Discouragement — E.A. Johnston

Peter’s Pattern of Discouragement

If there ever was a man Deeply familiar with discouragement. It was the Apostle Peter. Peter was a man who often acted in the flesh and had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth. You couldn't help loving the guy.

He was like a big Gregarious teddy bear who wore his feelings on a sleeve. He'd often say the wrong thing at the wrong time like the time Jesus is atop Mount Tabor with Peter James and John and it becomes the Mount of Transfiguration for Jesus is standing there transfigured speaking with Moses and Elijah and Peter puts his foot in it and he interrupts them to say a dumb thing.

Like wow, but this is great. Let us make three tents. So you men can camp out with us and God has to break in to say This is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased Hear ye him but by then Peter had run Moses and Elijah off or the time he tried to cut off Malchus's head, but as an excitement he missed and Just swiped off his ear he'd seemed he was always doing things the wrong way or saying the wrong thing and Jesus had to come back behind him and put it all right again or his worst offense was Boasting he'd go to death with Jesus because he loved him more than any of these else in that little band of men and we all know what transpired next with the Curses and oaths of Peter.

Denying he ever knew Jesus at all. And this is where we pick up our text today friends. We're going to be in John's gospel in chapter 21 and we're going to talk about discouragement. Chapter 21 is the restitution of Peter.

Discouragement can come in the form of outward circumstances. That are beyond our control. We thought something or someone in our life was alright, but quite Unexpectedly, it becomes the very opposite and we become discouraged by these trying circumstances.

Or discouragement can occur from inward circumstances brought about by Disobedience on our part to God we sin rashly and later we're down in the dumps bemoaning the fact that we acted so stupidly and given in to that Instance of sin and the longer we stay out of fellowship with God that discouragement deepens and grows.

Peter Throws in the Towel

This is where Peter was in our text today. Peter is walking along with six other disciples by the Sea of Galilee and the text reads Simon Peter saith unto them. I go with fish in. They say unto him. We also go with thee.

Let me pause here to say friends some scholars say that Peter here is throwing in the towel. Giving up the ministry and going back to his former job of being a fisherman. Whether that's true or not. I don't know but I do know how Discouragement can come to a minister when he's ready to throw in the towel and walk away from it All and go back to a less demanding career.

Most folks don't realize how underpaid and Overworked most pastors are on top of all the pastoral duties and Responsibilities. There are battles and divisions in the church. There's fights with some wicked deacons.

There's always some fire that needs to be put out. In addition all that is the opposition of Satan who's constantly at work with his two weapons of Discouragement and disappointment coming against the ministry.

If Satan can get you disappointed and Discouraged he knows you'll be in the dumps and that's where he wants you. So Peter here is down in the dumps and he wants to take his mind off things by going back to fish and where he took enjoyment from that and He goes out and the text says.

The Empty Nets and Jesus’ Timely Arrival

And that night they caught nothing. Discouragement added to discouragement. Have you ever been there friend? Do you know what I'm talking about? Are you there now? Well, there's good news in our passage today because Jesus shows up just in the nick of time.

Which Jesus does he seems to always show up just in the nick of time. Isn't it amazing when things look off in their bleakest and all hope seems to evaporate like the morning dew. Then God shows up and changes everything on the dark background of this text.

We read with delight. But when morning was now come Jesus stood on the shore. Oh Heavens take notice of such wonder Jesus was now come. Isn't he our answer friends? Isn't he our help? Jesus had come in their midst.

Christ’s Preeminence in the Church and Believer’s Life

Oh my friends. That's what true revival is when Jesus shows up in his Manifest presence. I was preaching at a church that experienced a touch of heaven and after the Sunday service We were all astonished by what it transpired in the music minister.

Approached me with a wide grin and this is what he said. I saw Jesus sitting on his throne. That's what the man said and it's not that his rightful place friend. Should Christ have his rightful place in our? sanctuaries in his Preeminence.

Should he not be Christ the Lord and have his rightful place in our personal lives in his prominence. We must reestablish his prominence and preeminence in our midst today. Jesus stood on the shore and suddenly it all changed.

Their empty net Becomes the catch of a lifetime. They do as Jesus instructs and they place their net on the right side of the ship. When we are in tune with God He will direct us to be on the right side of our ship.

The Miraculous Catch and God’s Abundant Provision

Look at the results of God's miracle in verses 10 and 11 in our text today friends Jesus saith unto them Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes 153.

Let me pause here to say God is a God who keeps detailed records of our lives right up to the last fish. Here our text reads there were 153 fish. These refer to the native fish in the Sea of Galilee the tilapia Galilea also known as st. Peter's fish these fish grow to six pounds.

It's a big fish. But our text says the catch was not a normal catch of normal fish. But that the size of the fish were great fish. God always does so much more than we ever Anticipate because he's a super abundant God.

He is a super duper God who does super duper things and if you multiply 153 You come times six you come up with a weight of over 900 pounds. Wow, that's a pretty big catch of fish. But if the catch it's the catch for career friends because these fish weigh more than the normal tilapia Galilea.

We just assume each fish was seven pounds. Just a pound more as a great fish. Then that's a catch of over a thousand pounds of delicious fish. Do you think these seasoned fishermen were excited over that you bet they were.

John and Andrew are giving high-fives to Peter. It's a scene a celebration on the seashore that particular morning. They are no longer discouraged. They are elated and in addition all this Jesus had a very specific reason to appear to one of his men that day and this was Peter.

Jesus Restores Peter for Service

If you read the rest of the narrative, you'll see that the disciples gather round and while they're eating Jesus begins to go to work on Peter one-on-one and that's how he works with us. Jesus will come to us in a one-on-one setting and deal with us and put us back together again.

But it's right in our lives so we can serve him again. He will reinstate us if we're down. He will encourage us if we're down in the dumps, but he will Do in a sanctifying way through his encouraging spirit how to make us more useful to him again and again and Peter is given an opportunity to Voices love and devotion to Jesus here not once but three times.

Christ’s Encouragement on Our Personal Seashore

Because he had denied Jesus three times and Jesus wants to put things right in his life again. Isn't it wonderful friends? How when we're down in the dumps for whatever reason that when Jesus shows up on the shore?

Of our lives on our own personal seashore He makes it all right again and not only that or walk with him is deepened and strengthened or faith is Encouraged he is a wonderful Savior. He is rock higher than I he is fortress or buckler or strength or deliverer.

Or high tower and horn of our salvation. So says Psalm 18. Listen friends. Jesus will give us encouragement when we are down. Jesus will lift us up and put us back on the right side of our lives. Why?

Because Jesus is not only worthy. He is worth it. Let us bless his holy and wonderful name.