Disappointing God

by:  Matt Allen  (parts originally by John Smith)

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96049

09/22/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.  Introduction:

A.  Have you ever been disappointed?

1.  Had a confidence broken? How did it make you feel?

B.  Have YOU ever disappointed someone? broken confidence?

1.    let  someone down? How did they feel?

2.     How did you feel?  What was it like to face them again?

C.   These can be harsh experiences –  effects can last for years.  Disappointment brings forth hurt and mental anguish in a person.

1.  difficult to overcome whether we are the one who was disappointed or the one who did the disappointing.

D.  In John 21 we find the disappointed and the disappointing coming face to face.

E.  Read John 21:1-14

 

II.  The Sea of  Galilee -- a Scene of Reconciliation (John 21)

A.  Peter, who left his nets and boat to follow Jesus, has returned to his former life. (John 21:3)

1.  Jesus, who he had been with for the past three years had died on the cross.  At this time, maybe he felt that part of his life was over, and he might as well go on and go back to a trade in which he knew something about.

2.  Anyone who has ever fished can identify with what these men experience that night.

3.  Fishing on Galilee was not a relaxing, lazy way to spend an evening.  It was hard work.

a.  No doubt these fishermen were disappointed as they returned with the dawn with nothing to show for their night's work.

B.  Waiting for them on shore was the resurrected Lord Himself!  (v. 4)

1.  How could they not have recognized Jesus?  (Some distance away & difficult to see through the mist of the morning.  Not looking for Jesus.)

2. Luke 5:1-7 -  The passage in John 21 was not the first morning these disciples had returned from a night of disappointing fishing & not the first time Jesus met them on the shore.

a.  No satisfaction.  Worked all night & nothing to show for their labor but weary backs & empty dirty nets.

b.  Jesus met the disciples on the shore & asked to borrow Peter's boat.  Might as well use it for a pulpit, it hadn't been much good for anything else that morning.

c.  When Jesus finishes teaching, He requests Peter to take the boat out again fishing.  V. 4

d.  Jesus obviously knew little about fishing!  Peter protested. (Read v.5a)  They had just worked hard -- all night -- had tried to catch fish -- & nothing!

1.  Common sense said it was time to clean up & go home.

2.  Logic said to cut your losses and get out of there.  Experience said pack it up and get some rest.  BUT, Jesus said, try one more time! (Read v. 5b)

e.     It didn't make any sense, but Peter did it anyway.

1.    From the gospels we read that the impossible became possible when Jesus was around.  With Jesus the illogical suddenly became logical.

a.     The wedding in Cana,

b.    the sick child of the royal ruler -- Jesus made things different!

f.  So, the boat goes out. The anchor is set and the nets fly.  Suddenly they were in danger of sinking under the strain of the catch! 

g.  Peter's life was never again the same after that catch. He turned his back on the sea to follow Jesus. 

3.    Now back to John 21:  Peter's life has come full circle.  He is back in the same sea, same boat and the same experience.  But this isn't the same Peter.

a.     it would almost be impossible to live with Jesus for three years and not be changed.

b.     He has seen too much, heard too much,  experienced too much to be the same fisherman he was.

4.    As these weary fishermen row toward shore after a disappointing night of fishing someone shouts from the shore to try the other side. 

a.  Why not? What have they got to loose?

5.    Deja vu?  A long night. An empty net.  A call to cast again.  A deluge of fish flopping in the boat.  Their eyes look to the shore & John exclaims, "It is the Lord."  

a.  Without hesitation Peter dresses, dives into the water and swims to shore. 

6.  A wet, shivering Peter stands before Jesus who has prepared a charcoal fire and is ready to fry fish for breakfast.  What a wonderful scene of grace!

C.  This was not the first time we saw Peter, Jesus, and a charcoal fire.

1.    John 18:15-18 - After the arrest of Jesus in the garden, Peter followed Him to the house of the high priest.  It says: 

a.  Luke’s account in 22:54-60 reads:

2.    This was the same Peter who had confidently affirmed his allegiance to Jesus back in Mat. 26:31-35.  Read what Peter said here:

a.     This was the same Peter who cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest in John 18:10-11.

b.    and this was the same Peter who confessed faith in Jesus as God's Son when so many others were confused.  -Matt. 16:18

3.  But yet in Luke 22:56-60,  Three times;  with seemingly great confidence, the bold Peter denied any knowledge of Jesus. 

4.    Read Luke 22:61

a.     Peter turned his back on his dearest friend and they both knew it. 

b.  He betrayed Jesus as surely as did Judas. 

D.   Do we realize that we can disappoint Jesus today just as Peter did?

1.    At the beginning of this lesson, I raised a question if you had ever disappointed a person.  Think if you will, of a person with whom you hold in high esteem, and who thinks a lot of you.

a.     someone with whom you would never want to let down.

b.    someone with whom you would like to impress, and try to make them “proud” of you.

c.     everyone has someone they don’t want to let down in someway.

1.    go out of our way not to disappoint them.

2.    Do we go out of our way not to disappoint our Lord?  The savior of our souls?  The one who can forgive us of our sins?  Someone who loves us enough to have sacrifice his life on the cross of calvary?  John 3:16…

a.     when was the last time you disappointed Jesus?

b.    when was the last time you denied Him?

1.    we deny Christ in a variety of ways. 

2.    by our actions - compromising with little sins in our lives

3.    by our lack of study in His word

4.    by our lack of enthusiasm to spread His word.  Do you realize that you deny Christ by not telling others of His gospel?

5.    by our lack of dedication to attend the services whenever the door is open.

c.     when was the last time you turned away from Him?  When you ignored what you knew you should have done but chose to forsake his commandments and do something else contrary to His will…

d.    when was the last time you stood silent when words of defense were called for?

1.    Are you willing to stand up and defend Jesus Christ?  No matter what?  Willing to sacrifice for Him?

a.     He was for you.

b.    Why is it many of us expect Christ to be our Advocate,  yet many of us don’t stand up for Him for anything?

c.     Are you disappointing Christ?

 

III. In John 21:15-19,  Jesus reached out to a disappointing Peter.

A.  Why in the world would Jesus reach out to Peter after such an act of cowardice?

1.  Peter, Jesus, and a charcoal fire -- Peter has a chance to try again.  Jesus isn't through with him!

2.    This also serves as a lesson for us today.  The forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ - an example for us all to follow.

a.     how many of us are ready, willing, and try to forgive those who have disappointed us in some way?

b.    instead of following example by Christ, many Christians hold grudges for years, and never get over what happened.

1.    not only on individual level, but on congregational level also.

2.    Are you following in the example of Jesus?

3.    If you can’t forgive others how do you expect for be forgiven of your sins and short comings?  Mt 6:15

3.  Luke 22:62 - After his denial of Jesus, Peter's bitter tears eloquently expressed the depth of his sorrow.   He laid his broken and contrite heart bare before the Lord. 

4.  Jesus forgave Peter, embraced him, and put him back into the service of the Kingdom.

B.  This was not the last time Peter had to be reconciled to Jesus after disappointing Jesus.  This was not the last time Jesus met Peter to extend an invitation to try again.

1.    Peter would sin again, but the Lord shows here in our text today he is willing and ready to forgive us of our sins.

2.    We need to realize that each time we commit sin, we disappoint the Lord.

a.     Rom. 3:23 -

b.    we make the choice to sin.  We choose whether to commit a sin or not.  When we choose not to follow the Lord and sin, we disappoint Him, just as a parent would be disappointed in a child who disobeyed a rule laid down.

3.  Are you Disappointing God?

 

IV.  Conclusion:

 

A.   We would do well to ponder Peter's actions and the reaction of Jesus. 

a.  Consider this lesson and apply it to your life.

B.  We asked the question earlier;  When was the last time you disappointed Jesus?  denied Him? turned away from Him? Stood silent when words of defense were called for?

C.   Let us stand amazed that we are forgiven and invited to try again - if we will only do our part.  Are you prepared to do your part?

D.   Do you realize that you are disappointing God if you haven’t come to Him in obedience to His will?

1.    2 Peter 3:9 says the Lord wishes all of us to come to repentance before it is everlastingly too late.    

2.    Why continue to disappoint the Lord?  Why not get right in His sight?

3.    Do you realize the seriousness of coming to Him?  The account we read of today is not a fairy tale; it is a story which reveals tremendous forgiveness which can be given to you also. 

a.     why not today shed the guilt of sin from your life?  You can by:

1.    believing; repenting; & being baptized for the remission of your sins.

4.  if your already a Christian, and living wrong you are disappointing God. Why not come to Him today before it is everlastingly too late?