Available For Jesus!

Available For Jesus!

[The Ministry of Availability]

Luke 5:1-11

"Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him."

INTRODUCTION:

Illustration 1

A Baptist once admitted, “I have asked God a question many times in my life. Many times when I visit people all week long and I beg people to come to church on Sunday but still 50% of them came. But when I say something about poor attendance it usually ends up being my fault somehow. I spend 8 to 10 hours preparing a sermon that God has given us and as everyone walks out of here they are telling us what a great sermon it was, but nothing ever seems to really change.”

We will understand today that the number 1 problem to many Christians today are their availability to God.

This morning, I want to talk to you about the Ministry of Availability. Whatever things God has given to Christians they should become available for the Master’s use.

Do you not know that the most important ingredient of Success in Christian life is becoming available to God? I know everyone of us is aiming for the success!

Let’s see here how Peter became successful in life because of his availability for Him.

I. PETER’S BOAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR JESUS (vs.2-4)

“He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake, …And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ’Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’"

Jesus used Simon’s boat. Why? Because it was AVAILABLE! It was ready for the Master’s use. Simon was willing to give of what he had for the Lord!

Boat may represents all what we own: Our Abilities and Possessions

I know that every Christian like to serve the Lord but maybe worried because he’s not gifted like others. Or maybe he’s thinking that he can’t perfectly do it!

Don’t give up when experiencing hardship because of your limited knowledge.

Remember this quotation: "God does not ask your ability or your inability. He asks only your availability."

Every day you’re going to be trained by the Lord. He will give you more wisdom and understanding in order to serve Him best if you are faithful for Him.

A. Notice in verse 3 – “Launch out into the deep.”

When we make our boats available to Him, even small things, He will lead us into deeper & greater things.

Remember Peter is an uneducated man, actually, he is the least among Jesus followers. But because he was AVAILABLE among them all, God taught him, trained him and used him in the ministry. So then, Peter became the leader of the 12 disciples and became the GREAT APOSTLE of the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Notice again in verse 7 “…And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink."

You know my brethren in the Lord, it’s first time in the history of this boat to be filled with fish. It happened only after it was used by Jesus in sharing the Word because it was available.

WHAT IS THE KEY TO PETER’S SUCCESS? He’s just got make his boat AVAILABLE. He just lend what he has, then, God helped him to "go deeper and further with Him." What he did FIRST is, he let his small gifts make available for Jesus.