Overcoming Failure

Two Kentucky horse racing stable owners had developed a keen rivalry. Each spring they both entered a horse in a local steeplechase. One of them thought that having a professional rider might give his horse an edge in the race, so he hired a hot-shot jockey. Well, the day of the race finally came, and as usual, their two horses were leading the race right down to the last fence. But that final fence was too much for both of the horses. Both of them fell, and both riders were thrown. But that didn’t stop the professional jockey. He remounted quickly and easily won the race.When he got back to the stable, he found the horse owner fuming with rage. He really didn’t understand his behavior, because he had won the race. So the jockey asked, “What’s the matter with you? I won the race, didn’t I?”The red-faced owner nodded, “Oh, yes, you won the race. But you won it on the wrong horse!”(From 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, by Michael Hodgin, p. 148.)That jockey had the best of intentions. He intended to win the race. But he became distracted from the task. He made a bad decision. And, ultimately, he failed in what he was trying to do.You know, often times we wind up doing the same thing in our walk with Jesus. We start out strong. We have the best of intentions. We are excited, and we want to succeed in the faith. We have a desire to be faithful followers of our Savior. Yet, so often, we become distracted from the faith. We allow the wrong influences in our lives. We experience a challenge or a setback. We make a bad decision. We experience the spiritual failure of allowing sin into our lives, and our relationship with Jesus suffers.

Have you ever felt like a failure? Have you ever had the best intentions and couldn’t follow through on them? Have you ever let someone down that you loved very much? Have you ever eliminated yourself from ministry because you felt that your past mistakes and sin prevent you from serving the Lord?

In today’s blog we will encounter a man who had gone through some incredible emotional and spiritual battles at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.
This disciple could have answered “yes” to all of my previous questions.

Just a little background on the main character of our story. He was a fisherman by trade. Was called, along with many others to follow Christ. His brother Andrew was the one that lead him to Jesus. He was from Galilee and Galileans had a reputation for being independent and full of energy. They were frank and transparent.
This disciple and John went into the city to prepare a place for Jesus to feast with the disciples. He was there, nearby, in the garden of Gethsemane, where he witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, and later the wrestling of the Lord in prayer. When the mob came to arrest Jesus, it was this man who cut off the ear of Malchus. In the moments that followed He was accused by a young girl of being a disciple. He denied it. He was asked a second time, and for the second time he denied being a disciple of Jesus. Later, one of the high priests servants, a relative of the man whose ear he had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” Again he denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Peter’s heart sank. Jesus prediction of his denial came true. The Bible tells us that Peter “wept bitterly”.

Fast forward a couple of days. Peter’s probably down in the pits of despair. His master was dead and Peters stand for Christ had been nothing short of cowardly. It’s the morning of the resurrection. Some of the ladies had gone to the tomb, found it empty. They had an encounter with two men that gleamed like lightning and said “He is not here, He has risen!” They went to the eleven disciples and told them of what had happened. Luke 24:11-12 (NIV) 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 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.

Let’s pick up the story in John 21. After Jesus had appeared a couple of times to His disciples, Peter says, “I’m going’ fishing”. “We’ll go with you” the other 6 who where there, said. Fishing is not going to well until this man yells from shore and tells them to throw out the net to the other side of the boat. They caught so many fish they couldn’t hall them all into the boat. When the disciples recognized it was Jesus, Peter jumps in the water and swims 100 yards to shore where Jesus is.

Jesus offers them breakfast. When they were finished, Jesus said something to Peter. This is the key.

John 21:15-17 (NIV) 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
“Do you truly love me?”
The most important question that Peter ever faced was whether he possessed a devoted love for his lord.

I find it interesting that for every time Peter denied Jesus; 3, Jesus asked him a question “Do you love me”. 3 times Peter answered, “I love you”.

Jesus was desiring to restore Peter back to fellowship with himself and back to fulfilling the purpose for Peter’s life.

What can we learn from some of the last words of Jesus?
1. We learn what Jesus thinks of people that feel like they have failed God.
When you fall, get back up. Rediscover your purpose.

Think of the Prodigal Son, Jim Baker & Billy Graham’s son, Franklin; all of them where wonderfully restored to God.

No matter how gross your past may be, Jesus stands not only ready to forgive, but also to restore. He can restore you and use you for His glory. Some of the best preachers I’ve heard have been at one time some of the worst sinners, but God washed them and restored them. Even if you are a bona fide failure, Jesus stands ready to restore you and use you for great things for His kingdom. If we are going to be restored then we must be honest about our spiritual condition. Some of you here today are not “fine” in your faith. You lack commitment to Jesus and to His Church. So the first thing you need to do is to admit that. Admit that your relationship with Christ is not what it should be and then allow Christ and His church to bring you up to the point where you need to be.