Tu’apulelulu Sanuali 20, 2022

THE BOOK OF BOOKS

KO E TOHI ‘O E NGAAHI TOHI´

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

ROMANS 15:4

He ‘ilonga ha me‘a na‘e tohi mu‘a na‘e tohi mo‘otau akonekina; koe‘uhi ko e me‘a ‘i he fakakātaki mo e poupou ‘oku fai ‘e he folofola ke tau ma‘u ai ‘a e ‘amanaki lelei.

LOMA 15:4

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Mу friends, stand over this volume, and admire its authority. This is no Solomon book. It is not the sayings of the sages of Greece; here are not the utterances of philosophers of past ages. If these words were written by man, we might reject them, but oh, let me think the solemn thought—that this Book is God's handwriting, that these words are God's. Let me look at its date: it is dated from the hills of heaven. Let me look at its letters: they flash glory on my eye. Let me read the chapters: they are big with meaning and mysteries unknown. Let me turn over the prophecies: they are pregnant with unthought-of orders.

Oh, Book of books! And wast thou written by my God? Then will I bow before thee. Thou Book of vast authority, thou art a proclamation from the Emperor of heaven; far be it from me to exercise my reason in contradicting thee. Reason! Thy place is to stand and find out what this volume means, not to tell what this book ought to say.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Si’oku ngaahi kaungāme’a, tu’u ‘o vakai hifo ki he tohi ni, pea ke siofia ‘a e fakaofo ‘a hono malohi.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha tohi eni ‘a e poto ko Solomone.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e ngaahi fakamatala fakafilosefa eni ‘a e kau Kalisi mo e kau matematika ‘o ono’aho.  Kapau ko e ngaahi lea eni na’e fatu ‘e ha tangata, pea ‘oku faingofua pe ketau li’aki, kā ‘oku ‘ikai.  Tuku mu’a ke tau fakamama’u fakamāatoato ki ai – ko e Tohi ni ko e tohinima ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ko e ngaahi lea tonu mei he fofonga ‘o e ‘Otua.  Tuku keu siofi ‘a e ‘aho na’e fatu ai: ko e fika ‘o e ‘aho, ‘oku mei he ngaahi mo’unga ‘o e ‘otu langi.  Tuku ke u siofi ‘a hono ngaahi mata’itohi: ‘oku tapa mai ‘a Kololia ki hoku mata.  Tuku ke u lau ‘a hono ngaahi vahe: ‘oku ma’olunga mo lahi ‘a hono ngaahi ‘uhinga pea misiteli mo ta’e’iloa kiate au.  Tuku ke u vakai ki he ngaahi tala ‘o e ngaahi kikite: ‘oku nau polo’uto ‘i he ngaahi tu’utu’uni ta’efa’alaua. 

‘Isa, ko e Tohi ‘o e ngaahi Tohi!  Ko e hiki tohi koe ‘e hoku ‘Otua?  Pea ko ia te u tulolo ‘i ho ‘ao.  Ko e Tohi koe ‘o e mohu mo e mafai, pea ko e ngaahi tu’utu’uni mei he ‘Emipola ‘o loto langi; pea mole ke mama’o ke u ngaue’aki ‘eku vavalo fakaetangata ke fakafepaki’i koe.  ‘E faka’uhinga, ko ho ngafa ke ke tu’u pea ke fekumi ki he ‘uhinga ‘o e tohi ni, ‘o ‘ikai ko ho’o tala ki he tohi ni ‘a e lea ke ne fai mai.

Pulelulu Sanuali 19, 2022 

OBSERVE THE SCRIPTURES

TAUHI ‘A E LAU ‘A E FOLOFOLA

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

JAMES 1:22

Ka mou hoko ko e kau fai ki he folofola, ‘o ‘ikai ko e kau fanongo pē, ‘o mou kākaa‘i kimoutolu.

SEMISI 1:22

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The Scriptures are full of wondrous things. Those histories which are too commonly read as if they were only private concerns of particular persons, such as of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; of Ruth, Joshua, the Judges, David, and the Israelitish princes, are accounts of vastly greater things, things of greater importance and more extensive concernment, than they who read them are commonly aware of.

The histories of Scripture are but too commonly read, as if they were written only to entertain men's fancies, when the infinitely great things contained in them are passed over without notice.

He that has a Bible and does not observe what it contains is like a man who has a box full of silver and gold, and does not know it, nor observe that it is anything more than a vessel filled with common stones. He will be never the better for his treasure and so might well be without it. He who has plenty of the choicest food stored up in his house and does not know it will never taste what he has, and will be as likely to starve as if his house were empty.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘Oku fonu ‘a e Folofola ‘i he ngaahi me’a fakaofo lahi.  Ko e ngaahi hisitolia ‘oku tau maheni ‘i hono lau ‘o hange pe ia ha talanoa fakafo’ituitui fekau’aki mo e kakai ‘o e Tohitapu, hange ko ‘Epalahame, ‘Aisake, Sekope, mo Siosifa; ko Lute, Siosiua, ko e kau Fakamaau, Tevita, mo e kau Hou’eiki ‘o ‘Isileli, mo e ngaahi talanoa mālie mo lahi, ko e ngaahi me’a mahu’inga ‘oku nau fakamatala ki he ngaahi me’a lalahi pea ‘oku fa’a puli ki he tokolahi ‘a honau mahu’inga.

Ko e puipuitu’a mo e hisitolia ‘o e Folofola ‘oku fa’a mole ngofua ‘a hono mahu’inga ‘i he ‘ikai ketau lau tokanga, koe’uhi he ‘oku tau fa’a lau pe ‘o hange pe ha talanoa fananga ki he malie ‘a e ngaahi talanoa, pea puli ai ‘a e ngaahi me’a lalahi ‘o e ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku hiki ai.

Ko ia ‘oku ‘i ai ha’ane Tohitapu kae ‘ikai te ne tokanga ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku ‘i loto, ‘oku hangē ia ha tangata ‘oku ne nofo mo ha puha siliva mo koula kae ‘ikai te ne ‘ilo  pe tokanga ke ne vakai’i ‘a e me’a ‘oku ‘i loto, kae mūnoa pe ia ‘o hangē pe ha’ane nofo mo ha puha makamaka noa’ia.  ‘E ‘ikai te ne ma’u ha fakakoloa mei ai, pea sai ange ha’ane nofo hala’atā pe.  Ko e tokotaha ‘oku ne ma’u ha feleoko ‘oku mahu ‘i he ngaahi me’atokoni lelei kehekehe kae ‘ikai te ne ‘ilo ki ai, ‘e ‘ikai pe te ne a’usia ‘a e lato ‘o e mo’ui ko ia, pea ‘e nofo hōngea pe ia mo masiva ‘o hangē pe ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a ‘i hono fale.

Tusite Sanuali 18, 2022 

THE NINEVITES BELIEVED

NA‘E TUI ‘A E KAKAI ‘O NINIVE

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

JONAH 3:10

Pea ‘afio‘i ‘e ‘Elohimi ‘a ‘enau tō‘onga, kuo nau tafoki mei honau ngaahi ‘alunga kovi, pea na‘e louaki ‘e ‘Elohimi mei he kovi na‘a ne pehē te ne fai kiate kinautolu; pea na‘e ‘ikai te ne fai.

SIONA 3:10

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

Long before the time of Moses, God justified men without the Law. He justified many kings of Egypt and Babylonia. He justified Job. Nineveh, that great city, was justified and received the promise of God that He would not destroy the city. Why was Nineveh spared? Not because it fulfilled the Law, but because Nineveh believed the word of God. The prophet Jonah wrote: “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth.”They repented.

Nowhere in the book of Jonah do you read that the Ninevites received the Law of Moses, or that they were circumcised, or that they offered sacrifices. All this happened long before Christ was born. If the Gentiles were justified without the Law and quietly received the Holy Spirit at a time when the Law was in full force, why should the Law count unto righteousness now, now that Christ has fulfilled the Law? And yet many devote much time and labor to the Law, to the decrees of the fathers, and to the traditions of the pope.

MARTIN LUTHER

Kimu’a ‘i he taimi ‘o Mosese, na’e tomu’a fakatonuhia’i pe ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tangata ‘o ta’e kau ai ‘a e lao.  Pea ne fakatonuhia’i ha ngaahi tu’i ‘i ‘Isipite mo Papilone.  Na’a ne fakatonuhia’i ‘a Siope.  Ko Ninive, ko ha kolo lahi, na’e fakatonuhia’i pea na’a nau ma’u ‘a e palomesi ‘a e ‘Otua pea na’e ‘ikai te ne faka’auha ‘a e kolo.  Ko e ha ‘a e ‘uhinga na’e fakahaofi ai ‘a Ninive?  Na’e ‘ikai makatu’unga ‘i he’enau tauhi ‘a e lao, ka koe’uhi na’e tui ‘a Ninive ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  Pea na’e pehē ‘e he palofita ko Siona: “pea tui ‘a e kakai Ninive ki he ‘Otua, ‘o nau fanongonongo ha ‘aukai, mo nau ‘ai tauanga’a, mei he lahi ki he si’i” (Siona 3:5).  Na’a nau fakatomala. 

‘Oku ‘ikai ke ‘i ai ha lau ‘i he tohi ‘a Siona ‘o pehe ai na’e ma’u ‘e he kakai ‘o Ninive ‘a e lao ‘a Mosese, pe na’e kamu kinautolu, pe te nau fai ha feilaulau.  Na’e hoko eni ia ‘o lau senituli mei he ‘alo’i ‘o Kalaisi.  Kapau leva na’e fakatonuhia’i ‘a e kakai Senitaile ‘o ta’ekau ai ‘a e Lao pea nau ma’u ‘a e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni ‘i he taimi na’e fakamamafa’i ai ‘a e Lao, pea ko e ha leva ‘a e kaunga ‘a e Lao ki he mā’oni’oni ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho ni neongo kuo fakakakato ‘e Kalaisi ‘a e tu’utu’uni ‘o e Lao?  Ka neongo kotoa eni, ‘oku kei mamahi’i pe ‘e he tokolahi ‘a hono tauhi ‘o e Lao, mo e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘a e kau takilotu ‘o a’u ki he tukufakaholo ‘oku kei tauhi ‘e he ngaahi siasi lahi ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho ni.

Monite Sanuali 17, 2022

THE BALM OF GOD

KO E LOLO FAITO’O ‘A E ‘OTUA´ 

He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

PSALM 107:20

‘Oku ne fekau atu ‘ene folofola, ‘o fai honau faito‘o, ‘O ne hamusi mei honau ngaahi luo.

SAAME 107:20

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi. It is marvelous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the gold-beater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks.

So, then, poor Christian, thou needest not sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask Him to give thee consolation. Thou art a poor dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water, and so, Christian, when thou art dry, go to God, ask Him to shed abroad His joy in thy heart, and then thy joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find them Job's comforters after all, but go first and foremost to thy "God, that comforteth those that are cast down," and you will soon say, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku ‘ikai ha lolo faito’o ‘i Kiliati, ka ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e lolo ‘i he ‘Otua.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha toketa ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e kakai, ka ko e Fakatupu, ko Sihova-Fakamo’ui Au.  ‘Oku fakaofo ‘a e hoko ha ki’i fo’ilea vovo pe ‘e taha mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku malava ke fatu mei ai ha himi ma’a e kalisitiane.  Ko e fo’ilea pe ‘e taha ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku tatau ia mo ha konga koula, pea ko e kalisitiane ko e tokotaha tuki koula ia, he ‘oku ne tuki ‘a e palomesi ko ia ‘i he fo’i uike kakato. 

Ko ia ai, si’i kalisitiane, ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke mapelu ho fofonga.  ‘Alu ki he Taukapo, kole meiate Ia ha fakafiemālie.  Ko e vaikeli masiva koe ka kuo ke pakukā.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku maha ai ha vaikeli, pea efua ‘a e pamu vai, kuo pau ke lingi ha vai ki ai kae toki lava ke ngaue.  Ko ia ai kalisitiane, ‘i he taimi ‘oku ke maha ai, ‘alu ki he ‘Otua ‘o kole ke ne lilingi ‘aki koe ‘a e vai ‘o ‘Ene fiefia ho loto, pea ‘e toki kakato ho’o fiefia ‘o mapunopuna hange ha matavai.  ‘Oua te ke ‘alu ‘o kumi tokoni ki ho ngaahi maheni, he’e hange pe ia ko e ngaahi kaungāme’a ‘o Siope.  Ka ke tomu’a ‘alu hangatonu ki ho “’Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ne tokoni ai pe kiate kinautolu ‘oku mo’ulaloa,” (2 Kolinito 7:6) pea te ke pehe leva, “’i he lahi ‘a e hoha’a ‘i hoku loto ē, ko ho’o ngaahi fakana’a na’e fakafiefia’i hoku laumālie” (Saame 94:19).

Sapate Sanuali 16, 2022

THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH

KO E MAKATU‘UNGA ‘O E TUI

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

ISAIAH 40:8

‘Oku mae ‘a e mohuku, ‘oku maheikau ‘a e fisi: ka ko e folofola ‘a hotau ‘Otua ‘e tu‘u ‘o ta‘engata.

‘AISEA 40:8

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

True faith is ignorant of all division; for "there is," saith the apostle, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Eph 4:5-6). For there remaineth, from the beginning of the world even unto the end thereof, one and the same faith in all the elect of God. God is one and the same forever, the only Well of all goodness, that can never be drawn dry.

The truth of God, from the beginning of the world, is one and the same, set forth to men in the Word of God. Therefore the object and foundation of faith, that is, God and the Word of God, remain forever one and the selfsame. In one and the selfsame faith with us have all the elect ever since the creation of the world believed that unto us through Christ all good things are freely given, and that all truth necessary to be believed is declared in the Word of the Lord. Wherefore the faithful of the old world always settled their faith on God and His Word, so that now, without all doubt, there cannot be any more than one true faith.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e tui mo’oni, ‘oku ‘ikai te ne toe ‘ilo ‘e ia ha tui kehe; he ‘oku talamai ‘e he ‘apositolo, “’oku taha pe ‘a e ‘Eiki, taha pe ‘a e tui, taha pe ‘a e papitaiso, taha pe ‘a e ‘Otua mo e Tamai ‘a e kakai kotoa pe” (‘Efeso 4:5-6).  He ‘oku tu’uloa, talu mei he tanupou ‘o mamani ‘o a’u ki he ngata’anga, ‘a e mo’oni ko ‘eni, ‘a e taha mātē pe ‘a e tui ‘i he kakai fili ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku taha pe ‘a e ‘Otua pea ‘oku ta’eliua ‘o ta’engata, ko e Matavai pe ia ‘e taha ‘o  e lelei kotoa, pea ‘e ‘ikai ke maha ia ‘i ha taimi.

Ko e mo’oni ‘a e ‘Otua, mei he kamata’anga ‘o mamani, ‘oku taha pe ia pea tatau ma’u pe, pea kuo tuku mai ki he tangata ‘o fou ‘i he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko ia ai ko e taumu’a mo e makatu’unga ‘o e tui, ko e ‘Otua pea mo e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku laulōtaha pea fa’oaki kotoa pe ‘iate Ia.  ‘Oku taha mātē pe ‘a e tokotaha ‘oku hu’u ki ai ‘a e tui ‘a e kakai fili ‘a e ‘Otua, talu mei hono fakatupu ‘o mamani.  Pea ‘ia Kalaisi ‘oku fou ‘iate Ia ‘a hono foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e koloa lelei kotoa ta’e ha totongi, pea ko e ngaahi mo’oni kotoa pe ‘oku taau mo totonu ke fai ki ai ‘a e tui, ‘oku fakae’a kotoa ‘e he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Io, ko e kau mā’oni’oni ‘o ono’aho na’e tu’u ‘enau tui mo e falala ‘i he ‘Otua mo ‘ene Folofola, pea tatau pe mo e kau lotu mo’oni ‘i onopooni, ‘e kei pikitai pe ‘i he tui tatau ‘o ta’e toe ue’ia. 

 Tokonaki Sanuali 15, 2022

STUDENTS OF THE WORD

KO E KAU AKO ‘I HE FOLOFOLA

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

EZRA 7:10

He kuo tuku ‘e ‘Ēsela ‘a hono loto ke feinga‘i ‘a e lao ‘a Sihova, pea ke fai ki ai, pea ke ako ki ‘Isileli hono tu‘utu‘uni mo e konisitūtone

‘ESELA 7:10

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe   

See to it that you have, in a sevenfold degree, light of a higher kind. You are to be, above all things, students of the Word of God; this, indeed, is a main point of your avocation [passion - work that one enjoys] If we do not study Scripture, and those books that will help us to understand theology, we are but wasting time while we pursue other researches. We should judge him to be a foolish fellow who, while preparing to be a physician, spent all his time in studying astronomy. There is a connection of some kind between stars and human bones, but a man could not learn much of surgery from Arcturus (red giant star) or Orion.

So, there is a connection between every science and religion, and I would advise you to obtain much general knowledge; but universal information will be a poor substitute for a special and

prayerful study of the Scriptures, and of the doctrines contained in the revelation of God.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Matu’aki tokanga mo ke hohoi ke ke ma’u ‘a e maama ko ‘eni, pea ke liunga fitu.  Feinga malohi, ‘o laka ange ‘i ha toe me’a, ke ke hoko ko ha tamasi’i mo ha ta’ahine ako ‘o e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Io, ke hoko ia ko ho’o manako mo ho’o kaveing ngaue.  Kapau ‘e ‘ikai te tau ako ki he Folofola, mo lau ‘a e ngaahi tohi ketau mahino’i ‘a e ngaahi tokateline ‘i he Folofola, ‘oku molenoa hotau taimi ‘i he ngaahi feinga kehekehe ‘oku tau fai.  Te tau lau ha taha ‘oku ako toketa, kae fakamoleki ‘e ia hono taimi ke ako ki he ‘asitalonoma.  ‘Oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e fekau’aki ‘a e ngaahi fetu’u mo e ngaahi hui ‘i he sino ‘o e tangata, ka ‘e ‘ikai ke ako toketa ha taha ‘i he’ene nofo ‘o siofi ‘a e ngaahi fetu’u mo e ngaahi palanite ‘o e ‘otu langi.

‘Oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e fekau’aki ‘a e ngaahi saienisi mo e ako ki he ‘Otua, pea ‘oku taau ketau ma’u ha ngaahi ‘ilo fakalukufua ki he ‘univeesi; ka ko e ngaahi ‘ilo me’a kehekehe ki he ‘univeesi mo e ngaahi me’a kehekehe ‘o e ‘atakai, ‘e ‘ikai te ne fetongi ‘o ho’o taimi nofo ai ki he Folofola mo ho’o lotu lilo, pea mo e ngaahi tokateline ‘oku fakaha ‘e he ‘Otua kiate koe ‘i ho’omo feohi. 

 Falaite Sanuali 14, 2022

LOVE FOR THE WORD

HOHOI KI HE FOLOFOLA

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

PSALM 119:103

Hono ‘ikai ifoifo melie kiate au ho‘o ‘ū lea na! ‘Oku hulu ‘i ha ma‘anga honi ia.

SAAME 119:103

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe   

Only the acts of a Christian are truly good and acceptable to God, because they are done in faith, with a cheerful heart, out of gratitude to Christ. We ought to have no misgivings about whether the Holy Ghost dwells in us. We "the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

When we have a love for the Word of God and gladly hear, talk, write, and think of Christ, we are to know that this inclination toward Christ is the gift and work of the Holy Ghost. Where you come across contempt for the Word of God, there is the devil. 

We meet with such contempt for the Word of God mostly among the common people. They act as though the Word of God does not concern them. Wherever you find a love for the Word, thank God for the Holy Spirit who infuses this love into the hearts of men. We never come by this love naturally, neither can it be enforced by laws. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e ngaahi ngaue pe ‘a e kalisitiane, ‘oku lelei mo fakatupu hoifua ki he ‘Otua, koe’uhi he ‘oku fai ‘i he tui, mo ha loto hangamalie, ‘i he hounga’ia kia Kalaisi.  ‘Oku ‘ikai totonu ketau toe tala’a pe ‘oku nofo’ia kitautolu ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni.  Ko kitautolu, “’a e temipale ‘o e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni” (1 Kolinito 3:16).  

‘I he taimi ‘oku tau ‘ofa mo hohoi ai ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku tau fie fanongo, talanoa, faitohi, mo fa’a fakakaukau kia Kalaisi, ‘oku tau ‘ilo leva ko e hu’u ‘etau tokanga kia Kalaisi ko e me’a’ofa ia mo e ngaue ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku mole ai ho’o tokanga ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, pea mahino ko e ngaue ia ‘a e tevolo.  

‘Oku tau fehangahangai mo e laumalie ‘oku nau fakafepaki’i ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he kakai pe ‘o mamani.  ‘Oku nau taku ‘oku ‘ikai ha’anau fekau’aki pe kaunga ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku ke fetaulaki ai mo ha taha ‘oku hohoi ki he Folofola, pea ke fakafeta’i ai ki he ‘Otua koe’uhi ko e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ‘oku ne fakataumalingi ‘a ‘ene ‘ofa ‘i he loto ‘o e tangata.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a fakanatula ‘a e hohoi ki he Folofola, pea ‘oku ‘ikai lava ke tu’utu’uni fakalao ‘a hono tauhi; ko e me’a’ofa pe ia ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni.