelei ‘a e ‘Otua, ko e lelei ia ma’a kitautolu.  Kapau ‘oku kātoi ai ‘a e poto, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ke ne tataki kitautolu.  Kapau ‘oku kātoi ai ‘a e mafi, ‘oku ‘uhinga te ne malu’i kitautolu.  Kapau ko Iaa´, ‘oku fai totonu, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ke ne taukapo’i kitautolu mei hotau ngaahi fili.  Kapau ko Iaa´ ‘oku fonu ‘i he meesi, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ke ne fakamolemole’i ‘etau ngaahi faihala.  Kapau ko Iaa´ ‘oku faitōnunga, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ke ne fakakakato ‘ene ngaahi palomesi ma’a kitautolu. 

‘Ikai ngata ai (pea ‘oku kei lahi hono ngaahi ‘ulungaanga ‘oku lelei hake ke fakahikihiki’i ‘e he kau ‘angelo mo e tangata), pea kapau ‘oku kātoi ai ‘a e ivi kotoa pe, mo ma’uma’uluta ‘iate ia pe, ‘oku ne fakamo’oni mai ‘oku ne kau mo kitautolu, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a te tau masiva ai.  Pea ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi palomesi fakaofo mo lelei ko ‘eni, kuo foaki kotoa ‘e he ‘Otua kiate kitautolu ‘o fou ‘i he’ene Folofola, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha ‘ulungaanga ‘e taha ‘i he ngaahi anga faka-‘Otua ko ‘eni te nau ta’efelāve’i.

Sapate Fepueli 6, 2022

TAUGHT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

AKO‘I ‘E HE LAUMALIE MA‘ONI‘ONI

JOHN 14:26

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.

SIONE 14:26

Ka ko e Taukapo, ko e Laumālie Mā‘oni‘oni, ‘a ia ‘e fekau mai ‘e he Tamai ‘i hoku hingoa, ko e Toko Taha ko ia te ne ako kiate kimoutolu ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē, pea te ne fakamanatu kiate kimoutolu ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē kuo u lea‘aki kiate kimoutolu.

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The Holy Spirit is so given that there is not a truth which you may not understand. You may be led into the deepest mysteries by His teaching. You may be made to know and to comprehend those knotty points in the Word of God which have hitherto puzzled you. You have but humbly to look up to Jesus, and His Spirit will still teach you.

I tell you, though you are poor and ignorant, and perhaps can scarcely read a word in the Bible; for all that, you may be better instructed in the things of God than doctors of divinity, if you go to the Holy Spirit and are taught of Him. Those who go only to books and to the letter, and are taught of men, may be fools in the sight of God; but those who go to Jesus and sit at His feet, and ask to be taught of His Spirit, shall be wise unto salvation. Blessed be God, there are not a few amongst us of this sort. We are not left orphans; we have an Instructor with us still.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku foaki mai ‘a e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni ke ne faka’ilo ‘a e mo’oni kotoa pe ketau mahino’i.  Ke ne tataki koe ki he ngaahi mo’oni loloto ‘o fou ‘i he’ene ngaahi akonaki.  Te ne faka’ilo kiate koe ‘a e ngaahi kaveinga fakatupu fifili ‘i he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko ho’o ngaue pe te ke fai´, ko ho’o hanga hake ‘i he loto angavaivai kia Sisu, pea ‘e ako’i koe ‘e hono Laumālie.

‘Oku ou fakamanatu atu, neongo ho’o masiva mo ho’o fakapo’uli, ‘o a’u ki ha ni’ihi ‘oku faingata’a ke nau lau ‘a e Tohitapu; ‘i he tu’unga ko ‘eni ‘e lelei ange hono ako’i koe ‘i he ngaahi me’a ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he kau toketa mo e kau mataotao ‘i he ako Tohitapu´, he ko ‘enau poto´ ko e poto pe ia ‘i he lau ‘a e tangata, ka ko e kau vale ‘i he fofonga mai ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ka ko kinautolu ‘oku nau ‘alu hangatonu kia Sisu pea nau nofo ‘i hono ve’e va’e´, ‘o kole ke ako’i ia ‘e hono Laumālie´, te ne ma’u ‘a e poto ‘oku iku ki he mo’ui ta’engata.  Fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua, he ‘oku tokosi’i pe ‘a e fa’ahinga pehe ni.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ke li’ekina kitautolu mo tukuhausia; ‘oku ‘i ai hotau Faiako ‘oku ne kei kau mo kitautolu. 

Tokonaki Fepueli 5, 2022

SCRIPTURE AS GUIDE

KO E FOLOFOLA KO E FAKATAUKEI

PSALM 119:32

I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding

SAAME 119:32

Te u lele ‘i he hala ‘o ho‘o ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni, ‘Oka ke ka fano hoku ‘atamai.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

In describing the world as a mirror in which we ought to I behold God, I would not be understood to assert either that our eyes are sufficiently clear-sighted to discern what the fabric of heaven and earth represents, or that the knowledge to be hence attained is sufficient for salvation. And whereas the Lord invites us to Himself by the means of created things, with no other effect than that of thereby rendering us inexcusable, He has added (as was necessary) a new remedy, or at least by a new aid, He has assisted the ignorance of our mind.

For by the Scripture as our Guide and Teacher, He not only makes those things plain which would otherwise escape our notice but almost compels us to behold them, as if He had assisted our dull sight with spectacles. This herald therefore approaches, who excites our attention, in order that we may perceive ourselves to be placed in this scene, for the purpose Of beholding the glory of God; not indeed to observe them as mere witnesses but to enjoy all the riches which are here exhibited as the Lord has ordained and subjected them to our use.

JOHN CALVIN

Kapau te tau fakamatala’i ‘a mamani ‘o pehē ko ha sio’ata ia ketau mamata ai ki he ‘Otua ‘e ‘ikai te tau lava ke mahino’i ‘a e me’a ‘oku mamata ki ai hotau mata fakamatelie ketau sivi ‘a e koloa ‘oku fatu’aki ‘a hevani mo e ‘univeesi, pe te tau a’usia ‘a e ‘ilo fe’unga ‘e iku ke ma’u ai hotau fakamo’ui.  Pea neongo kuo tohoaki ‘e he ‘Otua kitautolu kiate Ia ‘o fou ‘i he ngaahi me’a kuo ne fakatupu, ke hoko ko ha fakamo’oni kiate kitautolu, na’a ne toe ‘omi ha founga ke tokoni ke fakamaama hotau ‘atamai fakapo’uli.

Ko e Folofola ko e fakamaama pea mo e faiako ke ne fakamatala mahino ‘a e ngaahi misiteli ‘oku fūfū ki he fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata pea ‘oku ne kouna kitautolu ketau tali ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni ko ia, ‘o hangē ha’ane ‘ai ha matasio’ata ki hotau mata vaivai.  ‘Oku hoko ‘a e Folofola ko ha talafekau ke ne ue’i hotau ngaahi ongo’anga ketau tokanga ki hotau tu’unga ‘i mamani, pea ketau ‘ilo ‘a hotau fatongia ketau hanga hake ‘o tali ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua; pea ‘oku ‘ikai ko ‘etau mamata pe ‘o hangē ha kau fakamo’oni, ka ko ‘etau ‘inasi mo tofanga ‘i he ngaahi tapuaki mo e koloa kuo tuku mai ‘e he ‘Otua ma’a kitautolu ketau ngaue’aki mo tauhi ki ai.

Falaite Fepueli 4, 2022 

SEARCHING FOR TREASURE

KO E KELI KOULA 

PSALM 119:10

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

SAAME 119:10

Kuo u ha‘ao kiate koe ‘aki hoku loto kotoa: ‘Oua na‘a ke tuku ke u he mei ho‘o ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni na.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe   

No man who merely skims the Book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the Word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur (an official license) - who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great Day of Account. The Word of God will repay searching. God docs not bid us sift a mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is winnowed corn—we have but to open the granary door and find it.

Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise is like the merchandise of Scripture truth.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku ‘ikai ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne sio fakavave pe ki he Tohi ‘a e ‘Otua te ne ma’u ha me’a ai; kuopau ke tau keli mo ukufi ‘a e ngaahi koloa fufū ‘oku ‘i ai.  Ko e matapā ‘o e Folofola ‘oku toki fakaava’aki pe ‘a e kī ‘o e faka’utumauku.  Ko kinautolu pe ‘oku kumi hākili ki he Folofola te nau ma’u ‘a e pale.  Ko e takainga tohi ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku taa’i ai ‘a e sitapa fakatu’i ‘o loto langi – ko hai te ne fakama’ama’a’i ‘a hono mahu’inga?  Ko ia ‘oku ne si’aki ‘a e Tohi, ‘oku ne si’aki ‘a e ‘Otua na’a ne hiki ‘a e Tohi.  Ke ‘oua mu’a na’a hoko ‘etau ngaahi Tohitapu ko ha fakamo’oni ke talatalaaki’i ai kitautolu ‘i he ‘Aho ‘o e Fakamaau.  Ko e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ne tufa totongi ki he kau fekumi.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ke fakaafe’i kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua ketau fekumi ‘i ha fokotu’unga kafukafu ke ma’u mei ai ha tenga’i uite, ka ko e Tohitapu ko ‘etau tufi koane ‘i ha feleoko kuo ‘osi teuteu ‘e he ‘Otua, ko ‘etau ngaue pe ‘oku fai ko e fakaava ‘a hono ngaahi katupa.

Ko e Folofola ‘oku faka’a’au ke tupu fakalakalaka ‘i he tokotaha ‘oku ne ako ia.  ‘Oku fonu ‘i he ngaahi me’a fakaofo kehekehe.  ‘I he malumalu ‘o e faiako ‘a e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni, ‘oku fetapaki pea maamangia ‘i he mamata ‘a e tisaipale, ‘o hangē ha temipale ‘oku hala kouola ‘atā, pea ‘ato ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi maka koloa kehekehe.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha koloa ‘e kākunga ki he koloa ‘o e mo’oni ‘oku ma’u ‘i he Folofola.

Tu’apulelulu Fepueli 3, 2022 

TO KNOW CHRIST

KA U ‘ILO ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO (KALAISI)

PHILIPPIANS 3:10

I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

FILIPAI 3:10

ka u ‘ilo ni ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio, mo e ‘aonga ‘o ‘ene toetu‘u, mo e kau ‘i he‘ene ngaahi mamahi, he fakatatau au ki he‘ene pekia;

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

We should be wise, that we may learn to know Christ rightly and to know that His kingdom is nothing else than a hospital where lie the sick and languishing, who need to be nursed. But this knowledge very few receive; this wisdom is very deeply hidden; so that, oftentimes, those who are partakers of the Gospel and of the Spirit are very deficient in it. For this is the highest wisdom that can be had.

Wherefore, although men look into the Scriptures and see that those Scriptures extol the kingdom of Christ, and say what a splendid thing it is, yet they do not clearly see what the words really mean, nor do they observe that in this lies the true wisdom, which far surpasses all human wisdom. For our wisdom is not ours in order to deal with the wise, the prudent and clever people, and talk about it and preach it, but to deal with fools and imprudent men and win them to it so that they attain unto righteousness and a sound understanding.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku totonu ketau ma’u ‘a e loto poto, ketau ako ke ‘ilo’i mo’oni ‘a Kalaisi pea ketau mahino’i ko hono pule’anga´ ‘oku hangē ha falemahaki ‘oku tākoto ai ‘a e kau faingata’a’ia ‘i he mohenga ‘o e mamahi, pea ‘oku fiema’u ke faito’o kinautolu.  Ka ko e ‘ilo ko ‘eni ‘oku tokosi’i ‘a kinautolu ‘oku nau ma’u; ko e poto ko ‘eni ‘oku fakapuliki ia mei he tokolahi; ‘oku a’u ki ha tu’unga ko kinautolu ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e Kosipeli mo e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni ‘oku nau masiva ‘i he ‘ilo ko ‘eni.  Ko e taha eni ‘i he ngaahi poto ‘oku mahu’inga mo ma’olunga fau.

‘Oku tokolahi ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘oku nau fekumi ki he Folofola ke nau mamata ai ki hono fakahikihiki’i ‘o e pule’anga ‘o Kalaisi, pea ‘oku nau tala ‘a hono faka’ofo’ofa, ka ‘oku ‘ikai te nau ‘ilo pe mahino kiate kinautolu ‘a e ‘uhinga ‘o e ngaahi lea; ‘oku ‘ikai te nau fakatokanga’i ‘a e poto mo’oni ‘oku hā ‘i he Folofola pea ope atu ‘i he ngaahi poto fakaetangata.  Ko e poto ‘oku tau ma’u, ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ketau tokoni ai ki he kau poto, pe ko e kau ‘ilo me’a ketau talanoa’i pe mo malanga’aki, ka ko e ‘uhinga ketau ako’i ‘a kinautolu ‘oku nau kei fakapo’uli ke ‘omi kinautolu ki he maama´ ke nau ma’u ‘a e mā’oni’oni mo e mahino ‘oku mo’oni taha.   

 Puelulu Fepueli 2, 2022

THE MASTER INSTRUCTS

KO E FAIAKO ‘A E TIUTA LAHI´ 

MATTHEW 4:19

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

 

MATIU 4:19

Pea pehē ‘e ia kiate kinaua, “Mo omi ‘o muimui ‘iate au, pea te u ngaohi kimoua ko e ongo toutai tangata”.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

A follower may follow blindly and hear a great deal which he does not understand; but when he becomes a disciple, his Master instructs him, and leads him into truth. To explain, to expound, to solve difficulties, to clear away doubts, and to make truth intelligible is the office of a teacher amongst his disciples.

Now, it was a very blessed thing for the followers to become disciples, but still disciples are not necessarily so intimate with their Master as to sit and eat with Him. My brethren, if Jesus had but called us to be His disciples, and no more we should have had cause for great thankfulness; if we had been allowed to sit at His feet, and had never shared in such an entertainment as that before us, we ought to have been profoundly grateful; but now that He has favoured us with a yet higher place, let us never be unfaithful to our discipleship. Let us daily learn of Jesus, let us search the Bible to see what it was that He taught us, and then by the aid of His Holy Spirit let us scrupulously obey.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e tokotaha ‘oku muimui ki ha taha, ‘oku malava ke muimui faainoa pe mo fanongo ki ha tokotaha neongo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mahino’i ha meʻa; ka ‘i he taimi ‘e hoko ai ko ha tisaipale, ‘e ako’i ia ‘e he Faiako´, mo ne tataki ia ki he ngaahi mo’oni kotoa pe.  ‘Oku ne fakamatala’i, ‘oku ne fakamaama, ‘oku ne vete ‘a e ngaahi palopalema ‘oku fihi, tatala ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘oku tāla’a ai´, pea ne fakamatala’i ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni ‘o e akonaki ke mahino ‘aupito ki he tokotaha ako tisaipale.

 

Ko ha tapuaki mo’oni ‘a e hoko ‘a e kau muimui ko ha kau tisaipale, ka na’e ‘ikai ke tupukoso ‘a e maheni ‘a e kau tisaipale mo ‘enau Faiako, ke nau nofo hifo ke feohi mo ia.  ‘E hoko kaungā fononga, kapau na’e ui pe kitautolu ‘e Sisu ke hoko ko ‘ene kau ako, na’e hulu’anoa pe ia ke fakatupu ‘iate kitautolu ha loto hounga’ia; pea kapau na’a ne fakangofua kitautolu ketau nofo hifo ‘i hono ve’eva’e, ‘o ‘inasi ‘i he tapuaki ko ia, na’e toe mahulu atu mo ‘etau fakafeta’i; ka ko eni kuo ne hoifua mai kiate kitautolu ‘i ha tu’unga ‘oku makehe atu, ke ‘oua te tau ta’e tokanga ‘i he’etau hoko ko ‘ene tisaipale, ka tau matu’aki ako faka’aho ‘ia Sisu.  Ketau vakili ki he’ene Folofola ketau ‘ilo ‘a e me’a ‘oku ne ako mai, pea ‘i he tokoni mai ‘a e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni, ketu mātu’aki tokanga ke talangofua kakato ki ai. 

Tusite Fepueli 1, 2022 

Do Not Be Deceived

Tokanga na‘a Kākāaʻi kimoutolu

PSALM 119:15

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

Saame 119:15

Te u fakalauloto ki ho‘o ngaahi fekau na, Pea te u tokanga‘i ho ngaahi hala.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Paul explains how those who had been deceived by false teachers may be restored to spiritual health. The false apostles were amiable [having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner ] fellows. Apparently they surpassed Paul in learning and godliness. The Galatians were easily deceived by outward appearances. They supposed they were being taught by Christ Himself. Paul proved to them that their new doctrine was not of Christ, but of the devil. In this way he succeeded in regaining many.

We also are able to win back many from the errors into which they were seduced by showing that their beliefs are imaginary, wicked, and contrary to the Word of God. The devil is a cunning persuader. He knows how to enlarge the smallest sin into a mountain until we think we have committed the worst crime ever committed on earth. Such stricken consciences must be comforted and set straight as Paul corrected the Galatians: by showing them that their opinion is not of Christ because it runs counter to the Gospel, which describes Christ as a meek and merciful Savior.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku fakamatala’i ‘e Paula ‘a e founga ‘oku malava ke toe fakafoki mai ai ‘a e mo’ui fakalaumalie ‘a e kau faiako fakahēe´. Ko ha kau tangata lelei eni mo alāanga mo e kakai. Ka na’e hangē ia ‘oku nau fakalaka ange ‘ia Paula ‘i he mataotao fakaako´ mo e anga fakalotu. Na’e tō ngofua ‘a e kau Kalētia´ he ngaahi ‘ata fakatu’asino ‘o e kau faiako ko eni. Na’e hangē ia kuo hoko tonu mai ‘a Kalaisi ‘o fai honau akonaki´. Na’e fakamo’oni ange ‘e Paula ko ‘enau tokateline fo’ou´, na’e ‘ikai ko e fou meia Kalaisi, ka ko e fou mei he tevolo. Pea ko ia ai, na’a ne toe fakafoki mai ‘a e loto ‘o e tokolahi naʻe afuhia he faʻahinga ko eni´.

‘I he founga tatau, ‘oku malava ke tau toe fakafoki mai ha ni’ihi kuo nau hē ‘i ha tokateline hala, ‘aki hono fakahaa’i ko e ngaahi tui ko ia´ ‘oku ‘ikai hano makatu’unga, pea ‘oku kovi he ‘oku fehangahangai mo e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko e tevolo´ ko ha fili potopoto’i he fakatauele. ‘Oku ne taukei hono faka’ata lahi mai ha ki’i momo’i angahala ke hange ha fu’u mo’unga´ pea tau pehee ai kuo tau fai ‘a e angahala fakamala’ia taha he mamani. Ko ha konisenisi kuo si’i tāpalasia pehee´, kuopau ke fai ki ai ha fakanonga mo ha fakatonutonu ‘o hange ko ia na’e fai ‘e Paula ki he kau Kalētia: ko hono fakahaa’i kiate kinautolu, ko e tui ‘oku nau ma’u´, ‘oku ‘ikai ‘o Kalaisi ia, he ‘oku fepaki ia mo e Koosipeli´, ‘a ē ‘oku ne fakahā, ko Kalaisi ko e Fakamo’ui angavaivai pea mohu ‘alo’ofa.