As long as we are in the world, we will encounter life’s storms in the form of trials and tribulations. Contributing to these life’s storms are ourselves and the people we come in contact with. But if we act upon the sure foundation of the Word of God, we will not fall.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, the Apostle Paul recounted his wide range of trials and tribulations for the sake of the Gospel. They included:
1) Laboring tirelessly for God and often a thankless job.
2) Being whipped 5 times, each 39 stripes.
3) Being imprisoned for his faith.
4) Facing death often.
5) Being beaten with rod.
6) Being stoned
7) Being shipwrecked 3 times including a night and a day in the deep.
8) dangers in the form of shipwrecked, robbers, wilderness.
9) Suffering hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness
10) Being betrayed by his own countryman and false brothers.
Paul revealed that there was a messenger of Satan that was a “thorn in the flesh” to his ministry. When Paul asked for deliverance, Jesus said His grace was sufficient for Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NKJV) “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Notice that in this administering of grace by God, God did not remove the thorn but the grace of God actually strengthened Paul. Many of us hope that the “thorn” will disappear from our lives, but God often does not make the problem disappear. Instead, He gives us grace to strengthen us and to see us through.
Sermon Series: Grace for Life
祂的恩典够我们用的
生活充满了压力，当你处于这样的重压之下时，你可能会觉得自己很孤单。请放心，你并不孤单，神要你作首不作尾，居上不居下。
路加福音6:46-49 你们为什么称呼我主阿，主阿，却不遵我的话行呢？凡到我这里来，听见我的话就去行的，我要告诉你们他像什么人。他像一个人盖房子，深深的挖地，把根基安在磐石上。到发大水的时候，水冲那房子，房子总不能摇动。因为根基立在磐石上。有古卷作因为盖造得好惟有听见不去行的，就像一个人在土地上盖房子，没有根基。水一冲，随即倒塌了，并且那房子坏得很大。
只要我们在世界上，我们就会遇到人生的风暴，以考验和磨难的形式出现。造成这些人生风暴的是我们自己或者是我们遇到的人。但是，如果我们行在神话语的坚实基础上，我们就不会跌倒。
在哥林多后书11章23-28节中，使徒保罗讲述了他为了福音所受的各种考验和磨难。其中包括：
1） 不知疲倦地为神劳苦，常常是吃力不讨好的工作。
2） 被鞭打5次，每次39下
3） 因信仰而被监禁
4） 经常面对死亡
5） 被棍打
6） 被扔石头
7） 遭遇沉船3次，包括一次在水中一天一夜
8） 遭遇各样的危险，包括沉船，被抢劫，暴露荒野等
9） 遭受饥饿，口渴，寒冷和赤身裸体
10） 被自己的同胞和假弟兄出卖。
保罗透露，有一个撒但的差役，对他的事工来说是“肉体上的刺”。当保罗求主叫这刺离开他时，耶稣说祂的恩典够保罗用的。
哥林多后书12:7-9 又恐怕我因所得的启示甚大，就过于自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒但的差役，要攻击我，免得我过于自高。为这事，我三次求过主，叫这刺离开我。他对我说，我的恩典够你用的。因为我的能力，是在人的软弱上显得完全。所以我更喜欢夸自己的软弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
请注意，在神施行恩典的过程中，神并未没有把刺挪去，但神的恩典实际上坚固了保罗得。我们许多人希望“刺”从我们的生命中消失，但神常常不是使问题消失。，相反，祂赐恩典给我们力量，帮助我们度过难关。
讲章系列：生命的恩典