| Isaiah 25:1 |
Vol. 2.6
June 2010 |
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THE REIGN OF THE
LORD IN ZION – The News of Life. Obadiah 21
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Prepare the
Table, Watch in the Watchtower, Eat, Drink ...
Isaiah 21:5 |
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This is a monthly Christian
Newsletter and hereby state the object of its publication: That we are living in
the last days — the end of the
Gospel age; as well as the dawning of the long prayed for Kingdom of Christ in
power; are facts not only discernible by the close Student of the word, led by
the Spirit; but the outward signs recognizable by the world, bear the same
testimony: And we are desirous that the “household of Faith” be fully awake. Not
only help awaken but to assist them to “put on the whole Armor of God that they
may be able to stand in this evil day”. And beside all this, that giving all
diligence, they add to their Faith, Virtue, and to virtue, Knowledge,
Self-control, Patience, Godliness, brotherly Kindness, and Love; whom trust in
the merit of Christ’s Sacrifice for the world. Luke 21:36; Matt. 6:10; Eph.6:13;
2 Peter 1:4-11
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publication.
SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.”
—
Matt. 6:33.
Every Bible student has noted the great frequency of reference to the Kingdom in
the teaching of our Lord and the Apostles. We read that the message which John
proclaimed was, “The Kingdom of God has come nigh,” and that when Jesus sent
forth the twelve Apostles their mission was to declare the Kingdom of God at
hand. And later, when he sent forth the seventy others, their message was the
same, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” We notice that when the disciples asked
the Lord how to pray, one of the principal items of the petition he taught them
was, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven.” We
notice, further, that nearly all of our Lord’s parables, and hence nearly all of
His teachings, were in respect to the Kingdom, which was likened to a net;
likened to a sower and his crop of thirty, sixty and an hundred fold; likened to
a field, the wheat of which was finally gathered into the garner; likened to the
merchant seeking pearls and giving all that he had for the choicest; and likened
in the end of the Age to the ten virgins, the five wise of whom went into the
marriage. (Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:7; 13:10-52; 25:1-13.)
It is with some degree of astonishment that these same students notice
that in modern theology, as represented by the colleges in Christendom (many
Christian denominations/ groups), there is scarcely a reference to the Kingdom
of God. When sometimes inquiry is made respecting the matter — as to why this
teaching is so prominent in the New Testament and so little heard in modern
pulpits — the reply usually is to this effect: “Yes, the poor Jews had the
opinion that God would establish them as the Kingdom; and that when Messiah
would come he would receive them as associates in the Kingdom, and would honor
them and use them as his instrumentality in blessing all the families of the
earth. In all this the poor Jews were evidently mistaken, as our Lord did
nothing of the kind for them. In some vague sort of way we must suppose the
Church to be the Kingdom now, though we scarcely understand how to apply that
name to it.” This answer is generally taken by the students as satisfactory; for
they know no better and have not learned how to reason on theological subjects.
Few people understand God’s Word (Daniel 12:10).
BLESSINGS THROUGH ABRAHAM’S SEED
Let us look on the other side of the subject. Let us
remember the falling away of the Dark Ages, in which nearly all the precious
doctrines of Jesus and the Apostles were buried under a mass of human tradition
and superstition and “doctrines of devils.” (1 Tim. 4:1.) The Lord be
praised that we are gradually getting out of that terrible darkness. But on some
subjects many of God’s people are still evidently far from clear, far from an
appreciation of the teachings of our Lord and His Apostles. Wiping the dust of
the darkness of the past from our eyes, let us examine God’s Word on this
subject of the Kingdom. We find that the Jews did have as the mainspring of
their religious and political system the thought that they were to be the
representatives of God in the work of blessing the world in general — that He
had called them out first, in advance of other nations, that He might use them
as His holy nation under the Messiah, and through them communicate a blessing to
the world. This thought had its foundation in the Divine promise to Father
Abraham, “In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be
blessed.” As the seed of Abraham they expected the fulfillment of that promise
and took the various trials and difficulties, captivities, etc., that came upon
them as a nation as so much of Divine instruction preparing them for the Divine
service when Messiah should come and establish his Kingdom. (Gen. 22:17; 28:14;
Daniel 9:25-26.)
Nor is there a thought in the Old or in the New
Testament contradictory to this. They had the right idea. In harmony with this
thought, our Lord at his First Advent preached only to Israel and said to his
Apostles, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and unto the city of the
Samaritans enter ye not: for I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the House
of Israel.” The blessing and privilege went first to that nation. St. John
(1:11,12) distinctly tells us that our Lord came unto his own people and that
they received him not, except a remnant; and that to that remnant was granted a
special blessing of spirit-begetting, which constituted them the nucleus or
start of Spiritual Israel. The rest of the nation of Israel, the Apostle tells
us, were turned aside and blinded for a time until a sufficient number should be
found from among the Gentiles to complete the foreordained number of Spiritual
Israel. This gathering of Spiritual Israelites out of all nations, peoples,
kindreds and tongues, and the testing of these, has been the work of this Gospel
Age; and when the full number shall have been found and tested and perfected
this Age will end and a new Age, the Millennium, Messianic Age, will begin.
(Acts 15:14-17).
THE MILLENNIAL (Messianic) KINGDOM
It will be noticed, then, that the central thought
held by the Jews respecting God’s purpose of establishing a Kingdom in the
world for the blessing of all nations was substantially correct; and that the
difficulty was that there were not enough Jews to constitute the elect class.
Hence the delay of this Gospel Age, which God had foreseen and approved. The
Kingdom thought, however, is still there; for, as we have just seen, the Lord
and the Apostles continually referred to it and invited all the faithful to be
“heirs of the Kingdom.” As a matter of fact, then, the Church, as Spiritual
Israel and the Spiritual Seed of Abraham, has inherited this chief blessing
which God offered primarily to Abraham and his posterity. This Spiritual Israel,
composed of “Israelites indeed” and the faithful ones of every nation, is to
constitute the Bride of Messiah, and as such is to share with him the Kingdom
honors and Kingdom work specified in the Abrahamic promise, “In thy Seed shall
all the families of the earth be blessed.” That there may be no doubt of this,
note carefully the Apostle’s arguments in Gal. 3 and 4. Note
especially his words, “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s Seed, and heirs
[of the Kingdom and its work of blessing the world] according to the promise.” —
Gal. 3:29.
No wonder, then, that our Lord continually appealed
to the Kingdom thought. It is along this line that the entire Divine Plan is
arranged. The Kingdom class must first be found, selected, glorified. Then the
Kingdom work of blessing the world will be due to begin — not before. Any
blessings that may come to the world through the Church intermediately are
merely incidental. This is the meaning of the various invitations given us all
through the Scriptures, such, for instance, as our Lord’s words in our text,
“Seek ye first [chiefly] the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”; “Pray ye,
Thy Kingdom come”; “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to
give you the Kingdom”; “As My Father has appointed unto Me a Kingdom, so I
appoint unto you”; “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My
Throne”; “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him”; etc., etc., not
having time to tell you on this occasion. We merely, in passing, note the fact
that the Scriptures most clearly set forth that from the Divine standpoint there
are two seeds of Abraham, and that both seeds are to be blessed and to be used
in communicating the Divine blessings to the world in general. Spiritual Israel
has attained the highest place as the Seed of Abraham, but there is still a
promise to Natural Israel — “This is My covenant with them when I shall take
away their sins.” “It shall come to pass after those days,” saith the Lord,
“that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of
Judah....I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
iniquities I will remember no more.” “I will take away the stony heart out of
their flesh and will give them a heart of flesh.” — Jer. 31:31-33; Ezek. 11:19;
Isaiah 11:11; Acts 15:14-17.
The Apostle tells us when this will be fulfilled;
namely, when Spiritual Israel shall have been completed and Natural Israel shall
have obtained mercy through Spiritual Israel. (Rom. 11:25-32.) It is in harmony
with this that the Apostle assures us that the promise shall be sure unto both
the seeds, both that which is according to the spirit and that which is
according to the flesh. (Rom. 4:16.) These two seeds of Abraham were
distinctly referred to in the Lord’s promise to him in which He said: “Thy seed
shall be as the stars of Heaven [the spiritual class, the Heavenly, the Church],
and as the sand upon the seashore [the earthly seed],” although favor to Natural
Israel will gradually extend and absorb into that nation all of the entire human
family who love righteousness, all others being destroyed in the Second Death. —
Psalm 67:3,4; 37:38.
HOW WE SEEK THE KINGDOM
Having now before our minds what the Kingdom is, we appreciate the fact that the
Church in the present time is the Kingdom, but without power and without glory —
in an embryo or undeveloped stage — in preparation for the glories that shall be
ultimately revealed. We perceive the force of the Apostle’s explanation that we
are walking by faith and not by sight, and that the world knoweth us not. The
world is not aware of the Divine purpose, nor does it recognize the heirs of
salvation. Hence, as it crucified the Lord Jesus we must not marvel if it hate
those who have His spirit, even as darkness hates the light. We must not marvel
if persecution, therefore, be the lot of those who shall be favored of God in
connection with this Kingdom and its privileges. Indeed, these very experiences
are necessary for our development and preparation for the Kingdom. Thus by faith
these heirs of the Kingdom are to realize that all things connected with their
interests are under Divine supervision, and all working together for good to
them that love God — the called ones according to His purpose — His Kingdom
class. (Rom. 8:28.) Those unwilling to walk by faith, those unwilling to
endure hardness as good soldiers, those who love the world and its honors and
praise, and seek not alone that which cometh from Above, will by these
conditions be separated from the loyal, true overcomers. And this is the will of
God, as only the latter are fit for the Kingdom.
Now we understand why the Lord said of some, “Blessed
are your ears, for they hear,” and intimated that many of his time were not in
the condition to either see or hear or in any sense appreciate this message,
this blessing of the Spiritual Kingdom now proclaimed. Not only so, but even
among those who do have the hearing ear or seeing eye of understanding, the
spiritual perception of the Kingdom, its call and its conditions, there is a
need, as our text tells us, that they seek the Kingdom. It will not be thrust
upon anybody; it is a high privilege, a high honor, and whoever shall get it
must appreciate it. And whoever seeks the Kingdom under present conditions will
find, as the Master said, that the way is narrow and
difficult.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS CONTRASTED
Our Lord is addressing not the world, not sinners,
nor unbelievers. The Jewish nation was a believing nation, nominally at least,
just as Christendom (many denominations today) professedly believes in Christ.
But our Lord’s message was not merely to Israelites, but only to such as were
“Israelites indeed” and had signified their desire as his disciples to walk in
his steps and to become joint-heirs with him and his Kingdom. He calls the
attention of these to the earthly things for which the majority of mankind are
seeking — What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be
clothed?
We are not to understand the Lord’s words to signify
that his followers should be improvident, careless, so inattentive to the
responsibilities of life as to depend upon others for their food and raiment or
else go naked and hungry. There are two extremes in this matter, and our Lord
was controverting the one that is most troublesome to his followers. The spirit
of the world is a spirit of selfishness, which spurs all the brighter minds of
earth to get, to enjoy, to be, according to earthly standards. Summing up the
matter, our Lord says that what we shall eat, what we shall drink, wherewithal
we shall be clothed are the things after which all the Gentiles seek — the whole
world is seeking for earthly good things, but the Lord’s disciples are to take a
different course. Having the invitation to joint-heirship in the Kingdom of God
before their minds as the grandest possibility imaginable, they are to so esteem
it that all other interests and ambitions are to sink into insignificance in
their estimation and to be comparatively neglected. Our Lord’s advice is,
therefore, “Seek ye first [primarily — as of the first or primary importance]
the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [food, raiment,
honors, jobs, etc.] shall be added unto you.” Be it noted that the Lord does not
say that his followers shall have as much of these temporary good things as
others have; but elsewhere he declares, “Your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of.” The implication, therefore, is that to those who have put their
matters entirely in the Lord’s hands by a full consecration of all they possess,
their every talent, their every opportunity, and who are thus seeking to please
God and obtain the Kingdom inheritance which He has promised — to these He will
give earthly good things according to His wisdom — those which would bring the
highest measure of blessing as New Creatures, those which would prepare them and
assist them best for a share in the Kingdom. Whatsoever of earthly good
things would be a hindrance to their chief aim and desire in life this class
would not intentionally choose. Hence they should be glad that the
matter is entirely out of their hands and entirely in the Lord’s hands. It is
for them to rejoice that their affairs are being more wisely and more favorably
ordered than if under their own control. It is for these to rejoicingly pray,
“Thy will be done,” in respect to all of life’s affairs. Thus seeing and thus
doing and thus praying, this class may rejoice even in tribulation, knowing that
tribulation worketh experience, patience, hope, and will ultimately make them
not ashamed, because it will be God’s method of chastening and polishing them
for a share in the Kingdom. — Rom. 5:3-5.
SEEKING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
It is not enough that the Lord’s Elect shall seek the
Kingdom. They might seek it in a measure of selfishness, because of its honor
and glory. Hence, the Lord makes another stipulation: That we shall not only
seek the Kingdom, but seek its righteousness — the righteousness which the
Kingdom will bring, the righteousness which God will approve. Ah, this is a
searching proposition! All who will be counted worthy a place in the Kingdom
must come up to the standard of perfect love toward God and toward men. This is
the Divine standard, and nothing short of it will be acceptable. It means that
this class will be in harmony with their God, right, just, loving, peaceable
wherever found; and that they will be out of harmony with all injustice and
unrighteousness wherever found — in themselves and in others. Since we were all
born in sin, since we were all tainted with selfishness, even though in
differing degrees, it follows that we must all fight a good warfare against this
element of our human natures — that as New Creatures we shall not be in sympathy
with any of the fallen proclivities and tendencies in ourselves and in others.
It is a work of days, months and years to find out and rout these selfish
propensities, these Amalekites, which have entrenched themselves in our fallen
flesh, and to bring in instead of them the loving, generous impulses and
endeavors of the spirit of love, which seeks to do good unto all men as we have
opportunity, especially to the Household of Faith. This is learning to speak
evil of no man, to have no sympathy with slander, backbiting and evil surmisings,
but, on the contrary, to rejoice in the Truth and in “whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report.” — Phil. 4:8.
The law of absolute justice, righteousness, the Law
of Love, which will be introduced world-wide during the Millennium, must
already, even now, have our sympathy and support. In the present time, when so
much may be gained by a little deflection from the proper standards of purity or
truth or honesty, when so many are in favor of graft if it works favorably to
themselves, and so unfavorable to graft if it works against their interests — in
these times the heirs of the Kingdom are to be governed strictly by the laws of
the Kingdom. They are to seek after and to appropriate to themselves the
principles of righteousness which they perceive will be the laws of the Kingdom
for the whole world by and by. It will be much easier for the world to conform
to the laws of righteousness by and by, when every transgression will receive
prompt rebuke or punishment, and when every good word or deed will receive a
prompt reward. But it is comparatively difficult now for this Kingdom class to
think and to act along opposite lines from those which prevail to a large degree
amongst their friends and neighbors. This sympathy for righteousness, truth and
purity must be sought even as the Kingdom is sought; and those consecrated
believers who find the one find the other. Much of the Christian’s time,
therefore, must be devoted to self-examination and self-instruction in
righteousness, as well as building one another up in the most holy faith, the
Divine Word being the censor. All such are really taught of God. They learn to
consider honesty not merely in respect to dollars and cents, but also in regard
to words and actions. Yea, more, they learn to observe honesty in their thoughts
— to be honest with the Lord, honest with the brethren, honest with themselves.
As these lessons are learned, appropriated, the pupils in the School of Christ
are being made meet for an inheritance in the Kingdom.
Christ kept the Law and satisfied Divine Justice for
all who become his during the Gospel Age; and his merit is imputed to those who
keep the Law in their heart and are hindered from keeping
it absolutely by the weaknesses of their fallen flesh which they
are unable to control. And so St. Paul says that the righteousness of the Law is
fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. First of
all, through the imputation of his merit to their mortal bodies, their flesh,
our Redeemer covers their natural imperfections. Second, because that body so
devoted, so justified, is sacrificed, He reckons them dead as human beings. They
are then begotten to a new, a spirit nature. Thenceforth their mortal body is
counted as the body of the New Creature, no longer as a human body; for this was
sacrificed. Actually, however, it is quickened to be the servant of the New
Creature. Being still actually human, it must be given a robe of righteousness
to wear until the end of the present life. This is furnished by our Savior.
The Apostle Paul, in speaking of our human bodies from the standpoint of 1Cor.
6:15
our new relationship in Christ Jesus, says, “Know ye not that
your bodies are members of Christ?” God no longer counts our fleshly body as the
body of a human being. It is a member of Christ, the property of the spiritual
New Creature. This New Creature keeps the Law of God. Wherein there is failure,
it is not the New Creature that fails, but the imperfect flesh, which is covered
by the pure, white robe of Christ’s righteousness. God looks upon it as the
spotless body of this New Creature. Thus we stand perfect before God’s Law; thus
the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who are walking, not according
to the flesh, but in the footsteps of Jesus. (Rom. 8:1-6.)
Rom. 3:21-24: “But now the righteousness of God
without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which
is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus.”
THE LESSON OF SELF-DENIAL
One great difficulty among these “heirs of
salvation,” “heirs of the Kingdom,” “heirs of glory,” lies in our inability to
rightly appreciate the importance of the little things in life and the little
things in our own minds. Many who would have the courage to go to the stake in
defense of some principle of righteousness and truth find it very difficult to
“examine themselves,” and, as the Apostle suggests, to bring eventually even the
very thoughts of their minds into subjection to the will of God as expressed in
Christ. But our Lord’s word is, “He that is faithful in that which is least will
be faithful also in that which is greater.” Hence we should have in mind that
the Lord will instruct us along the lines of little things; and in our endeavors
in all the trifling affairs of life we should cultivate and exercise the spirit
of Christ, the spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, long suffering,
brotherly-kindness, love, that these things being in us, and abounding, an
entrance shall be administered to us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — 2Peter 1:5-11.
An important feature of the teaching of the School of
Christ is the necessity for self-denial (Matt. 16:24). The repudiation of sin
and sinful words, acts and thoughts is a difficult enough matter, but the Lord
calls upon his followers to repudiate and fight against more than these. They
must learn to be well-rounded-out characters, copies of God’s dear Son. They
must learn self-denial; our Master as the Great King and our Bridegroom learned
obedience in his self-denials. And these were not along the lines of sinful
things; for in him was no sin; his special trials were of self-denial,
self-sacrifice in the interest of and in the support of righteousness and for
the blessing of others. Thus he developed and manifested the spirit which the
Father is pleased to reward in the Kingdom.
All who will be counted worthy to be kings and
priests to God in that Heavenly Kingdom must demonstrate now to Divine
satisfaction their willingness to sacrifice their own personal interests and
rights in favor of the Kingdom and the Father’s will and the blessing of those
whom the Father designs shall be blessed by the Kingdom. Whoever, therefore,
refuses to take up his cross of self-denial and to deny himself cannot long be
one of the Lord’s disciples. He will fall out by the way, for ultimately only
those will constitute members of the Kingdom class who shall count it all joy to
gain that Kingdom and the Divine favor and the great privilege of being
associated with Jesus in the great work of blessing the world at any cost, at
any self-denial. Let us, dear brethren, emulate more and more this spirit of our
Redeemer, who made himself of no reputation that he might work the works of God,
who sent him. Thus we also shall be counted worthy of a share with him in the
Kingdom and its glorious opportunities.
LUGANDA TRANSLATION in
brief.
SOOKA ONOONYE OBWAKABAKA
“Naye Musooke munoonye Obwakabaka Bwe n’Obutuukirivu Bwe;
Era ebyo byonna mulibyongerwako”
— Matayo 6:33
Buli muyizi wa baibuli alaba nga “Obwakabaka bwa Katonda” mulamwa munene eri
Mukama waffe Yesu wamu n’Abayigirizwabe era nga enjiri kweyatambulira! Tukiraba
nti okutandika ne Yokana omubatiza, yategeeza nti “Mwenenye kuba Obwakabaka bwa
Katonda busembedde”; Yesu naye nategeeza era n’atuma abayigirizwa nti
“Obwakabaka bwa Katonda busembedde”; Era Yesu kwe kunyweza enjiri y’Obwakabaka —
naawa engero “Obwakabaka kyebuva bufaanana Omutunzi eyafuna elulu emu eyomuwendo
omungi, natunda byonna byali nabyo, agifune; Omusizi w’Ensigo; Abagole ekkumi —
5 basirusiru, 5 bagezigezi; Omulimi”; Yesu n’ategeeza bayigirizwa era
n’abasuubiza nti “Mulituula ku ntebe ezebitiibwa era mulisalira ebika ekkumi
nebibiri ebya Isirayiri omusango, Nange mbaterekera Obwakabaka nga Kitange bwe
y’anterekera Obwakabaka”. Era Yesu kwe kulagira abamukkiriza nga tanagenda mu
Ggulu nti “N’enjiri eno ey’obwakabaka eribuulirwa mu nsi zonna, okuba omujulirwa
mu mawanga gonna; awo enkomerero n’eryoka ejja.” (Mat. 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:7;
13:10-52; 24:14; 25:1-13.)
Tulaba nga Abayisiraeri baalina essuubi eri Obwakabaka era nga basuubira Masiya
(Kristo) nga Kabaka, era okuyita mu bwakabaka buno okufuga n’okuleta emirembe
eri amawanga gonna. Kino kiva ku kisuubizo kya Katonda eri Jjajabwe Ibulayimu —
“N’ezzaddelyo linaabanga ng’enfuufu ey’okunsi, era olibuna ebugwanjuba,
n’ebuvanjuba, n’obukiika obwakkono, n’obwaddyo: ne muggwe ne muzzaddelyo ebika
byonna eby’omu nsi mwe biriweerwa omukisa” — Olub.28:14. Wewaawo, ne
byawandiikibwa nga Katonda ya bategeeza Obwakabaka buno — Danyeri 9:25-26;
7:13-14.
OBWAKABAKA BWA KRISTO Emyaka Lukumi
Tulaba nti Obwakabaka buno bulina ensibuko era nga
Abayisirayiri bali batufu mu kusubira kwabwe. Mukama ya subiza Ibulayimu nti
“muzzadde lyo, ensi yonna mweriwebwa omukisa”. Kikakafu nti Mukama bwe yajja eri
Isirayiri nga egwanga okulondamu abanaabeera “Ezzadde lya Ibulayimu nga
emunyeenye mu ggulu” natafunamu bamala, kuba bangi bali tebasaanidde! Kwe kuwa
omukisa abamawanga, okweronderamu abolubatu eri erinnya lye (Ebikk. 15:14-17).
Wano Paulo wategeereza mu Abagalatiya 3:29 — Era mmwe bwemuli aba Kristo, kale
muli zzadde lya Ibulayimu, era muli basika ng’okusuubiza bwe kwali. Kale nga
Mukama amazze okweronderamu abatono okuba yeekaaluye era Ekkanisa nga emaze
okuggwa; olwo omukisa ne guyita mu Kkanisa, okujja eri ennyumba ya Yakobo (Abayisirayiri
ab’omubiri), bwegutyo okutuuka ku mawanga gonna agomu nsi. Ekkanisa emala kuggwa,
be balonde b’Obwakabaka obwo mu Ggulu, olwo Obwakabaka bwa Katonda ku nsi
nebutandika mu Isirayiri. Olwo ensigo ebbiri (Abayisirayiri ab’omwoyo
n’Abayisirayiri ab’omubiri) za Ibulayimu, nga Mukama bwe yamusuubiza, amawanga
gonna mwe ganaafunira omukisa oba obulamu/ obulokozi.
Kino kikakasibwa mu Abaruumi 11:25-32: Nti oluvanyuma
lw’okulokolebwa kwe Kkanisa, olwo Abayisiraeri bonna balyoke balokolebwe! Era
kino nga kiwedde, ensi yonna oba amawanga gonna galyoke gawebwe omukisa era
obulokozi nga buyita mu nsigo zino/ ezzadde lya Ibulayimu — mu bwakabaka bwa
Kristo wano ku nsi. Kino Mukama Katonda yakikakasa nga ayita mu mudduwe Isaaya
11:11 — “Awo olulituuka ku lunaku luli Mukama alissaawo nate omukono gwe
omulundi ogw’okubiri okukomyaawo abalifikkawo ku bantu be abalisigalawo,
okubaggya mu Bwasuli ne mu Misiri ne mu Eramu ne mu Pasuloosi ne mu Kuusi ne mu
Sinali ne mu Kumasi ne mu bizinga eby’omu nnyanja”.
Obwakabaka bwa Kristo wano ku
nsi — “Era anaafuganga okuva ku nnyanja okutuuka ku
nnyanja, Era okuva ku Mugga okutuuka ku nkomerero z’ensi” (Zabbuli
72:8). “Aweereddwa omukisa, era ye mutukuvu alina omugabo mu kuzuukira
okw’olubereberye: okufa okw’okubiri tekulina buyinza ku bo, naye banabeeranga
bakabona ba Katonda era ba Kristo, era banaafugiranga wamu naye emyaka lukumi” (Okub.
20:6). Nga bafuga wa? Okub. 5:9-10
adamu — “... N’obafuula eri Katonda waffe obwakabaka era
bakabona; era bafuga ku nsi”. Mukama waffe Yesu kwe kukuutira abagoberezibe
okukolerera n’okusabira ennyo Obwakabaka buno, obwakabaka bwa Katonda ku nsi nti:
“Obwakabaka Bwo bujje, Byoyagala bikolebwe mu nsi, nga bwe bikolebwa mu Ggulu”
— Mat. 6:10.
Yee, mu Bwakabaka bwa Kristo obw’omukisa;
1.
Kristo (Masiya) wa kuleeta emirembe mu nsi:
“Naye alisalira omusango amawanga mangi, era alinenya amawanga
agamaanyi agali ewala; era baliweesa ebitala byabwe (eby’okulwanyisa) okuba
enkumbi n’amafumu gaabwe okuba ebiwabyo; eggwanga teririyimusa ekitala ku
ggwanga, so tebayigenga kulwana nate (tewaabe magye nate)” —
Mikka 4:3.
“N’omusege gunasulanga wamu n’omwaana gw’endiga, n’engo
enegalamiranga wamu n’omwana gw’embuzi; N’ennyana n’omwaana gw’empologoma
n’ekyassava wamu; N’omwaana omuto alizikantiriza. .... n’empologoma erirya
omuddo ng’ente. N’omwaana ayonka alizannyira ku kinnya ky’enswera, n’omwaana
eyakava ku mabeere aliteeka omukono gwe ku mpapagama yessalambwa. Tebaliruma
n’ewakubadde okuzikiriza ku lusozi (obwakabaka) lwange olutukuvu lwonna” —
Isaaya 11:6-9.
Kino kyongera okakasa Obwakabaka bwa Kristo wano ku nsi; kuba
empologoma, emisege, ssalambwa, engo, embuzi n’enswera
tebisubizibwanga ku gedda mu Gguli, n’obwokebera
baibuli yonna! Laba ate n’empologoma
erirya omuddo ng’ente!
Kale enjiri evaawa nti abantu bonna bagenda mu Ggulu
oba Geyenna, olwo ensi esigale matongo?
2.
Kristo (Masiya) ajja ku zuukiriza abantu bonna wano
ku nsi!
“Abafu bbo baliba balamu; ... Muzuukuke muyimbe mwe ababeera mu
nfuufu: .. N’ettaka liriwandura abafu” — Isaaya 26:19.
3.
Abazuukidde wano ku nsi bakw’eyagala mu bwakabaka
bw’Omununuzi wabwe, era Kristo (Masiya):
Tewaabe kulwaala ndwadde! “N’oyo atuulamu talyogera nti Ndi
mulwadde: abantu abatuula omwo balisonyibwa obutali butuukirivu bwabwe” — Isaaya
33:24.
Tewaabe bulema bwonna “Awo amaaso g’omuzibe w’amaaso ne galy’oka
gazibuka, n’amatu g’omuggavu w’amatu galigguka. Awo awenyera n’alyoka abuuka
ng’ennangaazi, n’olulimi lwa kasiru luliyimba” — Isaaya 35:5-6.
Tewaabe njala mu nsi yonna Kuba “N’olukoola n’amatongo birijaguza;
n’eddungu lirisanyuka, lirisansula ng’ekiyirikiti” — Isaaya 35:1-2.
Tewaabe kupangisa mayumba “Era balizimba ennyumba ne basulamu;
Tebalizimba omulala nasulamu” — Isaaya 65:21-22.
TUNOONYA TUTYA OBWAKABAKA
Mu bwakabaka bw’okuyitibwa kwe Kkanisa era abolonde ba Katonda,
tukiraba nti bano “batambula olw’okukkiriza, si lwa kulaba”; Era ekkanisa
bwebwakabaka buno nga bukyali mu kunyoomebwa, okutuusa nga bonna bawangudde. Era
kino kye kiseera ky’okuyita mu muliro n’okugezesebwa kwa buli omu, okukakasa nti
awangudde asaanidde “Engule y’obulamu” era okuba omusika w’Obwakabaka obw’omu
Ggulu. Wano Yesu wategeereza abamukkiriza nti “Totya by’ogenda okubonaanabona,
... beeranga mwesigwa okutuusa okufa, nange ndikuwa Engule y’obulamu” — Okubikk.
2:10. Kale bonna abatambula mu kukkiriza, ne bateegomba bya mu nsi muno —
bugagga, bitiibwa, masanyu, wewaawo ne bagondera byonna Mukama bya leese mu bbo,
be bokka abawangula era be baterekebwa eggulu. Bano basingana nga ddala ekkubo
erigenda mu obwakabaka obwo mu Ggulu, zzibu era ffunda!
Yesu ebigambo bino (okusooka okunoonya Obwakabaka bwa
Katonda) ya bigamba abamukkiriza bokka. Kwe kubalaga nti ebintu by’ensi, abantu
bonna byebanoonya — Ki kye banalya? Bananywa ki? Banayambala ki? Ye banasula wa?
Luno lwe lutalo n’ebigendererwa ebikulu eri abantu b’ensi n’abatakkiriza;
Bwekityo si bwekiri eri abagoberezibe — mu sooke munoonye Obwakabaka bwa Katonda,
n’ebyo binabogerwako! (Singa bwe mwaagala wabula nga Katonda bwasima). Kino
kikakasibwa mu Abaruumi 8:28 — Era tumanyi nti eri abo abaagala Katonda era
abayitibwa ng’okuteesa kwe bwekuli, ebintu byonna abibakolera wamu olw’obulungi.
OKUNOONYA OBUTUKUVU BWA MUKAMA
Abakkiriza tebalina kunoonya na kukolerera Obwakabaka
bwa Katonda bwokka, wabula balina n’okunoonya Obutuukirivu bwabwo. Osaanga
basoobola okubunoonya olw’ekigendererwa eky’okufuna obufunyi empeera n’ebitiibwa
byabwo olw’okweyagalizabo bokka. Kale Mukama waffe kyava ateekako akakwakulizo
nti munoonye n’Obutuukirivu bwabwo, obutuukirivu obusimibwa Katonda!
Obutuukirivu buno bwe bujja okugobererwa mu Obwakabaka bwa Katonda era obuweesa
obulamu obutaggwaawo! Kino kitegeeza nti tulina okulwanyisa obunafu
bw’obuzarirwana bwaffe n’ebikolwa ebibi byonna (obukyaayi, okuwaayiriza,
obulyaake), bwetutyo tusanyukire ebirungi, ebyamazima, ebituufu, obwenkanya,
ekigambo kya Katonda, okwaagala okutuufu, okugaba. Abafirip 4:8. Kale mu kiseera
kino, abaana b’obwakabaka balina okunyweeza obutuukirivu, nga batambulira
kutteeka oly’okwaagala n’obwenkanya, ewatali bukuusa nga bakola Katonda
byayagala byokka. Bwekityo ne mu bwakabaka bwekiggya okuba nga abantu
batambulira mu tteeka ely’obutuukirivu n’amazima.
Kale obudde bw’omukkiriza bulina kukozesebwa bulungi
— okunoonya Obwakabaka n’Obutuukirivu bwabwo. Kino kiteegeza nti balina kuba
bayiizi ba kigambo kya Katonda era nga bakwata ebiragiro bye eby’obutuukirivu.
Obutuukirivu bwa Katonda ky’ekirabo eri bonna abakkiriza Kristo. Kino Katonda ya
kikola olw’ekisakye kuba obunafu bw’omuntu mu mubiri tebumusobozesa ku kwaata
mateeka ga Katonda abeere omulamu. Obunafu buno bubikibwako obutuukirivu bwa
Kristo, kale abakkiriza Kristo ne babalirwa obutuukirivu mu mitima gyabwe wamu
ne bigendererwa byabwe, so nga balina okukola kyonna mu busobozi bwabwe okukola
obutuukirivu (Abaruumi 8:1-6).
Naye kaakano awatali mateeka obutuukirivu bwa Katonda,
obutegezebwa amateeka ne banabbi, bulabisibwa; Bwe butuukirivu bwa Katonda
olw’okukkiriza Yesu Kristo eri bonna abakkiriza; Kubanga tewali njawulo; Kubanga
bonna bayonoona, ne batatuuka ku kitiibwa kya Katonda; Naye baweebwa
obutuukirivu bwa buwa lwa kisa kye olw’okununulibwa okuli mu Kristo Yesu —
Abaruumi 3:21-24.
OMUGASO GW’OKWEGAANA/ OKWEFIIRIZA WEKKA
Tulaba nti abakkiriza balina okwefiiriza bokka nga ne
Mukama Yesu bweyefiiriza yekka, n’aleka ebitiibwabye mu Ggulu, nafuuka omuntu,
era nawaayo n’obulamubwe okuba omuntango gw’Adamu. Yesu teyalina kibi – kale
tetwefiiriza bibi na bitaliimu, wabula ebirungi ebikiirizibwa mu maaso ga
Katonda. Yesu kyava ategeeza abamukkiriza nti “Omuntu bw’ayagala okujja ennyuma
wange, yefiirize yekka, yetikke omusalabagwe, angoberere” — Mat.16:24. Kino
Omutume Paulo kyakakasa mu Abaruumi 12:1. So nga bwetulabye, ne Mukama waffe
atalina kibi wadde bbala, kino kye yakola okusiimibwa Katonda wamu n’okukula mu
butuukirivu obusiimibwa Katonda (Abbebulaniya 2:10), Yee, bonna abaana ba
Katonda bwe balina okukola, okusobola okuba Abasika b’Obwakabaka bwa Katonda mu
Ggulu. Bwekityo, omukkiriza yenna atayagala kuba ssadaaka, na kwefiiriza bintu
bya mu nsi eno ebitali bibi, wewaawo okukola Katonda kyayagala nga anoonya
Obwakabakabwe n’Obutuukirivu bwabwo, n’obusobozibwe bwonna Katonda bwe yamuwa,
tasobola kuba mu sika w’Obwakabaka bwa Katonda obw’omukisa era bwe yaterekera
Kristo!
Amina.
THE DIVINE PLAN OF AGES
“A Plan of Ages, which he formed for the
ANOINTED Jesus our Lord”
— Eph. 3:11, Emp. Diag.
“Write down the Vision and make it plain upon tables that every
one may read it fluently.”
— Hab. 2:2-3 L.T.
The 3 Worlds
— 2 Peter 3:5-13
YOUR OPPORTUNITY:
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Free BIBLE STUDY Course
By
Correspondence
&
Open
to All Christians from all
Churches
OMUSOMO
GWA BAIBULI nga gwabwerere!
You can write to us or Call us:
Uganda Bible Students,
P.O. Box 28734 Kampala,
Tel: (+256) 753 116202 Or 0776
116202
Email: Eliezer_biblestudy@yahoo.com
FIND THE TRUTH ! … John 17:17
Math.25:6: “Behold the Bridegroom …”
|
SOME BIBLE TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
(EGIMU KU MITWE EGIYIGIBWA)
v
Why does God permit Evil/ Satan to do
injury?
(Lwaki Katonda owekisa aleka Satan okukola
obubi?)
v
The Most Holy Faith — the Faith which was
delivered to all Saints.
(Okukkiriza okutukuvu enyo - Okwaweebwa
abatukuvu ba Katonda.)
v
The study of Bible Covenants.
(Okuyiga Endagaano Za Katonda mu baibuli)
v
Church History— The Seven Churches and
Seven Angels; Rev. 2
(Ekanisa Omusanvu ne
Bamalayika baazo Musanvu
—
Okubikkulirwa 2)
v
The Armageddon & The End of the World.
(Olutalo ddekabusa era
olwenkomerero y’ensi)
v
Tongues, Miracles, Visions and Prophesying.
(Ebyamagero, Okulabikirwa, Okwogera mu nnimi
era n’Obwanabbi)
v
The TRUE Christian Baptism!
(Okubatizibwa okuli mu byawandikibwa, okw’amazima.)
And many others (Nebirala)!!!!
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DESIRING GOD’S GREAT BLESSING!
Desiring to obtain God’s blessing but indifferent in doing His will results in
failure. Serving and improving the life conditions of your fellow men towards
God, is one source of God’s blessing. Therefore, desiring to spread God’s
Message of life but thinking you are too busy with work of whatever sort, poor
to give financial support as you may not have enough for food, or you are not
talented to speak, or feeling bodily imperfection that a person may ask you what
you can not explain; yes in whatever form of constraint: We advise you to
consider the many and varied opportunities the LORD of heaven has placed before
you to serve your fellow men and women; Example, obtain copies of this monthly
Newsletter — look at People interested in God’s word around you; at work place,
home, neighbors, at your church, sending a copy to mother, father, friends &
relatives in different places of the Country. Those who could promote this work
in other right way, the opportunity stands. Yes, how refreshing and motivating
you may contribute to changing Peoples lives, and yourself be God’s righteous
Servant in the belief of Christ and the TRUTH.
GROWING IN FAITH
Growth in faith is
a desired state of Christian for desired fruitage of Christ likeness; But this
must be in line with the will of God as expressed in 1 Thess. 5:21 KJV — “Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good.” In line with this exhortation we
advise all who are earnest students of Scriptures and our Newsletter, to prove
all our studies with the only standard given by God (Isaiah 34:16) and please
communicate to us! It is also, our privilege to share the message of God’s love
with others; hence we advise those who received the first publications to share
them with God’s People.
Christ’s Kingdom is a monthly
Publication by Uganda Bible Students:
All
enquiries and subscriptions to be addressed to:
The Editor, Christ’s Kingdom, P. O. Box 28734, Kampala, Uganda.
Email:
Eliezer_biblestudy@yahoo.com
Tel: (+256) 753 116202 / 0776 116202.
www.godsplan-today.com
You can visit www.bibletoday.com for more on
Bible studies.
