Tokonaki Me 7, 2022

FAITH IN CHRIST

TUI KIA KALAISI

ACTS 4:11-12

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

NGAUE 4:11-12

Ko e toko taha ko ia, ko e maka na‘e ta‘etoka‘i ‘e kimoutolu tufunga ‘a ē kuo hoko ko e maka lahi ‘o e tuliki. ‘Io, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke tu‘u ‘i ha taha kehe ‘a e fakamo‘ui; he tala‘ehai ‘oku ‘i ai mo ha hingoa kehe ‘i he lalo langi kuo fokotu‘u ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e kakai, ‘a ia kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke tau mo‘ui ai.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

It is true, indeed, that faith has respect to God only; but to this we should add that it acknowledges Jesus Christ whom He has sent. God would remain far off, concealed from us, were we not irradiated by the brightness of Christ. All that the Father had, He deposited with His only begotten Son, in order that He might manifest Himself in Him, and thus by the communication of blessings, express the true image of His glory. Since, as has been said, we must be led by the Spirit, and thus stimulated to seek Christ, so must we also remember that the invisible Father is to be sought nowhere but in this image.

For which reason Augustine treating of the object of faith, elegantly says, “The thing to be known is, whither we are to go, and by what way," and immediately after infers that "the surest way to avoid all errors is to know him who is both God and man. It is to God we tend, and it is by man we go, and both of these are found only in Christ."

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku mo’oni, ko e TUI, ‘oku fai pe ia ki he ‘Otua; ka te tau tanaki atu pe mo e mo’oni ko eni ki ai; ‘oku fakahaa’i foki ai mo Sisu Kalaisi na’e fekau’i mai ‘e he ‘Otua. Na’a tau mei nofo va mama’o pe mo e ‘Otua, ka ne ta’e’oua, ‘a hono hulungia kitautolu ‘e he maama ‘o Kalaisi. Ko e me’a kotoa ‘a e Tamai, na’a ne lilingi ki Hono ‘Alo tofu-pe-tahaa, kae lava ke fakaha mai ‘a e ‘Otua, fou ‘i he ‘Alo; pea ke fakafou mai ai ‘a e tapuaki mo e ‘ata totonu ‘o Hono langilangi. Ka na’e pau ke tomu’a tataki kitautolu ‘e he Laumalie, ke tau lava ke kumi kia Kalaisi, pea ko e founga pe eni ‘e lava ai ke tau kumi ki he Ta’ehamai, ‘o fou ‘ia Kalaisi pe.

Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e pehee ai ‘e ‘Akositaine, “ko e me’a ke tau ‘ilo’i, pe ko ‘etau a’u tonu pea mo e hala ke tau fou ai, ko e founga lelei taha ke tau hao ai mei he fehalaaki, ko ‘etau ‘ilo’i IA, ko e ‘Otua mo tangata. ‘Oku tau tauhi ki he ‘Otua, pea tau fou ki he tangata, pea ‘oku ma’u loua ‘ia Kalaisi.”

Falaite Me 6, 2022

THE POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST

KO E MAFAI ‘O E TUI KIA KALAISI

ROMANS 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

LOMA 6:22

Ka ‘i he tu‘u ko eni, ‘i he fakatau‘atāina kimoutolu meia Angahala, kae fakapōpula kimoutolu ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘i ai hamou fua, ko e fua ‘oku taki he haohaoa, pea ko e iku‘anga ko e mo‘ui ta‘engata.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Now, the effects which Jesus Christ produces in us, when we have taken hold of Him by faith, are two. In the first place, there is the testimony which the Holy Spirit gives to our spirit that we are children of God, and enables us to cry with assurance, "Abba, Father". (Rom 8:16; Gal 4:6). In the second place, we must understand that when we apply to ourselves Jesus Christ by faith, this is not by some silly and vain fancy and imagining, but really and in fact, though spiritually (Rom 6:14; 1 John 1:6; 2:5; 3:7).

In the same way as the soul produces its effects when it is naturally united to the body, so, when, by faith, Jesus Christ dwells in us in a spiritual manner, His power produces there and reveals there His graces. These are described in Scripture by the words ‘regeneration' and 'sanctification', and they make us new creatures with regard to the qualities that we can have (John 3:3; Eph 4:21-24).

THEODORE BEZA

Ko e ola ‘o e ngaue ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ‘iate kitautolu, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau ma’u ai Ia ‘i he TUI, ‘oku ua. ‘Uluaki, ko e fakamo’oni ‘oku fai ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ki hotau laumalie, ko e fanau kitautolu ‘a e ‘Otua, pea lava ai ke tau kalanga mo e loto pau’ia, “Apaa Tamai” (Loma 8:16; Kaletia 4:6). Ko hono ua, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau ma’u ai ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ki he’etau mo’ui ‘i he TUI, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a si’isi’i pe launoa, ka ko e fo’i mo’oni fakalaumalie ‘oku pau pea mo’oni (Loma 6:14; 1 Sione 1:6; 2:5; 3:7).

‘I he founga tatau, ‘i he taimi ‘oku fakatupu mai ai ‘e he laumalie ‘a e ngaahi fua ‘o tuha mo ‘ene taha mo e sino, ‘oku pehee pe mo e TUI, ‘i he nofo’ia kitautolu ‘e Sisu Kalaisi, ‘i Hono mafai, ‘oku Ne fakatupu mo ne fakae’a mai ‘a ‘Ene ngaahi kelesi. Ko e ngaahi ngaue eni ‘oku ui ‘e he Folofola, ko e “fanau’i fo’ou” mo e “fakama’oni’oni,” pea ‘oku fai ai hotau fakatupu fo’ou ‘o fakatatau ki he mo’ui fo’ou ‘oku tau ma’u (Sione 3:3; ‘Efeso 4:21-24).

Tu’apulelulu Me 5, 2022 

FAITH THAT FACES ENEMIES

KO E TUI ‘OKU FEHANGAHANGAI MO E FILI

PSALM 27:3

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

SAAME 27:3

Neongo ‘e nofo‘i mai ha kongakau, Ko hoku loto ‘e ‘ikai manavahē: Neongo ‘e tu‘u kiate au ‘a e tau, Na‘a mo ia te u falala pē.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

My friends, take care of your faith perpetually, because of  your enemies; for if you do no want faith when you are with friends, you will require it when you have to deal with your foes. That good old warrior, Paul, once led the Ephesians into the armoury, and after he had shown them the shoes they were to wear, the girdle, the breast plate, the helmet, and the sword, he solemnly said, "Above all take the shield of faith."

Even if you forget the helmet, be quite sure of the shield, for if your helmet should be off you may ward off a blow with the shield, and save it from your head. You had better put on "shoes of peace and the breast-plate of righteousness,” but if you omit one of them, take care that you have the shield of faith, where with you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Faith makes a man very mighty when he deals with enemies.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Si’oku ngaahi kaungame’a, tokanga ki ho’o tui ma’u pe, koe’uhi he ‘oku siofi koe ‘e ho ngaahi fili; he kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te ke tokanga ki ai ‘i ho’o nofo mo ho ngaahi kaungame’a, tala atu, te ke piki ki ho’o tui ‘o ka ke fehangahangai mo ho ngaahi fili. Ko e to’a ko ia ko Paula, na’a ne taki ‘a e kau ‘Efeso ki he loki ‘o e naunau tau. Pea hili ‘ene faka’ali’ali ange kiate kinautolu ‘a e su ke nau tui, mo e ha’i, mo e kofu tau, mo e tataa tau, mo e heleta, na’a ne tapou ange, ke nau “ to’o ‘a e pa ‘o e tui.”

Neongo ka ngalo ‘a e tataa, ‘ai pe pe pau ‘a e pa, he ka to ‘a e tataa, te ke lava pe ke pale’i ha ta ‘aki ‘a e paa, ke kei hao pe ha lavea ki ho ‘ulu. ‘Ai ‘a e su ‘o e fakamelino mo e kofu tau ‘o e ma’oni’oni, pea neongo ka hala ha taha ‘i he ongo me’a ko eni, tokanga ke ke ma’u pe ‘a e pa ‘o e tui; te ke kei lava pe ke pale’i ‘a e ngaahi ngahau vela ‘a e tevolo. ‘Oku ngaohi ‘e he TUI ha tangata ke kaukaua ‘i he’ene fehangahangai mo hono ngaahi fili.

 

Pulelulu Me 4, 2022

AN INSTRUMENT OF FAITH

KO E ME’ANGAUE ‘O E TUI

JOHN 3:17-18

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

SIONE 3:17-18

He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

It is necessary therefore that with all this, the good Father, who chose us for His glory, should come to multiply His mercy toward His enemies. In declaring to us that He has given His own only Son so that whosoever takes hold of Him by faith should not perish (John 3:16), He creates also in us this instrument of faith which He requires from us.

Now, the faith of which we speak does not consist only in believing that God is God, and that the contents of His Word are true; for the devils indeed have this faith, and it only makes them tremble (James 2:19). But we call faith a certain knowledge which, by His grace and goodness alone, the Holy Spirit engraves more and more in the hearts of the elect of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). By this knowledge, each of them, being assured in his heart of his election, appropriates to himself and applies to himself the promise of his salvation in Jesus Christ.

THEODORE BEZA

Pea ‘i hono fakahoko kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me’a ni, ko e Tamai lelei, ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio na’a ne fili kitautolu ma’a hono langilangi, na’a ne lilingi mai ‘Ene meesi ke ‘inasi ai ‘a hono ngaahi fili. ‘I he’ene fakaha mai kuo ne foaki mai Hono ‘Alo tofu-pe-tahaa, ki ha taha te ne ma’u Ia ‘i he tui, ‘e ‘ikai te ne ‘auha (Sione 3:16), ‘oku ne fakatupu ‘iate kitautolu ha me’angaue ‘o e tui, ‘a ia ‘oku ne fiema’u meiate  kitautolu.

Ko e TUI ‘oku tau talanoa ki ai, ‘oku ‘ikai ko e ‘uhinga pe ki he tui ‘oku ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Otuaa, pea ‘oku mo’oni ‘a e Folofola; he na’a mo e fanga tevolo ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e tui ko eni pea ‘oku nau tete (Semisi 2:19). Ka ‘oku tau ui ‘a e tui ko eni, ko ha fa’ahinga ‘ilo, ‘oku fou ‘i he ‘Ene kelesi mo e angalelei, ‘oku hanga ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ‘o tongi ke tupu fakautuutu ‘i he loto ‘o e kakai fili ‘a e ‘Otua (1 Kolinito 2:6-8). Pea ‘oku fou ‘i he ‘ilo ko eni, ko ‘ene kakai, ‘i he’enau pau’ia ‘i honau loto ‘a honau tu’unga fili, ‘oku nau fakahoko ‘i he’enau mo’ui ‘a e palomesi ‘o e fakamo’ui ‘oku ma’u ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi.

Tusite Me 3, 2022

PRESERVING OUR LIBERTY

TAUKAPO’I ‘ETAU TAU’ATAINA

GALATIANS 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 KALETIA 5:1

KO E tau‘atāina koā na‘e fakatau‘atāina kitaua ki ai ‘e Kalaisi? Pe‘i mou tu‘u ma‘u ai, pea ‘oua te mou toe mo‘ua ‘i he ‘ioke fakapōpula.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

On the question of justification we must remain adamant, or else we shall lose the truth of the Gospel. It is a matter of life and death. It involves the death of the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world. If we surrender faith in Christ as the only thing that can justify us, the death and resurrection of Jesus are without meaning; that Christ is the Savior of the world would be a myth. God would be a liar, because He would not have fulfilled His promises.

Our stubbornness is right, because we want to preserve the liberty which we have in Christ. Only by preserving our liberty shall we be able to retain the truth of the Gospel inviolate. Some will object that the Law is divine and holy. Let it be divine and holy. The Law has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it.

MARTIN LUTHER

Fekau’aki mo e kaveinga ‘o e fakatonuhia, kuopau ke tau piki ma’u ki ai, ka ‘ikai ‘e mole meiate kitautolu ‘a e mo’oni ‘o e Kosipeli. ‘Oku makatu’unga mei heni ‘etau mo’ui mo e mate. ‘Oku felave’i eni mo e pekia ‘a e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua ma’ae angahala ‘a mamani. Kapau te tau li’aki ‘a Kalaisi, ko e founga pe ia ‘e taha ‘oku ne fai hotau fakatonuhia, pea ‘e hoko pe ‘a e pekia mo e toetu’u ‘a Sisu, ko e me’a noa. Pea ‘e hoko pe ‘a e lau ko Kalaisi ‘a e Fakamo’ui, ko ha talanoa tupu’a pe. ‘E hoko ‘a e ‘Otua ko e loi (tapu mo Ia), he ‘e taku ‘oku ‘ikai te ne fakaai ‘ene ngaahi palomesi.

Ko ‘etau piki mate he mo’oni ko eni, koe’uhi ko ‘etau feinga ke taukapo’i ‘a e tau’ataina ‘oku tau ma’u ‘ia Kalaisi. ‘Oku toki hoko ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau taukapo’i (fakatolonga) ai ‘etau tau’ataina, ‘a ‘etau ma’u ‘a e mo’ui ‘o e Kosipeli mo’oni. ‘E talamai ‘e he ni’ihi, ‘oku lelei ange ‘a e Lao he ‘oku faka-langi. Pea sai pe ia, ke hoko ‘a e Lao ko ha me’a faka-langi mo fakatupu ma’oni’oni. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha totonu ‘a e Lao ke ne fai hoku fakatonuhia’i.

Monite Me 2, 2022

BLESSED ARE THE BELIEVERS

MONU’IAA KA KO E KAU TUI

JOHN 20:28-29

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

SIONE 20:29

Tali ‘a Tōmasi, ‘o ne pehē ki ai, Ko hoku ‘Eiki pē, mo hoku ‘Otua! Pea folofola ki ai ‘a Sīsū, ‘o pehē, Kuo ke tui koā koe‘uhi kuo ke mamata kiate au? monū‘ia ā ka ko kinautolu ne ‘ikai mamata, ka nau tui pē.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

 

This verse is as good an image of faith as well can be; we know that Jesus had about Him merit, and power, and blessing, which we do not possess, and therefore we gladly trust ourselves to Him to be to us what we cannot be to ourselves. We trust Him as the blind man trusts his guide. He never betrays our confidence, but He “is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor 1:30).

 

Every boy that goes to school has to exert faith while learning. His schoolmaster teaches him geography and instructs him as to the form of the earth, and the existence of certain great cities and empires. The boy does not himself know that these things are true, except that he believes his teacher, and the books put into his hands. That is what you will have to do with Christ, if you are to be saved; you must simply know because He tells you, believe because He assures you it is even so, and trust yourself with Him because He promises you that salvation will be the result.

 

CHARLES SPURGEON

 

Ko e taha eni ‘i ha veesi lelei ki hono ‘omi ‘o e ‘ata mahino ‘o e tui. ‘Oku tau ‘ilo na’e kakato ‘ia Sisu ‘a e mafai, ivi mo e tapuaki, ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau ma’u, pea ‘oku tau falala kakato kiate Ia ke ne ‘omi ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘oku tau masiva ai. ‘Oku tau falala kiate Ia, hange ko e falala ‘a ha tangata kui ki hono fakataukei. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne va’inga ‘aki ‘etau falala ange kiate Ia, he kuo “ngaohi Ia ‘e he ‘Otua, “ko hotau poto‘anga, ko hotau fakatonuhia mo fakamā‘oni‘oni‘anga, pea mo hotau huhu‘i” (1 Kolinito 1:30).

 

Ko e tamasi’i ako kotoa pe, ‘oku ne ngaue’aki ‘a e tui ‘i he taimi ‘oku ako ai. ‘Oku ako’i ia ‘e he faiako, ‘i he siokalafi mo e ngaahi ‘ilo kehekehe ki mamani, pea ke ne ‘ilo ki ha ngaahi kolo lalahi mo ha ngaahi pule’anga hau. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke ‘ilo ‘e he ki’i tamasi’i ako pe ‘oku mo’oni ‘a e ngaahi me’a ko ‘eni pe ‘ikai, tukukehe, ‘oku ne tui ki he fakamatala ‘a e faiako mo e ngaahi tohi ‘oku tufa ange ke ako mei ai.

 

Ko e me’a eni kuopau ke ke fai ‘i ho’o ako kia Kalaisi, kapau te ke fie mo’ui. Kuopau ke ke ‘ilo ki he ngaahi mo’oni ko eni, he kuo ne ‘osi talamai. Tui ki ai he kuo ne ‘osi fakapapau’i mai. Pea ke tuku atu kiate Ia ho’o falala he kuo ne ‘osi palomesi mai te ke ma’u ‘a e mo’ui.

 Sapate Me 1, 2022

FAITH IN GOD'S WILL

TUI KI HE FINANGALO ‘O E ‘OTUA

PROVERBS 30:5-6

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

PALOVEPI 30:5

Ko e folofola kotoa ‘a ‘Elohā kuo ‘osi-‘a-sivi; Ko e fakaū ia kiate kinautolu kuo hūfanga kiate ia. ‘Oua te ke fakalahi ki he‘ene ngaahi lea; Na‘a ne fakamāu‘i koe, pea ke hā ko e loi.

‘Oku ma‘a ‘a e folofola kotoa be ‘a e ‘Otua: bea ko e uga‘aga ia kiate kinautolu kotoa be ‘oku falala kiate ia. (Paaki ‘a Uesi)

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Paul designates faith as the obedience which is given to the Gospel (Romans 1:5); and writing to the Philippians, he commends them for the obedience of faith (Philippians 2:17). For faith includes not merely the knowledge that God is, but also, nay chiefly, a perception of His will toward us. It concerns us to know not only what He is in Himself, but also in what character He is pleased to manifest Himself to us.

We now see, therefore, that faith is the knowledge of the divine will in regard to us, as ascertained from His Word. And the foundation of it is a previous persuasion of the truth of God. So long as your mind entertains any misgivings as to the certainty of the Word, its authority will be weak and dubious, or rather it will have no authority at all. Nor is it sufficient to believe that God is true, and cannot lie or deceive, unless you feel firmly persuaded that every word which proceeds from Him is sacred, inviolable truth.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku fakalea ‘e Paula ‘a e tui´, ko e talangofua ‘oku fakavaivai ki he Kosipeli (Loma 1:5); pea ‘i he’ene tohi ki he kau lotu ‘i Filipai, na’a ne fakahikihiki’i kinautolu ‘i he’enau talangofua fou ‘i he’enau tui (Filipai 2:17). He ko e tui, ‘oku ‘ikai ko e ‘ilo pe ki he ‘Otua, ka ‘oku kau ai, pea hiliō ‘a e ‘ilo ki hono finangalo kiate kitautolu. ‘Oku mahu’inga ke tau ‘ilo ki he ‘Otua, ‘o ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i hono natula ‘Otua, ka ke tau ‘ilo foki mo hono ‘ulungaanga ‘oku ne finangalo lelei ke fotu mai ‘aki kiate kitautolu.

‘Oku tau vakai leva ki he me’oni ko eni, ko e tui, ko e ‘ilo ki hono finangalo faka-’Otua kiate kitautolu, ‘o fakatatau ki he’ene Folofola. Pea ko e makatu’unga ki he ‘ilo ko eni, ko e mo’oni pe ‘a e ‘Otua kuo ne ‘osi fakaha mai. Pea kapau ‘oku ‘i ai ha tala’a ‘iate koe fekau’aki mo e mo’oni ‘o ‘Ene Folofola, pea ‘e vaivai ‘a e mafai ko ia kiate koe, ‘isa, ‘e ‘ikai ‘aupito ha mafai kiate koe. ‘Io, ‘e ‘ikai fe’unga ke ke tui ‘oku mo’oni ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha loi pe ko ha tokateline fakahee, kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te ke tui ki he mo’oni ‘o e Folofola, ko e fou tonu meiate Ia, pea ko e fo’i mo’oni ta’etoeue’ia.

METHOD TO HELP YOU GET MORE FROM YOUR SCRIPTURE READING:

** for the verse or verses of the day, try to follow this method on your own to get more from your reading. I strongly encourage you to use a notebook or a diary to journal your daily devotional.

Example:

P         Plot – write the Scripture text for the day(the passage)

            Promise – identify a promise from the passage (truth) and write it down.

            Proclamation – this will be a command to obey

L          Link – this step requires you to read “back” (previous verses) and   read “forward” (beyond the passage) for “context” – the full       picture. Tie ideas or doctrines together. Parallel verses would also          be listed here. Linking a thought, idea, concept and teaching to a         current reading is very important in coming to a better understanding of Scripture.

O         Ontology (’Otua) – what does the text say about God? Christ or                 the Gospel

W         Worker (us) – what doe the text say about man (directly or                                                           indirectly)

            we the people (our condition, our need)

            we worship - write out a prayer based on what you learned today

            we work - write out a commitment to act on today’s lesson