Ushering in a spirit of reawakening and reconnection with God, The Northside Church recently hosted a Reclamation Revival. For Sabbath service, Pastor T. Ron Weegar of the Ephesus Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, spoke on how to use our past failures to create our future. Failure should not equal defeat. Failure does not mean life is over.
Pastor Weegar provided the following examples of successful individuals who did not allow failure to be a roadblock to their journey, but rather a hurdle to thrust them into their destiny.
“The great Albert Einstein could not speak until he was 4. He could not read until he was 7. He was labeled intellectually challenged. Thomas Edison was labeled too stupid to learn, but successfully invented the lightbulb. Henry Ford failed at his first business and had to file for bankruptcy,” said Weegar. These were just a few individuals Pastor Weegar used as examples to illustrate that failure does not have to define us.
Pastor Weegar went on to speak about how success is seasonal. Success is based on the law of reciprocity. We must give back what God has given us. We must build on what we were taught. However, just like the seasons of the weather, no season will last forever. In this current season we must learn, prepare and plan for the next season. Additionally, Weegar advised us to listen to God, accept the revelation and take the risk.
Pastor Weegar also reminded us of the story of Joshua and how God interceded for him. God told Joshua to step in the water. God set out to prove to Joshua and all of Israel that He was with Joshua just as He was with Moses. God told Joshua, “Tell the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘when you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river’” (Josh. 3:8 NIV).
Joshua listened, accepted the revelation and took the risk. As soon as the priests who carried the Ark set foot into the Jordan, the water stopped flowing. “The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground” (Josh. 3:17 NIV). “God’s mercy will not take you where God’s grace will not keep you. God will not only give us provision, but protection as well,” proclaimed Weegar.
The message reminded us of God’s promise that God will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). God just wants us to trust Him. Pastor Weegar’s sermon encouraged the congregation to not be dismayed by failure, but rather be encouraged, “for all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us” (Philipp. 4:13).
—Deidra Howard is a communication assistant for the Central States Conference.
