For example, one of the question that we ask often as we greet someone.
• How are you?
• How’s your day going?
In asking this question to greet people, is this just a social exchange are do we really care about that person when we ask this question to someone?
Personally, when I ask HOW ARE YOU DOING I have I have tried to make it more than a social greeting.
Illus: We are told that even a dog can tell if we like them or not. And I believe when we ask that question to someone they know if we really care how they are doing.
Illus: Former president Bill Clinton is known for being in a crowded room but when he greeted someone he had a way of making them feel like they were the only person in the room and they had his full attention.
In other words he made them feel like he really cared for them!!!
As a Christian I want the person I am greeting to REALLY KNOW I CARE ABOUT THEM; when I ask them HOW ARE YOU DOING:
We read in the scriptures where Jesus asked many questions.
For example, He asked…
• “Who do people say I am?
• Who do you say I am?”
• In Mark 8:23, he said to a blind man. Do you see anything?
• In Luke 7:44, he said, Do you see this woman?
• In John 8:10 he said, Is there no one to condemn you?
• In Luke 14:3 He said. Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?
• In John 5:6 He asked a paralyzed man: Do you want to get well?
Now you might wonder why He ask question since He is Omnipotent and know all things.
The purpose of asking a question is to gain knowledge but when you are omnipotent and know everything there is no need to ask a question.
Why did Jesus ask questions?
Illus: There was a guy named Socrates (SOCK-r'-teaze) who also asked a lot of questions. It was his style; he wanted the other person to get to the conclusion himself, not be dragged to it. We call this way of teaching the Socratic Method.
JESUS Was a Master of asking QUESTION.
(1) He ask questions to educate people the same way a school teacher ask questions.
(2) He used them to engage people and draw them in.
(3) He used questions to blunt attacks by the religious authorities of the day, turning confrontations into an opportunity to teach.
But let me show you another question in John 21:1-6 he asked, we read, After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Notice the question the Lord asked these disciples who were fishing. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
In this sermon, I would like to look at a fishing story that sounds exaggerated, BUT IT IS TRUE STORY!
What happened on this fishing trip was so miraculous that if it wasn’t recorded in the Bible, we would not believe it.
Let me show you several things about Peter’s fishing trip. First, notice...
I. HIS DECISION
Peter said, “I go a-fishing.”
You have to watch these fishermen, if they get a chance to go fishing…THEY WILL GO!
Illus: A young boy came to School late. His teacher knew that he was usually very prompt and asked him if anything was wrong.
• The boy replied that he was going fishing but his dad told him that he needed to go to school.
• The teacher was very impressed and asked the boy if his dad had explained to him why it was more important to go to school than to go fishing.
• The boy replied, "Yes he did. Dad said he didn't have enough bait for both of us."
WHEN DID PETER DECIDE TO GO FISHING?
As most of you know, TIMING IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO FISHING!
While some folks say there is NEVER IS A BAD TIME TO GO FISHING, most of the experienced fisherman will tell you that successful fishing depends on GOOD TIMING!
We are told by the experts that the best time to fish is during the times of:
• Sunrise or Sunset during
• Full or New Moon.
Peter was an experienced fisherman, but he chose to go fishing AT THE WRONG TIME.
He went while he was discouraged.
• Peter, and the other disciples had willingly left behind successful careers, families, and even their religion to follow Jesus.
• They had TOTAL CONFIDENCE that Jesus was Who He said He was - the only begotten Son of God.
• THEY FOLLOWED HIM, and they FOLLOWED HIM PROUDLY.
• They even discussed which of them would sit on the right and on the left of His throne when He would set up His kingdom.
• They became instant celebrities as they went from city to city and the multitudes came out to catch a glance of Jesus and His twelve disciples.
• Then one day, a band of soldiers, led by Judas Iscariot, came into the garden while Jesus was praying.
• They came with such a show of force that the disciples were afraid and fled.
• The Lord Jesus went through a rigged trial, was condemned to die, and was nailed to a cross which was then set upright, lifted, and dropped into a hole in the ground.
• Then the cross was braced with supports so Jesus hung between heaven and earth to die.
• As His disciples watched Him hang, in the back of their minds they were thinking, “We have seen Him heal the blind, the lame, the leprous, the dumb, and cast out devils and raise the dead.”
• As they watched from a distance they expected Him to bounce down from that cross at any moment and call fire down from heaven to consume those who tried and condemned Him.
• But, instead, He just hung there. He hung there and suffered as His life’s blood flowed from his body.
• Finally He cried out saying, with His last breath, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”(Luke 23:46b)
• His enemies, who had Him crucified, laughed with joy!
• The demons in hell cried out, HE IS DEAD.
• Yes, Jesus had actually died. His body was placed in a tomb where it stayed until HE WAS RESURRECTED.
WHEN DID PETER GO FISHING?
It was after the Lord was crucified, and Peter’s faith was crushed, that he got so discouraged and said, “I go a-fishing.”
A. THE WORST TIME TO MAKE LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS IS WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED
We all have to deal with these days of DISCOURAGEMENT!
BUT…no one should make life-changing decisions when they are discouraged.
For example:
• People have made some awful decisions about business when they were discouraged.
• Christians have walked out of their marriages when they were discouraged.
• Christians have left churches and destroyed testimonies in a moment of discouragement.
• Christians have made bad career changes at times of discouragement only to find later they were better off than they thought at the time.
It was when Peter was at the lowest point of His Christian life that he said, “I go a-fishing.”
He was really discouraged after the Lord was crucified!
One of the worst time to make a life changing decision is when you are discourage.
Also, one of…
B. THE WORST TIME TO MAKE A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN HASTE
That was exactly when Peter and the disciples decided to go fishing.
Look at John 21:3b, “...They went forth, and entered into a ship IMMEDIATELY...”
Notice that word, “IMMEDIATELY.” This decision was made in haste.
Listen, you better pray before you make hasty life-changing decisions! If you don’t pray and wait on God’s direction, you will surely find yourself in a mess that you will regret later!
For example:
• You better take time and pray before you buy that new house.
• You better take time and pray before you buy that new car.
• You better take time and pray before you decide to get married.
• You better take time and pray about which college to attend, or even whether or not to go.
• You better pray before you quit that job, or take that job.
• You better pray before you put those tattoos all over your body. 10 years from now you may be willing to give anything not to have them on your body.
He made HIS DECISION when he was:
A. Discouraged
B. He made it In haste.
Now look at -
II. HIS INFLUENCE
There is something else involved in making bad decisions.
They do not just affect you, they affect others.
The Bible said the other disciples decided to go with him and they went IMMEDIATELY!
Peter got off the highway God had placed him on. He took a detour and others followed him.
Illus: Years ago Dr. Odell Belger was going to his office. On the way to his office he came to a road crew that had the road blocked off for maintenance on this main highway that he was traveling.
He was in a hurry to get to his office so he turned off into a large neighborhood next to this main highway to find a road to help him get pass this road block.
However, when he turned off he noticed about five or six cars turned off with him and began to follow him assuming he knew where he was going.
• If he turned left they would turn left, i
• If he turned right they would turn right.
This happened a number of times.
He had them all fool until he turned into a road that led to a dead end.
Than they all began to look for driveways to turn their cars around.
Listen, everyone have influence on someone.
Illus: Even Jesse James had a gang that followed him.
Peter, on impulse, said, “I go a-fishing.” The disciples said, “We also go with thee.”
Illus: A dad got angry with his wife and left their home. He went outside in the snowy weather to visit the local saloon down the street. As he walked in the deep snow he became aware that someone was behind him. He looked back and saw his son walking in his footsteps to the saloon. It dawned on him that he was leading his son down the same path he had been going. He came to his senses and stopped and turned around.
Listen, as a pastor:
• I have seen people in the church use their good INFLUENCE to lead people into the church.
• But I have also seen people in the church use their bad INFLUENCE to lead people out of the church.
Illus: The cartoon “Peanuts” was in the paper.
It showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown.
• She said, "Guess what, Charlie. The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal's office. It was your fault, Charlie Brown."
• Charlie said, "My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?"
• She said, "You're my friend, aren't you, Charlie Brown? You should have been a better influence on me."
Some people are a bad influence. As folks associate with these people, they get further and further from the Lord.
Peter said, “I GO A FISHING” and he influenced others!
Wrong decisions AFFECT Us and they also AFFECT OTHERS.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was witnessing to a lost mother that loved her daughter dearly.
He tried to persuade her to come to Christ, but she would not.
He finally told her that if she chose to reject Christ, then according to the scriptures she would spend eternity in Hell.
Also, if she made that decision, she could also be making that decision for the daughter in her arms.
He told her, she was the most influential person in her daughter’s life. By rejecting Christ, she might be sending herself and her daughter to Hell.
We looked at…
I. THE DECISION
II. THE INFLUENCE.
Also we see -
III. THE DISAPPOINTMENT
The Bible tells us they fished all night and caught nothing!
Look at verse 3 again. We read, “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; AND THAT NIGHT THEY CAUGHT NOTHING.”
There is nothing worse than being out of the will of God. It seems like everything we do backfires!
The disciples fished all night and did not catch a thing.
This did not happen because they...
• Did not know HOW to fish
• Did not have the RIGHT EQUIPMENT
• Did not have the RIGHT BAIT
It happened because they WERE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD!
God could not bless them because, as the children of God, if they had caught a boat-load of fish on their own that night out of the will of God, they probably never would have gotten back into the ministry.
Sometime God has to allow something bad in our life to get our attention.
Illus: Reminds me of the man who sold his mule to a farmer. He assured the farmer he was a hard working mule.
The man bought the mule and took him to his farm. He hooked him up to the plow and told him to go but the old mule just stood there. He kept doing everything he knew to do get the mule to plow but the mule would not budge.
He called the man he bought the mule from and told him the problem he was having to get the mule to plow.
The man said, “Oh, that is no problem! I forgot to tell you when you want the mule to plow get you a 2 by 4 about two feet long and smack him between the eyes to get his attention and he will start plowing.”
God has to do this way sometime to get our attention.
At no time will God bless one of His children when they are out His will.
You say preacher I know some ungodly people and God has bless them!!!
Let me mention three reason WHY GOD ALLOWS THE UNGODLY TO PROSPER?
To understand why God permits the wicked to prosper…
(1) First, we need to understand God’s Character.
God love for mankind is not CONDITIONAL, his love is UN-CONDITIONAL.
How would we know that if God did not love the sinner and bless him/her with un-conditional love.
• In Psalms 145:9, the Psalmist David tells us that the Lord is good to all and shows compassion to all His creation including those who do evil and wicked things.
• The scriptures go on to say in James 1:17 telling us that all good things be it prosperity, success, good health, etc. come from God, which comes to both the wicked and the righteous.
God allows the wicked to prosper helps us understand the unconditional love He has for all us.
There is another reason that God allows the wicked to prosper.
(2)By allowing the wicked to prosper and have a taste of God’s goodness, some of these people may end up coming to Jesus Christ in repentance when they see the undeserved goodness and kindness in their lives.
This is why the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 2:4 that God’s goodness is to lead to repentance.
God allows the wicked to prosper because He wants them to have a taste of His love and goodness so that they may repent and forsake their evil and wicked ways.
(3)God’s love allows the ungodly prosper because God is Omniscient (Knows all things).
God being Omnipotent knows every one here who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.
But He treats everyone with His wonderful love as if he did not know.
God also know this life here on earth for the sinner is the only heaven they will ever have.
Do you realize how long they will be in Hell?
• Eternity is forever!
• Do not envy the sinner! When you are in Heaven ten million years, they still will be in a burning in Hell.
The sinner better grab all the happiness that he/she can grab in this earthly life because in Hell he will suffer FOREVER!
They prosper in this life because God knows this the only happiness they will ever have.
But God is not going to allow Christians to get out of His will and prosper.
Why?
If He did it would be sending the wrong signal.
Illus: That would be like a child comes home from school with all F’s on their report card and then the parent taking them to the ice cream parlor for some ice cream.
That would send the signal to the child they must do wrong to get the blessings of God.
They disciples were discouraged before they went fishing; they were out of the will of God!
But after they had fished all night without catching anything, they really were discouraged.
It seemed that everything they did in life went sour.
We have seen:
I. HIS DECISION,
II. HIS INFLUENCE
III. HIS DISAPPOINTMENT.
Also we see -
IV. THE INSTRUCTIONS
Look at verses 4-5. We read, “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.”
They heard a man on shore calling, “Hey men, have you caught anything?”
They answered the man on shore with one word, “NO!
The Lord Jesus knew what the trouble was.
Did you know the Lord always know the answer to all of our problem…EVERYONE OF THEM!!!
• When your car breaks down He knows what is wrong with your car.
• When you have a math problem He knows the answer.
• When a person has sickness He knows the cure.
These were experienced fishermen, they had fish all night, and they did not know what the problem was.
Look at verse 6. We read, “And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and YE SHALL FIND SOME FISH.”
Perhaps it seemed strange, but the Lord told them they could solve their problem by doing something different - casting their nets on the other side of the boat.
Evidently they had been fishing from the one side of the boat all night. Sometimes Christians are very METHODICAL.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger said he has a brother that is very methodical.
1. He parks his car in the same spot when he comes to church.
2. He sets in the same pew when he comes to church.
3. He eats supper every day at five O’clock.
4. He changes the razor blade in his razor blade in the middle of the month.
And many churches very methodical like him in their church services.
• Many park their car in the same spaces in the church parking lot Sunday after Sunday.
• They sit in the same pew, in the same spot on the pew every Sunday.
• They greet the same Christians week after week.
• They sing, basically, the same songs over and over.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING PREACHER?
I am saying that we can get into such a mode that we come to church and do things out of habit rather than out of love and desire to serve the Lord.
From the shore, the Lord gave these instructions; “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and YE SHALL FIND SOME FISH!”
They obeyed, even though it really did not make any sense to them, but once they obeyed Him the Bible says, “...now they were not able to draw it (the net) for the multitude of fishes.”
Now these disciples catching this big haul they were experienced fishermen.
James and John - these guys weren’t sports fishermen. They didn’t “catch and release.”
• They caught fish for a living.
• This wasn’t a pastime for them.
• This was their livelihood.
But they never questioned the Lord Jesus when he told them what to do to catch some fish.
Illus: They were not like a couple of guys named Ed and Fred had gone fishing for the very first time in their lives.
They went out and bought themselves a couple of rods and reels, went down to the lake and rented a boat at the boat rental place and rowed out to a likely place and let down their anchor.
They’d read enough about fishing to know how To bait their hooks and how to cast their lines, and after a few practice casts they settled into catching fish.
And boy, did they catch fish. It seemed that just about every time their line hit the water, a fish hit the line.
They caught so many fish that they were really getting excited!
But eventually it started getting dark and they needed to get the boat back to the rental place and head home.
Fred went to the front of the boat and began hauling in the anchor, when he turned around he saw Ed pull out a jackknife and started carving an “X” in bottom of the boat.
• Fred said “What do you think you’re doing?”
• Ed looked up and replied “I’m marking this spot so we can find it again!”
• "Oh, don’t be stupid, Ed!" his friend growled. That won’t do any good. What if we get a different boat?"
Someone said, “If churches were willing to start making SOME CHANGES they could see SOME CHANGES!”
Illus: A definition of ignorance is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Illus: Have you noticed that these food chain restaruant like McDonalds, Hardees, and Burger King at great expense take a good building they are operating out of and they tear it down or remodel it.
Why? Because they recognize the public need a change!!!
If we have formed a habit of “fishing from the wrong side of the boat” and God wants us to do something different, He will bless us for our obedience.
When the disciples obeyed, their net was so full of blessings they were not able to even draw them into the boat.
Conclusion:
Some who are here today have been fishing from the wrong side of the boat.
For years you have lived your life your way! If you are willing to listen to the Lord and come to the Lord’s side, He will bless you.
The disciples had nothing to lose. They tried their way and got no results. When they did it His way they had wonderful results!
I. THE DECISION
II. THE INFLUENCE
III. THE DISAPPOINTMENT
IV. THE INSTRUCTIONS
