What’s To Be Done About
FAILED Christians?
Consider some of the “great failures”…
Jimmy Swaggert Joel Osteen
Oral Roberts Robert Schuler
Creflo Dollar Mother Theresa etc…
All of these preachers (and many more) are considered failures by either the world, the church or by God.
You and I, also, have failed (and we will fail again)!
-we have broken promises we made to God.
-we have done wicked things on purpose.
-we have NOT served God when we SHOULD have!!
I have good news today for all of us that have failed.
God began to restore us even before we failed!
God’s purpose in letting us fail is to do marvelous things for us!!
Of course… we have to clarify terms.
To a natural (religious) man, failure means:
-no one makes a decision for Christ.
-church attendance is down.
-offerings are down.
-church morality is down.
To a spiritual (Christian) man, failure means:
-no one is born again (receives the Holy Spirit).
-people are not seeking God.
-people are not serving God.
-people do not hate sin.
WHAT does FAILURE mean to God?
As Christians, we have access to the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD!
-the Righteousness of God describes the actions of GOD to
resolve problems and to minister to the people.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
When a situation is handled in such a way that God does not move, that is a FAILURE in the eyes of God!
-if it is not of faith, it is a FAILURE!
Romans 14:17-23 whatsoever is not of faith is sin…
Now, we all know that believing a Doctrine or a Scripture or simply believing something is so is not Faith…
FAITH is being confident that God is going to move!!
FAITH is trusting God with a situation!
Let’s consider some famous Failures in the Scriptures:
Job 1:1-5 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
The righteousness of Job was demonstrated in his sacrifices. He offered those continually to protect him and his family from the things that he “greatly feared”.
Job 3:25-26 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
Sadly, the righteousness of man (Job) is as filthy rags before God:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
When Job prayed for his friends, God moved!
Job 42:10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah):
Daniel 3:12-15 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Now they had already refused to worship the golden image. Their righteousness is certainly a good thing, but does anyone get saved? Does anyone believe?
Nebuchadnezzar gave them the Death Penalty!
Let’s see what happens when they trust God to deal with their situation;
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Nebuchadnezar has the furnace turned EVEN HOTTER (Daniel 3:20-23)!
Now that God has permission to do His will (without violating anyone’s free will)…
Daniel 3:26-30 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchednezar decreed that no one speak against almighty God!
That’s the Righteousness of God!!
Consider Daniel:
Daniel’s enemies persuaded the King to sign a decree making any petitions to God or man (except Darius) punishable by death in the den of lions…
Daniel 6:10-11 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Of course, everyone admires the righteousness of Daniel…
Darius had to give his friend Daniel the Death Penalty.
In Hebrews 11:33 we find that Daniel through faith “stopped the mouths of lions”.
What happened then?
Daniel 6:20-22 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths!
This is the Righteousness of God!!
Look at how the King responded to God revealing Himself:
Daniel 6:25-27 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Darius sure learned how to preach!!
Consider the Apostle Paul:
We know Paul as a man of Faith. A man who loves God and serves Him from the heart. And that is true…
But Paul had a problem with self-exaltation (pride). To protect Paul’s ministry from failure, God sent a thorn in the flesh to help him. Paul’s flesh didn’t appreciate it…
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(God’s Grace = God moving on Man’s behalf)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
What about us??
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Can’t we be like Job?
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
We have failed in many ways and now we feel useless to God.
We feel we have ruined God’s ministry in us.
We feel like we should just fade away and let everyone forget about us.
We think that God’s promises to us just DIDN’T WORK OUT…
The TRUTH is that God let you fall so that He can raise you UP.
It is God’s desire that you WIN SOULS.
That the POWER of God will be obvious in your life.
That the JOY of the Lord will be in you!
And when people see God doing great things in your life and ministry, they will KNOW that it is JESUS CHRIST and His HOLY SPIRIT that is moving!
Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
WE are flesh and weak and not very bright…
What we need,
What our ministries need,
What our families need,
What our churches need…
That the power of Christ should rest upon us!!!
Let’s give our lives to Him anew and wait for His Salvation, His Visitation and His Glory!!
FAILED Christians?
Consider some of the “great failures”…
Jimmy Swaggert Joel Osteen
Oral Roberts Robert Schuler
Creflo Dollar Mother Theresa etc…
All of these preachers (and many more) are considered failures by either the world, the church or by God.
You and I, also, have failed (and we will fail again)!
-we have broken promises we made to God.
-we have done wicked things on purpose.
-we have NOT served God when we SHOULD have!!
I have good news today for all of us that have failed.
God began to restore us even before we failed!
God’s purpose in letting us fail is to do marvelous things for us!!
Of course… we have to clarify terms.
To a natural (religious) man, failure means:
-no one makes a decision for Christ.
-church attendance is down.
-offerings are down.
-church morality is down.
To a spiritual (Christian) man, failure means:
-no one is born again (receives the Holy Spirit).
-people are not seeking God.
-people are not serving God.
-people do not hate sin.
WHAT does FAILURE mean to God?
As Christians, we have access to the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD!
-the Righteousness of God describes the actions of GOD to
resolve problems and to minister to the people.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
When a situation is handled in such a way that God does not move, that is a FAILURE in the eyes of God!
-if it is not of faith, it is a FAILURE!
Romans 14:17-23 whatsoever is not of faith is sin…
Now, we all know that believing a Doctrine or a Scripture or simply believing something is so is not Faith…
FAITH is being confident that God is going to move!!
FAITH is trusting God with a situation!
Let’s consider some famous Failures in the Scriptures:
Job 1:1-5 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
The righteousness of Job was demonstrated in his sacrifices. He offered those continually to protect him and his family from the things that he “greatly feared”.
Job 3:25-26 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
Sadly, the righteousness of man (Job) is as filthy rags before God:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
When Job prayed for his friends, God moved!
Job 42:10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah):
Daniel 3:12-15 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Now they had already refused to worship the golden image. Their righteousness is certainly a good thing, but does anyone get saved? Does anyone believe?
Nebuchadnezzar gave them the Death Penalty!
Let’s see what happens when they trust God to deal with their situation;
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Nebuchadnezar has the furnace turned EVEN HOTTER (Daniel 3:20-23)!
Now that God has permission to do His will (without violating anyone’s free will)…
Daniel 3:26-30 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchednezar decreed that no one speak against almighty God!
That’s the Righteousness of God!!
Consider Daniel:
Daniel’s enemies persuaded the King to sign a decree making any petitions to God or man (except Darius) punishable by death in the den of lions…
Daniel 6:10-11 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Of course, everyone admires the righteousness of Daniel…
Darius had to give his friend Daniel the Death Penalty.
In Hebrews 11:33 we find that Daniel through faith “stopped the mouths of lions”.
What happened then?
Daniel 6:20-22 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths!
This is the Righteousness of God!!
Look at how the King responded to God revealing Himself:
Daniel 6:25-27 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Darius sure learned how to preach!!
Consider the Apostle Paul:
We know Paul as a man of Faith. A man who loves God and serves Him from the heart. And that is true…
But Paul had a problem with self-exaltation (pride). To protect Paul’s ministry from failure, God sent a thorn in the flesh to help him. Paul’s flesh didn’t appreciate it…
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(God’s Grace = God moving on Man’s behalf)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
What about us??
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Can’t we be like Job?
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
We have failed in many ways and now we feel useless to God.
We feel we have ruined God’s ministry in us.
We feel like we should just fade away and let everyone forget about us.
We think that God’s promises to us just DIDN’T WORK OUT…
The TRUTH is that God let you fall so that He can raise you UP.
It is God’s desire that you WIN SOULS.
That the POWER of God will be obvious in your life.
That the JOY of the Lord will be in you!
And when people see God doing great things in your life and ministry, they will KNOW that it is JESUS CHRIST and His HOLY SPIRIT that is moving!
Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
WE are flesh and weak and not very bright…
What we need,
What our ministries need,
What our families need,
What our churches need…
That the power of Christ should rest upon us!!!
Let’s give our lives to Him anew and wait for His Salvation, His Visitation and His Glory!!
Photo used under Creative Commons from D'oh Boy
