The Plight Of Going Fishing Out Of The Will Of God CD No. -also H-21 Time: 2/ 13/ 2011 11 am travisleemartin@hotmail.com Text: John 21: 1-11 - www.coolspringsbaptistchurch.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction: This account is the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after his resurrection. Jesus was not staying with the disciples every day as he did before He died and was resurrected. When Jesus was with the Disciples, Jesus kept the Disciples in check. Now, the disciples were on their own without Christ leading them. However, Jesus had already told them what they were supposed to be doing when He called them. Matthew 4: 19 Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Yes, their occupation before they became followers of Christ was fisherman; most of them. Now, they re calling were to be fisherman of men. In V. 3 we find these words: Simon Peter saith unto them I go fishing. V.3b -They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into the ship immediately- So, Peter goes fishing out of the will of God. Any time you do anything out of the will of God; it will be futile and fruitless because God will not bless your effort. Well, let s go fishing with Peter and the other disciples and learn some important lessons from this fishing trip. I. The Fleshly Retreat to the Old Life A. Peter Made A Impatient Decision Page 1
Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. The Disciples had an appointment to meet Jesus on a mountain, but Peter got IMPATIENT and said, I go fishing. Four of the disciples waited while the other seven went fishing. A great hindrance in service is a refusal to follow God s time schedule. Impatience has ruined a lot of lives. Impatience has ruined a lot of leaders. Impatience has ruined a lot of churches. Peter Made a Impatient Decision B. Peter Made A Impulsive Decision Peter said, I go fishing. Peter made a fleshly, impulsive decision. Peter thought of going fishing, so he went. He didn t pray about it and wait, he just went. You cannot be a good servant of God by making fleshly, impulsive decisions. We are to seek God s leadership. We are to be directed by our Lord in making decisions in life. Peter knew God s will, but he allowed that fleshly impulse to override the Lord s instructions. C. Peter Made a Influencing Decision V.3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go fishing, They say unto him, we also go with thee. Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Our lives are influencing people in a positive way or a negative way. One might say it is my own personal life; I will do what I want to do. Well, if you are a Christian you have got to consider influencing other people s lives. Page 2
We are the SALT and LIGHT of the world so we have an influencing responsibility to influence people the right way by the decisions that we make. As Parents, we influence our children by the spiritual decisions that we make. As Co-workers, we influence those that we work with by the proper decisions that we make. Peter made an influencing decision that affected some of the other disciples the wrong way; they said, we also go with thee. The Fleshly Retreat to the Old Life II. The Fruitless Result of the Old Life A. Efforts Through Self Will Produces Fruitlessness V.3 Last phrase-they went forth, and entered into a ship immediately: and that night they caught nothing. Seven experienced disciples threw their nets and came up empty; they caught zero fish. When we make impatient, impulsive, influencing decisions, our efforts of fruit bearing will be nothing. One might say, well, there must have been no fish there. No, later, with the guidance of Jesus they pulled in 153 fish, their nets were full. B. Efforts Through The Spirit Producers Fruit John 15:5 Jesus said without me you can do nothing. As individual Christians, we can try to do spiritual things through the flesh, but we will end up fruitless. As a church, we can operate though the flesh, but without God s power and leadership it will all be in vain. Page 3
Satan doesn t care how busy a church gets or how many activities that goes on, as long as we don t pray and seek God s leadership. Paul s Perception for being successful: Phil. 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me. The Fleshly Retreat to the Old Life The Fruitless Result of the Old Life III. The Faithful Recipient Who Found Them A. The Appearance Of The Lord V.4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on shore- We may leave the Lord, but He will not leave us. You may be un-faithful, but he will be faithful. Oh, aren t you glad that He said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. We may forsake Him, but he will not forsake us. B. The Asking Of The Lord V.5- Then said Jesus unto them, Children, have you any meat? The word MEAT has reference to FOOD; here it would have been fish. So, the actual question was: Have you caught any fish. Now, this call from the Lord was not a call of condemnation, but a call of restoration. Question: why did the omniscient Christ ask them if they caught anything, since He knows everything? Answer: Jesus asked them in order for them to admit their inadequateness. Listen to their answer: V.5 Last phrase-they answered him, no. Page 4
We need to evaluate our labor when we keep caching nothing, while we are supposed to be fisherman of men. We might need to seek His wisdom, His guidance, His power, and His presence, and be a good, consistent witness for Him, then our answer might be yes, we have caught some fish or lost souls for you Lord. The Fleshly Retreat to the Old Life The Fruitless Result of the Old Life The Faithful Recipient Who found them IV. The Failed Recognition of the Disciples V.4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Now, Jesus was approximately 100 yards away. These seven disciples were a long way from where Jesus was standing. Spiritual Application: When we get a long way off from Jesus and get out of God s will, we too will not be able to sense His presence or recognize His voice when He speaks to us. John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. When we are in the will of God, we can sense His presence and we can recognize His voice when He speaks to us. Nothing is more important and precious for a child of God!!! VI. The Faith Renewed By the Disciples A. We See The Instructions Revealed V. 6-And He said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. Jesus gives us instructions also from his word and when we follow his instructions, we will find lost souls. Luke `14:23 Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Key words: go out- Page 5
Matthew 28: 19 Great Commission- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. First key word: Go ye therefore- If we expect to win lost souls, we have to go outside the church into the world where they are at and share the Gospel with them. Again, the key word is GO, if we expect to win souls!! We See The Instructions Revealed B. We See The Immediate Response V.6-2 nd phrase- they cast therefore- These seven disciples had messed up and got out of God s will, but now they were being obedience to the voice of God. God says that: obedience is better than sacrifice. You never go wrong or get in trouble when you obey God; it is when you stop obeying His voice when you get in trouble. C. We See The Instant Reward V.6 Last phrase- They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.{v.11-153 fish} We find that God rewards obedience. When we fish for men as the Lord has instructed us and be consistent in using the Gospel as bait, we will have our nets full of lost souls. Personal Application: I love to fish for bass, and when I catch some big bass I am happy, happy, happy. However, when I go fishing for lost souls and the Lord lets me win some souls for him, I am the happiest person on the face of this earth. Nothing could make me happier!!! Psalms 126: 5 They that sow in tears shall reap with joy. 6-He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed[ word of God], shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves{lost souls} with him. Page 6
We find the word joy and rejoicing in these verses. Soul winners are happy people!! The Fleshly Retreat to the Old Life The Fruitless Result of the Old Life The Faithful Recipient Who Found Them The Failed Recognition by the Disciples The Faith Renewed By the Disciples VI. The Fellowship Restored With The Lord After these disciples started being obedient we find the wonderful result in verses 7 through 12. A. They Recognized Their Risen Lord V.7 Therefore that disciple [John] whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, it is the Lord- Now, that they were doing God s will they recognized his presence and His voice. B. They Forsook Their Old Way Of Life -[ fishing] V.7 again- middle of verse-now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fishers coat unto him [John] for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea. 8-And the other disciples came in a little ship; for there were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits{100yards}, dragging the new with fishes. Well, Peter was still having a problem with patience; he jumped in the lake and started swimming toward Jesus. Peter may have been impatient and impulsive and failed in other ways, but he loved Jesus. {Jesus examines his love in VV.15-17} Spiritual Application: They left their old way of life, as far as we know and they spent the rest of their life sharing the Gospel and being fisherman of men. Page 7
After we get saved, we should spend the rest of our lives being fisherman of men. They Recognized Their Risen Lord They Forsook Their Old Way of Life C. They Had Breakfast With Jesus V.12 Jesus said unto them, come and dine. And none of the disciples dursk ask him, who art thou? Knowing it was the Lord. 13-Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. Spiritual Application: They were going to be fed by Jesus. Only Jesus can feed the inner man when we are in the will of God. One might say, well, I don t know if I would like FISH for breakfast. If the perfect Son of God cooked the fish, it would be the best meal that you ever ate. Amen!! Conclusion: The Plight Of Fishing Out Of The Will Of God Amplified For Us: The Plight of Soul Winning out Of the Will of God {Most people out of the will of God won t even try to win souls} As God s children we cannot be affective winning souls out of the will of God; it will be futile and fruitless. I hope that you are winning souls because you will experience supreme joy in your life. Page 8