It-tbatija għall-Isem tal-Mulej Ġesù Kristu hija parti mill-ħajja tal-insara (il-knisja). Fejn l-Isem tal-Mulej huwa stabbilit u Ismu mistqarr, u n-nies huma segwaċi tal-Kelma t’Alla, hemm persekuzzjoni. Mill-bidu taż-żmien, poplu ta’ Alla (l-assemblea ta’ Alla) sofrew. Għaliex? Minħabba l-Isem tal-Mulej. Dawk, li huma ta’ Alla u jġorru Ismu għandhom isofru persekuzzjoni fid-dinja. Għaliex huma ppersegwitati? Minħabba l-mibegħda lejn Alla u Ismu tal-avversarji ta’ Alla; ix-xitan u l-armata tiegħu fil-qasam spiritwali (anġli waqgħu) u fuq l-art (bniedem waqa). Ejja nħarsu lejn dak li tgħid il-Bibbja dwar it-tbatija għall-Isem tal-Mulej Alla u l-Isem tal-Mulej Ġesù Kristu.
Il-poplu magħżul t’Alla sofra persekuzzjoni
Meta Ġużeppi kien ħaj, kollox kien tajjeb mal-Iżraelin, li għexu fl-Eġittu. Iż-żerriegħa ta’ Ġakobb għexet f’Goshen fil-paċi u l-libertà. Imma mbagħad miet Ġużeppi u qam sultan, li ma kienx jaf lil Ġużeppi u kien iqis lill-Iżraelin bħala theddida għall-ġens.
L-Iżraelin kellhom frott u żdiedu b’mod abbundanti u mmultiplikaw u saru numerużi ħafna. L-art kienet mimlija magħhom.
Il- Fargħun u l- Eġizzjani raw li l- Iżraelin kienu iktar u aktar qawwija milli kienu. Kienu jibżgħu li se jingħaqdu mal-għedewwa tagħhom u jiġġieldu kontrihom u joħorġuhom mill-art.
U għalhekk ħarġu lill- Iżraelin u ħarrxu ħajjithom bi jasar iebes. Huma saħansitra tefgħu kull tifel maskili fix-xmara biex jeqirdu lill-poplu t’Alla.
Imma Alla ra lill-poplu Tiegħu u l-ħażen tal-Fargħun u l-Eġizzjani. Huwa ra l-persekuzzjoni tal-poplu Tiegħu.
Alla ma waqqafx il-persekuzzjoni u ma ttrattax il-ħażen tal-Fargħun u l-Eġizzjani, immedjatament. Huwa permess (temporanjament) il-jasar, skjavitù, tbatija, u l-qtil tal-ulied li twieldu.
Sadanittant, Alla ħejja lill-ħelsien tal-poplu tiegħu u għamiltu lest biex jifdi lill-poplu tiegħu mill-jasar u l-jasar tal-Fargħun..
Fiż-żmien stabbilit minn Alla, meta l-għajta ta’ wlied Iżrael waslet għand il-Mulej, Alla bagħat tiegħu jeħles lil Mosè. Mosè mar f’Isem il-Mulej u rrappreżentah lill-Fargħun, l-Eġizzjani, u l-Iżraelin.
U għalhekk Alla wera l-imħabba Tiegħu għall-poplu Tiegħu u l-kobor Tiegħu permezz tas-sinjali u l-għeġubijiet, il-fidwa, u r-rebħiet fil-battalji (Eżodu 1-20).
Il-ġnus pagani, li alla tiegħu kien ix-xitan, it-tnejn beżgħu u jobogħdu mid-dar taʼ Iżrael. Mhux minħabba n-nies, imma minħabba l-Isem tal-Mulej.
Il-poplu t’Alla mħallat mal-pagani u l-paganiżmu
Sakemm l-Iżraelin baqgħu fidili lejn Sidhom, billi żżomm il- Liġi ta 'Mosè, għexu taħt il-protezzjoni ta’ Alla u Hu ġġieled għalihom fi il-battalja. Imma hekk kif l-Iżraelin iddevjaw mill-Mulej u l-kelma tiegħu u saru infidili lejn Alla, Alla rtira idejh minnhom u baqgħu waħedhom.
Minflok tibqa’ fidila lejn Alla, l-Iżraelin iddevjaw minn Alla tagħhom u ħallew il-kliem u l-kmandamenti Tiegħu ħafna drabi.
Għalkemm żammew is-servizz tat-tempju u żaru t-tempju, ma obdewx il-kliem u l-kmandamenti ta’ Alla.
Allura l-Iżraelin ħallew lil Alla tagħhom għax il-Liġi taʼ Mosè ma kinitx preżenti f’qalbhom, imma qalbhom kienet mimlija bil-modi tagħhom stess.
Minkejja t-twissija tal-Mulej, adottaw il-kulturi pagani u r-reliġjon u l-allat tagħhom.
Huma ħalltuhom mal-kliem u l-preċetti ta’ Alla, li biha mniġġsu l-qdusija ta’ Alla u għexu bħall-Ġentili f’ribelljoni u diżubbidjenza lejn Alla.
It-tbatija tal-profeti, li tkellem f’Isem il-Mulej
Ħu, ħuti, il-profeti, li tkellmu f’Isem il-Mulej, għal eżempju ta 'tbatija affliction, u tal-paċenzja. Ara, ngħodduhom ferħanin li jissaportu (James 5:10-11)
Għalkemm twieldu minn nisel Ġakobb (Iżrael) u forsi stqarr l-Isem tal-Mulej, ma kinux ta’ Alla.
Kull meta qam profeta tal-Mulej u kkonfronta lid-dar ta’ Iżrael bl-għemejjel ħżiena tagħhom u sejjaħhom għall-indiema, l-Iżraelin mhux dejjem semgħu u jindem.
Għalkemm il-profeti kkonfrontawhom bl-imġieba ribelluża u l-għemejjel ħżiena tagħhom (dnub), ma wrewx rimors. Huma ma ndemwx u daru lura lejn Alla u ssottomettewlu u għamlu r-rieda Tiegħu. Minflok, huma sikket lill-profeta u komplew bl-opri ħżiena tagħhom.
U għalhekk il-profeti veri tal-Mulej ġew ippersegwitati u ħafna drabi maqtulin u maqtula minħabba l-Isem tal-Mulej.
Il-profeti foloz kienu maħbubin, riċevuti, u mfaħħra mill-poplu. Imma l-profeti veri tal-Mulej ġarrbu tbatijiet u persekuzzjoni. Il-profeti veri tal-Mulej batew għal Ismu. Imma minkejja t-tbatija, huma baqgħu fidili lejn Alla u ġabu l-kelma tiegħu (Aqra wkoll: Kif tagħraf il-profeti foloz illum?).
It-tbatija ta’ Ġesù, Li ġie fl-Isem tal-Mulej
Fiż-żmien stabbilit minn Alla, Ġesù, l-Iben ta’ Alla u Feddej tal-bniedem waqa’ ġie fuq l-art. Ġesù ġie fl-Isem tal-Mulej u kien ix-xbieha espressa ta’ Alla. Huwa qal kliemu u għamel l-għemejjel tiegħu u mexa bil-fidi f’Alla ((lill-. Luqa 10:22, John 1; 3:16-21; 4:34; 5, Lhud 1:1-3).
Imma bħall-profeti, li qalu l-kliem ta’ Alla u kienu ppersegwitati, Ġesù kien ippersegwitat ukoll minn pajjiżu. Sofra minħabba l-Isem ta’ Missieru u l-kelma tiegħu li Hu wassal lill-poplu
Ġesù wkoll ġie miċħud, captivated, u maqtula. In-nies ħasbu li kienu ħelsu minn Ġesù, imma kienu żbaljati.
Il-mewt ma kinitx b’saħħitha biżżejjed biex iżżomm lil Ġesù fil-poter tiegħu. Peress li l-qawwa ta 'Alla hija aktar b'saħħitha mill-qawwa tal-mewt.
U hekk wara tlett ijiem fl-infern, Ġesù qam bħala Victor mill-mewt u sar l-Awtur u t-Triq tas-salvazzjoni għall-bniedem waqa’ (Aqra wkoll: It-tbatijiet ta’ Ġesù Kristu).
It-twelid tal-knisja
Wara Ġesù tela’ s-sema u seħħ fuq it-tron fuq il-lemin tal-Missier, il-Missier bagħat l-Ispirtu s-Santu fuq l-art, skond il-kelma u l-wegħda ta’ Ġesù.
L-Ispirtu s-Santu ġie fuq l-art u seħħ fin-nies, li tgħammdu u saru ġusti bis-sagrifiċċju u d-demm ta’ Ġesù Kristu. Flimkien kienu l-knisja ta’ Alla li Ġesù kien sar il-Kap tagħha. U għexu fil- Patt ġdid li hu ssiġillat bid-demm ta’ Ġesù.
Dawk, li twieldu mill-ġdid fi Kristu u kienu saru ħolqien ġdid u kienu tal-knisja, wettaq il-kummissjoni, li Ġesù kien ta lis-segwaċi u lix-xhieda Tiegħu.
Imma bl-ubbidjenza lejn il-Kelma, jgħixu skond ir-rieda ta 'Alla, u l-predikazzjoni tal-evanġelju ta’ Ġesù Kristu, daħlet il-persekuzzjoni.
Il-persekuzzjoni u t-tbatija tal-Knisja
Il-qaddisin, li fih kien jgħammar l-Ispirtu s-Santu, ippriedkaw l-Isem tal-Mulej u ġew ippersegwitati minn pajjiżhom stess (li ma emminx f’Ġesù Kristu u rrifjuta li jindem). Ikkmandaw lill-qaddisin biex jieqfu jippritkaw l-Evanġelju u jieqfu jgħallmu f’Isem Ġesù.
Il- (għolja)qassis(s), Iskrivi, u l-mexxejja tad-dar ta’ Iżrael kienu mhedda minn dawn is-segwaċi ta’ Ġesù Kristu, li mxew fl-istess awtorità bħall-Imgħallem tagħhom, tkellem l-istess kliem, ippriedka u ġab Kristu u s-Saltna ta’ Alla u fl-istess awtorità, ippriedka lil Kristu u s-Saltna ta’ Alla, u kkonfronta lin-nies bi dnubiethom u sejħithom għall-indiema.
Huma ma kinux biss theddida għall-pożizzjoni tagħhom imma wkoll għall-ħajja midinba tagħhom.
Għalkemm dawn il-mexxejja reliġjużi dehru pious u sinċieri fl-affarijiet tal-Mulej fuq barra, fuq ġewwa kienu ilpup ravenous, li mexa fid-dlam u għex fid-dnub u ttanta lin-nies għad-dnub, u wassalhom lejn l-infern.
Il-wieħed li kienu jappartjenu għalih u li jgħammar fihom, hated lill-qaddisin, li kienu ta’ Ġesù Kristu u Alla l-Missier u kellhom l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla jgħammar fihom. Għalhekk debogħduhom ukoll.
Kienu tant jobogħdu lill-qaddisin, li ħaduhom fil-magħluq, ttrattathom ħażin, u ħafna drabi saħansitra qatluhom. Bħalma kienu għamlu mal-profeti u Ġesù. Biss minħabba l-Isem tal-Mulej.
Iżda l-qaddisin u xhieda ta 'Ġesù Kristu, li ġarra u stqarr Ismu, ma kinux intimidati minnhom, minkejja t-theddid u l-kmandament tagħhom biex jieqfu jippritkaw lil Ġesù Kristu lin-nies u biex jieqfu jgħallmuhom f’Isem Ġesù u jagħmlu dixxipli ta’ Ġesù.
Il-qaddisin ċedew lill-Qassis il-Kbir u s-Sultan tagħhom
Huma ma ċedewx għall-awtorità tal- (għolja)qassis(s) u ħakkiema ta’ dar Iżrael u s-sultan barrani, li ħakmu f’Iżrael u ma jobduhomx, imma huma ssottomettew lill-Qassis il-Kbir u Sultan tas-Saltna tas-Smewwiet Ġesù u obdew lilu biss.
Minkejja t-theddid, ma bidlux il-messaġġ tagħhom. Lanqas ma waqfu jippritkaw l-evanġelju. But they endured the persecution and suffering for the Name of the Lord because they ħabb lil Alla.
God had shown His love for humanity by giving His Son Jesus and through His redemptive work. Now they showed their love for God with their lives.
the persecution drove them into the world
The persecution in Jerusalem drove them to go into all the world and to preach the gospel and teach all nations in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Because that was the commission of Jesus (il Kap tal-Knisja) to the Church.
They went into the world preaching the gospel and the way of salvation and calling the people to repentance.
While preaching the gospel and establishing new churches and teaching in the churches, the saints were persecuted and suffered because of the Name of Jesus.
They bore the persecution and suffering for their Lord in their flesh, knowing that their Lord and Saviour had gone the same road and suffered for the Name of the Lord and their salvation.
Many churches were planted in pagan nations
And so they went to the dark pagan nations, where the people walked in lies, worshiped false gods, lived in enmity with the law of God (Ir-Rieda ta ’Alla), and did all the abominations of God.
Instead of being fascinated by what they saw; il-kultura tagħhom, reliġjon, tempji pagani, idoli, arts, idolatrija, sorceries, ritwali, eċċ. and opening themselves to it and blending it with their message, they preached Jesus Christ, the truth and the way of salvation and warned the people and called them to repentance and the removal of their gods and sins.
They were not intimidated by the people and their work. They were neither ashamed of the Name of the Lord Jesus. Why would they be intimidated and ashamed?
They had the power of God within them and carried the Name of the Most High, the Name above all names. They possessed the spiritual truth of the Kingdom. (Aqra wkoll: I am not ashamed of the gospel, imma jien mistħija biha…).
The witnesses of Christ possessed the knowledge and words to save people and the power to deliver them from darkness and redeem them from the power of the devil, who kept them in bondage and tortured them.
They knew that these people would be lost without them and their message.
They knew that if these people, who belonged to the devil and lived in darkness, wouldn’t repent, then when they died, they would go to the same destination as their master and father (Ix-Xitan), min emmnu, obeyed and served, which is hell and the eternal lake of fire.
The followers of Christ preached the gospel boldly
With all this knowledge, they preached the word of God boldly. On their testimony, many people gave heed to their call and repented and became born again in Christ.
And so many churches were planted in those pagan countries and the world was taken for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
This wasn’t easy, since the enemy doesn’t slumber nor sleep. And so the gospel and the works of the saints came with persecution and suffering because of the Name of the Lord.
The suffering of the churches for the Name of the Lord
All the churches of God suffered because of the Name of the Lord Jesus. This was normal to the saints, because they knew their enemy and his hatred towards God.
They knew that Christ lived in them and that they bore His Name. U minħabba f'hekk, they were also hated by God’s adversary the devil, u dawk kollha, who belonged to him both in the natural (viżibbli) and in the spirit (inviżibbli) isfera.
But instead of complaining about it, they took it as it was and bore the suffering for their Lord in their lives and many of them even in their flesh.
The persecution and suffering of the church in Thessalonica
Għalik, ħuti, saru segwaċi tal-knejjes ta’ Alla li fil-Lhudija huma fi Kristu Ġesù: għax intom ukoll batejtu bħal affarijiet ta’ pajjiżkom, anki kif għandhom tal-Lhud: Li t-tnejn qatlu lill-Mulej Ġesù, u l-profeti tagħhom stess, u ppersegwitawna; u ma jogħġbux lil Alla, u huma kuntrarji għall-bnedmin kollha: Tipprojbixxina li nitkellmu mal-Ġentili biex ikunu jistgħu jiġu salvati, biex jimlew dnubiethom dejjem: għax ir-rabja ġiet fuqhom sal-aħħar (1 Tessalonjani 2:14-16)
Everywhere a church was planted that was called by the Name of the Lord, segwa Ġesù, and bore the fruit of the Spirit, there was persecution by the countrymen.
The saints of the church in Thessalonica were followers of the churches of God which in Judaea were in Christ. Għalhekk, they also experienced the same persecution as the churches in Judaea. They were persecuted by their own countrymen and suffered for the Name of the Lord.
How did they persecute the church? By forbidding the saints to speak to their countrymen and the Gentiles about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation and eternal life. So that they might be saved.
But the saints didn’t listen to their commandments and threats and didn’t compromise. Because of their decision to stay faithful to the Lord and serve Him only, they experienced hardships and suffering for the Name of the Lord.
The church is still suffering for the Name of the Lord Jesus
The church that bears the Name of the Lord Jesus is still persecuted today. The people who belong to this world and live in darkness still force Christians to deviate from their faith and compromise.
They force Christians to stay silent about Jesus Christ and the preaching of the truth of God. They force Christians to keep their faith to themselves, confess their faith in silence, and stop enforcing their faith on others.
But they don’t stay silent about the lie(s) they believe and walk in.
They don’t keep their faith (what they believe) to themselves. But they are vocal and dominant in the world. They preach their lies and impose what they believe to others and announce and publish it everywhere they can.
While they force Christians to respect others and accept pagan religions, filosofiji, ritwali, and sinful behavior, they don’t respect Christians and don’t accept their faith but they have to renounce their faith and the Bible.
And so they make children of the devil under the cloak of imħabba new age and humanism. They force everyone, to believe the lies of the devil and to accept the works of darkness. And if someone refuses or gives a counter-sound, then they pay and suffer the consequences.
The church bears the Name of the Lord. Those who belong to the church and do what Jesus says and bear the fruit of the Spirit will be persecuted.
If we read in the Bible that all those, who belonged to God were persecuted, and Jesus said that His disciples shall be hated and persecuted by the world, because of Him, then it shall be so.
The attitude of the cowardly
Dawk, who are carnal and cowardly shall be intimidated by what the world says and do what the world says. They shall embrace other religions and filosofiji and allow pagan temples and the works of darkness in their country.
Because they are fearful, they don’t warn people, who live in darkness and are on their way to hell. They don’t preach the way of salvation to them, but leave them alone. Għaliex? Because they don’t want to interfere with other people’s lives and experience discomfort, rifjut, and persecution in their lives.
This may seem loving and humanistic from them, Imma fir-realtà, it is selfish and evil. Because they don’t care about other people and their destination, but they only care about their own lives.
Despite the knowledge that Jesus Christ bore the suffering for them, they don’t want to suffer for Jesus and the Name of the Lord.
They don’t want to be rejected and persecuted by the world and suffer for the Name of the Lord Jesus. But they want to be liked and accepted by the world.
A life in Christ always comes with persecution
Jekk id-dinja jobogħduk, intom tafu li kienet tobgħod Lili qabel ma kienet tobgħodkom. Kieku kont tad-dinja, Id-dinja kienet tħobb tiegħu: imma għax intom m’intix tad-dinja, Imma għażiltlek barra mid-dinja, Għalhekk id-dinja jobgħodkom. Ftakar il-kelma li għidtlek, Il-qaddej mhux ikbar mill-Mulej tiegħu. Jekk ippersegwitawni, Huma wkoll jippersegwitawk; Jekk żammew il-qal tiegħi, Huma jżommu tiegħek ukoll. Imma dawn l-affarijiet kollha se jagħmlulek minħabba Ismi, għax ma jafux lil Dak li bagħatni (John 15:18-21)
But a life in Christ after the Spirit shall never be without persecution. Kulħadd, who belongs to God and bears the Name of the Lord and is a follower of Christ and lives in obedience to Him, shall suffer because of His Name and experience hatred and persecution of their fellow countrymen.
Jekk dan ma jseħħx, then the words of God are not obeyed and spoken, the will of God is not done, the commandments of Jesus are not kept, the people don’t walk in the authority of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit and the frott tal-Ispirtu is not borne.
‘Kun il-melħ tal-art’
