Summary: No one likes to fail, but we all do. We examine the story of Peter and draw 5 steps for getting back on track if you’ve failed. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

For a CD of over 100 of sermons by Darrell Stetler II (most complete with handouts), please e-mail darrellstetler2@sbcglobal.net.

What to Do if You’ve Failed God

Everybody has failed at one time or another:

Firemen who came to rescue a cat. Woman was so grateful, she invited them all in for cookies and milk. When it was over, they backed down the driveway, waving their goodbyes. . . and ran over the cat.

Today, I want to tell you the story of one of the best-known failures in history.

Everyone has failed God at one time or another. Failing God after becoming a Christian is often called “Backsliding.”

You know that feeling of “No, THIS time I’m really SERIOUS about following Jesus!!! I’ll never fail again!” And then you know the feeling when you’ve flopped once more?

So the question you might be asking yourself is “HOW can I really get back on track?”

1. Realize where you went wrong.

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." (Mark 14:72)

This may seem simple, but it’s the first step. Many people never recover from failure, because they don’t want to admit that failure has happened.

Peter remembered what Jesus had said. He realized what he had done, and knew it wasn’t right.

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you: what you did wasn’t wrong.

2. Truly be sorry for your failure. “So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:62)

Peter had the right reaction.

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you: It was wrong, but it’s no big deal.

3. Realize that God still loves you. "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." (Mark 16:7)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you: God doesn’t love you any more.

4. Make a new commitment to follow Jesus.

And when Jesus had spoken this, He said to [Peter], "Follow Me.". . . Peter, seeing John, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"

Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." (John 21:19,21-22)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you: It’s no use trying again.

5. Take new ground spiritually.

“Wait for the promise of the Father. . .” (Acts 1:4)

GETTING THE AIR OUT

In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principle like this:

“Tell me,” he said to his audience, “how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?”

One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.”

But Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter it.”

Finally after many suggestions, he picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing Christ to take full possession. -Contributed by: Ritch Grimes on sermoncentral.com

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. . . For if you do these things, you will never fall.” (1 Peter 1:5-7,10)

Here’s the guy who failed . . . one of the most obvious, well-known, painful failures in history. And he is here to tell you how to keep it from happening to you!

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you: “You’ll never be spiritually strong.”

If you’ve failed, it’s not time to quit. It’s time to get that failure behind you, then step up and take your spiritual life to a new level.

A children’s story tells about an old goat who fell down a well. They couldn’t get the goat (who was still alive) out, so they decided to simply fill the well in. They began to shovel dirt down the well. They got almost to the top, and suddenly, the goat jumped out of the well. The goat had simply stayed on top of the dirt as they shoveled it down. The moral of the story: When you get dirt on you, shake it off, and step up.

Running the wrong way.

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby. If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. the coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn’t move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second." Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man’s tears. "Coach," he said, "I can’t do it to save my life. I’ve ruined you, I’ve ruined the University of California, I’ve ruined myself. I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life." Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel’s shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

Haddon W. Robinson, "Christian Medical Society Journal."

If you have failed, and you feel like you’re sitting at halftime with

your head in your hands, there is a great Coach, Jesus, who is leaning over you.

And he’s saying, “The game is only half over. . . go on back out there!”

Do you need to take these steps?

* Do you need to realize where you’ve gone wrong?

* Do you need to be truly sorry for it?

* Do you need to recognize today that God still loves you?

* Do you need to make a fresh commitment to follow Jesus?

* Do you need to make brand new progress spiritually to prevent failing in the same area again?

______________________

HANDOUT

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What to Do If You’ve Failed God

Series: How to Follow Jesus

The story of Peter gives us a well-known example of spiritual failure.

* Jesus had changed Peter’s life.

* Peter had seen & heard so much – miracles, teaching. . .

* Peter claimed that he would never deny Jesus.

* Peter did deny Jesus, cursed and swore that he had never known him.

Everyone has failed God at one time or another. This is often called _________________.

The bottom line: Failure isn’t ___________ with the ___________.

How can you get back on top after failure?

1. Realize _____________________________.

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." (Mark 14:72)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you:

“What you did ___________________.”

2. Truly be _________________________.

“So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:62)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you:

“It was wrong, but it’s ____________________.”

3. Realize that God _______________________.

"But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." (Mark 16:7)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you:

“God doesn’t __________________________.”

4. Make a new commitment _______________________.

And when Jesus had spoken this, He said to [Peter], "Follow Me...” Peter, seeing John, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"

Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." (John 21:19,21-22)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you:

“It’s no ______________________________.”

5. Take new ground _________________.

“Wait for the promise of the Father. . .” (Acts 1:4)

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. . . For if you do these things, you will never fall.” (1 Peter 1:5-7,10)

If you fail, Satan will try to tell you:

“You’ll never be ____________________________.”