Muongozo wa kusoma Biblia kwa watu wakubwa leo 04/11/2021

```Alhamisi, Novemba 04, 2021

Lesoni: TENA LIKO TAIFA GANI KUBWA?; 

Usomaji wa Biblia Kwa Mpango: 2 Wathesalonike 3

Kesha la Asubuhi: Kiswahili & Kingereza 

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KAMA HAZINA ILIYOSITIRIKA

"Walilipokea lile neno kwa uelekevu wa moyo, wakayachunguza maandiko kila siku, waone kwamba mambo hayo ndivyo yalivyo". Matendo 17:11

▶️ Mume wangu, Mzee Joseph Bates, Baba Pierce, Mzee Edson, mtu aliyekuwa mwangalifu, mwema na mkweli na wengine wengi ambao majina yao siwezi kuyakumbuka sasa, Walikuwa miongoni mwa wale ambao, baada ya kupita tukio la Oktoba 22,1844, waliutafuta ukweli. Kwenye mikutano yetu muhimu watu hawa walikutana pamoja na kuutafuta ukweli kama hazina iliyositirika.

▶️Nilikutana nao, na tulijifunza na kuomba kwa dhati, kwa kuwa tulihisi kuwa ilitupasa kujifunza ukweli wa Mungu. Mara nyingi tulibaki pamoja mpaka usiku wa manane, na nyakati zingine tulikesha usiku kucha, tukiomba tupewe nuru, na kujifunza neno la Mungu.

Tulipofunga na kuomba, nguvu kubwa ilishuka juu yetu. Lakini sikuweza kuelewa hoja za ndugu zangu. Akili yangu ilikuwa imefungwa, kama ilivyokuwa, na sikuweza kuelewa kile nilichokuwa nikijifunza. Roho wa Mungu aliweza kunishukia, nilikuwa nachukuliwa katika njozi, na ufafanuzi wa wazi wa sehemu ya Maandiko tuliyokuwa tunasoma uliweza kutolewa kwangu, na msimamo ambao tulipaswa kuwa nao kuhusiana na ukweli na wajibu.

▶️ Mnyororo wa ukweli ulioanzia wakati ule hadi tutakapouingia mji wa Mungu, uliwekwa wazi mbele yangu, na niliwapa ndugu na dada zangu maelekezo ambayo nilikuwa nimepewa na Bwana. Walijua kuwa, bila kupewa maono, nisingeweza kuelewa mambo hayo, na waliyakubali mafunuo niliyopewa kama nuru iliyotoka mbinguni moja kwa moja. Vipengele muhimu vya imani yetu tuliyo nayo leo vilijengwa kikamilifu. Kipengele kwa kipengele kilifafanuliwa vizuri, na ndugu wote waliafikiana.

▶️ Kundi zima la waumini liliungana katika ukweli. Kuliwepo watu waliojitokeza wakiwa na mafundisho mageni, lakini hatukuogopa kuwakabili. Uzoefu wetu uliimarishwa kiajabu kwa njia ya Roho Mtakatifu.

🔘 Ilikuwa wakati fulani baada ya kuzaliwa kwa mwanangu wa pili (1849) ambapo tuliingiwa na mashaka makubwa kuhusiana na baadhi ya vipengele vya mafundisho. Nilimwomba Bwana afungue akili yangu, ili kwamba nielewe Neno lake. 

Kwa ghafla nilihisi kufunikwa na nuru ya uangavu, na uzuri, na tangu siku ile, Maandiko yamekuwa kitabu kilichofunguliwa kwangu.

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AS FOR HIDDEN TREASURE

They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11.

▶️ My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, a man who was keen, noble, and true, and many others whose names I cannot now recall, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844 [October 22], searched for truth. At our important meetings these men would meet together and search for the truth as for hidden treasure. 

▶️ I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly, for we felt that we must learn God’s truth. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light, and studying the Word. As we fasted and prayed, great power came upon us. But I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend what we were studying. Then the Spirit of God would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to the position we were to take regarding truth and duty. 

▶️ A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was plainly marked out before me, and I gave my brethren and sisters the instruction that the Lord had given me. They knew that, when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from Heaven the revelations given me. The leading points of our faith as we hold them today were firmly established. Point after point was clearly defined, and all the brethren came into harmony. 

▶️ The whole company of believers were united in the truth. There were those who came in with strange doctrines, but we were never afraid to meet them. Our experience was wonderfully established by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.... 

🔘 It was some time after my second son was born [1849] that we were in great perplexity regarding certain points of doctrine. I was asking the Lord to unlock my mind, that I might understand His Word. Suddenly I seemed to be enshrouded in clear, beautiful light, and ever since, the Scriptures have been an open book to me.

 MUNGU AKUBARIKI SANA```