The Gospel Truths About Failure
2Samuel 11,12
February 16, 2020 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Micah 7:8)
A. Christians have the opportunity to do something impossible…
B. To Get back Up and Press On even though we fail God, and fall while trying to do the right things
C. Everyone fails in life
1. Walt Disney’s first cartoon production company went bankrupt.
2. Sylvester Stallone was thrown out of 14 schools in 11 years. His professors at the University of Miami discouraged him from a career in acting. Said he couldn’t act.
3. Elvis Presley’s music teacher in Secondary School gave him a C grade and told him he couldn’t sing.
4. Dr. Seuss’s first book was rejected by 27 publishers and Seuss considered burning the manuscript. The eventual publisher sold six million copies. And to this day, the company sells 11,000 of his children’s books every day of the year.
5. Thomas Edison early on was fired from one of his first jobs working in a telegraph office after one of his experiments exploded.
6. Thomas Edison tried more than 2,000 experiments before he was able to get his light bulb to work.
7. Albert Einstein didn’t start speaking until he was 9 years old.
8. During it first year as a company, Coca-Cola only sold 400 bottles of Coke.
9. During his first 3 years in the automobile business, Henry Ford went bankrupt TWICE.
10. Winston Churchill had a stuttering problem as a child. He later became one of the world’s most respected public speakers.
11. Ludwig von Beethoven was deaf when he wrote some of his best music. Most people wouldn’t think a deaf person could succeed in music.
12. In his first 20 years of business, Tom Monaghan went broke twice, lost control of his pizza company, and was sued for trademark violations. Later on that pizza company went on to become Domino’s pizza.
D. Yet, failure has a way of:
1. Darkening Christians – no light coming from their lives anymore
2. Depressing Christians – Failure is the cause of much depression in Christianity – and it shouldn’t be!
3. Hardening Christians
4. Ultimately Ruining Christians
E. That is not right!
1. There are too many failed Christian lives who quit getting back up – like a battlefield filled with a defeated army
2. Yet according to the Bible, we are said to be greater than conquerors (Romans 8:37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
3. And we all have a secret ability to get back up and keep going!
II. Background
A. Do you know what most people worry about failing at?
1. Making friends and being popular
2. Their looks – finding a spot on their face, or having a stammer, or a lisp
3. At sports abilities
B. But none of those matter – and we all know it
C. Seven Big Areas We All Fail In
1. Marriage
a. Who has a perfect marriage?
b. Now, who wants to tell the TRUTH???
c. If you are married for very long, you will feel like a failure
d. Or your spouse may sometimes remind you of all your failures
e. Or your spouse may up and leave you for someone else
f. And you will for the rest of your life feel like a failure!
2. Raising our Children
a. We all fail here
b. Christian parents are raising sinful children who go their own way just like we all did
c. And as we watch them make decisions, we cringe and shudder and weep
d. Feel like failures
3. Our Career Choices
a. How many of you set out on a career path, only be become very discouraged or frustrated or disappointed?
b. Never make the kind of money we thought we would
c. So many people went to college, and did not end up doing what they trained for
d. Hate their jobs
e. Feel like failures
4. Our Worship and our relationship with God
a. Feel like failures around other Christians
b. Don’t pray like we should
c. Don’t even know how to pray
d. Haven’t read any of the Bible in weeks
e. Feel like a failure trying to sing in church
f. Feel like God is glaring at us
5. Our Friendships
a. Let people down
b. Fewer and fewer real friends
6. Our Finances
a. Don’t know how to manage our money
b. Get into debt all the time
c. Never have money to do anything that we want
7. And No Purpose in Life
a. Just seem to go around the “merry-go-round” of work, eat, sleep, pay bills, work, eat, sleep, pay bills, work, eat, sleep, pay bills…
b. Never won a soul to faith in Christ
c. Never read your Bible all the way through
d. Never did anything hard for God that was just out of love and appreciation for HIS faithfulness and love towards you!
e. Feel like a failure as a Christian
D. There are reasons behind all of those failures
1. Like mainly because of our Pride – thinking we won’t fall, or give in to temptations
2. Wrong expectations – of ourselves and of other people
3. Confusion about what is right and wrong
4. Lack of planning and preparation to stay the course
5. And most of all, Wrong Perspectives about life and troubles
6. I will get into those things in another message
E. Not Everything is a Failure
1. Doing God’s will usually looks like a failure, but it is NOT
2. Waiting for the right person to marry – makes you look like a failure to those who get guys or girls every weekend
3. Quitting your job and pastoring a church will be seen as a failure to your co-workers
4. Homeschooling will be constantly judged as a failure
5. There is more to this thought… and I will show you it another day
F. Let’s just focus on one person who failed in huge ways, and yet did not stay a failure
III. Message
A. King David
1. One of the most highly revered and important characters in the Bible.
a. He triumphed over a lion, a bear and a giant named Goliath.
b. Not because he was super strong, or super smart
c. But because he had great and confident faith in the God of Abraham
d. God used David to lead Israel through very difficult times.
e. And blessed David with victory after victory against all his enemies
2. But even though he was a godly man, David had a history of falling far short of what God saved him to be. In fact, David broke HALF of the 10 commandments in just one short incident with Bathsheba...
a. He coveted his neighbour’s wife (2 Samuel 11:2,3) – Bathsheba and Urijah lived just down the road from David – David could see into their home!
b. He committed adultery with Bathsheba (1 Samuel 11:4)
c. And stole another man’s wife (2 Samuel 12:9) – inviting her alone over to his home, and into his bedroom
d. He lied about it (2 Samuel 11:7-8, 12-13)
e. And he murdered Urijah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:17; 12:9) to try to cover it up
3. Beyond the sins with Bathsheba, the Bible records as many as a dozen times when David fell from doing what God said to do
a. Failed when he forgot to bring the Ark into Jerusalem the right way – cost Uzzah’s life (1Chron 13:9,10)
b. Failed his first marriage with Michal – walked away from her one day in anger and never came back
c. Failed as the leader of his 600 men – lost the city of Ziglag and almost lost his family and all the families of those 600 men
d. Failed as a parent of almost every one of his children (2 Sam 13:14-29)
e. Failed as king when he in pride wanted to number all the men for war when there was no war happening – thousands died because of his failure (1 Chronicles 21:1-17)
4. Even though his sins were many, he seemed to do the impossible – he got back right with God, and God forgave him every sin.
5. God turned that F from FAILURE to FORGIVEN
6. And that made it possible for David to press on.
a. Listen to David’s last Words… (2Samuel 23:1-5)
1) 2Sam 23:1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2) 2Sam 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
3) 2Sam 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
4) 2Sam 23:4 And he [THE KING] shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; [AND HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE] as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
5) 2Sam 23:5 Although my house be not so with God [IT IS NOT FULL OF LIGHT AND LIFE]; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
b. Did you notice that last part?
1) God made a promise to ME – an eternal promise that He won’t break
2) Ordered means well thought out and planned – he knew all about me when He made his promises – how stupid I would be, and how stubborn I would get – and he is not changing any of His promises
3) And THAT is my salvation – NOT my good works, but HIS promise
4) And that is all David desired to have – NOT SUCCESS, but God’s faithfulness!
5) Even though nothing else in my life changes for the better – or grows
7. David faced so many failures in his life that he should have quit after every one of them, but he didn’t
8. And neither should YOU!
B. How Does David Respond to All His Failures? (2Samuel 12:1-24)
1. When David was found out, and his sin exposed (2Samuel 12:1-10) how did he respond?
a. Didn’t turn to drink, or drugs, or quit his calling, or move to another country
b. As a king, David could have had Nathan killed, continued to try and cover it all up
c. But Instead…
2. David accepted what he was – a sinner – breaker of God’s perfect laws (12:13)
a. Wow
b. I wish this generation would accept this fact
c. It sure would save a lot of failed marriages, relationships, and fix a lot of broken lives
3. Drew Near to God – highest priority (12:14-17)
a. Do you realise what God has opened? A refuge for sinful people
1) Failures in this life, harlots, sinners, drunkards, addicts, broken people have a perfect refuge
2) It is not a church, or a counsellor
3) It is the very Son of God, JESUS
4) Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
b. So, shut out the world, and even your own heart
c. And just fall upon your knees and talk to God in prayer – desperate prayer
d. Confess to everything you can think of
e. Ask for His help to repair what you have damaged or broken
f. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
g. 1Peter 5:6,7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
h. No matter how sinful you may be!
4. Stopped Resisting Grief and Guilt – softened his heart again (12:16,17,21)
a. David wept – hadn’t wept in almost a year since his adultery
b. Job 23:16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me
c. Allow it to soften your heart, and break it
d. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
e. Remember… David wrote that Psalm, and many others from experience!
5. Accepted Responsibility (12:5, 13)
a. Didn’t blame anyone else (Bathsheba, or Urijah, or the architect that built his house so near to theirs)
b. Said to Nathan, I should die for my sin
6. Sought to Change the Outcome – didn’t accept the failure as permanent (12:16,17)
a. David asked God to save the life of the child – to spare it
b. Not a fatalist
c. Believed that God has mercy and can change the ending of every bad story!
d. Peter was a failure of a disciple – yet went on and allowed the grace of God to write the last chapters of his life
e. Job’s wife wanted Job to just die… but Job wanted to stay around to see how God finished writing his Book with his name on it!
f. What are you doing with the mercy of God?
1) You can go to the offended person and humble yourself and try again to make things right – do it because that is what a Christian does – not because it is easy!
2) Start over in your marriage, every day if you have to
3) Phone up your creditor and ask for a payment plan, and then stick to it
4) Spend some specific time with your children, no matter how young or old they are, and get real with them, and just love them, and listen to them as their flawed Dad
5) PRAY and ask GOD for wisdom about what job to have, about the will of God, and then get to doing it!
6) Start making your relationship with God THE priority relationship
7) And find your purpose in life by serving others
7. Believed God’s Own Words (2Samuel 12:23; 23:5)
a. About salvation from the judgment of God
b. About the grace of God – I cannot demand it, but I can trust it
c. About his security in God’s hand
d. About God holding him up and carrying him through, no matter the sin
1) Remember what David said in 2Samuel 23:5 [GOD] hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire...
2) God made a promise that He won’t break
3) God knew all about David when He made those promises to him – and He is not changing any of His promises
4) And THAT was David’s salvation – NOT by his good works, but by God’s promise
5) And all David depended upon was God’s faithfulness!
8. He got up forgiven and a better man (12:13, 19-24)
a. A humbled man
b. A comforting man
c. An important example for all to learn from – everyone knows “David and Bathsheba” as much as they know “David and Goliath”
9. Married Bathsheba
10. And went back to being king since God allowed it
11. THAT was a miracle!
C. Some Encouraging Truths About God’s View of Our Failures
1. There is None Righteous, no not one
a. Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
b. Eccl 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
c. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
d. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
e. NONE of us are perfect
f. All of us are failures
2. That’s Why We Needed a Saviour
a. Someone who was perfect
b. Who would come and SAVE those of us who aren’t
c. 1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
d. Mark 2:16,17 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
e. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
f. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
3. Even the best of us will fall
a. Even though on the right path, doing the right things, and with a right heart
1) Psalm 37:23,24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
2) Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
b. Why do we all fail?
1) Because it is in our nature to fail – we are not perfect
2) Satan trips us up – distracts us, lies to us, lures us
3) The world is out to make it hard to do right
c. A Christian can trust that…
1) Even though you and I may sin against God, against our family
2) That we may become entangled in sin
3) We will not fall all the way down to zero
4) THAT is the security of the believer!
5) God Himself holds us up from hitting the bottom ever again!
6) Psalm 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
7) Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy
4. Not all failures are bad
a. Sometimes they are necessary to humble us
b. Example of the nation of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness – they looked like a failure, with no food or water, and only delay after delay
1) Deuteronomy 8:2,3 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
2) God humbles us, and embarrasses us, and stops us from succeeding for a greater reason – so that we would learn to need Him, for every step we take; every decision we make; every effort we attempt!
c. Another Example was Peter (Luke 22)
1) Luke 22:31,32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
2) Luke 22:54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
3) Luke 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
4) Luke 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
5) Luke 22:57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
6) Luke 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
7) Luke 22:59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
8) Luke 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
9) Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
10) Luke 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
11) FAILURE! – BIG ‘F’ ON HIS FOREHEAD
12) But that failure was worth all the gold in the world
a) It taught him just how weak he really was – didn’t know it
b) Taught him to desperately hold onto Jesus for the rest of his life – never to think he could live a day without Christ’s help and presence in his life!
c) John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
d. Next time you and I fall, thank God for the reminder!
5. I wish I could say, No failures are fatal… but some are!
a. That’s why there is so much divorce
b. That’s why there are fewer and fewer soul-winners, and pastors and missionaries (1,400 a month quitting the ministry)
6. But if you are still breathing, there is hope
a. The devil so wants you and I to fall
b. But he does not what you to know that When We Fall…
c. God is there to lift us up again, and again, and again (Lam 3:21-23)
1) Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
2) Micah 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
IV.Conclusion
A. Christians have the opportunity to do something impossible…
B. To Get back Up and Press On even though we fail God, and fall while trying to do the right things
C. There are too many failed Christian lives who quit getting back up – like a battlefield filled with a defeated army
1. Failing at our Marriages
2. Raising our children
3. Our Career Choices
4. Our Worship and our relationship with God
5. Our friendships
6. Our finances
7. And no purpose in life
D. Yet according to the Bible, we are said to be greater than conquerors (Romans 8:37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
E. And we all have a secret ability to get back up and keep going!
F. The Gospel is God’s Answer to ALL of our Failures
1. There is None Righteous, no not one
a. Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
b. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
c. NONE of us are perfect
d. All of us are failures before God
2. That’s Why We Needed a Saviour
a. Someone who would come and SAVE those of us who aren’t perfect
b. 1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
3. Even the best of us will fall
a. The most religious, the most devout, the most holy
b. If you look close enough at any one of us, you will see sinners - failures
4. I wish I could say, No failures are fatal… but some are!
a. That’s why there is so much divorce
b. That’s why there are fewer and fewer soul-winners, and pastors and missionaries (1,400 a month quitting the ministry)
c. And that is why there is an eternal hell
5. But if you are still breathing, there is hope
a. The devil meant for you to fail and to give up trying
b. But Christ stayed faithful so you can be saved, and can keep going!
c. God made a promise to you – an eternal promise that He won’t break
d. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
e. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.