FAILURE IS NOT AN ENEMY

FAILURE IS NOT AN ENEMY

Text: Matthew 26:69-75
Memory verse:
”Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.“ Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
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Do you know that Bill Gate, the CEO of Microsoft Corporation, was a Harvard University dropout? He co-owned a business called Traf-O-Data, which was a true failure. This is to tell you that failure doesn’t define you as a failure until you refuse to look beyond that failure. Failure comes with great potential for success, but that will only happen if you are well prepared for it and you respond properly. While we celebrate success, we do it so much that we miss the lessons of failure.
Let’s also consider apostle Peter. He had such an impressive resume. He was among the three inner circles of Jesus. He was the only disciple who walked on the water. He was the first to call Jesus the Christ and Son of God. As great as his resume, so was his fall! Jesus predicted his denial of Him, but Peter proudly rebuffed Him (Matt. 26:34-35). As Jesus predicted, Peter denied Him three times that night, cursing his accusers the third time. Thereafter, he realized his failure and wept bitterly! Yes, his failure appeared unpardonable, especially having been forewarned. But did that terminate God’s plan for his life? Not at all. Rather, Peter became the first of the twelve that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. Jesus restored him in a touching moment on the Sea of Galilee. He became the leader of the disciples. He preached the first and most heart-touching message after Jesus’ ascension with over three thousand converts. Great failure became a great success!
You see, failure, though not a word we want to hear, it is not an enemy. David quipped, “When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study your laws.” (Psa 119:71 CEV). Failure does good when it humbles and corrects you. It’s not a loss but a gain. You learn from it, you change and grow. Great success grows out of the soil of adversity. People who see failure as an enemy avoid failure like a plague and refuse to try anything. They are usually captives to those who embrace failure, and they take orders from them.
Friends, may your scar become your star in the eyes of your mockers, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me never see failure as an enemy but help me to draw the good in it, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, let my failure become my fortune and my scar, my star, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I don’t see failure as the opposite of success but part of success.
2. I will learn, change, and grow as long as I don’t see failure as an enemy.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng