The Ballestero Blog

The Fail Factor

Prov. 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Even good people make mistakes!

It’s Not About Falling Down – It’s About Getting Back Up

1. We all need help; we just need it in different areas.
2. We’ve all had failures, some small, some not so small.
3. We ALL can come from a “setback” to a “comeback”.

DEF. Webster: What Is Failure?

1. The condition of not achieving the desired end or ends.
2. Being found insufficient.
3. Falling short.

Two Things Will Happen When You Fail.

1. Recover, Draw Closer To God
2. Feel Hopeless And Give Up.
   1. Think you can’t live it,
   2. Think you can’t be saved.
   3. Give up!
   4. Quit
   5. Run from God

Prodigal Son

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Five Facts About Failure:

No One Is Exempt – We All Make Mistakes

Failure Warns Me There Are Things I Need To Change

• Thoughts
• Habits
• Friends (Ye did run well, WHO did hinder you)
• Actions
• Activities
• Job
• Church Attendance
• Personal Devotions

Failure Can Help Me Find God.

Failure Most Likely Removed Most Of My Pride,

• Arrogance.

• Need To Humbly Seek His Face.

Failure Reminds Me That My Own Flesh Is my Biggest Enemy

I Recognize My Weakness

• Anger

• Lusts

Failure Is Not The Final Chapter

Missionary on the field today – Backslid 14 times as a young person!

Don’t Plan for Failure, Plan For Recovery!

Why Do People Fail?

1. A Conditional Commitment To Jesus Christ?
2. A Limited Obedience To God’s Word?
3. A Careless Attitude Toward Temptation?
4. A Failure To Put First Things First?
5. (Maybe a combination of reasons.)

The Phases Of Failure

The Reaction Phase

1. Shock – I can’t believe it.
2. Denial – Won’t admit blame.
3. Blame – Adam/Eve
4. Withdrawal – Hide in bushes
5. Fear – Of more failure
6. Anger – Mad at self, at own weakness.
7. Shame – I can’t face anyone, I let everybody down.
8. Depression – I’m hopeless, I’ll never amount to anything
9. Despair – No use! Guess I’ll just give up!

The Response Phase Is Crucial…

What Are You Going To Do?

The Flight Response

• Don’t run from God.
• If God had given up on you, He wouldn’t bother reaching for you or dealing with your heart. He wouldn’t waste a sermon on you.

The Repentance Response

Don’t Ever Give Up.

Luke 15:

The Shepherd (The Good Shepherd) Sought until he found the lost sheep. God hasn’t given up on you.

Woman With 10 Pieces Of Silver: (The Church) Lit a candle and swept until she found the coin. Thank God the Church doesn’t give up on you.

Prodigal Son didn’t give up on himself. He came to himself and came back home.

God Knows About Human Failure.

God knows we will fail. “He knoweth our frame.”

He’s ready to forgive.

He sees beyond our failure.

Failure:

1. Made us pray.
2. Made us humble.
3. Made us try harder.
4. Made us cautious.
5. Made us thankful for His Mercy.
6. Made us appreciate the power of the Blood.
7. Drew us closer to the cross.

I Pray That None Of My Readers Ever Fail.

But if you do sin, you have an Advocate (A Defense Attorney)

1John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

If There Was No Hope. Why Would We Be Given A Defense Attorney?

Rom. 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Why Would Jesus Make Intercession For Us If There Is No Hope?

THERE IS HOPE!!

Like the story of the prodigal son and his father, you’re not that far from home when:

1. When you start getting hungry
2. When your pride gets out of the way
3. When your thoughts turn towards home
4. When you come to yourself
5. When you get up
6. When you start coming home
7. When the Father is watching for you
8. When the Father runs to meet you
9. When you humble yourself
10. When you say you’re sorry
11. When you wrap your arms around each other

You’re not that far from home. Come on home! Your failure is not what’s important now. What is important is that you’re heading home!