Bible Text: Luke 5:1-11 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: 40 days of Abiding
Luke 5:1 –2 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
Simon answers Jesus; nevertheless at YOUR WORD I will let down the net…
This becomes a teaching moment: Simon’s simple obedience brought abundant blessing — a boat overflowing with fish. Instead of getting caught up in the details of securing the fish, Simon realized that he needed more than fish: he needed spiritual nourishment to restore his sinful soul. Simon was just the type of person Jesus wanted. A broken spirit and a willingness to obey gave Jesus the opportunity to mold Simon so that God could use him effectively.
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!
When Peter says: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! This is not a statement communicating – get out of my life Jesus – rather he is revealing a revelation. In this passage there are three things that stand out:
1. Selection: there is something providential in the selection of the place and time as well as the people by Jesus.
2. Expectation: Jesus gives instruction to launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch that would produce an expectation that something might happen when previously nothing happened.
3. Revelation: Peter’s response to the events showed that he came to a place of revelation about himself, his purpose, his heart, his soul.
Luke 5:3-5 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. But Simon answered and said to Him, Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.
There is a powerful truth here: God chooses us!
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
God has made the choice to choose, bless, save, direct our life, bring purpose into our lives and the determination of this is based upon our response to the invitation.
Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch…Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net…
…nevertheless at YOUR WORD I will let down the net… This is the choice we can make or not. What is our response to Jesus’ instruction? In the face of what might be considered impossible, incredible what will be our response?
Miracles take place when people respond to the Lord, even when it is outside common sense or human wisdom.
Ephesians 3:20-21 …who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…
Luke 5:6-8 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!
For every believer there is a moment of transition that comes by way of personal revelation when Jesus becomes more than the Savior, the way to eternal life, the Son of God, but He becomes personal, close, relational, He becomes our LORD.
God wants to do big stuff around us so we might come to this same place as Peter so we might start we loose our self-centeredness, self-righteousness, and see us for we are, someone who is in real need of God.
Luke 5:9-10 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.
Do not be afraid is Jesus response to Peter. What Jesus is saying to Peter and us, don’t fear your limitations, imperfections; He knows them and can handle them. He has chosen you knowing full well what He is getting with us and still He has chosen us.
Jesus is giving them this word picture: in the same way you drop down your nets into the deep, if you will drop down to your knees at my feet you will rise up to a blessing that is like a net so full, that will load your boat to the place in will start to sink. If you will come to my feet then I can begin to work you.
Luke 5:11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Jesus did not require ALL his followers to leave everything behind, some he called for special purposes. Jesus does require every believer to make him the center of his or her life and rearrange every priority to serve him. There are two requirements for coming to God:
Recognition of one’s sinfulness
Realization of the impossibility of saving oneself
We cannot allow fear to stop us from following and obeying the Lord’s call on our lives to live in His will! Following Jesus means more than just acknowledging him as Savior. It means leaving the past behind and committing the future to him.
Discussion Questions
In what ways are you facing troubles and difficulties? How are you handling them?
Peter and his friends fished all night and got nothing. Does your hard work never seem to pay off? How does this affect your view of life?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that Jesus couldn’t possibly understand your needs? Share this situation with your group and how you handled it. What did you do well and could you have done better?
What does it feel like knowing that Jesus chose you to continue His mission on earth?
Expectations are powerful. What are the pros and cons of expectations?
What do you think the Lord expects of you as His follower? Are you living up to these expectations? Why or why not?
Have you received Jesus as the LORD of you life? In what ways is this evidenced, manifested in your life?
Jesus said to Peter and the other fishermen, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch; where in your life to hear the Lord speaking to you to launch out into the deep?
Jesus told Peter many times to not be afraid. What are the fear(s) holding you back from totally committing to the Lord?
What does it mean to you to worship at the feet of Jesus?