Triumph over Failure - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life Church on the Rock Sunday September 23, 2007
Falling Forward
TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE

1Samuel 17:50- “So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”
Many know the story of David and Goliath. Goliath being the giant Philistine that the above scripture speaks about.
Before David arrived on the scene Goliath was intimidating the armies of Israel and causing them to run and hide.
1Samuel 17:11, 24- “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in fear.”
FAILURE CAN DO TO US WHAT THIS GIANT WAS DOING TO THE ARMY OF ISRAEL THAT DAY.
Look at the following two scriptures and what failure did to Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:9,10- “But the Lord God called to the man, Where are you? He answered, I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
Failure had caused them to run and hide, even from God because they were afraid.
Going back to the story of David and Goliath we read that David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone.
TRANSITION: Today I want to give you the “SLING” and “STONE” you can “TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE” with.
We’re going to look at the life of Peter. Many of us know that Peter failed Jesus big time. For those who might not be familiar with it let’s go and read.
Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75- Turn and Read
Peter blew it. He failed God big time!
NOW AFTER THREE DAYS PETER HEARS THAT JESUS IS ALIVE! NOW THINK ABOUT IT. PUT YOURSELF IN PETER’S SHOES.
Mark 16:6,7- “Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as He told you.”
Why was Peter singled out here? Why was Peter not mentioned as just one of the disciples. Now remember you’ve got to put yourself in Peter’s shoes.
Luke 24:11,12- “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
What was Peter thinking when he went away? What is Jesus going to do to me? What is our relationship going to be like now? Are we going to have a relationship? Am I still one of His disciples? Will He ever trust me again? Am I going to be a failure the rest of my life?
TRANSITION: In John 21 we’re going to read about an encounter between Jesus and Peter that’s going to answer these questions.
John 21:1-19 Turn and Read
In these scriptures we’re going to find the sling and the stone that Peter used to TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE.
*****The most encouraging thing to me about this story is that Jesus showed up where they were at*********
****When you experience failure God is going to show up where your at****
This leads to the first step to TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE!

I. HEAR GOD’S VOICE
Even in the midst of failure God is speaking to you. God has a Word for you.
When God shows up and speaks to you it’s not the voice of condemnation!
John 3:17- “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Romans 8:1- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
The voice of God is a voice of restoration. God is the God of another chance. If you’re going to TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE you need to hear the voice of God.
Listen to the VOICE OF GOD in the following scripture.
Galatians 6:1- “Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…”
TRANSITION: When Peter heard the VOICE OF GOD the next step followed

II. REMEMBER THE VOICE OF GOD
Now again we have to put ourselves in Peter’s shoes. What were the emotions and thoughts he was experiencing?
What was Jesus there to do? Punish him or what.
But this is what I think happened at this point in time. PETER REMEMBERED WHAT JESUS HAD SPOKEN TO HIM BEFORE HE FAILED.
Luke 22:31,32- “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter remembered that Jesus told him that even in your failure I’M PRAYING FOR YOU.”
When Jesus shows in the midst of your failure not only do you need to hear His voice but you need to remember the things He’s spoke to you in the past.
THINGS LIKE:
Romans 8:33-35- “Who will bring any charge against those God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:37- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
1John 2:1,2- “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ the righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
REMEMBER THE VOICE OF GOD!
TRANSITION: When your hear the voice of God and remember the voice of God then you will

III. PURSUE THE VOICE OF GOD
Jesus showed up where Peter was at now it was time for Peter to PURSUE JESUS.
This is important if you’re going to TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE! Peter ran to Jesus not from Jesus.
Isaiah 55:6- “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on him while He is near.”
That day Jesus was near Peter it was time to pursue.
Acts 17:27- “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though He is not far from each one of us.”
Peter pursued Jesus because he knew Jesus still loved him and had a plan for his life.
TRANSITION: But to fully TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE you need to

IV. OBEY GOD’S VOICE
Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Well if you do “Feed my sheep.”
Peter, don’t just hear my voice but OBEY MY VOICE!
To TRIUMPH OVER FAILURE you must submit once again to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.
God has a Word for you today and that Word is “GO AND DO.” Obey my voice and you can be TRIUMPHANT OVER FAILURE.”
The voice of God is saying “GET BACK IN THE GAME.”
TRANSITION: When you hear the voice of God and remember the voice of God and pursue Him and Obey His voice

V. YOU BECOME GOD’S VOICE TO THE WORLD
Acts 2:14- “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
In that crowd may have been some of those who heard Peter deny Jesus.
Acts 2:41- “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
PETER HAD TRIUMPHED OVER FAILURE!
CONCLUSION: Just as David had defeated the giant with a sling and a stone, Peter defeated the giant of failure.
He heard the voice of God, remembered the voice of God, pursued the voice of God, Obeyed the voice of God and then became the voice of God.
Let’s pray