Failure in your life

Praise the Lord!

Scripture Reference Judges 1:19 And the LORD was with Judah, and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Today we are going to discuss an important topic in everyone's life.

Yes! We are going to discuss the reason of failure and steps to avoid them.

Before trying to understand the reason for failure. Let's understand what is a failure 

Failure is defined in the dictionary as " lack of success" or something not happening as expected. 

So, why is the reason for failure?

God has promised sweet success in all our endeavors. 

Joshua  1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

So that means that the Lord wants all to be successful and prosperous but in reality, it doesn't happen as expected.

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So let's ponder on the verse of Judges 1:9. We find that they had all the traits or qualities needed to be successful.

1. They asked God for permission 

2. GOD was pleased to help them.

3. They were able-bodied men and experienced warriors who have won several wars.

But still, in the verse, it is written "but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley"

Because they were afraid of their enemies.  

1. The reason for failure is the fear of enemies.

Fear is a very important tool in the hands of you enemy. If you are in fear even the strong no matter how able he might be will definitely fail.

Joshua  8:1  And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

We have studied in the bible that Joshua lost the first battle of Ai and because of that he was afraid to go and attack again. That time Lord knew his heart and said to him " Fear Not"

Saints, if you are stuck with fear of enemy, disease, poverty then God is telling you to cast off that fear and trust him. 

Israelites have earlier defeated many enemies much powerful than these who had chariot of iron.

In the book of job he tells this fear led to his destruction.

Job  3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

When it was the time to choose the army Gideon proclaimed to his army that those who are fearing to battle can go home. So that they do not demotivate other people.

Judges  7:3  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

Saints, if you have fear of the enemy. You are having unbelief in you heart. Because you don't trust who commands you not to FEAR.

2. The reason for failure is not meditating on the word of God.

Joshua  1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

If you don't give time for the word of God and meditate on the scriptures. How can you know hat is his will for you?

The word of God is a sharp-edged sword which acts on your soul ad provides wisdom and understanding for you.

Hebrew 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

Once your faith is increased by reading the word of God. There will be no room for fear.

3. The reason for failure is stubbornness 

Deuteronomy  1:41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.  

Deuteronomy 1:42 And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

If you are not ready to listen to what God says then be prepared to have a failure.

If you are not interested to hear God's instructions and humble yourselves and walk in the Lord. You will never attain success. 

2 Chronicles  7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

4. The reason for failure is worldly pleasures.

Genesis  13:10  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Luke  17:32 Remember Lot's wife.

Lot and his wife both sought for worldly pleasures.  When the time came to leave everything because of the judgment Lot's wife's heart was still yearning for all the world and defied the command of the Lord. 

The sin was so severe that she turned into a body of salt. 

Lord knows your need and you are his children and heirs of his kingdom. 

Matthew  6:8  Be not ye, therefore, like unto them: for your, Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.   

Matthew  6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Notice how much Lord is concerned about his children seeking for worldly pleasure.

When we focus on the world we miss God's blessing.

Proverbs  10:22  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

5. The reason for failure is unpreparedness for the battle.

Ephesians  6:11  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   

Ephesians  6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians  6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Many children of God doesn't realize that we are being called to fight a battle against the dark forces. They don't exercise the authority given to them.

Moses did the same mistake when cried to the Lord and Lord told him to move forward.

Exodus  14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

If you are facing failure you need to trust God and take a step forward. 

6. Reason for failure constantly sowing seeds of iniquity.

Saints, when you speak harsh words against people. You are sowing seeds of iniquity. We have to adorn the character of Christ.  In your anger, you can speak your destruction. 

Proverbs  22:8  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.  

Number 14:27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer.

7. The reason for failure is not trusting God. 

Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Deuteronomy  31:6  Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  

Deuteronomy  31:8  And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.   

 Zephaniah  3:5  The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

Our Lord will never test you more than you can bear. Your trials and tribulations are to build your faith. 

James  1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  

That brings us to another reason for failure that is a doubtful mind. Even when God has blessed you in your spirit. You don't claim the reward but because of your doubt and questionable character. You lose the reward. 

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

8. The reason for failure is spiritual weakness.

Proverbs  24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

A little trial and testing of faith may seem like a failure. But it is a test of your faith. If you are walking in that Lord and do everything that pleases him. Then you need to be joyful that he counted you worthy for this tribulation.

9. Reason for failure is your prayerlessness

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Prayer is not an option! It is essential for leading a  successful life. Prayerlessness is a SIN.
If you don't talk to GOD every day asking for his counsel. Don't expect him to bless you when you need it.

HOW TO AVOID FAILURE IN OUR LIVES

Psalms  1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; in his law doth he meditates day and night.

Joshua  1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.  

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

1. Confess your sins and turn away from all kinds of iniquities. Never listen to ungodly people's advice who don't believe in Jesus.

2. Don't engage in vain conversation but set your mind on his will. 

3. Read the scriptures daily and meditate on it daily.

4. Be courageous and daily trust God for everything. 

5. Be Doers of the word rather than only hearers. 

6. Rejoice in the Lord always.

7. Show a life of separation from these worldly people. 

God Bless You.