Scripture - Luke 5:1-8 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 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. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 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." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying,"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
Observation - Peter and the men had been working all night to catch fish. This was their profession. They were skilled, trained and professional. They knew the right fishing spots, the places that were profitable to catch fish. Yet they didn't catch anything. There they were frustrated and broke with nothing to show for their efforts. Jesus enters the boat (at the wrong time of the day for fishing) and tells them to push out and let down for a catch. It is amazing that the only change is Jesus in the boat and his word spoken in their direction. They catch so much that they have to call partners in to help them. The blessing of Jesus flowed over their boat into the boats around them.
Application - It is amazing how you can work and toil all night doing what you have been trained to do, what you are skilled to do, maybe even what you are an expert doing with very little results. The production and return can be so disheartening, but one word from Jesus and the whole situation changed. These men knew what they wee doing and Jesus gets in the boat and says push our and let down - now everything is different.
Push out - some of us aren't going deep enough. We need to push out into new depths - new areas that we haven't approached yet, maybe because of fear or whatever, we need to push out today. He also said let down, we need to let down our guard, let down our attitude, let down our control and let Jesus speak a word over our situation. Let him get in the boat and tell me where to put the nets in. Even if its the wrong time of the day. Jesus makes all the difference.
Prayer - Father - I am pushing out today. I am going deep. Letting down my guard and allowing you to speak over my situation. I need you to touch every area of my life and let the catch come in.
Observation - Peter and the men had been working all night to catch fish. This was their profession. They were skilled, trained and professional. They knew the right fishing spots, the places that were profitable to catch fish. Yet they didn't catch anything. There they were frustrated and broke with nothing to show for their efforts. Jesus enters the boat (at the wrong time of the day for fishing) and tells them to push out and let down for a catch. It is amazing that the only change is Jesus in the boat and his word spoken in their direction. They catch so much that they have to call partners in to help them. The blessing of Jesus flowed over their boat into the boats around them.
Application - It is amazing how you can work and toil all night doing what you have been trained to do, what you are skilled to do, maybe even what you are an expert doing with very little results. The production and return can be so disheartening, but one word from Jesus and the whole situation changed. These men knew what they wee doing and Jesus gets in the boat and says push our and let down - now everything is different.
Push out - some of us aren't going deep enough. We need to push out into new depths - new areas that we haven't approached yet, maybe because of fear or whatever, we need to push out today. He also said let down, we need to let down our guard, let down our attitude, let down our control and let Jesus speak a word over our situation. Let him get in the boat and tell me where to put the nets in. Even if its the wrong time of the day. Jesus makes all the difference.
Prayer - Father - I am pushing out today. I am going deep. Letting down my guard and allowing you to speak over my situation. I need you to touch every area of my life and let the catch come in.
