AAUA, ONDI NOKUNINGA NGINI, NDI HUPISUE?

NDONGA

(Iilonga JaaApostoli 16:30)

Arranged in the very words of inspired men by J.D. Phillips

1. Itaala omuua Jesus, e to hupisua, (Iilonga JaaApostoli 16:31) Ihe nkika kuaa neitaalo oko kaku nohokue, ošoka ngoka ta heza ku Kalunga, e nokuitaala, oko e li, na mboka taje mu kongo ote ja pe ondjambi.(Lja Nolelua AaHeberi 11:6) ihe ongoka ini itaala, oje ta ka pangulilua mekano.(Markus 16:16) ošoka ngelo itamu itaale, nokutja ongame tuu ngoka, otamu site moondjo zeni. (Johannes 8:24) Ošo tuu neitaalo ngele kali niilonga, oja sa muljo ljene. (Lja Jakob 2:17).

2. Itezululeni, (Iilonga JaApostoli 2:38) ihe nanr uo ngele itamu itezulula, ošo tuu tamu ka kana amuhe. (Lukas 13:3,5) Kalunga okui izizimikile omasimbo ngejaka guugoja, ihe ngasingeji ota lombuele, aantu ajehe naakube je nokuitezulula. (Iilonga JaApostoli 17:30) Ano ošo Kalunga okua gandja no kaapagani egundjilo ljokumona omue�o. (Iilonga JaApostoli 11:18).

3. Nokuhempulula kuokana otaku hupisa. (KaaRoma 10:10) Ošoka ngele to hempulula nokana koje Jesus oje Om�ua, no ui itaala momue�o guoje, Kalunga e m� jumuza kuusi, nena oto hupisua; (KaaRoma 10:9) Onke ano, okehe tuu ngoka, ta hempulula ndje paantu, nangame tandi m� hempulula pu Tate megulu. (Mateus 10:32) Ongoje Kristus, Om�na gua Kalunga om�namue�o. (Mateus 16:16) Ongame ondi itaale Jesus Kristus oje Om�na gua Kalunga. (Iilonga JaApostoli 8:37).

4. Pahunganeko ndika ngašingeji nane no tamu hupisua komeja, (1 Lja Petrus 3:21) Ongika i itaala e ta šašua, oje ta hupisua (Markus 16:16) Ošili, ošili tandi ku lombuele: om�ntu ngele ita valua momeja no mOmbepo, ita uapa okuja mošilongo ša Kalunga. (Johannes 3:5) tue ji longo ando, aue, opasilohenda lje okejogo ljevalululo no kešitululo lj�Ombepo Ondjapuki, (Ku Titus 3:5) Itezululeni, no kehe ngoka ni išašisile mezina lja Jesus Kristus, (Ilonga JaApostola 2:38) Sikama, ngu isane ezina lje, u šašue, noondjo zoje zi jogue po. (Iilonga JaajApostoli 22:16) šašelua mu Kristus, (KaaGalatia 3:27) otua šašelua meso lje? (KaaRoma 6:3) Ano ngele ku na ngoka e li mu Kristus, oje om�šitua om�pe; (2 KaaKorinto 5:17).

5. No tali tu putuza, tu ese okuzina Kalunga nuuhalu uopajuni, tse tu kale tu nunjuuki. Nokuhoola Kalunga muujuni mbuka uongašingeji, manga tua tegelela eguaniso ljetegameno ljelago nokuholoka kuesimano lja Kailunga ketu om�nene, no ku�Om�kulili guetu Jesus Kristus, ongoka kui ogandja peha ljetu, e tu kulile mo muulunde auhe, je e tu joge, tu ninge ošiguana še muene ša hala šill okulonga uuanaua. (Ku Titus 2:12-14).

Otandi mu hambelele šo tamu zimbulukua ndje miinima ajihe no tamu ziginine omikalo zandje, ngaši ngame nde zi mu pa. (1 KaaKorinto 11:2).

Esilohena lj�Om�ua Jesus Kristus nali kale naajapuki ajehe. Amen. (Ehololo lja Johannes 22:21) Aanelago omboka taa jogo oonguo zauo, opo ju uusilue okupeua mom�ti guomue�o, nokuja mošilando taa piti miijeelo. (Ehololo lja Johannes 22:14).

TANDI UUVO KO OGINI, NGELE KUAA TA TULA NDJE MONDJILA?

Iilonga 8:26-40

26. Ihe omßjengeli gu’Omßua okua lombuele Filippus nokua ti: Sikama, u je luo kuušimbantu, kondjila ndjijaka ja za ku Jerusalem no taji ji ku Gaza, ji li ko ji ikalelela.

27. Oje nokua sikana e ta ji ko; ihe, tala, Omßetiopia, elenga enene lja Kandake, omßkuaniilua omßkliintu guoku Etiopia, Omßnene, omßlangeli guegumbo lje no guemona lje alihe, okua jile ku Jerusalem okugalikana.

28. No ngašingeji mokugaluka okua kuutumba metemba Ije nokua aazika ta lešamoramata jomßprofeti Jesaja.

29. Ombepo nokua ti ku Filippus: Inda ko, u ka kale popepi netemba ndika!

30. Ano Filippus okua makutile ko, nokue mß uuvu ta leša oramata jomßprofeti Jesaja, e ta ti: Ongoke u uuvite ko tuu šoka to leša?

31. Ngujaka okua ti: Tandi uuvu ko ngini, ngele kuaa na ngoka ta tula ndje mondjila? Nokui isana Filippus a londe ketemba, je a kuutumbe pammue naje,

32. Nepandja ndjoka Ijomoramata e li leša oljo ndika: Oje ta ka falua košizipagelo ongonzi no ngonzigona haji muenenene omßkululi guajo, ošo ngejinoje uo ita makula okana ke.

33. Omolu okuifupipika kue okupangulua kue kua kusua po, olje ta vulu okujalula ezimo Ije, ošoka omue½o gue otagu kusua mevi.

34. Elenga no kua pula Filippus e ta ti: Otandi ku galikana, lombuela ndje, olje, ngo omßprofeti te mß popi ngeji, oje muene nenge ogulue?

35. Filippus nokua makula okana ke no mokuza moohapu nzoka zoramata okue mß uuvisile evangeli Ija Jesus.

36. Ihe šo je ende ngeji nondjila, oje ja komeja, elenga nokua ti: Tala, omeja ogo ngaka, ošike taši imbindje, ndaa šašue?

37. Filippus okue mß lombuele: Ongoje ngele ui itaale nomue½o aguhe, eeno, naši ningue, Nguka a jamukula nokua ti: Ongame ondi itaale Jesus Kristus oje Omßna gua alunga.

38. Oje nokua sikameke etemba naajehe jaali oja ji nomeja, Filippus nelenga, oje nokue mß šaša.

39. Ihe šo ja zi momeja, Ombepo ja Kalunga okua kusa po Filippus, nelenga ine mß mona ue, nokua ji nondjila je a ½a½ukua.

40. Ihe Filippus a aazika ku Azdod, nokua endaenda nokua hokolola millando ajihe evangeli, sigo e ja ku Kesarea.

KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

John the apostle had in mind the words of Jesus who instructed, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” when he wrote these words: “My Little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not, And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, In him verily is the love of perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” I John 2:1-6.

These few words are rich with meaning. This is the same man who with his brother James had years before asked if Jesus did not want them to to call fire down upon a Samaritan village because they had refused hospitality to them. Instead Jesus changed James and John so greatly that he is remembered even today as “the apostle of love.” Keep my commandments, Jesus had said, and John always kept in mind. There are several words that are translated into English as “love”. They are totally different in meaning, and the kind of love so often heard in song lyrics today is not even found in the Bible. This generation, simply does not recognize know that kind of “love,” and that is why I often pray that the Lord will help me to love with the kind of love that Jesus showed to us. John was writing that the church would not be polluted by the world’s concepts. God, Himself, showed that kind of love that He had passed on to His Son, when he “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That, of course, is another scripture recorded by the same John the apostle.

Several thoughts stand out in this and other related texts.

• John is writing “that you sin not”. We know that he is not saying that we are instantly completely free of any sin; otherwise, he would not have written the next line. All humanity does sin, and none are perfect apart from Christ Jesus. We are made perfect, not by our own selves, but because he who took the punishment for our sins on the cross now dwells within us.

• That next line reads, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ” An advocate is one who stands between. Jesus pleads our case with the Father, just as an advocate pleads the case of a thief, before a judge. The big difference is that Jesus has already personally paid the price of our sin, and God is his Father who sent him for that very reason, because he loves us. We just cannot fully understand that kind of love.

• One of the commandments that we are to keep is referred to in Jesus’ great Commission, “go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19. This is another whole new study.

• Another is recorded by Matthew in that our Lord established a memorial of the price he would pay for us. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body,’” and he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” This is also a whole study in itself.

• It is a regretful fact that there are many who claim to believe that Jesus is Lord, but who do not keep his commandments. They claim to be Christians, but if they do not keep his commands, “teach all nations,” “baptize” those who believe, and partake of the communion memorial of Christ, anticipating his return for them. Unfortunately the text also adds, “know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” All who know his commandments, also know if they are keeping them or not. If we say, he is my Lord, and do not obey him, our disobedience clearly shows that we do not really believe the Son of God is also our Lord. We are lying to ourselves and to the world about us. What we really believe, is shown in our actions.

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS:

IS DEAD!

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 214-20 (KJV)

The writer of this letter was James, the brother of Jesus. Early Jewish historians have much to say of him. He served the church in Jerusalem from its beginning on Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ from the grave until shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. It is recorded that he was killed by being thrown from the roof of the temple to the paved courtyard beneath, and then stoned to make quite certain. It was during that less than 40 years of his ministry that the church grew greatly in troubled Jerusalem.

James, a man of prayer and good works, makes it clear that faith and works are a closely linked pair. One does not exist without the other. He set the example through his own life; then asks the question. “Can faith save him?” One would be tempted to say an unqualified “yes.” Then he does as his brother Jesus had done. He asked a question the answer of which causes one to stop and think before answering. A second question proposes a situation in which the answer is not so simple. He illustrates with a brother or a sister in great need, and an answer to their need that does nothing to relieve the situation: good wishes, that do nothing to provide for the needs of the body. God usually works through brothers or sisters in the Lord.

What we do reveals what we think. In other words, we prove our faith by our works.
We can all recall situations where individuals who claim to be men of faith, but whose lives reveal all too clearly that they are not. A person can sing heart touching hymns without believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God at all. Many do. A person can be an alcoholic a drunkard, a liar, an immoral monster, or a murderer and be totally unrepentant; yet he can still claim that he is a born again Christian. His works reveal that it is a lie. He is a hypocrite and scripture informs that people who do such things will not be in heaven. I once knew a drunkard who had a good job, but lived in a sub-economic housing community, primarily because he spent his income on the wrong things. He could, and often did, pray the most beautiful prayers, but they were prayers that were meaningless, because his life spoke so very loudly.

Faith that does not produce matching actions is inadequate. As James points out, even the demons, fallen angels, who knew from their own experiences the divinity of Christ, believe and tremble. They tremble because they know their destination. They do not show their faith in actions. They are lost and face the place that God has prepared for them. Yes, God did make Hell, but he made it for the devil and his angels. They know the truth, they understand, but they do not repent of their sin. They have in fact, committed an unforgivable sin.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Philippians 3:13-15

All Christians have the goal to be with God at the end of this earthly life. We know, that the things of this earth will all be left behind. The ancient Egyptians buried the wealth of their rulers with their mummified bodies; sometimes in grand tombs so that they, at least in their minds, could continue to live as they did here on earth. They had reached their goals, and had every desire to take all the trappings of this life with them in death. Much of this wealth attracted grave robbers and ultimately the riches came to rest in the museums of the world. Being in this world, it will ultimately be destroyed with the earth itself.

The very first word of this text assures us that Paul is writing for the benefit of his brothers and sisters in the Lord. He addresses them as “brethren.” Then, he makes it clear that they, and we, need a goal in life, but that we will not actually reach it in this life. The important thing is to leave the bygones behind; and to live in the present but for the future. Our goal is ahead, but our means of reaching it are in the present. What we do today, determines where we will spend eternally.

As we grow older, and we all do, we are tempted to live in the past and to think on past accomplishments, or digressions. Whether good or bad, we cannot change what is past. We can repent of it, asking the Lord to forgive us, and forge ahead determining never to repeat those failures again, being confident that He is just to forgive us, and has written them off in our record, just as I have done that very thing with the misspelled words of this document. I consulted “spell check,” corrected the errors, and the computer removed them forever. I can go on with a clean record, but I still misspelled the words in the first place and I must be more cautious in the future when I use them again. I know that. It does not change my goals, but it should make me a better typist now.

Paul urges us to “press on toward the mark.” South Africa is famous for its annual marathon, and runners from all over the world go there to compete; others, are contented to stand by the side of the route and watch, or to sit at home and watch the festivities on their television sets. Only those who actually cross the line at the end of the race will receive the bronze, the silver, or the gold metals, and the applause of the crowds gathered there. We too run before a great crowd of witnesses. Christians have entered the race. Some will drop out, because, perhaps, they kept looking back, and not forward. The non-contestant, can nevert win the reward, but even the contestant may drop out, and thousands do every year. The non-contestant needs to know that “all have sinned and fallen short” and that only those who have repented and obeyed the Lord are even qualified to achieve the goal. Even those must make every effort to run well, for there are levels of awards. Christians are saved by the grace of the Lord, but those who “barely reach the goal” will not receive the same award as those who steadfastly remained serving to the very end. “Grace” is defined as “unmerited good favor”. No one can deserve to be saved by his good works, but God is gracious to extend his grace toward all who make every effort and who reach the conclusion of life faithfully serving him.

You will never reach perfection in this life, but God in his love will, nevertheless welcome his children to the home he has prepared for them. Personally, I like the description of that home as being a “mansion” in the King James Version Bible, but any home the Lord has prepared will be a mansion compared to the very best this world can offer. He is offering a place in his own home. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” That is a goal we all want to reach. How can we look back, with such a goal as that ahead. Our Lord has said, “Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

THE CHRISTIAN'S PERMANENT HOME

When and where we happened to be born, our parents, our material wealth or lack of it all make a difference where we live for our short stay here on earth. But no matter how long we may live, it's brevity is emphasized in scripture as being like a mist passes away, or grass that withers and is burned. In reality, it is simply a time granted to us a time to prepare for the reality of the endless time ahead. We have been given this time to prepare, not with material things, but Spiritually. I think of it as being something like the accomodation we used to use for our attendance at the African conferences. When the children were small, and where they were available, we sometimes hired small rondavel homes similar to those built by by our African brothers. They consisted of a round wall enclosing a twelve foot circular room, and with a thatch, metal, or asbestos roof. The floor was concrete, and the only furniture consisted of one or two narrow cots. Clearly, they were meant to be very temporary and we used them only as a sleeping shelter even those days. What did it matter, as they were shelter for a few days. Thus it is that life here on earth, can not be compared to life without end, eternity, without illness of any sort, in perfect surroundings. This life on earth has no real significance.

Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." He who created all the universe and everything in it, said: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." John 14:1-7. What is important is that we make ready by accepting Jesus at his word, and obeying him in repentance, baptism and a devoted life. He left several parables to emphasize that fact. The chief one being the parable of the foolish and wise bridesmaids as they waited for the groom to come for his bride and the wedding to begin. The wise prepared with extra oil for their lamps, and the foolish took only the oil that was in their tiny lamps. Their lamps ran dry as they waited, and they had to go to search for more oil, thus they found themselves locked out of the wedding which had already started before they returned. Have you made the proper preparations, or have you left that for the last minute? None of us can be certain when our groom, Christ, will come for his bride, the church. If we are not ready, the "mansions" of heaven will not be for us, only the weeping and gnashing of teeth of those who, not being dressed in the wedding garments provided by the host, are escorted out to the place prepared for Satan and his demonic angels. There they will share with them the only other place. We are told that man can not really comprehend, nor words describe what lies in store, but the last two chapters in the Bible, make an attempt. Read Revelation 21, and 22. You don't want to miss this!

YOUR PUPPY''S LOVE SHOWS YOU HOW:

TO SHOW UNLIMITED DEVOTION

“And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (KJV, translates love as “charity”} 1 Corinthians 13:13.

My last dog, as a child, was Ted. Ted was of somewhat dubious background. The SPCA would probably have called him a Rotweiler. We just called him a “German police dog.” He had the proper markings and somewhat the build of a Rotweiler. Ted was devoted to our family. When my father was away, which was often, he slept by our kitchen door. Even a violent thunder and rainstorm would not induce him to come inside, but neither would he abandon his place as protector, however he only need to hear dad’s car coming, and he would vanish, perhaps for days at a time. Because he liked us, he would frequently come and sit in front of us, extending his right paw to “shake hands.” After my father left permanently, we could no longer afford to keep him so we found a new home on a farm for him. Unfortunately he preferred us and kept returning to us until we had to physically drive him away. After that he totally ignored us. We had broken his heart, not to speak of our own in the process.

Years later in Africa, we were given a lovely Pekingese female. Peaches really loved to be the center of attention and had the adorable habit of sitting up and “praying” with her two front paws together and giving a single yip.

Our final dog was another Pekingese, a male who followed Phyllis about everywhere he could go. He was blind and crippled with arthritis by that time and seldom ventured anywhere he did not hear her moving about. It broke our hearts to leave him behind, but we left instructions that he should be put down by the SPCA as he would certainly mourn our departure.

We can learn a lesson from our pets. Each of these, showed its love in a different way, but if we love our Lord, we will find a way to show it. We will let Him know through our prayers and genuine devotion as both Ted and Peaches did. Let us have an attitude of prayer, conversing frequently with our Lord. Scripture says “pray without ceasing.” God walked in the cool of the evening in the garden with Adam and Eve. He misses that closeness, and so should we. We need it. We need to listen for the footsteps of Christ, and follow closely. If we don’t follow closely, we will break his heart, to our own eternal loss. Ted treated us as strangers. He could not understand that we simply could not keep him as before.