Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Jan. 16, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:

BRING OF THE FISH WHICH YE HAVE NOW CAUGHT

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14

Text: John 21:10

John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Introduction: Telling people how to be prepared to meet God, or what we call soul-winning, is compared to fishing:

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

If we are really fishers of men, we should have some fish to show for it. Where are our fish? Where are YOUR fish?

The promise is that:

Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The disciples, with the help of the Lord, caught 153 fishes. Some “scholars” have no problem in showing some great prophetic, typical or numerical significance in the number of fish that were caught. I frankly believe the greatest significant of the number is that 1. it was a great number of fishes; 2. their net was sufficient to hold them; and 3. there were a great number of fishes contrary to their idea that there were none around. Additionally, the numbers 1 + 5 + 3 = 9, which is the number of fruitfulness.

I. IF FISH HAVE REALLY BEEN CAUGHT THERE HAS BEEN FISHING

John 21:3a Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.

A. You need a time

B. You need a territory

C. You need tackle

D. You need a team

II. IF FISH HAVE REALLY BEEN CAUGHT THERE HAS BEEN FAILURE

John 21:3b They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

A. We must keep on trying

My second biggest bass was caught in Sylvester, GA, in my dad’s pond there. We were having some kind of get-together. My dad and younger brother were “piddling” outside. I invited them to come fish with me, but it was noon, and no fish bit at the heat of the day, my brother informed me. In just a few minutes, I caught about a 6-1/2 pound large-mouth bass (not big in a tournament, but HUGE to me!) Needless to say, in a “jiffy” my brother had his rod and reel and was out there fishing with me!

B. We must keep on toiling

Occasional fishing can be fun, but REAL fishing is also WORK!

C. We must keep on trusting

We need to trust God to be with us.
We need to trust God to prosper us.
We need to have a vision of the possibilities. I used to keep on trolling down the bank, casting nearly every foot, expecting to catch the “big one” any second.

III. IF FISH HAVE REALLY BEEN CAUGHT THERE HAS BEEN A FRIEND

John 21:4-7 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. 7 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.

A. He knows the burden you have

B. He knows the beds

C. He knows the bait

IV. IF FISH HAVE REALLY BEEN CAUGHT THERE WILL BE A FIRE

John 21:8-9 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

A. The fire is evidence of supper

B. The fire is evidence of success

The fire gives a WAY …

The fire gives WARMTH …