Keep Pressing Ahead - Facing Personal Failure, Part 2

The most difficult of all situations. For most people to endure are the ones that come from their own personal failures, destructive choices, a tragic action. I hateful fit of words that spew out poison and ruin relationships. What do you do when you've blown when you've made the mistake had he get restored to God and others. That's your question stay with thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge trip to Living on the Edge features the Bible on this daily discipleship program this program to wrap something serious to keep pressing with us for our last program you first part of the message on how to overcome the devastation personal failure first condition to God. Just before we get started, let me encourage you to try using chips message notes what was message notes that was outlined in all the scripture references will be using to get them just go to the broadcasts tab@livingontheedge.org Fill in notes for me yeah now here's to the second condition isn't just returning to the word, they didn't just listen. They didn't just hear it.

They didn't just pray a prayer notice.

The second condition is we must respond to the truth.

Look what they do in verses nine through 12 when Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and the scribe and the Levite who were instructing the people said to them, this day is sacred to the Lord your God.

Do not mourn or weep for all the people were weeping as they listen to the words of the law when they saw who God was. When I saw why they were where they were when they saw the consequences when they looked around and said we've married for and why we disobeyed we don't honor the Sabbath. We have our priorities out of whack when we leveraged our stuff. We have amazing debt. All the things you said that you would bless you said to us live this way, the be blessing live this way there be a curse before you today I give you life or death. There hearing this in their realizing we chose staff and their weeping, weeping for some of us it would be. I'm experiencing this depression because I'm in disobedience. My marriage broke up because my disobedience.

My kids are experiencing this because of my disobedience when you face that kind of stuff. You weep your broken but notice what the Nehemiah said of them go and rejoice.

Enjoy choice food and sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord.

Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength, and that in the Levites. Now they're coming out knees. I think medium-size groups make they called all the people saying, be still to stop crying for this is a sacred day than the people went away to eat and drink and send portions of food and celebrate with great joy because here's a keyword. They now under stood. They didn't just hear they understood the words that had been made known to them.

Now you read this the first time and on about you but this is like wacky isn't it like to hear how holy God is. This is what he word says and these people were weeping at least from my perspective, the right responses. You need to be weep and people you really messed up in God's really mad and you need to get it right is it that the kind of God that you think about that's not the response you need to know something about the Jewish calendar, you might've skipped over it says it's the seventh month, the first day.

That's when the new year starts, and God commanded the new year starts on October 1 in the Jewish calendar, and they were to harvest is coming in, and so on that very first day what obedience looks like is the harvest is coming in and it's a day to celebrate and rejoice what God has done what is provided and so I want you to go home and once you eat choice.

Great food.

I want to have some great your sweet and that means the best of your drinks and I don't you anybody who doesn't have enough food invite them over. Basically this is a party day. Rejoice in the Lord. It's to look back. It's like there New Year's Day and the people understood they can't focus all their past failure because God's will. On this day from his word.

Is this is to celebrate and it says the reason why is the joy of the Lord is your strength. The word strength or the joy when you experience the connection.

The byproduct of being reconnected with God is that connection with him.

That gives you strength. That word strength mean fortress. It can mean it put you on a mountaintop, it means it will rescue. It's when a David said he's my hiding place. When you take those beget baby steps of obedience and you begin to get reconnected in the spirit of God begins to enliven your heart even though there's these issues that is your strength. That's how you go forward. Notice what exactly that they did.

Number one, they wept over their sin and for some of you an application is going to be to maybe open your journal and write out you know God I'm real. I had a deal some stuff or you sit down with a close friend or possibly counselor and you may find yourself weeping and that's I can be a very healthy thing. Second date received a word of grace, God, God said, you just don't understand, just God the will of God. Today is I want to bless you. I want to love you.

Romans chapter 2 has this great line is the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance. Most of us have a view of God that his arms are crossed his toes tapping is a long bony finger and anything you've ever done. He's really ticked off and just can't wait for you to come to take you to spirit to which it now. I told you not to do this. Even this wouldn't happen if it wasn't, I don't know where you got that picture God or where I got it and don't get me wrong, he doesn't gloss over sin. But when ever a person has a contrite heart when ever a person is genuinely deeply sorry and you own your stuff and you blow it.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and those that are crushed in spirit. And when ever a product like you and a particle like me comes from God. I am so sorry for what I've done. I'm so sorry I been thinking those thoughts. I am so sorry I said those things. I'm sorry that I've just squandered the money entrusted me.

I'm so sorry that my greed or my pride or my addiction are much and when you come like that will meet a God is like this who loves who forgives who cleans you off, who puts his arm around oh he'll deal with the consequences. He will be fair to go through with you and notice they experience the joy of obedience.

See, for many of you, the next step God's will for you is just to take the next step of obedience. What is it that he's showing you you return to his word. The next step is. I'm going to get in his word. The next step is. I'm going to deal even as I speak. It's an amazing thing. How God works. I can just tell you right now like little lights flashing over the top of your heads is a spirit of God, showing different people of and is bringing things to your mind, he's bringing things cheer mine. Not because he's down on you.

He's bringing things to your mind is called conviction. So you could own them and you could bring them and you could turn from that's what they did but notice how they did it.

They responded from the heart. This is wasn't perfunctory. This wasn't all yeah God says this I guess are supposed to do that. This was deep. This was honest, this was real.

You know those different times you have in your life and I have in my life. You know the times where there God this is Chip and I know I'm really supposed to pray like I say like that, but could you help so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so and really help me today and I got a big meeting that it… It and I don't talk about this one area and this attitude of being ticked off my wife for this area.

This keeps coming up every time I read because I don't want to feel guilty so were not to talk about that as I pray I'll catch you later in your prayers are short and the superficial in your playing games and you have a deep connection with God.

You don't hear those little promptings that he gives you an end many times what it is. He keeps bringing the same thing back over and over and over. I know what it is with you you for something deal with your anger. For others, deal with your wait for others, deal with your marriage. For others, and get in my word for others to forgive your dad how long you live with that but it's a sensitive issue and you don't want to deal with it and so you keep the superficial thing going in and you had this times like I have you get before God and you you you call it what it is and you see it for what it is and the tears come in. You own it and you just feel like the lowest worst person I am desperate and I'm sorry and engineers.

This guilt that comes and there's this amazing release. As you bring it to him. And you experience none of the surprisingly I love you. Now we can make progress. Been there, scary part is, you can learn to do the kind of moral life instead of the Christian life look pretty good on the outside but never from the heart notice. They focused on God's mercy rather than on their failure in this amazing their their focus was on well God could you not know God forgive me that I can never forgive myself. Have you heard that a lot will I know this happened on such a terrible person and I've done this and I've had to.

I want abortion of had two abortions. I met just one that Meredith had two bad marriages I abandoned my kids when they were small I stole for my company. No one knows now I'm a leader in the church. I'm a leader at this and I'm leading a Bible study. I logon about three nights a week into you know triple X porn and you know my husband doesn't know it but I've been in public. My my old high school my Facebook and you on, chat, and flirting with my old high school boyfriend you not I'm going to a Bible study, but I'm living with a guy right now right man. And so that's all you can focus on God knows that stuff. Once you get really need to focus on his mercy and what how great a love. The father must have regular people like you and me that he's called us his children and so you own your stuff and you focus on what is done. This is the Luke 15 this is this is the son who is squandered his life and realizes he brings nothing he doesn't deserve to be a son. But the moment he turns from the pigsty moment from his life and he returns to the father, what, what's the father, like what was Jesus picture there was he trying to tip that wasn't some story that was for you what he wants you to know he can repair people have had affairs where people have addictions. He can repair people that if squandered in your greatest cost you your life fortune. He can repair people that are gossips and workaholics and people pleasers codependents and sex addicts and rigid narrow Bible thumping Pharisees who were judgmental of other people. All of us. You come in when you come to that father what to do. He's waiting to put the ring on your finger and sandals on your feet, because you're not a slave you're a son, and he takes his robe and he wraps around you and walks through it with you. Notice what they did. They obeyed God's word for today we have this mental catalog that we we reply is that you know you need to return to God. You know you need to get right with God and in the catalog is you sorta have this list of 17 things that need to be addressed in this like okay I'm going to go number one number two number three number four number five only on number seven God when I get down to about 16 or 17. I feel better about myself.

All really come back that's a lie from the enemy of hell. They just know that you will bake today. What's God saying today. What's his will. Today, and so they did in there today response was what today were supposed to. It's the first day. It's the new year were to thank God for the harvest were to thank God for this would look forward in faithfulness and celebrate.

So where do you need to respond to the truth. What's the next step. You want to hear the answer to a prayer that comes like really quick. Pray this prayer in your heart, mind right now. Dear God please show me the next step, whatever you show me I will do and I don't care if you don't listen to me. The rest of time. Dear God, show me just the next step. I will tell you now many of you will not like what the next step is in many of you actually already know the next up is but you're playing this game not among I don't do it I was and that I want to do it on with this guy is messing in my wheelhouse.

I hope he shuts up soon and I get outta here because right right don't miss God's grace seat. You don't deal with it today if you're fortunate it'll come back around in a month if you're fortunate it'll come back around, but it may not. Sometimes God says if you want your only here it is in spades with all the consequences come with. So we return to the word in a response to personal failure. Then we respond to that truth from the heart and in third, we must apply it to our lives.

We gotta get it operational.

It is when you act on the word.

It's when you abide when you take the step that's Jesus is. That's when you know the truth and the truth will set you free. So let's find out what they do pick it up in verse 13 verse 13 no notice when it was the first day of the seventh month. Now it's the second day, the heads of all the families along with the priests and the Levites.

They gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention literally to phrases literally to gain wisdom to give attention to the words of the law and so as they got together. I mean is they want happened in day to you can imagine hearing all the stuff that you're not doing feel like your dad your dirt Deuteronomy 6 of a man I'm out to lunch and so the next day. This is like the very first advanced Bible seminar and all the leaders and heads of the families I hate Ezra. You know like before we go on. Could we talk as we can figure out how to apply this to our lives so they found written in the law of the Lord Moses had commanded that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month course there in the seventh month and they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns in Jerusalem go out to the whole country and bring back branches of olive and while all of treason from myrtles and from palms, and shade trees to make booths and is written so what are the people to the people went out and they brought back branches and built themselves booths on their own roofs and in the courtyards and in the courts of the house of God in the square by the Watergate and by the one by the gate of Ephraim and the whole company to return from exile. They built booths and they lived in the tent and from the days of Joshua the son of nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this, and their joy was very great and I noticed the very last line. Day after day from the first day to the last.

Ezra read from the book of the law of God.

So what started as a one day, six hour reading with some explanation followed with a leaders comes in handy. My what what we do about all this. They hear hey there, something that supposed to happen this month. They go out and do it and then a new pattern evolves every day he reads from the word and the notice there's this joy and they celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth in accordance with the regulation. There was an assembly. So what they do. The fathers and the leaders came to be equipped. It wasn't just some emotional. Oh God I messed up I really want to do what's right and I repent. It's one thing to be the prodigal come back to the father but now you need to how I walk with the father right how we do this new life together and so that the father's common in the leaders. They say we need wisdom, and wisdom is how does this actually play out. So for some of you can say okay so how do I do relationship.

So what do I do with my money.

So how do I break an addiction probably become less judgmental wherever God speaking that truth he's going use a community of people and his word to help you on the journey to become. But you gotta get equipped and notice the second thing is they discover a command to obey what what you found is day one was the feast of the trumpets the shofar they got some like that and the people all it's the feast of the trumpet and Morgan supposed to be really rejoicing and thankful today will than the 10th day would be the day of atonement and on the 15th day they were supposed to go out and get these branches and and they build these little huts and they would sleep outside the would-be kids thought they were camping out and everyone would sleep outside for seven days to remind them of their wilderness wanderings now. Notice how this all ties together.

Why did the people of Israel end up in the wilderness can even remember because they disobey God right so the wilderness wanderings. What a time of discipline.

It's 40 years of you know what this was my great plan for you. You didn't want it, so here's your plan is not so good and so what they learned was we are supposed to do this every year to remember that God wants us to be in the promised land. But if you disobey part of our heritage is our father's failed to believe and trust and take the steps of faith, and this is what happens so I mean think about this as a kid you going out to get these branches in your build on the roof and you sleep out one night and this is fun and sleep out the next night, dad why we do this will sign actually I just learned about this and we sort of blown it and and and pretty now what's happening.

The story of God is being told from family to family to family and guess what they do they obey, they went out notice immediately that doted on the roof that built the courtyards adult in the house of God will then how did they do it. First they recognize their need for spiritual insight.

They got it they understood. This is not a religious moment.

We need not to just be aware, in turn, we need to learn to turn to God turn from sin, but we need insight we need the wisdom to walk in this new life. Second, as they focused on present obedience. Instead, a past failure see if they were in a in a and a and a modern counseling session, they would've been unpacking the last hundred years of how they got there. I did this I did this I did this I did this I did this at this and I think this is a reason for that.

Now there is a place in a time personally but some of you.

You could spend the rest of your life unpacking baggage and remorse. There's a thing called the cross and covers your sin and you come to the cross and you receive the atonement for the covering of your sin and then the thing is what's obedience look like today while I'm upside down financially I'm to get out of that. I'm living with someone.

Lessee I'm not real. Actually, I am real sure that's not part of God's but we love each other yeah yeah DW WW did of those mics uses this is God's will. You know what it is right obey immediately.

Today what's the next thing he wants to do and bodily. When you take a step of obedience. That joy kicks in its at heart. Of course it's hard did you get where you're at, overnight, no. Is everything to change overnight. No, but it starts with this first step in the notice they developed a pattern of intake in obedience to God's word said day after day. Some of you need to make some big steps, but all of us need to begin to walk for some you're here today and this is the greatest day of your earthly life. You just didn't know when you got up from serious you came about adversity and get some help, but your outside of Christ. If you would die today. You be eternally separated from the living God, because no amount of your being nicer little bit more moral than other people. God does not grade on the curve. Sorry you have to have 100 points of absolute perfection to have a relationship with the absolutely holy God.

You can be a 96 and 97 or -10 it's pass fail and the only way you can have 100 points is to allow Christ to do for you what you can never do for yourself.

When he died upon the cross he paid for your sin, my sin and the sins of all people of all time.

He had tone he covered for them and he says whosoever would believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life, and for some the will of God. The next step in this room is right now for you to say God I need you. I've missed the mark I've sinned. I've got lots of stuff in my life and I want you know I want to turn from that sin and ask you to come into my life and make me your son or your daughter, and I want a new life and he will do that and you need to tell someone about 80 or 90% of people at some point in their life have done that and they have all the same struggles you and I do but I will tell you there new people.

There's been a transformation anyone set for you.

For others, you been thinking the whole time I've been talking and fighting with it.

You need to decide you ask God, what's the next step is getting his word is deal with the sin issue is I don't know what it is you take that step in the process of restoration days program you have a very important decision.

Are you going to focus on your past failure, or are you going to focus on your present obedience. I know that many of you don't feel worthy. You feel like you need to get your act together that you feel covered with shame.

You've done things you're just feel terrible about you hurt people you feel like there's no hope. And there's an enemy that is just you know whispering in your ear you know you don't deserve this. It can't be this simple but the fact of the matter is that the greatest men and women in all of Scripture failed miserably. David, the great King committed murder and adultery, Moses, the man who brought the 10 Commandments committed murder. The apostle Paul was a murderer.

Rahab was a prostitute. James and John were people with deep anger management issues he wanted to call down fire from heaven. Peter was a person who was so prejudiced that he wouldn't even offer the gospel.

The free gift of God to groups of people because of their ethnic background.

I want you to know that God specializes in taking people who have failed miserably who honestly repent and come to him broken and forgiving, restoring and using them right now, right where you're at.

Tell God I need you I want you.

I've blown it.

I've sinned.

I believe that only the death of Christ on the cross and his resurrection can pay for my sin. And right now I invite you to come in my life. I may just do it in your own words right now. Invite him into your life. Turn from your sin and then tell the greatest Christian you know that tell us, send me an email let me know you. I prayed today with you to receive Christ, and we have some resources there on the website. They can help you grow.

Dave will tell you about that in a minute and then for those of you that are followers of Christ.I think for some of you this is even more difficult because you know better. I think some of the most difficult times in my life is been after I became a Christian and I did some things I knew were so blatantly wrong.

I just thought oh yeah how could God ever forgive me, will he for gave Peter and he walked with him for three years that he betrayed him. He wants to forgive and restore you get off your focus off of you and your past behavior and get on to present obedience.

Let God be God. His blood covered your sin turned to him, ask for forgiveness get back on track and let your life say a big thank you. By the way you live. Tell someone today.

The big decision get help to stay with it and let us know how God has worked in your life. God bless you and keep pressing ahead if you prayed with Chip. I hope you'll take a minute and call us at 1-888-333-6003. We love to talk with you and get a free resource in your hands that'll help you understand what you just did and where to go from here if you'd rather go to your website. LivingontheEdge.org where you'll find that same resource among new believers tab.

We just want to help you get started on your new journey of faith as we closed today's program and finish out this whole series, let me just remind you that you know there's people in need and you can make a difference by sending them this series, and just say into them. I'm for you.

I'm with you, we can make it together. I think this will really give you a shot in the arm spiritually. Let's make a difference in someone's life. Today, thanks to the series is called keep pressing ahead and today is the last day to take advantage of the series discounts so don't miss out. For complete information on CDs and free MP3s just go to LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003.

Special offers on the app will also get you there order for yourself or someone you know and help them keep pressing ahead to you know a great way to stay engaged and connected to chip in Living on the Edge is with the Chip Ingram up, you'll get free access to all of Chip's recent messages is message notes and much more. And not only that, but it couldn't be easier to call or email directly from the yeah will be with us again next time.

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What happens when Christians live like Christian November. Steve say thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge