Blessed Adversity 蒙福的災禍 伯 Job 1-2; 42:1-6; 罗 Rom 8:28-29; 5:1-5; 彼前 1 Peter 1:6-7; 腓 Phil 4:4-7; 3:7-11

Read (請讀): 約伯 Job 1:1-2:13; 42:1-6

Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7 (約伯記) Ephesians 6:12-17 (以弗所書) I. Our warfare is against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. 我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰，乃是與那些執政的，掌權的，管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰‧ Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7 (約伯記) Ephesians 6:12-17 (以弗所書)

II. We measure God’s blessing and faith by what we get— And Satan challenges God for it. 我们用所得到的東西來衡量神的祝福及肯定我们對神的信心— 撒但要為此對神提出挑战. (伯 Job 1:8-11) Satan mocks God for believers’ faith/condition Like crying babies, always ask and beg Unbelievers, like Satan, see us as self-centered, trying to gain advantage with the help of “God.” We use God, but we serve idols (money, pride, pleasure, power). We rely on these idols (or “blessings”) God is the furthest thing from our mind when we have other things to rely on (e.g., big savings account, big houses, beauty, health)

Satan’s challenge to God: 撒但對神的挑戰: (伯 Job 1:8-11) God, Job is so good and loves You so much… because you’ve given him a whole lot of everything. In fact, everything he has asked of you. He is rich, he has love, heirs, respect, health, …anything, You name it! If you take away his worldly blessings and his health, he will curse you, and he will turn bad!

Adversity and suffering are best means to test one’s faith. III. Untested faith is unreliable faith. 沒試驗過的信心是不可靠的信心. (伯 Job 1-42; 1:8-11; 彼前 1 Pet 1:6-7) Adversity and suffering are best means to test one’s faith. 災禍與患難是信心最好的試金石.

IV. Great worldly blessing can be the worst obstacle to faith Replace God with idols or give God the leftover: Wealth Love Family Health Position Power Reputation Social Status

V. Job’s Faith Was Tested 約伯的信心被試驗 Losing all “blessings” (失去所有的” 祝福”) Losing health (失去健康) Losing wife’s support (失去妻子的支持) Challenged by best friends (被好友挑战懷疑) Getting to the lowest of lows (陷入最低情況)

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. 賞賜的是耶和華，收取的 也是耶和華‧ 伯 Job 1:21 The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. 賞賜的是耶和華，收取的 也是耶和華‧

我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回‧賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華‧耶和華的名是應當稱頌的‧ Job 1:21 (約伯記) “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” 我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回‧賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華‧耶和華的名是應當稱頌的‧

Job 2:9-10 (約伯記) 9His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. 9他的妻子對他說，你仍然持守你的純正麼‧你棄掉神，死了吧‧10約伯卻對她說，你說話像愚頑的婦人一樣‧噯，難道我們從神手裡得福，不也受禍麼‧在這一切的事上約伯並不以口犯罪‧

罗 Rom 5:3-5 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 3不但如此，就是在患難中，也是歡歡喜喜的‧因為知道患難生忍耐‧4忍耐生老練‧老練生盼望‧5盼望不至於羞恥，因為所賜給我們的聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裡‧

彼前 1 Peter 1:6-7 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 6因此，你們是大有喜樂，但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁‧7叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗，仍然能壞的金子，更顯寶貴‧可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候，得著稱讚，榮耀，尊貴‧

我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處 . 羅 Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處 .

腓 Philippians 3:7-11 伯 Job 42:5-6 VI. The greatest treasure for a believer is to really know God. 一個基督徒所能擁有的最大的宝貝 乃是真正的認識神. 腓 Philippians 3:7-11 伯 Job 42:5-6

Job 42:5-6 (約伯記) 5”我從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你‧ 6 因此我厭惡自己，在塵土和爐灰中懊悔‧” 5“My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. 6Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” 5”我從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你‧ 6 因此我厭惡自己，在塵土和爐灰中懊悔‧”

腓 Phil 3:7-8 7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. 7只是我先前以為與我有益的，我現在因基督都當作有損的‧8不但如此，我也將萬事當作有損的，因我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶‧我為他已經丟棄萬事，看作糞土，為要得著基督‧

你們要先求他的國和他的義, 這些東西都要加給你們了. Matt 6:33 (馬太) “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 你們要先求他的國和他的義, 這些東西都要加給你們了.

31既是這樣，還有什麼說的呢‧神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢‧32神既不愛惜自己的兒子為我們眾人捨了，豈不也把萬物和祂一同白白的賜給我們麼‧ 羅 Rom 8:31-32 31If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 31既是這樣，還有什麼說的呢‧神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢‧32神既不愛惜自己的兒子為我們眾人捨了，豈不也把萬物和祂一同白白的賜給我們麼‧

12這樣，耶和華後來賜福給約伯比先前更多‧他有一萬四千羊，六千駱駝，一千對牛，一千母驢‧13他也有七個兒子，三個女兒‧ 伯 Job 42:12-13 12The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 12這樣，耶和華後來賜福給約伯比先前更多‧他有一萬四千羊，六千駱駝，一千對牛，一千母驢‧13他也有七個兒子，三個女兒‧

Ultimately, we all have to be face to face with God, alone Imagine there is… No Possession No Health No Family No Friends

VII. Personal Response 個人回应 (腓 Phil 4:6-7) 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 6應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告，祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神‧7神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保守你們的心懷意念‧