Choose to Obey

Luke 5:1–7 NIV84

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

1. Obedience is a process

Start by listening

Understand the requests

Trust the speaker

Believe the speaker

Obedience today prepares me for obedience tomorrow

2. At times, obedience doesn’t make sense

Fishing during the day was not the way to fish

Peter had spent the night fishing

Peter did not catch a single fish all night

It doesn’t make sense to go back to where you did not have success

Here is one of Satan’s traps: God places an opportunity before you, and suddenly you wonder whether He opened the door. You analyze the situation from a human perspective: “If this happens, then I’ll know God is involved. If I get this piece of information, it is His will and I will go forward.” That’s not obedience

Don’t talk yourself out of obedience

Obedience today prepares me for obedience tomorrow

3. Obedience is a choice

Let me use your boat

I know you are tired from the night of working

Move your boat a bit off shore

Take your boat to the deep

Not every person is ready for deep obedience

Obedience today prepares me for obedience tomorrow

4. Obedience has rewards

Peter received exactly what Jesus predicted—a catch

Peter recieved more than enough catch

Peter received an overflowing catch

Peter received an overflowing catch that blessed others

When you obey, others will be blessed because of your obedience