Pursue Your Mission

Pursue Your Mission
1. Disillusioned Disciples
After the resurrection of Jesus the disciples were disoriented and perhaps disillusioned regarding what they thought they were going to be doing. Jesus had visited them before after the resurrection but they still seemed to be uncertain of what they were supposed to do. The daily contact they had with Jesus was no longer part of their lives. Jesus came and went and they did not know what to do. Somehow the mission they thought they were a part of did not seem to be coming to pass. Where was Jesus? Why has he left us? Will we see him again? What are we supposed to do with our lives? I am sure these are some of the questions that ran through their minds and they are ones that I know I would be asking as well.
It seems that when we are unsure of what we are to do it is very easy for us to just return to the old life that we once knew. The tried and true, familiar places and people and jobs seemed to call us back and invite us to return to the former life we once knew. I think this is what was happening in the lives of the disciples. They were looking for something to do and the one thing that 7 of them knew to do was return to their fishing business. Peter came up with the idea but 6 others were quick to agree with him. I don't know if they were super excited about returning to their work, maybe they just did not have any other options available to them. The fishing business was hard work, probably paid well when you made a catch but compared to the life they had experienced for the past 3 years I am sure it was sort of a letdown to go back to the past. I wonder if the disciples reflected back on the day when Jesus called them to leave their nets and follow him so he could make them become fishers of men. Whatever happened to this new life and challenge of the Lord to leave everything behind and follow him?

In our walk with the Lord there will be times when it seems God is not around and you are wondering if and when he is going to show up. You may have left something to follow the Lord, perhaps a lucrative job to answer his call to work in the ministry. You may have even seen him do great things in your life but now it seems that you are unsure of what to do as it seems that God is not blessing your life as in the past and you are experiencing things that you wish were not happening. Maybe things are not happening as you thought they would or the money you need is just not showing up or the people you thought were part of the vision have left or have not showed up yet so you begin to wonder and perhaps doubt if you are in the right place. You contemplate going back to the familiar places of the past where things were more stable, predictable and perhaps where you can depend on yourself to take care of your needs.
All of us will face this challenge if you have not already experienced it. At the core of it all is our faith in God being trusted and our commitment to fulfill his calling on our life is being tested. We wonder if our mission is over and God is redirecting us to a new endeavor or if we are to hang on and see God come through. There are times when God will close one door because he has something new for you to do but in this case the disciples had not even begun to fulfill the mission God had for them. They were on hold because the timing of the Lord was not completed and they needed to simply wait and believe that what Jesus had trained them to do was not for nothing.
I think the disciples returned to the fishing business with some degree of reluctance but in their minds it was the only option they had.

Peter came up with the idea to return to the fishing trade. He was a leader and his influence affected the other disciples. John Maxwell said you can tell if you are a leader by looking behind to see if anyone is following you. Peter was a leader and he had a following. None of the 6 others said to him that they did not think it was a good idea or that it was really not what they were supposed to do. They agreed with him and went to the lake to go fishing. Your life and the decisions you make will have an influence on other people. Some people will be looking to you for guidance and encouragement and what you do and say will have an impact on them. Peter's decision affected the other 6 men and they willingly followed him. When you are a leader you have to be careful of what you say and do as you have influence on many people's lives. The decisions you make will affect others positively or negatively. Our lives are interconnected and we do affect others by what we do. I have seen many churches go down the tube when a pastor makes a decision to leave. My church saw 150 leave when the pastor left to start another church. It took 3 years for the church to begin to recover but it is doing well now.

2. Disappointed Disciples

The disciples spent the entire night casting their nets with no results. Fishing at night was one of the best times to fish as it promised the greatest catch of fish. I imagine it was very frustrating for them since they were experienced fisherman who knew the lake. I wonder if they had second thoughts about their decision to return to their old lifestyle. Surely they should have caught something or perhaps God was preparing them for a message they needed to hear. There are times in life when you are in the wrong place pursuing the wrong things and there is no fruit in what you are doing. Deep down you know you need to get out of Dodge and get on with what God has for your life. I have been there a few times and after experiencing lots of setback, difficulties, financial problems and a nagging thought that I need to get out of there as soon as possible I packed up and left. I was glad I made the decision but regret the wasted time and energy. When the brook dries up like it did for Elijah it is time to move on or move out.

3. A Stranger’s Advice and Promise
I love how Jesus ministers to his disciples in this setting. He came at dawn which is the start of a new day. This day was going to be like none other, it was going to be a new day for this group of disciples. It would mark their lives as a turning point when a decision was made to permanently leave behind their past and move forward with Jesus in the mission he had prepared them to do.
Jesus recognized them but they did not immediately recognize him or his voice. Jesus called out to them like he knew them, "Boys, friends, children, young children, have you caught any fish?" It seems a little strange to me that Jesus would address these grown men as children. The Greek word can mean a young child or an immature child. Was Jesus calling them his children or was he perhaps admonishing them for their immature behavior of returning to the fishing trade? It must have seemed a little strange to have someone address them in this manner and then tell these expert fishermen to throw their net on the right side of the boat. Who was this man and what did he know about fishing? Why listen to him?
The disciples possibly thought they had nothing to lose by casting their nets one more time. I am not sure what motivated them to do what this stranger told them to do perhaps it was an act of faith. There are times in our lives when we are asked to do things that require faith on our part. The disciples could not see the fish and it is unlikely that Jesus could either since he was a football field length away. Yet Jesus knew the fish were there. He knows, he sees, he understands and he simply asks us to believe in him and respond to him. Perhaps you are here today in obedience to the Lord and you are doing what he has asked you to do but you do not understand or have the full picture of how this will play into your future. God is asking you to have faith in Him that He knows what He is doing and that if you remain faithful to Him he will reward you and you will see the fruit of your labor.
I can look back on my life and see the fruit of some of the decisions I made that at the time I made them I did not understand completely why nor was I completely sure I was making the right decision. I had been a teacher in Christian schools and the public schools for 10 years. I was offered a job with a private nonprofit company which worked in the area of public health. I initially turned down the job because the money they offered was less than I was making at my 2 part time jobs. They came back with another offer which was still not what I wanted but I decided to take the job. This job was really good training ground for the work I am now involved in with YWAM. I learned a lot about organizations, policies and procedures, conducting training sessions, organizing large meetings, dealing with many different kinds of people and problems and a host of other things that have been very valuable. It was also during this time that I was able to go on my first missions trip to Mexico which became a true turning point in my life. I was able to continue studying at a Seminary as well and began to take Spanish classes. After 7 years working with the company, I felt it was time to more on to full-time missions. I did not see the end from the beginning of my work with this company but the Lord did and he used this time in my life to prepare me for where I am today.
4. Stranger Revealed
Jesus promised they would get a big catch so they cast their nets and found out he was right. Jesus always blesses our obedience to him. The disciples struck out on their own and were not where they were supposed to be, doing what they needed to be doing and the results were zero. Yet when they obeyed Jesus, not even knowing it was him, they were rewarded and they understood that it was Jesus who was speaking to them. Perhaps it was déjà vu all over again, a reminder of their initial calling when Jesus gave them instructions to cast their nets again and they had a miraculous catch of fish. It was John who had such a love for Christ who first recognized him. Perhaps it was Jesus' voice that John now recognized after the miracle catch. Jesus said my sheep know my voice. When you love someone you can recognize their voice in a crowd and when John put two and two together he was elated, "It is the Lord!"
Peter's response is typical Peter. He forgot about the fish and focused his attention on Jesus. He made himself look decent and immediately jumped in the water and raced to shore to be the first to greet Jesus. I wonder if Peter could have beat Michael Phelps at this moment or if he secretly desired to walk on water again. I think Jesus had a huge grin on his face watching Peter's impulsive response. The fish were not important to Peter, it was Jesus who was his priority. Sometimes we get caught up in the work of ministry and forget to focus on Jesus. He must always be our priority. Our desire should always be first and foremost to be with him and not let other things draw us away from spending time with him. How eager are we to meet with Jesus and do we see him in everything we do? Are we willing to set aside our work just to seek him and spend time with him?

5. Fellowship of Co laborers
The next thing Jesus does for them is he serves them breakfast. He already had a fire going and fish frying along with bread to feed them. He knew they were hungry and in his love for them provided a breakfast for them. He invites them to bring some of the fish they caught. He gave them credit for catching the fish even though you have to think that he was the one who really deserved the credit. We are co laborers with the Lord. He provides direction for our lives and we provide the labor in his power to accomplish his will. When we co labor with him, miracles can happen.
The catch of fish was large in quantity and size. To me this symbolizes the blessing of the Lord on our lives. His desire is to show and prove himself strong on our behalf. He delights to give us the desires of our hearts and even goes beyond what we could ask or expect. When we walk in obedience we make ourselves available to be blessed by the Lord. We do not serve a stingy, miserly God. He is always more than enough. We watched "Mama Heidi" last Sunday night. It is the story of Rolland and Heidi Baker and the ministry God called them to in Mozambique, Africa. Heidi was burned out in ministry, her health was failing and the constant demands of the ministry were overwhelming. She returned to the USA to seek medical help but checked out of two hospitals and ended up in Toronto, Canada at meetings for missionaries who needed restoration and refreshment. At these meetings she was healed and she had a vision of Jesus. She saw his eyes and felt his compassion for the people. She saw thousands of people with needs coming to her and she was overwhelmed wondering how she could meet these needs. The revelation she received was that Jesus was more than enough to meet these needs. He can do more than we could ask or think according to his power that works within us. This is the God and the Jesus we serve.
Jesus invited the disciples to eat with him. His desire is to have fellowship with us in every activity we do. He wants to be a part of our life and invites us to enjoy his fellowship each moment. He also wants to take care of our needs. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Nothing is hidden from him.

6. Restoration and Refocus of the Mission

Had Peter known what was going to happen next he may not have been so eager to get to shore to see Jesus. The next part of the story puts Peter in a very uncomfortable but necessary situation. Jesus had to confront Peter for what he had done in the present situation where he lead the 6 disciples to return to fishing and quite possibly Jesus was using this occasion to deal with Peter's denial during his trial.
Jesus wanted Peter to see his own heart and his own motivations. He questioned him three times about his love for him. Peter's love was being questioned because of the actions that Peter had demonstrated. He needed to be reminded of what his real mission in life was. He was not to return to the fishing industry, he was to be a shepherd of the flock of God. His mission was to feed and care for the lambs and sheep of God's flock. If he really loved Jesus as he said he did it would be demonstrated in his life through obedience to the mission Jesus had given him.
Jesus made it very clear that his independent nature when he was young was no longer to rule his life. His instructions were to follow Jesus and not his own plans. The decision he made to return to fish was an example of Peter doing his own thing, loving himself more than loving Christ and Jesus needed to confront Peter and get him back on track. This is the question that we all need to be asked. Are you doing your own thing or are you doing what you are doing as a result of your deep love for the Lord? I have seen people in ministry who seem to have lost their real love for the Lord. They do things because it is a job or because it makes them feel important or look important but deep down there is no real love for the Lord. When we lose our love for God we will quickly lose our love for people. People will become a bother to us and we will want to avoid them rather than seek them out and minister God's love to them.
Jesus repeated this question three times which emphasizes how extremely important it was for Peter. Peter was embarrassed and grieved that Jesus asked him three times but he did not forgot what Jesus told him to do. Peter became a shepherd of the flock of God and in his letter to the believers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bitynia he gave these instructions specifically to those who were overseers or elders of the churches.
"And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. 4 And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor." (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Peter's love would eventually lead him to a cross where tradition has it that he was asked to be hung upside down in honor of Christ's death. When we truly love God and love people we will not take issue with laying down our lives for others. Peter's death revealed the fullness of his love for the Lord and for the flock. Love will be tested for its depth of commitment whether we will deny Christ or stay faithful to him and accept the consequences that may be death. Many believers are facing this decision today in India, China, Africa and Indonesia. Your love for Christ may one day lead you to the cross where you will have the honor of proclaiming your faith and carrying out the sufferings of Christ until the day of his return.
Tonight I believe that God is reaching out in love to each one of us. He is here to fellowship with us and encourage us to fulfill the mission He has called each one of us to do. Some of you perhaps find yourself in the position of the disciples who were disillusioned and discouraged. You feel deserted and you have thoughts of returning to the familiar things. God has not abandoned you, he will meet you and reveal himself to you. You are not forgotten, hang on He will meet with you.
Some of you need to be reminded of what your true mission is and what the focus of your life should be. If you have strayed off course and are involved in things that are not part of God’s plan for your life then you need to leave these things behind and press into the things God has called you to do. God cannot bless disobedience. Perhaps your love for God has been challenged since you have come here and you find yourself not being very loving toward others. God is calling you tonight to make him your priority, seek him and allow his love to flow to you and through you. Renew your commitment to him to seek him daily and spend time in fellowship with him.
Some of you are also here tonight and God is challenging you to be willing to lay down your lives for him by serving him in places where there is risk, danger and persecution. The final nations to be reached with the gospel I believe are the ones that will require the most of those who are willing to go. The first missionaries to Africa sent their belongings in a coffin. They were committed and willing to lay down their lives for a people they had never met but were a people whom God loved. Your love for Christ may lead you to a cross.

Holy Bible : New Living Translation. electronic ed. Wheaton : Tyndale House, 1997, c1996, S. 1 Pe 5:1-4

 
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Friends, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get plenty of fish!” So they did, and they couldn’t draw in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only out about three hundred feet. 9 When they got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. And no one dared ask him if he really was the Lord because they were sure of it. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
Jesus Challenges Peter
15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 Once more he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 18 The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who among us will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that that disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

The audio recording of this message can be downloaded at the following link:

http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm.php?get=246559265.wma