FAILING YOUR WAY FORWARD

Psalm 73:24-26 You will guide me with Your counsel, And

afterward receive me to glory. (25) Whom have I in heaven but

You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. (26) My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

WHO IS IT?Age 22 – he failed in businessAge 23 – he ran for legislature and was defeatedAge 24 – he failed again in businessAge 26 – his sweetheart diedAge 27 – he had a nervous breakdownAge 29 – he was defeated for speakerAge 31 – he was defeated for electorAge 34 – he was defeated for CongressAge 37 – he was elected to CongressAge 39 – he was defeated for CongressAge 46 – he was defeated for SenateAge 47 – he was defeated for vice presidentAge 49 – he was defeated for SenateAge 51 – he was elected president of the United States

This is the record of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout his life

he suffered many more defeats than victories, but

because he never gave up he won the highest office of the

land.

FAILING?A. Thomas Edison on failures on creating a

nickel-iron battery – His colleague said, ‘Isn’t it a shame that with the tremendous amount of work you have done you haven’t been able to get any results?’ Edison turned on me like a flash, and with a smile replied: ‘Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results! I know several thousand things that won’t work.’

B. DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL - The key to success is…

1. to not give up in the face of failure, 2. to keep going in the midst of adversity,3. and to be patient and continue growing.

I. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE UP THEN DON’T

GROW WEARY!

I. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE UP THEN DON’T GROW WEARY!

A. Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

B. The battle is not to lose heart. 1.Keep your heart full of faith and love. 2.Don’t be discouraged and quit. 3.If you do not quit – you will succeed!

II. IF YOU WANT TO

MOVE UP BE PATIENT

II. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE UP BE PATIENTA. James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the

coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

B. Being patient means you are willing to keep doing what you need to do regardless of circumstances or how you feel.

C. God’s Word calls us to be patient till the Lord returns and straightens everything out.

D. Notice what we are to do while we wait—–establish our hearts! Yes, let God change our hearts while we wait, then the wait is not wasted.

III. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE UP, REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN ENDURING AND PATIENTLY

ENDURING

III. PATIENTLY ENDURINGA. Hebrews 6:13-15 For when God made a promise to

Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, (14) saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." (15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

B. All of us have to endure things. C. But the key is to patiently endure.

1. This means that you are not becoming bitter, a grumbler and complainer, you do not choose to go into sin because your breakthrough has not come.

2. You position yourself on the promise of God and you keep doing the right things patiently waiting of God to take care of the rest.

D. Think of what patient endurance looks like.

III. PATIENTLY ENDURINGE. Are you patiently or impatiently enduring

your circumstances?1. Too often we choose to endure our

adversities the wrong way. 2. You will become bitter or better, depending

on choosing to endure versus patiently endure.

3. Remember patience is a fruit of the Spirit, so be led by the Spirit.

4. Submit your life to the Lord and follow Him faithfully with your heart in the right place.

5. Keeping your head and heart in the right place will cause you to end up in the right place and the right time to obtain the promise.

FAILING YOUR WAY FORWARD?A. The Bible is filled with people who failed their way

forward. 1. They refused to quit. 2. They got back up and kept trusting God through

their own personal failures, through the mistreatments, the persecution, the back sets.

3. They kept going!B. The promise arrives, the breakthrough comes, the

prayer is answered, victory is secured —– when we refuse to quit, keep doing the right things, and trust that our loving God will bring to pass what He was promised.

C. Are you willing to fail, attempting to do the will of God? D. Are you willing to fail forward?

HAVE FORWARD MOVING WEEK