God is calling Failures. Start again.

 Perhaps you have failed and lost all hope.

Perhaps you have dared to do something for God, but you have failed, or other Christians have betrayed you. Maybe you are disappointed with your marriage or with your children. That really hurts.

But right now, God wants you to know that He still has a purpose for your life.

God wants to restore his disappointed children. God will transform failures in this season to do great things by His grace.

HERMANN ZAISS

Hermann Zaiss (1889 - 1958) was an outstanding German evangelist.

In 1924 he suffered terrible disappointments. His wife suffered a total nervous breakdown and became chronically mentally ill.

His marriage failed and he was misunderstood by Christian congregations and condemned by many.

He was so traumatised that he gave in to despair and told God he wanted nothing more to do with Him. But after 20 years, God would call him again if it would please God.

In the meantime, he remarried and God called his new wife to a living faith.

During the Second World War, they suffered bombing raids from the British and Americans. His wife wanted to start a Bible study group, but he didn't want to.

Then in 1944, exactly 20 years after leaving God, he and his wife knelt together and gave their lives to God's service.

They started a Bible study group that became a church of 120 and then a group of 250 after the war.

People from all over Germany and other countries came and experienced miraculous healings.

A German Jew in the British Army of Occupation came to faith and his hatred of Germany was transformed into a deep love.

A fanatical SS officer was transformed and he became friends with the newly converted Jew.

If you are disappointed with your life, let Jesus take on your disappointments.

He suffered and died on the cross to save you from your disappointment.

Jesus stands by your side now and he calls you as he once called Peter, Peter the failure who became Peter the apostle.

… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:2–3 NIV

You must not despise yourself.

 God does not despise you. You must not despise yourself.

God does not despise people. He even sees wicked people as his lost children.

He longs to restore them and bring them home.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jn 3:16 NKJV

Humanity is God's masterpiece, but we see that we are not glorious beings. Imagine a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci badly damaged by fire and flood, but not completely destroyed. It looks dirty and shabby, but it is still a masterpiece.

You are also a human being, but not just any old specimen of humanity.

And the people around you who have not yet believed are also special beyond measure, even if they are badly damaged, because they were also created in the image of God.

We need to change the way we think and the way we talk about ourselves and about other people.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Jas 3:9–11 NIV

God doesn't like everything about you and me, but he is working day and night to restore us.
He is not pleased with everything in our lives, but he loves his children, and that is what we are when we belong to Jesus by trusting him.

If you belong to Jesus by faith, God not only loves you, but He is pleased with what He has done in your life.

God has created you with a special purpose. No one else on earth is like you.  

Your life is a gift from God, and also an assignment from God.

What is your special purpose in life? God wants to show you your calling in life and show you the path you should take.

Failure is not Final

 You failed. Perhaps you tried your best, but you failed.

We are all flawed, even when we want to do the best we can. Then your friendship, your job, your love relationship, your ministry explodes. You can now see how you went wrong.

But something is broken. You are suffering. The people you care about are suffering. What can you do?

We can cry out to God for help. Only God can knit your heart together. Only God can repair broken friendships.

Jesus died to reconcile you with God. He also wants to reconcile you with your neighbour.

Are you now ready to recognise your mistakes? Then God can help you in a marvellous way.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

Jesus came to save sinners. No one is excluded. Jesus is also the good shepherd who restores his already saved sheep when they go wrong.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Lk 15:4 NIV

Perhaps you are already a faithful disciple, but you have failed.

You have gone astray, but perhaps not too far. Nevertheless, you are hurt, and you have hurt your friendship or family too. You are devastated, but Jesus loves you no less.

Jesus still remains your good shepherd.

Even if you have truly sinned wilfully, you must know that Jesus wants to give you grace to repent and receive his forgiveness.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8–9 NIV

Finding New Strength

 Sometimes you get exhausted. You are overwhelmed. It's just too much. You've run out of energy. You can no longer find your drive.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. Is 40:29–30 NLT

The eagle is unique. Eagles can live up to a hundred years. Over the years, their feathers become old and worn. They can no longer fly well.

They withdraw and perch on a mountain top. Then they moult. They lose their old feathers and gain new ones. Without feathers, they can be vulnerable, but they find a safe remote place and wait until they are strong again.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Is 40:31 NLT

With new feathers they are strong again, but even then they do not fly like other birds. They often glide like a glider.

Jesus said that the source of our strength is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is God, but as a man on earth he relied on the Holy Spirit.

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” Jn 3:6–8 NLT

A truly converted Christian receives a completely new life through the Holy Spirit, but it is not enough to be born again by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is not just there to save us. He is our companion, our guide and our strength, just like in the life of Jesus on earth.

Are you so overwhelmed that you can't find time for a day of rest?

Withdraw for a time, a few days, a few hours or if that is just not possible, for a few minutes. Focus your thoughts on the presence of God around you and also within you. Perhaps you can place your hand on your chest. This is not only your chest, but also the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, who loves you immeasurably.

If you have problems sleeping, pray for help and don't be afraid to seek medical help. Lack of sleep can do terrible damage.

Look at your routine. Are you just trying to do too much? Are you trying to please other people? What apparent duties are just not absolutely necessary?

You are called to do what God calls you to do, not what other people want you to do. Learn to say no.

Christian Workaholics

Are you a burned out workaholic, a slave to duty?

Are you addicted to success at any price?

Are you driven to be a good Christian, trying so hard but never feeling you are good enough?

Are you exhausted by striving?

A Japanese office worker was extremely hardworking. Whatever his assignments were he had to complete them all, whatever the cost.

After working hard for over 24 hours without a break, he dropped dead.

An admirable itinerant preacher in India lived with unlimited dedication. He wanted to live just like Jesus, at any cost. He once tried to fast for 40 days and almost died.

When the Holy Spirit calls you to fast, he gives grace, but if you try to fast because of holy striving, it can cause great harm. It can lead to neurosis and eating disorders.

A young American was a totally dedicated Christian. He attended church at least four times a week. He served as a leader in the youth group. He read a few chapters of the Bible every day and prayed dutifully every morning and every evening.

His whole life revolved around his Christian discipleship, but he still felt dry and weary in his soul.

Finally, he could no longer bear this religious treadmill. He still believed in God, but he gave up. He hardly prayed for a few days. He didn't read his Bible, only the newspaper.

One morning he was sitting at breakfast reading the newspaper. Suddenly the Holy Spirit fell upon him. In the midst of his religious activities, he had neglected the most important thing. He had never learnt to simply receive and enjoy the unconditional love of God.

When Jesus was an itinerant preacher, all kinds of Jews came to him. There were sinful apostate Jews and also very diligent religious Jews. Both were stressed and spiritually tired.

Jesus recognised their stress and their inner exhaustion. He also sees your stress. His words to the Jews still speak to us today.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

God's Healing for Damaged People

In Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, ATHELAS is a powerful healing herb. The true King is also a true healer, and he applies the herb ATHELAS to terrible wounds.
 
This is a Christian parable.

ATHELAS is the New Testament Greek word meaning TRUTH.
In the New Testament the true King is Jesus but his true identity is veiled, as Jesus lives an ordinary life amongst ordinary people, just like Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.

In The Lord of the Rings, two heroic characters are stabbed with blades empowered by demonic witchcraft, that is Frodo and Eowyn. Aragorn, the King in exile, puts ATHELAS herb in hot steaming water and applies the medicine to the deadly wounds.

When people are traumatised by dark and terrible experiences, only truth can heal them.
 
Many Christians have some understanding of this but lack the deep wisdom and love to apply truth in a healing way.

In the Lord of the Rings, it is the King himself who applies the healing herb with gentleness and healing skill.

It is not enough to present traumatised people with the truth about the King. We must bring them gently into the presence of the King Himself.

Some badly damaged people can only tolerate medicine in very small doses. Sometimes we must administer very small doses of truth with a lot of love and patience.

In the New Testament, Jesus did not declare the full truth of who he is to the crowds when they came for healing. He healed the sick and he spoke in parables.

Timing is also vitally important. Even with his chosen twelve apostles, Jesus did not begin by telling them he was the eternal God come down from heaven. He waited for the Father to reveal it to them.

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  Mt 16:13-17 NKJ

A young woman goes to church looking for God. She was abused as a child and became a prostitute. She is traumatised and sees herself as a victim.

The pastor confronts the issue of her sin but shows little empathy for her as a suffering victim.

Timing!

We must know when and how to minister truth to damaged people.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Eccl 3:1 NKJ

Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won't be tempted too. Gal 6:1 CEB

Remember, truth must always come with love and mercy. Truth without love often makes wounds worse, not better.
 
Ultimately God will judge the world with truth and condemn everyone who rejected Jesus, but remember, you and I are not judges. Only God is the judge.

But what about strong preaching? Don’t we also need that?
Strong preaching is like surgery. Some people need life saving operations.

But even with surgery, we try to minimise the pain with anaesthetics, gentle after care and pain relief.
There are some preachers and some Christians who approach every situation like a surgeon.

Supposing a family doctor routinely and repeatedly sends all his patients to hospital for major operations. He will kill people and lose his license to practise medicine.

If you are an evangelist, you are gifted and called to confront sin, but don’t do this to the same people over and over again. Jesus was called the friend of sinners.

Truth without grace often does more harm than good.

God has a Special Place just for You.

Captain Dale Black was a pilot who died in a plane crash.

The plane broke apart ... Only Dale survived, somehow...

“Suddenly I was thrown into the air and hovered over my shattered body...

Two angel escorts accompanied me, dressed in seamless white robes woven from silver threads.''
After God sent him back to his body and his earthly life, he told what had happened to him. He tried to describe what he had experienced and seen in heaven.

Each house was custom-made and unique and yet all together looked very harmonious. Some had three or four floors, others were even higher. "No two houses were alike.

Burke, John. This is what heaven is like: near-death experiences, God's promises, and the extraordinary future that awaits you (English Edition) . Kindle Edition.

Just before his death on the cross, Jesus wanted to encourage his disciples.
 
 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

The House of the Heavenly Father is the City of God in heaven. If you trust Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have a new and eternal citizenship. Your home is God's heaven. God has prepared a house for you, your own house.

Have you ever been to a church service and it started to get boring.
Then you start to wonder whether heaven will be just one endless church service. A depressing thought.

But if heaven is just one long church service, why will we need houses?

In God's heaven everything is indescribably beautiful, the trees, the flowers, the music and also the houses.

In Heaven we will worship God with lovely songs.

The apostle Paul was stoned to death. Then he stood up and walked away, not only alive but miraculously healed.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 2 Cor 12:2 (NKJV)
 

From the context of the passage we understand that Paul was most likely telling about his own experience.


… he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 2 Cor 12:4
 
A well-known preacher in our time also had the privilege of looking into God's heaven.

Was it in a vision, a dream or did he leave his body like the pilot after the plane crash? I don't know. God has different ways to bless his children.

Many people who have somehow visited heaven tell about the overwhelmingly beautiful music.

This preacher told how a large crowd sang worship songs in heaven. The songs were in perfect harmony, but as he listened  he found that everyone was singing their favourite music.
You could distinguish all kinds of musical styles and traditions, but the harmony was perfect.

Once I was in a wonderfully blessed meeting in Germany. The presence of God was amazing. Some people saw a heavenly white cloud in the room. I could feel it but not see it. Later, this heavenly cloud was clearly visible in digital photos.

Two men started to play the guitar in the style of 1960's rock music and we sang together and felt God's blessing. 

I started singing, but my song was in classical style, someone said like a Jewish cantor, but my song fitted perfectly with the harmony and rhythm of the rock song.

When you experience oppressive conformism in church, it's not from God.

Paul explained how God distributes different gifts to his children.

If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 1 Cor 12:15-16 (NKJV)

God created you unique. You are you.

Hope in Dark Places

When you're overwhelmed with problems, when the way ahead looks hopeless, when your thoughts go in dark circles, then it is time to expect something new from God.

God was your Creator when you were conceived. God was there at your birth.

In your helpless dependence, you experienced a mother’s love, that special love that stirred your hunger for a heavenly love.

Then you learned to stand on your own feet and walk.

You went to school, perhaps studied and then got a job, but never forget that you are from God and your life was prepared by God.

No matter how strong and clever you have become, you need to know that your power and success was only possible through God's loving care.

Human strength and material things don’t last for ever.

You may experience painful setbacks. You lose your job. Your marriage fails. Your children go astray and break your heart. You grow old and your strength fails.

You come to a place where you cannot manage your life with your limited health and strength.

How do you react then?
Many become depressed, pessimistic, resigned. Maybe this is you.

If you have not been in these dark places, your time may yet come. 
But if life knocks you down, do you have to stay down forever?

Recently I was very down. I went into a dark place, until it occurred to me that God still has plans for me that I can not think of myself.

I have come so far with God’s amazing help. It was not my own strength or ability that brought me this far.

God has led me so far, and will he not take care of me when I grow old?

God has always rescued me with beautiful surprises from impossible situations. If Jesus rescued me before, will he change His mind when I am old?
 
When Jesus called Peter to leave his job as a fisherman, Peter had to follow a new path, a path that looks very insecure to our natural minds.

Does the way ahead of you look uncertain?

God sees where you are, and he sees the path that lies before you. Nothing is uncertain for God.

God has prepared a bridge that leads from your past to your future.
Would a good engineer design a bridge that leads from one bank to another, or a bridge that does not quite reach the other bank?

 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9 NKJ

We need God's loving care. You need to get God's thoughts. You have a Bible, but the Bible is a big book. To reach your destination you need not only a good map, but also a reliable guide.

Jesus did not leave his disciples on earth without help.
We have the best of all guides and mentors, the Holy Spirit.

`Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jer 33:3 NKJ

Just as the Holy Spirit was to the prophets in the Old Testament, even so he is our wonderful comforter and guide today. He is the great encourager. He wants to give you new hope.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jer 29:11 NKJ

You need the peace of God!

God's will for you is peace.

Peace in Hebrew is SHALOM. That includes safety, healing and complete well-being. This peace comes only from God. 

Herrmann Zaiss was a dedicated evangelist in Germany who was deeply hurt in spite of amazing success. He was full on charismatic. His ministry resulted in numerous conversions and healings, but in 1924 the resistance of the anti-charismatic Christians was much stronger than it is today.

The persecution by other Christians was very hard to take. His wife had a complete nervous breakdown and his marriage failed. His wife was apparently permanently psychotic in a psychiatric institution.

Herrmann Zaiss was a broken man despite his amazing faith.
How is that possible? In the Bible, Elijah became desperate and asked God to let him die.

Herrmann Zaiss could not take it any longer.

He did not want to have anything to do with God anymore. He still believed in God, but he did not want to live as a Christian. God could kill him, he knew that. He told God he could call him back after 20 years if He so willed. That was up to God.

Zaiss became a successful entrepreneur and married again.
In 1944 he was in Solingen and Germany was falling to pieces. In Solingen and elsewhere, allied bombs rained down day and night.

His wife told him that despite everything, he was a man of God. The time had come to re-activate his faith to encourage the suffering people around them.

Exactly twenty years after turning his back on God, he knelt with his wife, and they gave themselves completely to Jesus.

God forgave him and restored his miraculous ministry. His faith was stronger than ever.

One day they heard a bomber attack on Solingen from England was on their way. Herrmann Zaiss took to the streets and ordered the aircraft to return to England. Then they heard that the bombers had actually turned back.

His ministry increased. Hundreds of desperate Germans came to hear his message. Many were converted.

After the war, a businessman provided him with a bomb-damaged building.

People came from near and far, even from Holland. They saw amazing healings. Where despair reigned, new hope rose up.

Among the British occupation forces was a young soldier. His entire Jewish family in Germany had been wiped out by the Nazis. He was accepted as a refugee in England, and now as a British soldier he hated the Germans.

A Canadian officer was Christian and wanted to help the young Jew. He took the tormented you man to one of Herrmann Zaiss’s meetings. The broken-hearted young soldier heard the wonderful message and saw the amazing miracles. He felt the love of God and God gave him a new heart. Instead of blazing hatred, there was now a burning love.

At the same meetings there was an ex SS officer who had adored Hitler. He had been seriously wounded during the last days of the war, and he was cared for in an American hospital. He could not understand the love of American Christians, but Jesus also transformed his heart.

The young Jew and the no longer hate filled Nazi officer became close friends.

"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "And I will heal him." Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)