Text: John 21
Frustrated Fisherman
Introduction:
A. Seven of the disciples were together at this
time. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John
(the sons of Zebedee), and two others whose names
are not mentioned.
B. Peter decides to go fishing on the lake, and the
others agree to go with him.
C. There are times I go fishing and I can’t find a
way for the fish to bite.
a. I don’t like going fishing without catching
something
b. So after I have tried every lure I have
c. After I have tried every bait I have
d. I keep on trying because most often the key to
catching fish is great patience.
D. However, the disciples found a better way to catch
fish. They listened to the Jesus’ instructions.
As we consider this story, I would like to look
into Christ’s questions to His disciples?
Christ’s first question reminds us to…
A. Share Our Heart With The Lord
a. Notice what Jesus asked the disciples in verse
5, “Children have you any meat?”
b. These men were a group of hungry, tired, and
discouraged disciples
i. For they had fished all night and caught
nothing
ii. Many of us experience what they were
feeling daily…
1. Many times we feel discouraged
2. Many times we feel depressed
3. Many times we feel exhausted
c. Jesus called to the disciples, asking His
life changing question…
i. He already knew the answer, but He wanted
them to share their need. The scripture
says that the Lord knows our need even
before we ask Him.
ii. He knows how things are in our lives, but
He longs for us to tell Him about them.
d. Jesus works miracles when we share with Him
our need
i. You see before one can be saved, they must
admit that they are lost
ii. You see before Jesus can fill us with His
power, we must admit that we are empty
iii. What kind of need do you have in your life
tonight?
1. Do you need strength
2. Do you need deliverance
3. Do you need encouragement
4. Do you need joy
5. The Lord is the only one who can meet
your need.
6. Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall
supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
e. James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask
not.”
i. If you have a need God has an answer.
Bring your need to the Lord in faith and
He will grant you the answer to your
request.
ii. I’m convinced that if we will take our
needs to the Lord He will provide us the
answer to our request.
Christ’s second question reminds us to…
B. Seat The Lord First Place In Our Hearts
a. Notice Jesus’ question to Peter in verse
15, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more
than these?”
b. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him move
than the things around him
i. Peter do you love me more than the sea?
ii. Do you love me more than your boat?
iii. Do you love me more than fishing?
iv. Do you love me more than your friends?
c. Jesus wants first place in our lives. He
wants us to love Him…
i. More than we love our possessions
ii. More than we love our jobs
iii. Jesus wants us to love Him more than we do
anything else
iv. Jesus wants us to place His will, His work,
and His desires above our own.
Christ third question reminds us to…
C. Serve The Lord With All Our Heart
a. Jesus told Peter that if He truly loved Him he
would feed his sheep.
b. Is your love for the Lord moving you to be a
servant for the Lord?
i. We can all give something in our service for
the Lord
1. God expects us to give Him our time
2. God expects us to give Him our talents
and gifts
3. God expects us to be faithful
a. Faithful to do His work
b. Faithful to do His will
ii. If we will give what we have to the Lord –
He will greatly reward us for all our
efforts.
c. We manifest our love to Christ by serving
others.
i. God called Peter to care for His flock.
ii. This is the chief work of a pastor.
iii. This is also the task of every Christian.
1. By serving others we serve Christ.
2. I Peter 4:10
Conclusion:
A. If we have a need The Lord has an answer.
a. He will meet you where you are
b. He will provide you a miracle if you will call
out to Him
B. Jesus insists on having fist place in our lives
a. He will not stand for us to have anything
before Him
b. If there is anything in our lives we place
before the Lord lets dethrone it and seat the
Lord on the throne in our heart
C. Let your love for the Lord move you to be a
servant for the Lord
a. God created us to serve not to be served
b. Serve the Lord with your time
c. Serve the Lord with your gifts
d. Serve the Lord with all your heart
e. God will greatly reward you as well as cause
you to be a blessing to others
D. How will you answer are Lord’s questions of
commitment?
