While all would not necessarily define it in the same manner, most people would say they want to succeed in life. However, many people don't realize all their dreams and expectations before they are interrupted by fear, possibly the fear of failure, the dreaded big "F". The late President John F. Kennedy said, Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan; no one wants to claim it."

I believe that the fear of failure can become a paralyzing force in our lives. Satan can use such a fear to defeat us with an untruth, a belief that we are losers, that we will fail. If we believe this it can become like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

H. Norman Wright wrote, "When we allow the fear of failure to dominate us, we are demanding a guaranteed outcome in a situation. But a guarantee takes away the opportunity to live by faith and trust God for the outcome." (Afraid No More, p.95.)

We need to see life as a combination of successes and failures. If you and I never try anything, I am confident that we will never succeed. Yes, we will very likely fail sometimes if we attempt new challenges, but we may also succeed. Someone said, "The glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time you fail." Do we really think that God wants us to live in the fear of failure, never daring to step out in faith? That is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

This morning take the example of a young man named Timothy. Paul knew that the fear of failure could keep this young Christian leader from becoming what God had planned for him. Timothy had a heritage of Christian faith from his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois, and Paul wrote him some strong words of encouragement to build upon this foundation and live for Christ. "Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and self-discipline." II Timothy 1:6-7.

This word for timidity in Greek is strong, suggesting cowardice or the terror that overtakes the fearful in extreme difficulty. Paul knew well that Timothy was in a potentially fearful situation of ministry because of his youthfulness and the threats of false doctrine of Ephesus. Such threats may be very real to us today too, but we are not to be held hostage by these fears of failure to do what God wants us to do. Instead God wants us to live lives of power, love and self-discipline.

I. Spirit of Power When We Feel Fragile.

The fear of failure might make you and I fragile and vulnerable. Paul may have sensed that Timothy was overwhelmed in the midst of his difficulties serving Christ at Ephesus. In writing to Timothy, Paul encouraged him to receive a spirit of power from God.

In another situation, when David was commissioning his son Solomon to build the temple he said, "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. The spirit of power was needed for Solomon too, when he felt fragile.

Often, I believe it is when you and I are feeling fragile and inadequate, that the fear of failure rears its ugly head. In these situations we need to decide how much power over us we want the devil to have. Certainly Satan will try to convince us of our weakness, but then we should remember what the Lord has said, "My power is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9.

Pastor Larry Michael said, "God can be no bigger to you than you confess Him to be. You may fail in a dozen different lines of activity and then succeed brilliantly in a manner you never imagined possible. You have yet to discover your unrealized potential in the Lord. Don't let the "Big F" overtake you." I heartily agree.

Our God is an awesome and powerful God. Do you believe that as I do? Then instead of feeling fragile, draw upon God's spirit of power. He cares about our concerns and is easily accessible to us in prayer.

Along with the Spirit of Power when we feel fragile Paul reminds young Timothy of another means of overcoming the Big F.

II. Spirit of Love When We Feel Faint.

Like Timothy, you and I may feel faint when we consider some of the difficulties we face as we seek to faithfully serve our Lord. What a marvelous time for us to draw upon the spirit of love, a tremendously mighty force available to each of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

At times we may need to be reminded of this love and its power. Jesus said, "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in my love." John 15:9. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus wrote in his first epistle, 4:18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."

The abiding love of Jesus should help us to rise above the fear of failure and should affect how we relate to those around us. Isn't that demonstrated again and again in Jesus' life? He showed his friends genuine love and care and challenged them with His love so that they did not need to be afraid.

Finally consider overcoming the fear of failure by the spirit of self-discipline when we falter. This was Paul's third challenge to Timothy we are thinking about this morning.

III. Spirit of Self-discipline When We Falter.

How do you stand up courageously for your Lord in the midst of temptation, distortions of the Scriptures and those who might seek to undermine your leadership? With some differing details we face similar challenges to those of Timothy. Paul tells Timothy and us not to be cowards but to have a spirit of self-discipline when we falter. We need self-discipline, self-control and a clear thinking.

In the 37th Psalm we have similar encouragement. "The steps of a man are from the Lord, and He establishes Him in whose way He delights; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord is the stay of his hand."

As human beings we may very well falter from time to time. We need self-discipline. Think about how important key spiritual disciplines are for our faithful Christian lives.

Conclusion

Before I close this message today I want share the true story of one who refused to succumb to the fear of failure. A child was born into the family of a poor Jewish merchant in 1879. As a little boy, he was quite shy and withdrawn and his parents were concerned because he was slow in learning, and did not speak until he was four years old. He failed his entrance exam at the Polytechnicum in Zurich, Switzerland at the age of 16. However, a year later he tried again and was accepted. He went on to receive a doctorate from the University of Zurich, but the only job he could get was that of an obscure patent examiner. When some might have given up with fear of failure he persisted. This man was Albert Einstein who formulated the theory of relativity and became one of the greatest scientists who has ever lived.

God is bigger than our failures. Young Timothy needed to be reminded, and maybe you and I do too. God offers us the Spirit of Power When We Feel Fragile, the Spirit of Love When We Feel Faint, and the Spirit of Self-discipline When We Falter.

Dare to pull off an outwardly courageous act for God and for yourself. Don't be intimidated with the fear of failure.

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