Psalm 25: 1-3, 20; Isaiah 61: 7; 54: 4-8
David completed his course and served the purpose of God in his generation (Acts 13: 36) even though his life was not perfect. There were many incidences in his life in which he could have been called a failure, yet he still went on to fulfill God's purpose and was called a man after God's heart. David's example shows us that God, while not condoning sin and irresponsibility, does factor in our mistakes, failures, and short-comings. He probably makes more allowances for us than we do. "He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust" (Psalm 103: 8-14). Therefore, He extends great mercy and abundant grace to those who sincerely desire and seek to do His will.

There are examples in the Bible of people who seriously failed in God's service, but generally these failures are indicative of heart problems rather than competency issues. King Saul is an example. He was disqualified and removed from the throne, not because he lacked skill at being a king, but because he did not have a heart to obey the Lord (Acts 13: 22; 1 Cor. 9: 27). He failed in his obedience and faith, and he refused to surrender to the will of God. The issue comes back to the heart. A person who is rebellious at heart will fail and then use his failure as an excuse to further disobey. A person with a heart after God may stumble but will get back up and persevere in his attempt to please God and do His will.

God is the ultimate judge of success and failure. In one phase of ministry I felt I was riding a graceful and beautiful thoroughbred. In another phase I felt I was riding a bucking bronco, tossed and thrown. A third situation felt like sitting on an old sway-back, gray mule who could barely stand up. The first seemed a success, the second a partial success and a partial failure, while the third started off slow and then gradually tapered off—basically it failed. But things are not always as they seem. Man and God do not always esteem things the same, and the mysteries of His will are not always known to us. Therefore, in all circumstances, we should endure and hold to Jesus in faith. We should do our best and let God be the judge. Sometimes we succeed in God's plan while failing in our own, while at other times we fail in our own while succeeding in His. What we think is failure may not be failure at all, and, even when the failure is real, God is able to work redemptively and turn our shame into double honor.

Why failure is an important topic:
1. Because of the fall of man and the consequent infirmity of the flesh, all mankind is prone to fall short and fail. Christians need to understand the grace and mercy of God.
2. Man's weakness causes him to be vulnerable to the enemy's accusations and to
self-condemnation.
3. The complexities of life and the mysteries of God's sovereign wisdom are such
that man cannot always properly interpret his lot and situation.
4. Apparent failure should be no reason to quit or be disillusioned in the pursuit of God's purpose.
5. We must learn to handle both success and failure in a godly manner, for we can
be deceived by both. Things are not always what they seem.


Ecclesiastes 10: 1 "...So a little folly outweighs wisdom"
Our failures often make a bigger “splash” than our successes. People will often forget all the good a man has done and judge him based on the one mistake or failure in his life. Many contemporary men of God who have done great works and accomplished very significant things for God will be remembered primarily for the sin that was discovered in their lives. A man's folly is more entertaining to the public than his wisdom. His sins will be trumpeted much louder than his accomplishments, especially if they follow his accomplishments. The enemy takes advantage of our sins and failures in order to produce shame and despair, and ultimately to make us quit.

FEELING UNWORTHY
Zechariah 3: 1-7; Romans 7: 24
Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He accuses us to ourselves in order to weaken our faith through condemnation. He accuses us to others to destroy relationships through strife. He accuses us to God as a prosecuting attorney pointing out our sins in order to turn God against us on legal grounds. He often succeeds in accusing us to ourselves and in accusing us to one another.

The experience of Romans 7 (the infirmity of our flesh and our propensity to sin) makes us vulnerable to guilt and accusation. However, Romans 8 brings us out of condemnation, and the work of the cross disarms the enemy's accusatory assault against us before God (Colossians 2: 11-16). The work of the cross makes the enemy powerless. Zechariah 3 shows the futility of the enemy's efforts in this area. When he charges us with sin and failure, God simply says, "Jesus bore the sin, the penalty has been paid, and I have chosen them. They have been tried in the fire. My sovereign choice stands."

Zechariah 3 should be very encouraging to us because it reveals the enemy's helplessness before the blood of Christ and the sovereignty of God. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. God has chosen us and that settles it. He washes us, disciplines us, and gives us clean robes. How great is His abundant grace and steadfast love to His children!
A student who had confessed to sexual immorality was asked to stand before her Christian high school to express her repentance. Word of her situation had spread around school and everyone knew about the sin; therefore, it was necessary that they also be informed of her repentance. She stood before the assembled students and told of her failure and how she had turned back to the Lord. The Holy Spirit began to touch people, and teachers as well as students began to weep throughout the auditorium. Afterwards many came up in tears asking for prayer and confessing their own sins and need for help. The Lord had forgiven her and enabled her to be a blessing to many others. God is able to turn our shame and remove our reproach.

We are able to strengthen others when we turn to the Lord in our weaknesses and failures. Those who have never failed tend to be proud and critical and are often judgmental and condemning of others. Those who know their own frame (Psalm 103: 13-15) and who have seen their own “feet of clay” are more prone to compassion and mercy toward others.

Luke 7: 36-48
Like the woman "who was a sinner" we should turn our sin into true repentance, deep love, sincere gratitude, faithful service, and a faithful
testimony.