Monite Ma’asi 7, 2022

THE ILLUMINATED WORD

KO E FOLOFOLA KUO FAKAMAAMA

PSALM 119:18

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

SAAME 119:18

Faka‘ā mu‘a hoku mata, Ka u sio me‘a fakaofo ‘i ho‘o lao na.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Perhaps the best way in which the Holy Ghost leads us into all truth is by illumination. He illuminates the Bible. Now, have you an illuminated Bible at home? "Yes, I have a large family Bible with pictures in it." There is a picture of John the Baptist baptizing Christ by pouring water on His head and many other nonsensical things; but that is not what I mean. Have you an illuminated Bible? "Yes, I have a Bible with splendid engravings in it.” Yes, I know you may have, but have you an illuminated Bible? “I don't understand what you mean by an 'illuminated Bible.’ "

Well, it is the Christian man who has an illuminated Bible. He does not buy it illuminated originally, but when he reads it, "a glory gilds the sacred page, majestic like the sun: it gives a light to every age; it gives, but borrows none." There is nothing like reading an illuminated Bible, beloved. You may read to all eternity and never learn anything by it, unless it is illuminated by the Spirit; and then the words shine forth like stars.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e founga lelei taha ‘oku tataki ai ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni kitautolu ki he mo’oni kotoa pe, ‘oku fou ‘i he fakamaama. ‘Oku ne fakamaama ‘a e Folofola. Sai, ‘oku ‘i ai ha’o Tohitapu kuo fakamaama ‘i ‘api? “Io, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘emau Tohitapu faka-famili ‘oku lahi hono ngaahi fakatātā ai.” ‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e fakatātā ‘o Sione Papitaioso ‘oku ne papi ‘a Sisu mo e ngaahi fakatātā kehekehe ai; ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko ‘eku ‘uhinga ‘aku ki ai. ‘Oku ‘i ai ha’o Tohitapu kuo fakamaama? “Io, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘eku Tohitapu ‘oku teuteu’i pea fononfono koula.” ‘Io, ‘oku ou ‘ilo ‘oku ‘i ai ho’o Tohitapu pehee, ka ‘oku fakamaama ‘a e Tohitapu ko ia? “Oku ‘ikai te u mahino’i ho’o ‘uhinga ki he Tohitapu kuo fakamaama.”

Ko eni ia, ko e tangata Kalisitiane, ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e Tohitapu kuo fakamaama. Na’e ‘ikai te ne fakatau mai ia, kuo ‘osi fakamaama, ka ko e taimi ‘oku ne lau ai, “‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e langilangi ‘oku ne fakaulo ‘a hono ngaahi peesi, masani ange ko e la’aa. ‘Oku ne fakamaama ‘a e kuonga kotoa pe; ‘oku ne foaki ‘ata’ataa pe, ‘oku ‘ikai te ne kole ha me’a.” ‘Oku ta’ehanotatau ‘a ‘ete ma’u ha Tohitapu kuo fakamaama, si’i kainga. Te ke lau ‘a e tohi ‘o ta’engata kae ‘ikai pe te ke ma’u ha me’a mei ai, kae ‘oua ke fakamaama ‘e he Laumalie; pea ‘e toki ulo mai ‘a hono ngaahi lea ange ko e fetu’u ‘o langi.

Sapate Ma’asi 6, 2022 

GOD OPENS EYES

‘OKU FAKA’Ā MATA ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 119:73

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

SAAME 119:73

Ko ho ongo nima ē na‘e ngaohi mo fatu au: Fakapoto au, pea te u ako ‘i he ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni ‘a‘au.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The psalmist had the Law, comprehending in it all the wisdom that could be desired, and yet not contented with this, he prays, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). By this expression, he certainly intimates that it is like sunrise to the earth when the Word of God shines forth; but that men do not derive much benefit from it until He Himself, who is for this reason called the Father of lights (James 1:17), either gives eyes or opens them; because whatever is not illuminated by His Spirit is wholly darkness.

The apostles had been duly and amply instructed by the best of teachers. Still, as they wanted the Spirit of truth to complete their education in the very doctrine which they had previously heard, they were ordered to wait for Him (John 14:26). If we confess that what we ask of God is lacking to us, and He by the very thing promised intimates our want, no man can hesitate to acknowledge that he is able to understand the mysteries of God, only insofar as illuminated by His grace.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e Fa’u Saame na’a ne ‘osi ma’u ‘a e Lao, pea na’e ‘osi fa’oaki ai ‘a e ngaahi poto kehekehe, ka na’e ‘ikai ke fiemalie ia ai, he’ene lotu, “Faka‘ā mu‘a hoku mata, Ka u sio me‘a fakaofo ‘i ho‘o lao na” (Saame 119:18). ‘I he sipinga ko eni, ‘oku ne talamai, hange pe ko e hopo ‘a e la’aa ki mamani, ‘oku tatau pe ia mo e huhulu mai ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua; ka ‘oku ‘ikai ma’u ‘e he tangata ha me’a mei ai, kae ‘oua ke fai ‘e Ia ‘oku ‘iloa ko e Tamai ‘o e ngaahi maama (Semisi 1:17) ‘a e foaki ‘o e mata ke mamata pe ko ‘ene faka’aa ‘akinautolu; koe’uhi, ko e me’a kotoa pe ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaama ‘e he Laumalie, ‘oku fakapo’uli kotoa ia.

Ko e kau ‘aposetolo, na’e ako’i kinautolu ‘e he faiako tu’ukimu’a tahaa. Ka ‘i he’enau fiema’u ‘a e Laumalie ‘o e Mo’oni ke fakakakato ‘a e ako ki he tokateline na’a nau ‘osi fanongo ai, na’e fekau’i kinautolu ke nau tatali kiate Ia (Sione 14:26). Kapau te tau kole meiate Ia ‘a e me’a ‘oku tau masiva ai, pea ko hono finangalo ke foaki kiate kitautolu, pea ‘oku fiefia ‘a e tokotaha kotoa ke ne vivili ke ‘ilo ‘a e ngaahi misiteli ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o makatu’unga pe ‘i hono huluhulu ia ‘i he maama ‘o ‘Ene kelesi.

Tokonaki Ma’asi 5, 2022

HOLINESS THROUGH THE WORD

MA’ONI’ONI FOU ‘I HE FOLOFOLA

1 PETER 1:14-15

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.

1 PITA 1:14-15

Fai ‘o ngali mo ha fānau talangofua, ‘o ‘oua te mou tuku kimoutolu ke anga ki ho‘omou ngaahi holi mu‘a, fai ‘i he ta‘e‘ilo; ka mou anga ki he Toko Taha Mā‘oni‘oni ne ne ui kimoutolu, ‘o mou hoko kimoutolu foki ko e mā‘oni‘oni ‘i ho‘omou tō‘onga kotoa pē

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Ministers of the Gospel, public officials, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., are true saints when they take Christ for their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and when they fulfill the duties of their several vocations according to the standard of God's Word and repress the lust and desires of the flesh by the Spirit.

Not everybody can resist temptations with equal facilities. Imperfections are bound to show up. But this does not prevent them from being holy. Their unintentional lapses are forgiven if they pull themselves together by faith in Christ. God forbid that we should sit in hasty judgment on those who are weak in faith and life, as long as they love the Word of God and make use of the Supper of the Lord.

I thank God that He has permitted me to see (what as a monk I so earnestly desired to see) not one but many saints, whole multitudes of true saints.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e kau faifekau ‘o e koosipeli, kau taki faka-pule’anga, ngaahi matu’a, fanau, kau pule ngaue, kau sevaniti mo ha toe taha pe,.. Ko e kau ma’oni’oni kinautolu ‘i he’enau ma’u ‘a Kalaisi ko honau poto’anga, ma’oni’oni, fakahaohaoa mo honau huhu’i - ‘io, mo ‘enau fakahoko honau ngaahi tufakanga kehekehe ‘o tuha mo honau ui, ‘o fakatatau ki he Folofola, mo ‘enau lolomi ‘a e holi honau kakato ‘o fou ‘i he Laumalie.

‘Oku ‘ikai tu’unga tatau ‘a e kalisitiane ‘i hono tali teke’i ‘a e ‘ahi’ahi ‘oku fepaki mo ia. Ko e tonounou kuopau ke hoko. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a ia ke ta’e lau ai kinautolu ‘i he tuʻunga ‘o e kau mo’ui ma’oni’oni. Ko ‘enau humu ‘i he fononga ‘oku fakamolemole’i kapau ‘oku tau toe tu’u hake ‘i he tui ‘a Kalaisi. ‘Oua te tau vave pe ke fakamaau’i ha ni’ihi kuo nau to pe vaivai ‘i he mo’ui faka-lotu, ‘o kapau ‘oku nau hohoi ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua pea nau tali ‘a e ‘ohomohe fakalaumalie mo e ‘Eiki.

‘Oku ou fakafeta’i ‘i hono faka’ataa au ‘e he ‘Otua ke u mamata (ko ha me’a na’a ku faka’amu ki ai ‘i he’eku nofo monike) ki ha kau ma’oni’oni tokolahi ‘i he fononga’anga.

Falaite Ma’asi 4, 2022 

LIGHT FOR THE DARKNESS

MAAMA KI HE FAKAPO’ULI

SAAME 119:105

Ko ho‘o folofola ko e tūhulu ki he‘eku laka, Mo e maama ki hoku hala.

PSALM 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Keep the light of truth burning, and thieves will not dare to plunder your house. Oh, for a church of believers in Jesus who know why they believe in Him; persons who believe the Bible and know what it contains; who believe the doctrines of grace and know the bearings of those truths; who know where they are and what they are, and who therefore dwell in the light, and cannot be deceived by the prince of darkness!

Do, dear friends—I speak specially to the younger among us—let there be plenty of teaching in your ministry. I fear that sermons are too often judged by their words rather than by their sense. Let it not be so with you. Feed the people always with knowledge and understanding, and let your preaching be solid, containing food for the hungry, healing for the sick, and light for those who sit in darkness.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Tutu ‘a e maama ‘o e mo’oni ke ulo ma’u pe, pea ‘e ‘ikai ha kaiha’a te ne hae ho fale. Ke tau ma’u ha siasi ‘oku nau tui mo’oni kia Sisu mo nau ‘ilo’i ‘a e ‘uhinga ‘oku nau tui ai kiate Ia; ha ka kakai ‘oku nau tui ki he Tohitapu mo e koloa ‘oku hiki ‘i loto he tohi; ‘oku nau tui ki he ngaahi tokateline ‘o e kelesi pea nau ‘ilo ‘a e ngaahi makatu’unga ‘o e mo’oni ‘oku ‘i ai; ‘oku nau ‘ilo ‘a hono kumi ‘o e ngaahi potu tohi kehekehe mo honau ngaahi mo’oni - ‘io, ko kinautolu ‘oku nau nofo ma’u ‘i he maama, ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘e he pilinisi ‘o e fakapo’uli ke lohiaki’i kinautolu.

Si’i ngaahi kaungame’a - ‘oku ou tokanga ki he kau talavou - mo tokanga ke ako’i ‘a e Tohitapu. ‘Oku ou manavasi’i ko e malanga, ‘oku lahi ange ‘a e tokanga ki he malie ‘a e lea ‘oku ngaue’aki, ‘i he kakano ‘o e me’a ‘oku malanga’i. ‘Oua na’a pehee kimoutolu. Fafanga ma’u pe ‘a e kakai ‘aki ‘a e ‘ilo mo e mo’oni, pea ke pau ‘a e me’a ‘oku ke malanga’i; ke hoko ke ma’u me’atokoni ai ‘a e fiekaia, faito’o ‘a e mahaki’ia, pea fakamaama ‘akinautolu ‘oku nau ‘i he fakapo’uli.

Tu’apulelulu Ma’asi 3, 2022

THE PURE GOSPEL

KO E KOOSIPELI HAOHAOA

LUKE 2:30

My eyes have seen your salvation.

LUKE 2:30

He kuo mamata ‘a hoku mata ki ‘ao fakamo‘ui‘anga.

He kuo mamata ‘a hoku mata ki ho’o fakamo’ui (paaki ‘a Uesi)

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

If Joseph and Mary had judged according to outward appearances, they would have considered Christ no more than a poor child. But they disregard the outward appearance and cling to the words of Simeon with a firm faith, therefore they marvel at his speech. Thus we must also disregard all the senses when contemplating the works of God, and only cling to His words, so that our eyes and our senses may not offend us.

The fact that they were marveling at the words of Simeon is also mentioned to teach us that the Word of God is never preached in vain, as we read in Isaiah 55:11: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Thus the Evangelist would say that Simeon delivered a warmhearted, beautiful sermon, preaching the pure Gospel and the Word of God. For the Gospel is nothing but a sermon whose theme is Christ, declaring Him to be the Savior, light, and glory of all the world. Such preaching fills the heart with joy and wonder at this great grace and comfort, if it is received in faith.

MARTIN LUTHER

Kapau na’e fai ‘aki pe ‘e Mele mo Siosifa ‘ena vakai fakatu’asino, na’a na lau pe ‘a Kalaisi ko e ki’i tamasi’i valevale pe. Ka na’a na si’aki ‘a e me’a ‘o tu’a, ‘o na pipiki ki he lau ‘a Simione ‘aki ‘ena tui falala, pea na’a na ofoofo ‘i he lea na’a ne fai. ‘I he founga tatau, kuopau ke tau li’aki ‘etau ngaahi ongo fakaenatula ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau vakai ai ki he ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o tau pikitai pe ki he’ene folofola, he ka ‘ikai, te tau toe humu pe mo tukia ‘i hotau mata mo hotau ngaahi ongo’anga.

Ko e mo’oni ‘o e ofoofo ‘a Mele mo Siosifa ‘i he lea na’e fai ‘e Simione, na’e ‘uhinga hoko hiki, ke fakamahino kiate kitautolu, ‘oku ‘ikai ke iku launoa ‘a hono malanga’i ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, hange ko e lau ‘a ‘Aisea; “ ‘e pehē pē mo ‘eku lea ‘oku ‘alu atu mei hoku ngutu: ‘e ‘ikai foki nge‘esi mai, kae‘oua ke ne fai ‘a e me‘a ne u loto ki ai, mo fakaa‘u ‘a e me‘a ne u fekau atu ai ia” (‘Aisea 55:11). Pea ko ia, ‘oku tuku mai ‘e Sione ‘a e fo’i malanga mafana mo malie ‘a Simione, ‘a ia ‘oku ne ‘omi ai ‘a e Kosipeli ta’e hu’i mo haohaoa ‘o e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua. He ko e Kosipeli, ko e fo’i malanga, pea ko hono kaveinga ko Kalaisi, ‘o fakahaa’i mai ai, ko Iaa ko e Fakamo’ui, maama, pea mo e langilangi ‘o mamani kotoa. Ko e fa’ahing malanga ia ‘oku ne fakafonu ‘a e loto ‘aki ‘a e fiefia mo e fakaofo fau ‘o e mahulu atu ‘o e kelesi mo e fiemalie, ‘o ka tali ‘i he tui falala mo’oni.

Puleulu Ma’asi 2, 2022

GOSPEL DOCTRINE

KO E TOKATELINE ‘O E KOSIPELI

JOHN 20:31

These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

SIONE 20:31

ka kuo tohi ‘eni koe‘uhi ke mou tui KO SĪSŪ KO E MĪSAIA IA, KO E ‘ALO ‘O E ‘OTUA: pea ‘i ho‘omou tui ke mou ma‘u mo‘ui ‘i hono HUAFA.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

They have omitted nothing of that which is necessary to salvation. And when we say that the apostles and evangelists have faithfully recorded all the doctrine of the Gospel, we understand they have truly added nothing of their own as far as the substance of the doctrine is concerned, but they have obeyed with precision and simplicity what the Lord had said to them: “Go, preach all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).

 

Saint Paul (Acts 20:27; Galatians 1:9) and Saint Peter (1 Peter 1:25) testify how conscientious they have been and how particular in this area. That is why Saint Jerome, writing on this subject, says, "Chatter and babbling must not be believed without the authority of Holy Scripture." And Saint Augustine says even more clearly, "It is true that the Lord Jesus did many things which have not all been written down; for the Evangelist himself testifies that Jesus Christ said and did much that has not been written down. But God has chosen to have written down those things which are sufficient for the salvation of those who believe."

 

THEODORE BEZA

 

‘Oku ‘ikai ha me’a na’e ta’e hiki (lekooti) mai felave’i mo hotau fakamo’ui. Pea kapau ‘oku tau pehē na’e faitotonu ‘a e kau ‘apositolo mo e kau ‘evangelio ‘i hono lekooti mo hono hiki ‘o e ngaahi tokateline ‘o e Kosipeli, pea ‘oku malava pe ke tau pehē, na’e ‘ikai te nau toe tānaki ha me’a kehe ki ai, ka na’u nau talangofua pau ki he fekau ‘a e ‘Eiki; “ako‘i kinautolu ke tauhi ‘a e ngaahi me‘a kotoa pē kuo u tu‘utu‘uni atu” (Matiu 28:20).

 

Ko e ngaahi lau eni ‘a Paula fekau’aki mo ‘ene taukave ma’ae koosipeli:  “He na‘e ‘ikai te u taetae ‘a e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua ka na‘a ku fakahā atu hono kotoa” (Ngaue 20:27);  “Hangē ko ‘emau lea mu‘a, ko ia ‘oku ou toe tala ni, kapau ‘e malanga‘aki atu ‘e ha taha ha kōsipeli ‘oku makehe atu mo ia na‘a mou ma‘u, ke ne hoko ko e mala‘ia” (Kaletia 1:9). Pea ko e lau eni ‘a Pita:  (1 Pita 1:25 - “Pea ko ia ia ‘a e folofola ne ‘atu kiate kimoutolu ‘i he malanga‘aki ‘o e Kōsipeli” (1 Pita 1:25). Na’a na fakaha mahino ‘ena tukupa ki he kosipeli totonu mo mo’oni. Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e pehee ai ‘e he taha ‘o e kau takimu’a ‘o e siasi, “ko e ngaahi valau mo e longoa’a kehekehe ‘a e kakai, ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke tali ‘okapau ‘oku ‘ikai makatu’unga ‘i he mafai ‘o e Folofola ma’oni’oni.” Na’e toe mahino ange ‘a e lea ‘a ‘Akositaine he‘ene pehee, “‘Oku mo’oni na’e lahi ‘a e ngaahi me’a na’e fai ‘e Sisu Kalaisi na’e ‘ikai ke hiki; he na’e ‘osi talamai ‘e he ‘evangelio ko Sione;  na‘e lahi foki mo e ngaahi ngāue mana ne feia ‘e Sīsū ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e kau ako, ‘a ia kuo ‘ikai tohi; ka na’e filifili pe ‘e he ‘Otua ke hiki ‘a e ngaahi me’a na’e fe’unga mo taau ke ma’u ai ‘a e fakamo’ui ‘o kinautolu te nau tui.”

Tusite Ma’asi 1, 2022 

JUST AS THE BIBLE SAYS

TATAU TOFU PE MO E TALA ‘A E TOHITAPU

LUKE 2:20 KJV

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

LUKE 2:20

Pea foki atu ‘a e kau tauhi sipi, mo nau fakafeta‘i mo fakamālō ki he ‘Otua; koe‘uhi ko e ngaahi me‘a na‘a nau fanongo ki ai, pea mo ia na‘a nau mātā, ‘oku na tuha mo e me‘a na‘e tala mai.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

If you have seen Jesus with the God-giving sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harp strings, but loud to the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp. One point for which (the shepherds) praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence-"As it was told unto them." Have you not found the Gospel to be in yourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said He would give you rest—have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in Him? He said you should have joy, and comfort, and life through believing in Him-have you not received all these? Are not His ways of pleasantness, and His paths of peace? Surely you can say with the queen of Sheba, "The half has not been told me" (1 King 10:7).

I have found Christ more sweet than His servants ever said He was. I looked upon His likeness as they painted it, but it was a mere daub compared with Himself; for the King in His beauty outshines all imaginable loveliness.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Kapau kuo ke mamata kia Sisu ‘aki ‘a e mata ‘o e tui kuo ‘atu ‘e he ‘Otua, ‘oua te ke nofo mūnoa ai, ka ke kalangaekina le’o lahi ‘a ‘ene kelesi aoniu, fai ha hiva mo ta ha’ape ki ai. Ko e poini mahu’inga na’e tu’unga ai ‘a e fakafeta’i ‘a e kau tauhisipi, ko e tatau ‘a e me’a na’a nau ongona´ mo e me’a na’a nau mamata ki ai; “ ‘oku na tuha mo e me’a na’e tala.” Kuo ke fakamo’oni’i ‘a e  koosipeli ‘o fakatatau ki he lau ‘a e Tohitapu? Talamai ‘e Sisu te ne ‘atu ha malōlō - ‘oku ke ma’u ‘a e mo’ui nonga makehe ‘iate Ia? Na’a ne talamai, te ke ma’u ‘a e fiefia, fiemalie mo e mo’ui ‘i ho’o tui falala kiate Iaa - kuo ke ma’u ‘a e ngaahi me’a ni? ‘Ikai, ‘oku fungani mo lelei ‘a hono ngaahi ‘alunga? ‘Io, te ke lea fakataha mo e Kuini ‘o Sipa, “pea tā ko e vaeua na‘e ‘ikai tala mai” (1 Tu’i 10:7).

‘Oku ‘ikai toe loi ‘a e mahulu hake ‘a e vovo ‘o Kalaisi ‘o hono ongoongo. ‘Oku ou vakai ki hono ‘ata ‘oku ta valivali, ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha kakunga mo hono ‘ata mo’oni; he ko e langilangi mo e naunau ‘o e Tu’i, ‘oku ope atu ‘a hono faka’ofo’ofa ‘i he fakakaukau ‘a e tangata.