Failure or Finish (Part 2)

The Bible contains many examples of great men who at some point in their lives failed as leaders:

Abraham-He lied about Sarah being his wife for fear he would be killed and his wife taken from him.  Yet he is called a man of faith and the "friend of God.”

Moses-In anger he struck the rock and called forth water instead of speaking to the rock as God directed.   Yet the Bible says there has never been another prophet as great as Moses.

King David-He committed adultery with another man's wife, then had the man killed to try to cover his sin.  Yet he was a great king and is called "a man after God's own heart.” 

Jonah-He went the opposite direction when God called him to preach in Ninevah.  Later he preached the greatest revival in history.  The whole city repented.

Joshua-This man was a great military commander who assumed leadership of the nation of Israel after the death of Moses. One of the challenges God gave Joshua was to lead Israel to claim their promised land.  But at one point Joshua was so discouraged that he longed to be back on the other side of Jordan in the wilderness.  At another time he was deceived by the Gibeonites.  Yet this man went on to conquer the land promised by God.  

The Prophet Elijah-A wicked queen named Jezebel sent a messenger to the prophet Elijah informing him she was planning to kill him.  
 I Kings 19:4  "He went a day's  journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.  

Here was the great man of God who had healed the sick, raised the dead, and controlled elements of nature in the name of the Lord.  Now he was hiding, fearful, despondent, and requesting to die.  Yet Elijah returned to demonstrate God's power before the entire nation of Israel at Mt. Carmel.

Peter: This man denied Jesus, but later became a great leader in the early church.

The Apostle Paul: The Apostle Paul also faced failure. 

a. He wrote once that due to experiences in Asia he was  "pressed out of measure" and "despaired even of life"-2 Corinthians 1:8. 

b. He expressed times when he was troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down-2 Corinthians 4:8.  

c. He  said  he  had  fears and troubles- 2 Corinthians 7:5, 6. 

But the Apostle Paul successfully spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, raising up great churches and leaders throughout the nations of the world.