Nevertheless (2)

NEVERTHELESS

Luke 5:5

“Master we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing, nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5).

Peter was a “nevertheless”disciples. A “nevertheless” disciples is the best kind of disciple. They are a special breed and bunch and will accomplish much for God regardless of the situation they are in. Peter was in a night and nothing situation but because he was a “nevertheless” disciple, he turned night into day. and nothing into abundance. To be a “nevertheless”disciples requires at lest two important things.

FIRST—THE POSITION OF CHRIST

“Master.” A “nevertheless” disciple has a very high place in his life and thoughts for Jesus Christ. In our text Peter calls Jesus Christ his “Master.” Christ is our Master/Lord whether we call Him that or not, or course. But if in sincerity you call Him your Master or Lord you are a rare disciples. Few people really bow down to Christ and submit to Him in every situation of life. Many let their friends, evil habits, passions and the culture of society be their Master. Peter knew how to fish. He was a veteran fishermen, what did Christ know about fishing? But If you expect to turn a night and nothing into a day and abundance, Jesus Christ must sit on the throne of your life. There must be great reverence for Him.

SECOND—THE PRIORITY OF THE WORD

“Nevertheless, at Thy word” A “nevertheless disciples sets a very high priority upon the Word of God. We note two ways in which this priority evidences itself.

• Priority over circumstances. The circumstances did not lend themselves to fishing at that moment. Peter was tired and it was not the time to fish. Peter had “toiled” all night in fishing. Furthermore, it was the wrong time to fish and probably the wrong place to fish, too. Peter knew when to fish and where to fish and Christ’s orders seemed to go against all that Peter knew. Yet, he was a “nevertheless” disciple and he let the Word of God have priority over circumstances. This is humbling, for we all bow to circumstances. But a “nevertheless” disciple will give priority to the Word of God and not circumstances. Sometimes the Word we are to submit to is very contrary to our circumstances, but we give priority to the Word and submit to it anyway.

• Priority over the crowd. There was a great crowd on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee. Peter would have to act his faith in the Word of God in front of many people. This is not easy to do. But a nevertheless disciple does not let the crowd have priority over the commandments of the Word of God. The crowd may mock and ridicule your actions and belittle your conduct. But remember the crowd is not doing anything about the night-and-nothing situation. It often comes down to either popularity with the people or the precepts of God. The “nevertheless” disciples will chose the precepts over popularity and obey the Word of God regardless of what the crowd of people think.

A Concern—When Peter hears the Lord’s command, he reminds Jesus that they have already fished all night and caught nothing. Night time was the best time for fishing. The fish were nearer the surface during the cool hours of the night and were more easily located and caught. And, those men had worked so hard. The word “toiled” means “to labor with wearisome effort.” All night long these men had let down and pulled in those nets over and over again. And, they had “taken nothing”; which means “not even one.” All night long they had fished and had not even caught a single sardine! All they wanted was to go home and get some sleep and fortget about that long, awful, wasted night.

He is saying, “Lord, we’ve already tried that and it didn’t work! We are professionals! We know what we are doing and, no offence, but aren’t you a carpenter? Leave the fishing to us! We tried it already it didn’t work. There’s no use in going out there again.”

It is sad, but Peter sounds like the typical Baptist. We look at the programs we have tried in the past and see very little, if any, success and we say, “There’s no use to try that again! We know how to do it, and we tried it but it didn’t work.” Maybe we are like the disciples. Maybe we have always tried in our own power. Maybe we didn’t go when He commanded to where He commanded. Maybe He wasn’t even included in the things we did then. I would just remind you that without Him, all our efforts are doomed to fail, John 15:5.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.[1]