Explores how belief in Christ leads to bountiful blessings and how these blessings can be used to strengthen the Christian community.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather together in the house of the Lord, united in our love for Christ and our desire to know Him more.
As we gather here today, let's remember the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness."
Today, we'll be considering a passage from the Gospel of John, a passage that beautifully illustrates Spurgeon's sentiment. It's a passage that speaks of faith, of blessings, and of unity. It's a passage that shows us how belief in Christ can lead us to a bounty of blessings, and how those blessings can help us build the body of Christ.
The passage is John 21:4-11, which reads:
"Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 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. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn."
In the passage from John, we see the disciples, professional fishermen, toiling all night and catching nothing. They were skilled, they knew the sea, they knew their craft, yet their nets were empty.
Jesus’ instructions: Then Jesus comes along and tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. It's a simple instruction, but it changes everything. The disciples obey, and their nets fill to bursting with fish. It's a miraculous catch, a bounty they couldn't have imagined. And it all came from believing in Jesus, from following His instruction.
A lesson for us: Often, we toil and struggle, trying to do things in our own strength. We rely on our skills, our knowledge, our experience. But sometimes, that's not enough. Sometimes, we need to listen to Jesus, to follow His instructions, even when they don't make sense to us. When we do that, when we believe in Him and obey Him, we can experience a bounty in our lives.
What does this bounty look like?: It's not always a physical or material bounty. It's not always about having more money, or a bigger house, or a better job. Sometimes, the bounty we receive is spiritual. It's a deeper understanding of God's love for us. It's a stronger faith, a greater peace, a more profound joy. It's the assurance that we are loved, that we are valued, that we are not alone. This is the kind of bounty that can sustain us in the difficult times. When we're struggling, when we're hurting, when we're doubting, this spiritual bounty can give us the strength to keep going. It can fill us with hope, with courage, with determination. It can remind us that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.
This bounty is not just for us: It's not just about our own personal gain. The disciples didn't keep all those fish for themselves. They shared them, they used them to feed others. In the same way, the bounty we receive from God is meant to be shared. It's meant to be used to bless others, to build up the body of Christ. This is a crucial part of our faith. We are not called to be selfish, to hoard our blessings. We are called to be generous, to share what we have. When we do that, when we use our blessings to bless others, we become a part of God's work in the world. We become co-workers with Christ, helping to spread His love, His grace, His mercy.
Let's consider the moment when the disciples, having toiled all night without catching a single fish, obey Jesus' instruction to cast their net on the right side of the boat ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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