Remind Me Dear Lord started with the Quitting prophet Elijah, and went to the Questioning Prophet John the Baptist. To conclude this series is a man that most all of us can identify with-the Apostle Peter. Peter was called to be the first of the Lord’s disciple. He would be the “leader” and outspoken one in the group. His salvation and calling were a miracle in itself, with the Lord giving him a draught of fish. Peter had often boldly and passionately stood for the Lord, sometimes without seeking the Lord first, and handled things wrongly. Our sin in doing things in self-will and not following the Lord will QUENCH the Spirit, and the Lord cannot and will not bless. But, inspite of this, the Lord used Peter greatly for Him during his life. The Lord showed great mercy and grace to Peter in appearing to him, and six other disciples, after His resurrection. This appearance was mainly to deal with Peter after he had denied the Lord, and to REMIND him of his higher calling.
John 21 begins with Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, and John and two others at the Sea of Tiberias, or Galilee. Verse 3 says, “Simon Peter saith unto them, I GO a fishing.” Here Peter decided in self-will to go and do what HE WANTED to do, instead of what the Lord had commanded him to do. He was returning to his old way of life before the Lord had called him to follow him. Proverbs 14:14 says, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with HIS OWN WAY..” . Peter had turned to his own thinking again, and hat night they set out to sea to catch NOTHING. Once again, the Spirit was QUENCHED. But the Lord stood on the shore in the morning and asked , “Children, have ye any meat?” When they answered “no”, He told them to cast the net on the RIGHT SIDE of the ship, and they were not able to draw the fish in because they were great in number! Doesn’t this sound familiar? This is what the Lord did when he first called Peter to follow Him. The Lord was reminding Peter to “LAUNCH out into the deep” as He had commanded him in Luke 5:4. He had let down his net then for a draught of fish as well after another night of catching nothing. Jesus told Peter “from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” No doubt the Lord was speaking to Peter and the others to REMIND them of what HE HAD DONE in the past and what they were supposed to be doing now. Peter then wrapped himself in his fisher’s coat because he was naked. He had become so backslidden in heart that he literally had himself bare to the world. In other words, he was “showing himself” as we often say to descirbe a child that is not behaving well. When we are filled with our own ways and doings as the verse in Proverbs said, the only thing others will see in us is ’SELF” instead of seeing Jesus. Our backslidden state will be seen by everyone, just as plainly as being naked. As soon as the Lord showed Himself to Peter and moved to remind him, Peter realized what he had done. He immediately covered himself in humility, BUT as he often did, literally flung himself headlong in the water to get to Jesus! He had to get back to where Jesus was! He wasted NO TIME! We need to do the same. When Jesus is pricking our hearts to call us back to Him and REMIND us to return to the path He has called us to, we should run headlong back to Him, wasting no time. He is there ready to forgive on the shore, just like He was for Peter.
When Peter got on shore, the Lord had provision for him and the others, with a fire with fish and bread on them cooking. This was the best fish fry in history! J The Lord had provided their need for them. They didn’t have to go fishing all night long, out of God’s will, trying to do or get something He hadn’t told them to. If we are obedient to the Lord, “…my God shall supply ALL your need…” Philip. 4:19. He THEN told Peter to bring of the fish THEY had caught, and the net still wasn’t broken. The Lord wanted to bring the point home to Peter that we can do nothing apart from the Lord in our own strength. HE HAS TO GIVE US THE STRENGTH to be successful, in His Name. This is just as it was when the Lord told Peter that he would deny Him, Luke 22:31 & 32. Satan had desired to sift him as wheat, but the Lord told him He had prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. Peter had the provision he needed for that test then also, but decided to trust in SELF, as it says in verse 33 when he responed “I AM READY…”. Later that night, after the third denial, the Lord LOOKED at Peter to remind him of HIS WORDS. Peter was then broken, UNLIKE the net of fish now, because of his sin. The net of fish wasn’t broken because Peter went in OBEDIENCE to bring the net to the fire WHEN THE LORD told him to. We will not be broken from sin when we follow in obedience.
Lastly, the Lord REMINDED Peter of His LOVE for Him. After Jesus told the disciples to “Come and dine” John 21:12, and they ate, He asked Peter, “lovest thou me MORE than these?” He answered “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus told him to “Feed my lambs”. He wanted Peter to go out to preach and save babes, or “lambs”, in Christ, leading the other disciples in the Gospel. The Lord asked him again if he loved Him. He answered the same, and the Lord told him to “feed my sheep.” vs. 16. He wanted Peter to follow on, preaching and teaching, and strengthening the brethren, as he had commanded him in Luke 22:32. And a third time He asked, and Peter was grieved. The Lord was dealing with Peter about the sin of his denial. Peter now confessed to Him, “Lord, THOU knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.” He was admitting that the Lord knew all and what was best, and that HE did not. “But HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10. The Lord was purging Peter. He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, Hebrews 4:12. He then told him a third time to feed his sheep, and went on to tell how Peter would die on a cross also. But, once again before the trial, the Lord encouraged Peter and said, “Follow me.” vs. 19. We should follow the Lord’s leading out of a hear of LOVE for him.
Peter’s QUENCHING of the Spirit was answered each time with the same Quota from the Lord. Every time an offence took place, the Lord dealt with each one. He reminded Peter that He had called him to LAUCH out into the deep, LOOK to Him for direction, and serve out of LOVE!
Thank God for the pricks of our heart (Peter) , the still small voice (Elijah) , and the reassurance of what He has done in the past for us(John the Baptist). Please Remind Me Dear Lord today!
