Sermon Nuggets Weds Jan 7
Theme- The Living Lord
Verses- John 21:7-11 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
The Living Christ Encourages Us
What would give discouraged fishermen encouragement? Obviously, to catch fish. Jesus did what the unexpected. Not only did they catch fish, but more than they could imagine. They were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. It was too heavy for the 7 of them to lift without tipping the small fishing vessel. When they obeyed his instructions they were blessed. It was at the point that John recognized that it was Jesus. Peter was so excited, he couldn’t’ contain himself. He had to do what he did before he jumped into the water and swam to shore because of his love for the Lord. If you would see Christ in the world you must be like John, “Things are no longer coincidences. Gods’ hands are in them
When we need encouragement there is no better one than Jesus who knows your need. Many in great discouragement and disappointments come to place where they can no longer trust their own efforts and give up and let go, so God comes in power of the resurrected Jesus and gives them hope again. Jesus is alive, loves you, and wants what is best for you and for His own glory.
Philip Yancey tells about a friend of his who worked with homeless people in Chicago. One woman his friend was trying to help was a cocaine addict: "She was so desperate that she would rent out her two-year-old daughter to men so they could have sex with her. The woman would get $100 per man which would be just enough for another fix. She was homeless, she had bad health. She had no one to care for her. She poured out her story to my friend who is a Christian minister, and he was overwhelmed and amazed. At the end he said to her, 'As you went through all this, did you ever think about going to a church for help?' He said that he would never forget the look of absolute naive shock that crossed her face as she said, 'Church! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling bad enough. They would just make me feel worse!'
Don’t confuse what some church people may or may not do, with the living Lord. Jesus challenges us in our inabilities and weaknesses to give up and come to Him, not for the purpose of Him achieving our goals and wants. Many misunderstand that. The call to follow Jesus is the call to change the direction of our lives from our desires and priorities to His. Then there is purpose and meaning to life and eternal blessing. It is more than leaving sin. It is also leaving our comfort zone. Although it may be notnbing more than doing the same things with new purpose and understanding.
Perhaps you are discouraged in your Christian life or Sunday school teacher or committee job, in your church life or prayer times. There is change ahead. If not change in responsibility then change of heart. There is one who wants to encourage you, not punish you. One who is alive and makes us aware that He wants us to trust and obey Him. There is blessing far than what we can imagine.
Interestingly, Jesus kept the disciples at the same ol’ spot. They were told to stay at the same place, in the same boat in the sea. Change of environment isn’t necessarily going to help. Some people think all I need to do is change husbands or wives and then it will go better. Change jobs and I would be free from problems. Perhaps they will. Perhaps they won’t. Why would you change? Does God want you to? Is it consistent with His word? You are who you are and most of the problems you will have will follow you wherever you go because you cannot run away form yourself. There needs to be an inward change.
The fishermen were the same disciples. New blood isn’t going to make it work. These were not new methods of doing things. They used the same old net. They had the same old boat, same fishing knowledge and same old people that you were working with. Some think all I need to do to get things working is get new programs, new people new methods. Listen first to the voice of Jesus. Is He telling to you keep at it, fish on the other side?
That was for the immediate blessing so they might know Jesus to be Lord and Master over their lives. But indeed that was the step Jesus used to show them another change was ahead. That change did require new places, additional friends, and not staying in the boat or the same job. They were to be called fishers of man instead of fish. He brought them to a higher understanding of life that brought greater rewards.
Maybe you are struggling in your own wisdom and power and the Lord likes you where you are and with what you’ve got. He wants to encourage you again to remain where you are but with renewed encouragement in His wisdom. What is needed is the Holy Spirit and the power from God. What is ahead may surprise you when you obey.
Perhaps another verse that is applicable today is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. And he shall direct your paths.” Prov 3:5,6
Pastor Dale
