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I’m having one of my “moments”. I caught some news this morning and heard about all the hub-bub about the government wanting to regulate video games for kids. Once again I am between a rock and hard place. Of course, there are those biased and subjective studies that are supposed to prove that kids are not impacted psychologically by these games. I’m sorry, I just don’t buy it. I think you could line parents up all day long who would testify to a different drum beat on this one. If anything, I think we are de-sensitizing a generation to violent behavior. We are teaching them that there isn’t any responsibility for their violent actions. Shoot or be shot. Kick or be kicked. Humiliate or be humiliated. Fight or be fought. Hunt or be hunted. We are, in my opinion, (which isn’t worth much depending on what circle of social care you represent), teaching kids to become proactive in assertive and some cases violent behavior. Sorry, that’s how I feel about this.
Now let me state a few things here to get some conversation going.
1. We are too deep into this thing for dear old Uncle Sam to suddenly become the parent over media games for kids. I am not in favor of the government telling us what parents should or shouldn’t do with their kids and video games. We are to render unto Caesar what belongs to him but we are not to surrender parental responsibilities. It is not Uncle Sam’s job to raise our kids. If government involvement is to simply “rate” the games, that may be a consideration on my part. Informing parents what’s inside the game box or on the game disk could be helpful – but not stepping in to become the parent. The government is an Uncle – not a mommy or daddy.
That being said – I move on to more objective view points and observations.
2. We have finally started bearing the fruit of the entitlements generation of offspring! We saw this coming and the prophets were screaming in our pulpits…and no one paid any attention to it. The entitlement generation is currently sitting in our congregations and making service demands on the church without getting involved themselves. They deserve such and such being done for them. Isn’t that why they contribute their hard-earned dollars to the church? Isn’t the church a glorified, sanctified Burger King? God is not a “Burger” king. He is King of Kings and how dare we enter into the kingdom and act like He “owes” us anything. But that’s what is happening. The term “sacrifice” and “surrender” are far gone in verbage of too many that are sitting in our churches making vain demands on ministry personnel.
3. We have raised a generation that has lost respect for authority. No doubt about it. This is why I really don’t think that Uncle Sam’s involvement in becoming surrogate parents will accomplish much. To a small degree maybe – but we are far past this generation of kids having any respect for authority figures – much less Uncle Sam telling them what they can or cannot watch. Bottom line – they will forgo and sidestep any one telling them what they can do.
4. Comments made some of the news people and emails sent in were ridiculous. Some were saying it’s the parents responsibility to watch what their kids watch. Then here is the infamous by line that makes me sick to my stomach more often than not – “Children are a byproduct or an image of what they’re taught at home!” Hog wash! Bunk! This is pure psycho-babble for those tree hugging, anti-Bible nuts who think they have psycho analyzed humanity to perfection. No wonder we have kids out there who think they have arrived and can live beyond scriptural admonition for life principles.
One of the first commandments God gave us to ultimately regulate morality in the earth was the mandate to obey parents. Take a quick gander at Exodus 20.12 This is a mandate from God Himself who comes to us a Divine Father figure. Clarke’s Notes on the Old Testament (e-Sword) says there is a “…degree of affectionate which is owing to parents. For a considerable time parents stand as it were in the place of God to their children and therefore rebellion against their lawful commands has been considered as rebellion against God.” Wow! We left this principle out of our text-book theories didn’t we? Before you dispensationalist’s start screaming this is an Old Testament principle let me direct you to Ephesians 6.1-4. Again, the issue is with children obeying and honoring parental authority in their lives. Why is this important to God? It is the first commandment with a principle attached. Obey parents and you will be granted a long and fulfilled life. Well now, generations into this thing and we have created almost a solid generation of ignoring this principle. This didn’t happen over night. The Beetle’s didn’t bring this wave of ignorance in. Elvis Presley didn’t bring this in. The denial of parental authority began soon after Adam and Eve so wonderfully created offspring by the name of Cain and Abel.
This “first family” raise a murderer. Now let me ask you something here. With Adam and Eve breaking ground rules to begin with – where did this rebellion come from? It came from the influence of sin. Oh, I am not dismissing parental authority in raising children but I am saying that disobedience to parental rule has been around (and gaining strength) for nearly 6000 years. Israel grew up and rebelled against God. The purpose of the 10 commandments was to bring moral order to the world He created since our parental lineage invited sin into the household and stepped away from righteous perfection.
Kids today do not “honor” or “obey” parental authority. Parental authority is a type. When children learn why they are to obey, respect and honor parents then they carry that over to other authority entities. Let me remind you it wasn’t children who took prayer out of school. It wasn’t children who weakened discipline in schools. It wasn’t children who gave untimely and unjustified judicial rights to minors. It was a generation of parents who made a choice to deny Biblical standards of teaching order and structure in the home. We are reaping what we have sown and in most cases it is bitter and sometimes violent and fatal fruit. We have created a garden of nearly uncontrollable weeds. And now we suspect that government regulation will do the trick. Not so. Remember the guys in government who will make this decision can’t even abide by rulings created to keep them in check. Why would they think that a ruling created by our government will do any more for their children or their grandchildren. What a joke!
The problem here, not to simplify this issue, is sin. Sin is lawlessness. Lawlessness is the rejection and rebellion of authority. God comes to us as a Divine Father image. When society as a whole rejects and dismisses His rule for morality in the land – why would we grasp as such a meager straw for our children? Get back to teaching children “why” they are to obey, honor and respect authority – starting with parental authority – and we may gain some ground. This is not a job for Uncle Sam.
I have seen Godly parents raise Godly children – only to see them dismiss how they have been raised and turn toward the world. I refuse to believe that the charge against parents is the easy escape for assuming adult responsibility once a child has been raised. Moral law was given for us to keep order in society. I remind you that for the most part it is those of us who assume responsibility as adults that are charged with keeping and teaching moral law. A child cannot teach a child. We do the teaching. Once a child has been taught moral law they will not “depart” from moral training. This is a standard of mental assent to the law. They will never depart from the law inbedded in their mind. This does not guarentee behavioral assent any more then it did when God Himself gave us the law – and as adults it was ignored. The problem I have seen is that when children grow up to be…well…adults – they willfully choose to ignore moral and righteous law. Adults are responsible for their own choices – regardless of how they were raised. Understand this principle – if children disobeying parents is the parents fault then Father God, Abba Father in most cases has done a pitiful job in raising His children. Now then, you want to rethink that nasty charge against all Godly parents for how their children turn out? Doesn’t work in all cases.
April 27, 2010 John 21.17-18
There have been many of them. Several as of late. You know! Those movies and ideologically based attempts to let us catch a glimpse of our own mortality. They are devised to wake us up. They are there to bring to an awareness that if we had thirty, sixty or ninety days to live we would probably make better choices with our life, our resources and our relationships. We would probably be more proactive with softer attitudes, broader tolerances, increasing forgiveness and righteous smiles. We would just probably approach life a little different.
Simon Peter was given a “mortality window” by Jesus. He was shown how he would die but not when he would die. Still, would you like someone doing that with you? What Jesus was trying to say to Peter is mere speculation. We know what He said but we can only guess as to why He was speaking in the terms of Peter’s life ending. Peter would die the death of a martyr some 34 years after this event. History teaches us that Peter died in Rome and was hung upside down because he felt unworthy to die as his Master, Jesus Christ.
What about you? What if you were to leave your doctor’s office and had been told you have only a season to live? What would you do? Who would you speak to? What would you give away? What would you keep? Who would you seek forgiveness from? Who would you show more love to? These are all valid questions and point to a mere “what if” scenario. But what if it were true? What would you do?
Jesus was quick to bring Simon Peter the place of life and resurrection life. Through death we can live. We die out to the old man and live in the new resurrection man. We exchange the old for the new. We put off the old man. We walk away from a former life style. We turn our behavior and focus on newness of life Jesus explained to Simon Peter how he would die. Could you have handled that? Most could not!
Here is what we have to realize. Death precedes resurrection life. It works that way and in the physical and spiritual realm. Sometimes people are given an insight as to how they will die but not when they will die. As you work your way toward Pentecost Sunday I want you to realize that reaching a Pentecostal experience in the fullness of the Holy Spirit – somethings will have to die. You may have to walk away from some earthly, carnal and non-spiritual attitudes, accept some people you don’t think you can accept. You may have put to death that ugly thing inside most of us – the independent self.
Self will get in the way headed to Pentecost. Self will talk you out of pursuing your destiny. You can’t afford that to happen. Self is what Jesus was trying to get Simon Peter to deny…which he finally did. Can you deny yourself and push toward Pentecost? Can you get past the here and now and try to receive what Jesus has ordained you to receive? Time heals all wounds…or so they say.
What has Jesus revealed to you lately that you’re uncomfortable with? Attitude? Unforgiveness? Bitterness? Anger? Jealousy? The list could go on and on. Again, Jesus wanted Simon Peter to “fess up” and move forward. I wonder what would have happened if Simon had not taken his direction and guidance to heart? Really don’t want to think about it. Be blessed.
April 26, 2010 John 21.17
Jesus has asked Simon Peter three times if he (Simon) loved Him. By the third time Simon was grieved over it all. I said this morning in our service that Jesus was interrogating Peter. Interrogations are entered into because truth is being pursued. Jesus was taking Peter on a truth journey.
Simon had already let Jesus down…and himself. He had made the statement to Jesus that if everyone else left Jesus – he would not. That didn’t last long! Peter quickly realized that saying you would give your life for someone and actually doing it is two different things. Although Simon Peter could only confess a “friendship love” to Jesus and not a agape love (unconditional). Jesus, I believe, was testing Peter. Having confessed one thing already to Jesus and failed in keeping that commitment – I think He was Jesus was testing Peter’s sense of humility, honesty and pure truthfulness. In other words, Jesus was testing Peter to see if he would confess the truth or say what Jesus wanted him to say.
How many times have we been there with Simon Peter? In a moment of worship or devotional – we say to Jesus – “I’ll follow you forever! I will go to the ends of the earth for You! I will give you my body, soul and spirit!” But when test time comes – we high tail in reverse! Difficult moments for those who have there.
Jesus isn’t looking for you to confess something you can’t confess. He isn’t looking for you to tell Him a lie. He is looking for truth. Simon Peter could only confess a “friendship relationship” with Jesus. While you may not understand this…I think this is exactly what Jesus wanted out of him. We always want to read into scripture the super hyper spiritual! Not so here. I really think Jesus was getting Peter to be honest with Him. Can we still love Jesus and not love Him unconditionally? Yes. It’s not the highest level of love one can obtain in Christ but when it’s all we can do – it’s all we can do. It is what it is!
Now that’s not to say that God doesn’t want us to go deeper with Him He does. It doesn’t mean that the Lord doesn’t want us to climb higher. He does. It’s not that Jesus wants us to remain at this initial or primary level of love forever. He doesn’t. But Jesus is more interested in relationship with us than He is our level of love. He wants to love us…period. He wants to love us and love is a choice. We have to choose to let Jesus love us and then we choose to love Him back.
What about you? On this journey to Pentecost take a little time to figure out how much you love Him. Love is action. It is behavior. It is choice. God has given you a Promise. The Promise of the Holy Spirit’s baptism. How hungry are you? How much in love with Jesus are you? How much do you want to experience the fullness of the Spirit in your life? Jesus said in John 14.15 that if you love Him you will keep His commandments (the Word). Jesus has given us instructions on being filled with the Spirit. Why aren’t we?
Could it be that we aren’t in love enough with Jesus to want the very best for ourselves? Could it be that we are so comfortable with “friendship” love that we don’t see the need to pursue anything different? Just a thought!
I want to challenge your “love level” in Christ. How much do you love Him? Really now. Be honest with yourself and with Jesus. Scale one to ten with ten being the greatest love you could have for Him, where are you at? Don’t say what you “think” Jesus wants you to say. He just wants the truth. That’s all. He wants to know how hungry you are for the fulness of His Spirit. Simple. Nothing complex about it. Just tell Him how much you love Him and hungry you are for His Spirit.
April 25, 2010 John 21.15-17
The questions were tough. By the time Jesus asked Simon Peter the same question the third time – Simon was getting a little miffed. Uncomfortable with the risen Lord drilling him. He didn’t understand why. I am not sure I do either. We can only speculate on this one. What I do wonder about is Simon Peter’s attitude with it. Here is the Lord Jesus in resurrection form standing before Simon Peter. Peter hasn’t had the best track record of late when it comes to loyalty to the Master. He has dropped the ball big time. Yes, Jesus did ask for Simon Peter and they have had two other face to face meetings. But to somehow get an attitude with the Lord over His asking questions? Repeatedly? Now there is something we can identify with!
The word scripture uses here implies that Peter was grieved over the these repeasted questions. It actually means distressed. The word means to be anxious, pained or be in sorrow. Peter was hurting over the questions. They were like a dagger stuck in to his heart. Why? Again, this wondering mind of mine can only speculate.
Simon Peter had denied the Lord three times. Maybe the Lord was “catching up” with these questions. Maybe it would take three-times to drive home the point that mere surface confessions aren’t enough. Peter had done that before. Confessed that if everybody left Jesus – he would not. Yeah right! Go figure! We know how much that lasted! Long enough for Simon Peter to high tail it into hiding!
Questions are not fun some times. Consider this a proactive interrogation by Christ. Picture Simon Peter sitting at an old desk in a dim-lit police station. Jesus is in the shadows. He has on a dark suit and tie. His tie is pulled down and his collar is unbuttoned. He is asking Peter a few questions. All he wants is the truth. All Jesus wants is a truthful confession. Nothing less and nothing more. Do you love me? Do you really, really love me?
What about you? How many times does Jesus have to drag us to a place of interrogation? He just wants answers. He just wants a confession based on truth. Consider, again, Jesus in a dark dim-lit room…and it’s you sitting at the interrogation table. From the shadows Jesus begins asking some pointed questions:
Somehow we wrestle with Jesus to questioning us. Throughout scripture the Lord is found asking His people, His leaders, His kings and queens, His prophets, His apostles…and even one time His own Father questions. All He wants is truth. Pure and simple. So the next time you feel backed into a corner while experiencing the Lord’s presence…why don’t you just be honest with Him. All He wants is the truth from you. No veneer. No cover up. Just honest answers. Try it. He already knows what is in your heart. What He is after is how honest you will be with Him and yourself in answering some of the questions He is asking.
April 24, 2010 John 21.15
It was a rough one. The man was middle-aged and had two teen age children. He was tracking the super hyper spiritual for his own life. He sat in the back of the church – preferring to sit alone. He never engaged in fellowship meetings. He never volunteered for anything. He was fairly committed to the church in attendance. He would occasionally write me a note to tell me how I had “missed it” in sermon. He was so different from all the rest of the body of believers. He always carried his Bible and attached to it like white on rice was his notebook. He was extremely dedicated to his notebook. He rarely looked up during my sermons. He was constantly writing. I wss impressed at first with the fact that this man was so observant, such a listener. Then it started to surface. The man was a religious fanatic who knew nothing about personal relationships – even with his own family.
It was his wife who first left him. Then the kids followed suit. He was left alone. It didn’t happen over night the details are too gory and too lengthy to get into. I wouldn’t bore you nor grieve you with them. He was left alone – just the way he wanted to be. Alone with his notebooks and his worn Bible. Alone – where God never intended him to be. He was alone by his own choice of behavior. Poor and offensive behavior on his part.
Every day he would rise early to go to his basement to seek the face of God. He would then shower and go to work. He would come home, never eat with his family – rather went to his “chapel” in the basement and lingered “in the presence of the Lord.” He would stay there until time for him to go to bed. Next day he would go through this ritual again. And that’s exactly what it was – a lifeless, boring, irresponsible, legalistic, hypocritical and pride filled ritual. No one wanted anything to do with him, his faith, his religion or his church. He lost his family because he became a religious recluse.
In our passage of scripture today, Jesus calls his followers to have some breakfast with Him. He allows them to eat with him. Fellowship with Him. Laugh with Him. Have a cup of coffee with Him. Break some bread with Him. He lets them enjoy life and life responsibilities. Afterwards He introduces them to a higher calling. He was telling them that there are some responsibilities that are more important than constantly chasing the super hyper-spiritual side of life. Family is important.
I wasn’t the most time conscious dad in the world. Pastoring is demanding and time-consuming. I have been on call twenty-four hours a day for nearly thirty years. One thing Kim and I worked hard on was trying to identify with the needs of family. There were days it was easy and there were days we felt like we were at the gates of hell fighting to survive the pressures and demands of ministry and balance it out for the boys. Without a doubt, Kim did an awesome job of raising our boys and teaching them with integrity and balance why dad was absent from the picture from time to time. They could have grown up hating the church and the God that caused their dad to give other families time in lieu of giving them time once in a while. The grace and mercy of God intervened and the boys seem to have adjusted to this monster called ministry rather well.
I digress to the man who was in my church many years ago. For some reason, he assumed neglecting family somehow made him more holy. Nothing was further from the truth. This man eventually became disillusioned with the Lord, the church and life and lived alone in misery – refusing to listen to anyone give him advice – before and after he lost his family. People told me he just wasn’t “all there” but I deduced it was much more than that. Being a french fry short of a happy meal somehow wasn’t enough of an answer for me.
I can’t tell you how important it is to focus on your responsibilities as a dad, mom, son or daughter. Family is the most important faith card you can put on the table. Nothing should trump the family card. The relationship you have with your spouse should be the number one priority in all of your life. I had the privilege of sitting tonight with a man from our church who discussed with me the ever-increasing number of Christians who are experiencing family melt down. Unbelievable. No easy answers but you have to stay focused on your spouse. When Kim and I married our pastor at the time, Pastor C.L. Johnston, gave us some advice. He said in his deep low voice, “Tim, if you will treat Kim like a queen she will automatically treat you like a king. Kim, if you will treat Tim like a king he will automatically treat you like a queen.” Nearly 33 years under our belt and the advice holds true today. We have focused on loving one another in spite of all the bumps in the road a marriage will go through. She is without a doubt a queen to me. I have a responsibility to love her as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Love is reciprocal. You love and love will come back.
Sons and daughters ought to bear the responsibility of caring for parents and their siblings. I have been blessed with two outstanding young men as sons. They have disciplined themselves to love one another and to love their mom and dad. My youngest son recently gave us our first granddaughter. Josh is a hard working dedicated young man. He is focused on taking care of his family and he does it well. His faith is a major part of who he is to his family. If you don’t know by know, Isabella is the apple of my eye. My daughter in law, Natalie, is an out standing mom, homemaker and professional. Kim and I talk often about what a super mom she is to Bella and the care she shows our son. This doesn’t just happen. It takes effort on their part to make it work.
My oldest son in Michigan has made us proud for years. He is a hard worker who manages his life well. He has suffered disappointment in marriage but has now allowed it to anchor him down emotionally, physically and most of all spiritually. He has maintained relationship with Christ even through his disappointment season. Life isn’t always easy but many times it’s what you do with your disappointments that make you who you are. He has shown a strong faith develops strong character. You don’t have to defend Godly character – it defends itself.
I say all of this to say that family is important. In studying for my message this Sunday the Holy Spirit spoke something to my spirit man. Family isn’t perfect. Perfection is something that is fixed and lifeless. Perfection is the abstract of life that sits on a shelf – measured and cut for a perfect display. Living life is full of ups and downs, bruises and bumps. Living life and keeping the faith is full of disappointments. But Jesus is calling us to live life, take care of life, be true to responsibilities. He is calling us to sit down long enough to have breakfast and enjoy life before tackling the monumental ever-increasing issues of pursuing our faith life.
Men take care of your families. Assume responsibilities of the home before you jump up to secure your place in the hall of super-duper hyper spiritual hero morons. The first all of us care about – the latter no one really cares about.
April 23, 2010 John 21.11-13
I have wrestled with this passage for some time now. The Lord sent these fishermen out to catch fish. They had already spent the night fishing and caught nothing. He sends them out and they catch 153 fish. Now, I am not going to try to identify why scripture gives us the exact number. We know the Holy Spirit inspired John to write how many – but we really don’t know why. John was also inspired to write the fact that there were so many fish the “net broke.” I am trying to figure this out.
Jesus blessed these men for their obedience. They caught an abundance of fish. So many that the net broke. Pardon me but the net breaking is something I see as out-of-place. Why would Jesus bless these men with so many fish that their net would break and allow them to lose part of their blessing? Doesn’t make sense. Bless them and then let them lose part of their blessing.
Then it dawned on me. Jesus blessed these fishermen with a great catch. It may not have been the largest catch they had ever taken in but 153 is better than the “catch less” night they had just finished. Something is better than nothing. So when they lost a few fish it may not have meant a lot to these fisherman. In this case the large catch of fish was actually a means to an end. Jesus would eventually challenge these men to full-time “followership” (my word!!!) so they were going to walk away from their vocation any way – fish, broken net and ships – all of it!
I have seen times when God gets us to a place of obedience even though we may have to suffer some loss along the way. When Kim and I came to Ohio – in obedience to the Lord – we were blessed. Although experiencing blessing – we also experienced some loss along the way. Our former residence in Michigan cost us nearly $150,000 in financial losses. The loss was only a means to an end. Here we are today – left our “ship” and “broken net” in Michigan. We moved on in obedience. We hold no regrets about what we left to follow Him in truth and honesty. It was an earthly loss that cannot be returned. The fish that were lost could not be retrieved. No effort could get the fish that got out of the broken net. The broken net was the result of the greater blessing – catching fish.
Our blessing of being here in Lancaster, Ohio is the greater picture. The cost factors of what we left are gone. No amount of effort can get what we lost back. No more than fisherman jumping into the water and catching the same fish that jumped out of the broken net. The loss was gone – never to come back. The greater picture is a kingdom picture. We knew when we came Victory Hill that there would be a “great cost” to our coming. At our interview we were given word from the Lord by someone who said, “…you will come at a great personal cost.” We listened but it didn’t matter at the time because the greater picture was at stake – a kingdom issue.
How many people out there have obeyed the Lord at a personal cost to your obedience. We realized that there were missionaries in foreign countries who give their lives for their obedience. All we surrendered was a house. A vacant house. The disciples initiated their obedience with the loss of some fish – oh they kept 153 fish but they lost some. The greater picture – they would eventually give their lives to follow Jesus. The fish was a means to an end. Jesus had greater plans for these professional fishermen. They would become fishers of men – not just fishermen.
In your life and mine – there is a greater picture in regard to our destiny. Our home in Michigan was just that – a home. Brick and mortar. Sod, trees, sprinkler system, patio. It was a house. The greater picture was that we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to a greater place of obedience. Costly? Yes. Rewarding? Absolutely. Can the home be replaced? No. But it doesn’t have to because the greater picture, the greater principle for us was obedience regardless of the cost.
Yeah! The crazy net broke! The net breaking was just the natural result of too many fish in the first place. With God – there is no record of loss because He doesn’t lose nor do we. We are more than conquerors in Him. Fish went back to where the fish belonged. No loss. But there was great gain – the gain of people being won to the kingdom of God. I don’t think there is any thing that any of us have lost that would outweigh the great picture of our destiny – the kingdom of God.
I think we lose perspective from time to time. We get caught up in the earthly losses we suffer. We forget that here we are aliens. We are foreigners. We are only passing through. That’s why Jesus could allow a few fish to escape the net. On the run fish were no where near what Jesus had in mind for these fishermen. To reach for the greater kingdom perspective of being filled with the Holy Spirit – you may have to let some fish go. Dont’ focus on the broken net and a few fish escaping. It’s not worth losing sight of the greater kingdom perspective.
April 21, 2010 John 21.9
There are some dynamics here that in this passage of scripture that should cause us to ask some sincere questions. Let me highlight some of them for you to ponder with me:
To these and other questions we may never have the answers…at least here on earth. We can only speculate and all of us are good at doing that! I imagine that Jesus appeared in celestial form. I believe He miraculously provided the fire, fish and bread. I think He was making a point with these guys who abandoned him earlier in their relationship with Jesus. Jesus introduced the first Long John Silver’s to us! He had prepared a meal – miraculously or by physical labor – it doesn’t matter how but we know it was there for the men when they brought their ship to shore. He fed these men fresh fish and bread. Probably some Starbucks coffee too!
Why did He ask them for some of their fish? If Jesus provided fish miraculously – wouldn’t He had provided enough? The issue here is obviously feeding. He was feeding them. But this feeding thing was something Jesus needed a cooperative relationship with them in order to do it right. Jesus could have spoken into existence or created somehow a truck load of fish. But what we know is that He asked for some of their fish. Mind you – Jesus had fish already on the fire! But He wanted some of theirs also.
Look at it this way. Originally they had none. He had some. Then they had lots of fish. He had some. Then he asked for some of their catch. Then He had enough. Here’s my take on this. He will always have “some” to give us, to feed us. His Word will feed us. His word will sustain us. His word will guide us. He is there to always bless us. He will always have something to give us. When we started out we had nothing. We had no “fish.” We had to learn. We had to go fishing. We had to put forth an effort. Then we brought our “fish” to the shore line – not expecting to use any of our catch. Jesus does several things here. First, He shows up unexpectedly. Second, He provides unexpectedly. Third, he asked you to share unexpectedly. Fourth, He challenges unexpectedly. It’s all about provision. It’s all about our cooperation. It’s all about your willingness to surrender to the work of the supernatural. What would have happened had the disciples said, “You don’t need any of our fish dude! You already have some on the fire!”
The fullness of the Spirit came out of His abundant supply. Although the disciples were in the upper room expecting something – they didn’t have a clue as to what really to expect. They were expecting the unexpected. Jesus had some. They had none. Then they had some and Jesus simply asked for some back in return. After they received they were told to share their blessing with others (you shall be my witnesses). Jesus was making a point here about supernatural provision. He will do His part. He will be there – always be there! He will provide us because it is His nature to provide for us. He wants us blessed beyond the norm. But He will always expect us to share that blessing with others – rather it is fish, income, talents, skills or our callings. He will bless us beyond our wildest imagination – but He also expects us to share – He wants some of our fish.
What are you giving Jesus from your catch of “fish”. When He blesses you what are you willing to part with? He will always do His part but will you do yours? The net was full and running over only because these fishermen were obedient to His word. But they gave back to Him from their supply. Oh yes, He has plenty already on the fire – but He really wants is some of ours. He wants us to bring some of what we have to the table without reservation, complaint or question. Can you do that? Really. Honestly. Can you do that?
April 20, 2010 John 21.7-9
Peter was the type of person who would speak first and suffer the consequences later. He was always quick to dialogue when he should have kept quiet and always first to move when he should have stood still. It seemed he was always a day early and a dollar short. To be honest the “spirit” of Simon Peter lives in a lot of people still today. They have good intentions but sometimes those intentions will lead them into dissatisfaction, disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, detriment and despair. Such was the case with Simon when Jesus visited this group of distracted rag tag fishermen.
When Simon Peter realized who Jesus was – he immediately jumped out of the boat and made his way toward Jesus. At first it seems like Peter was in a hurry to meet Jesus. I like to think he was – but it is mere speculation. We know that Peter did assist with bringing in the net full of fish but I think this was an after thought. I would almost be out of character for Peter to think of someone else needing his help and not putting himself first.
We are like that today. We have a lot of Simon Peter’s spirit in us. We often jump to conclusions without evidence to support our claims. We speak before we think. We react instead of respond. Whatever motive was behind Simon Peter’s actions – he didn’t hesitate to jump into the water before the others did. He was always first in line – good or bad.
Sometimes we deal with things in life that are like what Peter dealt with. We are faced with facts that motivate us. But what we don’t do is process those facts so that they serve the kingdom more than they do ourselves. Case in point – Simon Peter. He had the fact of Jesus standing in front of him. His goal was being with Jesus – but the greater good was bringing in the load of fish that Jesus directed them to catch. Jesus proved the greater good by asking for some fish that they had just caught.
I commend Simon for jumping into the water to get to Jesus. What I fault him for is nearly missing out on helping the other fishermen with the laborious task of bringing in the catch. We can get so caught up in being in the presence of the Lord, being with Him in worship that we forget about the other guys in the boat – tugging at the net full of fish. We forget that we have responsibilities that sometimes keep us from His immediate presence.
Read the text. The men in the boats had to haul the mega load of fish about a hundred yards to the shore line. Peter only got involved when Jesus specifically asked for some fish from the catch. He simply walked to the net and grabbed some of the catch. It was the other men who labored to get the fish net to shore. Simon Peter stepped away from responsibility of help only to be willing to once again be the first in line to share with Jesus. He was first in line to serve Jesus but last in line to serve the others. Sometimes we do the same thing. When this happens we are out of balance. We may enjoy our up front seat with Jesus while we create enemies due to our lack of responsibility toward the whole.
Jesus inspired John to write seven churches in various locations. They’re found in the book of Revelation. Here Jesus says that while the churches for the most part were doing good there was some fault to them. Without detailing all seven churches in this blog, suffice it to say that some were willing to be in the presence of Jesus – while ignoring the greater revelation of good. We forget that serving one another is important.
How many today are more than willing to jump out of the boat and race into the presence of Jesus. What they don’t realize is that Jesus blessed the group and that meant there was a group responsibility. Simon left the “boys” to drag in the net themselves. I am not sure how Jesus felt about this event but Simon almost blew it. There is a balance in serving Jesus and His church. He wants us to be committed to the hard tasks as well as the simple ones like jumping into waste deep water and working our way toward Him. Dragging the fish net was tough work. Remember they didn’t have a motor boat with modern technology. Everything was done by hand.
When you’re seeking Pentecost remember that you can jump out of the boat and pursue His presence and leave others behind. I am confident that God wants us to sometimes “wait” in the upper room. He wants us to serve Him but He wants us to serve one another also. Pray about what you’re doing to serve others. Not just serve Him – but what are you engaged in that benefits others? I am told that there are enough “one another” passages of scripture to lead us into serving for every week of the year. What did you do last week that was for the express good of someone besides yourself? We are called to serve – and not to always outrun everyone else toward His presence.
In seeking your Pentecostal experience remember that the Gift of the Spirit was given for the express purpose of being witnesses of Him towards “the utter most part of the world.” Obviously the Gift of the fulness of the Spirit was for serving others. While we may pursue His presence as Simon Peter did – we can’t forget the others who are diligently working to serve the kingdom. You see Jesus blessed their efforts and they were responsible for the blessing. Today our churches are blessed but we hesitate in serving one another. We want to continue in the vein of receiving. But what about serving. Simon Peter eventually went back to grab some fish for Jesus. What if he had not gone back? What if the blessing of Jesus had gone without Simon Peter giving a reasonable service to the Master? Who would have lost out? Simon Peter, Jesus and the other disciples would have lost out. Are you willing to let a blessing get by you, by others and certainly be withdrawn from Jesus because we are slothful with the blessings of God. Don’t let Pentecost get by you this easy. Go on. Help the others get the fish to shore! You will appreciate your efforts and feel pretty good about being able to help others as well. Trust me.
April 19, 2010 John 21.6
Don’t forget the other side! How many times have we all been so narrow-minded that we focus on “one side of the ship” and we forget the other side? When Jesus, as a carpenter, gave these professional fishermen some advice – it could have been disastrous. Imagine someone who cut wood and made tables and chairs for a living giving a group of professional fishermen advice – telling them where to cast their nets! The fact that Peter and the boys didn’t run Him off was amazing within itself. Jesus gave these guys some advice…and it worked! They pulled in the master catch! It was such a catch they had to have help to get it in to shore. Once again, we find ourselves dealing with the practical life side of Jesus – where He gets real with His followers.
I can’t help but consider how much Jesus approached His resurrection with sheer simplicity. He was the Son of God. He was the only one who foretold His death and resurrection. He was alive and engaged in manifesting Himself to those whom He came to save. He was a miracle. He could have focused on Himself. He could have had words with these fishermen – some who had abandoned Him in His greatest moment of need. He didn’t though. His priority was kingdom issues.
I wonder if Jesus were to give us instructions to “cast our net on the other side” if we would listen to Him? Without a doubt we would “listen” to His instructions on our spiritual life. Pray here, forgive this, love that! But when it comes to the more practical side of life – how many of us are “listening” to Him? How many of us are praying and waiting for Him to lead us into business decisions? Corporate decisions? Budget decisions? Sales advice? Product management? Research and developement? Probably not many. But yet Jesus who was God in the flesh (John 1) took the time to not scream at these fishermen for not being out preaching ahead of Him – but gave them to instructions as to where and how to become profitable. Success wasn’t in the latest book it was in hearing the voice of the Master.
I recall a rich young ruler who approached Jesus about eternal life. Jesus gave Him some practical advice. The rich young ruler had taken much pride in his ability to keep the law and make money. He took pride in the fact that he was not like all the “other” people in his community. Jesus read between the lines and told the young man to go and sell all he had and give it to the poor. He couldn’t do it and he walked away “very sad” the Bible says. He wouldn’t listen to Jesus tell him to put his net on the other side. He was so focused on one side of the ship he couldn’t succeed in business the right way. He ignored the advice from Jesus who at this point was a money manager for the young man. He was a stock broker for the man. He was an investment manager. He told the young man to invest his money in others. He ignored the invest advice and walked away unfulfilled with life.
Jesus wants to be a part of our everyday life. He wants to be there at decision time. He wants to be there at investing time. He wants to give instructions. He doesn’t want us to miss the other side of the boat. We can easily walk away from tremendous blessings by not keeping Jesus in the loop of our life economically, vocationally, spiritually and personally. We can and do – miss out on the “master load” on the other side of the boat. Just mere feet away from our reach.
On this journey to Pentecost I want you to let Jesus give you advice. Rather on business, personal relationships, investments, etc. I want you to let Him become part of your everyday experiences with life. On this journey to Pentecost I want you to throw all your preconceived ideas of being personally baptized in the Holy Spirit away. I want you to cast your faith net on the other side. Try it. You may bring in the greatest spiritual “catch” you could ever imagine. Listen to His advice. Cast your net on the other side.
April 18, 2010 John 21.1-5
It seems rather strange that Jesus would take the time to interact with the vocational side of His disciples at a time like this. If this were left up to me I would be having “words” with these guys for their lack of faith, loyalty and commitment. Go figure! Jesus takes the time in his post resurrection ministry to both give instructions for fishing and to have some dinner with these guys. Why?
We can only speculate but I will, of course, take a shot at it. Two things I think are important to remember here. First, Jesus was concerned about these men and their personal lives. Notice Jesus says to them, “You don’t have any fish do you?” What a slap in the face for a bunch of guys who have spent their catching fish commercially. I am not sure if there is a little attitude here with Jesus or not…but at least He shows some interest in their vocational labor. I don’t think He has changed since then. If Jesus would take the time in His post resurrection appearances to give some commercial fishermen some advice – I think He is concerned about what all of us put our hands to do with our vocation. Before entering into full time ministry I worked at Hydra-Matic Transmission plant for General Motors for eleven years. I worked skilled trades and worked a variety of shifts. I worked with a variety of men as well. Towards the end of my employment with GM, I was blessed to work with quite a few believers. From Baptist to Pentecostal’s – we had a wonderful time in our vocational field. These men, I strongly believe were “placed” in my life for such a time. I had started pastoring and time was important to me. I can tell you that these guys “bellied up” to the table on more than one occasion for me to assist me in praying, studying and preparing for my messages and lessons. I don’t believe it was coincidence. I believe that God cared enough for me and my obedience to a calling to put men in my life vocationally to make it easier for me to pastor my little mission church. Believe it or not there are people who God has probably brought into your life for a purpose. Rather negative or positive – ask yourself why God put your coworkers where they are. For you or for them? For both? They are there for a reason. You may not like them. You may not like their attitude or their work ethic. You may not like their language. But did God put them in your life on the job for a reason? How many times has He had to visit you “on the job” to get your attention and teach you something?
Second, I believe Jesus had to qualify Himself to these men. Remember He had been a carpenter. Commercial fishermen are not going to take advice from just anybody. I think, in this manifestation occurence, that Jesus had to prove these men He knew what He was doing. After all, they had totally missed His teaching prior to His death. Maybe Jesus was going to manifest Himself in a way as to clear all questions as to who He was to them. Jesus would ask them to bring Him some fish from the net full they had just caught. I want you to consider something here for a moment. Jesus gave them instruction, ability and reward for fishing – vocational employment. He then ask them to share some with Him. What are you sharing from your “catch” of fish? Are you tithing? Are you giving? Are you willing to respond to the Lord’s instructions on vocational employment and then share with Him “your catch?” Remember, on their own they caught nothing. After He gets involved – wham! They had an abundance of fish!
What are you withholding from the Lord? What has He blessed you with in the way of vocational employment? Are you sharing? Are you responding to His request for you to share some of your “profits” with His kingdom?
During this journey to Pentecost why don’t you spend some time thanking the Lord for your job. Why don’t you surrender a portion of your “catch” to Him? Just a thought! When you have “caught nothing” and then you respond to His instruction it seems to me that the least we could do is honor Him with an offering of our “catch.”
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