Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

Speaker 2: 0:20

Welcome day two, as we are studying John, chapter 21. We're looking at one of the most famous resurrection passages and we can learn a lot from it. We're going to pick it up in chapter 21, verse 1. We're going to reread some of this stuff. It says this and he revealed himself in this way Simon Peter, thomas, called the twin Nathaniel of Cana.

Speaker 2: 0:44

In Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together and Simon Peter said to them I'm going fishing. And they said to him we will go with you. And they went out and got in the boat, but that night they caught nothing. This is a really, really big deal. Let me tell you this Apart from Christ, you're going to get nothing.

Speaker 2: 1:06

If you rely on yourself and your old habits and your old ways, you're going to wind up with nothing, even if you used to be a professional fisherman. Jesus says in John 15, apart from me, you can do nothing. And some of you are failing at life, and the reason that you're failing at life is because you're trying to do it in your own strength. You're trying to do it in your own power, and all you're going to have at the end of your life and the end of your day is you. Why not do what Jesus tells you to do, instead of doing it your way?

Speaker 2: 1:35

Verse four and just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. And Jesus said to them children, do you have any fish? Now, this is a shot. He doesn't say young men. He doesn't say grown men, these are grown men. He says little boys. That's the word that he uses. He is totally messing with them. This is the resurrected Christ. Don't you know that? He knows that they don't have any fish. He says children, little boys, you want to try to do something without me? Okay, do you have any fish? He says children, little boys, you want to try to do something without me? Okay, do you have any fish? And they said to him no. And he said to them we'll cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. Now listen, here's what you have to understand. The men in the boat are professional fishermen and they don't fish like we fish. They don't have zeb codes or they don't have rod and reels that they're throwing up to the edge. They have nets, and I don't know if you've ever been to the Sea of Galilee. But out in the middle, about 100 yards off, where they're fishing, there are no sides of the boat under the boat and the men in the boat are probably thinking what in the world does this guy mean? Try the other side of the boat. It's only seven feet away and they have been fishing all night. So they have tried all the good spots they know. But Jesus has cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. And so they cast it. And now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish.

Speaker 2: 3:04

And that disciple whom Jesus loved that's John therefore said to Peter it is the Lord. You see, a part of what I want you to know is, if you keep doing things your way, then all you're going to get is whatever you can muster up and eventually and ultimately that is going to lead to nothing. But when we do things Christ's way, you have no idea what hangs in the balance. You see, let me ask you this what is he telling you to do? Some of the best advice in the entire Bible is John 2, 5, where Mary tells the servants at the wedding of Cana do whatever it is that he tells you to do. So let me ask you, what is Jesus telling you to do, whether it's through his scripture, like share your faith or forgive, or be generous with your finances? And I know the moment you hear that and you're like, well, that doesn't make any sense and here's 10 reasons why I shouldn't do that. And then you begin to negotiate with yourself and ultimately, when you do that, you are the Lord of your own life and I'm telling you you're going to end up with nothing. But when we do what Jesus tells us to do, then we can trust him with the results.

Speaker 2: 4:00

So what is it that he is telling you to do? Because it doesn't make sense, after you've been fishing all night, to take your nets and just throw them seven feet away on the other side of the boat. But here's the thing how many of you are about three or four steps of obedience away from a miracle, being on the other end of what God has called you to do? So maybe it's time for you to not be full of fear and doubt, but to be filled with faith and courage and move forward in the direction that Jesus has called you. Start the ministry. Pop the question share your faith, offer forgiveness. What does it look like in your life this week, because you've been striking out, because you're doing it your own way. What is he telling you to do? And I dare you to ask him to fill you with the courage that you would have, the ability, the courage, the want to to do whatever it is that he tells you to do, and you have no idea what may hang in the balance.

Speaker 1: 4:59

Amen. Thank you for listening to today's episode Before you go. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.