Answering the Call

Answering the call. What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? For some it might be a simple as picking up the phone when it rings. Of course, these days we do not pick the phone, more likely we take it out of our pocket or our little holster or purse.

To others answering the call might mean a great deal more. It might mean marching off to military service, to spend time in a foreign land far from loved ones and friends and familiar surroundings.

So some, answering the call might mean giving up the prospect for a lucrative occupation to instead devote yourself to public service. A life that can often involve certain dangers, and usually includes unpleasant tasks to attend to, not to mention odd shifts, and few holidays. Fire fighters, Police officers, Emergency Medical Technicians all fit this category.

Answering the call means to devote your life to something that you feel is more than just an occupation. More than just a way to make some money to support your family. It means being willing to sacrifice certain parts of your life for the benefit others. It can be a very rewarding life, although often it is a very difficult life to live. Answering the call leads to a occupation that becomes a part of you, even if you are a horse.

In the early part of the 20th century there was fire horse in Dundas, Ontario, named Nell. In those days a fire engine was steam powered pump mounted on a wagon that was pulled by a team of horses. That is in sharp contrast to the big red trucks we are so familiar with today. After being a faithful and brave fire horse for many years, Nell was retired because of her advancing age.

According to Chief Knowles, one night the large bell rang an alarm at the fire hall to announce a fire in progress had been reported. Upon hearing the ringing of that big fire bell, Nell broke away out of the stable where she lived in retirement and galloped downtown to the door of the fire house. A most noble example of answering the call.

And of course, answering the call might also mean responding to the call the Lord has made on your life.

Today we will look at Luke, chapter 5, where the disciples answer the call to follow Jesus. We will see that the steps they took are not too different from the steps that we take when we answer the call of Jesus.

Luke 5

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,

Here we see Jesus speaking to a crown along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. So many are gathered around Him that it is difficult for His words to spread over the crowd.

2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

The fishermen had finished their fishing for the day and were caring for their gear so as to be prepared for their next fishing excursion.

3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Have you ever been on the shore of a large lake and noticed how far sound carries over water? I remember being on the shore on Lake Texhoma one time many years ago. It was a place we called “the point” and was a favorite camping spot for all our family. It was late in the evening, already after dark. I was alone, fishing along the shore. Suddenly I heard voices coming across the water. The voices were clear enough that I could actually make out some of the words. I then realized the sound was coming to me from the other side of the lake something like a mile away.

Jesus knows if He can get out on the water, His voice will carry to the crowd much better than it would when He was standing on the shore surrounded by the press of the crowd.

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

What we will see next is the first step in Answering the Call, and that is an:

Awareness of Jesus

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

No doubt Simon had been close by when Jesus was speaking. Simon is aware of who Jesus the teacher is. Simon had even witnessed Jesus heal his mother-in-law. He regards Jesus highly enough to refer to Him as “Master”, but Simon does not yet really understand who Jesus is, he is just aware of Jesus.

When Jesus tells Simon to let down his nets for a catch, Simon actually kind of argues with Jesus. Simon is saying, “Fishing is my business, I am a professional, and no fish will be caught here today.” Simon is taking the attitude that it would be impossible for a fish to be caught in this area because we have already fished here, and caught nothing. Simon knows fishing, but he doesn’t know Jesus. Simon does not yet realize that when Jesus says something, He knows what He is talking about.

The Duke of Wellington, the one who defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo, once issued an order to one of his generals. The general replied to Wellington that it was impossible to carry out that order. Wellington told him “You just go ahead and do it, because I do not issue impossible orders.” It is the same with Jesus, He does not issue impossible orders, regardless of what Simon thinks.

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

The Lord desires us to be fishermen, but the fishing must be done according to His directions. There are many lessons for us here. Fishing is an art. First, you must be fishing where the fish are, I know this because I have spent many an hour fishing where the fish are not.

Next, you must use the right kind of bait, that is presenting something the fish has an interest in. And you must be patient. The important lesson Jesus is teaching us here is that we must fish according to His instructions.

If we are ever going to win men for Him, we must fish according to His instructions. In this instance the net broke. Later on, in the Gospel of John, a net overloaded with fish does not break. The fisherman’s net illustrates a truth.

Here in Luke, there is no net that can hold the fish for the simple reason that He has not yet died and risen from the dead—that is the gospel. The “net” which will hold fish must be one that rests upon the death and resurrection of Christ—at this time there had been no death and resurrection. The net broke, and many of the fish were returned back into the water.

After His death and resurrection, Jesus one again gave the disciples instructions on how to fish and this time the net did not break.

John 21:6–11 ESV

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Back to Luke, chapter 5

7 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.

They were so overwhelmed with fish that they had to call in reinforcements to handle the catch. The catch was so large that it taxed the capability of two boats to handle it.

We looked at the account of Simon being aware of Jesus, now we see Simon’s:

Acknowledgment of Jesus

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Now Simon acknowledges that Jesus in no ordinary teacher. He refers to him as Lord. Simon has just witnessed a miracle right there in his own fishing boat.

When Simon realizes that he is in the presence of the Messiah, he falls down on his knees and confesses that he is unworthy to be in the presence of the Lord. Simon is saying that he is not worthy to be used of the Lord.

He is saying “You should find someone upon whom you can depend.” The Lord, however, did not intend to cast aside Simon Peter. He is going to use him, even with Simon’s imperfections and liabilities, the Lord is going to use him, and He can use us as well.

Of course, first off, we have to acknowledge that we are not very good fishermen. We have to recognize our failures and our faithlessness. But when we are willing to depend on Him, when we are willing to follow His instructions, He will not put us out of the fishing business, and He will not throw us overboard. He will use us.

And so, Simon Peter does go on to be a fisherman for the Lord and is mightily used of the Lord. Look at what Peter does on the Day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2:

Acts 2:38–41 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Here we come to the third step in Answering the Call. After being aware of Jesus and acknowledging Jesus, we must be:

All in for Jesus

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

They brought their boats onto the shore and then they left their old lives behind and followed Jesus.

Many people today are aware of Jesus. A great number may even be willing to acknowledge that Jesus is The Lord. But they have not made that decision to be “All in” for Jesus.

You might be thinking, well Pastor, this is talking about disciples, it’s talking about people who are missionaries and are going to carry the word of God to foreign shores, it’s talking about Pastors who’s job it is to give the word to the people. This does not apply to me. I’m just a store clerk, or I’m just a housewife, or I’m a retired person.

The fact is, we are all called to share the Gospel of Christ to the world around us. Some of us indeed are called to foreign lands, while others are called to be missionaries in their own hometown.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Every day, you personally have the opportunity to be a missionary to your children, your grandchildren, your spouse, your neighbors. You are a preacher whether you realize it or not. Every day you preach a sermon to everyone who comes in contact with you by the example you set with your life.

You can also be a missionary at work. Now I know you may not be able to walk around preaching scripture to your co-workers, but you can certainly demonstrate God’s love to those people around you in the workplace. You can shine the light of Christ in such a way that your actions speak even when your words cannot.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Being “all in” for Jesus also includes a vibrant prayer life. Prayer is our communication with God. We need that connection with God just as much as we need water to drink and air to breath.

And finally, we need to be “in scripture” to be “all in” with Jesus. Reading your Bible every day is good, but I am speaking of more than that.

Reading your Bible every day is like sitting on the beach looking at the ocean. Sure, you see the ocean, you see what is happening on the surface of the water in your immediate area, but you don’t really know the ocean.

If you get in a boat and travel beyond the sight of shore, then put on your diving gear and dive into the ocean, then you start to get the know the ocean on a deeper level. It is the same with Bible study. It requires some deep diving. It requires you to go beyond the surface to see what’s going on underneath the words on the page.

Conclusion

I’m positive everyone here is aware of Jesus. I’m pretty sure most of us here would acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. But how many here are “all in” for Jesus.

In 1880 a piano salesman from Ohio named Will Thompson wrote these words:

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.