Desperate for stability

Introduction: Where is your anchor?

-From learning to fish from out of a boat years ago, you learn to buy an anchor-b/c the wind on the water is verydeceptive compared to what you’re experiencing on land, mainly because on land we are anchored by our body weight/limbs-(but on the water you are atop of what is moving-so the slightest wind can carry you across a lake withouteven knowing it w/out an anchor…that’s a lot like life without an anchor for our soul)

Hebrews 6:19-20-We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf,
-Jesus is for us, what the anchor is for my boat. That when things outwardly begin to effect to the point you don’t knowwhere you are in your life; with your spouse, kids, friends, and suddenly you are somewhere you never thought you would be, is indicator of who and what has been serving as your anchor, and that is not heavy enough to keep youstable…

-God created us such, that we would need someone great enough to manage the constant turmoil life brings-that Jesus would be seen as the burden bearer of the soul, because many of the decisions we make or quit making is in order to lessen the burden, and find some stability
Matthew 11:29-30-Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

-Jesus describes Himself as gentle and lowly, in contrast to people and circumstances that are not-that in order for stability to happen, we must find rest for our souls-otherwise the burdens we carry from people and circumstances get too heavy, and we just want to unload, so we quit…Ex: How many people “pour into” you versus the people who take fromyou?-think about all the people/things that demand your attention, time, love, energy, etc. who/what is anchoring you?Herein lies the attempt to destroy from Satan, to entertain the possibility of finding rest apart from where we are-in another person, leaving our families, burying ourselves in something to neglect the issue-(But Jesus says stability is possible, we just need to indicate where our anchor is-Is it in people, circumstances, etc. b/c the problem is internal and restless instability can only be dealt with personally, one on one with God, that He wants to be our Savior and anchor)

Going back to what we know

John 21:1-3-After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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.

-Consider the context: Though Jesus had been telling them that He would be crucified-He also knew that as it was happening, everyone would scatter, and deal with the darkness of His death, particularly Peter who had just denied Him-So Peter does what we naturally do when we are discouraged and dejected-we have the tendency to go back tosomething we once found comfort or stability in…
-Stability/comfort can come in many different ways, some clearly dysfunctional and destructive; drugs, alcohol, illicit relationships-but others can come in seemingly non-destructive ways but are just as divisive
Ex: the marriage is struggling so I focus on being a mom, or as a dad I focus on my job/hobbies, etc.-I am just trying to find some stability when everything is unstable right now
-Peter more than anyone else at this time is probably more unstable, because he is dealing with the weight of failure-he had made an assumption in self-confidence, yet failed miserably in…
-So now he goes onto to fish, where he ironically left his business of finishing to follow Jesus, but now everything isunstable “let me go back to what I know”-and Lo and Behold he is failing at what he was once confident in…
-God’s faithfulness is such, that once we have come to experience a relationship/a walk/journey with Jesus-we cannot goback to what we used to do, when we didn’t need God. (So you can’t quit when I am telling you to trust Me, persevere,believe even through the darkness)
-These times teach us, that we don’t know anything, it’s just pride to think that we have an answer to peace and stabilitywithout faith in Jesus-God will let us revert back to our ways and show that they don’t produce what they once did,“because now you have had an experience with Me, you know the truth and going back into darkness is not an option”
Ex: it’s like having a guide through a foreign land, and because you get mad at where you’re going-you leave off the tourand do your own thing, but now you’re in the dark with danger surrounding every corner=full of fear and anxiety Ephesians 4:1-I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called-(we cannot escape what God has revealed and done in our life, we are prisoners to that reality, which is good!)

Peter like us all, is still dealing with his pride and unbelief, to want to do what he was good at, and once found stability in, at a time that his faith is shaken and too unstable to deal with his internal burdens…
Recognizing what is not working
John 21:4-8-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. 8 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.-Notice how Jesus ask them a question that no fisherman really wants to answer if you haven’t caught anything-but whatHe is doing is making them be honest in the failure of their ways, so now they’re humble enough to listen…

-the most difficult thing is to try and give advice to people when they haven’t failed at anything yet-Peter had been with Jesus in being apart of His miracles before being crucified, and it was then Jesus predicted Peter would deny Him(Peter’s response-Matthew 26:33-Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”-because he hadn’t failed in walking with Jesus yet to this degree-yet it is the failure that sets him up to be honest and listen to someone other than himself or people who only agree with him!

(vs 6-7)-Now “open” after admitting their way has not worked, and their failing=humility-Jesus tells them to cast their neton the other side and they can’t haul in the number fish they catch!
-John recognizes b/c of his relationship, that this must be the Lord, whereas Peter hears about it-and in his conviction he leaves the fish that he had been toiling all night for, for Jesus!

-Peter shows in this radical act, that in settling for what he used to do, it wasn’t what he really wanted-because whenJesus showed up, he left the fish, signifying his old ways for stability don’t compare to the love and passion He has forJesus!
-Worship of Jesus is necessary, b/c when you love God, He compels us to put down what we are settling for-for Him, because what we are settling for is rooted in ourselves for stability, instead of Jesus and what He has for us

-But it took Peter to be humiliated from His prideful ways to compel him to be open-to what God was saying for Him to do. What is that for you? What ways are you reverting back to for “stability”? (This could range from an attitude, philosophy of life, people, drugs, alcohol, etc.-all are rooted in ways of trying to find stability in what we find comfort in)-It is an effort to be comfortable in dysfunction and confusion, our manufactured way of trying to find stability while the environment we live in is unstable-this goes back to the Garden of Eden, making my own means to cover my unstable soul-Genesis 3:7-Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

-It is only when we realize that our way is not working, we are open to consider our need for help-it is when Peterrecognized it was Jesus that he knew he didn’t want his ways to be the anchor of his soul, but that is all knew to go back to (don’t judge).
In essence whenever God reveals Himself to you in the midst of your instability-you find where your heart and conviction is! Peter realized how much he loved and missed the presence of God…

Conclusion: Faith prioritizes stability

John 21:9-14 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

-The disciples get back to land and see that Jesus has already laid out a meal of fish with bread-it speaks to Jesus already having the fruits of what we spend our lives trying to obtain apart from Him.
-The difference is that in being with Jesus, He brings order to our souls and a place of rest for us-that we not rest in our works/what we can do, but rest in Him.-(you can tell your anchor and stability is elsewhere when your toil seems like failure and your internal stability goes with it-Your anchor of peace, joy, and righteousness is in what will always beunstable; family, jobs, ministries, etc. but we’re not to be=”steadfast immovable always abounding in the work…”)Matthew 6:33-34-But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

-Jesus wants to convey order by letting Him take care of what we need and the desires of our heart=faith-but withoutseeking God first, now I’m subject to not taking care of my soul, while being anxious about tomorrow, which bringsmore instability!
-Notice that Jesus tells Peter to bring the fish that they caught from obedience to Jesus, and a net that preserves the fish by Jesus-and they knew it was the Lord because they efforts produced nothing they desired, while listening and being obedient to Jesus not only produced more than enough, but nothing was wasted=our ways waste time/resources
-Our desperation for stability is such that we try and control and manipulate people/situations to get it-which really comesfrom anxiety, that if I don’t put myself first it won’t work out/people won’t do what I want=unstable and anxious

Jesus in revealing Himself to the disciples in rising from the dead: faith in this promise of His resurrection is the foundation of trusting Him to provide whatever they need-and when you have that kind of stability we then have peace, because it’snot up to me to provide peace for myself, Jesus is my peace, everything He embodies He will provide in His way=stability