“THE REDISCOVERY OF GOD”

Morning Message                                                                                                                                                               June 21, 2009

(John 21:15-23)

One of the most difficult situations for people to deal with, in relationships, is the occasion which demands “reconciliation” between friends or loved ones. Among Christians, it is no less difficult. For people to work toward “mending fences” requires a commitment on each person’s part to do whatever it takes to restore what they had before a conflict. Reconciliation is rare in our culture at this time! More often than not, people will sever a relationship and move on in another direction, rather than working toward a solution. You see, it is always the other person who is the problem! Actually, if reconciliation does occur, it makes for an even deeper bonding than what had been in place. Those who work at ministering to Christians, in this restoration process, will tell you that the success stories happen when people surrender their hurt feelings and their anger. The relationship 0can heal when they can let such stuff go.

An even more drastic scenario arises when a Christian falls out of sorts with God. We have been tracking the Christian way of life in this present series of Biblical messages. I am deliberately calling it “Our Spiritual Journey”. It is a description of a Christian’s lifestyle from the moment of conversion to faith in Jesus Christ until they are called to heaven by God. Some of the words used in Scripture (for what I am calling the journey) are growth, a race, progress or maturing in faith.

So far we have looked at Stage One where we as individuals discover God needs to be a part of our life. By faith, we accept Christ as our personal Savior. Stage Two brings us to the task of learning all we can about God. Instead of seeing reality through our own eyes, we now bring God into every dimension of our life. It is a time of beginning spiritual growth. Stage Three brings us into a period of ministry for our God. It is here that we ride the crest of a wave in life that knows no limit. We have purpose and meaning in life found in the area of ministry we have been led into by the Holy Spirit.

Then, as we have discovered, God often places a wall in our life. Such an obstacle can occur at any time in the process but quite regularly happens between Stage Three and Stage Four. It can be a difficulty in ministry or it can be something in our personal life that shakes our view of life down to the quick. Most often it is a crisis which is such a distraction that we quit living by faith and we begin to rely on our own effort, strength and resources to get us through what used to be an exciting ministry. Life no longer works in an exciting way. We have lost the purpose and zeal we once had. Whether because of sin in our life or simple self-reliance to handle life as we see fit, we must now go back to the basics and rediscover God. We still have the same God. God did not change or move. As is written in Hebrews 13:8, God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Welcome to STAGE FOUR! Reconciliation with the Lord has to take place now. We’ve bought into a sense of alienation and disillusionment from God and most likely we have dropped out of the active life of faith.

In the scripture in front of us today we have one example of a Bible character going through this awkward place in life. It is our old friend; Simon Peter. He is not the only one shown in scripture to wander through this stage of the journey. We could mention Elijah or even the two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus following the Lord’s crucifixion, for example. Because we see the inauguration of Stage Four so vividly recorded for us in John 21:15-23; this passage is where we will spend the rest of our sermon time, as a Biblical experience all Christians in this room will go through and can understand.

Peter was in crisis! He had denied his Lord. He left the courtyard of the High Priest in terror and shame weeping bitterly that he had disowned his Master. To say the least, he had become intensely focused: internally. He was shocked that after announcing to the Lord that he would be faithful, it was he who had been the disciple denying any acquaintance with Jesus. He along with all the other followers of Christ retreated into hiding. For Peter it was a deeper isolation.

Let me explain what was going on here. Following the denial incident, Jesus rose again. Things were fine, once again! The Lord had returned to lead His disciples. They were ecstatic! Yet, for this individual disciple things were not okay. He was still haunted with his infidelity. It was unresolved conflict which haunted this man’s heart. So where does a fisherman go when he has to retreat into his deep personal feelings? You got it! Peter announces to the band of followers that he has gathered with that he is going fishing. (John 21:2-3) But the plot thickens. Peter’s friends announce that they are going also. Poor Peter, what is he going to do? Needing time to think, as well as try and resolve his fear of even looking into the Lord’s eyes, he REALLY wants to be alone!!! And wouldn’t you know, they fished all night long. And guess what? They caught nothing! I’ve been on the Sea of Galilee. I’ve talked with fishermen there. When the fish are biting it is wondrous. When they aren’t biting it is the pits! And, more than once, Peter has been left “high and dry” in his fishing vocation, on the Sea of Galilee. Our Lord actually used these “no fish” occasions to implant a lesson in His disciples, especially Peter.

Let’s get back to our original topic. What is the essential ingredient necessary for reconciliation to happen between people? It is humility. Jesus knows His disciple is wrestling with major issues in regard to his relationship with his Lord. Who better to set the scenario to make this future church leader vulnerable to his Savior and his peers? You find out when we arrive at Stage Four. We must once again learn to surrender to our Lord. We must allow God to be bigger than the box we have put Him in, by adopting our way of living the Christian life through our own efforts. We must put our trust in Him even if we don’t understand how Jesus will work in our lives. We already know we can no longer give ourselves to earn Christ’s love. It never worked for our conversion. It never works in the Christian life either.

Jesus encounters this isolated, miserable disciple with a question. “[Peter], do you truly love me more than these?” (Verse 15) The question is only an opening to get this loved follower to address the problem he is facing and discover the answer to his need. Peter had retreated into himself and his fishing habit rather than doing what was needed to submit and surrender to his Lord. And the Lord didn’t allow him to get by with it. Gone is Peter’s confidence. Answers were no longer easy for this man to come up with. Questions concerning what he had been doing as Jesus’ disciple popped to the surface. Undoubtedly his shame and his guilt feelings twisted in the pit of his stomach. Regular things didn’t work any more. And so he even tried to go back to fishing and it didn’t work either.

The whole discussion concerning Jesus commissioning Peter to “feed my sheep” is a call to get back to the ministry. Clearly, Peter had given up on that. So the Lord probes his love. You see, if someone loves another they wrap their life around what brings that significant other person joy. And the Lord even pushes this man He loves even deeper. Jesus tells him, “when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else dress you and lead you to where you do not want to go”. (Verse 18) Then the passage tells us this was speaking of the method by which Peter would glorify God in his death.

Now listen to me! Peter knew precisely what Jesus was saying. He had just seen the crucifixion of his Lord who was now standing in front of him and he knew what was being said. It is so obvious because Peter immediately asked what would happen to John. And our Lord told him that was not any of his concern. Don’t change the subject, Peter! In simple terms Jesus was instructing Peter that at this new stage of Christian life Peter must reenter ministry “feeding the sheep”. He had to surrender to his Lord. He was saying to Peter, “When you were young you ran the show…those days are over now, grow up, surrender, humble yourself and get to work again!” (That was my paraphrase)

Again, welcome to Stage Four! The key to entering into this stage of the journey is to empty ourselves of preconceived notions of God, of ministry, of ourselves, of circumstances, of solutions etc., etc., etc.

·        It is time for us to admit our sin of losing faith in God’s work in our lives.

·        It is time for us to admit our sin of taking over the operation of our own life to match our particular agenda.

·        It is time for us to admit our sin of not taking time to learn about God and getting to know Him more closely.

·        It is time for us to admit our sin in not allowing our life to be centered on the Lord, rather than self.

·         It is time for us to admit our sin of not trusting God when He doesn’t do things in our way, in our time or in our priority system.

This Stage Four is a wonderful time on the Spiritual Journey! It is filled with reconciliation, hope, vision, enthusiasm and rediscovery of who GOD is! Tragically, many Christians never get further on the journey than Stage Three. Understand that this stage only follows the previous stages on the journey. Welcome each one and continually look to God, the Holy Spirit to lead you through each one. If you would like to know Jesus in a deeper way, He designed earthly life and ministry to make that happen. YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT!!!!!