Introduction
Two Texans were trying to impress each other with the size of their ranches. One asked the other, “What’s the name of your ranch?” He replied, “The Rocking R, ABC, Flying W Circle C, Bar U, Staple Four, Box D, Rolling M, Rainbow’s End, Silver Spur Ranch.” The questioner was much impressed and exclaimed, “Whew! That’s sure some name! How many head of cattle do you run?” The rancher answered, “Not many. Very few survive the branding.”
Transition
You and I have received
- no lesser a calling or branding as disciples of Jesus.
- no lesser a “branding” as followers of Jesus Christ – for the Rest of Our Life!
KEY QUOTE: Chris Surber says it this way!
“The calling to follow Jesus is an all consuming, all encompassing, call which rightly consumes the rest of our lives!”
The Disciples were All Ordinary People! –
One was even A Tax Collector - despised by his countrymen
Several were Fishermen - did not possess a particularly high level of education
One was a Political Zealot – like one of our politicians
All the disciples were just Common Ordinary Folk – like you and I!
Each of us, if truly a branded disciple, have received a CALLING on our life – a Calling of The Master!
It was said, “The great purpose of the Christian life is rooted in the blessed hope that we have received. This is the very same blessed hope of the disciples after they witnessed the resurrection of Jesus and they were transformed from a band of ordinary people into a band of ordinary people with an extraordinary mission and power – a Witness for Jesus.”
TITLE: THE REST OF OUR LIVES
TEXT: LUKE 5:1-11
READ & EXPLAIN VERSES 1-2
– Luke 4.14-15
The crowds were very enthused by His message;
“Lake of “Gen-nes-a-ret” = Sea of Galilee
“Nets”
- Large bell shaped nets – very heavy
- Several Heavy weights - to make the nets sink
- Large heavy rope to pull net together
- As the net would fall, it would trap the fish
READ AND EXPLAIN VERSES 3-5
Notice Simon’s response – “Master (Teacher), we’ve been working all night…”
Obviously he was very skeptical about catching “a good catch” as Jesus was implying.
Can you blame Simon and his friends? They were tired. They had been working all night and even well into the day to get ready for the next days work – JUST AS WE DO EVERY DAY!
We know the feeling – there are days we just don’t feel like lifting another step because of what we’ve done and what we’ve got to do!
1ST PRINCIPLE
from Peter’s response to the Lord’s instruction (READ AGAIN VERSE 5b)
- It is not past experience, our own knowledge OR wisdom which produces results in the Christian life;
- Often, it is little more than a WILLINGNESS TO TRY - PLUS – OBEDIENCE to the Lord!
How many great works of God have gone undone because of the lack of willingness to trust God and just try a little?
Peter didn’t believe that it was worthwhile to cast the nets -
but he was WILLING TO TRY and GOD BROUGHT A GREAT CATCH!
APPLICATION
- This same principal, when applied to our lives holds the key for us to experience the extraordinary power of God in our lives!
(think about it!)
- What might we accomplish for God if we are willing to TRY & TRUST GOD?
KEY THOUGHT!
Who can measure the might of what God can do in the life of His Church
Who can measure the might of what God can do in the life of one individual, when we let go of failures, disappointments, lean not on our own understanding and try; trusting Him with the results!
READ PHILIPPIANS 3:10-14 (this is exactly what Paul was trying to say)
-Ordinary People to do the Extraordinary by FAITH – through HIS POWER!
READ VERSE 6 & 7
Can you imagine! What would your response be? Notice Simon’s response…
READ VERSE 8-10a – RE-EMPHASIZE VERSE 8
2nd PRINCIPLE - Simon’s Response
1. Simon had recognized Jesus was more than a Teacher –the Messiah – promised one!
2. He is overcome by the majesty of Christ.
APPLICATION
When one admits their inability and their sin, THEN they are able to depend on God & his ability!
READ 8b-11
V. McGee: “Necessary to total dependence upon God is recognition of HIS awesome worth AND MY TOTAL & ABSOLUTE NEED FOR HIS GRACE, HIS POWER AND HIS LEADING!
(READ IT AGAIN!)
SUMMARY
1. God called ORDINARY PEOPLE into THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE of FOLLOWING JESUS.
2. He has called us to Cast Our Nets into the deep waters of this world so that we can reap a GREAT HARVEST of souls for the Kingdom!
But you say, “Pastor, I am neither trained nor equipped to do the work of an evangelist. I’m not at all comfortable with that. I don’t feel like God is even leading me to preach to people or witness to people in my life and certainly not to people on the street.”
As we learned Wednesday night, - YOU ARE MISUNDERSTANDING THE WORD “WITNESS”!
People are not interested in the WORDS you say.
People are interested in the LOVE YOU SHARE!
When God invites you – when God gives you the OPEN DOOR - just tell what He’s done for you!
ILLUSTRATION: COMMUNION
A large prosperous city church had three mission churches under its care that it had started. On the first Sunday of the New Year all the members of the mission churches came to the city church for a combined Communion service.
In those mission churches, which were located in the slums of the city, were some outstanding cases of conversions—thieves, burglars, and so on—but all knelt side by side at the Communion rail.
On one such occasion the pastor saw a former burglar kneeling beside a judge of the Supreme Court—the same judge who had sent him to jail where he had served seven years. After his release this burglar had been converted and become a Christian worker. Yet, as they knelt there, the judge and the former convict, neither one seemed to be aware of the other.
After the service, the judge was walking home with the pastor and said to the pastor, “Did you notice who was kneeling beside me at the Communion rail this morning?” The pastor replied, “Yes, but I didn’t know that you noticed.” The two walked along in silence for a few more moments, and then the judge said, “What a miracle of grace.” The pastor nodded in agreement. “Yes, what a marvelous miracle of grace.” Then the judge said “But to whom do you refer?” And the pastor said, “Why, to the conversion of that convict.” The judge said, “But I was not referring to him. I was thinking of myself” The pastor, surprised, replied, “You were thinking of yourself? I don’t understand.”
“Yes,” the judge replied, “it did not cost that burglar much to get converted when he came out of jail. He had nothing but a history of crime behind him, and when he saw Jesus as his Savior he knew there was salvation and hope and joy for him. And he knew how much he needed that help.
But look at me. I was taught from earliest infancy to live as a gentleman; that my word was to be my bond; that I was to say my prayers, go to church, take Communion and so on. I went through Oxford, took my degrees, was called to the bar and eventually became a judge. Pastor, nothing but the grace of God could have caused me to admit that I was a sinner on a level with that burglar. It took much more grace to forgive me for all my pride and self-deception, to get me to admit that I was no better in the eyes of God than that convict that I had sent to prison.”
The ground is completely level at the foot of the Cross. All are in need of grace and all are invited to receive it freely through faith in Jesus Christ. So, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
