Apr. 10, 2022

What If I Fail?

April 9 & 10, 2022

Primary Text:  Acts 5:33-39                               

Previous Teaching:  What If I Succeed?

1)  Chasing After the Wind

Ecclesiastes 2:9-11:  I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me.  In all this my wisdom stayed with me.  I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. 

DQ 1) Define “success” from the standpoint of the world.

DQ 2) Was King Solomon a “success” or “failure”?  

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2)  Walk in His Ways

1 Kings 2:1-4:  When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.  "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said.  "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'"

DQ 3) How does God define success for each human being?

DQ 4) What if I succeed in the world but fail before God?

DQ 5) Are you living a successful life?  How so?

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This Week’s Teachings

1)  Send Someone Else

Exodus 4:10-14:  Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant.  I am slow of speech and tongue."  The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."  But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."  Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?  I know he can speak well." 

DQ 1) Why did God choose Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt?

DQ 2) What makes a great leader in the kingdom of God?  

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2)  The Wrong Guy

Judges 6:12-18:  When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."  "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?  Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?'  But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."  The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand.  Am I not sending you?"  "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel?   My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."  The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."  Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.  Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you."  And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return." 

DQ 3) Why did God choose Gideon to lead the Israelites against the Midianites?

DQ 4) Was Gideon a success?  Why?

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3)  Is It From God?

Acts 5:33-39:  When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.  He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt.  He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 

1 Corinthians 13:8:  Love never fails. 

DQ 5) Can obedience to God’s will ever lead to failure?

DQ 6) Is it possible to be a failure in the eyes of the world but a success in God’s eyes?

DQ 7) Are you knowingly failing in any way to follow the will of God for your life?

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