U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.
West Fort Hood Community Chapel
Third Sunday of Easter Worship Service
Killeen, TX
18 April 2010
Big Idea: Peter’s sense of Right and Wrong was stirred-up before his Spiritual Eyes were opened.
Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Psalm 30 – Joy comes in the morning; Job (The story of Job and his crisis); Luke 5:1-11 ESV (Peter forsake all others to follow Christ); Acts 9:1-6; 7-20 (ESV) ; John 21:1-19 ESV (Jesus and The Miraculous Catch of Fish); Matthew 28:7 (ESV) Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”; Acts 1:3 (ESV) After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God; John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing; Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) The Calling of the First Disciples - Peter dropped his net to follow Jesus; Luke 5: 10-11 (NIV) and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him; John 1:35-42 (NIV) This is when Peter, Andrew, James and John had originally met Jesus and Andrew told his brother – Peter – that he had seen the Messiah;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 21:1-8 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 21:1-8 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: John 21:7 ESV& John 21:7 KJV (That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea).
&
John 21:7 KJV (Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that our sense of right and wrong is often stirred-up before God opens our Spiritual Eyes.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “NAKED”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
Contrary to the belief that our SENSE of RIGHT and WRONG …
… .isn’t really STIRRED-UP, until we have been CLOTHED in our RIGHT SPIRIUTAL MINDS.
*I submit to you today, as believers, our sense of right and wrong is often STIRRED-UP while we’re NAKED (defenseless and unarmed) …
“which I’m defining as that period of time … right … before God opens our Spiritual Eyes.”
It has been said, that the word “NAKED” is defined as not covered by clothing, raw, NUDE or stark-naked.
Other definitions of NAKED means devoid of customary or natural covering.
While still another definition says “NAKED” means … stripped, unclad, undressed, unarmed and defenseless.
For who can ever forget the story of Job’s Nakedness?
A good, God-fearing man who passionately loved his family and friends.
A man who God – himself – said that “there was no one else on earth like him”.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 1: Don’t you remember Job – a holy and upright man – who had fathered 10 children: …
a. … 7 sons and 3 daughters?
b. He lived in the desert land of Uz in the Middle-East; ...
c. … and was ultimately stripped naked or “raw” of almost everything he loved or possessed.
d. He lost his livestock.
e. He loss his maids and butlers (servants); and he loss his children, home, health and friends.
f. Some theologians would even argue the point that Job also loss his wife.
g. Although Mrs. Job was very much alive in Scripture;
h. when Job needed her the most – Job received ill-advised counsel from his wife.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: The Good Book paints a faithful to God image of Job in our minds.
a. We even witness Job falling to the ground and worshipping God in the midst of his tribulations in Job 1:19-22.
b. We hear him uttering these well-known words:
c. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
d. The enemy of Job’s faith and ours – the devil – stripped JOB NAKED, DEFENSELESS, and UNARMED.
e. Still, Job refused to hold-back God’s praise!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Likewise, in our Old Testament reading – Psalm 30 - this morning, we witness King David giving God praise and props for having healed him in the midst of dark, NAKED, DEFENSELESS, and UNARMED TIMES in his life.
a. For the Psalmist says in verses 2-6:
b. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
c. O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
d. Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
e. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.
f. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved. (NIV)"
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: The background and history of our text, this morning, tells us that Peter and the disciples of our Savior – in Luke 5 – initially left everything to follow Jesus.
a. They left everything! They were BARE.
b. They left their homes; they left their boats;
c. and their families to follow Jesus.
d. Therefore, in our Scripture Reading this morning, we find ourselves witnessing – in John 21 – a backsliding of sort.
e. Most theologians will attest to the fact that First Century Fishermen banded in groups of seven.
f. Therefore, it’s likely that there were 7 fishermen in the disciple band as indicated in our text today.
g. Like Soldiers, Fishermen know how to work together, they do not give up easily, they have courage, and they labor diligently even in the midst of tough and challenging times.
h. Like Soldiers, Fishermen aren’t quitters.
i. When fishermen are faced with a NIGHT OF FAILURES, where fish aren’t biting, Fishermen – still - won’t quit!
j. They may stop for a while; and even wash their nets. But, they won’t quit.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: In our text, this morning, we find Peter and the Lord’s disciples in the midst of dark and gloomy circumstances.
a. Just … Three Sundays after the resurrection; and without the Lord instructing him to do so - Peter returns to fishing as a profession.
b. Yes … the profession that Peter had once forsaken – he now returned to in our text.
c. This is symbolic of Peter backsliding and returning to his Old Life.
d. The lifestyle that Jesus had called him out to forsake.
e. For don’t you remember, in verse 3, …
f. … Peter in a dark time in his life and feeling defeated - impatiently and publicly announced to his band of fellow fishermen:
g. “I’m going fishing …!”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: Someone once said that it “is better to wait on the Lord for directions, and let Him bless, than to involve ourselves in useless activities.”
a. The influence that Peter had over his fellow-fishermen buddies caused them to backslide too.
b. They were all walking and working in darkness.
c. Their spiritual light wasn’t shining anymore.
d. When they prayed, their prayers went up; hit the ceiling, and came back down!
e. As a result, they had no Direct Word from the Lord.
f. They were stripped. They were like many in here today – clothed – but … NAKED!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
Christ was in their midst – but they were so SPIRITUALLY NAKED that they couldn’t immediately recognize Him.
They were naked, defenseless, and unarmed.
Their Spiritual Vision was dimmed.
Then right when things seemly couldn’t get any worse …
– they started rationalizing amongst themselves that they should not have returned to fishing until Jesus told them to do so.
They should have waited on the Lord; and he would have directed them.
It was at that very moment …
… WHEN THEIR SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG had been STIRRED-UP - Christ appeared!
Whenever Jesus shows up – Light shows-up and a Word from God is soon to follow!
