Following Jesus to the Fishing Hole
October 16, 2005 Luke 5:1-11
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
This morning follow Jesus to fishing hole – for lesson not just about fishing but following…
LUKE 5:1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3Getting 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. 4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7They 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. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10and 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." 11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Not the first time Jesus met these men…
JOHN 1:35The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[g] 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[h] was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter[i]).
• Peter here is brought by Andrew… - hanging with Jesus…
Another meeting mentioned in MATT and MARK…
First mention “follow” – in context of evangelism…
MARK 1:16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. MATT = SAME
• To be a follower means to be a fisher/catcher of men!
• Went to Capernaum – hung out at Peter’s house
Luke appears to be a separate time…
Some time during night – returned to fishing business – time for a deeper level of commitment.
Rejoin our text…
LUKE 5:1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret
• Crowds pressing… - Jesus possessed “something”
• It was the Word of God – He was the Word of God!
• Hunger for the Word
• Jesus was available to them – loved them
Jesus pressed could use some help – what are his assets? – Followers…
I. Followers of Jesus are _Obedient_.
2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
• Peter – washing nets – here comes Jesus - off to the side listening
• Unsuspecting of what Jesus had up His sleeve…
3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land.
…obedient to be ___used___.
Peter - washing nets – rocks, weeds – tired – discouraged…
• Put them down – pushed or paddled boat out a ways
• Peter available to be used to communicate Word of God.
And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
• Times you too – occupied – tired – discouraged
• Jesus wants to use you to speak the Word of God.
• Maybe not boat – but ?????
Available to be used? – drop your thing to pick up His?
• Desire to serve planted in heart of every true child of God.
• Follower is available for that – starting place…
…obedient to _trust_.
Further up and further in – unquestioning obedience…
4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Metaphor for spiritual life – go deeper! – unquestioning obedience – tempted to compromise…
We are tempted to be guided by our friends instead of trust what God says.
“Don’t do it – your nets are clean! – have to do again”
“go to church – just don’t become a fanatic – no financial gain”
We are tempted to be guided by our experiences instead of trust what God says.
• Contrary to Peter’s judgment…
• Shallow not deep is where fish are – wrong time to catch
• Past failures prevent present following?
We are tempted to be guided by our circumstances instead of trust what God says.
• Discouraged – caught nothing – tired
• Nets are clean – day light –
• “must be the devil…” – everything wrong – timing…
• following Jesus not depend on favorable circumstances
We are tempted to be guided by our fears instead of trust what God says.
• Fear of inadequacy / failure / what people say?…
• Tremendous loss if don’t overcome that fear.
Though reluctant Simon obeyed…
5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."
• He took the challenge – didn’t let better judgment hinder obedience
How does Jesus get us where He wants us? – pushes us
Perhaps doing things your way has left you empty – time to trust His way
• Even if don’t understand how it’s going to work
• Launching into deep water - scary
• But taking God at His Word makes you…
…available to be __blessed__.
6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7They 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.
• Huge haul – possible a weeks worth of fish or more.
• Blessed him and blessed others
True followers desire to be used, do not shy away from challenge to go to even deeper levels of obedience – and are blessed by God and a blessing to others.
II. Obedience leads to a greater __Revelation__.
Luke 5:8-11
From: Master – “epistates” – Master or teacher – Rabbi
To: Lord – “Kurios” – Description of God
…of God’s __Power__.
“What have I just seen?”
• I obeyed – rowed out – cast net – just like always…
• Tons of fish! – never happened before! – wasn’t me / my expertise!
• Power of God! – release by my obedience – I’m not worthy!
…of our __Sinfulness__.
8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
A greater revelation of God has that effect…
• Is. 6:1,5 “I saw the Lord high and lifted up… woe is me I am undone!”
• Job 42:5-6 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes…”
• Rev. 1:17 “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead…”
True Revival = face down - A greater revelation of God’s power and person brings greater awareness of our sinfulness.
In recent days – growing sense of own unworthiness…
• God’s Word – meditate , understand – fall so short – I’m dirty/sinful
Close eyes – Jesus coming to you - Jesus loves you – revealed His plan to you – shows how to live up – understand all the treasures of wisdom, power, inheritance – price He paid to bring it to you – wants to provision you as son’s and daughters – wants you to participate with Him in this plan to include others -
• How does that make you feel?
• Utterly unworthy and sinful? – if not – you have not understood!
• You cannot get that close to Him and not sense your utter depravity.
Instead of being undone… he brings a greater revelation…
…of life __Direction__.
And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
• Vision of our sinfulness causes fear – Lord won’t like me…
• Confessing sin makes you useful
• Amazing – kind of people God uses to catch men
• No longer catching fish – from life to death
• Catching men – from death to life!
• Catch = “to catch alive” – zoo
• Catchers and spectators – all supposed to be involved in catching…
11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
• Biggest catch ever had… - worth turning their backs on
• When God calls – do not stoop to be a king
• “followed” = signifies the deepest inward attachment.
Begs the question – “must all followers leave vocations to serve Jesus?
• How is call to believers – like and unlike – call of Peter?
• Look to church history…
• Not everyone called to full time ministry…
• Paul worked as tent maker while planting churches.
• Important thing is – Jesus’ call takes priority to be whatever, wherever God calls us…
• Demoniac told to go home and testify
• For some maybe mission field – others, mission field is daily job or parachurch ministry.
• Mission is to catch fish! – sometimes job is best fishing hole!
This morning God has a larger destiny in mind for you – calling you by name – deeper waters – put down your nets for a catch.
That’s what it means to follow Jesus – to participate with Him in His mission to seek and to save the lost.
Interesting to note… that Jesus used same illustration twice in Peter’s life…
Peter’s call: all night nothing – “cast net” @ command of Jesus –
abundant fish = “fish for men” – “Followed…”
Peter’s restoration: John 21:4- 7 - all night nothing – “cast net…” @
command of Jesus – fish – “feed my sheep” – “follow me”
Bow heads…
May be that Jesus did something profound in your life – but now discouraged and disillusioned – gone back to familiar – self directed life yields “nothing” – spiritual attack = mediocre following…
But today Jesus calls you – further unfolding of revealed will for your life – at His direction abundant yield - it means a greater sense of unworthiness – new depth of serving/following/obedience
Pray
Following Jesus to the Fishing Hole
October 16, 2005 Luke 5:1-11
I. Followers of Jesus are ___________________.
Luke 5:1-7
…to be _____________________.
…to _____________________.
Tempted to trust ______________ instead of God.
Tempted to trust ______________ instead of God.
Tempted to trust ______________ instead of God.
Tempted to trust ______________ instead of God.
…to be _____________________.
II. Obedience leads to a greater ___________________.
Luke 5:8-11
…of God’s ________________.
…of our __________________.
…of life __________________.
