The Principle Of Profitless Hard Work

The Lord will do special things through this message. It will release you into your divine destiny and will become a positive memorial in your life. Therefore, I want you to decree loud and clear like this:

"My heavens, open by fire now, in the name of Jesus."

"Every Pharaoh that is pursuing my destiny, what are you waiting for? Sink in the Red Sea, in the name of Jesus."

"O thou that troubles my Israel, my God shall trouble you today, in Jesus’ name."

The average black man is not lazy. He likes to work with his hands so that he may prosper, but there are certain forces that cause trouble for him. Luke chapter 5 talks of the principles of profitless hard work. When you say profitless hard work, it does not have to do with making money alone, it could do with the spirit, career, academics, or any good thing one lays one’s hands on. Luke 5:1-3 says: “And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets (meaning that they had closed for the day). And he entered into one of the ships which was Simon’s. (I pray that Jesus will enter into your boat today, in the name of Jesus, I don’t know why He picked Simon’s boat but I want Him to pick my own boat today.) Verses 3-8: “And prayed him that he would trust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” (Profitless hard work) Nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes and their net brake. 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.” This can be called dumbfounding promotion. Instead of going home empty-handed, they had two ships filled with fish. Verses 9-11 continue: “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord, for he was astonished and all that were with him at the draught of the fishes, which they had taken. And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him.” What an interesting passage.

Peter was taken away from his professional fishing and promoted to the profession of fishing for men. However, later, after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter went back to this profession, which had failed him. John 21:3-7 says, “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. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 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. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.”

In this passage several things are clear:

1. There was failure where it should not have been.

2. These men were skilled and experienced fishermen.

3. They were fishing in familiar waters.

4. They were using the right equipment.

5. They had worked all night, that is, at the right time.

6. They worked hard.

7. They had been successful in the time past but now there was failure without explanation. This story says that they were already washing their nets, waiting to work the next day. So Jesus’ advice must have sounded strange to them, or rather very ridiculous. They had become tired and exhausted. They could have said to Jesus: “You know you are the son of a carpenter and you may know about carpentry, but you don’t know anything about fishing.” However, they did what Jesus asked them to do.

Isaiah Chapter 55 verse 2 says: “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”