Normal or Supernatural - 1
Subject – The Church Must Decide – Normal or Supernatural
by Rick Welborne
John 21:1-3 (NLT2)
1 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.
1 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.
--You have heard people say it, you have seen them post it, you have seen it on TV, and probably most of us have said it at some point: “I just want things to get back to normal.”
--COVID 19 has isolated us, it has depressed us, and it has changed everything we consider normal. You may believe it was a conspiracy, fake, or whatever, we all admit it messed up normalcy for all of us.
--There are people who definitely have a greater appreciation for school teachers and administrators taking care of our kids most of the day. We have been close for several weeks…very close.
--I know we all have a great admiration for those in the medical field, for first responders, custodians who clean the hospitals, our president and his team, truck drivers, and grocery stores.
--I hope you appreciate your church, your supporting staff (secretarial and maintenance), and your pastors who have worked so hard. While many of you were isolated, these folks were working very hard. Livestreaming!
--The disciples also had been thru a tremendously tough time. Their Messiah, their Lord, their Savior of Whom they had been following was arrested, abused, mocked, and eventually crucified on the cross.
--On the third day He rises from the dead. At first, they could not believe it! They doubted. He revealed Himself to them on different occasions. Wow, this is wonderful. He is alive!
--Something happened in the process which is tough to explain. Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead and has showed up in their lives again.
--There is no way to measure the emotional distress that Jesus’ death caused to the disciples, and even though He is alive, they find themselves at a major crossroad.
--They decide to take the comfortable path and to go back to the familiar…all it took was for one of them to make the decision, this new life is tougher than we expected…I’m going fishing! Me too!
1. We Have a Choice to Go Back to Normal if We Want.
--Before we get to hard on the disciples we may want to introspect about what we have been through and what our intentions are in coming out of COVID 19.
--Do we go back to normal? Do we go back to where we were before as an individual, as a family, as the body of Christ? Many are asking…will life ever be normal again?
--I think it is important for us to understand what I am about to say…God can bless us if we go back to normal.
John 21:5-11 (NLT2)
5 He called out, “Fellows, 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 some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s 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 headed to shore.
8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some 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.
5 He called out, “Fellows, 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 some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s 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 headed to shore.
8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some 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.
--Jesus shows up and even though they do not know it is Him, He asks them did you going back to your normal life pay off. Have you caught any fish? They replied that would be a big “no”.
--Jesus shows them that even in their choice to go back to “normal” that He can and will bless them. They caught no fish all night but he tells them, fish on the right side of the boat. Wow! So many fish!
--Let me stop here and ask all of us a question. Is life, what we consider normal life, about catching more fish or is it something deeper than having more? Maybe it is moving to the supernatural.
--Jesus, even in the normalcy of your life He can reveal that He is there with you and that He is able to make sure you have enough, and to even have abundance.
--Through this miracle, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) perceived it was the Lord. Though Peter was impulsive he had this deep desire to be close to Jesus.
--Just another thought I believe God dropped into my heart. Peter shows where he was spiritually. The first time He tries to walk on water to Jesus (He rescued Him), this time he simply swims. He knew he had failed.
Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
--Listen to your pastor, how you come to Jesus during this time of normalcy is of such importance. He is on the shore waiting on you. You must approach Him with humility and fear.
--How you approach Him during this time will not only have a great determination with the rest of your life but it will also have a great determination by all those you touch going forward.
Romans 14:7-8 (NLT2)
7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.
8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.
8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
2. Come and Eat.
--I think it is so significant how Jesus dealt with His disciples in this story. He obviously could have been hard on them because they went back to fishing.
--Jesus understands when we have been through a traumatic time and He knows that there is a time to be tough and a time to show compassion.
--What a message for us. When the kid wrecks the car, loses the game, or breaks up with the girl or guy of their dreams…now may not be the time to say I told you so or to lecture. Compassion is needed.
Psalm 145:8-9 (NKJV)
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
--When your child has been hurt, a friend has been through a really tough time, or medical workers or first responders have been giving of themselves, what would be a compassionate response?
--Here is a life lesson that all of us can learn and remember. No matter what someone has been through or no matter what they are going through presently, they still have to eat. They get hungry.
--Of course, they will say that they are good but hear your pastor, they are hungry. Hungry for food, hungry for love, hungry for compassion, and sometimes hungry for forgiveness.
--The disciples have been to hell and back with their experience with Jesus. They found their destiny and followed Him. They watched Him get arrested, tortured, and crucified. They fled when He was arrested.
--Now He is back. He is really back. He is alive. He said after three days He would be back and now He is here. They are hurt, wounded, embarrassed by their failure. They have walked away again…they’re fishing.
--They want to go back to their normal lives and Jesus keeps showing up in their lives with love and compassion. Now they are on the shore with Him.
John 21:12-14 (NCV)
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.“ None of the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?“ because they knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, along with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus showed himself to his followers after he was raised from the dead.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.“ None of the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?“ because they knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, along with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus showed himself to his followers after he was raised from the dead.
--Can you even imagine the awkwardness and the quietness in that moment? Should we just blurt out that we are sorry? Should we just hold our tongue? What should we do?
--As Jesus is preparing the fish and bread with all of them gathered around He gives them some wonderful instruction…Come and eat!
--As we prepare to do church again in what we would consider a normal way, can your pastor give you some compassionate instruction? Come and eat.
--The only way you are going to be totally restored after COVID 19 is to come and to eat. Jesus said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot be my disciples. What was He talking about? Not cannibalism.
--Jesus is saying you need to recognize that I am your source to get thru COVID 19 and anything else.
John 6:35, 48, 57-58 (NIV)
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
48 I am the Bread of Life.
57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the Bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this Bread will live forever."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
48 I am the Bread of Life.
57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the Bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this Bread will live forever."
--Jesus said whoever feeds on Him will live. Do want life after this virus? Many walked away from Jesus after He did this teaching because they did not understand what He was saying. Please don’t walk away.
--He said come and eat. He said the one who feeds on Me will live. He says I am the Bread of Life. Come and consume Me and you will find your life.
--Hear your pastor, this conversation, this invitation was truly important because it was the life and future of the church. The decision you make to come and to eat will be the future and life of Life Church!
--Don’t walk away from Jesus’ invitation to come and eat because something or actually Someone supernatural is waiting in the wings.
3. A Serious Conversation.
John 21:17-19 (NLT2)
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
--This question is significant if you will move from normalcy to the supernatural. Do you love me more than these? These fish? Your normal life? Following Me into the supernatural will cost you everything.
--Your life will never again be about self-preservation but about feeding others. Yes, you are eating now but to move in supernatural power will require for you to feed my sheep.
--The supernatural will require for you to be willing to die to yourself, and in Peter’s case, to die physically. You also will stretch out your hands on the cross and die. This is serious indeed.
--If we will go from normalcy to the supernatural it will require of us to follow Jesus. Do we love Jesus enough to die to ourselves and to follow Him even to the cross?
--Jesus is asking us…Do you love Me? Do you really love Me? Do you love Me enough to die?
--Do you really want a supernatural life with Christ? Jesus says…Follow Me!
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