Sermon Summary: Unshakeable Faith by Mark Loga
The following is a written summary of a sermon initially delivered by Mark Loga.
How do we be unshakeable during tough times?
This year has taught that life is incredibly very fragile.
It seems to be that life is just a series of trials and hardships.
These trials and hardships always tend to shake us.
There are two ways of going about this.
Constantly be anxious, occupy a sense of constant worry.
“Those who are trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but abides forever”.
Our goal shouldn’t be to stop the waves, but rather stay afloat and “just keep swimming”. Keep your head above the water!
God isn’t the cause of the issues but rather the solution.
Whatever happens around us is not random but happens in the palm of God’s hands.
Would you rather control your life or let God take the reins?
Often we question why God allows things to happen, why would He take away someone so young? Why would He let innocent lives be lost to the rash decisions of drunk drivers? Why would He allow a single mother to develop cancer? Etc.
Often when we see God as all powerful, we fear Him.
However, we shouldn’t fear God’s power but rather learn to love the sweetness of it, which is His goodness.
Psalm 145 - “The Lord is good to all”.
Truly understanding the goodness of God is powerful.
1. Our job is to trust that God is good, not to judge Him based on our definition of what we think is good.
“We ask and entreat to your goodness.”
“My Lord, Jesus Christ, my good Saviour.”
“I am the good Saviour.”
The word “good” is not easy to define, but it can still be detected and recognised.
Our human definition of “good” is subjective, self-serving and short-sighted.
Eg. “It’s good when I get a distinction”, “It’s good when I get the job”.
“It’s not good when I fail my test”, “It’s not good when my car breaks down”
All these scenarios are self-serving, constantly referring to “I” and “me”.
However, what we think is not good for us, may be beneficial for someone else. A car breakdown may be a hassle to you, but it helps run the business of the mechanic.
Our understanding of “good” today might not be the same tomorrow. (i.e. we are short-sighted).
Mark 10:18 - “No one is good but One, that is God”.
God is good and if He is present, then good is present.
Just like darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good and thus, the absence of God.
God doesn’t need to meet our definition of good, because ours is always lacking. In fact, God always surpasses our definition.
2. “God’s goodness is always working for my perfection and His glory”.
We are made in His image and likeness of God and in our path to fulfil that, we glorify God.
Our perfection will glorify God, because what God wants for us will end up glorifying Him.
Everything that God allows to happen in our life is for our perfection and His glory.
3. Joyfully accept and embrace whatever God sends.
You don’t have to like something to accept it.
The challenge is to change our bitter acceptance, and instead confide in God.
If God permits something, and He is sovereign, then we should trust Him.
When you do this, you understand that there is truly goodness behind all things that happen.
Are we able to admit that we don’t know what’s good, or that we are wrong? Maybe what we thought was good today, won’t be tomorrow. Maybe that job is good for someone else? Are we able to trust that God is in control?
In the story of Adam and Eve, the fall of humanity was derived from one decision - the decision that man apparently knew what was good. Eve thought she knew what is good for her, despite what God had defined was good.
4. We need to trust in the goodness of the Giver, despite what you see in the gift.
We need to let go of our opinion of what we think is good as humans, and trust in the will of God.
Romans 8:28 - “All things work together for the good of those who love Him.”
Doesn’t mean that all things are good with regard to our human mind.
Putting it into practice: take that leap of trust! Understand who God is (sovereign, good).
It’s like a trust fall.
1. Know that a person will be there to catch you (know that God has those qualities).
2. Actually fall (trust in God).
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
We see God’s goodness in other people — God gives us those people to learn a lesson from. Often this occurs in the service, where our service is a collection of the little fruits that we sow in others.
Don’t be lukewarm! Stay hot by having God’s love burn within you.
“THERE ARE ALWAYS UNCERTAINTIES AHEAD, BUT ONE CERTAINTY - GOD’S WILL IS GOOD.” - Vernon Paterson
