Revival -- If? Let Down the Nets
If all the sleeping folk will wake up,
If all the lukewarm folk will fire up,
If all the dishonest folk will confess up,
If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,
If all the depressed folk will cheer up,
If all the estranged folk will make up,
If all the gossipers will shut up,
If all true soldiers will stand up,
If all the dry bones will shake up,
If all the church members will pray up...
Then we can have a revival!
-- R.G. Lee
See: 1 Cor 16:13; Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 Tim 4:7-8; But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1 Tim 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses
Let Down the Nets
There are things that must be done before revival can come. Here is one of the most important!
(Luke 5:4 NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
I. The results of letting down the nets.
A. Great quantity of fish caught.
B. Nets were breaking with overflow.
C. Boats were sinking because of the catch..
1. Where they mistaken to do it? It almost ended in disaster!
a. The net pictures relationships. ( in the business world we "network" Jesus has been speaking to us for along time to ’let down the Nets’
II. Relationships!
A. Most are saved through relationships. Nets are relationships.
1. Jesus is saying let down the nets. extend those relationships to sinners and you will have a harvest.
B. The harvest strained their relationships so much they were breaking.
1. We must build strong relationships and in doing so we build strong nets.
III. Compare this with.
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him,(for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Again the disciples caught no fish- very unusual for professional fisherman. Their night may have reminded them of that other night when Jesus was taken.
IV. However this time "their net was not torn".
A. The results were 153 large fish. ( Imagine John counting the fish so he can answer the sceptics who did not believe his Luke 5 experience!)
B. Net was not torn.
1. What happened between Lk 5 and Jn 21??
a. They made a stronger net.
b. They were ready.
V. Nets= Relationships. Any proof?
A. "Katartizo is used, means; to complete thoroughly, repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust: fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect, join together, prepare, restore. prepare, perfection. )
2 Cor 13:9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
Matt4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Mk 1:19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
RSV 1Co 1:10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
RSV 2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
KJV Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
KJV Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
A. We must first build our relationship with the Lord and then we can build with people especially with the family of God.
B. How?
1. Talking with the Lord daily as a friend. Prayer.
2. Let Him talk to you daily. Reading the Bible.
3. Talk to others about the Lord and what He has done for you.
For more info go to: www.tonyabram.com.
