Standing TALL Against Failure
2/8/04
Given by Russell Q. Adams
February 8, 2004
Standing TALL Against Failure
Matthew 14:22-33
Opening Words: This morning’s scripture lesson comes from the fourteenth chapter of Matthew. The chapter begins with a tragic death. John the Baptist is beheaded. This chapter also contains a great miracle, the feeding of the 5000. That would explain the wide range of emotions. Jesus appears to be grieving; John the Baptist was his cousin. The disciples seem to be celebrating. Jesus decides to miss the party on the way home. He puts the disciples in the boat and goes to the mountainside to be alone and pray. Remember, he is grieving.
According to verse 25, it is between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning. The disciples are half asleep in the boat when they see something walking toward them on the water. At first they thought it was a ghost. That is significant because their world told them a ghost would come shortly before they died. That is why in verse 26 it says they were terrified. However, their terror is replaced by confusion in verse 27. It is Jesus walking on the water! Now they had seen it all! It is at this point that Peter reveals his true nature. Without thinking he jumps into the water and for a few short seconds he too is walking on the water! It is only when he begins to think. that he begins to fail. With this understanding let us hear this morning’s Gospel lesson.
Introduction
The year was 1927. Henry Ford saw his last Model T Ford roll off the assembly line. It was a red-letter day. Everyone agreed that Ford was a success. There were over 15 million of his Model T Fords on the road. His vehicle transformed America.
Did you know the inspiration behind the Model T were Henry Ford’s grandparents? To him, they symbolized the common man. Their story was common. They lived in Dearborn, Michigan but they had immigrated to America from Ireland during the potato famine. They were good hard working people, yet they struggled financially. When the automobile first came out it was just for the rich. Henry Ford dreamed of the day when the automobile would be available to the common man, like his grandparents. He dreamed of the day when common people would have affordable reliable transportation. He had some pretty innovative ideas and he went to work. The first car that he made didn’t work. It was called the Model A Ford. The Model B Ford wasn’t much better, but he kept trying. By the time he got to the Model G and H Fords things were looking up. The Model Q and R Fords were better. When the Model T Ford finally arrived it was perfect. It wasn’t pretty, but it was cheap and dependable.
Charles Noble once said, "You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures."
That was Henry Ford’s story. In the end he was a success. America had affordable reliable transportation. His automobile transformed America. However, before he knew success Ford knew failure. He failed eighteen times.
God wants us to succeed in ever aspect of our lives! However, sometimes the road to success is filled with failure. I have never known a person who didn’t know failure. As disciples of Jesus Christ how do we deal with the failures in your life? This morning I want to look at three quick thoughts about failure. It is my hope that these quick thoughts may help you stand TALL against failure.
Body
Thought Number One: The Fear of Failure.
In your sanctified imagination I want you to imagine the scene. The disciples are in the boat. They were feeling good about the ministry. They had just been eyewitnesses to a great miracle. It is fun in the boat. Suddenly, the mood changes. Jesus, himself, is walking on the water. In verse 28 Peter assumes his position as leader. Without thinking he calls to Jesus, "tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus replies, "Come." Jesus wants Peter to do a great thing! And for a few precious steps, Peter does a great thing. Peter walks on the water! Then it happens. Peter begins to evaluate his situation. He sees the water. He sees the waves. He remembers what common sense says. It is impossible for men to walk on the water. Verse 30 says that Peter was afraid. Peter, the Rock, is filled with the fear of failure and begins to sink! The only thing that prevented him from doing a great thing was fear! Have you ever not attempted something new because you were afraid of failure? Fear of failure is one of Satan’s greatest tools. I am not picking on Peter. He forgot about fear for a few seconds and he got out of the boat. The other eleven disciples stayed in the boat were it is safe and dry. Most of the time the fear of failure prevents us from getting out of the boat. We are much better at playing it safe.
The people we consider great took a risk. They knew how to confront and defeat failure. How many examples do you need? We all know the name Babe Ruth for hitting his 714 home runs, but did you know Babe Ruth struck out a record 1316 times. Did you know that Babe Ruth was the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to strike out five consecutive times in a World Series game? Did you know that Napoleon graduated 42 in his class of 58 at military school? Did you know that Colonel Sanders went to 1000 different investors before one bought his famous chicken recipe? Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before making the first light bulb? Did you know that Sylvester Stallone was turned down thousands of times and was down to his last $600 before someone decided to produce the first Rocky? Did you know that Robert Frost’s first poems were turned down by Atlantic Monthly? Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only man who never makes a mistake never does anything."
Remember the scripture, Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat and Peter got out.
God calls all of us to get out of the boat. The question is are you going to get out of the boat or stay in the boat where it is safe and dry? What is it in your life that God is calling you to do? Have you ever wanted to write a letter to the editor, but you are afraid you would look foolish? Have you ever thought about going to college, but you are afraid you are too old? Have you ever considered running for political office, but you are afraid no one would vote for you? Have you ever considered saying, "I am sorry" to your biggest enemy, but you are afraid they will laugh at you? Have you ever considered teaching Sunday School for a year, but you are afraid it will turn into a life sentence? Have you ever considered going on a short term mission trip, but you are afraid? Terrorism and violence happen right in the United States of America. Have you ever considered giving away a large cash gift, but you are afraid you may need it for the nursing home someday? Have you ever considered preaching as a lay person, but you are afraid everyone will fall asleep? It is easy to stay in the boat.
I can relate to your story because I too have decided to stay in the boat, where it is safe. From time to time I have considered going back to school and getting a Doctorate of Ministry. I would like to get an advanced degree in preaching. Do you know what paralyzes me? Fear! I am not afraid of the tuition bill. I am not afraid of the lack of time. I am afraid of failure. I am afraid I would fail academically and I would be forced to stand here and confess to you I couldn’t do it. That would hurt my pride and my pride is too fragile.
The fear of failure has a paralyzing effect. It is one of Satan’s greatest weapons. Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat! What is Jesus calling you to do? Thought number one is the fear of failure.
Thought Number Two: The Positive Side of Failure
Look at the scripture lesson one more time with me. Jesus is standing on the water and calls out to Peter to come. The scripture says Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water. You will not relate to this point if you have never gotten out of the boat. In the boat it is safe. But once you get out of the boat there is danger. The fear of failure and the positive side of failure are opposite sides of the same coin. The fear of failure paralyzes you but the fear of failure also may motivate to do your very best.
A teen age boy was out in his driveway playing basketball with his buddies when the contact lens fell out of his right eye. The boy and his friends looked for the lens but they couldn’t find it. He went into the house and told his mother. She listened patiently and walked outside to the driveway. She returned a few minutes later with the lost contact lens. The young man was impressed! He looked at his mother and said, "How did you find it so fast." She answered, "You were looking for a piece of plastic. I was looking for $150."
What is it that motivates you in your life? Sometimes we are motivated by money. Sometimes we are motivated by love. Sometimes we are motivated by patriotism. Sometimes we are motivated by duty or pride. However, it is my experience that we are motivated more in life by the fear of failure. Once you get out of the boat and respond to God’s call for your life, you will be motivated by the same thing that terrifies you, the fear of failure.
If I ever go back to school and get that Doctorate in Ministry in preaching, I can promise you one thing. I will study! I will not study because the professors motivated me. I will not study for the sake of knowledge. I will not study because the books are well written. I will not study because the books and the tuition are high. I will study for one reason. I will study because of you. I will study to succeed because I don’t want to look like a failure to your eyes.
Thought Number Three: Defeating Failure
Let us look at the text one more time. Peter responds to Jesus call. He gets out of the boat and begins to sink. Look at verses 30 and 31. Peter cries out to the Lord and the Jesus caught him. I don’t believe this is a negative statement about Peter. This is positive statement about Peter. The only reason Peter was able to be saved was that he was close to the Master. Peter was in perfect position for God to do a mighty thing through him. Peter didn’t have to be near Jesus. He could have tried to save himself. He could have tried to run back to the boat. He could have tried to swim to shore. Peter could have taken some form of life preserver but Peter didn’t do any of those things. Sometimes, manmade efforts are sometimes not enough. Peter did what we all need to do. He stayed close to Jesus and defeated failure.
How close are you to Jesus? How close are we to Jesus as a church? I hope that you find the courage in your heart to do something really courageous to show the world that we are close to a perfect Savior. So I hope you go back to school to fulfill your calling. I hope you go on that mission trip, if God is leading you in that direction. I hope you make peace with a long term enemy. I hope you get involved in some mission project and work with someone you do not know. I hope as a church we get involved with the problems of the inner-city and the addicted. I hope as a church we get involved with the hungry and the homeless. I hope as a church we give large sums of money away to another ministry because we understand that we are the rich. We can not afford to build our own little kingdom and let the rest of the world sink into a giant sink hole. If we have positioned ourselves close to Jesus then we know we will not fail. But if we are trying to save ourselves with our own efforts then we will perish. Peter stayed close to Jesus and so must we. Can everybody say, "Amen!"
Conclusion
Let me end by asking you three questions. First, are you going to stay in the boat where the fear of failure paralyzes most? Or second, are you doing to use the fears in your life to motivate you to do great things? Third, how close are you standing to Jesus today?
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