不想要的礼物 The unwanted gift
不想要的礼物
The unwanted gift
哥林多后书12章1-10节
Have you ever received an unwanted gift?
Perhaps an unwanted birthday gift? Or an unwanted Christmas gift?
Trademe says that 49% of us receive something unwanted every Christmas. Based on our population
size, that’s over 2.5 million unwanted gifts! Every year. At Christmas alone.
您曾经收到过不想要的礼物吗？
也许是不想要的⽣⽇礼物？或者是不想要的圣诞礼物？
Trademe表示，我们中有49%的⼈每年圣诞节都会收到⼀些不想要的东⻄。根据我们的⼈⼝规
模，这就是超过250万份不想要的礼物！每年。仅在圣诞节这⼀天。
We’ve all received gifts when we say to ourselves: ‘What am I going to do with this?’ Perhaps you’ve
hidden a painting or figurine in a cupboard and pull it out should that person ever come around.
The first gift my wife received from me would have been in this category. We had been dating for 6
months so most guys would have known it was time for something romantic. Perhaps a white gold
necklace or Stirling silver earrings.
Want to know what Robyn received from me? A $30 book voucher. To the Christian book shop.
我们都曾经收到过礼物，当我们⾃⾔⾃语：“我要拿这个做什么？”也许你曾经将⼀幅画或者⼩
雕像藏在橱柜⾥，如果那个⼈来了，你就把它拿出来。
我妻⼦从我这⾥收到的第⼀个礼物可能也属于这个类别。我们当时已经交往了6个⽉，所以⼤
多数⼈应该知道是时候送点浪漫的礼物了。也许是⼀条⽩⾦项链或银⽿环。
想知道罗宾从我这⾥收到了什么吗？⼀个30美元的书券。⽤于基督教书店。
As you can tell, I’ve had a lot of learning to do over the years.
Today – we kick off a new series about a gift that nobody wants—the gift of pain. Even talking about
pain as a gift seems bizarre doesn’t it—how can pain be a gift? How can suffering be a gift? Calling
pain and suffering a gift sounds like it could even minimize the real agony and deep suffering that
some people go through—it can sound like we’re just placing a silver lining on something that is
profoundly hard. We don’t think of pain as a gift. No – the words we use to describe pain are awful …
horrible … stressful … exhausting … debilitating, and those are just the words that are safe to use up
here.
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你也看得出来，这些年我有很多东⻄要学。
今天，我们开始⼀个关于没⼈愿意要的礼物的新系列——痛苦的礼物。甚⾄把痛苦说成是⼀种
礼物似乎都很奇怪，不是吗——痛苦怎么可能是⼀种礼物？⼜怎么可能把苦难当成礼物？把痛
苦和苦难称为礼物甚⾄可能会将⼀些⼈所经历的真正痛苦和深᯿苦难降到最低，这似乎只是在
为⼀些极度困难的事情披上⼀层银边。我们不认为痛苦是⼀种礼物。不，我们⽤来描述痛苦的
词汇是糟糕的......可怕的......充满压⼒的......令⼈精疲⼒尽的......使⼈虚弱的，⽽这些仅仅是敢在
这⾥使⽤的词汇。
But one of the things we want to try and do in this series is reframe our understanding of pain and
struggle so that we begin to see them from God’s perspective and not just our own. We want to start
to shift our focus from just seeing our struggles with a human lens—seeing the difficulties and
hardships that we go through, to seeing pain through God’s lens—and beginning to see how God is
present in the painful places in our lives, how he works in those places, and how even in those times
of real struggle there are some unexpected gifts that God is wanting to bring into our lives.
This is an incredibly important series relevant to all our lives. After all, every single person will
experience pain and suffering. When it happens – as it does for everyone - it’s disorienting and
confusing. It raises all sorts of questions about life, about God.
但是在这个系列中，我们想要尝试的⼀件事情是᯿新构建我们对痛苦和挣扎的理解，以便我们
开始从上帝的⻆度⽽不仅仅是我们⾃⼰的⻆度来看待它们。我们想要开始将焦点从仅仅⽤⼈类
的视⻆来看待我们的挣扎——看到我们经历的困难和艰⾟，转移到通过上帝的视⻆来看待痛苦
——开始看到上帝如何在我们⽣命中痛苦的地⽅显现，他如何在那些地⽅作⼯，甚⾄在那些真
正艰难的时刻，上帝如何希望给我们带来⼀些意想不到的礼物。
这是⼀个与我们所有⼈的⽣活都相关的⾮常᯿要的系列。毕竟，每个⼈都会经历痛苦和苦难。
当它发⽣时——就像发⽣在每个⼈身上⼀样——它会让⼈感到迷失和困惑。它引发了关于⽣
命、关于上帝的各种问题。
Our series is going to be based around a particular passage in the New Testament in which the
Apostle Paul describe what he calls a ‘thorn in his flesh.’ It’s in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. We’ll be
revisiting this passage each week throughout the series.
The series is part of our annual collective series between Gracecity, and Shore Community – a
collective we began a couple of years ago in our Mosaic Series and last year in our Royal series. This
one is going to be a shorter series - four weeks.
我们这⼀系列将围绕新约中的⼀个特定经⽂展开，其中使徒保罗描述了他所称之为的‘他⾁体的
刺’。这在哥林多后书12:1-10中有提到。在整个系列中，我们每周都会᯿温这⼀段经⽂。
这个系列是我们Gracecity和Shore Community教会之间的年度联合系列的⼀部分——这个联合系
列是我们在⼏年前的"Mosaic系列"和去年的"Royal系列"中开始的。这个系列将会是⼀个较短的
系列，为期四周。
This series is based on a book by the same name, by Rowland Forman. I certainly recommend you get
hold of a copy in the foyer. Rowland is one of our dear congregation members. He is also the father2 of 20
in-law of Brad Carr. This is a book, and a series, about how God works in our lives through those
winter moments, the struggles and sufferings. Rowland first began writing 16 years ago. During that
time, he experienced his own pain. To start off we’re going to watch a short video by Rowland Forman
talking about this book and why he wrote it.
这个系列是基于罗兰德·福尔曼（Rowland Forman）的同名书籍创作的。
我当然推荐你在⻔厅拿⼀本副本。罗兰德是我们亲爱的教友之⼀。他也是布拉德·卡尔（Brad
Carr）的岳⽗。这本书，也是⼀个系列，探讨了上帝如何在我们⽣命中通过那些冬⽇时刻、挣
扎和苦难中运作。罗兰德在16年前开始着⼿创作。在那段时间⾥，他经历了⾃⼰的痛苦。作为
开始，我们将观看罗兰德·福尔曼的短⽚，他在视频中谈到了这本书以及他创作该书的原因。
[video]视频
So this morning we are going to start by just walking through Paul’s story in this passage, and listening
in as Paul describes his experience of suffering. Each of us has a story. Let me read Paul’s story:
所以今天早上，我们将从逐步讲解保罗在这段经⽂中的故事开始，倾听保罗描述他在苦难中的
经历。我们每个⼈都有⾃⼰的故事。让我来读⼀读保罗的故事：
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and
revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to
the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God
knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know,
but God knows—4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no
one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself,
except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a
fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than
is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great
revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in
my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take
it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in
insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong./ 2
Corinthians 12:1-10
虽然⾃夸⽆益，我还是不得不夸。我现在要提到主的异象和启示。 我认识⼀个在基督⾥的⼈，
他在⼗四年前被提到第三层天上去；或在身内，我不知道，或在身外，我也不知道，只有上帝
知道。 我认识的这样的⼀个⼈—或在身内，或在身外，我都不知道，只有上帝知道— 他被提
到乐园⾥，听⻅隐秘的⾔语，是⼈不可说的。 为这⼈，我要夸⼝；但是为我⾃⼰，除了我的软
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弱以外，我并不夸⼝。 就是我愿意夸⼝也不算狂，因为我会说实话；只是我绝⼝不谈，恐怕有
⼈把我看得太⾼了，过于他在我身上所看⻅所听⻅的； ⼜恐怕我因所得的启示太⾼深，就过于
⾼抬⾃⼰，所以有⼀根刺加在我身上，就是撒但的差役来折磨我，免得我过于⾼抬⾃⼰。 为了
这事，我曾三次求主使这根刺离开我。 他对我说：“我的恩典是够你⽤的，因为我的能⼒是在
⼈的软弱上显得完全。”所以，我更喜欢夸耀⾃⼰的软弱，好使基督的能⼒覆庇我。 为基督的
缘故，我以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为可喜乐的事；因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就
刚强了。(哥林多后书12:1-10)
It’s quite a story isn’t it? From a vision of heaven to a hellish experience of pain.
I want to unpack the story and why it is that Paul came to see his pain as a gift.
“Therefore in order to stop me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to torment me.”
这真是⼀个引⼈⼊胜的故事，不是吗？从对天堂的幻觉到地狱般的痛苦经历。
我想要解开这个故事，以及为什么保罗开始将他的痛苦视为⼀份礼物。
"所以有⼀根刺加在我身上，就是撒但的差役来折磨我，免得我过于⾼抬⾃⼰。"
What was this ‘thorn in the flesh’ that Paul experienced?
The Greek word for thorn is skolops = ‘that which is pointed.’ It can refer to something sharp like a
fishing hook, a javelin, a sharp stake in the ground, a nasty splinter, or a rosebush thorn.
As a kid, I had a couple of trips to the emergency department because of splinters. One was right
under the finger nail. The other a metal splinter in my eye. If Paul is using that as an image – it’s
certainly appropriate to describe something incredibly irritating.
Of course, sometimes pain is more like a sharp stake driven through your body – the crushing news of
a terminal illness, the loss of a loved one, an unending conflict.
保罗所经历的这个“⾁体的刺”是什么？
希腊语中“刺”的词是“skolops” = “尖锐之物”。它可以指尖锐的东⻄，⽐如⻥钩、标枪、地上的
尖桩、讨厌的刺，或者是玫瑰丛的刺。
⼩时候，我曾因为扎了刺⽽去急诊室⼏次。⼀次是在指甲下⾯，另⼀次是在眼睛⾥扎了⼀个⾦
属碎⽚。如果保罗⽤这个⽐喻来形容⼀些令⼈难以置信的令⼈恼⽕的事情，当然是合适的。
当然，有时疼痛更像是⼀根穿过你身体的尖桩——身患绝症的噩耗，失去亲⼈的痛苦，⽆休⽌
的冲突。
Paul is talking about a huge splinter or stake that is driven into his flesh.
Paul is using the idea of a thorn as a metaphor about a particular and ongoing struggle he faces.
I guess our first question is: what was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
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There has been a huge amount of debate and discussion among Bible scholars for twenty centuries (!)
about what exactly was Paul’s thorn.
保罗谈论的是⼀个巨⼤的刺或尖桩，插⼊了他的⾁体。
保罗使⽤“刺”这个⽐喻来描述他所⾯临的⼀种特定且持续的挣扎。
我想我们⾸先要问的是：保罗⾁体的刺究竟是什么？
⼆千年来，圣经学者之间对保罗的⾁体的刺到底是什么进⾏了⼤ᰁ的争论和讨论！
“Thorn in the flesh” – was it a temptation?
Paul’s thorn in the flesh may have been some form of temptation to sin—whether lust or anger or
greed or envy, or something else—some temptation that constantly plagued Paul, that he continually
battled against.
Some people think the thorn is evidence that Paul wasn’t married and struggled with sexual
temptation. Other people think it’s evidence that Paul was married—I’ll leave you to figure that one
out.
“⾁体的刺”——是诱惑吗？
保罗⾁体的刺可能是某种形式的诱惑，引诱他犯罪——⽆论是欲望、愤怒、贪婪、嫉妒，或是
其他⼀些不断困扰保罗、他不断与之⽃争的诱惑。
有⼈认为这个“刺”是保罗没有结婚并且在性诱惑⽅⾯有所挣扎的证据。还有⼈认为这表明保罗
已婚——我把这个问题留给你们⾃⼰去想。
“Thorn in the flesh” – was it a physical injury /condition?
It could have been a physical injury or condition that Paul had, or a sickness that he encountered like
malaria, which was common in the ancient world. It may have been an eye problem that just
wouldn’t go away.
Elsewhere Paul writes:
“⾁体的刺”——是身体伤害/疾病吗？
这可能是保罗身体上的伤害或疾病，或者是他遭遇的某种疾病，⽐如在古代世界很常⻅的疟
疾。也有可能是⼀种眼部问题，始终⽆法消失。
在其他地⽅，保罗写道：
“As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though
my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. … I can testify that, if you
could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.”/ Galatians 4:13-14
你们知道，我因为身体有疾病才有第⼀次传福⾳给你们的机会。 虽然你们为我身体的缘故受试
炼，却没有轻看我，也没有厌弃我，反倒接待我如同上帝的使者，如同基督耶稣。 (加拉太书
4:13-14)
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Some suggest constant migraines, a speech impediment, epilepsy, malaria.
“Thorn in the flesh” – was it a struggle with mental health?
Or maybe it was a struggle with mental health—Paul certainly talks about times of anguish and fear
and discouragement—he may have struggled with anxiety or depression or some other kind of
mental illness.
有⼈提出了持续的偏头痛、⾔语障碍、癫痫、疟疾等。
“⾁体的刺”——是与⼼理健康⽃争吗？
或许这是与⼼理健康⽃争有关的——保罗确实谈到了他在困苦、恐惧和沮丧中度过的时光——
他可能曾经与焦虑、抑郁或其他⼀些⼼理疾病进⾏过⽃争。
“Thorn in the flesh” – was it a relational issue?
Paul’s thorn in the flesh could have been a relational issue—a falling out with someone close to him.
The word ‘skolops’ – “thorns” was used this way in the Greek version of the Old Testament Scriptures
to refer to people that get under your skin.
Elsewhere, Paul mentions how a guy named Alexander the metalworker did him a great deal of harm.
(cf 2 Timothy 4:14). If you’ve been insulted, like Paul was, or attacked, or had your work undermined,
you might call someone a ‘pain in the neck.’ You’re not talking about osteoporosis. You’re talking
about a relationship issue. Perhaps that was Paul’s thorn.
“⾁体的刺”——是与⼈际关系有关吗？
保罗⾁体的刺也可能是与⼈际关系有关的问题——可能是与他亲近的⼈产⽣了裂痕。在希腊版
本的旧约圣经中，“刺”这个词被⽤来指那些让你感到不悦的⼈。
在其他地⽅，保罗提到了⼀个叫做亚历⼭⼤的铁匠，他给了他很⼤的伤害。（⻅提摩太后书
4:14）。如果你像保罗⼀样受到了侮辱，或者遭受了攻击，或者你的⼯作受到了破坏，你可能
会称某⼈是“脖⼦的痛处”。你说的不是⻣质疏松症，⽽是⼀个⼈际关系问题。也许这就是保罗
的“⾁体的刺”。
There are all sorts of possibilities of what Paul’s thorn could have been, and there will probably be
someone connecting today who claims to know exactly what Paul’s thorn was. But the reality is that
Paul just doesn’t tell us.
To be honest, I’m glad he didn’t. If he had, then we would only tend to focus on that one thing that he
struggled with. But by not naming his struggle, and simply calling it a ‘thorn in the flesh’, Paul is
inviting us to connect our own story with his story, and to think about our own thorns.
The truth is that we all have thorns. We have all experienced things in the past that cause us pain,
most of us have at least one thing in our lives now that is causing us pain, and we are guaranteed to
have things in the future that cause us pain.
保罗的“刺”可能有各种可能性，今天可能会有⼈声称知道保罗的“刺”到底是什么。但事实是，
保罗并没有告诉我们。
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⽼实说，我很⾼兴他没有这样做。如果他这样做了，我们只会倾向于专注于他所挣扎的那⼀件
事情。但通过不具体指明他的挣扎，并简单地称之为“⾁体的刺”，保罗邀请我们将⾃⼰的故事
与他的故事联系起来，并思考我们⾃⼰的“刺”。
事实是，我们都有“刺”。我们都经历过过去的事情，让我们感到痛苦，我们中的⼤多数⼈现在
⾄少有⼀件事让我们感到痛苦，⽽且我们肯定会在未来遇到让我们痛苦的事情。
Your thorn may be a relational issue:
• Your father abandoned your family when you were young. Your mum held you to an
impossible standard. You never feel accepted.
• A former work colleague muddies your reputation and you live with the continual shame.
• Your son or daughter keeps you at a distance. Or keeps God at a distance.
I’ve had my share of relational pain. It hurts deeply.
你的“刺”可能是⼀种关系问题：
• 你的⽗亲在你很⼩的时候离开了你的家庭。你的⺟亲对你要求极⾼，你从未感受到被接
纳。
• ⼀位前同事败坏了你的声誉，你⼀直⽣活在持续的羞耻中。
• 你的⼉⼦或⼥⼉保持着与你的距离。或者与上帝保持着距离。
我也经历过我的⼀份关系的痛苦。它深深地伤害着我。
Or your thorn may be the absence of relationship—a sense of loneliness in our lives through not
having a spouse, not having friends, a sense of isolation, or rejection, or loss—perhaps this is your
thorn.
Your thorn may be financial—the stress of struggling to get by financially, battling to make ends meet
and make it from one pay day to the next.
Or, your thorn may be some kind of physical illness, condition, sickness or injury that you or
someone in your family have, which is debilitating you and causing you physical pain. For many of you
– this is the thorn or, perhaps, stake in your life.
或者你的“刺”可能是关系的缺失——在⽣活中感到孤独，没有配偶，没有朋友，⼀种孤⽴感，
拒绝感，或者失落感——也许这就是你的“刺”。
你的“刺”可能是财务问题——为了经济上的困难⽽感到压⼒，努⼒维持收⽀平衡，挣扎度⽇到
⼀个⼜⼀个发薪⽇。
或者，你的“刺”可能是某种身体疾病、状况、⽣病或受伤，你或你家⼈中的某⼈正在遭受，这
使你身体虚弱，带来身体上的疼痛。对于你们中的许多⼈来说，这可能就是你⽣活中的“刺”或
“桩”。
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And we know how the struggles of our physical body can have such a huge effect on your mind as
well. Your thorn may be related to your mental health—it may be the struggle with anxiety or
debilitating depression, the struggle with wounds of the past that haven’t healed for you, trauma that
you haven’t recovered from. There is a huge range in the kinds of thorns that we can be afflicted by.
Sometimes when people think of a ‘thorn in the flesh’ they think of it as something that has to be
some hugely severe form of suffering. It’s true - some people do experience severe suffering and
severe trauma in their lives, sometimes on multiple fronts.
我们知道，身体的困扰也会对⼼理产⽣巨⼤影响。你的“刺”可能与你的⼼理健康有关——可能
是与焦虑或严᯿抑郁的⽃争，可能是与过去的创伤有关，那些创伤对你来说尚未愈合，可能是
你尚未从中恢复的创伤。我们可能受到的“刺”的种类有很多。
有时候，当⼈们想到“⾁体中的刺”时，他们可能会认为它必须是某种严᯿的苦难。的确——有
些⼈的⽣活中确实经历了严᯿的苦难和严᯿的创伤，有时在多个⽅⾯都有。
But, you don’t have to have experienced major trauma to experience major pain. As Rowland unpacks
in his book: “You don’t need multiple thorns in the flesh to experience the depths of human pain.” It’s
easy to think ‘there’s always someone else worse off than me; someone who has suffered more than
me.’ And that’s true. But your pain is still your pain. Thorns - no matter how small they may be – can
still cause you deep pain. One of the many difficulties of pain is that none of us – doctor, parent, or
friend – can truly enter into to another person’s pain. It is the loneliest, most private experience.
So in this series we are talking about all kinds of thorns—big and small, short term and long term,
past and present, internal and external. And I want to invite you to be thinking about your thorns
through these messages and connecting them to what Paul says about his own thorn.
但是，你不必经历过严᯿的创伤才能经历严᯿的痛苦。正如罗兰德在他的书中所解释的那样：
“你不需要在⾁体中有多个刺才能体验到⼈类痛苦的深度。”很容易想到“总是有⽐我更糟糕的
⼈；总有⽐我更受苦的⼈。” 这是事实。但你的痛苦仍然是你的痛苦。刺——⽆论它们多么⼩
——仍然可以给你带来深深的痛苦。痛苦的难处之⼀是，我们中没有⼈——⽆论是医⽣、⽗⺟
还是朋友——能真正体会到另⼀个⼈的痛苦。这是最孤独、最私⼈的经历。
因此，在这个系列中，我们将谈论各种各样的“刺”——⽆论⼤⼩，⽆论是短期还是⻓期，⽆论
是过去还是现在，⽆论是内在还是外在。我想邀请你在听这些信息时思考⼀下⾃⼰的“刺”，并
将它们与保罗关于他⾃⼰“刺”的说法联系起来。
Where did Paul’s thorn in the flesh come from?
If you look again at v7, Paul says, “Therefore, in order to stop me from becoming conceited, I was
given a thorn in the flesh...” That makes it sound like Paul’s thorn came from God.
It is certainly God’s work in our lives to prevent us from becoming conceited and prideful. Earlier in
this passage, Paul has been describing a particular vision that God gave him. He says that he was
caught up to the ‘third heaven’—that means the highest heaven, the place called paradise—and
while he was there he heard inexpressible things that no one is permitted to tell. So God gave Paul
this incredibly unique experience of drawing him up to heaven and giving him a little taste of what
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heaven itself is like. Imagine that—imagine getting a glimpse of heaven and hearing inexpressible
things in paradise. That was Paul’s experience.
保罗的“⾁体中的刺”是从哪⾥来的？
如果你再看⼀遍第7节，保罗说：“恐怕我因过于⾼抬⾃⼰，所以有⼀根刺加在我身上，…” 这使
得保罗的“刺”好像是来⾃上帝。
的确，上帝在我们的⽣命中的⼯作是为了防⽌我们变得⾃负和骄傲。在这段经⽂的前⾯，保罗
⼀直在描述上帝给他的特殊异象。他说他被带到了“第三层天堂”——这意味着最⾼的天堂，被
称为天堂的地⽅——在那⾥，他听到了⽆法形容的事情，没有⼈被允许告诉别⼈。所以上帝给
了保罗这个令⼈难以置信的独特经历，把他提升到天堂，并让他稍微体验了天堂本身的样⼦。
想象⼀下——想象⼀下窥视天堂，听到天堂中⽆法形容的事情。那就是保罗的经历。
Paul knew, and God knew, that an experience like that could become a source of great power for Paul.
It would make him appear very powerful and impressive to the Corinthian church that he was writing
to. This would basically make him a Christian celebrity. Let’s face it—if someone had that experience
today—they would basically become overnight celebrities. There is definitely a book deal in it, maybe
a movie; Paul could be looking at a whole Netflix documentary series at this point. This is a big deal.
So part of the God’s purpose in Paul’s pain was to prevent Paul from becoming conceited … from
letting that experience go to his head. God wanted Paul to remain humble in spite of his trip to
heaven, and this is part of the reason that his thorn came along.
But at the same time, Paul then goes on to say something that strikes us as odd: “I was given a thorn
in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” So he explicitly says that this thorn came from
Satan.
保罗知道，上帝也知道，这样的经历对保罗来说可能会成为巨⼤的⼒ᰁ来源。这会让他在他所
写信给的哥林多教会中显得⾮常强⼤和令⼈印象深刻。这基本上会使他成为⼀个基督教名⼈。
让我们⾯对现实——如果有⼈今天有了那种经历，他们基本上会⼀夜成名。这绝对会有⼀份出
版合同，也许还有⼀部电影；保罗可以拍⼀整部 Netflix 纪录⽚系列了。这是⼀件⼤事。
因此，上帝在保罗的痛苦中的部分⽬的是防⽌保罗变得傲慢……不让那种经历影响他的头脑。
上帝希望保罗在尽管曾去过天堂的情况下保持谦卑，这也是他的“刺”出现的原因之⼀。
但同时，保罗接着说了⼀些令我们感到奇怪的话：“所以有⼀根刺加在我身上，就是撒但的差
役来折磨我。 ” 所以他明确表示这个“刺”来⾃撒但。
So which is it? Was Paul’s suffering caused by God or by Satan?
And the answer appears to be both. That might sound strange. How can suffering come from God and
Satan?
Here is how Murray Harris, a biblical scholar, describes it:
那么，到底是谁呢？是上帝造成了保罗的苦难，还是撒但？
答案似乎是两者兼有。这听起来可能很奇怪。苦难怎么会既来⾃上帝⼜来⾃撒但呢？
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这⾥是圣经学者穆雷·哈⾥斯（Murray Harris）的描述：
“As Paul experienced his thorn, he discovered it to be both a gift from God and a tool of Satan – in the
first case, because it deflated pride…in the second case, because it inflicted suffering.” / Murray Harris
This is the paradox of our pain. One and the same experience of suffering can be given or used by
God and Satan.
“当保罗经历他的刺时，他发现它既是上帝的恩赐，也是撒但的⼯具 - 在第⼀种情况下，因为它
削弱了骄傲……在第⼆种情况下，因为它造成了苦难。” / 穆雷·哈⾥斯（Murray Harris）
这就是我们痛苦的悖论。同样的苦难经历既可以是上帝赐予或使⽤的，也可以是撒但利⽤的。
The Bible tells us that it is the work of Satan to rob, steal and destroy. Satan is the author of all evil,
and his purpose in life is to bring us down. He wants to tear us down however he can, and to draw us
away from God by whatever means necessary. While Satan may not personally give you every thorn,
when you look at your thorns, his fingerprints are on every one of them. Even if it’s not Satan
personally attacking us, we can still say with Paul, this thorn is a messenger of Satan to torment me.
At the same time, while Satan tries to tear us down, it is the work of God in our lives to build us up.
Sometimes, in order to help us grow closer to him, God allows us to go through difficult times,
difficult seasons, difficult experiences, in order to teach us to rely more fully on him and cultivate
deeper faith, to build perseverance and stronger character in our lives.
圣经告诉我们，撒但的⼯作是抢劫、窃取和毁灭。撒但是⼀切邪恶的创作者，他在⽣命中的⽬
的是将我们拆毁。他想尽⼀切办法削弱我们，以任何必要的⽅式将我们与上帝隔离开来。虽然
撒但可能不会亲⾃给你每⼀根刺，但当你看着你的刺时，他的指纹都在其中。即使不是撒但亲
⾃攻击我们，我们仍然可以像保罗⼀样说，这刺是撒但的差役来折磨我。
与此同时，虽然撒但试图拆毁我们，上帝在我们的⽣命中的⼯作是建⽴我们。有时，为了帮助
我们更加亲近他，上帝允许我们经历困难时期、艰难的季节、困难的经历，以教导我们更加完
全地依靠他，培养更深的信仰，在我们的⽣活中建⽴毅⼒和更坚强的品格。
That means one and the same experience can be used by both God and Satan. Satan is using that
experience to try and tear you down. God is using that experience to build you up.
We saw this in the story of Joseph – back in our collective series called Mosaic. If you remember his
story, it reads like a true version of the black comedy - a series of unfortunate events: his brothers try
to kill him, his employer’s wife falsely accuses him, he does extended time in prison for a crime he
didn’t commit. BUT, we read that all those low moments, that the LORD was with him. Right at the
end of his story, Joseph gives his own conclusion to his story: “You intended to harm me, but God
intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”/
Genesis 50:20
In other words, his brothers were 100% to blame with evil intent. At the same time, God is 100%
involved with good intent. That is the mystery of divine sovereignty.
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这意味着同⼀经历可以被上帝和撒但同时使⽤。撒但使⽤这经历试图拆毁你，⽽上帝使⽤这经
历来建⽴你。
我们在约瑟的故事中看到了这⼀点——回顾我们之前的系列讲道“⻢赛克”集锦中。如果你还记
得他的故事，它就像是⿊⾊喜剧的真实版本：⼀系列不幸的事件：他的兄弟试图杀死他，他的
雇主的妻⼦错误地指控他，他因⼀项他没有犯的罪⽽⻓时间坐牢。但是，我们读到在所有这些
低⾕时刻，耶和华与他同在。在他故事的最后，约瑟⾃⼰总结了他的故事：从前你们的意思是
要害我，但上帝的意思原是好的，要使许多百姓得以存活，成就今⽇的光景。 (创世记50:20 )
换句话说，他的兄弟要付百分之百的罪责。与此同时，上帝百分之百是以善意参与其中。这就
是神圣主权的奥秘。
So, how did Paul respond to his thorn?
He did what you and I do when we encounter pain. He sent an SOS prayer! “Help! Get me out of
this!”
In v8 he says, “three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.” / 2 Corinthians 12:8
Pleading. Begging God to take it away. And not just once. But three times!
“Lord, you gave me a tour of heaven so why would you give me this thorn? You gave me the highest
high, so why now this lowest low? Lord, take this away!”
Nothing changes.
那么，保罗是如何应对他的刺的呢？
他做了你我遇到痛苦时会做的事情。他发出了⼀声紧急求救信号的祷告！“救命！把我解救出
去！”
在第8节中，他说：为了这事，我曾三次求主使这根刺离开我。 (哥林多后书12:8)
恳求。祈求上帝把它带⾛。不只⼀次，⽽是三次！
“主啊，你带我参观了天堂，为什么要给我这根刺呢？你给了我最⾼的⾼度，为什么现在⼜给
了我最低的低⾕？主啊，把这刺带⾛！”
但是什么都没有改变。
But Paul doesn’t stop praying.
“Lord, please, I beg you, take this away from me. I know you have the power. I’ve seen you do
miracles. I’ve been part of breakthrough moments in the lives of others. So, do it for me now. Take
away this torment!”
Still No answer.
但保罗并没有停⽌祷告。
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“主啊，求你，我恳求你，把这刺从我身上带⾛。我知道你有能⼒。我⻅过你⾏奇迹。我参与
了别⼈⽣命中的突破时刻。所以，请你现在也为我做。把这个折磨带⾛！”
仍然没有答案。
Does that make Paul stop praying? No.
“Lord, this thorn is keeping me from doing the ministry you’ve given me to do! Don’t you want the
good news to spread? How am I supposed to do that when I feel like this. Lord, take away this thorn!”
And God doesn’t do it.
Sometimes God answers prayer in miraculous ways. Paul had experienced moments like that – like
being unaffected from a viper that fastened itself to his hand.
But not here. Not this time.
这会让保罗停⽌祷告吗？不会。
“主啊，这个刺阻⽌我完成你交给我的事⼯！难道你不想传扬福⾳吗？我在感觉如此之糟的情
况下，我该如何做呢？主啊，把这个刺带⾛！”
然⽽，上帝没有这样做。
有时候，上帝会以奇迹般的⽅式回应祷告。保罗曾经有过这样的时刻——⽐如在毒蛇咬到他⼿
时毫发⽆伤。
但在这⾥，这次没有发⽣。这次不是那样。
We’re going to have a whole message in this series on unanswered prayer because if it hasn’t been
your experience yet – it will be at some point. Paul can vouch for that.
But while God didn’t answer Paul’s prayer in the way he wanted, God did hear them. And God did
respond. But He gives Paul a different answer than he expected.
在这个系列中，我们将会有⼀整个信息关于未被回应的祷告，因为如果祷告没有得到回应还不
是你的经历的话，那它总会在某个时候发⽣。保罗可以为此作证。
但尽管上帝没有按照保罗的意愿回应他的祷告，上帝确实听到了这些祷告。上帝也做出了回
应。但是，他给了保罗⼀个与他预期不同的答案。
Paul saw just two ways forward:
(1) Jesus could remove the thorn, and Paul could finally get on with life and ministry – removing the
disruption from this thorn.
(2) Jesus could leave the thorn, and Paul would be forever disrupted in life and ministry.
Jesus has a third option:
3) leave the thorn, but give Paul what he most desperately needed - the grace for a different way of
life that he would never have experienced without the thorn.
保罗只看到两种前进的⽅式：
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（1）耶稣可以移除那根刺，保罗最终可以继续⽣活和事⼯ - 摆脱这根刺所带来的⼲扰。
（2）耶稣可以留下这根刺，保罗将永远在⽣活和事⼯中受到⼲扰。
耶稣有第三个选择：
（3）留下这根刺，但给予保罗他最迫切需要的东⻄ - 在没有这根刺的情况下，他将永远不会经
历到这种不同⽣活⽅式的恩典。
Jesus says to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” / 2
Corinthians 12:9
“Paul I know that you want this thorn taken away because you think it will be better for your life and
ministry. I know it’s not the gift you want but it will lead you to the gift you most desperately need.”
耶稣对他说：“我的恩典是够你⽤的，因为我的能⼒是在⼈的软弱上显得完全。” (哥林多后书
12:9)
“保罗，我知道你想要这根刺被移除，因为你认为这对你的⽣活和事⼯会更好。我知道这不是
你想要的礼物，但它将引导你获得你最迫切需要的礼物。”
As Paul begins to understand that this thorn is actually a gift – he is able to actually say this:
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on
me.”/ 2 Corinthians 12:9
Remember, the pain hasn’t gone anywhere.
So, what was it that changed his perspective about his pain? Obviously, it all hinges on these words of
Jesus: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” / 2 Corinthians 12:9
So, what does this mean?
随着保罗开始理解这根刺实际上是⼀份礼物，他能够真正地说出这句话：
所以，我更喜欢夸耀⾃⼰的软弱，好使基督的能⼒覆庇我。 (哥林多后书12:9)
请记住，痛苦并没有消失。
那么，是什么改变了他对痛苦的看法？显然，这⼀切都取决于耶稣的这些话：“我的恩典是够
你⽤的，因为我的能⼒是在⼈的软弱上显得完全。” / 哥林多后书12:9
那么，这句话的意思是什么呢？
Grace is the undeserved favour to helpless, hopeless people. Woven into the meaning of the word is
the idea of a gift.
But Grace is not a thing, it’s not a commodity that God gives us, it’s not a box with a bow around it
that God hands to us and says ‘here you go.’ Here’s my grace.
恩典是给予⽆助、⽆望之⼈的不应得的恩惠。这个词的含义中包含着礼物的概念。
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但是，恩典不是⼀种东⻄，它不是上帝给予我们的商品，不是上帝递给我们⼀个带蝴蝶结的盒
⼦，然后说“给你”。这是我的恩典。
When Jesus gives us his grace, He is giving Himself! God’s grace is above all a person—the person of
Jesus.
When we first respond to Jesus, God in his grace forgives us and comes to dwell inside us by His Spirit.
When we suffer, Jesus says to us, ‘I have a gift to give you that is greater than the removal of your
suffering; it is even greater than removing your pain; it is greater than fixing your problems. I want to
give you the gift of my presence.’
当耶稣赐予我们祂的恩典时，祂在把⾃⼰赐予我们！上帝的恩典⾸先是⼀个⼈，就是耶稣这个
⼈。
当我们第⼀次回应耶稣时，上帝通过他的恩典宽恕我们，并且通过他的圣灵来住在我们⾥⾯。
当我们受苦时，耶稣对我们说：“我有⼀个礼物要赐给你，它⽐解除你的痛苦更伟⼤；甚⾄⽐
消除你的痛楚更伟⼤；它⽐解决你的问题更᯿要。我想要赐给你我的同在的礼物。”
I realise that our first response is ‘okay. Can you also bring the healing with that gift too…?!”
I get that. The power we want is the power seen in healing. Those mountain top experiences like Paul
had in his vision.
But, Paul discovers a different power that is connected to weakness, a power that rests on him.
Have another look at what he says here:
我意识到我们的第⼀反应是：“好的。你也能带着那个礼物⼀起带来医治吗…？！”
我理解。我们想要的能⼒就是在医治中所⻅到的⼒ᰁ。就像保罗在他的异象中所经历的⼭顶经
历。
但是，保罗发现了⼀种与软弱相连的不同的⼒ᰁ，⼀种在他身上安息的⼒ᰁ。
再来看看他在这⾥说了什么：
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may REST on
me.”/ 2 Corinthians 12:9
所以，我更喜欢夸耀⾃⼰的软弱，好使基督的能⼒覆庇我。 (哥林多后书12:9)
Do you know that word ‘rest’ is connected to?
It goes back to the tabernacle. During the wilderness years when the people of God had no
permanent hope, we read that God pitched his tent to reside with them. Wherever they went, He
was right there with them.
你知道这个词“覆庇”与什么有关吗？
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它与会幕有关。在旷ᰀ岁⽉⾥，当神的⼦⺠没有永恒的家园时，我们读到神⽀起了祂的帐幕与
他们同住。⽆论他们⾛到哪⾥，祂都与他们同在。
Paul realizes that Jesus is pitching his tent with him, residing with him amidst the weakness, amidst
the pain, even with the thorn.
Earlier in the passage, Paul shares about the remarkable mountain top experience – seeing heaven,
the place where God dwells. What Jesus wants Paul to realise is that He is setting up his residence
with Paul in the valley.
保罗意识到耶稣与他同住，与他同住在软弱中，同在痛苦中，甚⾄同在刺中。
在这段经⽂的前⾯，保罗分享了⼀个⾮凡的⼭顶经历——看到了天堂，神的居所。耶稣想要让
保罗意识到的是，祂正在⼭⾕⾥与保罗⼀同建⽴祂的住所。
Suddenly, everything flips upside down. Sure, Paul had been given a revelation of heaven. But he now
sees how heaven intersects with us - through human weakness. The first revelation brought him way
up high; the second, way down low. But it was this second revelation inverted his source of boasting.
Instead of building his identity on some areas of strength or experience, he builds it now on weakness
– on the very things which the world repels. Paul realises that hill top experiences aren’t just where
God’s power lies. Instead – it’s most seen amidst frailty…feebleness… pain.
As a result, Paul says he is able to delight in struggles. He even gives five categories of increasing
intensity of difficulty:
突然间，⼀切都颠倒了。确实，保罗曾获得了天堂的启示。但他现在看到了天堂如何与我们相
交——通过⼈的软弱。第⼀个启示将他抬得很⾼，⽽第⼆个启示则将他拉到了很低的地⽅。但
正是这第⼆个启示颠覆了他夸耀的源泉。他不再以某些领域的⼒ᰁ或经验为基础来建⽴⾃⼰的
身份，⽽是现在以软弱为基础——以世界所排斥的东⻄为基础。保罗意识到⼭顶经历不只是神
的⼒ᰁ所在。相反，神的⼒ᰁ最常出现在脆弱、软弱和痛苦之中。
结果，保罗说他能够在困难中得到喜乐。他甚⾄列出了五类不断增加难度的困难：
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong./ 2 Corinthians 12:10
为基督的缘故，我以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为可喜乐的事；因为我什么时候软弱，什
么时候就刚强了。(哥林多后书12:10)
(1) Weaknesses - that’s the sense of incapacities we face.
(2) Insults – that’s the mistreatment by others, whether with words or actions
(3) Hardships: the experiences that squeeze Paul, forcing him to uncomfortable limits
(4) Persecutions: the afflictions at the hands of hostile enemies
(5) Calamities: truly overwhelming experiences, devastating circumstances
(1) 软弱 - 这是我们所⾯对的⽆能感。
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(2) 凌辱 - 这是他⼈对我们的不当待遇，⽆论是⾔语还是⾏动上。
(3) 艰难：这些经历让保罗感到被挤压，将他推向不适的极限。
(4) 迫害：在敌对的敌⼈⼿中所受的痛苦。
(5) 困苦：真正令⼈不堪᯿负的经历，毁灭性的环境。
Paul says that he “delight in” or embraces them. This is a tone not of resignation but of eagerness.
Paul delights in weakness because it opens him up to heaven’s blessings and strength. His spiritual
power surges forward.
Paul now sees that his weakness is not an obstacle to fullness of life but the very gateway to
experience God’s sustaining strength. The thorn is a gift that channels divine power.
In other words, The gift that we never want, is what leads us to the gift we most desperately need.
保罗说他“喜乐”或拥抱这些困难。这并不是⼀种妥协的语⽓，⽽是⼀种热切的语⽓。保罗在软
弱中喜乐，因为它使他敞开⼼扉接受天堂的祝福和⼒ᰁ。他的属灵⼒ᰁ迸发出来。
保罗现在明⽩，他的软弱不是⽣命完全的障碍，⽽是体验上帝持续⼒ᰁ的⼊⼝。刺是引导神的
⼤能的礼物。
换句话说，我们从未想要的礼物，正是引领我们获得最迫切需要的礼物的途径。
Nobody wants the pain and struggle. But, if it leads us to the gift we most desperately need – God’s
presence, God’s love, God’s sustaining grace – Paul says - ‘I'll take it. I’ll accept it.’
Paul says that God’s power is not made perfect by removing your thorn; Instead, God’s power is
revealed in the heart of your struggle.
We often struggle to believe that when we’re experiencing hard things, don’t we? What we want is to
be fixed; what we want is to be better; what we want is to get through this season and into a better
season. But God says to us ‘my power is made perfect in your weakness.’
没有⼈希望经历痛苦和挣扎。但是，如果这将引领我们获得我们最迫切需要的礼物——上帝的
同在，上帝的爱，上帝的持续恩典——保罗说：“我会接受它。我会接受。”
保罗说，上帝的⼤能不是通过除去你的刺来完美展现的；相反，上帝的⼤能在你的挣扎的内⼼
显现出来。
我们在经历困难时，常常难以相信这⼀点，不是吗？我们想要的是被修复；我们想要的是变得
更好；我们想要的是度过这个苦难的季节，进⼊⼀个更好的季节。但上帝对我们说：“我的能
⼒在你的软弱中得以完美显现。”
Power doesn’t come once the battle is over, or once the storm passes. It comes right in the midst of
it.
What if Jesus is whispering to you today, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness. Will you let me show you? I realize it’s not the gift you ever want but it will lead you to
the gift you most desperately need.
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This is the paradox of the gospel. It is victory in the midst of defeat; it is honour in the midst of
shame; it is power in the midst of powerlessness; it is strength in the midst of weakness; it is rising in
the midst of dying. Death and resurrection go together in the gospel and they go together in our lives
to. It is in the midst of dying that we experience new life. As Paul says elsewhere, while our bodies are
outwardly wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. That is the promise of the gospel
and that is the sufficiency of God’s grace.
上帝的⼤能不是在战⽃结束或⻛暴过去后才出现的，它正处于其中。
如果耶稣今天对你低声⽿语：“我的恩典够你⽤，因为我的能⼒在软弱中得以完美显现。你愿
意让我向你展示吗？我知道这不是你想要的礼物，但它会引领你获得你最迫切需要的礼物。
这就是福⾳的悖论。它是在失败中的胜利；是在羞辱中的尊荣；是在⽆能中的⼤能；是在软弱
中的坚强；是在死亡中的复活。死亡和复活在福⾳中相辅相成，它们也在我们的⽣活中相互呼
应。在死亡的过程中，我们经历了新的⽣命。正如保罗在其他地⽅所说，虽然我们的身体在外
表上⽇渐衰退，但我们内在的⼈⽇复⼀⽇得以更新。这就是福⾳的承诺，也是上帝恩典的充
⾜。
So this is God’s invitation to you with the heavy burdens you are carrying today. God is inviting you to
discover the sufficiency of his grace. Even while that thorn is digging into your flesh, God invites you
to discover that his presence is more than enough for you. Because it is only in those moments of
darkness that we can truly discover just how deep God’s grace runs, just how good God truly is, just
how faithful he is, how kind he is, how present he is to us.
None of us want to suffer; none of us want to feel depressed, anxious, lonely, stressed, fatigued,
wounded and insecure. None of us want that. And God’s heart breaks for us when we experience
those things. But through our unwanted thorns God gives us an extraordinary gift.
所以，这是上帝对你所承受的沉᯿负担的邀请。上帝邀请你去发现他恩典的充⾜。即使那刺扎
进你的⾁体，上帝邀请你去发现祂的同在对你⽽⾔已经⾜够。因为只有在⿊暗的时刻，我们才
能真正发现上帝的恩典有多深，上帝是多么的良善，多么的忠实，多么的慈爱，祂是多么地与
我们同在。
我们没有⼈想要受苦；没有⼈想要感到沮丧、焦虑、孤独、压⼒、疲劳、受伤和不安全。没有
⼈希望如此。当我们经历这些困扰时，上帝的⼼也因我们⽽痛苦。但是，通过我们不想要的
刺，上帝赐予了我们⾮凡的礼物。
The gift that we never want, is what leads us to the gift we most desperately need.
我们从不想要的礼物，正是引导我们获得我们最迫切需要的礼物的途径。
The gift that we never want – the pain and thorns -- is what leads us to the gift we most desperately
need –
—his presence, his love, and his sustaining grace.
--
I realise this it takes a lot of time and space to grasp this. I don’t think Paul got it all immediately. I
don’t think we do either.
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I am finding four practices useful in my own life to help me realise that the gift that we never want, is
what leads us to the gift we most desperately need.
我们从不想要的礼物——痛苦和刺——正是引导我们获得我们最迫切需要的礼物——祂的同
在、祂的爱和祂持续的恩典的途径。
我意识到理解这⼀点需要很多时间和空间。我不认为保罗⼀开始就完全明⽩这⼀点。我认为我
们也没有。在我⾃⼰的⽣活中，我发现有四种做法对我有帮助，帮助我认识到我们从不想要的
礼物正是引导我们获得我们最迫切需要的礼物的途径。
These aren’t some steps to eradicate the pain. But, they are practices to help me move towards the
realisation Paul had amidst his pain.
这些不是消除痛苦的步骤，⽽是帮助我朝着保罗在痛苦中实现的领悟前进的实践⽅法。
1. A weekly practice of Sunday Services
Through this series we’re going to look at three questions that come out of this passage, and out of
our experience of our own thorns in the flesh.
Next week, we’ll look at the question,
‘Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?’ It’s the question that never goes away. We’ll look at the
mystery of unanswered prayer and what to do when we feel like God doesn’t hear us.
The week after - ‘how can I live with my pain?’ That is, how can I relate to God and wait on God in the
hard time I’m going through?’
Then, the final week - ‘how can I help others who are going through pain?’ That’s an important
question to focus us not just on our own struggles but on the struggles of others.
1. 每周参加主⽇崇拜的实践
在本系列中，我们将探讨这段经⽂以及我们⾃⼰⾁体上的刺的经历中所产⽣的三个问题。
下周，我们将探讨这个问题：“为什么上帝不回应我的祷告？” 这个问题永远存在。 我们将探讨
祷告未蒙应允的奥秘，以及当我们感觉上帝没有听到我们时该怎么做。
之后的⼀周，“我如何在痛苦中⽣活？” 也就是说，在我经历困难时，我如何与上帝相交并等候
上帝？
然后，最后⼀周 - “我如何帮助那些正在经历痛苦的⼈？” 这是⼀个᯿要的问题，让我们不仅关
注⾃⼰的挣扎，还要关注他⼈的挣扎。
2. A daily practice of reading the Bible
Throughout the stories of the Bible, you will find people cry out in the midst of every sort of suffering
imaginable.
Their stories give voice to ours. The words erupt with raw grief and anger, the sobs and questions of
real people in the throes of agony.
As I daily spend time in God’s Word, I find a better understanding of God’s presence in the pain.
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To help you in your own daily practice, we have a devotion that accompanies this series.
YOUVERSION APP/ SLIDE
• Download app on your device
• Or go to the website.
• You can choose to play the audio when you’re too sleepy to read or driving in the car
• Or, read it yourself each day.
2. 每⽇读经的实践
在整本圣经的故事中，你会发现⼈们在各种各样的苦难中呼喊。
他们的故事为我们发声。 这些经⽂中充满了原始的悲伤和愤怒，是真实的⼈在痛苦的折磨中发
出的哭泣和问题。
当我每天花时间阅读上帝的话语时，我会更好地理解上帝在痛苦中的同在。
为了帮助你进⾏每⽇的实践，我们准备了⼀份与本系列相关的灵修。
YOUVERSION 程序/ 幻灯⽚
• 在你的⼿机上下载该程序
• 或者前往该⽹站。
• 你可以选择在你感到困倦或在开⻋时播放⾳频
• 或者，每天⾃⼰阅读。
3. Joining a Connect Group
Our thorns can cause us to feel isolated, lonely, estranged, unknown, unloved.
But, we need others.
If you are experiencing pain – ask people around you to pray. Connect with one of our groups.
3. 参加⼀个联络⼩组
我们的刺可以让我们感到孤⽴、寂寞、疏远、不被了解、不被爱。
但是，我们需要其他⼈。
如果你正在经历痛苦 - 请让你周围的⼈为你祷告。加⼊我们的⼀个⼩组。
4. Praying and taking Communion
On your seats is a small card and a pen. We want to encourage you to write down your thorn/s.
Then, roll it up and in your own time place it on our symbolic wailing wall and take communion.
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Some of you have been to Jerusalem. If you have, I imagine you would have gone to the wailing wall.
Typically, people write a prayer and they roll it up and place it in one of the cracks. Think of this as our
symbolic wailing wall during this series. This will be a collection of our combined thorns and prayers.
4. 祷告和领受圣餐
在你们的座位上有⼀张⼩卡⽚和⼀⽀笔。我们⿎励你们写下你们的刺。
然后，把它卷起来，在你⾃⼰的时间放在我们象征性的哭墙上，并领受圣餐。
你们中有些⼈去过耶路撒冷。如果是这样，我想你们⼀定去过哭墙。通常，⼈们会写下祈祷
⽂，然后把它卷起来放在其中⼀个裂缝⾥。在这个系列期间，就把这个当作我们象征性的哭
墙。这将是我们的刺和祈祷的合集。
Then, once you have place your thorn/s on this wall, we want to invite you to come and take
communion.
If there are too many people by the wailing wall, place your cards at the end of the service.
As we take the bread and cup, we remember another who suffered.
He too found himself crying out to His Father in heaven to remove it.
He too cried out three times.
Like Paul, He too didn’t receive the answer he wanted.
He was despised, rejected, crushed, oppressed, and afflicted.
A crown of thorns was placed on his head.
He went through all of that in order to be bring his power and presence to your life and mine.
然后，⼀旦你把你的刺放在这⾯墙上，我们想邀请你前来领受圣餐。
如果在哭墙那⾥⼈太多，你可以在崇拜结束时将你的卡⽚放在那⾥。
当我们分别领受饼和杯的时候，我们会想起另⼀位曾经受难的⼈。
祂也曾呼喊天上的⽗神，求祂除去这⼀切。
祂也呼喊了三次。
像保罗⼀样，祂也没有得到祂所期望的答案。
祂受到了蔑视、拒绝、压碎、压迫和痛苦。
祂头上戴着带刺的冠冕。
祂经历了这⼀切，是为了将祂的⼤能和同在带到你我的⽣命中
