ACA Chapel - Obedience

INTRODUCTION:

Good morning everyone. My name is Wes Terry and I’m the lead pastor of Broadview Baptist Church here in Abilene Texas. I wanted to share a story this morning from the Gospel of Luke.

It’s a fascinating story about Jesus and one of his disciples, Peter. Peter was one of Jesus’ first disciples and this encounter with Jesus changes his life forever.

I want to share this passage with you this morning for two reasons.

First, I think it teaches us something important about Jesus.

Secondly, I think it teaches us something important about obedience.

Setting The Scene

Luke 5 opens up with this huge crowd pressing in on Jesus while he was teaching and preaching the Bible. Everybody wanted to hear what Jesus had to say about the Bible because when he taught the Bible he spoke with authority.

Not only that, he had been performing miracles in the surrounding villages and so people were convinced that Jesus was special and that he had a very special relationship with God.

You can imagine trying to teach a message with everybody pressing in wouldn’t be very easy so Jesus gets in Peter’s boat, pushes it out a little ways and then begins teaching from there.

The Bible doesn’t say what Jesus preached on that day. We can only guess. But what Jesus does next changes Peter’s life forever.

An Odd Request

Luke 5:4 (CSB)

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Deep water means, “go out far far into the lake.” It’s an odd request by Jesus.

Simon Peter had already been fishing all night long. And for him, fishing was a JOB not a HOBBY. It was hard work. He had toiling and sweating and working as hard as he could.

Do you know how many fish he caught? ZERO!

If you spent all night working on something and had nothing to show for it the next day would you be in a good mood or bad mood? BAD MOOD!

A Surprising Response

What would you have said if you were Peter? Would you have thought...

Jesus, “I’m the professional fisherman here. You’re just a preacher. Lets leave the fishing to somebody who knows what they’re doing...”

Jesus, “stick to your day job buddy… I’ll stick to mine.”

Jesus, “I’ve worked ALL NIGHT LONG… can we please try this some other time?”

Guess what Peter ACTUALLY says? Luke 5:5

Luke 5:5 (CSB)

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

I love those four words. IF YOU SAY SO.

About Obedience

This is where Peter teaches us something important about obedience.

True obedience isn’t just doing what your told when you agree.

True obedience isn’t just doing what your told when it’s easy.

True obedience isn’t just doing what your told when you feel like it.

True obedience - the kind of obedience that Jesus deserves - is obedience given (1) right away, (2) all the way and (3) with a trusting heart.

that’s the kind of obedience that Peter gives to Jesus.

Do you think Peter felt like obeying Jesus in that moment? No! He wanted to go home! He’d be working all night long.

Do you think Peter wanted to delay Jesus’ request or maybe dismiss what he was saying because Jesus wasn’t a professional fisherman? Of course!

About Authority

But Peter obeyed Jesus. Why? Because he recognized Jesus’ authority.

Did you notice how Peter referred to Jesus in his response? “Master.” Some translations use the word “Lord.” It means somebody who’s in charge.

Some people have authority because of their position. (president, teacher, parent, etc) Their authority is derived from their station in life.

Some people have authority because of their person. (chemist, industry expert, scholar) Their authority is derived from their wisdom, power or effectiveness in doing something.

Jesus had authority for both of those reasons. As God’s Son and second member of the trinity He had a POSITION of authority. But Peter also recognized a personal greatness in the person of Jesus that made him obedient to his request.

What Happens Next?

Guess what happens next? In verses 6-7 we see what happens when submit to God’s authority.

Luke 5:6–7 (CSB)

6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Submission to God’s authority opens you up to God’s provision.

When you do what God says … you’ll receive what God promises.

Does this every time you obey authority you’re going to make money or get rich or eat a ton of fish? No! Not necessarily. But you do put yourself in a position to receive God’s blessing - in whatever form he decides to manifest it.

Disobedience - on the other hand - moves you out from underneath that umbrella of God’s protection and provision. Even if God wanted to bless you he wouldn’t because he blessing and provision are linked up with our faith and obedience.

The Bigger Lesson

Right after this miracle happens I think Peter comes to terms with the fact that Jesus really IS from God and he really DOES have authority.

Have you ever been around somebody who’s just really really good at something? And every time you get around them being awesome at whatever it is they’re awesome at it kinda makes you feel insecure and “not good enough?” (guitar illustration)

That’s what happens to Peter when he’s stuck on this boat with Jesus who just performed a miracle and proved himself Lord over creation.

Luke 5:8–10a

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” 9 For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.”

Repentance

Peter’s response to Jesus is an example of what the Bible calls “repentance.”

Repentance is a changing how you think so that it changes what you do. Repentance is agreeing with God about the facts and aligning your life to match his design.

Here, Peter is agreeing with God about his sin. “I’m a sinful man, Lord!”

Not only is Peter confessing his sin. He’s also confessing Jesus’ righteousness. “Nothing exposes the darkness quite like the light.”

I love how Jesus responds to Peter’s confession.

Luke 5:10b–11

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

And Faith

In this verse, Peter went from being a man of fear to becoming a man of faith. Why? Because Jesus invited Peter into a personal relationship with himself.

Not only is Peter being invited into a different kind of relationship with Jesus. Peter is also being invited to a totally different purpose for his life.

Jesus is telling Peter - “If you’re willing to trust me and submit to my authority. You’re not just going to be Peter the catcher of fish. You’re going to be Peter, the catcher of men.” You’ll have a new reason for living. Joining God in his purpose to save sinners.

A Disciple Is...

I love the way Matthew’s Gospel records this invitation by Jesus Matt 4:19

Matthew 4:19 (CSB)

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus. A disciple is “following Jesus…being changed by Jesus… committed to the mission of Jesus”

What does that look like practically? It looks like Peter in the boat.

Recognize Jesus’ authority. “Master...”

Obey Jesus’ Word “At your word I’ll ...”

That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus. That’s what it takes to put yourself under the umbrella of God’s provision.

Practical Application

So how does this apply to your life as a student at ACA?

First off, it applies to how we relate to authority in this school.

Your ultimate authority is God. Underneath that authority is your parents or legal guardians. Underneath THAT authority is your teachers and leaders in this school.

When your parents enrolled you into this school they took some of that authority given to them by God and they loaned it out to your teachers and leaders in this school.

So whether it’s your parents at home or your teachers at school you show your submission to God’s heavenly authority through your willing submission to earthly authority.

Obey your parents and teachers as a way of being obedient to God himself. Their authority flows from His authority.

This story also applies to your personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus has invited every single one of us into a relationship with himself.

What’s his request? It’s not to throw our nets down on the other side of the boat. His command is to repent and believe the Gospel.

Confess your sin to God and put your faith in Jesus and his death on the cross for your forgiveness and salvation. (Your teachers or principle or parents can tell you more about what that means)