July 26, 2015
Series: Discovering the Life Changing Gospel
The Key to Obedience
John 21:1–14 (HCSB)
1 After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together.
3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.
5 “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. 8 But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
1. SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING WE DO, IS WAITING ON GOD. (vv 21:1-3)
• Waiting on the Lord always challenges our faith.
• Waiting when we do not see any fruit is even more difficult.
2. OBEDIENCE IS DIFFICULT IF YOU ARE NOT SURE GOD IS SPEAKING. (vv 21:4-6)
• Obedience rarely comes when we are not sure who is speaking.
• Obedience is easy when we know God has spoken.
How God speaks to us:
• Through His Word
• Through prayer
• Through our circumstances
• Through other believers
3. WHEN YOU KNOW GOD HAS SPOKEN, DO NOT HESITATE TO OBEY. (vv 21:7-8)
• Hesitation often hinders or stops obedience.
• Acting on what we have heard from God promotes obedience.
4. COMMUNION WITH GOD IS SWEETEST AFTER OBEDIENCE. (vv 21:9-14)
• When we know we have obeyed, we feel closest to God.
• Disobedience drives a wedge between us and God.
• There are powerful symbols associated with the bread and the fish.
Sometimes it’s hard to wait to hear from God, but
when we know He has spoken, obedience is
the key to our connection with God.
