Watoto wa Mungu Wanaishi Watakatifu

Today I want to challenge your thinking on the topic of “holy living” and what this means for us.  Let us look at our Bibles together to learn what God expects from His children.  What we will find is God does expect us to live holy lives, and the Bible supports this:

1 Petro 1: 14-16

“14 Kama watoto watiifu, msijitengeneze kulingana na tamaa za zamani katika ujinga wenu.

15 Kama vile yeye aliyewaita alivyo mtakatifu, nanyi muwe watakatifu katika mwenendo wote;

16 Kwa sababu imeandikwa, Iweni watakatifu; kwa kuwa mimi ni mtakatifu.

To be holy is to be set apart for sacred use and separate from evil.  That is God’s plan and purpose for His children.”

Utakatifu katika Mahudhurio ya Kanisa

Attending church regularly with others that love God is a special time.  We should protect and value our time for worship together by making it a priority in our lives.  Worshiping together is a time to get our values straight; it’s a time to show God that He is the priority in our life, and it is a time to set an example for all those around us.  Worship with God’s people is also an opportunity to learn and grow by receiving spiritual nourishment from the preaching and testimonies of others.  We gather strength and encouragement from each other, which is an essential piece of living holy.  If we forsake our church attendance, which is where we learn from God’s word together, we will not survive spiritually.

Kuhudhuria kanisa mara kwa mara ilikuwa ni tabia ya Kristo; kwa hiyo, inapaswa kuwa yetu pia. Kwa hivyo, ama tunatengeneza tabia ya Kristo ya kuhudhuria kanisa mara kwa mara au kutengeneza tabia ya kutokuwepo.

Luka 4: 16-17

“16 Akafika Nazareti, kule alikokulia; na kama kawaida yake, aliingia katika sinagogi siku ya sabato, akasimama ili asome.

17 Akapewa kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Akakifunua kitabu, akakuta mahali palipoandikwa,

The following verse in Hebrews is why we come to church.

Heb. 10:24-25 

“4 Na tuangaliane sisi kwa sisi ili kuchochea upendo na matendo mema.

25 Tusiache kukusanyika pamoja, kama ilivyo desturi ya wengine; bali tunahimizana, na zaidi sana, kwa kuwa mnaona siku inakaribia. ”

When we are in school, attendance plays an important part in our grades.  If we are not there, we can not benefit from the instruction and learn from the subject matter.  If we have a job and do not show up, we will not get paid a day’s labor.  Our church attendance is just as important as these other responsibilities.  Let me ask you a question.  Is God pleased with your attendance?

Kabla hatujaendelea, hebu tuangalie 1Wathesalonike, Sura ya 4, mstari wa 7:

1 Wathesalonike 4: 7

"7 Kwa maana Mungu hakutuita kwa uchafu, bali kwa utakatifu."

God is clear, in His word, that he has called us to live holy.  Keep this scripture in mind as we continue our study.

Utakatifu katika Yote Tunayosoma

The Bible teaches us that we should avoid anything tainted with evil.  Is holiness found in the book, article, or blog we read?  There are many novels/articles we should not read and blogs we should not follow.  Some books are written about unholy subjects and justify wicked living.  Are the books and magazines we choose to read leading us to pure and holy meditation, or do they cause us to think about impure and unholy things?  Sometimes, you can see by looking at the book’s cover that someone who loves Jesus should probably not read it.  Be aware any literature with pornography is unholy, and as children of God, we should never read these things.  When in doubt, we can ask ourselves, “Would Jesus read “this?” and then choose to do the same as we answer.

1 Wathesalonike 5:22

"22 Jiepusheni na kila aina ya uovu."

Tupa nje chochote kilichochafuliwa na uovu. Kumbuka, Mungu hakutuita katika uchafu bali utakatifu.

Utakatifu katika Yote Tunayotazama

Vipi kuhusu mambo tunayotazama au yale tunayotazama?

Zaburi 101: 3-4

“3 Sitaweka jambo ovu mbele ya macho yangu; naichukia kazi ya hao wapotovu; haitanishikilia. ”

4 Moyo mpotovu utaniacha, Sitamjua mtu mbaya.

Remember, God calls us to holiness.  When we are careful about what we look at or watch, we will keep our minds and thoughts pure.  If we watch or look at unholy things, our thoughts will also become unholy.  If we hide what we are watching or looking at, we need to be honest with ourselves and ask, “why am I hiding this?”  If we feel we need to hide what we are looking at, we should get rid of it immediately.  God’s children obey His commands when they are alone and with others.

Wafilipi 2: 12-13

“12 Kwa hiyo, wapenzi wangu, kama mlivyo kutii siku zote, si kama tu mbele yangu tu, lakini sasa zaidi sana nikiwa mbali, fanyeni wokovu wenu wenyewe kwa hofu na kutetemeka.

13 Kwa maana ndiye Mungu atendaye kazi ndani yenu, kutaka na kutenda, kwa mapenzi yake mema. ”

Utakatifu katika Yote Tunayosikia

What about the music we enjoy?  Is it holy or unholy?  Much of today’s music has sinful and ungodly messages.  For example, here in the United States, rap music is extremely popular with our young people.  I recall a time when I was next to a car at an intersection that had very loud music coming from it.  The lyrics were unholy, littered with curse words and messages that suggested hurting others.  No matter the musical genre, God’s children should not listen to music that contains suggestive and explicit lyrics promoting violence, promiscuous living, or any unholiness.  If we fill our minds with unholy messages, we will also become unholy.  What about conversations we participate in with those around us?  Are we quick to listen to stories about people that are none of our business and possibly untrue?  Someone who listens to gossip about others is just as guilty as the one that carried the story.  We should walk away from conversations that are unholy.  Whether it’s gossip about someone else, dirty jokes, or music with unclean lyrics, God’s children are careful about what they hear because He has called us to holiness; what we listen to matters to God.

Mithali 19:27

"27 acha, mwanangu, usikie maagizo ambayo hupotea kutoka kwa maneno ya maarifa."

Kuweka Miili Yetu Mtakatifu

If you are young and unmarried, God indeed put powerful desires in us for physical love and companionship.  The desire to have love and companionship is not wicked but pursuing these desires outside the holy bonds of marriage is.  Our job is to hold back the passion for physical love until marriage.  Your bodies are to be kept for the day you are married and then given as a gift to that special one you chose to commit to for life.  We should also be modest in our actions and how we dress.  Do you remember the study of Joseph and what he did when Potiphar’s wife tempted him?  Joseph ran for his life!  We need to do the same when temptation presents itself.  Joseph is a perfect example of what to do when tempted by sexual pressures before marriage.  “Run from it!  A young man and a young woman should not be alone together, or the risk of temptation taking over is possible.  We should not become so familiar with each other that a fire of passion starts and one loses control.  Remember that your boyfriend or girlfriend is not your spouse.  The Bible teaches us that sex before marriage is against God’s plan for us.

2Tim. 2:22

"22 Zikimbie pia tamaa za ujana; lakini fuata haki, imani, upendo, amani, pamoja na wale wamwitao Bwana kwa moyo safi."

 

1 Kor. 6: 18-20

“18 Ikimbieni zinaa. Kila dhambi ambayo mtu hufanya ni nje ya mwili; bali yeye afanyaye zinaa hutenda dhambi juu ya mwili wake mwenyewe.

19 Je! Je! hamjui ya kuwa miili yenu ni hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu aliye ndani yenu, mliyepewa na Mungu, na ninyi si mali yenu?

20 Maana mmenunuliwa kwa bei; kwa hivyo mtukuzeni Mungu katika miili yenu, na kwa roho zenu ambazo ni za Mungu ”

Utakatifu kwa Namna Tunavyojiwasilisha

Let’s visit the thought of being modest in the way we dress a little further.  God calls His children to live holy, which means how we dress and present ourselves to others should also be holy.  So, God expects His children to be modest in their dress and presentation to others.  Our clothes should be modest and appropriately fitting, not too tight, revealing, or showy.  Our lives should be about showing God, not showing off our bodies or our wealth.  We should look at ourselves through God’s eyes and ask if He approves of our presentation of ourselves.  Are we presenting ourselves modestly so God can be seen, or are we showing off something of ourselves?  We should not deliberately present ourselves in a way that shows we have more than others.  God’s people are modest in spirit as well as dress.  The principle of modest dress and presentation is just as applicable to men as it is to women.

1 Tim. 2: 9

“9 Vivyo hivyo, wanawake wajipambe kwa mavazi ya kiasi, na sura ya aibu na kiasi; si kwa nywele zilizofumwa, au dhahabu, au lulu, au mavazi ya gharama kubwa. ”

Utakatifu katika Tabia zetu

What about holiness in our habits?  Here in the United States, we have a problem with marijuana and other substance addictions.  I talked with many people in their thirties or older that say they started smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, or smoking cigarettes when they were very young.  Now they are addicted and want to quit, but the addiction makes it difficult for them.  If one is addicted to a substance that abuses their body, they must get busy before God and gain victory over the addiction.  God is not weak.  God can break the power of addiction in individuals, I have seen it happen, but it is not easy for a person with the addiction to come to God.  It does not make any sense to continue to abuse our bodies with drugs or other substances.  Jesus bought us with the price of His blood, and our bodies are the temple of God.

Tafadhali tazama maandiko hapa chini kama sampuli ya kile ambacho Biblia inatufundisha kuhusu utakatifu katika tabia zetu.

1 Wakorintho 6: 19-20

“9 Je! Je! hamjui ya kuwa miili yenu ni hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu aliye ndani yenu, mliyepewa na Mungu, na ninyi si mali yenu?

20 Maana mmenunuliwa kwa bei; kwa hivyo mtukuzeni Mungu katika miili yenu, na kwa roho zenu ambazo ni za Mungu. ”

 

Waefeso 5:18

“18 Wala msilewe na divai, ambamo ndani yake mna ulafi; bali mjazwe na Roho; ”

 

Proverbs 31:4-7

“4 Haifai kwa wafalme, Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme kunywa divai; wala kwa wakuu vinywaji vikali.

5 Wasije wakanywa na kusahau sheria, Na kuipotosha hukumu ya mtu yeyote aliye taabu.

6 Mpe kileo yule aliye karibu kuangamia, na mvinyo kwa wale walio na mioyo migumu.

7 Acha anywe, na kusahau umasikini wake, Wala asikumbuke taabu yake tena.

 

Proverbs 23:29-30

“29 Ni nani aliye na ole? Ni nani aliye na huzuni? Ni nani aliye na ugomvi? ni nani anayenung'unika? Nani ana majeraha bila sababu? Nani aliye na macho mekundu?

30 Wale ambao hukaa sana kwenye divai; wale wanaokwenda kutafuta divai iliyochanganywa. ”

 

Luka 21:34

“34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

 

Warumi 13:13

“13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

 

Galations 5:19-20

“19 Sasa kazi za mwili zinaonekana, ambazo ni hizi; Uzinzi, uasherati, uchafu, ufisadi,

20 kuabudu sanamu, uchawi, chuki, ugomvi, wivu, ghadhabu, ugomvi, fitna, na uzushi, ”

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“9 Hamjui ya kuwa wadhalimu hawataurithi ufalme wa Mungu? Msidanganyike; wala wazinzi, wala waabudu sanamu, wala wazinzi, wala wanaume, wala wenye kudhulumu na watu,

10 Wezi, wala wenye kutamani, wala walevi, wala watukanaji, wala wanyang'anyi, hawataurithi ufalme wa Mungu. ”

 

Tito 2: 3

"3 Vivyo hivyo wanawake wazee, wawe na mwenendo unaostahili utakatifu, wala sio washitaki wa uwongo, wasiopewa divai nyingi, waalimu wa mambo mema;"

Utakatifu katika Urafiki wetu

Jesus was a friend of sinners, and we should be too; however, Jesus never let those friendships pull Him into their wickedness.  If we can’t be the influencer instead of the influenced in our friendships, we need to end the relationship.  Again, God’s call for us is to holiness and not uncleanness.

1 Wathesalonike. 4: 7

"7 Kwa maana Mungu hakutuita kwa uchafu, bali kwa utakatifu."

Utakatifu Nyumbani Mwetu

Like many young people, I also grew up with siblings.  Every once in a while, my brothers or sister would get on my nerves.  So, I understand and know what it’s like to have bothersome siblings.  Our siblings can test our patience.  So, if someone were to ask your family what you are like at home, what would they say about you?  “He gets mad and hits me all the time,” or “She yells at me and calls me names?” Sometimes people are one way in front of others, and they are different at home, but this should not be the case with God’s children.  We should be holy with those we live with and are closest to us and those that we see from time to time.

Psalms 101:2 

“2 Nitatenda kwa busara kwa njia kamilifu. Je! Utanijia lini? Nitatembea ndani ya nyumba yangu kwa moyo kamili. ”

Always live by the “golden rule.”  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Holy living is not compatible in a home filled with temper tantrums, anger, arguments, hurtful, disrespectful, or nagging words.

Mwisho, ningependa kushiriki nanyi kile tunachofanya hapa California ili kutusaidia kujifunza neno la Mungu. Kwa kila somo, tunagawa mstari wa kumbukumbu au andiko la kukariri. Mstari wa kumbukumbu hutusaidia kuhifadhi habari tuliyosikia kutoka kwa somo lakini muhimu zaidi, inatusaidia kukumbuka kanuni, ambayo itabaki nasi. Katika somo hili lote, tayari tumetaja mstari kwa njia tofauti. Kariri mstari huu na umruhusu Mungu kuuandika moyoni mwako. Si muda mrefu, lakini ina nguvu kwa kuwa inatukumbusha sisi ni wa nani na kile ambacho Mungu anatarajia kutoka kwa wale wanaojiita watoto wake.

1 Wathesalonike. 4: 7

"7 Kwa maana Mungu hakutuita kwa uchafu, bali kwa utakatifu."

RHT