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.
Are you available for Jesus? I mean, are your willing to let your gifts and possessions available for the Master’s use?
First, Peter’s boat is available, then-
II. PETER’S NETS WAS AVAILABLE FOR JESUS (vs. 4-6)
“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.’"
What else Peter has and available? The NETS! Jesus didn’t tell him to use what he didn’t have. SO, Jesus tells him, “Put what you have and available for use.”
The nets represent our source of living, our businesses, jobs, and our careers.
Maybe you don’t have very much. God is just asking for whatever available, whether small or big for his use.
-If you have business, let your business available for Jesus. Don’t let it hinders your ministry. Don’t make it an excuse not to serve God! Remember, Peter lets his boat use by Jesus to preach the Word! But make our business an opportunity to share the Good News of salvation.
-If you’re working and you are always tired and busy. Don’t make it an excuse to become unavailable for Jesus. The Lord will not bless you. Instead use your job/work as an opportunity to serve Jesus.
Illustration 2
I have experienced many times in my life that a Christian came to me asking for a prayer to find a job. And of course because It’s a part of my ministry, I prayed with them all. But you know, its just an ordinary that when the Lord gave them jobs, its also the end of their attendance to the Church.
-If you have plans, you will not succeed like Peter if you didn’t submit them to the Lord. Peter became successful in his career only when he considered God in his life. True success will be easily achieved when the Lord is in your boat. Remember, King Solomon’s advices:
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
TAKE NOTE OF THIS PHRASE: “But you say so Lord”
Here is where success comes. “In spite of the fact that Peter can’t see what good it will do; he can’t see how it will work; he can’t see how God can use him; but he did it!” Why? Because Jesus says so!
RESULT:
“When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break.” v.6
Because he gave to Jesus what he has, because he made his net became available to Jesus, you see the results! "They enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break."
Take note this again my brethren, it’s also first time in the history of this nets to enclosed large number of fish. It happened only after Peter obeyed the Lord’s command.
Note what Peter said: "Because you say so Lord, I will let down the net." He made his net available for Jesus!
When I became a pastor of Sambahang Christiano ng Santol in the province of Cavite, Philippines, there came to me an elder of the church to pray for his brand new passenger jeep to DEDICATE it to the Lord. Right after the program, he approached me and he said, "Pastor whenever you need this jeep for the Lord’s ministry, I will lend it to you!" But after the dedication, the jeep couldn’t find any more even Sundays, because it is use full time in making money. Even during our anniversary and in time of need, we couldn’t borrow this jeep anymore.
-I will ask you today! Are your nets available for Jesus? I mean your business, your job, you career.
Or your nets became a hindrance for serving the Lord as well as in God’s ministry. The only thing that God wants for your nets and for me is for them to become “available.” Nothing else!
Let’s see what happened next. “He was astonished.”
You will be amazed at what God can do with your nets if you make them available to Him for use. (vs. 8-9)
First, Peter’s boat, then, Peter nets and then-
III. PETER’S LIFE WAS AVAILABLE FOR JESUS (v.11)
"When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him."
Now, notice the story. Peter understands that when his boat and nets have been available for Jesus some miraculous things happened. He then thought that what is more if his very own life has been available for Him!
So, with this experience Peter humbled down to Jesus!(verse 8).
He found out that if he gives to God all what he had, including himself and make it available for Him, Jesus will bless him more and more!
So, the verse says he left "everything" [his boat, his catch and partners] and followed the SOURCE of all what he needs.
Wow! It’s a real Faith!
RESULT:
“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.’” (v.10)
Jesus give Peter a good and much stable job and a bright future. Jeremiah said: `For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, `plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.(29:11)
Peter now has a new career, he will be catching men rather than catching Fish! Jesus wanted him to go from the LITTLE things to the BIGGER things: to be AVAILABLE IN SERVING GOD!
Look at what happened to Peter: PETER, on the Day of Pentecost, 3000 souls saved. He became a true fisher of MAN! He became successful in his new career. Previously he was failure, but because he became AVAILABLE, he finds success in life. He became the GREATEST WORKER AND APOSTLE of the Lord!
CONCLUSION
We can learn some valuable lessons in this story:
• When the Lord asked your boat, make it available for Him.
• When the Lord asked your net, make it available for Him.
• When the Lord ask your service, be available for Him.
............And he will bless you more!
I repeat: “God does not ask your ability or your inability. He asks only your availability.”
God bless!
