A. Opening illustration: You know you have a big fish when you use a forklift to hold in up for a picture. That’s what Carl Sawyer had to do in 2006 when he caught the 83 lb. state record Flathead catfish in the Altamaha River. Not to have it long, Jim Dieveney tied him in 2010 but held up his giant Altamaha flathead with his own hands. The Altamaha River also produced the state record blue catfish in 2017 with an enormous 93 lb. Blue catfish, btw he is holding his up with his own hands too.
B. Background to passage: Jesus is in Galilee where Luke gives accounts of Nazareth and Capernaum. Jesus is moving west around the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee, aka Lake of Gennesaret. As his pattern is, in this account he is teaching the word of God to the crowds, so many so that he wisely steps on a boat to get back enough to teach. The miracle done here is another miracle over nature, but it was for the purpose of cementing the disciples’ commitment to him and the furtherance of his ministry.
C. Main thought: this morning we will see the results of a boat-sinking catch on personal lives
1) Act of Faith (v. 5)
a. Probably because of what Peter saw Jesus do with the sick and the demonized in the previous two towns, when Jesus asked him to put out to go fishing, with some amount of protest and doubt he said, “at your word.” Exp Galilean fisherman fished at night. Jesus was a carpenter/contractor but telling a professional fisherman when to fish.
b. Illustration: each year we walk out into a field of dirt with seeds in hand.
c. To see record catches in our lives, we have to have a little faith. We have to believe that what Jesus said will take place. You must cast the line, plant the seed, say yes to a challenge, but only to the things that Jesus is calling you to do. I am not saying that you need to sign up for match.com, or skydive, or start training to do Everest, but I am saying that when Jesus says to step out into a raging sea, you tell him you’re coming. Often, we don’t understand when Jesus leads, but be prepared for obedience. This is a posture of readiness and willingness to do all that he says.
2) Recognition of Position (v. 8)
a. After the catch Peter had a shocking response, but it was because he realized he was standing in the presence of God. Reason I say that is that Peter had already seen Jesus do miracles. Even though the scope of this miracle was off the charts, Peter fell down at Jesus feet in humble submission, acknowledging his sinful position. This is very similar to Isaiah’s reaction to seeing the Lord in the temple. Of course, Peter didn’t want him to physically leave, but his actions and words communicated so much more. Whatever doubt was in his heart, he was convicted of and convinced of Christ.
b. Illustration: Greear sermon this week about putting a check mark beside all the sins that apply to you in Romans 1,
c. We would all do well to have a wake-up call as to our position. Remember, Peter was a good religious faithful Jew, just as we are practicing Christians. Revivals in American history have been preceded with much prayer, but usually begin with believers engaging in open times of confession of sin in order to regain the pursuit of holiness. The church now is lacking in its distinction from the world. Our lives are the same, sins are the same, family lives are the same, job behavior is the same. The scariest part is that we don’t know it! Can you imagine what it might be like if Jesus returned and stood our midst. Would we fall as humble men in the shame of our hollow religious rituals and dark hearts, or would we sit back and yawn because we are glad to be getting rid of our bad knee? The understanding of our position in relation to God is crucial in how we act toward him and how we carry out our Christian lives. Feel the weight of our blindness, idolatry, apathy, disbelief, materialism, and ignoring the God who is so high.
3) Receiving a Commission (v. 10b)
a. The bible testifies that God is near to those of a contrite heart; that wisdom begins and ends with fear of the Lord. Therefore, Jesus speaks to Peter and says not to be afraid. Then, Jesus gives Peter a commission: from here on out, I will make you a fisher of people. Peter understood that meant that Jesus had a special plan for him, and it entailed the work of ministry. This was the official calling of Peter for he had already been following him for some time.
b. Argumentation
c. Illustration: Dr. Patterson’s three prayers every day, guy at LaGrange College this week, Ravi Zacharias in the article last night,
d. We have the same calling. Jesus told us, as we go, make disciples. We are to look for and pursue people in this world who do not know Jesus. Most people want a savior. They may not know how to say it, but it’s true. We work as individuals and also as a church. As individuals we learn to share the gospel, learn to integrate it correctly with our testimony, pray daily for opportunities to share, sight to see them, and courage to engage. We live lives that beautify the gospel. As a church we serve in different parts of church life to make a worship and discipleship an avenue to share the gospel with unbelievers. Notice I did say that we are to “all” play a part and that Sunday gathering is first about “worship and discipleship” and through those things God comes down with the gospel to the hearts of those who are not following Jesus. We invite and invite to make a way. All the parts are important, and all the members of the body are important. Discipleship among all ages and groups are an avenue for seekers. Many of you need to step up. Eternities depend on whether or not you take your place here in ministry.
4) Completely Selling Out (v. 11)
a. Luke doesn’t say they rejoiced over the catch, or they started cleaning fish, or they got ready to go to the market. He says that when they got to the land, they left everything. They said goodbye to friends and family, to their jobs, to their futures as they knew them. They to do it without question or thought or hesitation. They left all.
b. Luke 9:57-62, 14:25-43, Phil 3:7-11, Matt 13:44-46
c. Illustration: “At the end of the day — at the end of the age — Jesus isn’t just going to say, “Why did you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?” He’s also going to say, “Why’d you call me God and say I was your treasure and give me two percent of your attention? There will be no answer. Be astonished at people who say, “I believe in God,” and live as though happiness could be found now and forever by giving him so little of their attention.” -Piper,
d. Where do you draw the line for God? You can have this, Lord, but not that. Are you willing to sacrifice all? If he called you to go, would you do it? If he called you to give, would you give it? Maybe it’s not going or giving, maybe it’s being sold out at school, at work, at home. What would your coworkers think if you witnessed you avoid office politics, office gossip, have exemplary integrity? What would your classmates think if you were willing to engage them in the Christian worldview about the gospel, the bible, creation, gender issues? What would God think if you truly sold out to him in your personal devotional time, your scripture memory, your love for the brethren, your love for your church?
A. Closing illustration: Adoniram Judson’s conversion story, and consecration to God. “On the second day of December – a day he never forgot – he was converted and dedicated his whole life to God. From that time on he was literally a new man. He turned away forever from his dreams of worldly success, and simply asked himself, “How can I best please God?”
