Launch Out Into The Deep

LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP

Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Launch (Put) out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

1We get comfortable in shallow water

1.1In shallow water we can see the bottom

1.2We know what's there

1.3We're familiar with things in the shallows

1.4In shallow water is where we spend most of our time

1.5Something reassuring about knowing that the water isn't too deep... there aren't as many unknowns in the shallows

2Peter and Jesus had pushed out away from shore, but they were still in the shallow water

2.1Jesus told Peter, “Launch out into the deep”

2.1.1Peter was tired...

2.1.2Had already gotten out of boat and was probably resting comfortably while tending to his nets

2.1.3It's easy to get comfortable about things that you are really familiar with

2.2Been fishing all night

2.3Good fisherman

2.4Jesus told him, “Let's go fishing now... and let's go out where maybe we won't be so comfortable...”

2.4.1“Launch out into the deep...”

2.4.2Peter just “KNEW” there wouldn't be any fish to catch

3Most fishermen in lakes around here catch most of their fish in shallow water

3.1It's what they do

3.2They know how to catch fish

3.3Sometimes though, the really big fish are deep

3.3.1But they can be hard to catch

3.4Takes more work

4Out in the deep can be unknown territory

4.1Who knows what might be out there?

4.2Could be big fish

4.3Could be a lot of fish

4.4Could be sea monsters we only imagined about

5The “deep” can be a scary place if you're not used to it.

5.1There's uncertainty in our minds about the new and unexplored

5.1.1“I've never been in really deep water before.”

5.2Jesus said “Launch Out”

5.2.1Take this little boat (not much more than a rowboat) and go into deep water

5.2.2“Peter, now is not the time to get comfortable, it's time to do things you have never done...”

5.3Peter went out and caught so many fish he had to call for help to bring them in.

5.3.1All because Peter obeyed Jesus and launched out into unfamiliar waters at an unfamiliar time when he was tired and wanted to just go sit down...

6Far too many people in far too many churches are afraid of launching out into the deep

6.1We have become comfortable in our pews and have failed in being obedient to the Word of God

6.2It's time we launched out into the deep!

1Pe 2:9 MSG ...you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you--

7Over the years we have begun to think that the church is here just for us

7.1The church was never designed to be a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.

7.2We have lost our zeal to evangelize the world for Jesus Christ

7.3We have decided that, “It's not my job” to tell the world about what Jesus can do for them and what He has done for me

7.4What would it look like if everyone who claims the name of Jesus was truly on fire for Him and actually obeyed Him?

7.5How many people might we reach if we put down our own baggage and actually began to live out this life that Christ bought for us with His blood?