“The Least, the Lost and the Loser”
March 11, 2012, Pastor Andy Grossman
John 21: 4-14
Why does Jesus ask such silly questions? Why does He ask questions he knows the answers to? Ever smash your finger with a hammer and have someone ask, “Did that hurt?” All sorts of retorts spring to mind in response to a question like that – most all of them wrong!
Jesus wasn’t asking a silly question like that. Sure He knew the answer to His question before He asked it. But He was asking it for THEIR benefit – not His own. It is important that we come to a realization that our efforts are ineffective; that our strength is inadequate; that our wisdom is weak. Why? Paul discovered the principle of power – was admitted weakness. He said,
“But he (God) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
The disciples were discouraged, depressed and defeated. Their world had been turned upside down. First, they were the least. They were the least of anyone in the religious community. They were fisherman. The Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious ones of their day. But this Man called Jesus came along and convinced them to leave everything and follow Him. They did! For over three years they walked with Him. He didn’t call the theologians; He didn’t call the scholars; He didn’t call the Biblical experts. He called simple plain fisherman. And they were convinced that this One was the Messiah – the coming King. Jesus had pulled them up from being least – and had given them some of the greatest positions in the Kingdom.
But now the One they had pinned all their hopes on was humiliated; He was put on public display, and killed. They mocked Him in so many ways. Do you think that may have affected the disciples? I think it did –deeply. Sometimes it seems worse to taste success – because failure is much more bitter then. How cruel to be lifted up – only to be cast down. So they went back to what they knew – fishing.
Jesus had come back to life, and at this point He had appeared to them twice before. But still – they were reeling in their emotional pain and disappointment. Nothing had gone as they had thought or hoped. They were like ships adrift. They had no purpose; no direction; no Leader.
So Jesus comes to them and asks a silly question, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” Sometimes, before power comes, we must admit our powerlessness.
A blind man confronted Jesus and Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:50-52) Well, DUH! He wants to SEE!
Jesus knew that. But before God moves His hand He wants to be invited. Jesus said, “Ask – and you will receive.” James said, “You have not because you ask not.” John said, “Confess your sins – and God will forgive.” Jesus said, “Open the door – and I will come in.”
God loves to do the impossible – but He waits for three things from you. 1. To recognize it’s impossible. 2. To ask for the impossible. 3. Do the ridiculous thing Jesus asks you to do.
“Do you have any fish?” Jesus asks. “Nope!” They said. “Throw your net on the RIGHT side of the boat”, Jesus says. (Apparently the left was wrong.)
When they did – they received MORE that they had hoped or planned for.
Write this principle for success down – at least in your heart. “Before power comes, we must admit our powerlessness” You must understand that you are among the least – before you can become great. God doesn’t measure us by our accomplishments. He measures us by out faithfulness. In God’s value system the least is the greatest and the greatest will be the least. Who is our example? Is it the Scholar? Is it the Martyr? Is it the one of high position? No. It’s a little child. We need to become as a little child – understanding our weaknesses; depending totally on Jesus; trusting completely in Him.
The disciples – our greatest hero’s; our greatest examples, were once the least. If you are feeling like you are among the least – be encouraged. God is about to lift you up. I love this Scripture,
“He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.”
Psalm 113:7-8 (KJV)
Ever feel like life has thrown you out on the manure pile of life? Ever get knocked down and tasted dust? I have. God loves to pull the poor from the dust; the sinner from the muck and mire; the needy from the manure pile. God loves to make the least – the greatest.
That makes me encouraged - as a church and as an individual. As a church – we are so small; so weak. We are never very far from failure. We can never do anything great or of significance without the Lord. We don’t have the money. We don’t have the people. We don’t have the talent. But the boy only had a few fish and a few loaves. With those small insignificant items – Jesus fed thousands. I think He can do the same with us – don’t you? WE can’t do great things – but GOD can do great things through us.
When Jesus pulled those few sticks together and built a fire in anticipation of a fish fry, the disciples were so lost. First, they were the least; but secondly, they were so lost. Why were they lost? Was it because Jesus was dead? No. They had seen Him twice already. They were lost because they were operating out of fear – not faith. I don’t blame them. They had been inundated with failure. They were bombarded with defeat. They were immersed in uncertainty.
Do you understand that negativity can destroy an individual – or a church? In sports we see it all the time. Get on the free throw line and the opponent is whispering – “You’re gonna miss! You’re gonna miss!” And if you listen - you will. The weight lifter goes to the bar bell and his opponent whispers, “You can’t do that! And if he listens – he can’t. Get up to bat and the catcher is chattering all these negative things to throw you off. If you listen – you will miss every time. Don’t listen. Don’t give in to the negativity.
Gossip and negativity are so destructive – and that is why God is so hard on it. Why was Moses’ sister struck with leprosy by God? Because she began to criticize her brother. (Genesis 12) Why were all the adults that came out of Egypt condemned to die in the wilderness? Because they were grumbling. (Genesis 14:29) In the New Testament the instruction is,
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing,” Philippians 2:14
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
You can destroy a child by telling him that he can’t do it; that he isn’t smart enough; or big enough; or good enough. He will become a lost soul. Some of you have been there. You can destroy a person by picking out his faults and failings – and we all have them. You can take a Billy Graham and destroy Him by criticism and fault finding. You can destroy God’s work by picking out what’s wrong – instead of what’s right. There will always be weakness and a lack and stuff we aren’t doing right – but if you focus on that instead of on what God IS doing – you will destroy both yourself and God’s work.
Don’t be a grumbler. Don’t be a negative person. It will destroy both you and all those around you. What you need to do is focus on what God (or an individual) is doing well – and be thankful. Lift them up. If someone comes to you (like Miriam) with grumbling and criticism – Don’t listen. Tell them, “Let’s go talk to this one you are putting down.” Better yet – stop right there and pray for them. Turn that sour puss into a prayer warrior.
Here are three spiritual principles. Write them down. 1. Do not be negative and don’t let others be negative around you. 2. Do not operate by fear. The righteous live by faith. Faith or fear – which are you going to choose? 3. Choose to believe. Choose to believe in God – but also choose to believe in people. Choose to believe in your church. With God – nothing is impossible to those who believe.
The least, the lost – and thirdly, the Loser. Do you know that God LOVES ‘losers’? Look at history. One of my favorite stories is about Joseph. (Genesis 37-41) Hated by his brothers; sold into slavery; falsely accused of attempted rape; thrown in jail –good grief, what a loser! Just the person God could use. And you know the story – from prison to a palace overnight; from a loser to a leader overnight; from a slave to a savior of the country overnight.
Look at Gideon, the least of the least. Gideon told the angel of the Lord, I am the weakest one here and I am from the weakest tribe here. (Judges 6) Same thing. From a loser to a leader overnight.
How about David? Too young; too small; too much of a dreamer. But from a Shepherd to a slayer of giants overnight. Abraham was too old. God made him the father of a nation.
There are so many more losers in the Bible that God made into His leaders. And that’s God’s plan for you. God loves losers – but He doesn’t want them to stay losers. He wants to make them leaders. The Bible says that the righteous live by faith. But you need to know that faith ALWAYS acts. The faithful one doesn’t sit back and let others do it – they act. They say, “Here am I! Send me!” And you need to know that in God’s value system, the highest value is placed on faithfulness. God values those who remain faithful. It is so easy to get lost in Joseph’s success. But imagine what he thought sitting in that pit. Imagine what he was going through as he marched along in manacles in the caravan. Imagine what he went through sitting in the jail. How easy to get discouraged and angry. But he acted in faith – not fear.
How did Abraham react to God’s promise of a baby? Sarah laughed! They were senior citizens! But Abraham choose to believe.
How do you think Gideon felt as God whittled down his army? He was already feeling insecure. He chooses to act in faith and not on his fear.
I want you to do the same thing. Do not operate on your fears. Operate on your faith. I don’t know if God will whittle our numbers down like he did Gideon – but I know this. I will remain faithful to Him, by His power, to my dying day - I will not quit. I will not give up. I will not stop. Like someone said, “If the devil knocks your teeth out – gum him to death!”
Do you believe that our best days are ahead of us as a church? I do. Do you believe that your best days are ahead of you as a Christian? I do. The disciples were not “The Least, the Lost, nor were they Losers” – and neither are you. With God’s help we will face ever obstacle victoriously. With God’s help we will overcome everything the enemy throws at us. With God’s help we will fight the good fight – we will finish the race – we will keep the faith! (2 Tim 4:7)
