“When The Excitement Fades;
And you feel like quitting.”
John 21:1-22
[Sermon suggested in an article by the same name by Ed Underwood. (Kindred Spirit publication of Dallas Seminary, Spring 1992) pp. 10-13]
(All Scriptures quoted unless specified are New King James Version)
Quitters!!! Everybody knows one, almost everyone has been hurt by one, but nobody wants to be one. One of the most discouraging aspects of the ministry is the average church attender’s inability or unwillingness to stick it out. When the going get tough, they get going. When the way gets demanding then the ranks thin dramatically.
You may not be aware of it but the same temptation to quit is faced by the man behind the pulpit. I want to share with you the message I preached to the Arkansas Baptist Bible Fellowship preachers on Tuesday. I thought a first that I would change the perspective of this message being written to preachers, and then I thought that might be beneficial for you to hear it. You may are or may not be aware, Men are leaving the ministry at alarming rates today. At least part of the problem is the unreal expectations and pressures. That great giant of preachers Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “I feel as though I had created a great machine and it is ever grinding, grinding and that I may yet be its victim. No one knows the toil and care I have to bear.”
H. B. London and Neil Wiseman in their book Your Pastor Is An Endangered Species says that “Pastors dwell in a world of unfinished tyranny, where they can’t shut the door, walk out of the office, or know that something is completely finished. There’s always another Bible study, sermon, phone call, committee, hospital call, home visit, or gathering clamoring for attention.” [H. B. London and Neil Wiseman. Your Pastor Is An Endangered Species. (Wheaton, Illinois, Victor Books, 1996.) p. 31-32] The pastor is on duty twenty-seven hours a day, thirty-nine days a month, 412 days a year.
Lloyd Rediger in his book, Clergy Killers, says that Pastors are “…still expected to produce reassuring sermons, exciting programs and manage the church budget without causing discomfort to anyone but himself.” [G. Lloyd Rediger. Clergy Killers: Guidance for Pastors and Congregations Under Attack. (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997) p. 28]
As a result of those pressures and the amount of stress that is faced in the ministry statistics tells that 50% of ordained ministers across denominational lines are out of the pulpit within 5 years, that indeed 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each and every month in this country. [Focus on the Family].
Peter is given as an example of one of the first preachers who wanted to quit. Tonight I want us to see three questions that can cause us to desire to quit.
In Matthew 28:7 the resurrected Lord had promised that he would meet up with the disciples in Galilee. They went to Galilee and waited and waited and waited. When some days had passed and still Jesus had not shown up the disciples, primarily Peter became impatient. Peter, disappointed in the delay, announced that he was going fishing. Now there is nothing innately wrong with him going fishing, but problem is that was a sign that they were drifting away from the calling of God upon their lives.
The first question that we need to avoid is,
1. Don’t Ask, What Am I Missing? (Jn 21:1-4)
The first danger we face that could cause to quit is that of looking in the wrong direction. After the trauma of the crucifixion and the turmoil of the resurrection, Peter and the other disciples were discouraged and now having waited for the Lord to appear they were impatient. They began to look back on the good old days of their lives before things became so complicated and frankly who can blame them. The days when there was a daily routine that could be counted on, were there was security of knowing what was next and the satisfaction of running their own lives. In John 21, we read that seven of the disciples have gathered at Peter’s home in Capernaum waiting for Jesus when Peter impatient as always declares in verse three, “I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.”
Perhaps you are under the impression that you are the only believer that ever feels like quitting. Every preacher I know of faces the Monday morning desire to quit preaching and as some of our parishioners have told us over the years, “Get an Honest Job!” All of us have those weeks when would love nothing better than a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday job. In contrast to what many of our church people think the pastorate is not a life of ease. Every preacher has heard the statement, “Preachers only work on Wednesdays and Sundays,” until it difficult to be polite when we hear it any more. The truth is that “Pastors live in world that never stops, where the light never goes out, and where the average work week is between fifty-five and seventy-five hours.” [London. p. 31]
Peter was having on of those days, for in verse three Peter said, “ I go fishing.” The Greek word used to convey what Peter said was hupago (hoop-ag’-o), this is an interesting word that literally means “I retire.” Peter is ready to quit preaching and go back to what he knew best, fishing. And either Peter was very persuasive or the other disciples were as disgusted as he was, for seven of the eleven went with him and three of those were not even fisherman. They said. “Hey, we will go with you”
Peter was looking back, he tried to go back to his comfort zone. He began to think, “Hey if this ministry thing doesn’t work out I can always go back to where I left off.”
Illustration (Personal story of seminary days)
After spending six year teaching school I finally surrendered to the call of the ministry. I felt that God was leading me to attend Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis. Since my daughter was only 18 months old at the time I decided that I would move to Memphis to scout things out, find a place to move our mobile home and most importantly get a job. For two weeks I looked and I just could not get a job anywhere, even in fast food. Finally one day it dawned me very clearly what the problem was, I had not resigned my teaching position. Some where back in the recess of my mind, this was my trump card, if it everything failed I could still go back to teaching. It was so clear to me that the Lord was telling me, “I will not bless you when you serve me with reservation.” That very morning I called and resigned my teaching position. By the end of the day, someone came to offer me a job. That my not sound miraculous to you, but it sure spoke to my heart.
In this mornings message I spoke of Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” As we discussed you cannot plow a straight line and constantly be looking backwards. Neither can you do a work for God and constantly be looking at the past.
Looking back means that our orientation is in the wrong direction. As Paul said so well in Philippians 3:13-14, “… forgetting those things that are behind (and I think he means both the good and the bad) and reaching forth unto things which are ahead, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We have to keep our eyes focused on the job that God has called us to.
The text says in verse three, “They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” What Peter discovered is very important; he discovered that you can’t go back. Let me try to put this as eloquently as possible, “There ain’t nothing more depressing than catching nothing.” In fact he showed Peter that without him he could not even fish anymore. It wasn’t until the Lord showed up to give them specific instructions on fishing that these former “professional” fishermen got so much as a bite.
The lesson for us is that we cannot go back. We belong to Jesus now and things will never be the same. Your future with the Lord is full of exciting significance only if you follow him. Don’t Ask. What am I missing?
According to verse three Jesus appeared on the beach early the next morning. When the disciples spot him and John identifies him as Jesus, Peter always the man of action, jumps into the water and swims to shore. When they have all gathered together, Jesus prepares them breakfast. After breakfast Jesus take Peter aside to speak to him privately. In verse fifteen we see the second mistake commonly made when we want to quit.
2. Don’t Ask, What Is In It For Me? (vv. 15-17)
The minute you stop and ask, “What’s in it for me?” you are already in trouble. If we are servicing God for any other reason than love we will run out of steam. Look now at verse fifteen, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Three times Jesus asked Peter a question. As I have no doubt explained before, the Greek language in which the New Testament was written, unlike English has more than one word for the expression of love. When Jesus says to Simon do you love me He said literally, “Simon Peter do agape me?” Agape is the God kind of Love? It is the word used to translate John 3:16 which says “for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.”
Jesus asked, “Simon Peter do you love me more than these?” More than what? There are several possibilities; Peter do loved me more than you do fishing, Simon Peter do you love me more than these other disciples do? Fresh in Peter’s memory was his denial of the Lord after having previously boasting that even if all the other disciples abandoned Jesus he would not (Matt 26:33). Peter replied, “Yes Lord you know I phileo you? I have a deep abiding affection for you. “Then feed my sheep.”
A second time Jesus asked Peter, “Simon do you agape me? “Do you love me with God kind of love?” Simon Peter again replied, “Yes Lord you know I phileo you.” Jesus said then “Feed my sheep.”
A third time Jesus asked him the question, this time he used the name he had given him, Peter. And since he could not come up to his level Jesus came down to Peter’s. This time he said, “Peter do you phileo me?” “Peter do you have a deep abiding affection for me.” Peter replied, “Lord you know everything you know I have a deep and abiding love for you.” Peter in effect says, “Lord I realize that nothing I could ever do would measure up to the way you love me, but I am not going to quit.” Peter came out of retirement and Jesus declared him fit for the ministry because he did not quit. Now that he had learned that there is nothing he could do without Jesus, even fishing, he was ready to be used by the Lord. The lord made it plain that even Peter can make the connection between his love for the Lord and his service to Him.
What is really under consideration in these verses is Peter motivation. When was the last time that you stopped and asked yourself, why you do what you do? May I be so bold as to say, The minute we quit we have answered the question of what our motivation was! Only the pure motive of love for the Lord qualified Peter to care for the sheep. Peter evidentially learned this lesson well for he later taught (1 Peter 5:2-4). “The elders (presbutrous) which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight (episkopeo) thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3) Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Jesus constantly talked about servanthood. He who would be the greatest should be the servant of all. There is no room for consideration of what is in it for me, among servants. Do it for love or you might as not do it!
3. Don’t Ask, What About Him? (21:18-22)
The third error that believer’s make who decide to throw in the towel, is looking at others. Christianity is all about having a personal relationship with Christ. The truth is that when we compare ourselves with others we either get the big head or we get hacked off. Have you ever stopped to consider the dynamics of the relationship between Peter and John and Jesus. Peter was to be the Lord’s choice to be the leader of the disciples, but John was the disciple whom we are told in verse twenty that “Jesus loved.”
In verse eighteen Jesus tells Peter what the future will hold for him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.” In so doing he told Peter that he would live to a ripe old age and that he would serve Him the remainder of his life. He may have indeed failed Jesus in the past, but failure is not fatal, failure is not an end unless we quit.
Peter reply to these words of comfort, was to turn and look at John ask in verse twenty-one, “…Lord, and what shall this man do?” In effect Peter says, “But what about John?” Jesus rebuke is very sharp in verse twenty-two, “…If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me!” He said, “Peter that is none of your business.”
Peter was guilty of playing the “comparison” game. We are still tempted today to turn and ask “But what about Them?” Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Have you ever be guilty of comparing yourself to some other believer? I suspect that we all have. Even preachers are guilty of looking at old so and so across town and saying, “He is not any better preacher than I am and look at the size of his church.”
Jesus made the whole matter quite clear to Peter. He said, “Peter, I have told you may plans for your life, what I choose to do with John is none of your business.” “Peter you have enough to be concerned about in yourself,” and so do we.
Don’t ask, What am I missing? It is myth that you can go back. Don’t ask, What is in it for me? The compelling force in your life must be your love for Jesus. Don’t ask, What about him? The comparison game is always disappointing. But most of all don’t quit for in so doing will miss finding out what God’s best for you was.
I want to end tonight by sharing a story with you, it is a little lengthy but I think it is worth the time it is entitled, “The Race.”
“Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten,” they shout and plead
there’s just too much against you now, this time you can’t succeed.
And as I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene,
for just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
and each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire,
to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
was running near the lead and thought, “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands, flew out to brace,
and mid the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
So, down he fell and with him hope, he couldn’t win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs, he slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face,
that steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last,
if I’m going to gain those yards, he thought, I’ve got to run real fast.
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
but trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye,
there’s no sense running anymore—three strikes I’m out—why try?
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away,
so far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.
“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought, “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low. “Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here, get up and win that race.”
With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said, “you haven’t lost at all,
for winning is not more than this; to rise each time you fall.”
So, up he rose to run once more, and with a new commit,
he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner as he crossed, first place;
head high and proud and happy—no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place,
the crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
“Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten,” they still shout in my face, but another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race.” [Family Times}
Conclusion.
We may not know exactly what the God has planned for our lives now. But you can bet that you will not want to miss it, and we will never know what his best was if we quit. Let me close with the words of the Apostle Paul found in 1 Corinthians 15:58, ”Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord “
