Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, November 10, 2013 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Self-reliance, Dependence upon God, Self-Effort or Spiritual Power? John 21:1-14 (NKJV) Please open your Bibles to John chapter twenty one. INTRODUCTION I know we have a number of fishermen in this Church. And every fishermen has a few fish stories to tell, and some of them are actually true. Let me tell you my true fish story. When I was about 6 years old, my dad took me fishing one day in Stover Mahan's pond near Chatham, Virginia. With Turkey Cock Mountain reflecting on the deep green water, you couldn't ask for a more scenic place to fish. Dad and Stover Mahan fished with rod-n-reels, while all of us kids fished with cane poles. After not catching any fish for quite awhile I started getting bored and was ready to lay down my cane pole and go exploring around the pond, and that's when it happened! All the sudden my bobber disappeared and my cane pole bent over to the point I thought it was going to break. I didn't know what I had caught, all I knew was that it had to be really, really big. Being the scrawny little kid I was, dad knew I wouldn't be able to get the huge fish ashore without some help, so he placed his hands on the cane pole beside mine and we worked together to land this giant pond monster. When we got the fish close enough to pull him out of the water, we lifted the pole up and there on the other end of the line was the strangest looking fish I had ever seen. I said, Look daddy, I caught a snake. That snake was actually a 3 foot long pond eel. Had I not relied upon my dad's strength that day, I would never have seen any results for my efforts.
We see this same truth illustrated in today's scripture text. John 21:1-14 (NKJV) 1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We are going with you also. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. shore; 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any food? They answered Him, No. 6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. disciples came in the little boat (for they were not about two hundred cubits), dragging the net 8 But the other far from land, but with fish. to land, they saw a fire of coals 9 Then, as soon as they had come there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught. 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, Come and eat breakfast. Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, Who are You? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then
came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. PRAYER----Lord, bless our study of Your word this morning. May Your Spirit help us to lives. In grasp the deeper truths of this passage and apply them to our Jesus' precious name we pray, AMEN. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>> In our scripture text this morning Jesus teaches us a very valuable lesson on THE FUTILITY OF RELYING UPON SELF- EFFORT VS. THE FRUITFULNESS OF RELYING UPON SPIRITUAL POWER. First, let's consider... I. The FUTILITY of Relying Upon SELF-EFFORT (vs. 3-5) 1. The events we are reading about here in John 21 occurred shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus had already appeared to the disciples two times previously on two consecutive Sunday evenings. John tells us in verse 14 that this was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples.
2. It is evident from what we read in this account that the disciples are confused and frustrated about what they are supposed to be doing. 3. Put yourself in their shoes for just a minute. Three years earlier Jesus had called them to leave their jobs and follow Him, so they did. They thought Jesus was going to establish His earthly kingdom and that each of them would have a prominent place in His kingdom. 4. But then came the crucifixion and all their hopes and dreams died. They hid behind locked doors in fear for their own lives. Then came word three days later that Jesus had risen from the dead. Although that was exciting news it was confusing at the same time. 5. So now here they are along the shores of Galilee where it had all started three years earlier. The fact that only seven of the eleven are together shows you they are in somewhat of a disorganized state at this time. Apparently they are sitting around contemplating what the future holds in store for them when Peter says, I'm going fishing. In other words, We can't sit around here waiting on Jesus to show up. We need food...we need clothes...we need a livelihood...we've got to take care of ourselves from here on out. I'M GOING TO DO
THAT THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW...I'M GOING FISHING. The other six say, Well wait, we're going with you! 6. They didn't pray about it. They didn't seek God's will. They didn't even pause to consider what the Lord might have them to do. Notice what they did in the latter part of verse 3... They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught N-O-T-H-I-N-G! They caught nothing! How in the world are they going to eat and buy clothes and take care of them- selves if they can't even catch fish. 7. Folks, what you have here is a picture of self- effort, and self-reliance, and self-trust. And look at their FUTILE RESULTS! They caught nothing! 8. Now I love the next scene. While the disciples have been out on their futile fishing trip all night long, Jesus shows up. Look at verses 4 and 5... stood v.4 But when the morning had now come Jesus
know that on the shore; yet the disciples did not it was Jesus. you any v.5 Then Jesus said to them, Children, have food? 9. Why couldn't they recognize Jesus? Perhaps because the dawn was still breaking or perhaps because they were 100 yards away, or perhaps because Jesus chose NOT to reveal His true identity to them at that moment. 10. Notice the question Jesus asked them, Children, do you have any food? The original Greek meaning is even more emphatic: Children, you don't have any food do you? In other words, You guys have been out fishing all night long and you have nothing to show for your efforts, do you? 11. Jesus' question just underscored the futility of their self-efforts. I mean it was kind of hard to argue with Jesus when they're standing in the boat with their empty nets. God had re-routed every fish away from their boat
all night long to show them they couldn't make it on their own. 12. There is a valuable lesson for all of us here so listen carefully. Many times we are guilty of relying upon our own self-efforts just like the apostles in the fishing boat that night. Brothers and sisters, is it any wonder why we often have very little to show for our efforts? When we as individuals or as a Church forge ahead with our own plans and agenda without seeking God's will in prayer and patiently waiting on the Lord, we should not be at all surprised when our nets come up empty. 13. To break us of our self-sufficiency the Lord will often frustrate our plans and steer His blessings away from us to teach us how desperate we are without Him. Well, after seeing the FUTILITY OF THEIR SELF-EFFORTS, Jesus teaches His disciples a valuable lesson on...
II. The FRUITFULNESS of Relying Upon SPIRITUAL POWER (vs. 6-11) 6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. disciples came in the little boat (for they were not about two hundred cubits), dragging the net 8 But the other far from land, but with fish. to land, they saw a fire of coals 9 Then, as soon as they had come there, and fish laid on it, and bread. you have just 10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which caught. 1. Now get the picture here: You've got the same seven men...fishing out of the same boat...using the same nets...and fishing in the same spot they had fished in all night long.
Everything was the same, except the results. All night long they caught nothing, now all the sudden they caught so many fish, 153 to be exact, they couldn't even drag the net into boat. 2. What was the difference? Obedience!!! Obedience!!! Spiritual power...spiritual success...spiritual victory comes from OBEDIENCE!!! 3. Did you notice Jesus told them to throw the net off the right side of the boat? Now stop and think about that. Do you think the reason they hadn't caught any fish all night long was because they only fished off the left side of the boat? NO! Certainly they had cast their nets off the right side of the boat as well as the left. 4. The difference this time was that they weren't relying on their own fishing skills or expertise, they were acting in obedience to the Lord's command without hesitation or question. And because of their obedience the Lord blessed them with an abundant catch. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> C O N C L U S I O N Is your Christian life about SELF-EFFORT or about SPIRITUAL POWER?
The apostle Paul said it best when he said, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. When we attempt to live the Christian life by our own power, we fail, we grow frustrated, we get worn out by the vicious cycle of victory then defeat...success then failure. And the futility of all our self-effort leaves us wondering if we are truly saved. GOD wants us to STOP TRYING SO HARD TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO THE BEST OF OUR HUMAN ABILITY AND START TRUSTING IN HIS POWER, HIS STRENGTH, HIS WISDOM, AND HIS ALL-SUFFICIENT GRACE SO THAT CHRIST MAY LIVE HIS LIFE IN US!