Transcription
Another bounty. Oh, nothing but the blood. Oh, nothing but the blood and nothing but the blood. One more time. Nothing but the blood. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Thank God. Thank you. Praise God. Thank you very much.
I just want to add my thanks for all of you that came helped us establish the presence of God in prayer. Your giving is has been wonderful. God has met with us this week with our theme of disciplehip. The lineup of preachers uh we did that deliberately so that we could see number one that disciplehip works and that is what we've seen. Number two, that we have a future in our fellowship, that God is helping us to raise up workers for the future. And thirdly, we did this to inspire young people. Don't sit at home in mommy's basement and play video games. Don't waste your life just making money. Why don't you give yourself to the cause of God and let's win the world? That's why we did it. Thank God. Praise God.
If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of John, chapter 21. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball. And he faced jeering crowds in uh every stadium that he played in. He was playing in the home stadium in Brooklyn, New York, and he committed an error in fielding. His own fans began to mock and ridicule him. He stood at second base humiliated while the fans jered. And then the star shortstop of the team, Peewee Reese, came over and stood next to Jackie Robinson, put his arm around him. And Peewee Ree stood there with his arm around just staring the crowd down. And they grew quiet. Jackie Robinson said, "That arm around my shoulder saved my career. Encouragement determined his future."
The text that we're going to read, the disciples, they know that Jesus is risen from the dead, but they are struggling to believe that they can do what God wants. And so Jesus meets them on the shore and he gives them some fireside encouragement and he shows them some things that are going to be the foundation of their future in God and in ministry and in fact it is our future as well. You are going to need again and again some fireside encouragement. That's what I want to preach about. John 21 starting at verse three.
The Bible says, "Simon Peter said, I am going fishing." And they said to him, "We're going with you also." They went out immediately, got into the boat. That night they caught nothing. But when the morning now had now come, Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" And they answered him, "No." 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. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." 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. The other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from land, about 200 cubits, dragging the net with fish. Then as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you've just caught." Simon Peter went up, drag the net to land full of large fish, 153. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" Knowing that it was the Lord Jesus, then came and took the bread and gave it to them. And likewise the fish, fireside encouragement.
I want to begin by looking at the first encouragement that is the encouragement of guidance. In our story, what we read is that in frustration and discouragement, Peter decided to go back fishing. Verse three, Peter said, "I'm going fishing." And they said to him, "We're going with you also." This was not sin. They were not rejecting Jesus. They knew that Jesus was alive. It was frustration. How can we ever do the will of God? Maybe they're looking at their own weaknesses. How can I do what God wants? Maybe they were looking at other people. I wonder if Peter was thinking when Jesus was challenging. I wonder if he was thinking about the girl that he denied Jesus before in the fire. How can I ever reach someone like that? She's not going to listen now. Maybe they were looking at the size of the task and thinking where do I begin? No doubt every person here, you have situations that you do not know what to do. Where are we supposed to be? For some of you, that's your struggle. Where should we begin? Who should we choose? How do we reach these people? How do we get people to change? When is the right time? We're like Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:12 who said to God, "We do not know what to do." And we can get overwhelmed like Peter and say, "What's the use?" Because we don't know the answer. We can assume that there is no answer. But this story gives us great encouragement. And and the encouragement that we need to know is this. God knows how. You need to say that God knows how. That is what that Jesus begins by teaching them. One of the attributes of God is that he is omnisient. That means he knows everything. Isaiah 46:10. From the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not yet happened. When I planned something, it happens. What I want to do, I will do. God knows everything. 100 years before King Cyrus was born, God prophesied a king by name that would be born and told what Cyrus would do. God knows everything. Listen, you may be right now in your life baffled and at a loss and saying, "I don't know what to do." Never think that God joins you in that. God is never baffled. He's not at a loss. God is never ringing his hands going, "What are we going to do?" God has no problems. He only has solutions because he knows everything. And this story tells us God always has a strategy to meet the need. In our text, God knows where the answer is. John 21:6, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." And they did. And they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish. Listen, God knows where the answer is. Lisa and I went to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1997. We were trying to build in one area and it was not going well. But every time we witnessed if they were open and the witness went very good and we asked them where are you from? They would say Elorado Park which was not where we were. It wasn't like people were open from 10 different areas again and where you from Elorado Park. Elorado Park because God knew where the answer was. A man named Frank Deasio is pastoring in Portland, Oregon. Their church was trying to buy land and again and again a snag would happen in the deal. They were not able to. And an evangelist gave him a word. It was a word of wisdom. You're struggling because this is not the land you're supposed to buy. God wants you to look on the other side of town. And when he did, they found a larger uh better piece of land at a supernatural price and great favor. God knows where. Not only that, God knows who the answer is. John 6:9, one of the disciples comes and says, "There is a boy here who has a lunch." The boy was the key to supernatural provision in the city where you labor right now. Listen, God knows who like the Samaritan woman, one person can get saved and from that one person unlock groups of people. God already knows the name of the person who's going to change your church. God knows someone who can help you. You are struggling with a problem. God already knows the name of the person who can help you. God knows who and God knows when. The answer is second Kings 7:1 tomorrow about this time.
So our story is a very practical one. Not only does God know how, who, where, and when, our story tells us, God is willing to tell us those things we need to know. John 21:6, he said to them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." Do you know, one of the most common promises in the Bible is guidance. 303 times in the Bible, you'll find the phrases, "The Lord said, God said, the Lord spoke, and God spoke." If you know anything about Bible interpretation, anything God repeats is important. 33 times he promises God speaks. I tell you in 21 26, God has not lost his voice. He is still able to speak to you and to guide you. We need it so much. God can lead us into his will. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Isaiah 30:21, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way. Walk in it whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." So to frustrated and discouraged followers, Jesus initiates direction and guidance. That is setting the pattern for us for all of our lives. What God wants is for us to put our problems, our frustrations before God and ask him for direction. 2 Chronicles 20:12, Jehoshaphat said, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you, God. I don't know what to do in this situation, but you do." And that is what we need to do. I am telling you, God can guide.
I told you we went to Johannesburg in 1997, a city, a massive city. I'm from Prescat, Arizona. Lived in Perth. uh which is larger but it felt like a country town. Johannesburg was massive. Where do you start in a city that big that where you don't know anyone? It was overwhelming. I told you we tried to open in this area using human logic and we tried it was frustrating. We were not getting genuine conversions and I was praying God I don't want to waste time. I need you to show me your will. After just being there for two months, uh, one of the other missionaries said, I met this guy. You want to go meet him? Took me to the area of Elorado Park where pe person after person they were open from that area. Took me to the parks and wreck department. Met this man. I didn't know him. He didn't know me. And I just explained maybe for 30 seconds what the vision of our fellowship and why I was in Johannesburg. That man looked at me and he said, "You need to be here." And he said, "If you will come here, I will help you." And he did. Incredibly helpful. He opened doors. We uh uh he took me around to high schools and and introduced us so we could do concerts. We had Sunday night Liban Brrito preached when he was a teenager probably 15 years old. We did numbers of concerts at his high school. He first heard we were there because that man opened the door. His best friends got saved. Shawn and Cheryl Stelenberg. They were saved in our house. They were our first genuine converts. But what I didn't know, that man who told me, "You need to be here and I'll help you." He was a witch doctor fullbore into black magic, witchcraft. But God made that man guide us. We went there. I want to show you a photo here. On the left, that is Paul Brander. Paul Brander, the witchcraft witch doctor, wound up getting saved. on the right uh that you see there, that is Sean Stellenberg. He brought Shawn and Cheryl to our house and they were saved in our house. Shawn and Cheryl are pastoring today because God guided us. Thank God.
There's a second encouragement. That's the encouragement of redemption. This story is so puzzling in some ways because the disciples had encounters with the risen savior. They knew Jesus was alive. They had seen him with their eyes. Some of them had touched him. They had eaten with him. They saw him walk through walls. They had experienced no doubt the incredible highs of emotion. But in our text, just days after those experiences, Peter and all of them say, "I'm going fishing. I can't do it. There is no point in continuing." This story is a real picture of human nature and that is human beings are not consistent. Our emotions are not consistent. Some of you maybe you can relate. We go from God can do anything days later we say can God do anything is any of you here you do that our intentions are not consistent I will do God's will later on I don't want to do God's will our resolve isn't consistent I will change I will do right and sadly sometimes we disobey and do wrong so this story is written to help not only Are they inconsistent? They are going to preach to and minister to inconsistent human beings and Jesus is helping them. You know the problem is if you are unrealistic or or if you are imbalanced, you don't do well with the truths that I just told you were not consistent. unrealistic people. They have a fantasy. We're all going to do right and we all live happily ever after. That's a fairy tale. That is not real life. People who have a harsh view of God in their minds, God cannot tolerate humanity, inconsistency, and failure. They see God always as being disappointed with them. That God somehow is always looking down going, "Is that it? Is that all? That somehow God is always disgusted with them. That God is going to look at them go fishing. Fishing for real? What's wrong with you losers? after you saw me risen from the dead. See, people who do not have a revelation of God's love, they cannot tolerate inconsistency and failure in other people. When they experience inconsistency and failure, they become angry and they want people to be punished for their nature and they wind up giving up on people. Fred Kredic, famous preacher from years gone by, he was preaching a sermon about the prodigal son and his return and his redemption. He said after the service, a man who is a lawyer came up to him and said, "I don't like that story. It's not morally responsible when we read forgiving that boy. I don't like it. It's not responsible. I think when he came home, he should have gotten arrested." And Fred Kredic, he said, "Well, what would you have given the prodigal?" And he said, "Six years in prison." And every church has people like that.
But our story is included in the resurrection narrative to give us perspective. You got to see things clearly in the right size and encouragement. Listen, this story tells us inconsistency is a normal part of human nature. No one goes on for God in a perfectly straight line. I'm sorry. I would love it, but they don't. No one goes on an ever ascending plane to higher and higher heights. The Bible says Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray." You know what this story tells us? Life is filled with course corrections. Any of you that drove on the way here, you did not drive perfectly in the center. Not way. No, no. It's normal. You You're going like this, aren't you? Some of you, you're texting. You're going like this, right? That is normal. I I am told that policemen look for people who follow the lines perfectly. Those are drunks trying not to get arrested. Right? So this is perspective. Listen, some of you, you feel guilty because your resolve waivers because you uh uh don't stick perfectly as you should. Listen, you are not the most the worst person in the world because you need a course correction. Some of you came to conference and what you have done is you've gotten back on track. Is that right? And that is okay with God. This story shows us how God views people who failing people. He views them with love. If you don't understand how God views you, you're going to give in to despair. not only for other people but for yourself. Despair means no hope. Maybe this was Peter's motivation, grasping the great calling that God had for them. Maybe he's thinking of his own failure and then thinking after what I've done, I'm going fishing. There's no use. But in our story, we see Jesus responds to them. Verse 5, Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any food?" I love that he doesn't say losers failures. Do you have any food? No. No. No. He says, "Children, he speaks with affection. I love you. I can't." Listen, God knows everything about us and he loves us still. That is the most incredible thing. Do you know God is not shocked by your inconsistency? He's not shocked by your failure. He's not even shocked by sin. Psalm 103:14 in the NLT, he knows how weak we are. He remembers we're only dust. And God's love helps us correct course. He helps us recover. Lamentations 3 22 and 23. Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
This story is to encourage them. But remember, these are the disciples that he wants them to reach others. And so the lesson is that those who have received grace and mercy, you should pass it on. It's not right that God is merciful to you, but you are critical and judgmental on those who are also with the same humanity you have. Ephesians 4:32, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Luke 6:36, therefore, be merciful just as your father also is merciful. This has to do with relationships. You need to be merciful. Working with new converts, be merciful. Pastoring people, be merciful. You can't let yourself become embittered at people's inconsistencies. And you cannot give up on people simply because of failure. Man named John Kelly started stealing drugs as a child. He first went to jail at age 13. He was convicted of murder, went to prison for many years. While in solitary confinement, John Kelly started reading the Bible, got powerfully saved in solitary confinement. Later on, they were able to arrange a meeting with his victim's family. He took ownership and he apologized to them. When he was released, a local church, even though he was a convicted murderer, they welcomed him and they helped him pursue a new life. Instead of shutting him out because of his past, many of the church they believed this man he can change. And when he felt called to preach, they supported that calling. Today, John Kelly pastors a church in Chicago, Illinois. Thank God. Amen.
One final encouragement in our story that is the encouragement of provision. Doing the will of God requires finances. You may have the best character in the world. You may have wonderful Bible knowledge and revelation. You may be a hard worker for God. But it's so interesting. Jesus says, "Have you any food?" He didn't say, "Have you any faith, anointing, work ethic?" He said, "Do you have any food?" food. You have needs. If you're going to do the will of God personally, we have needs in the finances. In our story, they need to eat. If we're going to do a work for God, whether that's in a local church or whether that's pastoring, you're going to need to eat. Some more than others, but you're going to need to eat, right? A place to live, transport, need to be able to pay medical costs. Got to pay your bills. ministry in the church. If we're going to build works for God, our churches, we need buildings and equipment. We need to be able to pay for outreaches and revival. If you plant churches, now you have all the expenses of your local church. Plus, now you're taking on the expense of this brand new baby church. And as I said last night, when you step into planting churches overseas, that is the most expensive thing that you can possibly do. So Jesus when he asked them, do you have any food? That is what they need at the moment. But remember these are the disciples. Jesus knows their future ministry. So he is setting a pattern here. He knew that some of them would face times of financial assaults that would produce lack. He knew that some of them would be called by God to cities that would be very expensive to live in. He knew that some of them would be ministering to people who were bound in financial poverty and he knew that some of them would minister in seasons of financial struggle. So in this postresurrection meeting, Jesus sets a pattern for all believers, all churches, for all time. And that is this. God is able to provide. Verse six, 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. He listen past experience doesn't matter concerning your priv. We fished all night. I don't care about the past. God can provide. Current conditions right now. It's not good fishing time. Doesn't matter. God is able to provide. This is a miracle de dimension. Verse six, cast the net on the right side of the boat and you'll find some. Listen, you know what this tells us? God can bring you to provision. God knows where the provision is that will meet your need. He will be able to give you strategies to meet your need. It tells us God can bring provision to you. The fish were brought to where their boat was already. Do you know that God can move upon people's hearts to come to you and provide what you need? Monday night, I spoke by the spirit of God and I said, "This week before conference is even finished, some of you are going to get financial breakthroughs. I've already got a number of testimonies." in uh Boston, Anthony Casio told me that his landlord called him and said, "Anthony, when we when you got the building for your church, we forgot to put the utilities in your name and the bill came and it's $65,000." That's not a call you want to hear. But the landlord said, "I paid it. Just give me a tax receipt. It'll be fine." Paid. Thank God. Thank God. A brother in Europe said that he'd been waiting on a a tax refund. They said it can take up to three years because of the situation that he was in. He said what I said that Monday night he prayed and the next day they contacted him and said they released actually more than he was expecting. Amen. Came to him. pastor told me today struggling with the uh the payment on their church building and he said someone contacted him today and said we want to uh lease a small corner of your parking lot, put a cell phone tower there. God is able to bring money to you. You need to understand that the promise in this text is abundance. God is the God of more than enough. Jesus didn't say if you come you can each have one bite lick it and pass it on. That's not what he said. No. No. God is the God of more than enough. Verse six. So they cast and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Verse 11. Simon Peter dragged the net to land full of large fish 153. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Listen, do you know what the deep meaning behind there being 153 fish is? There were 153 fish. But what I like, the Bible says they were large fish. I've been on the tour to Israel. I have eaten the gapa, St. Peter's fish. They are not big fish. But on this day, Jesus didn't give them a few minnows. He didn't give them just barely enough 153 large fish because God is the God of abundance. Amen. God is able to release large resources into your nets, into your offering place plates, into your bank account. God is able to do that. And the promise in this text is miracle retention. Some people they get blessings and quickly like with open finger it drains away quickly. The Bible says verse 11, although there were so many the net was not broken. They held. God wants to bless you and he wants you to hold on to it. So what is it that triggers miracle provision? very simply trust and obedience. And you'll find that all through the Bible. Trust God. You want miracle resources. Trust God. Trust his love. Trust his power and his ability to provide for you. Matthew 6:8, "Your father knows the things you have need even before you ask him." In Luke 12:32, "Do not fear, little flock. It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Trust God and then obey God always in the Bible. It is obedience that triggers miracle supply. John 2:5, "Do whatever he tells you to do." In verse six, he said, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." And they cast. And now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. It is trust and obedience that triggers a miracle dimension of provision. I I I didn't know that pastor was going to speak in in the book. I wrote that to help you get a breakthrough. There are people Why live in debt anymore? God wants to get you out of debt. Employment. You don't have to work jobs that don't pay enough. You don't have to work jobs with hours that keep you out of God's will. God has large resources. He can help you. Miracle money, housing, buildings. Amen.
I close this story. There's a man named Sam Sassar. Sam Sassar went as a missionary to the Marshall Islands in 1960 and began trying to build a work for God. you know the in islands they don't have a lot of resources. One day he said he was sitting there getting depressed thinking about how much money it would take to build a building versus how little money they had on hand. He had an evangelist friend Barton Batuna. Barton Batuna came and he looked at him and he said, "What are you depressed about, man?" And he said, "We need to build a building and we've only got $250." But Barton Batuna, he had faith and he said, "Let's take that $250 as far as it will go and see what God will do." And Sam Sasser, that crazy faith got on him and he said, "Yes." And so, of course, if you're going to build a building and you're on an island that doesn't have building materials, you had to go off island. So, here it is. It's the early 60s. They took their $250 and they set off to see what God would do. They landed on the island of Quadrilain. Now they were down to their last 36 cents. He had enough money to buy one hamburger. And they're splitting this hamburger, wondering, God, how can we possibly do your will? While they're eating a hamburger, remember this is 1960 1961. A worker on the island of Quadrilain, he was Filipino, he walked up holding a paper sack and he said, "Brothers, I was praying and God told me to give this to you." And when they opened the sack and counted it, there was $10,000 in there. Amen. Put up the photo. That is the building they built because God has miracle provision. Let's praise the Lord together right now. Oh God, thank you for your goodness. You're faithful. You're able to provide. You're able to bring breakthroughs, Lord God. Thank God.
Let's bow our heads all across this place. Praise God for his goodness. Now, I want to give an invitation. We're going to have some exciting announcements in just a moment. But first, before we do anything else, there are people here, the greatest miracle of all is not actually money. The greatest miracle of all is when you get your heart right with God. Living in sin, separated from God, on your way to hell, cannot break free from your habits and your addictions. But I am preaching Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to show that he has the power to save you and change you from the inside out. How many people are here? While our heads are bowed, if you are not right with God, I want you to do one thing. If you want to pray tonight and get right with God, I want you to do this. Lift up your hand so I can see it. You say, "Pastor Greg, I am not right with God and I want to get right." Lift your hand up. Hold it up so I can see it. All across this place, God can save you if you're honest with him. How many all across this place? You say, "I need to get right with God over there. Thank God." How many backsliders is what happens to backsliders? You have failed God and the devil tells you no hope. Backslider, there's hope. Lift up your hand. Thank you. I see that hand at the back. Others, you need God. You want to get right with God. Anybody else? Quickly, we're going to move on to other things. Lift up your hand right now. Thank God. Thank God. I want every one of you that you raised your hand. Get out of your seat quickly. Come down here. We're gonna have someone pray for you. Thank God. You lifted your hand. Stand up. Come here. Come here. Make your way down here. Someone's going to pray for you. We're going to believe God. God can save you. He is a savior. God can restore the backslider. He can do a miracle in your heart. Thank God. Some people are coming. They want to be honest with God. Thank you. I appreciate these people being honest. God bless you. Come quickly. Thank God. Come down to the front. I want you to kneel down right here. They're going to lead you in prayer. We're going to ask God to help you. Thank God. These people are coming. Lead them in prayer before anything else.
I gave you a challenge on a on a Friday night. This is a great challenge. You're going to need it again and again. Fireside encouragement. Our God is able to guide. That is what we learned. We learn here that God can speak to you. We learned that God is a God of redemption. He helps people. You have to believe that for yourself. You have to pass that on to others. And I told you our God can provide by miracle resources. I gave you a challenge, but anything we hear from God's word, our duty is to say, I believe it. And that was what Jesus wanted them. Do you believe that I can guide you, that I can redeem you, that I can provide for you? And I'm giving you a challenge on the Friday night. You're going to go back to your cities. These issues you're going to have to face again and again this year. My challenge is I want you to respond to what God spoke to you. For some of you desperately, you need redemption. Others, it's guidance. Others, it's provision. If you are going to believe God in this coming year, I'm going to believe God for guidance, for redemption, and for provision. Show God that by standing to your feet. By standing your feet, you said, "I'm believing God. God's going to help me. You're going to bring your problems. You're going to be like Jehoshaphat. I don't know what to do, but you do. And you're going to expect God to speak. You're going to expect God to redeem people. You're going to expect God to have mercy on you. And you're going to expect God to bring miracle provision. Lift up your hands. I want you to say this out loud.
Say, "Father God, I know you love me. You know everything. You can guide me. And I am looking to you. Show me your will. Give me guidance. Let me hear your voice. Lead me to the place. To the people. To the answer. And the strategy. God, I accept your love and redemption. You have been merciful to me and I will be merciful to others and believe for redemption. You are my provider. There is nothing you can't do. I am looking for miracle provision. You see my need already and you are arranging miracle provision to meet my need. I will be blessed. The curse is broken. My church will be blessed. We will have abundance in resources to do God's will. And I thank you in advance in Jesus name."
Now let's praise the Lord for his goodness. Oh God, thank you. Thank you Lord God. Oh God, we thank you.