Monite Novema 7, 2022

CHRIST'S ULTIMATE AIM

KO E KAVEINGA AOFANGATUKU ‘A KALAISI

JOHN 7:18

"Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth."

SIONE 7:18

Ko ia ‘oku lea meiate ia pē, ‘oku ne tuli pē ki hono ongoongo ‘o‘ona; ka ko ia ‘oku ne tuli ki he ongoongo ‘o ia na‘a ne fekau mai ia, ko e toko taha ko ia ‘oku mo‘oni, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha ta‘etotonu ‘i ai.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

The Scripture leads us to suppose that Christ sought God's glory as His highest and last end. John 7:18 [says,] "He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." When Christ says He did not seek His own glory, we cannot reasonably understand that He had no regard to His own glory, even the glory of the human nature; for the glory of that nature was part of the reward promised Him and of the joy set before Him.

But we must understand that this was not His ultimate aim; it was not the end that chiefly governed His conduct, and therefore, when in opposition to this, in the latter part of the sentence, He says, "But he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true." It is natural from the antithesis to understand that this was His ultimate aim, His supreme governing end.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Sapate Novema 6, 2022

VIRTUOUS AFFECTION

KO E ‘OFA FAKA-’OTUA

EPHESIANS 3:21

To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

‘EFESO 3:21

‘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.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

The glory of God appears, by the account given in Scripture, delight in which, the best part of the moral world, and when in their best frames, most naturally express the direct tendency of the Spirit of true goodness, the virtuous and pious affections of their heart. This is the way in which the holy apostles, from time to time, gave vent to the ardent exercises of their piety and breathed forth their regard to the Supreme Being: Romans 11:36: "To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Romans 16:27: "To God only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen." Galatians 1:4-5: "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18: "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Tokonaki Novema 5, 2022 

AMBITION THAT FIRES YOUR SOUL

KO E HOHOI ‘OKU FAKATUPU MAFANA KI HOTAU LAUMALIE

ROMANS 11:36

From him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

LOMA 11:36

Seuke, ‘oku tefito ki he ‘Ene ‘Afio, pea fou ‘i He‘ene ‘Afio, pea iku ki he ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a e me‘a fuli pē. Ke ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio ‘a e kolōlia ‘o lauikuonga! ‘Ēmeni

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to Him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and only object, Let your desire for God's glory be a growing desire. Has God prospered you in business? Give Him more as He has given you more. Has God given you experience? Praise Him by stronger faith than you exercised at first. Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier times than you once had? Then give Him more music; put more coals and more sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically in your life give Him honour, putting the "Amen" to this doxology to your great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing holiness.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Falaite Novema 4, 2022

OUR HIGHEST END

KO ‘ETAU KAVEINGA TU‘UKIMU‘A

MATTHEW 6:9

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

MATIU 6:9

Ko ia ke peheni ha‘amoutolu lotu: Ko ‘emau Tamai ‘oku ‘i Hēvani, ke tāpuhā ho Huafa,

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

There are some things in the Word of God which lead us suppose of men and seek God's glory as their highest and last end in what they do. As particularly from 1 Corinthians 10:30: "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." And 1 Peter 4:11: "That God in all things may be glorified." And this may be argued, that Christ requires His followers should desire and seek God's glory in the first place, and above all things else, from that prayer which He gave His disciples as the pattern and rule, for the first petition of which is, "Hallowed be thy name." Which in Scripture language is the same with Glorified be Thy name; as is manifest from Leviticus 10:3, Ezekiel 28:22, and many other places.

Now our last and highest end is doubtless what should be first in our desires and consequently first in our prayers; and therefore we may argue that since Christ directs that God's glory should be first in our prayers, and therefore, we may argue, that since Christ directs that God's glory should be first in our prayers, that therefore this is our last end.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Tu’apulelulu Novema 3, 2022

A MOMENTARY AFFLICTION

FAINGATA‘A FAKATAIMI PE

2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 NKJV

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 KOLINITO 4:17

He ko homau mamahi ma‘ama‘a ni mo mole, ‘oku ne fakatupu ma‘amautolu ha lāngilangi mamafa mo ta‘engata, ko e me‘a fungani ‘i he fungani ange fau;

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

Suffering which God accepts must have God's glory as its a name or win I shall get no other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite also that love to Jesus, and love to His elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the Spirit of Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search and see if we truly suffer with Jesus. And if we do thus suffer, what is our "light affliction" compared with reigning with Him?

Oh it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ, and such an honour to stand in the pillory with Him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in present honour; but when the recompense is so eternal, so infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not take up the cross with alacrity, and go on our way rejoicing?

CHARLES SPURGEON

Pulelulu Novema 2, 2022

GOD'S GLORY IN THE SCRIPTURES

KO E KOLOLIA ‘O E ‘OTUA ‘I HE FOLOFOLA 

PSALM 111:3

Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.

SAAME 111:3

Ko e koto ngeia mo lāngilangi ‘a ‘ene fai anga: Pea ko ‘ene totonu ‘oku tu‘u ‘o ta‘engata.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

 

The Scripture speaks of God's glory as His ultimate end of the goodness of the moral part of the creation, and that end, in relation to which chiefly the value of their virtue consists. As in Philippians 1:10-11: "That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere, and without offence, till the day of Christ: being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Here the apostle shows how the fruits of righteousness in them are valuable, and how they answer their end, namely in being "by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God." John 15:8 [says,] "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Signifying that by this means it is that the great end of religion is to be answered. And in 1 Peter 5:11, the apostle directs the Christians to regulate all their religious performances with reference to that one end. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified; to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

 

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Tusite Novema 1, 2022 

GLITTER IN THE KING'S CROWN

FETAPAKI ‘i he KALAUNI ‘O E TU’I

1 PETER 5:10

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 PITA 5:10

Ka ko e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ‘a‘ana ‘a e kelesi kotoa pē, ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio kuo ne ui ange kimoutolu ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū ki he lāngilangi ta‘engata ‘o‘ona, ‘oka hili ho‘omou kātaki mamahi ‘o fuonounou, te ne fakakakato kimoutolu ‘e He‘ene ‘Afio, te ne poupou, te ne fakakaukaua, te ne pulusi ki he tu‘unga.

 

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Ki he Langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua Tokotaha pe   

Our prolonged stay here is doubtless for God's glory. A tried saint, like a well-cut diamond, glitters much in the King's crown. Nothing reflects so much honour on a workman as a protracted and severe trial of his work, and its triumphant endurance of the ordeal without giving way in any part.

We are God's workmanship, in whom He will be glorified by our afflictions. It is for the honour of Jesus that we endure the trial of our faith with sacred joy. Let cach man surrender his own longings to the glory of Jesus and feel, If my lying in the dust would elevate my Lord by so much as an inch, let me still lie among the pots of earth. If to live on earth forever would make my Lord more glorious, it should be my heaven to be shut out of heaven. Our time is fixed and settled by eternal decree. Let us not be anxious about it, but wait with patience till the gates of pearl shall open.

CHARLES SPURGEON