'Words of Life' w/ Pastor Mark D. Ingram
'Words of Life' w/ Pastor Mark D. Ingram
Faith Beyond Failure
Faith in the midst of failure is one of Christianity's most powerful paradoxes. As Pastor Mark delivers this message, he illuminates a truth many believers struggle to accept: failure is an inherent part of the faith journey. This isn't a contradiction but rather a fundamental aspect of what makes faith necessary in the first place.
The spiritual journey involves navigating impossibilities, doubts, and insecurities—all of which create opportunities for missteps. However, these failures don't negate our faith; they actually become the foundation upon which mature faith is built. As Pastor Mark articulates, "To fail is simply to be ineffective or below standard, but understand that our failures are not as much about missing the mark as they are about us continuing to trust in what Jesus did for us at Calvary."
The biblical account of Peter serves as the perfect case study. When Jesus informed Peter that Satan desired to "sift him as wheat," He didn't pray that Peter would avoid failure altogether. Instead, Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail even when Peter himself did. This distinction is crucial for believers to understand. God doesn't expect perfection from us; He expects persistence in returning to Him despite our imperfections.
Scripture reinforces this truth repeatedly. James 1:3 teaches that tested faith produces endurance. 1 Peter 1:7 reminds us that trials prove our faith's genuineness, purifying it like fire refines gold. These passages aren't describing a comfortable process but rather a necessary one for spiritual growth. The refinement process, though painful, produces a faith that stands firm regardless of circumstances.
Pastor Mark provides three critical applications from this teaching. First, believers must avoid self-sufficient confidence in their own strength. The "I would never" attitude fails to recognize the deceptiveness of the human heart described in Jeremiah 17:9. Romans 7:18-21 further illustrates the internal struggle all Christians face—wanting to do good but finding ourselves doing what we don't want to do.
Second, our failures should inspire trust in God's faithfulness rather than our own abilities. Psalm 103:14 beautifully captures this truth: "God knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." His mercy and compassion never fail because He understands our weakness in ways we ourselves cannot fully comprehend. This realization should lead us to greater dependence on His strength rather than our own.
Finally, we must accept Jesus' offer of grace and restoration after our failures while extending that same grace to others. Jesus sought Peter after his denial, restoring him to ministry and purpose. Similarly, we must both receive God's forgiveness and offer it to others who have stumbled. This reciprocal extension of grace creates a community that grows stronger through its collective weaknesses.
Faith in spite of failure isn't a contradiction—it's the essence of authentic Christian living. It acknowledges human frailty while simultaneously embracing divine faithfulness. When we understand that God's grace covers our missteps and His strength perfects our weakness, we can move forward confidently, not in our own abilities but in His unwavering commitment to complete the work He began in us.
Tune in to listen to: 'Faith Beyond Failure', by Pastor Mark D. Ingram.
In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.
Hi there, this is Pastor Mark, and I'm so grateful that God has tuned you in one more week for this week's Words of Life show. This week, our topic is going to be about faith, and I don't want you to jump ahead of me, but I want you to understand that when you actually say the word faith, what we're saying is not only do we believe, not only will there be action behind our belief, but we must understand that God is so smart. He already knows that with our action, with our belief, there will be failures attached to our faith. So let's get into this week's Words of Life to see what God has to say about my faith, in spite of my failures.
Speaker 2:We thank you for joining our Words of Life, broadcast every Saturday night from 8 to 8.30 pm, where our mission is persuading the lost, perfecting each believer and equipping all for service with practical application from God's Word. We now join Pastor Mark for this week's Words of Life.
Speaker 1:In this week's opening text we are going to be reading from the book of Luke, chapter 22, and I am going to begin at verse 31,. And I'm going to read from the NIV version today, and our reading is as follows Simon, simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. This is Jesus talking to the disciples. But Jesus says but I have prayed for you, simon, that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. But he replied this is Peter talking. Now, lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus answered to Peter. I tell you, peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. May the Lord add a blessing to the hearers, the readers, but, most importantly, those that intend to do his holy word. I would that you consider for a title this week my Faith in Spite of Failure. My Faith in Spite of Failure. My faith in spite of failure.
Speaker 1:As hard as we try, as much as we pray, as dedicated as we are, the reality is failure is a part of the faith package. It is the very reason we must have faith, because there will be impossibilities, there will be doubts, there will be insecurities, there will be times that we don't know. Missteps will happen and they will submerge us if we're not careful, overriding our belief in what Jesus has already done for us. To fail is simply to be ineffective or below standard. To be ineffective or below standard, but understand that our failures are not as much about missing the mark as they are about us continuing to trust in what Jesus did for us at Calvary, as well as trusting in God's faithfulness to us in spite of ourselves. Here's what faith says. Lord, I believe and I will continue working toward the cross in spite of trouble, in spite of setbacks, failures, obstacles, doubts, weaknesses, issues, mistakes. You fill in the blank of whatever sin you might be wrestling with, and faith says I still believe that God is working it all out for my good.
Speaker 1:And so when we talk about faith, we've got to understand that faith must entail failure somewhere along the way, not on God's part, but our part. The Bible lets us know that all things not some things, not a few things, but all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Notice in the title my faith. In spite of failures. My faith lets us know that, over time, my, our faith, it will become a personal, individual endeavor. We will not stand before the Lord based upon whether we believed or not, mama. We will not stand before the Lord with mama, with daddy, with papa or meemaw.
Speaker 1:Each of us has been set up by God and our faith has to be tested individually for its authenticity, to see if what we believe is really real. This is even when we've fallen flat on our faces. This is when we have to pick ourselves up for round three after Satan has gotten the best of us yesterday or even last week. It's when people throw us out with the bathwater after we've made a mistake. We have to pick ourselves up and say I still believe that God is working all of this out, even my flaws and mistakes, in spite of myself. God is working it all out for my good.
Speaker 1:Let's prove what I'm saying with the word James 1 and 3, bible says, for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. First, peter 1 and 7, trials show that our faith is genuine. It is being tested. It's fire test and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Psalm 66 and 10 lets us know that it is God for you. O, god tested us, you purified us like refined silver, and it's amazing that the tester, the one giving the test, god, wants us to have faith in him, since he is the one, not us, but he is the one doing the refining in us. 1 Peter, 4 and 12 lets us know don't be surprised at the fiery trials that are happening to you. It comes upon you for your testing. Don't act as if that's a strange occurrence happening to you, because rejoicing with Christ will come later.
Speaker 1:Now, understanding, although I am saying that God's faithfulness to us is really what matters, I don't want us to misunderstand and say that, hey, I'm advocating that we can go forth, do whatever we want to, just because God's faithfulness, it is intact to us.
Speaker 1:No, what I am saying is we need to heed Romans when we think that way. Romans 6 and 1 says shall we continue in sin? That grace may abound? The Bible then says shall we continue in sin? That grace may abound? The Bible then says God forbid. And so, as we put that out there, just understand, as we get ready to start our scriptural review, understand that at times we are infidels, we are untrustworthy, we are tenuous at best. We can be unsettled and still, whether we want to admit it or not, everyone listening or watching this message, we all struggle with something that we are glad God has not placed on the big screen of life in what Jesus did for us, and that God will never throw us out with the dirty or the sinful bathwater symbolically. They hunt us even in daylight. Now Nowhere is safe.
Speaker 1:Thank you, let's review the text real quick before we get to our points of the day. If we look at our opening text within the context of what was going on at that time, I think sometimes we actually forget who we're talking to or about, because Jesus knows everything about us. He knows everything we're going to say, what we're thinking about saying and understand in the context of what was going on. He knew Peter as well as anybody could know a person. He informs Peter in our opening text look, peter, you are about to fail miserably and backslide. Yet Jesus informs Peter with these words I have prayed for you, peter, that your faith fail not. Notice how Jesus never prayed that Peter would not fail, but he prayed for Peter's faith to remain even as Peter failed miserably. Let's review the chapter. What happened before our opening text? The chapter of 22 that we're in Verses 1 through 6, we see that the religious leaders begin plotting. The chapter of 22 that we're in verses 1 through 6, we see that the religious leaders begin plotting the death of Jesus and Judas makes a deal to betray Jesus. Meanwhile, in verses 7 through 13, jesus begins to make preparations for the Last Supper. Verses 14 through 20, jesus explains what his impending death would mean. And he memorializes his forthcoming sacrifice, with the breaking of bread symbolizing his body and the wine symbolic of his blood Verses 21 through 23,. Jesus reveals that one of them would betray and fail him miserably, that being Judas. In the midst of all of this verses 24 through 30, the disciples act as if Jesus said absolutely nothing. Because, in the midst of all of this, they begin arguing over who was the most important disciple. The master's about to be killed. Now they're arguing over who would possibly take over, who's going to be in charge now. So, before they leave for the Garden of Gethsemane, these same disciples, they would all fail miserably by deserting Jesus. And this brings us full circle to our opening text, verses 31 through 34, where Jesus pulls Peter aside to notify him Peter, you're going to face great temptation tonight. You are going to fail miserably. Peter later would fight and cut a man's ear off. He would cuss people out associating him with Jesus. He would even deny knowing Jesus three times before daybreak. But know that Jesus didn't pray for Peter not to fail. He prayed that his faith would remain intact in spite of the failure. And so, as we begin the transition from the text to application to our lives.
Speaker 1:This sermon has got to first be able to benefit us, because we've got to first be able to simply say wow, I know areas in my life that I have failed the Lord miserably. Could have been last month, could have been last week, could have been yesterday, could have been right now. As you're hearing, we have to first humble ourselves to admit, man, I'm failing the Lord miserably, miserably right now. And here's the thing about failures, before we get to our song of the week. When we failed the test in school, we weren't expelled, we weren't suspended from class.
Speaker 1:Failure just became a springboard for reevaluation, an opportunity to admit the weakness so we could obtain the mastery over that failed topic or subject. There was further study involved so we could take the retest and then, hopefully, failure inspired us to graduate to the next grade level, maintaining our belief in God and his faithfulness to us in spite of our failures and shortcomings. They require the same steps. They require the same steps, and so, before we get to our applicable points, let's pause right here for a segment that we call our Song of the Week, and with this week's Song of the Week, our hope is that we learn to put our trust not in our strength, not in our willpower, but in the only one whose faithfulness never changes our Lord, god Almighty. This week's song of the week is entitled I Will Trust and it features Mrs Twala Ingram right here on the Words of Life show.
Speaker 4:Sometimes I give in to me and doubt my security. Now I wish I I could perceive the plans you have made for me. Oh, I hear, go on again my struggle from within. And why do I feel this way when all I have to say is I will trust you. All this, I'm loved to Give shades of grey clouds of day or dead already shade. I will trust your ways. I'm lost Too far beyond what I see, so I will learn to trust. When calling, I am redeemed. When calling, I am esteemed. Discouraged, I overcome the encouraged. I'm a chosen one.
Speaker 4:So when the light begins, know that this too will end. And when you feel this way, well, all you have to say is I will trust. Oh, this, I'm not too. If shades of grey cloud, the day for dead, already paid, I will trust your ways. I know Too far beyond what I see, so I will learn to trust that no one else will trust you. What you do, what I know, so that I know you, I will learn to trust. You have come, you will come through. Be what you do, be what you do, lord, I know and I know you. I will learn to trust. I will trust All this. I must Give shades, of gray clouds, a day For dead. Already shade, I will trust your ways. I must Too far beyond what I see, so I will learn to trust.
Speaker 1:We are back and we certainly hope you enjoyed this week's Song of the Week, I will trust, from the forthcoming MBI project, the church mixtape, and we hope that if you have time, you can actually watch the video airing of this show, where you'll actually see the lyrical content and you can actually see me taping this show and you can watch this sermon over right there on our website, which is wolchristiancenterorg. As we get ready for our applicable points of the week, let's go back and look at the scripture real quick to answer three quick questions. Number one what did God, jesus or the Holy Spirit do in the text? Well, jesus informed Peter that Satan desired to shake him up, to examine him, to test or sift him, and he warned him of impending failure. Jesus also prayed for Peter's faith to remain intact in spite of the failure. Jesus then encouraged Peter in spite of his shortcomings and upcoming failures, and Jesus instructed Peter After he returned and repented from his backslidden condition he wanted Peter to encourage, strengthen and restore his brothers as they all matured in the faith.
Speaker 1:Next thing we need to examine before we apply points to our lives is what did Peter do in the text? Well, understand that Jesus. He knows all, but Peter rebutted Jesus and he still pledged his loyalty and devotion to God, even though Jesus said you have a failure coming up. And so now we've reviewed the text. We see what Jesus did in the text, we see what Peter did in the text. What must we now know before we attempt to apply or do application? Well, we've got to understand that. Number one we all have character flaws that are dependent upon Jesus's blood to cover us. Number two, we should grasp that God is faithful even when we are not. And number three, we should consider ourselves each time we open our mouths to judge others. So here's point number one we must avoid self-sufficient confidence in our own strength, never say, never Understand that Jesus had to reveal Peter's issues before he could go on to greater things. And Jesus has to do the same with us all the time.
Speaker 1:And we need to be very careful when we watch a news story or we know someone that's caught up in a weakness or issue and the first thing we say is oh, I would never, or I just't imagine, or I would not dare go say or do what they have done. I've got news for people like that. Yes, you would, simply because the Bible warns us about the human heart Jeremiah 17 and 9. The heart is deceitful above all things. It is beyond cure. Who can understand or know it? 17 and 9,. The heart is deceitful above all things. It is beyond cure. Who can understand or know it?
Speaker 1:Here's what Romans 7, chapter 18 through 21,. And adding verse 24 onto it. This is what those verses say about our hearts. I know that nothing good lives in me. That is my sinful nature. I want to do what's right, but I can't. Understand. This is a Christian talking right now. I want to do what's good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, am I not really the one doing wrong? It's that sin that's living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. Or some translations state evil is always present With me. Verse 24 concludes what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God for Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:We must understand when we're thinking about our faith in the midst of failure. We must avoid self-sufficient confidence in our own strength and willpower and never say never. Here's point number two Our failures must inspire trust in God's faithfulness, not ours. Here's Psalm 103 and 14. The Bible says that God knows that our frame, our makeup, how weak we are, God remembers that we are only dust. Let's go back to our opening verse, verse 32. Jesus said I have prayed for you, simon, that your faith may not fail. In other words, I'm not praying for you not to fail because your failure is pushing me into purpose, but when you do fail, understand I'm praying for your faith, that you get back up, that you get back at it, that your faith is intact after you have failed.
Speaker 1:And we often falter in our faith because we're focused on, not God, but we're looking at our unfaithfulness, our frailties, our weaknesses, and then condemnation. Satan starts whispering in our ears instead of us focusing on the fact that man, god, is faithful to us in spite of ourselves. It's just like any loving parent would be to their children. Our children are not perfect. Our children mess up, they make mistakes. They are going to do things that we would wish they don't do. They are going to make boneheaded decisions, but we can often cancel that out and stop being so difficult and difficult with them and hard on them. If we would just think back, wow, what was.
Speaker 1:I doing at 17?.
Speaker 2:Did I have it?
Speaker 1:all together at 20? What was I doing at 22? We need to kind of back up and understand that man. The best thing that I can do right now with my child when they make the dumbest choices simply because they're grown now and they want to forge their own path through it all Parents are supposed to be faithful to their children, in spite of their hangups, weaknesses and shortcomings. Our children must know that they can always come to us, no matter what, matter what. And if this be the case in the natural, how much more so does God want us to do the same with him in the spiritual realm? God's got us covered.
Speaker 1:Philippians 1 and 6,. The Bible says I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you, he will perfect, he will finish, he will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Lamentations 3, 22 and 23. Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new Every morning. His mercies are. Great is thy faithfulness. And 1. John 1 and 9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and he forgives us our sins and he purifies or cleanses us from all unrighteousness. And our final point, when we're talking about my failures in spite of, or should I say my faith in spite of my failures? Here, say my faith in spite of my failures.
Speaker 1:Here's point number three. Let us accept Jesus' offer of grace and restoration after our failures, while encouraging others after theirs. In our opening verse, verse 32, jesus lets us know, as he's talking to Peter, he says when you have turned back from your backslidden state, when you've repented, when you've returned, that lets us know he backslid, he wants you to strengthen his brothers after Peter comes back. I say that because Jesus went and found Peter after the resurrection. Jesus went and found Peter on the lake fishing. Peter went back to what he knew best. He temporarily got out of this disciple, the gospel, the ministry. He left all of that behind and went back to what he knew best, and Jesus went and got him. We must learn to do the same. We must learn to accept God's forgiveness, his grace and restoration and then reach out for someone who has fallen short. I'm going to close with a few scriptures that undergird this fact.
Speaker 1:Galatians tempted and fall. Romans 8 and 1 says there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. John 8, 10 through 11,. Jesus asked the woman caught in adultery when are your accusers? Is one of them present to condemn you? She replies no, lord. And then Jesus said neither do I Go and sin no more. Understand, god's got us, he's faithful to us, but we cannot make a habit of sin. But if we should falter, know that God isn't throwing us out with the bathwater. And so here are three questions I want to close with, to ask us to consider this week. Number one am I being arrogant by bragging on what I would never do when God's word says differently? Question number two have I trusted in my strength and willpower more than I have God's faithfulness to me? And question number three who do I know that has fallen recently?
Speaker 1:and have I made it a point to encourage them with God's love and grace and rest.
Speaker 3:Thank you. We thank you for joining us for this week's Words of Life.
Speaker 1:And our prayer is that you have gotten something out of this week's message Understand that having God's grace is not a license to purposely sin, but know that we will exhibit mistakes, we will exhibit insecurities, doubts and there will be bumps in our road, but that is the essence of faith. So let's go to the Lord together and let's pray that Lord give us the strength, in the name of Jesus Christ, that although we have faith, although we're putting actions behind what it is that we believe in this Christian walk, we will have mistakes, we will have bumps in the road and sometimes we will fall flat on our faces. But we thank you, lord, that in spite of ourselves, your faithfulness is something that can be counted on. It is in your mighty son, jesus Christ, name. Thank you, holy Spirit. In the name of the Trinity, we say amen, amen, and it is so amen Until next week. We look forward to you joining us again right here same time for the Words of Life show.
Speaker 1:God bless you.
Speaker 2:We thank you for listening to Words of Life with Pastor Mark D Ingram. We request your prayerful consideration in partnering with us to support our sole purpose of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ with your monetary donation. You may visit our website at wolchristiancenterorg or contact us here at thewordfmcom.