Power Point - March 18, 2005
March 18, 2005
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
-1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
Failure can be a jarring and devastating experience. But, we don’t have to be overcome by our failures. Take in this scenario—the life history of a man who lived in the nineteenth century:
In 1831, he failed in business. In 1832, he was defeated for the legislature. In 1833, he failed in business again. In 1835, his sweetheart died. In 1836, he suffered a nervous breakdown. In 1838, he was defeated for Speaker. In 1840, he was defeated for Elector from his state. In 1848, he was defeated for Congress. In 1855, he was defeated for Senate. In 1856, he was defeated for Vice President. In 1858, he was defeated once again for Senate. And in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States.
Failure is never final. Jesus said to Simon Peter, “You’re my main guy. Satan desires to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.” But, Peter denied Jesus three times when he was on trial before the Sanhedrin.
This was the same man who just a night or two before had said, “Though everybody else denies You, Lord, not me! I’ll die for You.”
Jesus will not prevent conflict or failure in our lives. But, He has promised, just as He did to Simon Peter, that no true believer will ever experience final defeat. Jesus knows that falling down doesn’t mean we have to stay down. Being knocked down doesn’t mean we have to be knocked out. There is always another chance!
Simon Peter failed miserably, but he got up off the canvas when Christ restored him and he came back as the powerful preacher at Pentecost and the leader of the first century church. Don’t let pride, self-sufficiency, and arrogance set you up for failure. Ask God to be there to pick you up, dust you off, and put you back on the road to righteousness after a fall.
FAILURE IS NEVER FINAL WHEN YOU
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
