Finding Meaning In Our Lives

Finding Meaning In Our Lives

Preacher Huijun - 10 December 2015

Jesus Calms The Storm

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?" - (Mark 4:35-41) Often, we find ourselves asking God the same question - God, don't you care if I am upset, if I have enough money, if others bully me, if my loved ones leave me? If you do care, why are you not helping me? " Like the disciples, after seeing the miracles Jesus had performed, it is easy for us to forget that God still loves us and He is in control when storms attack (unrest/ unexpected turbulence) us in life. When the storm becomes so overwhelming yet God does not release us from the circumstances, we may feel that God really does not care and He is harsh to us! Indeed, God does not remove us from our discomfort, inconvenience, and problems at times. But the greater truth is, like this story, Jesus is in the same boat as us! He is omnipotent and most importantly, He cares! Satan is always giving us a lopsided perspective about God and ourselves in storms, so that we will be seeing things from Satan's side instead of looking to Jesus and trusting in His unfailing love and sovereignty, Satan wants to weaken our faith so that we will no longer desire God in our lives. Storm in inevitable, for Satan exists. But the greater truth is, God is with us even during the storms, and it is by trusting in the whole character of Jesus (instead of the byproducts of storms - our feelings and analysis) that we can be soar above the storm. Lets muster our faith and pray to God to have mercy in us during the storm, and trust not our fear and feelings which only make us dwell on the problems, not Jesus.

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* The quest for significance (meaning) is built into our humanness.

* Man is created with lasting and higher meaning as image bearers of God.

* Meaninglessness actually leads to boredom, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency and even suicide.

* Sociologist Durkheim – Greatest number of suicides are caused by anomie, something rendered by meaninglessness. (Anomic suicide takes place when somebody has no goal or purpose in life, or if he has an unattainable goal in his life)

* Quality of church teaching has to increase to truly give meaning to the inner soul.

 

Verses to Read: <Ecclesiastes 2:1-11>

  • Sigmund Freud – Man has the will to pleasure
  • Alfred Adler – Man has the will to power
  • Word of God – Man has the will to meaning

 

Solomon couldn’t find meaning through his heart

* Our fallen hearts can only tell us there is no meaning. 

* Only God’s truth points us to where true meaning lies.

 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

<Ecclesiastes 12:13-14>. 

 

God’s Commandments and Judgment

* Commandments – What we are created for?

* Judgment – What we are ultimately destined for?

① Commandment of Reigning <Gen 1:28>

② Commandment of Obedience <Gen 2:16-17>

 

The Fall

* Continue to reign, yet in disobedience

* Mankind will destroy each other eventually

 

Restoration of “true meaning” through Christ

1) Dignity and worth as God’s image bearer – Do His will

2) Eternity

3) Morality

4) Call to excellence

 

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Pastor Vincent Choo
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Vincent serves as the President of The Blessed Run Church. He is also the Senior Pastor of The Life Church and Missions (Singapore) and is an ardent missionary to the Chinese World. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, Qiufen, and has three kids, Mary, David, and Caleb.

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