SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 5:1 – 11 Peter abandons all to follow Jesus
“1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee) with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING
This story is reflected in Matthew as well with fewer details.
Matthew 4:18 – 19
“18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.”
† Andrew and another (John) already spoke with Jesus
† Andrew took his brother Simon to meet the Messiah
† Jesus changed Simons name to Peter
We know from the events that took place before today’s scripture that Andrew already believed Jesus was the Messiah.
But we are not told how Simon feels about this.
Perhaps he was not as easily moved as Andrew, and this may be why Jesus calls him a rock when they meet?
But up to this point, we are not told in the scriptures that Simon is convinced of anything, just that he met Jesus at his brother’s request.
TODAY JESUS IS PREACHING
† Jesus was preaching to a crowd at the Sea of Galilee.
† He sees Simon, Andrew, James and John putting their nets away after fishing all night and catching nothing.
† Jesus gets into Simons boat (uses) and tells him to take him just off shore.
† Jesus sits (which was the custom in that day to preach and teach sitting.)
† And Jesus taught from Simon’s boat.
† When He finished preaching, Jesus said to Simon;
“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”
The literal here says, “…and let down your nets for a HAUL.”
† The Lord didn’t command Simon to catch a few fish.
† The word HAUL indicates to us what the Lord can accomplish through us.
† The Lord’s Word in our lives will not return void, but WILL accomplish what He has sent it out to do!
Simon answers, “Master, we’ve worked all night, and have taken nothing…”
† Why do we argue with the Lord and His commands?
† Why do we use our experience, our work, our abilities to measure what God can or can’t do through us at His Word?
† “Lord, I already tried that and it didn’t work!”
† Fruit only comes by the Word of God and the Work of the Holy Spirit.
† All things are possible through the Lord Jesus who strengthens us.
† Did David defeat Goliath or the power of the Lord?
“…Nevertheless, at Your Word I will let down the net.”
† Reluctantly Simon complies…as do we.
† At this point in the scriptures, there has still been no indication that Simon sees Jesus as anything more than a teacher of Gods Word. No indication that he sees Jesus as Messiah or Lord…
† Our belief in the Lord’s Word in our life is not relevant to whether it will accomplish what the Lord set it out to do…but we have to COMPLY for a Good Work to begin in us. Reluctant, believing or not, we must be “DOERS” of God’s Word, not just hearers.
† I can imagine Simon’s thoughts as he threw the nets in.
Your Word…Command…Instruction.
† The Lord’s Words are His commands, and instruction.
† When we are “DOERS” we live in obedience.
† When we “DO NOT”, we live in disobedience, or sin.
† When the Lord instructs us, we need to “MOVE.”
They caught a large school of fish…this was the HAUL Jesus told them to catch.
† Just as Jesus said they would.
The nets began to tear.
They called to the other boat for help.
They filled both boats so full, they were sinking.
† For the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few…
Now we see Simon called Simon Peter in the scripture.
† I believe it’s because he realizes that Jesus is more than just a teacher.
† Jesus IS the Messiah, and therefore He IS the Lord!
† Simon accepts this, and in turn accepts the title given him by Jesus “Peter.”
† Peter recognizes the Lord!
† Witnessing the Lord before us, we also recognize ourselves for what we are, unworthy of Heaven, unworthy of the presence of the Lord.
Simon Peter looks at Jesus, falls to his knees and says;
“Depart from me, because I am a sinful man Lord!”
† Peter recognizes Jesus is Lord…
† Peter confesses he is sinful…
† And Jesus accepts Simon, and a Good Work begins in these men today.
And Jesus said to Simon;
“Fear not; from this point on, you shall be fishers of men.”
And when they got back to land THEY FORSOOK ALL, and followed Him.
† The nets, the boats, their livelihood.
† They forsook all…
† We must put Jesus before everything in our lives!
CONCLUSION
We, like Simon, have been introduced to Jesus.
We need to recognize He is Lord, and we are sinful.
We need to let Jesus do a Good Work in us, so that He can do a Good Work THROUGH us and produce much fruit!
The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.
The Lord wants us to be DOERS of His Word.
Because there is a HAUL that He wants us to bring in…
We must go into the DEEP…
At HIS WORD, and bring in the HAUL.
To do this we must first “FORSAKE ALL.”
† Fathers and Mothers
† Children
† Friends & Family
† Work & Play
Have you forsaken all to follow Jesus?
Are you a DOER of His Word in your life?
Has the Lord spoke to you lately, are you doing what He is instructing?
This is the first time in the scriptures Jesus uses the term “Do not be afraid…”
ALTAR CALL
No comments:
Post a Comment