Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 21, 2018

Ko ‘etau fanongo tonu ki Hono Le‘ó

(we come to the Word as unto God Himself)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘i he tui, fufū ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

And then we practice it. Did Jesus say, "If you love me, you will have a tingling sensation in your heart"? No, he didn't say that, though that's wonderful. But he said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" John 14:15). So if we are serious about loving God, we must be very serious about obeying God and obeying his Word to us. That's the aim: to be transformed by it, to embrace it in faith, and to worship at his feet.

Really, in its simplest form, we ought to come to the Word of God with the same sort of attitude with which we'd come to God himself. If God spoke to you, which he does in the Scriptures, if God opened his mouth to us, how would we approach him? Well, think we would listen carefully. We would listen diligently. We would listen submissively. We would listen expectantly. And we'd listen with an aim to love and obey.

Prayer

Giver of the Word, help us to treasure your Scriptures as our most precious possession. May it be in our minds and on our lips. Let it transform our thinking and reform our living. Make us attentive students and devoted servants of your perfect Word. Amen.

Falaite ‘Epeleli 20, 2018

Fakafonu ‘etau mo‘uí ‘aki ‘a e Folofolá

(Store up His Word in our hearts)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘i he tui, fufū ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

When we come to the Bible, our aim is not just information. It’s never less than information-we're not against information. God uses that. But it's more than just information we're trying to get from the Bible. We want faith. That's what God wants: for us to accept the Word with faith, with a real delight, with a desire for it, a dependence upon it.

When we embrace God's Word with faith, we store it up in our hearts. Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan that if you would prick him, his blood would be bibline. He was so full of the Scriptures that it came out of him. That's what we want; that's why we store it up.

(faka-Tonga)

‘I he taimi ‘oku tau ha‘u ai ki he Folofolá, ‘oku ‘ikai ko e ‘uhinga ke ma‘u pe ha ngaahi ‘ilo pe fakamatala. ‘Oku ‘ikai kovi e ‘ilo ki he Folofolá, he ‘oku ngaue‘aki ‘e he ‘Otuá ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘oku tau ma‘u mei aí. Ka ‘oku mahulu atu ‘i he ngaahi ‘iló mo e ngaahi fakamatalá . ‘Oku tau fiema‘u ‘a e tuí. Ko e finangalo ia ‘o e ‘Otuá : ke tau ma‘u mo tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘aki ‘a e tui, mo e loto vekeveke, mo e loto hohoi ki ai pea mo e loto falala kakato ki ai.

‘I he taimi ‘oku tau pikitai ai ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ‘aki ‘a e tuí,  ‘oku tau fufū ia ki hotau lotó. Na‘e pehē ‘e Salesi Sepeisione kau kia Sione Puniani, kapau te ke huhu‘i ia ke lavea, ko e toto ‘e tafe meiate iá, ko e Folofola pe. Na‘e pito ‘ene mo‘uí  ‘i he Folofolá pea ko e me‘a pe ia ‘oku tafe meite ia. Ko e me‘a ia ‘oku tau fiema‘ú pea ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku tau tānaki ai ‘a e Folofolá  ke fonu ‘i he‘etau mo‘uí.

Tu‘apulelulu ‘Epeleli 19, 2018

‘Oku tau omi ki he Folofolá mo e loto ‘apasia

(we approach the Word with reverence)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘i he tui, fufū ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

That means we ought to approach Scripture with a special reverence and with special care. We come to the Bible very carefully. We want to be diligent. We want to be prepared. We want to take it seriously. And we also come to this book with a special reverence, because God is speaking to us. One of the ways to think of submitting to the Word is that we stop telling God what to do. God now speaks to us. A theologian once said that to be a Christian means you put your hand over your mouth and are silent. This doesn't mean that we can't ever cry out to God. Certainly the Psalms are full of that. But it means that we approach Scripture with reverence, wanting to hear from God, submitting ourselves fully to the Word of God.

Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 18, 2018

Ko e Folofola tonu pe eni ‘a e ‘Otuá

(This is the very words of God)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘i he tui, fufū ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG

The Bible is not just another book, and so we ought to approach it in a unique way. The Bible is God-breathed: "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Tim. 3:16). It's inspired. That doesn't mean that the Bible is inspiring. Now, it is inspiring. But whether anyone in the world is inspired by the Bible, the Bible is still inspired itself. It's God's Word to us. It's God exhaling, God opening his most hallowed lips and speaking to us. So, this Word is God's Word, and this Word is exactly what God wanted to be written down in Holy Scriptures.

(faka-Tonga)

Ko e Tohitapú  ‘oku makehe ia mei ha toe tohi pea ‘oku taau ke tau tokanga ki he tohi ni ‘i ha founga ‘oku makehe. Ko e Tohitapú, kuo fakamānava‘i: “Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pe ne fakamanava mei he ‘Otuá” (2 Timote 3:16). ‘Oku matangi lelei hono angá. ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga, ko e Tohitapú  ko e tohi laumālie lelei. ‘Ikai, ‘oku laumālie‘ia pe ia (matangi lelei – inspiring) he ‘oku mo‘ui. Pea neongo pe ‘e “ongo‘i” laumālie‘ia ai ha taha, ‘oku lolotonga fonu mo‘ui pe ‘a e Folofolá  ia ‘iate ia pe, he ‘oku mo‘ui. Ko e Folofola ia ‘a e ‘Otuá  kiate kitautolu. Ko e mānava ia ‘a e ‘Otuá ; ko e faka‘atā ia ‘e he ‘Otuá  hono fofonga tapuhā ke ne fakatau folofola (lea) mai kiate kitautolu. Ko ia ai, ko e ngaahi lea (folofola) ko ení, ko e Folofola tonu pe ia ‘a e ‘Otuá  kuo ne finangalo ke hiki ‘i he‘ene Tohitapú.

Tusite ‘Epeleli 17, 2018

Ha‘u mo e loto ‘apasia ‘o tali ‘ene Folofolá

(Come with reverence to receive from His Word)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘i he tui, fa‘oaki ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Commentary - THOMAS CRANMER

Wherefore I would advise you all that come to the reading or bearing of this book, which is the word of God, the most precious jewel and most holy relic that remaineth upon earth; that ye bring with you the fear of God, and that ye do it with all due reverence, and use your knowledge thereof, not to vain glory of frivolous disputation, but to the honor of God, increase of virtue, and edification both of yourselves and others.

‘Oku ou tapou atu kiate kimoutolu ‘oku mou omi ke lau mo fakamo‘oni ki he tohí ni, ‘a ia ko e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá, ko e taha‘i mata‘ikoloa mahu‘inga mo e me‘a toputapu taha ‘i he mamani ko ení ; ke ke ha‘u mo e loto manavahē ki he ‘Otuá, mo e loto ‘apasia, pea ke ma‘u ‘a e ‘ilo mo e poto mei aí, pea ‘oua te ke ‘afungi ai mo fakafekiki noa‘ia ‘aki, ka ke fakalangilangi‘i ai ‘a e ‘Otuá, pea ke tupu ‘i he mo‘ui faka-‘Otuá pea ke langa‘aki ai ‘a ho‘o tuí mo e mo‘ui ‘a e kakai kehé.

Monite ‘Epeleli 16, 2018

Ke ongoongoa ho huafá ‘i mamani ‘iate kimautolu

(may you Name be magnified in and through us)

Fehu‘i #41

Ko e hā ‘a e lotu ‘a e ‘Eikí ?

Ko ‘emau Tamai ‘oku ‘i Hevani, ke tāpuhā ho huafa, ke hoko mai ho‘o pule, ke fai ho finangalo. Hangē ko ia ‘i he langí, ke pehē foki ‘i mamani. Foaki mai he ‘aho ni ha‘amau me‘akai ki ‘anai. Pea fakamolemole ‘emau ngaahi mo‘uá, ‘o hangē ko ‘emau fakamolemole ‘a kinautolu ‘oku mo‘ua mai.  Pea ‘oua na‘a fakahū kimautolu ki he ‘ahi‘ahi kae fakahaofi kimautolu mei he filí.

What is the Lord's Prayer?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily your bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

MATIU 6:9

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

MATTHEW 6:9

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."

Commentary - JUAN SANCHEZ (cont…)

As long as we have breath in us, let us live to make the King's name famous, to hallow his name, both as a church and also as individual Christians, longing for his kingdom to come. Let us long for the return of Jesus, but know that until that day comes, he will pardon our sin, he will provide our daily bread, and he will protect us from the Evil One.

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, when we pray the prayer that you taught us us, keep us from reciting empty words. Let these petitions be the cries our hearts.  Bring your kingdom on earth to us and through us for your great name's sake. Amen.

Lolotonga ‘etau kei ma‘u ‘a e mānava mo‘ui, tau mo‘ui ke ‘iloa mo ongoongoa ‘a e huafa hotau Tu‘í ‘i mamani, ke tāpuhā hono huafá, ‘i hotau fatongia ko e siasi hāmai, pea ‘i he‘etau mo‘ui fakafo‘ituitui, ‘o tau nofo‘aki tali ki he hoko mai hono pule‘angá. Ke tau nofo‘aki tali ki he toe ha‘ele ‘angaua mai ‘a Sisuú, ka kimu‘a aí, te ne fakamolemole‘aki ‘etau angahalá, te ne tokonaki ki he‘etau fiema‘u faka‘ahó, pea te ne malu‘i mo fakahaofi kitautolu mei he filí.

Lotu

‘Alā si‘emau Tamai ‘oku ‘i Hevani, ‘i he taimi ‘oku mau fai ai ‘a e lotu na‘a ke ako‘i kiate kimautolú, tokoni mai ke ‘oua te mau lau ma‘uloto pe ‘a e ngaahi le‘á, ‘o hangē ha me‘a noá. Kae tuku ke hoko ia ko e tangi mo e to‘e mo‘oni mei homau lotó. ‘Ohifo ho pule‘angá kiate kimautolu pea ke fou atu ‘iate kimautolu koe‘uhí pe ko ho huafa lahí. ‘Emeni.

Sapate ‘Epeleli 15, 2018

‘Ai ‘a e kofutau ‘a e ‘Otuá

(we are in a spiritual battle – we put on God’s armor)

Fehu‘i #41

Ko e hā ‘a e lotu ‘a e ‘Eikí ?

Ko ‘emau Tamai ‘oku ‘i Hevani, ke tāpuhā ho huafa, ke hoko mai ho‘o pule, ke fai ho finangalo. Hangē ko ia ‘i he langí, ke pehē foki ‘i mamani. Foaki mai he ‘aho ni ha‘amau me‘akai ki ‘anai. Pea fakamolemole ‘emau ngaahi mo‘uá, ‘o hangē ko ‘emau fakamolemole ‘a kinautolu ‘oku mo‘ua mai.  Pea ‘oua na‘a fakahū kimautolu ki he ‘ahi‘ahi kae fakahaofi kimautolu mei he filí.

What is the Lord's Prayer?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily your bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

MATIU 6:9

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

MATTHEW 6:9

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."

Commentary - JUAN SANCHEZ (cont…)

The Lord's model prayer instructs us that we are utterly dependent upon our Father for all of our daily needs. I think modern-day people tend to forget this. Jesus said to pray in this way: "Give us this day our daily bread.” That is very humbling.

Finally, until God's kingdom comes we need to understand that we are engaged in a spiritual battle, and we need protection. We ask our King to protect us. In fact, the apostle Paul reminds us that in this spiritual warfare that we don't put on our armor, we put on God's armor (Eph. 6:10-18). We put on our King's armor. We put on our Father's armor, and we fight in the strength of our Father. So it is right and good for us - whatever our needs or circumstances may be - to remember that we are utterly dependent, moment by moment, breath by breath, on our Father King, and we can run to him. We can come to him, and we can ask him for the things that we need.