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Let us start with John 21:1-6
When Jesus was arrested, the disciples were scattered.
In this passage, we see that the are reunited fishing. Remember, they were fishing when Jesus first called them to follow. They were professional fishermen.
There is a difference between professional and pleasure fishermen. Their livelihoods depended on the catch.
When Jesus was alive, at the beginning of His public ministry, He called them away; He called them to follow him, which meant there are sins, things that you need to leave behind to follow.
Whenever Jesus calls you away from something, as great as it might be or seem, it is because he is calling you to something else, something greater.
Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
- There is no greater joy than seeing people come to faith.
John 21:3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.”
- We will go with you…we are better together! We were not created to do life alone.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your pastor is the willingness to join him or her on the journey. I’ll go with you! Fishing is much more enjoyable when you are with people catching fish.
So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
I want you to say these words with me…They caught nothing! They were skunked.
- The catch or the results are up to Jesus.
There will be uneventful days, weeks, and seasons in our lives. But God is always at work!
God created everything out of nothing! God had nothing to work with and out of nothing he made everything. Now this story shows us that something happened when Jesus showed up.
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
- Apart from Christ we can do nothing!
Phil 4:13 – I can (do all this) through Him who gives me strength.
John 21:4-6 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (When they did), they were unable to haul the net in because of (the large number) of fish.
- See the relationship between OBEDIENCE and ABUNDANCE
Vision casting
- Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Closing thoughts
- When you think about this place and this space, do you ever dream about what could be?
- Where God asking you to throw your net?
- Let’s go fishing.
- Jesus will tell us how and where to fish.
- The results are up to him.