https://assets-cdn2.dropwave.io/086174f0-efbe-400f-a3e9-b91549a26ab7/media/Trinity 5 AD 2026.mp3

https://app.dropwave.io/show/our-savior-lynchburg/trinity-5-ad-2026

++ JESU JUVA ++

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Failure]

Elijah says he’s been very zealous for the Lord. He’s right. He has been zealous. He confronted King Ahab by naming the king's sin to his face. He publicly demonstrated the impotence of Baal with the contest on Mount Carmel. Ahab and Jezebel had killed Israel's prophets; Elijah lived under threat of death. He worked harder than anyone else (c.f. 1 Corinthians 15:10) He seemed to stand entirely alone.

What did he have to show for it? Other faithful preachers had been murdered. There was no mass revival or widespread repentance. God’s people continued to proudly worship idols. Worn out, all strength and zeal exhausted, he despairs of life itself. Full of fear, he fled into the wilderness and begged God to take his life.

Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John — they experience failure too. An hour or two of empty nets might’ve been discouraging. But as the hours wore on, they used every skill they knew, every ounce of strength. That night, their wisdom and experience came to naught. After a fruitless night, the work wasn’t done. They still had to wash and mend their nets. While they work, Jesus interrupts them to use Simon’s boat as a makeshift pulpit. Oh well, at least they don’t have to work in total silence.

Maybe you know this frustration. Maybe it’s from not having any real work. Or maybe it’s that all your efforts seem to bear little fruit. A single night of empty nets is understandable. An occasional failed situation or a relationship makes sense. It’s reasonable to get stuck on a problem sometimes. But what if it’s not occasional anymore? What if this fruitlessness goes on for a week? a month or more? What if your whole life seems to be empty nets? What if your prayers go unanswered and everything only seems to get worse?

Maybe then it leads to despair. I can’t afford to give very much. I don’t have much time to help. Maybe we don’t teach our children the faith because we seem to think that if they get too much of the Bible, they won’t like it anymore. Christianity is good, but let’s not go overboard. If Jesus doesn’t fit into my predetermined plans, oh well.

What does God say to Elijah? He commands him to anoint new kings and to ordain a new prophet to follow him. God, by Elijah’s hand, would raise up kings and prophets to destroy the wicked. In due time, the Lord would take care of the punishment of His enemies.

Elijah thought he was the only member of Christendom left in the whole world. He thought God had abandoned His Church. He complains to God: “the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:14). But God says tells Elijah, You’re wrong. You’re not “the only one.” I have reserved 7,000 saints — unknown to Elijah.

Instead of God calling Elijah out of the struggle or giving him rest from it, the Lord throws him back into the conflict. Ahab and Jezebel will continue to oppose him. As Elijah obeys God’s Word, his life will become less peaceful. And it isn’t until the Lord takes him home in fiery chariot that Elijah is at peace.

Or what about Simon and his companions? After their long night of fruitless work, what does Jesus tell him to do? Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch (Luke 5:4). Jesus calls him back to do the very thing that had been fruitless all night: hoist the heavy nets back into the sea.

When work is fruitless, the last thing we want to be told is “do it again.” It seems callous and cold. But this is what the Lord tells Elijah and the fishermen. That thing that you believe has caused your despair — do it again!

Why does God call us back to work? First, from the beginning, work is given by God. Your work is a good gift from God. He placed Adam in the Garden “to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Only after the Fall does work become difficult. In pain [woman] shall bring forth children; In the sweat of [his] face [man] shall eat bread; thorns and thistles [the ground] shall bring forth for you; And to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:16, 18, 19).

God’s Curse upon the earth means we should expect the ground to work against us. We should expect the weeds to overwhelm the vegetable garden. Yet God still gives work in His creation so that by His Word and His gift, there is food to put on the table and your family is provided for. Even though Adam had failed in his vocation to provide for his wife, God still gives and blesses this vocation.

Second, God sends these men back to work because refusing to work is sinful. If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Like we heard about last Sunday, if one doesn’t care for his own relatives, he has denied the faith and become worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). We aren’t supposed to be lazy. We are supposed to work.

But sometimes we fall into the opposite error. We think that if God wants us to spend some time working, then spending more time working is better. Even more, we work as if there is no God. We act as though our lives depend only on ourselves. When we have success, we’re puffed up with pride. When it doesn’t, we act like God doesn’t care for us.

But work isn’t a bare command. Godly work isn’t just about working hard or giving full attention or being diligent. Godly work must be ordered according to faith in God and in love toward the neighbor. Working only for yourself is sinful.