AT THY WORD...I WILL

Luke 5:1-11 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, 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.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

OPENING: I DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT…

I DON’T HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT…

AT THY WORD…I WILL

HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T WANT TO DO?

ON YOUR JOB YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN ASSIGNMENTS,

IN YOUR HOME AS A CHILD;

HUSBAND/WIFE

BROTHER/SISTER YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO SOMETHING YOU DID NOT WANT TO DO.

BUT WHETHER OUT OF A SENSE OF OBLIGATION, OR FEAR OF SOME CONSEQUENCE, OR OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY,

SOME REASON YOU DID WHAT YOU DID NOT WANT TO DO…

AND THIS IS THE SCENE WE SEE IN OUR TEXT…

SIMON PETER IS CALLED UPON TO DO WHAT HE DID NOT WANT TO DO.

Luke 5:11 (KJV)

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

WHEN JESUS CALLS US TO DO SOMETHING, WE USUALLY EITHER:

DON’T THINK WE CAN

OR JUST DON’T WANT TO

MOSES IN EXODUS CALLED TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE OUT…DIDN’T THINK HE COULD

ISAIAH CALLED BUT DIDN’T THINK HE WAS WORTHY

PAUL/SAUL CALLED BUT THOUGHT HIMSELF TO BE THE LEAST

AND PETER CALLED BUT JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT…

BUT JESUS DOESN’T ALWAYS CALL THE QUALIFIED BUT HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED…

JESUS FAME HAS GROWN AND THE PEOPLE HAVE CAME IN MULTITUDES TO HEAR HIM PREACH.

HE ENTERS INTO PETERS SHIP AND ASKS HIM TO THRUST OUT A LITTLE.

IT WAS CUSTOM FOR THE RABBI TO SIT AND TEACH THE PEOPLE. HE USES THE WATER AS A PA SYSTEM TO PREACH.

AND WHEN HE CONCLUDES TEACHING…

HE COMMANDS PETER TO LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS FOR A DRAUGHT OF FISH.

WE NEED TO STOP ASKING GOD TO BLESS WHAT WE ARE DOING AND DO WHAT GOD BLESSES!!!!

IT WAS A NIGHT OF STRUGGLE:

Luke 5:5 (KJV)

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

MASTER WE HAVE TOILED ALL NIGHT

WE ARE TIRED

WE HAVE WORKED OUR FINGERS TO THE BONE.

WE ARE EXPERT FISHERMEN

WE KNOW AT NIGHT THE FISH COME TO THE TOP

IN THE DAY THEY GO DEEPER CAUSE THEY SEE THE NETS

WE ARE EXPERIENCED FISHERMEN, WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING

AND BESIDES ALL THAT YOU ARE JUST A CARPENTER

JESUS BEGINS PETERS JOURNEY OF DISCIPLESHIP NOT BY CALLING HIM AWAY FROM HIS PROFESSION BUT BY MAKING A BOLDER PRACTICE OF HIS PROFESSION.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE AND I AM TRYING TO MAKE YOU BETTER.

HE IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE YOU OFF YOUR JOB BUT TRYING TO MAKE YOUR JOB SWEETER.

BUT NOTHING PUTS A FISHERMAN IN A FOUL MOOD ANY GREATER THAN FOR A NON FISHERMAN TO ORDER HIM TO DO IN A BAD SITUATION WHAT HE FAILED TO DO IN A GOOD SITUATION.

BUT AT THY WORD…I WILL

I DON’T AGREE…BUT I WILL

I KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO TURN OUT BUT I WILL.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS FORKNOWLEDGE OR WILL POWER THAT MADE THESE FISH TO BE THERE BUT NEVERTHELESS THEY WERE AMAZED.

JESUS IS GIVING HIS MIRACLE IT SEEMS TO TELL THEM.

I KNOW YOU THINK YOU KNOW

BUT YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY KNOW LIKE I KNOW..

YOU WANT TO TELL ME YOU ARE FISHERMEN..

BUT I DON’T WANT FISHERMEN…

I WANT FOLLOWERS…

I DON’T WANT YOU TO FISH…

I WANT YOU TO FOLLOW…

AND IF YOU LEARN TO FOLLOW THE FISH WILL SHOW UP.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE GIVE YOU THE ADVICE THAT IF YOUR HEART IS NOT IN IT YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT DO IT?

THAT IS COMPLETELY TRUE…IF YOU WILL JUST DO IT, DO RIGHT YOUR HEART WILL SOON FOLLOW.

…TWO VOICES OF PETER…

PETER THE FISHERMAN…WE HAVE TOILED ALL NIGHT AND TAKEN NOTHING..

PETER THE FAITHFUL…NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD…I WILL.

I DON’T HAVE TO SEE IT…I WILL

I DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT…I WILL

AND A NIGHT OF STRUGGLE GIVES WAY TO:

A MORNING OF SURRENDER:

Luke 5:6-7 (KJV)

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

IN THE MORNING THEY SURRENDERED TO THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.

THEN THEY CAUGHT SO MANY FISH THAT THEIR NETS BRAKE AND THEIR BOATS BEGAN TO SINK.

……WHEN WE TRUST GOD IN SPITE OF THE CONTRARY HE WILL CAUSE OUR NETS TO BRAKE…

WE HAVE TRUSTED IN MANY THINGS THAT JUST SIMPLY DO NOT WORK…

BUT….AT THY WORD…I WILL

I WANT TO LEARN TO FOLLOW SO I CAN LEARN TO FISH.

AT THY WORD…I WILL

DID YOU COME TONIGHT TO DO WHATS RIGHT IN SPITE OF HOW YOU FEEL?

WHAT’S RIGHT…I WILL

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES…

I WILL LIFT MY HANDS IN THE SANCTUARY

I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH WITH A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE.

I WILL TESTIFY OF HIS GOODNESS

I WILL SHOUT UNTO THE LORD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH.

I WILL GIVE GOD MY BEST HALLILUIA.

I WILL SPEAK ALOUD OF HIS MERCY

I WILL TELL EVERYONE OF HIS KINDNESS

I WILL, I WILL, I WILL

IT GETS HARD SOMETIMES…BUT I WILL

IT GETS DARK SOMETIMES…BUT I WILL

IT GETS SCARY SOMETIMES…BUT I WILL

AFTER A NIGHT OF STRUGGLE AND A MORNING OF SURRENDER THERE COMES:

A TOMORROW OF SATISFICATION

Luke 5:8 (KJV)

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

SIN HAS NOT EVEN BEEN MENTIONED BUT WHEN HE REALIZED WHO JESUS WAS THEN HE KNEW WHO HE WAS…HIS EYES WERE OPEN.

MOSES SAID THEY ARE GONNA ASK WHO SENT ME AND WHATS HIS NAME…I AM THAT I AM…

ISAIAH SAID I SAW HIM HIGH AND LIFTED UP AND I RWALIZED I WAS UNDONE…BUT GOD TOOK COALS FROM THE ALTAR AND CLENSED ISAIAH AND THEN ASKED WHOM SHALL I SEND AND WHO WILL GO FOR ME… I WILL

ANYBODY HERE BELIEVE HIS WORD?

CAN WE SAY…AT THY WORD…I WILL?

JESUS WANTS FOLLOWERS SO HE CAN MAKE THEM FISHERMAN…

BUT HERE IS THE SERMON IN A NUTSHELL…

Luke 5:10 (KJV)

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

YOU CATCH FISH FOR THEM TO DIE

YOU CATCH MEN FOR THEM TO LIVE

IF WE CAN’T TRUST HIM WITH FISH

WE WON’T TRYST HIM WITH MEN.

IF THE FISH WERE THERE … MEN WILL BE THERE

AT THY WORD…I WILL

CAN BEARCREEK SAY IT TONIGHT?

AT THY WORD I WILL…