Within or Without God’s Will…John 21:1-14, NASB

Are you Guilty of this too?•Ever fail to wait on God’s answer to prayer, before you jumped into something?•We love when God says “yes” and can deal with “no”…•But when God says, “Wait…”•I blow this one all the time

“After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It

is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to

them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish

likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.”

John 21:1-14, NASB

Without His Will…•1st, just so we’re on the same sheet of music…•Perfect Will, Permissive Will•Vv 1-3, Peter went fishing•How do I know he was outside of God’s Will?•Maybe he was just being industrious….

Jesus had already prophesied…•What they would do…John 16:32a “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own…”• That Greek word is “idios”• It means, “one’s property,

one’s life, one’s things.”

They got into Peter’s boat…•V3, the Greek article for “the” is the word “ha”•Meaning “a particular boat in Galilee”•Would you let just anyone drive off in your car?•For the 1st time in 3 years, they were concerned about daily needs

They got into Peter’s boat…•They weren’t sure how things were going to go now that He wasn’t with them constantly•Does that mean Christians should not plan for the future or work?•God forbid! Paul told Timothy absolutely the contrary

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1 Timothy 5:8, NASB

They decided…• The Lord wasn’t going to provide

for them anymore, they decided• And ignored what they were told

to do– Go to Galilee and wait…• God didn’t call Peter to make a

living fishing• God called him to be a “Man-

Catcher”– for His Kingdom

They decided…• The Lord wasn’t going to provide

for them anymore, they decided• And ignored what they were told

to do– Go to Galilee and wait…• God didn’t call Peter to make a

living fishing• God called him to be a “Man-

Catcher”– for His Kingdom

Person Who is Self ReliantSelf-

Reliance

Disobedience

Failure

Loss of Close Fellowship with

God

Within God’s Will…• Vv 4-6, After a bad

fishing day, the last thing you want to hear…

• Déjà vu for Peter?• Out there all night and

caught nothing, and Jesus says, “try the other side”

• Really?!?!??

Within God’s Will…• This is what the Christian Life

boils down to…• Our walk has constant choices• In God’s Will or Out of it• In self-reliance we become

faithless, prayer-less, Bible-less

• Before we find forgiveness, we must confess sin/failure (Fonz)

Close Fellowship w/ the Savior

• Vv 7-14, gotta love Peter…(O to be like him; running to Jesus)

• Breakfast with Jesus on the beach– doesn’t get any better

• Notice– Jesus told them to bring the fish they caught

• Divine Will + Human Effort• God requires total obedience

Person Completely DependentComplete

Dependence on God

Perfect Obedience

Success in the Lord

Close Fellowship with God

So, how do we succeed in life?

• Why the specific 153 fish?

• Key to success?• Simply obey the Word• From Gen to Rev,

blessing comes from obedience

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 22:18

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:7

So, how do we succeed in life?

• Why the specific 153 fish?• Key to success?• Simply obey the Word• From Gen to Rev, blessing

comes from obedience• Obedience is blessed• Disobey; Blessing’s doors

slam shut

Take Home! Choices…• Self-Reliance > Disobedience > Failure > Loss of close fellowship with God• Complete dependence to God > Obedience > Success in God > Close fellowship with God