i. to make us understand that there will be some challenging times in our lives as Christians and
ii. to help us learn how to better overcome the challenges.
Challenges are inevitable; they come and go from time to time. Christ told us that in the world we would have tribulations. In our text, Apostle Paul makes us understand that he too was never immune to challenges and difficulties of life (2 Cor.12:7). Though there are different levels and forms of physical challenges such as: retrenchment, economic and financial crisis, health challenges, infidelity of spouse; accommodation problem, fraudulent partners in business etc. like Paul, we should not be distracted, instead we should move on by faith.
1. Enumerate and explain common challenges faced by Christians in both our society and country at large.
2. What should be our attitude to challenges of life? 2Cor. 12:8; I Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6
3. How should these challenges enhance our faith in the Lord as we prepare for the second coming of Christ? Rom. 8:31 - 39.
4.What lessons are there for us to learn from Ps. 30:5 and Ps. 126:5; Isa. 55: 8 – 9; 2Cor. 12:9a?
As Christians, we are not immune against challenges of life, but the good news is; the Lord is always with us in whatever we are passing through. It is therefore our responsibility to call unto him whenever we are faced with any of these challenges, for the grace and enablement to overcome.
Tough times never last but tough people do
Psalm 30:5 "For his anger endures but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping mayendure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning2".