Seasons Change: Seasons of Failure
Pastor Marc Bullion
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NIV
“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.” John 21:1-8 NIV
Facts about failure:
- We all experience failure
- Having a failure doesn’t make you one
- We often have the wrong perspective of what is truly success and failure
The faces of failure: Disappointments, Discouragements, Dissatisfactions
In a season of failure I need to:
- Repent and return to faithfulness
God’s definition of success is faithfulness
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NIV
- Fail forward
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10 NIV
“Success is built upon a mountain of failure.” Unknown
- Learn the lessons He wants you to learn and let failure grow you closer to Him
- Press on in God’s power
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” Philippians 3:13 NIV
- When the disciples obeyed His command they caught more fish than they could manage
- Jesus used this experience to show Peter what impact he could have if he learned to be faithful and rely on Him
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41 NIV