Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Simon Peter and John Wimber

Friday, April 13, 2012

John 21:2-6
Simon Peter was with several other disciples. He said, "I am going fishing." They said, "We will go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. At dawn Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat, and you will find something." And they did.

The same thing happened three years earlier on their first day together, when Jesus told Simon to go out fishing one more time. Simon protested but went anyway, and his empty nets were filled to bursting. Three years had humbled Peter, taught him the value of both authority and obedience. More often now, he found the right balance. Without protest, he followed the stranger's suggestion. And suddenly he saw Jesus.

John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard church, learned the value of perseverance, of faithfulness, following Jesus when he told him to cast his nets again. At the beginning of his ministry Wimber felt called to preach the physical healing stories from Luke. Over and over. He and his elders began to pray for the sick and injured people in the church, and outside the church.

No one got healed. The elders started getting sick. John started getting sick. John started getting sick of the whole thing. Jesus said, "Just one more time." And he said it again and again.

One day, and here John tells the story better than anyone: (listen past the intro to about two minutes of Wimber's testimony, "I'm a Fool for Christ, Who's Fool Are You?") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC2ExnWMm5I

After this encounter, John drove away and soon felt compelled to pull over to the side of the road. He was watching honey fall from the sky like rain. People were standing in the honeyfall, some with umbrellas, some with arms open wide. Some were running from the honey, others were running toward it. He heard Jesus say, "Don't ever beg me for healing again, John. The problem is not on my end."

The next time his elders prayed for healing, the flood burst. Healings everywhere. And that became the focus of the now worldwide Vineyard Christian Fellowship.

But Jesus is adamant about the one thing: don't get your heart set on what you want. Let me be in charge. And you will be filled up to bursting.

Jesus, your lessons never end. The words you shared two thousand years ago reverberate today in my ears. Thank you for showing us how to live. Thank you for your words, your touch, your smile.

Devotions Archive

Simon Peter and John Wimber

Friday, April 13, 2012