Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into a passage from the Gospel of Luke.

As we begin, I'd like to share a quote from Christian author Max Lucado, who once said, "Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will." Let those words sink in as we consider the story of Jesus calling his first disciples.

Our scripture passage today comes from Luke 5:4-11 (NIV):

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 fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Let's pray as we begin to unpack the message God has for us in this passage.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and the wisdom it provides. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive the message You have for us today. Help us to be obedient to Your call, to face our fears with courage, and to embrace the new path You've set before us. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

God's Call to Obedience

The passage in Luke 5:4-11 illustrates the concept of God calling us to obedience beautifully, as we see Jesus calling Simon Peter and his fellow fishermen to obey His command and trust in His guidance.

This passage not only demonstrates the importance of obedience but also reveals several aspects of what it means to be obedient to God's call.

First, we must recognize that obedience to God's call often requires us to step out of our comfort zones.

In the passage, Jesus instructs Simon Peter to "put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." This command may have seemed counterintuitive to the experienced fishermen, who had already spent the entire night working hard without catching anything.

Yet, despite their initial reluctance, they chose to obey Jesus' command, and the result was a miraculous catch of fish.

Similarly, God's call to obedience in our lives may sometimes require us to take risks, face challenges, and trust in His guidance, even when it seems illogical or uncomfortable.

Second, obedience to God's call often involves trusting in His wisdom and timing.

In the story, the fishermen had already tried their best to catch fish, but their efforts had proven fruitless.

However, when they obeyed Jesus' command, they experienced a miraculous catch that exceeded their expectations.

This demonstrates that God's wisdom and timing are perfect, even when our human understanding is limited.

When we choose to obey God's call, we must trust that He knows what is best for us and that His plans will ultimately lead to our good and His glory.

Third, obedience to God's call is a process that requires humility and self-awareness.

When Simon Peter witnessed the miraculous catch of fish, he immediately recognized his own unworthiness and sinfulness in the presence of Jesus.

He fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

This humble response reveals that true obedience to God's call involves recognizing our own limitations and need for God's grace.

As we seek to obey God's call in our lives, we must be willing to admit our weaknesses and rely on His strength to accomplish His purposes.

Fourth, obedience to God's call can lead to transformation and growth.

In the passage, Jesus tells Simon Peter, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people."

This statement indicates that Simon Peter's obedience to Jesus' command would not only result in a miraculous catch of fish but also in a new calling and purpose for his life.

As he and his fellow fishermen left everything to follow Jesus, they embarked on a journey of spiritual growth and transformation that would ultimately lead them to become the founding leaders of the early Christian church.

Similarly, when we choose to obey God's call in our lives, we open ourselves up to the possibility of growth, change, and a deeper understanding of our purpose in God's kingdom.

Fifth, obedience to God's call requires a willingness to surrender our own desires and plans.

In the story, the fishermen left everything behind to follow Jesus, demonstrating their commitment to obeying His call above all else.

This act of surrender reveals that true obedience to God's call involves laying down our own ambitions and desires in order to pursue His will for our lives.

As we seek to obey God's call, we must be willing to let go of our own plans and trust that His plans are far greater than anything we could imagine.

Facing Our Fears

In the passage, we see that Simon Peter and his companions were initially hesitant to follow Jesus' command to let down their nets for a catch ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO