Knowing God through His Word … Day by Day

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”  He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. John 21:4-8

John MacArthur, with an interesting thought in a sermon, “Self-Effort or Spiritual Power”:

But I want us to notice a little footnote here. Verse 6 could have said this,

“And Jesus said unto them, ‘Stand back,'” and then every fish in the Sea of Galilee jumped into the boat.

Right? He could have said that. Jesus could have made all those fish jump in that boat already fried, you know, or frozen. He could have done anything. But He didn’t do that because when God works, He works through us. And so He said to them, “Men, do…what?…you cast your nets and then you pull your own nets in.” Listen, God works through your own effort. Spiritual effort is a combination. Kenny Perol(??) used to use an illustration, I’ll use it this morning, help you to see this. Everybody in the building raise your right hand right now. Hold them up just for a second. Okay, everybody raise your right hand. Okay, now just wave your hand a little bit like this. Okay, put it down. That’s very good. Why did you do that? Was that my will that made you do that? Was it my will that made you do that? Was it your will? It was both, wasn’t it? You see, it was your will cooperating with my will. That’s exactly what spiritual effort is all about. God says do this, I say okay, Lord. See. And it’s my will agreeing with His will and away we go. And the job is done. And so the Lord didn’t say stand back, men, the fish are going to jump into the boat. He says, “You guys put your nets in there and you pull it out and I’ll provide what’s in it.” And that’s how God works through your life if you follow His leading. You don’t sit back and do nothing, you get involved and His energy surges through you and through your obedience.