The Power of Getting Back Up | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, October 12



God specializes in turning our biggest failures into our greatest comebacks. This message is your invitation to experience His incredible grace and get a second chance. God is not finished with your story yet!

Key Points 

  • There is life beyond your bitter tears. The story doesn’t end when you fail God and cry bitter tears. If you truly repent, God won’t leave you there; He will forgive and restore you. 
  • Even when others don’t see any value in you, God does. God loves you and speaks a better word over you than the world does. Don’t quit because you made a mistake. God still wants to use you to do great things! 
  • Keep swinging. No matter how many times you fail, if you keep trying, believing, and praying, God will give you another chance. It takes a lot of strikeouts to hit a home run.

Key Scripture 

Matthew 26:31-75; Luke 22:61-62; John 20:6; Acts 2:37-39

Introduction

Today we’ll explore the message by Pastor Jentezen Franklin titled “The Power of Getting Back Up.” The message encouraged us to see that even when we stumble or deny Christ—as Peter did—God’s mercy reaches deeper than our failures. Pastor Jentezen began by leading us into that upper room moment where Jesus warns His disciples that they will all fall away, and Peter boldly insists in Matthew 26:31–35, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (NIV)

Yet, before the night ended, Peter would deny the very One he swore to defend.

This story reminds us that human confidence often fails, but God’s grace never does. We all have “Peter moments”—times we fall short, speak too soon, or walk away in fear. But just as Jesus looked at Peter with compassion after the rooster crowed, He looks at us not with condemnation, but with restoration in His eyes.

What stood out to you from this message?

Have you ever felt like Peter—certain of your strength one moment and broken the next?

Grace After Denial

Peter’s bold claim in Matthew 26:35 shows his confidence:

“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (NIV)

But Jesus, knowing human weakness, said in Matthew 26:34, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (NIV)

Peter’s trust in his own strength and the need to please others set him up for failure. During Jesus’s trial, a servant girl said, “You were with Jesus of Galilee,” but Peter denied it, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about” (Matthew 26:69-70, NIV). At the entrance, another servant girl identified him, and he denied with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:71-72, NIV). When the crowd noted his accent, Peter cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:73-74, NIV).

As the rooster crowed, Jesus looked at Peter, piercing his heart with the memory of the warning. Overwhelmed, Peter“went outside and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75, NIV). His failure shows Jesus isn’t impressed by human boasting. True faith relies on God’s power, not self-reliance, leading Peter to brokenness that opened the door to restoration.

Instructions for Group Leader:

Lead the discussion by reading each question aloud clearly. Pause after each question to give participants time to reflect silently and consider their personal responses. Encourage them to think deeply about how the questions apply to their own experiences. 

  • Facing Fear and Pressure: When under pressure or fear, do I stand firm in my beliefs or compromise through subtle denials or silence to avoid discomfort?
  • The Danger of Bravado: Where do I show overconfidence in my own strength or loyalty, and how does this lead to avoidable failures when I rely on myself instead of deeper beliefs?
  • The Impact of Realization: What moment—like Jesus’s look or the rooster’s crow—would shatter my self-deception after a failure? How quickly do I move from denial to genuine repentance and responsibility? 

God's Redemption Through Failure 

Jesus warned His disciples that they would stumble because of the events that were about to happen. He referenced Zechariah 13:7, saying, "I'll strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will scatter." Peter, bold and brash, swore he would never falter, but he did. Because of his own betrayal of Jesus, Peter wept bitterly (Matt. 26:75).

Your Bitter Tears

The bitter tears we have all shed through loss and regret are seen by our Lord Jesus. He hears our cries for comfort and forgiveness. Through both trials and blessings, God prepares and purifies us.

All Christians are called to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, yet each of us is given unique gifts that are revealed through our walk with Him. When you feel you can’t go on, remember—the Lord has other plans for you and desires to use you.

In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord declares:

“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Scripture offers many examples of ordinary people restored by God’s grace after loss, failure, or sin.

Simon Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus forgave him and used him as the rock upon which the Church was built. Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood weeping at the cross, a symbol of steadfast love and faith. Job lost everything, yet he said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Because of his faith, God restored him abundantly.

These examples remind us that God can turn our deepest pain into purpose. Pastor Franklin said, “We can’t do everything good, but we need to find what we do well—and do it.”

When trials come, don’t lose heart. Getting back up again can be your greatest testimony to the redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • When have you faced loss or failure that later showed God's purpose or helped you grow in faith? (Consider how trials shaped your beliefs or gifts.)
  • Pastor Franklin said, “We can’t do everything good, but we need to find what we do well—and do it.” What is one gift or strength God has placed in you that you can use to serve others?
  • The message reminds us that “getting back up can be your greatest testimony.”What does “getting back up” look like in your life right now, and how can your group support you in that journey?

Be encouraged! Proverbs 24:16 says, "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." (NIV) Don’t give up!

From Strikeouts to Home Runs: Stories of Perseverance

History shows people who kept going despite setbacks, proving God’s got a comeback for you. 

God turns our failures into testimonies. Scripture declares:

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” Romans 8:37 (NIV)

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV) 

Thomas Edison's teacher called him "addled," but his mother homeschooled and believed in him. His team tested ~10,000 materials for a practical light bulb filament before succeeding. Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime and destroyed many works amid criticism, yet his art now fetches millions. Abraham Lincoln lost jobs, elections, and loved ones, but at 52 became President and ended slavery. Albert Einstein didn't speak fluently until age 3, struggled in early school, and was initially rejected from college, yet developed the Theory of Relativity. Dr. Seuss's first book was rejected 27 times, but his works sold 600 million copies. Colonel Sanders, broke at 65, got ~1,000 rejections before launching KFC. Babe Ruth hit the most home runs but struck out more than anyone. Keep swinging.

Like Peter, who denied Jesus but preached at Pentecost, your mess-ups don’t define you. Romans 8:37 and Philippians 4:13 say you’re an overcomer with Christ’s strength. Don’t quit—your home run’s coming.

  • Daily Setbacks: Romans 8:37 (NIV) says, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Think of a recent small failure (e.g., a bad day or missed goal). How can you lean on God’s strength this week to keep going?
  • Pushing Through: The stories of Edison, Lincoln, and others show persistence pays off. Which story resonates with you and why?
  • Learning from Mistakes: Peter messed up and after Christ’s death he went back to fishing, but God used him at Pentecost. Think of a recent mistake. How can Peter’s life and/or 

Draw on Romans 8:37 and Philippians 4:13 for strength to seek forgiveness and take one actionable step toward repentance and growth.

Conclusion

Peter’s story didn’t end at the courtyard of denial—it began again in the upper room! The same man who once wept bitterly after failure would later stand boldly on the Day of Pentecost and proclaim:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38, NIV)

The man who struck out three times before the rooster crowed became the one who hit a “home run” for God when three thousand souls were saved through his message.

That’s the beauty of the cross. When Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He meant the work of redemption was complete. Every failure, denial, and sin was covered by His blood. And now, in heaven, the angels still cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12).

Friend, you may feel like you’ve struck out in life, but with Jesus, you can still step back up to the plate. He is the God of second chances—the One who turns strikeouts into home runs. If you need forgiveness, grace, or a fresh start, this is your moment. Jesus is calling you to get back up, to believe again, to come home.

  • Peter’s failure became the foundation of his greatest ministry moment. How can God use your past mistakes as part of your testimony and ministry today?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your grace that restores us. Like Peter, we’ve failed, but Romans 8:37 calls us conquerors through Christ, and Philippians 4:13 gives us Your strength. Forgive our shortcomings, renew our hope, and help us keep going for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Resources 

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