THE FEAR FACTOR: Fear of Failure
Luke 14:28-30 – 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to MOCK HIM, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
I. The Fear of Failure Is a Slow Fade
• It’s a Soulish Fear – a fear of mockery.
Luke 14:29b – All who see it begin to MOCK HIM,
The Fear of Failure: The fear of being mocked by others and by yourself as someone who began and couldn’t finish.
• Mockery gets its power from your agreement.
Judges 6:12 – And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, YOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR!”
Judges 6:15 – So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and “I AM THE LEAST” in my father’s house.”
• Mockery does more than hurt. IT MADE YOU QUIT.
Jeremiah 20:7 – O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; EVERYONE MOCKS ME.
Jeremiah 20:9 – Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.”
Luke 22:54 – Having arrested Jesus, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. BUT PETER FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE.
WHAT HAS THE FADE ALREADY TAKEN?
II. THE COST: The Dream You’ve Not Lived, and the Potential Person You Can Become
• Your dream was never the ceiling.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ASK or THINK, according to the power that works in us.
− ASK – That’s your dream – what you could put into words?
− THINK – That’s your Imagination – what you could picture in your mind?
• The loss isn’t a moment. IT’S A LIFETIME.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – WHATEVER your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
John 1:42 – And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. YOU SHALL BE CALLED CEPHAS” (which is translated, A Stone).
Matthew 4:19 – Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 14:28-30 – 28And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
III. THE WAY BACK: It Starts with an Ask
Matthew 14:31 – And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
HE ASKED!
Matthew 14:28 – And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
1. ASK!
Ecclesiastes 4:10 – For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
2. Let Jesus Decide if the Failure is Fatal
Luke 22:31-32 – 31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
John 21:15 – So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
3. Count Both Bills and Take the Next Step.
− Fear shows you one Bill: What it costs to try; the risk; the work, the laughs, the mockery.
− The other Bill is the dream you never lived and the person you haven’t become.
Proverbs 24:16 – For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Jeremiah 20:9 – Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
John 21:19 – This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “FOLLOW ME.”
Acts 2:41 – Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 4:13 – Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 – looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.