What's between you and me?

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to "Try Jesus!" If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining "Try Jesus."

I would also like to welcome those in Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, South Dakota, Montana, and California. It is a pleasure to have you with us today. The Lord continues to expand his word!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."  (Psalm 122:1 KJV). The Lord is indescribable and uncontainable. We gather to seek him above all today. He is an amazing God!

Our Lord continues to pave the way for the righteous. Authentic born-again believers shall not be moved from his mighty guiding hand! The Lord is our rock and our salvation this morning! He is our defense against ungodliness.

How many of you made a commitment since last week to not neglect your first love? It's that love that touches your whole being unlike any relationship you've ever experienced. It's that peace and love that passes all understanding.

As the new year is before us, let's welcome our God who sent his Son to make us new creations in Christ Jesus for all eternity. (2 Corinthians 5:17). He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). We also receive a new name.

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for keeping us in the beloved. We thank you for taking care of all our provisions. We thank you for uplifting us when doubt, worry and depression tried to subdue our hearts.

Thank you Lord, for being the joy of strength. We thank you for being shelter in the storms we've faced this week. Thank you, Lord, for bonding marriages this week. Thank you for saving our children this week.

We thank you for the oil of gladness and the spirit of praise this morning. Thank you, Holy Spirit, thank you for renewing us in our minds. Help us to walk in the spirit of meekness today. Lord, plant your word in stubborn hearts today.

Lord, only you can rescue those lives that may be trapped in seemingly impossible situations. Please bring your delivering power to those in chains of pain and darkness. May your presence move across social platforms today.

Lord, Jesus, please open blurred eyes from the heart to see your plan for their lives. Holy Spirit destroy all demonic strongholds against those trapped in social media pitfalls. May your word of truth set us free, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Have you ever heard of people that will do the unthinkable things when it comes to achieving a certain task? How about the phrase, "That teammate would run through a brick wall for his coach." The obstacles just look miniscule, don’t they?

We know the saying, "Look before you leap." But when you have your eyes set on getting to that one thing, you somehow will not allow anyone or anything stand in your way of grasping that which seems to be out of reach.

How many of you have seen babies learning how to take their first steps? The loving parents usually have a goal and maybe an item in hand that their child sees as wanting to get hold of.

If the stops and decides to crawl over the parents hide the prized possession behind their back and they take the child back to its starting point. Most children catch on pretty quickly. When they have their eyes set on getting it, they try again.

As long as they see that item they want, mom in front of them and maybe dad coaching alongside to keep stepping, that little bundle of joy keeps its focus on grabbing that item they love playing with.

This same application can be applied to us in the spiritual. Many times, when we hunger for something pertaining to Jesus, we will run through and over anything that attempts to get in our way. Let's look at some examples in God's word.

There are many examples in the Bible of people running after God, behind God, and running ahead of God. But to get to the Lord, you must first be able to recognize him. Do you think you could recognize Jesus from any distance?

I spoke about Mary Magdalene a little bit last week. She was speaking directly to him up close and thought he was the gardener. However, once he immediately spoke her name, she immediately recognized him and wanted to cling to him.

Mary Magdalene could now connect with Jesus. Let's take a look at our good friend impetuous Peter (As he is so Aptly named). When Peter set his eyes on accomplishing something, he never blinked about getting it done.

When it came to getting it done for Jesus, Peter (whether right or wrong), always jumped in without hesitation. Let's go through one of those examples this morning. Peter was never one to wait upon hearing, "ready, set, go!"

After Jesus had risen from the dead, he appeared to the disciples’ numerous times. At this time, it involved the disciples doing what they did best, "going fishing." And as at other times, Peter led the way. (John 21:1-2).

"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing." (John 21:3 KJV).

There is something to be said for being first in things. But being first in things can also come with responsibilities attached to it. You can be first, but if your first comes with consistent failures, those following may dwindle in size.

Someone once said, "If you're leading and no one's following, you're just taking a walk." Walking is good, but it only benefits you. God desires his leaders to be effective shepherds that sheep will follow.

As the Apostle Paul so beautifully spoke, "Follow me as I follow Christ." People only followed Paul because he followed Christ. Let's get back to our scene with Peter going fishing.

Please read the following passages into your spirit, family, or study group. 4} "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

 

5} Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6} And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. (John 21:4-6 KJV).

The disciples were quite a ways from the shore in the dim morning hours. Have you ever tried to recognize someone seemingly far away with the sun's glare behind them? It can involve a lot of squinting to see who it might be.

But John, after the disciples had heard the voice of Jesus and followed his instructions, John perceived in his hearing and his sight that it was the Lord. Here comes Peter desiring first to see for himself, who it was.

"Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea." (John 21:7 KJV).

Before we get into the numbered details of Peter’s Olympic swim triumph in verse 8 (Smile), let's look at some seemingly competitive stances between Peter and John. It seems Peter and John also had a track event also (Smile).

In the previous chapter (John 20:1:1-2), we see the event begin to take shape. And once again, who are the disciples trying to bridge the gap between themselves and (you guessed it), Jesus. This event was running.

3} "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4} So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5} And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6} Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7} And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8} Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed." (John 20:3-8 KJV).

Too bad the two disciples didn't stick around long enough as Mary Magdalene did to see Jesus up close and personal. (John 20:10-18). Waiting on the Lord will never leave you disappointed. (Psalm 27:13-14).

Peter had learned valuable lessons along the way in his relationship with Jesus. It was Peter’s brother, Andrew who introduced Peter to Jesus. In another event on the water, Peter had been fishing all day and caught nothing.

Here, Jesus was with Peter in the boat. After he was done speaking to those on the land (again, more distance), he gave instruction to Peter. In his growing relationship with Jesus, Peter realized his own worthlessness compared to Jesus.

4} "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5} And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6} And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." (Luke 5:4-6 KJV).

"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8 KJV).

[Peter knew that Jesus had healed the sick and driven out demons, but he was amazed that Jesus also cared about his day-to-day routine and understood his needs. God cares about our soul (salvation) and meeting our needs.]

Let's take one last look at the swimming event in John chapter 21. After they caught fish in this event, rather than thinking about his wretched sinfulness, Peter (After John's announcement it was the Lord), dove in and started swim

How many of you can swim? It seems Peter had some spectacular events around Jesus dealing with water. Some of you might think, "Well pastor, he was a fisherman." Yes, but how many of you would give your profession to follow him.

How many of you know people who love to fish but cannot swim? Are they more hesitant to go fishing when the water is rough and the boat is unsettled by inclement weather? At what cost would you go fishing to catch fish?

Remember, Jesus told his disciples they would catch men. But at what cost? How many of you can swim the length of a football field? (90 meters). This is how far Peter was from Jesus when he dove in the water.

Obviously, many Olympic swimmers could swim that up and back many times. But those same swimmers might have it more difficult with those same strong legs running in a marathon. Like a fish out of water.

But when Jesus is at the end of any finish line in our life's career goals, he becomes our object of completion and worship. (Philippians 4:12-13; Isaiah 41:9-10; Luke 22:31-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17; James 5:7-8; Matthew 7:13-14).