John 21:1-12
Introduction
In the journey of life many lacked insight for living and have toiled through their seasons without harvest or breakthrough.They have not experienced true, fulfillment and prolonged success. Some have deployed human expertise and wisdom to no avail. Some have tried all self-help methods but ended up in frustration. Some have settled with consolatory measure of.success that soon got short lived. Their cry of despair was best captured by Jeremiah “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20 NIV
Scripture tells us that people perish because of their ignorance. “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children,” Hosea 4:6 NIV. In this discussion I will submit that believers gain access to kingdom treasures, lasting success and superabundance when they have a revelation of Jesus and receiving divine direction. Having knowledge of the Bible is one thing but knowing the God of the Bible is the real deal.
Toiling through the night
Whenever a believer moves away from a place of divine posting he or she may toil through seasons of life with nothing to show but frustration and despair.The disciples have been called out from the fishing trade and got trained to be fishers of men. They were to meet with Jesus for post resurrection instructions. In Mark 16:28 Peter and the disciples were to go to a certain mountain in Galilee where Jesus had appointed to meet with them after his resurrection. Surprisingly, they chose to go back to fishing. What would happen to the divine plan if the disciples fail again after the debacle at Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied him and the others deserted him. How often have we desired to go back to the past rather than embrace the future with its challenges. The choices that we make have consequences.
They labored through the night and caught nothing. “So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” It was a fruitless labor even though they deployed all human skills and expertise in professional fishing by launching out during the night. Any labor in disobedience to God lack God’ sufficiency and will ultimately be deficient and fruitless. This is because even the elements and their contents will cease to cooperate with the disobedient.
During a period of waiting anxiety may arise and the temptation to act hastily might seem to be a better options. Beware that your volition is not overpowered so that your judgement becomes impaired. Yielding to the pressure of the moment may rob you of victory that is at hand.
Christ Reveals Himself
He appeared at the shore but they did not recognize him. John 21:4. Whenever we choose to go our way ignoring God’s way we run the risk of losing spiritual insight. The result manifest through poor choices , bad decisions and impaired judgment. The Psalmist says Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
Like a father Jesus asked “Children have ye any meat? They answered No” John21:5. When we miss the mark our compassionate father will meet us in our low estate but with probing questions to help us understand our circumstances. Their “No” response conveyed an acknowledgment that their failure to follow the master’s assignment had been fruitless.
Divine Direction – John 21:6
The wisdom of Christ instructs the righteous in the way they should choose Psalm 25:8-12
Jesus instructed the disciples to cast their net on the right side. This instruction was more about learning to trust the wisdom of Christ rather than the wisdom of the world or self help. Paul states clearly that in Christ Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 NIV
Obedience – John 21:6
“When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish”
Obedience to the command of Christ is a key that opens the door into superabundance. It is a vehicle that position a person on the pathway of grace and blessings. We need the word from the the Lord in our circumstances and everything will be alright. In a similar situation Jesus instructed Peter to put his net into the sea “Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5
Superabundance
Jesus reveals himself in the miraculous catch of fishes. Here again the resurrected Christ demonstrates his authority and power over nature. His provision for the disciples teaches us that He is our Source and Provider. He gives the best and without measure. Paul confirms it in Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” The riches of God’s glory in Christ is infinite and eternal! We can access the riches and appropriate them through faith and obedience.
We see in John 21:11 “So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.” The lesson here is that when God provides for you He will protect it.
Spiritual Perception – John 21:7
“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the LORD!”
Spiritual perception is necessary for divine encounter and understanding of the move of God. Immediately after the miracle of great catch of fishes, John the Beloved calls out to Peter “It is the Lord” Notice that when Jesus appeared at the shore they did not recognize him because their spiritual insight and perception had been undermined by disobedience. However in the miraculous intervention of Christ, John perceived the power and presence of Christ. Do you perceive the intervention of God and acknowledge it in your life and situation?
A revelation of Christ stirs up witnessing and passionate spirituality. Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Prayers
1. Pray that the way we live as believers (believers’ walk) will always honor and please the Lord, and our lives will produce every kind of good fruit (fruitfulness). Pray that this entire year we will grow spiritually as we learn to know God better and better (spiritual knowledge).
2. We also pray that we will be strengthened with God’s glorious power so we will have all the endurance and patience we need. May we be filled with spiritual joy. Colossians 1:10-11