The Ballestero Blog

Finding God In Your Failures

1. 24:16 for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:

• Life is not over after the falling down; life is all about the getting back up.
• We all need help, just need it in different areas.
• We all can come from a setback to a comeback.
• There is life after “death.”

My Failure Shows Me…

1. My failure shows me that no one is exempt, not even me.
2. My failure warns me there are things I need to immediately change in my life.
3. My failure reminds me that my flesh is my biggest enemy.
4. My failure can help me see what I need to fix to find God’s favor again.
5. My failure is not my final chapter.

Why Do People Fail?   (Sometimes It’s A Combination Of Things.)

1. A limited obedience of God’s word?
2. A carless attitude toward temptation?
3. A pursuit of personal fleshly gratification?
4. A failure to put God first?
5. Blatant disobedience?

The Phases Of Failure

1. The Reaction Phase

• Shock – I can’t believe I did it.
• Denial – Won’t admit full guilt. Blames others.
• Blame Others – Like Adam blamed Eve.
• Withdrawal – Hide in the bushes of shame, like Adam and Eve.
• Fear – Of more failure
• Anger – Mad at self, mad at own weaknesses.
• Shame – Can’t face anyone.
• Depression – I’m hopeless, I’ll never amount to anything.
• Despair – I guess I’ll just give up. No use. It’s over!
  

2. The Response Phase

• Flight Response – Leave church, move away. (Quit church)
• Faith Response – Have a desire and determination to be restored.

 Repentance – Restoration

• God will give you a space to repent
• God will give you an opportunity to repent (Spirit drawn)
• If God has given up on you – He wouldn’t be reaching for you with a message even right now.

Don’t Give Up On Yourself!

Luke Chapter 15

• The Good Shepherd – Type of Christ. He never gave up. He sought until He found the one lost sheep.
• Lost Coin – Type of the Church – never gave up – swept until she found the lost coin.
• Prodigal Son. Never gave up on the Father or himself. Came home.

What God Knows About My Failure

1. God knows we’ll all fail.
2. He knows we are flesh.
3. He is ready to forgive a repentant sinner.
4. His blood is ready to cover all of our transgressions.
5. The Holy Ghost is prepared to renew and transform us.
6. He sees beyond our failure.

Lessons I Should Learn From My Failure

• There are no little sins.
• Prayers of repentance change everything.
• When we fail, God will forgive if we repent.
• If we do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
• God can bring good out of the bad.

Failure Focus

• Looks at the problem as a hopeless one.
• Looks at the future with great fear.
• Sees the only obstacles.
• Assumes the worst.
• Limits God’s ability to restore them fully.

Faith focus

• Looks for a solution
• Looks past the fear, never loses hope.
• Sees the opportunity to recover and grasps it.
• Assumes the best.
• Believes God will.

Getting Past Your Failures

2 Timothy 2:25 in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if god peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2 Timothy 2:26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

• Really pray through.
• Ask God to help you and deliver you.
• Recognize the desire and spirit that caused your error.
• Admit your sin.
• Humble yourself.
• Clear yourself with others.
• Clear yourself with God.
• Submit yourself to the Word of God.
• Submit to the man of God.
• Learn from your mistakes.
• Be faithful.
• Accept God’s forgiveness
• Ask God for guidance.
• Get back up.

Why Does God Go Through The Trouble To Restore You?

1. There Is A Reason God Has Dealt This Long With You.
2. There Is A Reason – He Has Put Up With Your Failures.
3. There Is A Reason – He Sends Conviction And Sermons.
4. He’s Not Done With You!

Some Biblical Heroes Weren’t Perfect. We’re Not Either.

(Saying this doesn’t excuse our sin or give us permission to sin.)

1. Abraham Lied
2. Moses Got Mad
3. David Was Immoral
4. Peter Denied Jesus

It Was In Failure These People Found God.

• The Woman Taken In Adultery
• Thief On The Cross

1. I’m Not Interested In What You Did, But…
2. I Am Interested In What You Are Going To Do Now.
3. So Get Up, Get Restored And Go On. You Can Do It.
4. There Is Hope For You!

Life Is Not Over After The Falling Down; Life Is All About The Getting Back Up.