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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
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Triumph over Failure - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Overcoming the Failure of Others - Jeanie Woolf
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New Life COTR Sunday September 16, 2007
OVERCOMING THE FAILURE OF OTHERS
KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT WHERE IT ENDS. WITH GOD, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE TO BE A NEW BEGINNING.
Isaiah 43:18, 19(NIV) - “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
God can and will make A WAY out of the failure and give a new beginning.
1. To overcome the failure of others you must be willing to give it all to God.
Psalm 91:15-He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
In trouble= the failure of someone who hurt you.
You don’t get over the hurt by denying the hurt. You must decide to accept the fact someone failed you but you do not want to live there the rest of your life.
Matthew 11:28-Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
God has not failed you; Man has failed you. If you blame God you are bringing God down to man’s level.
The Bible says “God is love, and love never fails” therefore God cannot fail you.
Transition; when you run to God and He comforts you and then He shows you THE WAY to your new beginning.
2. PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD
Isaiah 40:31- but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 25:3- No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.
Psalm 42:5- Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
When someone fails you it is easy to stay focused on yourself and as long as you do that you will never get beyond the situation. Put your focus on God, He is your light at the end of the tunnel.
With God you will find comfort, hope and even joy again!
3. YOU MUST FORGIVE
Matthew 18: 21-22- “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven.
Matthew 6:14-15-“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Be not deceived into thinking you have not sinned. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Read Matthew 18:23-35
Our sins against Christ are so much more than anything anyone could ever do to us. Christ died on the cross for our sins. Even as He hung on the cross He cried out “Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing.”
Christ was able to look beyond the moment and forgive for eternity.
4. DON’T RELIVE THE FAILURE
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Continually reliving the hurt will hinder the race God has put before you. It will keep you focused on self when the scripture tell us to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Psalm 103:11-12 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Remember this is all about forgiving the person who failed you God’s way.
If we forgive someone to this extent it would be impossible for us to continually bring their sins back up.
5. BEGIN YOUR NEW DAY
Philippians 3: 13-14 “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Wake up each morning ready to start the day with a fresh outlook on life.
If you are having a struggle with someone else’s failure or even your own failure look at Luke 18:27 and stand on that verse.
Luke 18:27 “What is impossible with men is possible with God”
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Overcoming Failure - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
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New Life COTR Sunday September 9, 2007
FALLING FORWARD
“Overcoming Failure”
INTRODUCTION: Today we begin a new series titled “FALLING FORWARD.” From time to time in the ministry I’m reminded of what God has done in my own personal life and marriage. He has brought me from a place of failure to where I’m at today.
Failure is not something we like to talk about or experience. But it does happen from time to time. But the testimony that Jeanie and I have is that YOU CAN OVERCOME FAILURE!
In the Bible we read many stories about people who failed yet God still used them. With God you can OVERCOME FAILURE.
Matthew 26:75- “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Acts 2:38,41- “Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
WITH GOD YOU CAN OVERCOME FAILURE AND FULFILL THE PLAN OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE AND LIVE OUT YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITION: Today we’re going to look at the life of a man many of know as King David.
David was a man who was hand-picked by God to be the next King of Israel after King Saul.
Psalm 78:70,71- “He chose David His servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep He brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.”
The Bible says that David was “a man after God’s own heart.”
Yet in 2Samuel 11&12 the Bible tells us of a failure in the life of King David. (SHARE THE STORY)
Nathan the Prophet holds David accountable for his sins. David acknowledges his sin.
In Psalm 51 we read the prayer of repentance David offered to God after Nathan confronted David.
From this passage we learn seven steps to OVERCOMING FAILURE AND FALLING FORWARD.
Psalm 51- Turn and Read
TRANSITION: If you’re going to overcome failure and fall forward you must (and this first step is the most important. None of the others really work until you get this down.)
I. UNDERSTAND GOD’S LOVE
Psalm 51:1
David appealed to the love of God.
Romans 5:8- “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
If you’re going to overcome failure and fall forward you must understand that God loves you!
1John 3:1- “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God…..”
Romans 8:37-39- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
To overcome failure you must understand that God love’s you!
II. TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAILURE
Psalm 51:2-4
Notice that David never blamed Bathsheba. He took personal responsibility for his failure.
When I know God loves me I can take personal responsibility for my failure.
I can never overcome my failure as long as I blame others for my failure.
This past Wednesday we talked about King Saul and how God removed him from being King. Saul never overcame his failure. NOTICE THE FOLLOWING VERSES.
1Samuel 15:15- “Saul answered, The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”
1Samuel 15:24- “Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions, I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.”
OVERCOME FAILURE: Understand God loves you and take personal responsibility for your failure.
III. ASK FOR FORGIVENESS
Psalm 51:7-9
When you know God loves you, you can ask for forgiveness.
When you take personal responsibility for your failure you can ask for forgiveness.
1John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Understand the love of God. Take personal responsibility for your failure and ask God for forgiveness.
IV. TURN FROM YOUR SIN
Psalm 51:10
To overcome failure and fall forward you must turn from your sin.
2Chronicles 7:14- “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Isaiah 55:7- “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
Romans 6:1- “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
When you turn from your sin you can OVERCOME FAILURE!
V. ASK GOD TO RESTORE THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION
If you’re going to overcome failure and fall forward your life needs to be filled with the joy of your salvation. WHY?
When there’s joy in your salvation there’s no guilt and shame or condemnation because of your failure.
It’s as if it never happened.
TRANSITION: With God you can fall forward and overcome your failure.
Understand God loves you. Take personal responsibility for your failure. Ask God to forgive you. Turn from your sin and ask God to restore the joy of your salvation.
One more important step.
VI. GO AND TELL
Psalm 51:13
When you experience God’s love and overcome your failures you can’t help but tell others and help them overcome their failures.
When you really know God’s love you know His love is for the world!
John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
CONCLUSION: David failed big time! But he overcame his failure and remained the King of Israel.
With God you can fall forward!
1. Understand God loves you.
2. Take personal responsibility for your sin
3. Ask God to forgive you
4. Turn from you sin.
5. Ask God to restore the joy of your salvation
6. Go and tell
OVERCOME FAILURE!
