17-11-2019
John 21:1-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Breakfast by the Sea
21 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 [a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; 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. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals 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.
In John 20, Peter had twice met with Jesus. Peter knew that Jesus had died and risen from the dead.
Yet he wasn't going to do something until the Lord did something else in his life.
Some of us are one-stage Christian and some are two-stage Christian.
Acts 9:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
In Acts 9, Paul was going to persecute Christians. He was a single experience guy. Jesus transformed him in 72 hours. Paul got to Jesus who was the way, the truth and the life.
Acts 9:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Acts 9:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children[a] of Israel.
Paul was called to bring the gospel to people who were not his own.
Acts 9:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [a]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
In three days, God took Paul from a church persecutor to the greater missionary that ever lived.
But most of us are like Peter.
John 21:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Jesus said, "Follow me." Peter, like most us, needed to endure. For many of us, there is more but there is a process that we have to go through that requires John 21 and Acts 2.
God is writing a story in our lives. You decide how much He writes in your life.
Simon Peter wanted more. (John 21:3)
Jesus wants to meet each of us for breakfast.
If we come to church to just worship, sit down and start focusing on lunch, we miss what God is doing.
What is God saying to you?
John 21 is the story of Peter. John is saying God is writing stories and he wants to tell you story of his friend, Peter.
Many of us know the Lord and live in the kind of "we had hope." We are sure of what would happen but aren't sure why.
Peter had hope. And to that Peter Jesus comes. Of all the disciples, Peter was the first to jump into the sea to be with Jesus.
I take that one more step which says I want more of Jesus even if the person on my left and right don't.
You can be a John 20 Christian. They knew He had risen from the dead.
Or you can know that He can do something more in your life.
The Lord wants to write the story of your life... if you let Him.
The story He wants to write isn't the story that you want to write.
Do you want more or not?
Peter had denied Jesus three times. He needed to engage with Jesus and repent of what had happened and know the love of Jesus for his life, even though that love never left him.
In the marketplace, you need a John 21 and Acts 2 testimony.
The three things that bring us down: illicit sex, living for money, and living for glory and power.
Talk to God and He will do a job you can't do.
Come to Jesus and let Him cleanse you in His fire. And do it regularly.
Your way is a fishing trip that doesn't catch any fish.
His way is a 153 fish haul. It has to be His way.
If you have your legitimate "demands" of what God has to give you, I doubt you can successfully serve the Lord.
The Lord has always provided. And He will provide.
I do not have the right to say that "I have served you faithfully." And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
I have no rights. But I have Jesus.
What brings us down as a Christian is comparing ourselves with others, materially and spiritually, and saying it is not fair.
Isaiah 55:8-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
It isn't fair simply because the way we value it is different from the way God values it.
In heaven we have our reward.
Jesus didn't say He wouldn't die.
There is fake news in the church about morality, the uniqueness of Jesus, when He is coming again. Jesus Himself says we don't know.
Spend time in the Word of God. I want to be brainwashed by the Word of God, by the Bible. Don't let unbiblical thinking change you.
Each of us must decide "Do I want a John 21 and Acts 2?"
Lord, don't close the book on our story. Have Your way with us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
RELATED:
DWJD: The Applause of Heaven
DWJD: Jesus + The Pharisees
DWJD (ACLC 2019)
DWJD: Jesus and the Tired Fishermen or Which Fire Warms Me? (John 21:1-14)
DWJD: Go Therefore & Make Disciples Of All Nations (Matthew 28:19)
DWJD: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
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