How to Handle Doubts and Confusion.........

 

Many, especially those who are young in the Christian life, are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God. They ask, “How shall I know the right way? If the Bible is indeed the word of God, how can I be freed from these doubts and perplexities?” CSA 45.1
God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith. CSA 46.1
It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery. “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?” Job 11:7, 8.... CSA 46.2

The Word of God, like the character of its divine Author, presents mysteries that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain, or even fully to comprehend. But we have no reason to doubt God’s Word because we cannot understand the mysteries of His providence. In the natural world we are constantly surrounded with mysteries that we cannot fathom. The very humblest forms of life present a problem that the wisest of philosophers is powerless to explain. Everywhere are wonders beyond our ken. Should we then be surprised to find that in the spiritual world also there are mysteries that we cannot fathom? ... CSA 46.3

The difficulties of Scripture have been urged by skeptics as an argument against the Bible; but so far from this, they constitute a strong evidence of its divine inspiration. If it contained no account of God but that which we could easily comprehend; if His greatness and majesty could be grasped by finite minds, then the Bible would not bear the unmistakable credentials of divine authority. The very grandeur and mystery of the themes presented should inspire faith in it as the Word of God

Dalili za Kuwa Mwanafunzi wa Kristo........

HATA imekuwa, mtu akiwa ndani ya Kristo amekuwa kiumbe kipya;  ya kale yamepita; tazama!  yamekuwa mapya.”  2 Kor. 5:17. Pengine mtu hawezi kutaja siku wala mahali hasa alipoongoka kuwa mfuasi wa Kristo;  lakini kukosa kufanya hivyo si kama kusema kwamba yule hakuongoka kweli.   Kristo alimwambia Nikodemo, “Upepo huvuma upendako, na sauti yake waisikia, lakini hujui unakotoka wala unakokwenda;  kadhalika na hali yake kila mtu aliyezaliwa kwa Roho.”  Yoh. 3:8.Upepo  hauwezi kuonekana, lakini twasikia na kuona matendo yake;  na vilevile Roho wa Mungu anajulikana kwa namna ya matendo yake mioyoni mwa wanadamu.

Uwezo wake, usioonekana na macho ya kibinadamu, huanzisha maisha mapya moyoni; humwumba kuwa mpya kwa mfano wa Mungu.  Ijapokuwa kazi ya Roho ni ya kimya kimya na haionekani kwa macho, matokeo yake huonekana waziwazi.  Kama Roho Mtakatifu ameutengeneza moyo wa mtu kuwa mpya, jambo hilo litaonekana katika maisha yake. Ingawa sisi wenyewe hatuwezi kufanya lolote katika kuigeuza mioyo yetu, wala kujiweka wenyewe katika hali ya kupatana na Mungu;  ingawa haifai kabisa kujitegemea wenyewe au matendo yetu yaliyo mema;  maisha yetu yatadhihirisha kama tunayo neema ya Mungu mioyoni mwetu,Badiliko litaonekana katika tabia zetu, mazoea yetu, na shughuli zetu tunazozifanya.

Tofauti dhahiri na thabiti itaonekana kati ya maisha yetu yalivyokuwa zamani na vile yalivyo sasa.  Tabia ya mtu fulani hujulikana si kwa matendo mema au mabaya ya siku moja moja tu, ila kwa mwelekeo  wa matendo yake na maneno yake, na mazoea yake ya siku zote. Kweli yawezekana kwamba kuna watu ambao mienendo yao ni myema machoni pa wenzao, bila kuongoka moyo kwa njia ya Kristo.  Kupenda kusifiwa na kuwa viongozi kati ya wengine, kwaweza kuwafanya waonekane kuwa ni wenye adabu.  Kujistahi nafsi zetu kunaweza kutufanya tuyaepuke matendo mabaya ya nje.  Moyo wenye  uchoyo waweza kutenda matendo ya ukarimu.  Ikiwa ni hivyo, twawezaje kuyakinisha kama tumekuwa upande wa Kristo, au sivyo? Ni nani anayeutawala moyo?  Fikara zetu ni juu ya nani? Tumezoea kuongea juu ya nani?  Ni nani ambaye tunampenda kuliko wote na kumtumikia kwa nguvu zetu zote?

Kama sisi tu watu wa Kristo, basi, fikara zetu zi pamoja naye, na fikara zetu tamu sana zi juu yake.  Tunajitoa kwake pamoja na vyote tulivyo navyo.  Twatamani kufanana naye, kuwa na Roho wake mioyoni, kufanya mapenzi yake na  kumpendeza katika mambo yote. Wale wanaokuwa viumbe vipya katika Kristo Yesu watazaa matunda ya Roho, yaani, “upendo, furaha, amani, uvumilivu, utu wema, fadhili, uaminifu, upole, kiasi.”   Gal. 5;22,23.  Hawatafuata tena tamaa zao za zamani, bali watamwamini Mwana wa Mungu na kufuata nyayo zake;  tabia yake itaonekana katika maisha yao, nao watajitakasa kama yeye alivyo mtakatifu.  Mambo waliyochukizwa nayo zamani, sasa watayapenda;  na vile walivyovipenda zamani, sasa watachukizwa navyo.  Wenye kiburi na wenye kujidai watageuka na kuwa wapole na wanyenyekevu.  Watu wa ovyo na wale wanaojivuna watakuwa watu wa maana na wasio kimbelembele.  Walevi wataacha ulevi wao, na waasherati na wazinzi watageuka na kuwa na maisha yaliyo safi.

A Powerful Christian Witness...

Best Missionaries Come From Christian Homes

Missionaries for the Master are best prepared for work abroad in the Christian household, where God is feared, where God is loved, where God is worshiped, where faithfulness has become second nature, where haphazard, careless inattention to home duties is not permitted, where quiet communion with God is looked upon as essential to the faithful performance of daily duties.1 AH 35.1

Home duties should be performed with the consciousness that if they are done in the right spirit, they give an experience that will enable us to work for Christ in the most permanent and thorough manner. Oh, what might not a living Christian do in missionary lines by performing faithfully the daily duties, cheerfully lifting the cross, not neglecting any work, however disagreeable to the natural feelings! 2 AH 35.2

Our work for Christ is to begin with the family, in the home.... There is no missionary field more important than this.... AH 35.3

By many this home field has been shamefully neglected, and it is time that divine resources and remedies were presented, that this state of evil may be corrected.3 AH 35.4
The highest duty that devolves upon youth is in their own homes, blessing father and mother, brothers and sisters, by affection and true interest. Here they can show self-denial and self-forgetfulness in caring and doing for others.... What an influence a sister may have over brothers! If she is right, she may determine the character of her brothers. Her prayers, her gentleness, and her affection may do much in a household.3 AH 35.5
In the home those who have received Christ are to show what grace has done for them. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” A conscious authority pervades the true believer in Christ, that makes its influence felt throughout the home. This is favorable for the perfection of the characters of all in the home

Spiritual Darkness.

This is a time of spiritual darkness in the churches of the world. Ignorance of divine things has hidden God and the truth from view. The forces of evil are gathering in strength. Satan flatters his coworkers that he will do a work that will captivate the world. While partial inactivity has come upon the church, Satan and his hosts are intensely active. The professed Christian churches are not converting the world; for they are themselves corrupted with selfishness and pride, and need to feel the converting power of God in their midst before they can lead others to a purer or higher standard.—Testimonies for the Church 9:65. ChS 55.2

In our day, as of old, the vital truths of God’s word are set aside for human theories and speculations. Many professed ministers of the gospel do not accept the whole Bible as the inspired word. One wise man rejects one portion; another questions another part. They set up their judgment as superior to the Word; and the Scripture which they do teach rests upon their own authority. Its divine authenticity is destroyed. Thus the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast; for the people become confused, and know not what to believe. There are many beliefs that the mind has no right to entertain.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 39. ChS 55.3

Wickedness is reaching a height never before attained, and yet many ministers of the gospel are crying, “Peace and safety.” But God’s faithful messengers are to go steadily forward with their work. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, they are to advance fearlessly and victoriously, never ceasing their warfare until every soul within their reach shall have received the message of truth for this time.—The Acts of the Apostles, 220. ChS 55.4
There is a cause for alarm in the condition of the religious world today. God’s mercy has been trifled with. The multitude make void the law of Jehovah, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Infidelity prevails in many of the churches in our land; not infidelity in its broadest sense,—an open denial of the Bible,—but an infidelity that is robed in the garb of Christianity, while it is undermining faith in the Bible as a revelation from God. Fervent devotion and vital piety have given place to hollow formalism. As the result, apostasy and sensualism prevail. Christ declared, “As it was in the days of Lot, ... even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” The daily record of passing events testifies to the fulfillment of His words. The world is fast becoming ripe for destruction. Soon the judgments of God are to be poured out, and sin and sinners are to be consumed.

Steps to Christ

There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God’s word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times

KILE ANACHOTAKA MUNGU

Wakati huu Mungu anataka kile kile alichotaka kwa watakatifu wale wawili kule Edeni utii kamili kwa matakwa yake. Sheria yake [Amri Kumi] inaendelea kuwa ni ile ile kwa vizazi vyote. Kanuni [kipimo] kuu ya haki iliyotolewa katika Agano la Kale haijapunguzwa katika Agano Jipya. Si kazi ya Injili kupunguza nguvu ya madai ya Sheria takatifu ya Mungu [Amri Kumi] ila kuwainua wanadamu juu ili wawe mahali wanapoweza kuzishika amri zake [kumi]. Imani katika Kristo inayomwokoa mwanadamu si kama vile inavyohubiriwa na wengi. "Amini, amini," ndicho kilio chao; "mwamini tu Kristo, nawe utaokoka. Hayo ndiyo yote unayopaswa kufanya." Wakati imani ya kweli inamtegemea Kristo kabisa kwa wokovu, itamwongoza [yule aliye nayo] kwenye utii kamili kwa Sheria ya Mungu [Amri Kumi]. Imani inadhihirishwa kwa matendo.

Tena, yule mtume Yohana anatangaza, akisema, "Yeye asemaye, Nimemjua [Nimeokoka], wala hazishiki amri zake [kumi], ni mwongo, wala kweli haimo ndani yake" (1 Yohana 2:4). Si salama kutegemea hisia [kujisikia moyoni] au misisimko; mambo hayo ni viongozi wasioweza kutegemewa. Sheria ya Mungu [Amri Kumi] ndiyo kanuni ya utakatifu peke yake.

 Ni kwa njia ya Sheria hiyo [Amri Kumi] tabia ya mtu itapimwa. Kama mtu ye yote anayeulizia wokovu angeuliza swali hili, "Nifanye nini ili niurithi uzima wa milele?" waalimu wa siku hizi wanaofundisha utakaso wangejibu hivi, "Amini tu kwamba Yesu anakuokoa." Lakini Yesu alipoulizwa swali hilo alimwambia, "Imeandikwa nini katika torati? Wasomaje? Yule aliyeuliza swali hilo akamjibu, akisema, "Mpende Bwana Mungu wako kwa moyo wako wote,... na jirani yako kama nafsi yako," Yesu akamwambia, "Umejibu vema; fanya hivi nawe utaishi" (Luka 10:25-29).Utakaso wa kweli utashuhudiwa kwa heshima ile anayoionyesha mtu kwa bidii na kwa uaminifu wake kwa amri zote [kumi] za Mungu, kwa uangalifu wake katika kuikuza kila talanta aliyopewa, kwa maongezi yake yenye busara, na kwa kuonyesha katika kila tendo analotenda upole ule wa Kristo.

KUUNGAMA DHAMBI__4

Dhambi inapozifisha hisia za kiroho, mwenye dhambi hatambui kasoro alizo nazo katika tabia yake, wala hatambui ukubwa wa dhambi aliyoitenda; na kama hajisalimishi chini ya uwezo umhakikishiao dhambi wa Roho Mtakatifu, anabaki katika hali ya kuwa nusu kipofu kwa dhambi yake. Maungamo yake si ya kweli wala hayatolewi kwa dhati.

Kwa kila kosa analoungama anaongeza kutoa udhuru kwa ajili ya njia yake mbaya huku akijipongeza, akisema kwamba laiti mambo yasingalikuwa vile, asingekuwa amefanya kosa hili au lile, ambalo kwalo anakaripiwa.

Adamu na Hawa walipokwisha kula matunda yaliyokatazwa, walijaa haya na hofu kuu. Kwanza kabisa, walifikiri namna ya kujitetea kwa ajili ya kosa lao, ili waepukane na hukumu ya kifo waliyoiogopa sana. Bwana alipowauliza habari ya kosa lao, Adamu alijibu, huku kwa sehemu fulani akiliweka kosa lile juu ya Mungu na kwa sehemu juu ya mwenzi wake: “Mwanamke uliyenipa awe pamoja nami ndiye aliyenipa matunda ya mti huo, nikala.” Yule mwanamke akamtupia lawama nyoka, akasema, “Nyoka alinidanganya, nikala.” Mwanzo 3:12,13. Kwa nini ulimwumba nyoka? Kwanini ulimruhusu aje katika Edeni? Haya ndiyo maswali yaliyojificha katika udhuru aliotoa kwa ajili ya dhambi yake, kwa njia hiyo akimshitaki Mungu kuwa anawajibika kwa anguko lao.

Roho ya kujihesabia haki mtu mwenyewe mwanzo wake ilitoka kwa yule baba wa uongo, nayo imedhihirishwa na wana na binti wote wa Adamu. Maungamo ya jinsi hii hayavuviwi na Roho wa Mungu, wala hayatakubaliwa na Mungu. Ungamo la kweli litamfanya mtu abebe dhambi yake mwenyewe, na kuiungama bila ya kuwa na udanganyifu au unafiki. Kama yule mtoza ushuru maskini, pasipo kuinua sana macho yake kuelekea mbinguni, atalia, akisema, “Mungu uniwie radhi mimi mwenye dhambi;” na wale wanaokiri dhambi zao watahesabiwa haki; kwa maana Yesu atawaombea akidai damu yake iliyomwagika kwa ajili ya mwenye dhambi atubuye.