Freedom From Failure

Luke 5:1-5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And they saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.“We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.

Everyone of you have fought the battle of failure. There are many different kinds of failure. Not all failure is sin. Nobody wants to be a failure. And nobody has to be a failure.

There is a difference between experiencing failure and learning from failure, even in suffering from failure, and actually being a failure. Everyone fails from time to time and hopefully we all learn from experiences of failures, but here is an important distinction. Remember it well.

I. To Fail Does Not Mean You Are A Failure

The devil would like for you to believe that every time you make a mistake, every time you stumble, every time you fail that you, yourself are a failure.

Life is more than a few happenings. No one is a total failure and no one has to fall all the time.

Satan turns the magnifying glass upon our own mistakes and failures and wants us to believe that our failures make us a failure. The devil likes blowing our failures out of proportion and he likes having us believe that we are no good.

The bible says

“My little children, sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus prays for us.

Luke 22:31-32 says:

¶And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

On the heels of every failure, you can look for Satan. Chiding, Sneering, Jeering, Blaming, Shaming, Condemning, Mocking, Accusing, and Lying. Pretending to be your friend, he tries to convince you that because you have failed you are a failure.

II. Failure Is Not A Disgrace

You may think it is. Others may think it is. The devil wants you to believe it is.

Romans 3:23 “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Failure is not a disgrace, or at least it doesn't have to be.

Illustration: Boxing Champion James J. Corbett. When asked “What's the most important thing for a person to do to become the champion of the world.” Corbett replied “Fight one more round.”

Illustration: Walt Disney's rejected application to the Kansas City Star for a job as an artist. The editor sent him away, urging him to give up his idea.

The first time George Gershwin played the piano in public, they laughed him off the stage. Anybody who knows any thing about american composers knows about the music he wrote. Lullaby, Blue Monday and Rhapsody in Blue are among some of his masterpieces.

Michael Jorden was cut from his high school basketball team.

Jesus looked like a failure for a few days.

Failure is not a disgrace. It's always too soon to give up. God is not dead. He is still alive. With God all things are possible. He wants to lift us up above our circumstances, above our failures, above our mistakes, above our shortcomings and set our feet on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ!

III. No One Is A Failure Who Tries

The only thing worse than a quitter is the fellow who is afraid to begin. I would rather attempt something great and fall than to attempt nothing and succeed. Achieving low aims, low goals, can be a greater failure than aiming for a higher target and missing.

Phillipians 3:14 says “I press toward the high mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul did not say I will coast toward the mark.

IV. Failure Is Not For Ever

Failure need never be final. You don't need to throw in the towel. The ball game isn't over until the last man is out.

Illustration: Cardinals 2011 season-David Freese.

There is always room for you to overcome and succeed.