Surrender

Introduction

Last week of New Year New You

This one is for all of you control freaks:

raise your hand — or as a control freak raise someone else’s hand.

What is the thing you control?

me — toolbox

Christine - house, towels

Write down one area of your life you just HAVE to control.

Here’s the problem:

When we feel we can’t control something, or we are losing control of something, we get anxious.

So we make a commitment — This year I’m taking control of my finances, my health, my future, the remote.

We get into a cycle — the more we feel we are losing control, the more we try to gain control. The more we try to gain control, the more we realize we can’t control.

That’s when we start drinking chamomile tea from our mug that says,

We all have areas we feel we need to control:

Let Go and Let God in between singing choruses of “Jesus Take the Wheel”

“Jesus Take the Wheel”

“Jesus Take the Wheel”

“Jesus Take the Wheel”

Can’t control fishing.

The Christian life is one of surrender, not control. Or as we’ll see today, The only way to follow Jesus is with full surrender. If we could grasp this, we would find freedom.

ILLUST - Adam and I fishing in Poconos - finding right lure, etc. You add something to it, but you don’t control it.

(ESV)

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he [Jesus] was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Scene takes place on the lake of Gennesaret — Sea of Galilee

two boats — avg fishing boat = 20-30 ft long - back from night fishing — they would fish at night and sell the fish at the market in the morning (no Capn Crunch or Dunkin)

Washing their nets and stretch them out to dry to keep them from rotting and breaking

As Jesus had been teaching the crowds, they began to press in wanting to hear him teach them.

Gets into Simon (Peter)’s boat and pushes off a little from shore

Sea of Galilee makes a natural amphitheater

What was he teaching?

Word of God

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Strange request for two reasons:

1 — Jesus is a carpenter and itinerant preacher telling a fisherman how to fish

2 — Jesus is asking Peter to do something that makes no sense.

Too late in the day

too far from shore — most fish were caught in the shallow waters where the dragnets could easily catch fish.

BUT AT YOUR WORD - Huge statement!

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

I love how it doesn’t say “When Simon Peter saw it he . . . did a little dance — screamed, Do it again! — Instagrammed it with #Iminthemoney.

he recognized he was in the presence of God.

In the presence of God he realizes his own sinfulness and recognizes he doesn’t deserve to be in the presence of God and asks Jesus to leave him (where was he going to go?)

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Not only does Jesus NOT leave, he gives Peter a new role and purpose.

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

There it is — total surrender.

This is the action point of the story.

We’ll take a look at five realizations that are necessary in order to fully surrender that we find in this story. **Note: there are only four listed, you’ll need to add one.

Control is an illusion.

(6 min)

Sometimes we need to have our bad theology deconstructed before God can reconstruct our theology to something that matches what he has revealed in Scripture.

Bad theology is that we think we actually can control our future.

(ESV)

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance.

This is not determinism which would say that we have no free will — that we are unable to make choices

It is speaking about the arrogance of making plans and choices without acknowledging and considering God who is in control of our very lives.

Peter was reminded of how little he controlled on this particular morning as he fished all night and had nothing to show for it.

If there is ever an activity that can reveal to us that control is an illusion, it would be fishing. Ever try to fish?

ILLUST - Fishing with Adam and how he would be bored after 5 min and want to go back

Expand this to the rest of life — What REALLY do you control?

job — downsize tomorrow

health — one phone call can change that

financial future — can quickly go

safety — no guarantees

(ESV)

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

God looks down as we fill out our schedule, plan our calendar, etc. and thinks, “Isn’t that cute!”

What happens when we try to control things:

Pride

Abuse

Fear

**Jesus, as LORD, both deserves and demands your surrender. **

(6 min)

(6 min)

Deserves

Everything was wrong in the fish-catching scenario, yet they caught so many fish their nets were breaking! They filled both boats until they were both sinking!

20-30 foot boat - not small!

This was not the work of a good fisherman — he could get maybe a few fish where another cold get none. This was the work of the One who makes the fish!

Shows Jesus as LORD

— Exorcises demons at Capernaum— Lord over spiritual realm

— Heals Simon’s mother-in-law — Lord over sickness and physical health (And family)

— Miraculous catch of fish — Lord over creation (and job)

Anything left out? See any of the areas of control in your life that fits under Jesus’ Lordship?

Demands

(ESV)

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

For those who would follow Jesus, he demands complete surrender — and by virtue of being the Lord of all Creation, he deserves it!

Corrie ten Boom

Jesus on the throne = self on the cross

Self on the throne = Jesus on the cross

In calling us to surrender, the miraculous catch of fish shows us we can be assured that Jesus can take care of the details. Whatever it is that we feel we need to control — Jesus can do it better.

Two reasons we don’t surrender to Jesus:

We don’t believe he has the power to take care of whatever we feel we need to control

We don’t trust his goodness.

First is usually realized when the thing we want to control is wrenched from our white-knuckled grip

The second

You can’t surrender all to Jesus and attempt to control some.

(6 min)

they left everything and followed him.

Too many people are trying to supplement life with Jesus when Jesus is calling for surrender.

What if Peter had said, “OK but. . .”

Ob

We know want Jesus on our side, but we are not sure we want to surrender to him. We want Jesus as our buddy but not our Lord.

(ESV)

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Corrie ten Boom

Jesus on the throne = self on the cross

Self on the throne = Jesus on the cross

When we feel we are losing control, we tend to attempt to gain more control

Two reasons we don’t surrender to Jesus:

We don’t believe he has the power to take care of whatever we feel we need to control

Jesus on the throne = self on the cross

We don’t trust his goodness.

First is usually realized when the thing we want to control is wrenched from our white-knuckled grip

The second can be harder to realize especially if we’ve been abused or when someone has assumed control of an area of our life that they shouldn’t have or neglected to care for us in an area they should have. We feel we need to control it so we won’t get hurt again.

Look at how Jesus showed this to Peter through blessing him with the catch of fish.

Self on the throne = Jesus on the cross

We don’t believe he has the power to take care of whatever we feel we need to control

We don’t trust his goodness.

First is usually realized when the thing we want to control is wrenched from our white-knuckled grip

The second can be harder to realize especially if we’ve been abused or when someone has assumed control of an area of our life that they shouldn’t have or neglected to care for us in an area they should have. We feel we need to control it so we won’t get hurt again.

Look at how Jesus showed this to Peter through blessing him with the catch of fish.

Surrender to Jesus is not a loss, it’s a gain.

(6 min)

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Not only does Jesus NOT leave, he gives Peter a new role and purpose.

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Gained fish — left fish — gained Jesus. Peter must have believed that Jesus was worth more than what was his largest paycheck in a while if ever.

Two reasons we don’t surrender to Jesus:

We don’t believe he has the power to take care of whatever we feel we need to control

We don’t trust his goodness.

First is usually realized when the thing we want to control is wrenched from our white-knuckled grip

The second can be harder to realize especially if we’ve been abused or when someone has assumed control of an area of our life that they shouldn’t have or neglected to care for us in an area they should have. We feel we need to control it so we won’t get hurt again.

Look at how Jesus showed this to Peter through blessing him with the catch of fish.

Jesus is worth it!!

(ESV)

24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What did Peter gain by surrendering everything to follow Jesus:

Salvation - guarantee that it will end well.

New purpose in life.

Peace

Did not receive:

material blessings

easy life.

What would you give to find peace and freedom from those things which feel out of control?

Surrender to Jesus is not simply a one-time event.

(6 min)

Discipleship is a moment of surrender followed by a state of constant surrender.

“followed him”

term of discipleship

but we know Peter tried to control things, didn’t he? (Examples)

(ESV)

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

JD Greear:

Listen: it’s not the initial “yes” that shows you have faith. It’s the follow-through that determines if you have faith. . . . The question God is asking us about our faith isn’t, “Did you pray a prayer?” or “Did you get baptized?” or “Did you ‘walk the aisle?’” The question is, “Does your life today declare that he is Lord?” “Are you surrendered now?” It’s not what your mouth says that determines if you have faith; it’s what your life says.

Even after being with Jesus for some time, Peter needed to be reminded to surrender:

(ESV)

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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.

John 21:3–7 ESV

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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.

Real faith is found in the followthrough.

Conclusion

Even after being with Jesus for some time, Peter needed to be reminded to surrender:

(ESV)

(AFTER THE RESURRECTION)

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (SOUND FAMILIAR)

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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.

Jesus goes on to remind Peter of his new purpose that Jesus had given him

English Standard Version Chapter 21

And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

(ESV)

And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

What is Jesus asking you to surrender? You’ve probably known it during this whole message. He’s been preparing you.

You’ve been sitting in the boat, listening to God’s Word, but now Jesus is asking about YOUR surrender.

Family

Job

Health

Everything

You can give him the reasons why surrender won’t work:

“Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!

Now it’s time to respond

But at your word I will . . .

*PRAY