John Chapter 21:7-15

Please think the disciples felt this was set down with Jesus on the beach that morning. I think I know you think they were overwhelmed with joy when just moments ago. They've been so unsure, wondering, I sat with Jesus.

I had great joy. This whole thing of no come the God he's gonna make you miserable is just had some.

The devil made up you know and then the church introduces these things.

Like you can eat on Friday you know and and you take personal vows of poverty and you know, if you follow God and you gotta go live in some calm manner monastery. I was not in here I will is not in their it's a way of listing miserable for God. God never said come follow me and I'll make you miserable is giving your heaviness, joy or sadness giving gladness.

Give me your ashes give you beauty welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, one of the world might offer so many things to us.

Only Jesus could bring us great joy today.

Pastor David describes this great joy and how we can receive it as he continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 21. Now here's David McGee as he concludes his teaching, fishers of men that were in John 21 and you remember what was going on in the start of John, the disciples were supposed to be up in the mountain went on Jesus.

Well he ended up on the Sea of Galilee session and Jesus shows up in the universe is a God's wedding to catch and they you have to admit they've got nothing and then Jesus tells them to cast the net on the other side of the boat and also may gotta net full of fish and so that's kind of for context sake. That's what's going on and let's pick it up and in verse seven, John 21 verse seven.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, it is the Lord when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord. He put on his outer garment, for he had removed it and plunged into the sea ever say. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from land but about 200 cubits, dragging the net was fish. Then as soon as they had come the land they saw a fire of coals air and fish laid on bread. Look what he says in verse 10 Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish which you just call again, the mercy and grace of God, look what he doesn't say that I know you get from others and get anything for a healthy but then I hoped you got much fish want to bring those fish can say that he just bring in the fish which you just call centers that there's a mystery to me. The Lord wants to partner with us to bring in a harvest was to partner with you to bring in a harvest many looks anxious to finish what you call somehow gives us credit gives us eternal rewards for just simply doing what he's asked us to do. Man this is good stuff.

The fish which you just call and now notice at what point in this fishing process. Do you think they clean the fish. It was after they called him ever try to clean the fish forgot he had that work very well, you understand some people purge Christianity like that. They tell people how you know what you need to get life cleaned up. You get things together after you get things going come to church and got a question for you get no we catch the fish God cleans the fish to understand that God never put us in Georgia clean we can't do it. You can't do it in your own life if you'd be honest, God got asked to help each and every one of us. That's the reality that the fishing thing, falls apart in one place. The sea in in fishing in real life, what you do is you catch a lot of fish and then you what. As you bring it in. You kill it right. Well let's come back and see what we can do is we get to catch a dead fish we could see them brought back to life. That's what we get the sea and that a cool thing that shirt couple weeks ago that I felt like crap and I is never done. It's it's up to me it's a lot more exciting than fishing throughout for shares or chicken bone or something then is there a string out and you pull it up and there's you know if you're in the right spot. There's like a crab or two. That's falls it up in the bankruptcy you sweep it within that I never get over started that Nora took her crab and I was like the crab meister of this particular place, and by relatives whenever what going crab in there.

I call right, especially my great aunt. She was like all cases, you may crab salad and all these different things and so at this one time I had not took a five breakdown bucket and quit when I filled it up and usually only took an hour to select, ignore any in them crab and and the first thing that Lucent was wrong is when she started naming the crabs was different.

I don't mind usually name the crabs and then she said how you kill them before you boil them no bowling seems to do it is you made is really long face and is like so I ended up and upset in the grips free and that was that was the last time I actually went crab but the you know the hard part was trying to figure out what is going to my great aunt because she always get excited when I went crab and and work out the inner recipes and all the stuff served Jansson here trying to kick the bucket over something you know and so you know I walk in with an empty 5 gallon bucket and she gives where's the crabs Norco go hey why he let him go see we get to see people that were dad we see them come alive in the Lord. What an awesome awesome thing.

That's what God wants to do in us and it's even more than that.

You see, God wants to work in our lives to accomplish that you understand it's not just that he saying hey you guys could do this each thing I want were going to do this.

I'm in a working member when he said to the disciples follow me and I will make you become fishers of men and absolutely need to study fish and you get one. There was radar things and some kind of fish smell later or something you know and then and then you now. He says follow me and as a byproduct. What can happen here to become fishers of men.

Verse 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land full of large fish, 153. And although there were so many the net was not broken when Peter must've been up. Gotta drag this net on the beach in its hundred 53. It's an interesting number. You know lots hundred 53 not only we see that, but if you know if you want to email me. I mean yeah I dug in the hot dog love numbers and get in the stuff that I can come up with some and I do want to make anything up that would man would be good so you know if you have theories I'd love to hear but it was a bunch of fish have never cost 553 fish will really out there looking for their out there looking for fish when Jesus given fish test illnesses. Jesus had what they needed, but he had to remind him of what the priorities were supposed to be. Imagine there were some frustrating moments on the boat that night as they cast the net out and pulled it in the castle and that I and they pulled in. Nothing on and on. This some of you may be experiencing this in your life cast and then pull it in and it's empty the Lord's trying to remind you of his priorities for your life. God wants to bless you.

We serve and know a blessing God he desires to bless you. But he also wants your priorities to be right. See, and some of you may be wondering why has God not blessed me in this area for a while, struggling in this area while struggling financially and and you know make sure you're not neglecting what God has Artie told you to do with what God has already given you.

We don't talk about this a lot.

But here's the life lesson God wants to meet your need. God wants to meet your needs. Understand and and even beyond your needs.

But God doesn't want to meet your greens. It's not that God wants to give me an unlimited spending free on the shopping till but he does want to meet my needs, but he wants me to have my priorities in line with the priorities got first. I got second or third or fourth or fifth first to love the Lord our God with all our mind, and all are so that Jesus actually said to do anything else is to be like the pagans in Matthew six he says, why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things, your heavenly father knows all your needs and he will give you all you need from day-to-day is you live for him and make the kingdom of God. Your primary concern.

In verse 33. The new King James says but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

A lot of us re-diversity will is an oversimplification.

Make sure you it's not that if you make God and serving the Lord your priority will bless you beyond what you're able to imagine. But if you don't do that you can actually withhold the blessing that God wants to give you none of this teachings been abused, but there is a reality to is a matter fact in Malachi chapter 3 verse eight strong words as Will a man rob God. Yet you have robbed me, but you say in what way have we robbed you and ties and offerings you were cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me even this whole nation bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and try me now and this is the Lord of hosts, that I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive this is the only area got to try me test me see, of unfaithfulness. And if you've never taken that step of faith that obey this scripture in and give God the firstfruits. We encourage you to do that because God wants to bless you. But if your priorities are out of whack. It can hold his hand and I'm not talking about any weirdness and certainly this teachings been butchered, but if you make God your priority. God will look after all your needs. That's what he says in his word.

Notice to that Jesus used what was in their hands. I like that he didn't say what you guys got the wrong that this matter fact you get what you need is fishing pole.

We need this done. I think we got a net seven. On the other side. The understand that he does that throughout Scripture we want to Moses Mosley got a hand rod okay will use that in Cana we got water pots okay so will water you got water yet by filling water all come to some God wants to use whatever you have in your hands wherever you are right now in your life to do amazing things. Sometimes we start to think well.

The had this if I could do this or if I knew this robot didn't know this server hadn't done this thing God could use me once you write where you are, but he wants you to partner with him. He wants you to be active with will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown.

They want to pray for a few cities in our listening audience right now. Specifically, Seneca Falls Windsor, New York, and also Brown Summit Burlington Eden in Elizabeth city, North Carolina God, we thank you for the people tuning and right now the cities we pray that you would pour your Holy Spirit out on. We pray for those who are not listening but who live in those cities got up. Pray that they would trust in you Lord that they would hear your gospel and that they would say yes to Jesus we pray the people get plugged in Bible teaching churches. Hello, we pray for those in leadership positions in the cities that you give them wisdom and discernment and they also look to your Bible for answers on how to lead Lord please bless C cities and may there be revival in Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 12 Jesus said to them, need breakfast yet none of the disciples dared ask him who are you, Lord, knowing that it was the Lord want to stop and consider something Jesus wants to have breakfast with Jesus at this point has God and been resurrected. He is in his resurrected form it in the deep was he doing this is going to fellowship with the disciples pennies want them to know everything's okay everything's okay.

You understand that the Lord wants you to know that he wants you to be reassured. If you're following him. If you asked him to forgive you of your sins. He wants you to know this.

Okay, there's an interesting thing and understood this out occasionally some outcome means that you note yesterday but I'm I'm just really unsure of my salvation expands on it said the prayer I went with her like you and then and I just I don't know I'm just not reassured in his first question I asked him are you servant because I've noticed a parallel not saved by serving.

Please understand that were saved simply by asking. They asked the Lord they said what must we do to do the works of the volume and what Jesus said receiving belief one should do that though the fruit is forced to come in one of the ways the fruit comes is by serving the Lord and while I've talked to many people who needed to be reassured that weren't serving the Lord.

It's very few and far between that somebody that serving the Lord asked for that reassurance once they see the fruit in their life they see the evidence just like you know there was an apple treated and have any apples on it.

It would wonder if it was an apple tree, a Christian does any fruit in his life is going to wonder if this really happen but I believe that has fruit in his life. He knows what the fruit trees, some have been some changed. Jesus enjoyed fellowship and you enjoy fellowship and enjoy fellowship and enjoy food.

You guys should invite one another and then maybe cynical delays invited me when you invite somebody you take that initiative you invite someone to go do something to go eat lunch and watch you get invited. Proverbs puts it like this, a man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When you think the disciples felt as I sat down with Jesus on the beach that morning. I think I know think they were overwhelmed with joy when just moments ago. They've been so unsure, wondering, I sat with Jesus and they had great joy. That's the next life lesson Jesus brings us great joy.

Jesus brings us great joy. This whole thing of no come the God he's gonna make you miserable is just that some the devil made up you know and then the church introduces these things. Like you can eat meat on Friday and you know and and you take personal vows of poverty and you know, if you follow God and you got a go live in some conmen or monastery. I was not in here I will ask for is not in their it's a way of listing miserable for God. God never said come follow me and I'll make you miserable is here. Give me your heaviness give you some joy. Give me your sadness giving gladness. Give me your ashes. I give you beauty. That's what he wants to do in our lives as we wants to do in your life Member about told this or not but there's a you know this one guy was in a monastery and he took this vow of silence and the guy the leader there so we can say two words. Every five or every five years so came after five years, and he said that hard yes okay well there's your two words and I know you got be solid for another five years or contract another five years and he goes food cold and okay you know right so they comes after another five he's been there 15 years.

He comes back about five years as a I'm leaving the galaxy.

Mrs. let's go. You've done nothing but complain since you been there. See you don't read it. But you don't read vows of poverty are vows of silence or any of its Jesus wants to give us joy of fellowship and with one another yes will be hard times and will be tough times but that joy of the Lord will bring you through verse 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them and likewise the fish.

This is now the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus want to fellowship with him, but there should be a desire to fellowship with one another. Verse 15 so when they'd eaten breakfast. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these he said to them yes or you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. They may have feed my sheep in the King James wondering at this point what the other disciples are doing what they're thinking is keep in mind they and people talk they knew about Peter's denial. They knew what it happened and they probably saw that Jesus was going to deal very harshly with Peter in his denial and I think as soon as Jesus said to the other sit around all sudden Jesus is Simon Peter.

I think all the disciples right is lightning step by step back, and Peter man the thunderbolt about the flock, but what did Jesus do Peter do you love me more than these elders to schools of thought here one as he was, the fish I think that's probably the accurate one.

Do you love me more than this. Are you willing to have me as your number one priority could be was talking about more than the other disciples as well. I am less sold on that one, but could be because member when Peter had said he knows though everybody else leave you I will leave you nieces Peter do you love me and Peter doesn't say well love you more than these. Peter's a changed man. At this point he's been humble since Lord you know I love was Lord say feed my sheep know it's interesting that Peter had been through a hard time obviously with the denial on the stuff going on and I'm sure the disciples were probably reluctant to let them back in the group. To be honest but why did Jesus not say Jesus didn't say Peter.

Peter, you need a break later.

You need some inner healing somebody said spear. Give your life away. Feed mushy live for others. See Jesus want to turn the table over the Peter thought it was all about Peter. Just like you also turn your table over has you thinking it's all about you probably people in here this morning using one to sit on the sidelines until I get my healing. You understand really is a biblical model of therapy is to get you quickly to a place where you can pour your life out because once you start doing that. Guess what's not happening and I think about you anymore, you spend most of our sins come into our life because were thinking about us.

Think about the nature of sin is what selfish just as I don't want you living like that anymore in the moment we begin to pour ourselves out or sing about Jesus were thinking about others thinking about herself anymore. Some of you may be cynical yet but I've been wounded now heard not a nominative, and I don't think highly enough of myself as I should limit that is not necessarily thinking more highly of yourself than you should try God is thinking of yourself too often and more often than you should.

Good or bad or indifferent as a matter God doesn't want your thoughts were on about you, your heart, your mind and your soul about God is difficult for me. Take one step further. That's impossible without the Lord but the Lord says you know what put the desire in you to want to do and to do this the people to pour out their lives here. Such a blessing to watch. They've discovered this, that, as they do this as they give their lives away. They found they realize that while they were clinging to their life.

They were losing so Jesus comes and he gives us his choice your way, my way has your way been going as is revolved around you.

I was miserable when my life was like that. Lord to give your life away and you'll discover what it's all about, and it was a scary thing but have discovered the Jesus told me the truth and he's want to speak to you guys this morning. Maybe somewhere in here and they've not yet asked the Lord to forgive them of their sins. Or maybe there's something here that have asked him to forgive them of their sins with their priorities of gotten out of whack. It's understandable. It's okay in the sense that I understand it, but Jesus does will leave you like that thinking about him more think about others more Colossians 32 since this let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things he wrote down here on earth where your priorities what he thinking about. There's a saying, and I really hated well there so use heavenly minded there no earthly good. In my years of roaming around this earth.

I've never met that person. What I have met is that some people are so earthly minded. There no heavenly good Jesus gives us his choice somehow choose not about success is not about the fish of the dollars of the house where the cars of the jobs's about me. When you begin to give your life away, you'll discover this if that describes you this morning.

I think the Lord's desiring action on your part. Not for some huge commitment just sorry sorry I got distracted. Sorry that I placed other things in the middle of my life where you were supposed to be sorry that you were number one.

The Lord knows it happens very gracefully deals with the disciples. These will deal with us as gracefully as friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God