The Call of the Fishermen

Grateful Heart and Casting Burdens Expressing gratitude to God. Encouragement to release burdens and give them to God. “Whatever burden may be on your heart today, let it go. Give it to God. He’s already said to cast it upon Him.” Acknowledging the abundance in Christ. Luke Chapter 5 and the Message Reference to Luke 5, with a focus on a specific passage. Mention of Travis Owen’s message on “nevertheless” and its impact. “He preached a wonderful message on the nevertheless. And he brought the Word of God. Boy, it just thrilled my soul.” Emphasis on the importance of a messenger having a message and being sent. “The messenger can’t do what he does without a message… according to Romans 10, he must be sent.” Reading of Luke 5:1-11 Reading of the scripture about Jesus teaching by the lake of Gennesaret. The story of Simon Peter, the large catch of fish, and Peter’s reaction. Simon Peter asking Jesus to depart from him because he is a sinful man. Jesus telling Simon not to fear and that he will catch men. The disciples forsaking all and following Jesus. Conversion of Apostle Peter Belief that Luke 5:1-11 describes the conversion of the apostle Peter. Highlighting the moment when Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be his disciples. Emphasizing that these men left everything to follow Jesus. “These men forsook him. They laid down everything that day. They left their boats. They left their nets.” Expressing the hope that listeners will also lay down their burdens and follow Jesus. The Crowd at the Lake of Gennesaret The gathering of people eager to hear the Word of God at the Lake of Gennesaret. Noting that it was not a coincidence that the crowd was there. “There ain’t a coincidence with God… These people ain’t lucky either. Amen. They’re blessed.” Belief that God will feed His sheep when they are hungry for the Word. “When the people of God get hungry for the word of God, brother, go and send the word. And whatever it takes, God will feed his sheep.” Encouragement to personally seek God and pray for the Word. “How many of us went before him on our knees and said, God, I need you to speak to me.” Admonishment against relying solely on the preacher without personal prayer. “If that’s what you think this is all about I’m going to encourage you today to carry just a tad bit for me than you do right now… and that you’ll get your closet on your knees and you’ll say God we’ve got a poor pitiful preacher but if you’ll help him the Word of God can move among us.” Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Pressing for the Word The importance of pressing for the Word of God and not being passive. Expressing gratitude for being in a place where people are receptive to the Word. “I carry the privilege to be in this place. I carry the privilege to be behind this desk… because it ain’t like this everywhere.” Preference for those who come eagerly, ready to receive the Word. “I like them that’ll come with their hands up already saying, I know it’s coming. I’m ready for it. My vessel’s clean.” God never withholds good gifts from His children. God’s Provision and Care Relating personal experience of feeling hungry and receiving food. Drawing a parallel to God’s desire to feed His children spiritually. “When the people of God will just go to the Father and say, you know what? I’d like a little food. I’d like a little groceries today from the throne room. Brother Cod, in his good pleasure, wants to feed his children today.” Sharing an anecdote about children staying over and the joy of providing for them. The Holy Ghost likes to provide spiritual nourishment. “The Holy Ghost likes to wrestle up grub for me. I’m glad for him that he cares for my soul. He loves it when I’m hungry for the Word of God.” God’s Work Behind the Scenes The crowd pressing in on Jesus, creating a situation where He had to act. The importance of personal responsibility in prayer and seeking God. “I believe there’s a personal responsibility for every born again believer to be active in their prayer life and to be seeking God for the good things from heaven.” While people are focused on worship, God is also working in other ways. “While you’re getting those good things from God I want you to know that a lot of times He’s doing something else too.” God’s concern for those bound by sin or lost. “Among us may be a soul that is bound by the cares of this life. They may be bound by sin. They may be bound by addiction. They may just be lost.” Sharing a personal testimony of being saved as a child while others were praising God. Lifting Up Jesus If Jesus is lifted up, He will draw people. “If I be lifted up… I’ll draw.” The importance of worship and allowing God to fix what is wrong. “If you’ll just worship me, I’m going to fix what’s wrong around you.” God’s divine orchestration of multiple things at once. The Fishermen and Jesus Jesus noticing the fishermen while the crowd was pressing Him. The fishermen were going about their business, cleaning their nets. The need to clean one’s net. “You can’t put up a dirty net brother you’ve got to get her clean or she’ll roll on you. She’ll rot on you.” Simon Peter watching the crowd and being curious about Jesus. Jesus looking at Simon Peter. “What a glad day when Jesus looks your way.” Jesus asking to use Simon’s boat to preach to the crowd. Welcoming Jesus into one’s “boat” (life). “When he asked to get in my boat, I said, yeah, it’ll be fine.” Peter positioning the boat so Jesus could preach. The captive audience in the boat hearing the message. Jesus knows what He is doing. Even after the crowd disperses, Jesus continues to work. Jesus staying in the boat until the work is done. Launching into the Deep Jesus instructing Simon to launch into the deep and let down the nets. The difference between children and adults in accepting Jesus. “If you can introduce Jesus to them when they’re young, that’s when to do it. They have a whole lot less questions.” Simon Peter’s initial response, citing his experience as a professional fisherman. “Master, we have toiled all night… we didn’t catch any.” Jesus not saying another word, leaving the decision to Simon. The choice to obey or reject God. “You’re either going to obey God or you’re going to reject God this morning. It’s your choice.” God won’t force salvation. Nevertheless, At Thy Word Simon Peter’s internal struggle and tendency to focus on the negative. Simon’s statement: “Nevertheless, at thy word.” “Nevertheless, at thy word, I’ll launch out into the deep and I will drop my net, as you’ve said.” Obedience to Jesus’ word. The great catch of fish and the breaking nets. Calling for help from partners. Realization of being a sinner in need of a Savior. Personal testimony of being saved amidst a lively church service. Confessing sin and calling Jesus “Lord.” “Lord… I’m a sinful man depart from me.” Jesus making them fishers of men. Leaving everything to follow Jesus. Invitation to come forward for salvation. The importance of a hungry crowd and personal seeking of God. “If we’re going to lift up Jesus, we’re going to have to get hungry for Him.” God blesses and feeds His children when they are hungry. The transformation of Simon, the professional fisherman, into a follower of Jesus. “After that, he figured out who the real fisherman was… and that he was no longer a professional at it.”