Falaite Fepueli 18, 2022 

THE SOURCE OF ALL INSPIRATION

KO E TUPU’ANGA ‘O E FAKAMANAVA

JOHN 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

SIONE 1:1

‘I HE kamata‘anga kuo ‘i ai ‘a FOLOFOLA, pea na‘e feangai mo e ‘Otua ‘a Folofola, pea na‘e ‘Otua ‘a Folofola

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

To this our Saviour's words refer, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). In thus affirming, that from the foundation of the world He constantly worked with the Father, He gives a clearer explanation of what Moses simply touched. The meaning therefore is, that God spoke in such a manner as left the Word His peculiar part in the work, and thus made the operation common to both.

But the clearest explanation is given by John when he states that the Word - which was from the beginning God and with God - was, together with God the Father, the Maker of all things. For he both attributes a substantial and permanent essence to the Word, assigning to it a certain peculiarity and distinctly showing how God spoke the world into being. Therefore, as all revelations from heaven are duly designated by the title of the Word of God, so the highest place must be assigned to that substantial Word, the Source of all inspiration, which, as being liable to no variation, remains forever one and the same with God, and is God.

JOHN CALVIN

Na’e folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i ha founga makehe, ‘o ne tuku pe ‘a Folofola ke ne fakahoko ‘ene ngaue ‘a’ana, pea hoko ai ‘a e fakatupu ‘o mamani, ko ha ngaue na’a na fai loua.

Ka ko e fakamatala ‘oku mahino taha´, ‘a ē ‘oku tau ma’u meia Sione, ‘i he’ene pehee, “pea na‘e feangai mo e ‘Otua ‘a Folofola, pea na‘e ‘Otua ‘a Folofola” (Sione 1:1). ‘Io, na’a ne feohi mo e ‘Otua ko e Tamai, ‘a e Fakatupu ‘o e me’a kotoa ‘i he ‘univeesi. Na’a ne fakaha mo vahe’i ‘a e ngaue ma’a Folofola ke ne fakahoko ‘i he fakatupu ‘o mamani, ‘i he’ene folofola pea hoko mai ‘a e ngaahi me’a fakatupu. Pea ko ia ai, ko e ngaahi me’a fakaha kotoa pe mei langi ‘oku fakahoko mai ia ‘o fou ‘ia Folofola, pea kuopau leva ke vahe’i ‘a e tu’unga taupotu tahaa ma’a Folofola, ko e fauniteni ‘o e manava ‘a e ‘Otua - ‘oku ‘ikai toe liliu pea ‘oku tu’uloa ‘o ta’engata mo ‘Otua, he ko e ‘Otua Ia! 

Tu’apulelulu Fepueli 17, 2022

AN INNER COURT TO CREATION

VAKAI KI HE FAKATUPU´ MEI LOTO‘Ā

SONG OF SONGS 5:16

He is altogether lovely

HIVA ‘O E HIVA 5:16

Ko hono ‘ao‘ingutu ko e koto melie; ‘Io, ko e ‘ū masani hono kotoa.

Ko eni ia hoku ‘ofa‘anga; ‘Io, ko eni ia hoku kaume‘a, Si‘i kau ta‘ahine Selusalema.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The soul that is familiar with the Lord worships Him in the outer court of nature, wherein it admires His works, and is charmed by every thought of what He must be who made them all. When that soul enters the nearer circle of inspiration and reads the wonderful words of God, it is still more enraptured, and its admiration is heightened. In revelation, we see the same all-glorious Lord as in creation, but the vision is more clear, and the consequent love is more intense. The Word is an inner court to the creation, but there is yet an innermost sanctuary, and blessed are they who enter it and have fellowship with the Lord Himself.

We come to Christ, and in coming to Him we come to God, for Jesus says, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." When we know the Lord Jesus, we stand before the mercy seat, where the glory of Jehovah shineth forth. I like to think of the text as belonging to those who are as priests unto God and stand in the Holy of holies, while they say, "Yea, He is altogether lovely." His works are marvellous, His words are full of majesty, but He Himself is altogether lovely.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e laumalie ‘o e tokotaha ‘oku maheni mo e ‘Otua, ‘oku ne hū kiate ia mei he kau’ā ‘o natula´, ‘oku ne laulotoa ‘a e masani ‘o ‘ene ngaue, pea ‘oku puketu’u ia ‘i he fakakaukau ki he natula ‘o ia na’a ne fakatupu ‘a e ‘ūniveesi.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku fakaofiofi atu ai ‘a hono laumālie ki he loto’ā ‘o e potu lilo ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ne lau ‘a e ngaahi lea vovo ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku mapunopuna ‘a hono loto ‘i he fakafeta’i ‘i he’ene hū kiate Ia.  ‘I he fakahā me’a ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he Folofola, ‘oku tau mamata ki he ‘Otua langilangi ‘o e fakatupu, ka ‘oku toe hā mahino ange mai ‘a ‘ene ‘ofa kiate kitautolu.  Ko e Folofola ko e loto’a ia ketau mamata ai ki he’ene fakatupu, ka ‘oku toe ‘i ai ha potu toputapu makehe ange ma’a kinautolu ‘oku feohi ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e ‘Otua.

‘Oku tau omi kia Kalaisi, pea ‘i he’etau ha’u kiate Ia, ko ‘etau ha’u ia ki he ‘Otua, he na’e pehe ‘e Sisu, “ko ia ‘oku ne mamata kiate Au kuo ne mamata ki he Tamai” (Sione 14:9).  ‘I he’etau ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi, ‘oku tau tu’u ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e hooifua’anga ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘a e potu ‘oku malama mei ai ‘a e sikaina ‘o Sihova.  ‘I he taimi ‘oku tau lau ai ‘a e Folofola, te tau fakatatau ia ki he tu’u ‘a e kau taula’eiki ‘i he potu toputapu ‘o e temipale pea ‘oku nau pehe “’io, ko e ‘ū masani hono kotoa” (Hiva ‘o e hiva 5:16).  Ko ‘ene ngaahi ngaue ‘oku fakaofo, ko ‘ene ngaahi folofola ‘oku fonu ‘i he ngeia, ka ko ‘ene ‘afio, ko e ‘ū masani hono kotoa.

Puelulu Fepueli 16, 2022 

RENEWED BY THE WORD

FAKAFO‘OU ‘E HE FOLOFOLA ‘A E ‘OTUA

ISAIAH 41:1 ESV

Let the peoples renew their strength

‘AISEA 41:1

MOU tu‘u fakalongo pē ‘i hoku ‘ao, ‘a e ngaahi motu; pea ko e me‘a ki he ngaahi fa‘ahinga, ke nau kumi ivi fo‘ou, ke nau ‘unu‘unu ‘o toki lea: ke tau hopo fakataha ‘i he fakamaau.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by itself. “Thou renewest the face of the year" was the psalmist's utterance. Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap fresh drawn from the earth.

Neither can man's life be sustained without renewal from God. As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances. How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God, it is not of divine creating, it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon Him as the flowers wait upon the dew.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko ne me’a kotoa pe ‘i mamani ‘oku fiema’u ke fakafo’ou.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha me’a fakatupu ‘oku mo’ui ‘iate ia pe.  ‘Oku pehe ‘e he fa’u Sāme, “pea ‘oku ke fakafo’ou ‘a e funga ‘o mamani” Sāme 104:30.  Ko e ngaahi ‘ulu’akau, neongo ‘oku ‘ikai te nau hoha’a ki ha me’a pe fakanounou honau ngaahi ‘aho ‘i ha’anau ngaue, ‘oku nau kei inu ‘a e ‘uha ‘oku to mei langi, mo faka’aonga’i ‘a e ngaahi koloa fakapulipuli mei he kelekele.  Ko e ngaahi sita ‘o Lepanoni, ‘a ē na’e to ‘e he ‘Otua ‘oku nau mo’ui pe koe’uhi he ‘oku fofonu ‘i he to’i ‘oku nau ma’u mei he kelekele.

‘Io na’a mo e mo’ui ‘a e tangata, ‘oku ‘ikai lava ke tauhi ‘a ‘ene mo’ui, ka ne ta’e’oua hono fakafo’ou mei he ‘Otua.  Hangē pe ko e fiema’u ke fakafo’ou ‘a e ivi kuo mole mei he tangata ‘aki ‘a ‘ene toutou ma’u me’atokoni, ‘oku fiema’u foki ke fakafo’ou ‘a e ivi kuo mole atu mei he laumalie ‘o e tangata ‘o fou mei he’ene ma’u me’atokoni mei he tohi ‘a e ‘Otua, pe ko ‘ene fanongo ki hono malanga’i ‘a e Folofola; pe ko e me’atokoni fakalaumalie ‘o e ouau lotu.  Hono ‘ikai maha ‘etau kelesi koe’uhi ko ‘etau li’aki ‘a e ngaahi founga ketau fonu ai.  Kuo hongea mo ‘alefa ‘a e tokolahi ‘o e kau kalisitiane ko e ‘ikai ke nau faka’aonga’i ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua mo e lotu lilo.  Kapau ‘oku malava ketau li’aki ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘i he’etau mo’ui fakalotu, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha ngaue ia ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ko e fo’imisi pe ia.  He kapau ko e mo’ui na’e fakatupu mei he ‘Otua, te ne fa’a tatali kiate Ia, ‘o hange ko e tatali ‘a e matala’i’akau ke inu mei he hahau.

Tusite Fepueli 15, 2022 

A VIEW OF PROVIDENCE

KO E PALOVITENISI ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 33:8

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him

SAAME 33:8

Ke manavahē ‘a e fonua kotoa kia Sihova: Ke teki ‘iate ia ‘a e nofo māmani kotoa

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

In the Bible, we have an account of the whole scheme of Providence, from the beginning of the world to the end of it, either in history or prophecy, and are told what will become of things at last; how they will issue in the subduing of God's enemies, and in the salvation and glory of His church, and setting up of the everlasting kingdom of His Son.

How rational, worthy, and excellent a revelation is this! And how excellent a book is the Bible, which contains so much beyond all other books in the world! And what characters are here of its being indeed a divine Book! A Book that the great Jehovah has given to mankind for their instruction, without which we should be left in miserable darkness and confusion. From what has been said, we may see the glorious majesty and power of God in this affair of redemption.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘I he Tohitapu ‘oku tau ma’u ‘a e fakamatala ki he fokotu’utu’u ‘o e polokalama ‘o e Palovitenisi, mei he kamata’anga ki he faka’osi; tatau pe ‘i he hisitolia mo e ngaahi kikite, pea mo e ngaahi me’a ‘e hoko ‘i he kuonga fakamui; ‘io ‘oku kau mo hono tukuhifo ‘a e ngaahi fili ‘o e ‘Otua; pehe foki ki he Fakamo’ui pea mo e fakalangilangi’i ‘a hono siasi, pea mo hono fokotu’u ‘a e pule’anga ta’engata ‘o e ‘Alo.

Ko ha tohi tatala me’a eni ‘oku ‘uhinga lelei, taau pea fakaofo fau.  Hono ‘ikai mahulu hake ‘a e lelei ‘a e Tohitapu ‘i ha toe tohi ‘i mamani.  Pea ko hono tu’ung fakaofo ‘oku ne fakahaa’i ko e tohi mei loto langi.  Ko e tohi kuo foaki ‘e he ‘Otua Mafimafi ma’a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata.  Ko e fakahinohino – he ka ne ‘ikai, te tau kei nofo pe ‘i he fakapo’uli mo e tailiili.  Pea fakatatau ki he ngaahi me’a kuo ‘osi tuku mai, te tau toki mamata ai ki he langilangi fakatalutalu ‘o e mafi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i he’ene huhu’i ‘a e tangata.

Falaite Fepueli 14, 2022

GOD'S WORDS ARE TRUE

‘OKU MO‘ONI ‘A E FOLOFOLA ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 119:160

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal

SAAME 119:160

Ka tānaki ho‘o folofola ko hono ola ko e mo‘oni ‘atā: Pea ko e kotoa ‘o ho‘o ngaahi kupu‘i konisitūtone mā‘oni‘oni ‘e tolonga ‘o ta‘engata.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

For general faith is no other than that which believeth that all the words of God are true, and that God hath a goodwill to mankind; particular faith believeth nothing contrary to this; only that which is common to all the faithful applieth particularly to himself, believing that God is not well minded toward others alone, but even unto him also.

So then it bringeth the whole into parts, and that which is general into particularities. For whereas by general faith he believeth that all the words of God are true, in the same sort by particular faith he doth believe that the soul is immortal, that our bodies rise again, that the faithful shall be saved, the unbelievers destroyed, and whatsoever else is of this sort taught to be believed in the Word of God.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku ‘i ai e tui ‘oku ‘atā fakalukufua ‘a ia ‘oku ne fakamo’oni ko e ngaahi Folofola kotoa ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku mo’oni pea ‘oku tokanga ‘a e ‘Otua ki he fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata.  ‘Oku tatau pe eni mo e tui ‘oku fakapatonu.  Ko e tui ‘oku fakapatonu, ‘oku ne talamai, ko e ngaahi tapuaki ‘oku ma’u ‘e he kau lotu mo’oni, ‘oku fakataumu’a fakapatonu mai kiate ia, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke tokanga fakatokolahi pe ‘a e ‘Otua ki he’ene kakai, ka kiate ia fakafo’ituitui.

‘Oku ‘omi ‘a e fakakaukau ko ‘eni ‘a e tui fakalukufua, ke fakakongokonga, pea mo e me’a ‘oku fakalukufua, ke vahevahe iiki mai.  ‘Io ‘i he tui fakalukufua ‘oku ne tui ko e ngaahi lea ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku mo’oni; ‘i he founga tatau ko e tui fakapatonu, ‘oku ne tui ko e laumalie ‘o e tangata ‘oku tuputupu’a pea ‘e toetu’u hotau sino mei he mate, pea ko  e kakai tui ‘e fakamo’ui kinautolu; ‘e faka’auha ‘a e kau ta’etui; pea te nau fakamo’oni’i ‘enau tui ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.

Sapate Fepueli 13, 2022 

THE MYSTERIES OF GOD'S WORD

KO E MISITELI ‘O E FOLOFOLA ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 103:7

He makes known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.

SAAME 103:7

Na‘a ne fakahā hono ngaahi founga kia Mōsese, Pea ki ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘ene ngaahi ngāue.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

“Bless the Lord," said David, "O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.” If there is a curiosity within us, it ought to be employed and developed in a search after truth. "All that is within me," sanctified by the Spirit, should be developed. And verily, the Christian man feels an intense longing to bury his ignorance and receive wisdom. If he, when in his natural estate panted for terrestrial knowledge, how much more ardent is the wish to unravel, if possible, the sacred mysteries of God's Word!

A true Christian is always intently reading and searching the Scripture that he may be able to certify himself as to its main and cardinal truths. I do not think much of that man who does not wish to understand doctrines; I cannot conceive him to be in a right position when he thinks it is no matter whether he believes a lie or truth, God's Word will ever be to a Christian a source of great anxiety: a sacred instinct within will lead him to pry into it; he will seek to understand it.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku pehe ‘e Tevita, “fakafeta’i kia Sihova hoku laumalie: mo ia kotoa pe ‘oku ‘iate au, fakafeta’i ki hono huafa ma’oni’oni” (Sāme 103:1).  Kapau ‘oku ‘i ai ha loto fifili ‘iate kitautolu pea ‘oku totonu ketau ngaue’aki hotau ivi kotoa ketau fekumi ki he mo’oni “mo ia kotoa pe ‘oku ‘iate au”, ke fakatāpui ‘e he Laumālie ke ngaue ki ai.  Pea ‘i he kau ‘a e ‘Otua,  ‘e ongo’i ‘e he kalisitiane ‘a ‘ene loto malohi ke ne tanu ‘ene ‘afungi kae ma’u mai ‘a e poto.  Pea kapau na’e hohoi pe ki he poto fakamamani, ‘i hono tu’unga fakanatula, pea huanoa ai ‘a ‘ene veekeveke ke ne ‘ilo ki he ngaahi misiteli toputapu ‘i he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Ko e kalisitiane mo’oni ‘oku ne nofo’i ke lau mo hakule ‘a e Folofola ke ne fakahaa’i ‘oku ne tofa totonu mo ma’unga nofo ‘i he mo’oni’i me’a ‘o e tui fakalotu.  ‘Oku ma’ama’a kiate au ha tangata ‘oku ‘ikai te ne fie’ilo ki he tokateline.  ‘Oku faingata’a kiate au ke u mahino’i ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai te ne pau’ia ‘i he tui ‘oku ne ma’u, pe ‘oku tonu pe hala ‘a e tui ‘oku ne ma’u.  ‘Oku hoko ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o hange ha fu’u kolo tapu pea ‘oku angi ‘a e Laumalie ‘i he loto ‘o e kalisitiane ke ne a’u ki loto; te ne vivili ke a’u tonu, ke ne ‘ilo pau mo ne mahino’i ‘a e ‘uunime’a ‘oku ‘i he loto kolo.

Tokonaki Fepueli 12, 2022 

CLEAVE TO THE WORD

PIPIKI KI HE ‘ENE FOLOFOLA

PSALM 119:14

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

SAAME 119:14

Kuo u hākahaka ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o ho‘o ngaahi fakamo‘oni, ‘O tatau mo ‘ete ma‘u ha koloa lahi.

 

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe    

The true difference between godly faith and human faith consists also in this, that human faith cleaves to the person of the preacher, believes, trusts, and honors the Word for the sake of him who spake it. But godly faith, on the other hand, cleaves to the Word, which is God Himself; he believes, trusts, and honors the Word, not because of him who preaches it, but because he feels so surely the truth that no one can ever turn him again from it, even if the same preacher were to try to do it.

This was proved by the Samaritans when they had heard first of Christ from the heathen woman and upon her word they went out of the city to Christ. After they themselves heard Christ, they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e faikehekehe mo’oni eni ‘o e tui faka-’Otua´ mo e tui ‘oku fakaetangata; ko e tui fakaetangata ‘oku piki ia ki he tu’unga fakaetangata ‘o e faifekau (tangata malanga), ‘oku tui, falala ‘o ne hapo tu’u ‘a e fo’ilea kotoa pe ‘oku to mei he tangata.  Ko e tui faka-‘Otua ‘oku pikitai pe ia ki he Folofola, ‘o ‘ikai pe ki he tokotaha ‘oku ne malanga’i mai.  He kuo ne ‘osi pau’ia ‘i he mo’oni, pea ‘ikai ke toe lava ke fakatafoki ia mei ai, neongo kapau ‘e toe feinga ‘a e tangata malanga ke ne liliu ‘a e tokotaha ko ‘eni.

Ko e fakamo’oni eni na’e hoko ki he kau Samelia ‘i he’enau fuofua fanongo ‘ia Kalaisi ‘o fou ‘i he fakamatala ‘a e fefine.  Pea ‘i he’enau fanongo tonu “pea nau pehe ki he fefine, ‘oku ‘ikai ke mau kei tui koe’uhi pe ko ho’o talanoa, he kuo mau fanongo tonu ki ai ‘e kimautolu, pea mau ‘ilo, ko ‘eni mo’oni ia ‘a e Fakamo’ui ‘o mamani” (Sione 4:42).