MAA WOLI WƆLƆ ZƐVƐI 9
GUI 51 To God We Are Dedicated!
Mɛlɛ Maa Nɛkɛ Ga E Bataize Maa Zɔlɔwo
“Minɛɛ {ɣa} è ná maa kpo-wũsu? Wu ziɣi è bataize maa zɔlɔwo.”—TE ƔƐƐ ƲAITIƐ 22:16.
WHAT THE MAIN POINT?
You will learn how you can try your best to get baptize by following the examples of the Samaritans, Saul from Tarsus, Cornelius, and the Corinthians.
1. Zɛɓɛi e kɛɛ maa nɛɛ nu bataizei maa zɔlɔwo?
YOU really love Jehovah, the one who na give you life and all the good-good thing dem? You want show that you really love him? The best way to do it, that to give your life to him and get baptize. And this one can make you to be part of Jehovah family. Because of that, your Father and Friend will guide you and take care of you because you for him now. (Ps. 73:24; Isa. 43:1, 2) When you give your life to Jehovah and get baptize, it can also open the way for you to get everlasting life.—1 Pet. 3:21.
2. Zɛɓɛi de vaazu yɛpɛzu e vile ba?
2 Anything stopping you from getting baptize? If so, that not your one. Plenty people na change their behavior and the way they can think so they can get baptize. Now-now they happy serving Jehovah with zeal. Wetin you can learn from some people who get baptize way back? Let talk about some problem dem they face and see what we can learn from their example.
SAMEELIA VEAITIƐ TE BATAIZEI MAA ZƆLƆ WONI
3. Fai taniga ta ga zɛɓɛ maa nɛɛ Sameelia veaitiɛ tɔ kɛ tɔ vɛɛ bataizei maa zɔlɔ wosu?
3 The Samaritans that wor certain religious group during Jesus time. And they wor living around Shechem and Samaria, to the north part of Judea. The Samaritans suppose to understand and accept everything in God Word before they can get baptize. Why? Because they only use to believe the first five books in the Bible, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, and maybe the book of Joshua. The Samaritans know from Deuteronomy 18:18, 19 that the Messiah suppose to come, and they wor expecting him. (John 4:25) But for them to get baptize, they suppose to accept Jesus as the Messiah that God Word talk about. And that what plenty of the Samaritans do. (John 4:39) Some of them even fight hard to change the way they wor thinking about the Jews.—Luke 9:52-54.
4. E ɣɛ velei Te ɣɛɛ ʋaitiɛ 8:5, 6, 14 boga la, zɛɓɛi Sameelia veaitiɛ te kɛɛni?
4 Wetin help the Samaritans to get baptize? When Philip the evangelizer preach to them about the Christ, some of them “accepted the word of God.” (Read Acts 8:5, 6, 14.) Even though Philip wor Jew, they still listen to him. Maybe they remember some Scripture dem that say God can’t pick and choose. (Deut. 10:17-19) They listen to all the thing dem Philip say about the Christ. And it wor clear to them that God wor using Philip. Philip wor also performing plenty miracles. He heal sick people and take demons from in some people.—Acts 8:7.
5. Zɛɓɛi e maa wolia Sameelia veaitiɛ ta wo-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu?
5 Maybe this Samaritan dem wor not coming listen to Philip because he wor Jew and the thing he wor teaching wor strange to them. But they not let that one to happen. When they wor convince that Philip wor teaching them the truth, they not waste time to get baptize. The Bible say: “When they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were getting baptized.” (Acts 8:12) You convince that God Word that the truth? You also believe that Jehovah Witness people can’t pick and choose, and they get the love that Jesus say true Christians will get among theirself? (John 13:35) Then, don’t waste time to get baptize. When you do it you can be sure that Jehovah will bless you.
6. Zɛɓɛi e maa wolia Ruben na po-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu?
6 One brother from Germany name Ruben grow up in the truth. But when he wor small he wor not too sure whether God that real person. Wetin make him convince that God that real person? Since he not understand this one good-good, he decided to learn more. He say: “During my personal study, I try to get all the information and understand it good-good. I study the topic of evolution plenty times.” He read the book that get the title, Is There a Creator Who Cares About You? That book really help Ruben. He tell hisself say: ‘Yes! Jehovah that real person.’ And when he visit the world headquarters, the love and unity he see among Jehovah people really touch his heart. So when Ruben went back to Germany, he get baptize when he wor 17 years old. If you not sure about something you na learn, you need to do deep study in our publication dem. “Accurate knowledge” will help you to be convince about something you not sure about. (Eph. 4:13, 14) When you read or hear reports from other country dem about the love and unity that Jehovah people get among theirself, and when you see it in your own congregation, your love for Jehovah organization will grow.
SƆƆ NII KULOAI TASƆ LAI ZU E BATAIZEI MAA ZƆLƆ WONI
7. Zɛɓɛi e kɛɛ maa nɛɛ Sɔɔ ɔ ná ki-gaa-ziɛi maa ʋeli bo?
7 Let talk about Saul example. He wor doing well in the Jewish religion and he wor big man among the Jews. (Gal. 1:13, 14; Phil. 3:5) During that time, plenty Jews use to look at Christians to be apostates. So Saul really use to persecute the Christian dem. He wor having the wrong thinking that he wor doing it for God. (Acts 8:3; 9:1, 2; 26:9-11) But for Saul to accept Jesus and be baptize Christian, he suppose to be willing for people to persecute him.
8. (a) Zɛɓɛi e kɛɛni Sɔɔ yiɛ bataizei maa zɔlɔwo? (b) E ɣɛ velei Te ɣɛɛ ʋaitiɛ 22:12-16 boga la, Ananaiya ɓɔni Sɔɔ va ɣɛ le? (Wɛlɛ ɓalaa footei va.)
8 Wetin help Saul to get baptize? When the Lord Jesus talk to Saul from heaven, the bright light make him blind. (Acts 9:3-9) He fast for three days and think on what just happen to him. Yes, it convince Saul that Jesus wor the Messiah, and he believe that the Christian dem wor in the true religion. We sure that Saul wor really feeling bad because his hand wor in Stephen death! (Acts 22:20) After three days, one disciple name Ananias help Saul to see again, and he encourage Saul to get baptize quick-quick. (Read Acts 22:12-16.) Saul bring hisself down and accept the help that Ananias gave him and he get baptize.—Acts 9:17, 18.
Like Saul, you willing to accept encouragement to get baptize? (See paragraph 8)
9. Zɛɓɛi da maa woli Sɔɔ na po-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu?
9 We can learn plenty lessons from Saul. It wor possible for him to allow pride or fear of man to stop him from getting baptize. But he not allow it to happen. Saul bring hisself down, change his way of life and become Christian. (Acts 26:14, 19) Saul wor willing to be Christian even though he know that people wor coming persecute him. (Acts 9:15, 16; 20:22, 23) After he get baptize, he continue to depend on Jehovah to help him to bear all his problem dem. (2 Cor. 4:7-10) When you get baptize and be Jehovah Witness, maybe you will face some problem dem that will test your faith. But you will get the help you need. You can be sure that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ will help you.—Phil. 4:13.
10. Da wulo ɣɛ le Anna na po-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu-nu-ma?
10 Anna from Eastern Europe grow up in the family that can speak the Kurdish language. After her ma get baptize, Anna pa agree for Anna to start studying the Bible when she wor 9 years old. But her relative dem who wor living with them in the same house wor not happy with it, so they start treating her bad. They feel that it will bring shame on the family when anybody leave the family religion. When Anna reach 12 years old, she ask her pa if he agree for her to get baptize. Then he ask her whether that her ownself make the decision or somebody wor forcing her. She tell him say, “I love Jehovah.” So her pa agree for her to get baptize. After Anna get baptize, her relative dem continue to make fun out of her and treat her bad. In fact, one of her relative tell her say, “It wor better for you to be living immoral life and be smoking than for you to be Jehovah Witness.” How Anna bear all this problem dem? She say, “Jehovah help me to be strong, and my ma and pa really supported me.” She can write down the different-different time that Jehovah help her in her life. And from time to time, she can look at it so she can’t forget about how Jehovah na help her. If you scare that people will go against you when you get baptize, remember that Jehovah will help you too.—Heb. 13:6.
KƆNIILIA BATAIZEI MAA ZƆLƆ WONI
11. Kɔniilia losuvɛ ɔ kɛ na ɓaa ga e bataizei maa zɔlɔwo ɣɛ le?
11 We can also learn good lessons from Cornelius. He wor “a centurion,” that mean, he wor commander for 100 soldiers in the Roman army. (Acts 10:1, footnote.) This one made him big man in the community and in the army. The Bible also say he “made many gifts of mercy to the people.” (Acts 10:2) Jehovah send the apostle Peter to preach the good news to him. You think Cornelius allow his position to make him waste time to get baptize?
12. Zɛɓɛi e ɓɔni Kɔniilia va ga e bataizei maa zɔlɔwo?
12 Wetin help Cornelius to get baptize? The Bible say he “feared God together with all his household.” And Cornelius always use to pray to God. (Acts 10:2) When Peter preach the good news to Cornelius, he and his family put faith in Jesus Christ and get baptize right away. (Acts 10:47, 48) Cornelius wor willing to make any change that he suppose to make so he and family can worship Jehovah together.—Josh. 24:15; Acts 10:24, 33.
13. Zɛɓɛi da maa woli Kɔniilia na po-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu?
13 Just like in Saul situation, it wor also possible for Cornelius to allow his position to stop him from getting baptize. But he not let that one to happen. You think you need to make some big changes in your life so you can get baptize? If that what you need to do, you can be sure that Jehovah will help you. He will bless you if you try your best to serve him in line with what the Bible say.
14. Da wulo ɣɛ le Tsuyoshi na po-kɔ̃ɔ-ma zu-nu-ma?
14 Tsuyoshi from Japan needed to stop certain work he wor doing to his working place so he can get baptize. He wor the vice principal in one school where they use to teach people how to arrange flowers. The principal use to go do flower arrangement for Buddhist funerals. And during the funeral he use to do some thing dem that false religion can do. But when the principal not able to go, that Tsuyoshi use to go do it. But when Tsuyoshi learn the truth about death, he knew that he suppose to move his hand from in this thing dem before he can get baptize. So he decide to not take part in that custom again. (2 Cor. 6:15, 16) Tsuyoshi talk with his boss man about it. What wor the result? He continue working without taking part in this custom dem again. He get baptize one year after he start studying the Bible.a If you need to stop certain kindna work you doing to your working place to make God happy, you can be sure that he will give you and your family the thing dem yor need.—Ps. 127:2; Matt. 6:33.
KƆLĨ VEAITIƐ TE BATAIZEI MAA ZƆLƆ WONI
15. Taitiɛ te ɣɛni Kɔlĩ zɛɓɛi e kɛɛni naa ɓai e ɣɛni ga te bataizei maa zɔlɔwo?
15 People know the city of Corinth way back to be place where people use to like material things, and they use to live all kindna immoral life. Plenty people who wor living there use to do things that God not like. So for somebody to be living in that kindna area and accept the good news wor not small thing. But when the apostle Paul go to that city and preach the good news about the Christ, “many of the Corinthians who heard began to believe and be baptized.” (Acts 18:7-11) Then the Lord Jesus Christ appear to Paul in vision and say: “I have many people in this city.” So Paul continue preaching there for one and the half year.
16. Taitiɛ te ɣɛni Kɔlĩ zɛɓɛi e ɓɔni te va ga te bataizei maa zɔlɔwo? (2 Kɔlĩitiɛ 10:4, 5)
16 Wetin help the Corinthians to get baptize? (Read 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5.) That God Word and his powerful holy spirit help them to make big change in their life. (Heb. 4:12) The people in Corinth who accept the good news about Christ wor able to stop some behavior dem like, drinking plenty liquor, stealing and immoral life.—1 Cor. 6:9-11.b
17. Zɛɓɛi e maa wolia numai niitiɛ ya te ɣɛni Kɔlĩ?
17 Some people in Corinth wor having big change to make in their life. But they not think that it wor too hard for them to overcome it so they can be Christians. They really try their best to get on the road that people passing on to get everlasting life. (Matt. 7:13, 14) If you fighting hard to overcome any bad habit so you can get baptize, don’t give up! Beg Jehovah for his holy spirit to help you to fight the desire to do bad thing.
18. Ya wulo ɣɛ le Monika na po-kɔ̃ɔ-mai zu-nu-ma?
18 One woman name Monika from Georgia, fight hard to stop bad entertainment and using bad-bad words so she can get baptize. She say: “The time I wor small, that prayer really help me. Jehovah know that I wanted to do the right thing, and he always been helping me and guiding me.” Monika get baptize when she wor 16 years old. You doing some thing dem that you need to stop so you can serve Jehovah the right way? If so, continue asking him to help you so you can make changes. He will give his holy spirit to help you.—John 3:34.
ZEE-LA-MAI ƔA GIZI BU-ZIƔI
19. Zɛɓɛi ya ɓɔ e va ga e faa ɓaagitiɛ yee maazu ɣale? (Wɛlɛ ɓalaa footei va.)
19 You can be sure that Jehovah love you and he want you to be part of his family. He will help you no matter what kindna problem want stop you from getting baptize. Jesus tell some of his disciple dem say: “If yor get faith just like the size of the mustard seed, yor will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here, and go over there,’ and it will move, and you will be able to do anything.” (Matt. 17:20) The disciple dem who wor there and hear Jesus talking this one, been with him for short time, so their faith still needed to grow. But Jesus tell them that if they get strong faith, Jehovah will help them to overcome any problem that big just like mountain. And Jehovah will help you to do the same thing!
You can be sure that Jehovah love you and he want you to be part of his family (See paragraph 19)c
20. Po-kɔ̃ɔ-maitiɛ de yɛpɛi e vile ba kɔlɔ zɛvɛi nii zu te ɓɔga e va ɣɛ le?
20 If you see any problem that stopping you from getting baptize, try to overcome it quick-quick. You can get comfort and strength from the examples about the Christian dem way back and today. Let their example encourage you and move you to give your life to Jehovah and get baptize. That the best decision you can ever make!
GUI 38 He Will Make You Strong
a You can find Brother Tsuyoshi Fujii life story in the August 8, 2005 Awake! magazine, pp. 20-23.
b Go on jw.org and watch the video ‘Wetin Stopping You From Getting Baptize?’
c WETIN THE PICTURE SAYING?: Some brother and sister dem welcoming the people who just get baptize.