Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is able to empathize and sympathize with us because He has walked on this earth. He experienced physical suffering, persecution, betrayal and was forsaken by His close ones and even denied by His disciples while He was on earth. He knew how Peter would deny Him three times. He also knew that His disciples would be dispersed when He was arrested. He knew He had to go through sufferings because this was the will of the Heavenly Father. He was pushed to the limit in the area of physical and emotional torment. He knew the trauma of suffering on the cross.
During this COVID season, many of us are separated from our loved ones due to restrictions on travel. Jesus fully understands and is able to empathize with us during this time of separation. He knows how we are feeling when we are physically and emotionally detached from our close ones. Jesus Himself experienced two separations. The first was when He left heaven to come to earth, the second was when the Heavenly Father’s face was turned away from Him as our sins were placed upon Him on the cross.
With this knowledge about Jesus, we should be comforted that He is able to share and understand our grief, pain and distress. He is willing to listen and minister to us personally.
James 4:6 (NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
The throne of grace is only accessible to the believers of Jesus Christ. Grace is a divine commodity given to the believer whenever we humbly come before the Heavenly Father by spending time privately to ask God for strength to overcome the challenges that we are facing. However, humility is a necessary pre-requisite to finding grace. Many people do not come to God regularly to seek grace from Him. They feel that they are able to achieve everything by their own strength and even though they may go to church, there is no humility in seeking the face of God. Often, these people will begin to cry out to God in desperation when they come to their wits’ end to solve their loss of jobs or other problems. However, if they never have been in a habit of humbly seeking God’s face for grace in good times, it would be a much bigger challenge to seek God’s grace in difficult times because it is like starting from ground zero. Sometimes we really do not know how far we have drifted from God until we are in a crisis.
Let us all be humble before the Almighty God. We need him on a daily basis and not only in a crisis.
Sermon Series: My Grace Is Sufficient for You
寻找恩典
希伯来书4：15-16 因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱。他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
耶稣能够体谅和同情我们，因为他在世上行走过。他经历过身体上的痛苦，逼迫，背叛，被亲密的人抛弃，甚至还在世时就被他的门徒否认。他早就知道彼得将如何三次不认他。他还知道，当他被捕时，他的门徒将被驱散。 他知道他必须经受苦难，因为这是天父的旨意。 他的身体与灵魂所遭受的折磨达到了极限。 他知道上十字架是何等的痛苦。
在新冠病毒肆虐的季节里，由于旅行限制，我们中的许多人不得不与亲人分离。 耶稣完全理解也能够体谅我们在这段分离的时间里受到的苦痛。祂了解当我们与亲近的人在身体和情感上分离时的感受。 耶稣自己曾经历过两次分离。 第一次是当祂离开天堂来到人间时，第二次是当祂为我们的罪孽被钉上十字架时，天父转脸不看祂。
有了这些对耶稣的认识，我们应该感到安慰，还好祂是能够分担并理解我们的痛苦与伤悲的。祂愿意亲自来聆听并且服事我们。
雅各书4:6 但他赐更多的恩典，所以经上说：神阻挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人。“
唯有耶稣基督的信徒才能来到施恩座前。只要我们谦卑地来到天父面前，花时间私底下与神倾心吐意，祈求力量克服面前的挑战时，神必赐下恩典。但是，寻求恩典所必需的先决条件是谦卑。许多人并不常常来到施恩宝座前寻求神的恩典。他们觉得靠自己就可以无往不利，即使他们去教堂，也不会谦卑寻求神的面。唯有到了再也无法解决事业或其他问题，山穷水尽之时，才会绝望地向神呼求。但是，如果他们在顺境的时候从未养成谦卑寻求上帝的习惯，到了艰难时刻这将变得愈加挑战。因为这将如同平地起高楼一般困难。有时候我们只有到了身陷危机之时，才晓得自己不知不觉间已经离开上帝那么远。
让我们都来谦卑在万能的上帝面前。 我们每天都需要神的恩典，而不仅仅在危机之时。
讲章系列：我的恩典够你用