It's Time for a Bigger Net
Notes
Transcript
It’s Time for a Bigger Net
It’s Time for a Bigger Net
LifeGroups this Wednesday:
Story Night - bring an item (heirloom, antique, conversation-starter) and tell us what’s interesting about it. Then, we’re each going to tell one of two things: either something great God did for us, or our testimony.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Pray for Bro. March and Pastor and I tomorrow as we travel to a church to observe a recovery meeting. I already have a message to preach for WHEN our revival hits in our recovery ministry.
Text
Text
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
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.
We are undoubtedly in a unique season. Miracles, signs, and wonders.
Hear the Word, today: “It’s Time for a Bigger Net”.
When God Sends It
When God Sends It
The Uncreated One
The Uncreated One
There are some things in life that I admittedly cannot wrap my mind around.
How it’s instilled in animals to do so many of the things that they do.
How the universe is constantly expanding (I thought about this one awhile - “Of the increase of His government there shall be no end...”)
But even simpler stuff, I find it hard to understand…
How menu items disappear indefinitely, only to reappear, magically, as if they know when we need them.
Why we pay taxes on cars, even though we’re the fourth or fourteenth owner.
Chiefly: Why there’s a ‘round-about in Marmaduke, AR.
But, there’s really some things about God that are hard to wrap your mind around.
Omnipresent
Omniscient
But what about this one…
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
God is uncreated.
Everything you and I know and interact with is created. But God is not created. He simply is.
And because of that, whatever God says, simply is. That’s made plain from Genesis 1. “God said let there be light… and there was light.”
It wasn’t up for debate. It didn’t have to pass a vote in Congress (thanks be to God for that!). It didn’t have to be subject to a wait time before it went into effect.
It’s as simple as God says it - and it is!!! His Word is that powerful!
And I would take it a little further today and say that… whatever God has spoken over your life - IT SIMPLY IS!
There’s a lot of things about God that are completely different from the human experience. He’s not bound by time. He doesn’t have the process of life to grow in knowledge and understanding as we do. He’s perfect just as He is.
He is the Uncreated One.
And that means that whatever He touches, whatever He gets involved with, and whatever comes from Him has a much greater value!
The Treasure and the Field
The Treasure and the Field
Now, that brings me back to our text.
Because, the central truth in it is that the kingdom has immense value. It far outweighs any sacrifice or inconvenience we might encounter.
So just picture this…
We have a worker in a field. The heat of the sun is beating down upon him as he tills the ground. He’s wiping sweat out of his eyes. But he gets paid fair to do this. So he keeps on. It’s getting hotter. The work is getting harder.
And, as he’s working that ground, he hears a THUD!
It wasn’t a rock, because it sounded hollow. He hits that ground again to be sure. Definitely not a rock!
Now, he begins digging around it to get it out. Something begins to take shape in the dirt… a box. He sees the details of the box, and reaches down and opens it… and when he does, he finds a wealth of treasure. We are left only to assume that it is a large amount of silver or gold or both.
This is a moment that could change his entire life! Instead of being a hired worker, he would hire workers himself! Instead of continuing the back-breaking, sweat-pouring work to barely get by, he would have abundance.
But… there’s a problem afoot here…
That treasure is not his.
You see, under rabbinic law, if a workman came on a treasure in a field and lifted it out, it would belong to his master, the field’s owner. But here, the man is careful not to lift the treasure out until he has bought the field…
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
And so he hides the treasure again, goes and sells everything he owns, and buys the FIELD.
This parable is not dealing with the legality of this type of thing. It’s not dealing with whether that was morally correct. It’s really just dealing with the value of the treasure. And what is the treasure? THE KINGDOM.
And so… he’s got the kingdom… but he doesn’t really have the kingdom unless he has ownership of his field!!!
I’m not just getting my salvation and making a run for it - I’m buying the field God placed has placed me in!
THE TREASURE IS NOT REALLY MINE UNTIL I TAKE OWNERSHIP OF MY FIELD!!!
BUY IN!
BUY IN!
I feel like telling someone today: GO AHEAD AND BUY INTO THIS THING!
There are others who are resistant to truth… they’re on the fence… I sure hope they buy in one day… but for those who are here today, I’m making a plea!
I think maybe there are some of us who have found the treasure of our salvation - of the Kingdom of God - but we’ve never really taken POSSESSION OF IT!
If you’ve got a promise from God today - POSSESS IT! BUY INTO IT!
If you’ve got a calling from God - POSSESS IT! BUY INTO IT!
When God Sends It
When God Sends It
“Why should I buy in???”
Because when God sends it, it’s destined for fruitfulness - not failure! God placed a treasure in the field of your life because He intends to see it produce!
10 For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
By the authority of the almighty, I rebuke anything Satan has said in contradiction!
When God sends it…
there’s not a person who can discredit it!
there’s not a demon that can destroy it!
there’s not a rebuttal to speak against it!
HE IS THE UNCREATED ONE! IF HE SAID IT - IT SIMPLY IS!
And there are seeds of doubt that can try to become sown in our field.
But I want to give you clear evidence today that we are seeing a move in our midst:
We had 16 kids and youth on a Wednesday night last week!
Recovery ministry is quickly on its way!
The gifts of the Spirit are operating regularly, and we are witnessing the word of God and the miraculous hand of God!
We have, unlike I can remember at any time, been seeing a multi-cultural reach!
I see growth in our operations and our facilities… but more importantly, I see growth in people!
I looked over at Sis. Jeannie at one point over the last week and said, “Look at the crowd today!”
I mean, is anybody else seeing what I’m seeing???
Don’t kid yourself about it… if He’s sent it, it’s destined to be fruitful!
We Need A Bigger Net
We Need A Bigger Net
Casting Nets (Luke 5:1-11)
Casting Nets (Luke 5:1-11)
There’s something really interesting in Luke 5. It’s the chapter where Jesus tells Simon Peter: “I’m going to make you a fisher of men.”
But Jesus had been teaching. And it had gotten to the point where now there were a great many people pushing in to hear the word of God. Pushing to the point where there was nowhere else for Jesus to go, because His back was to a lake.
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.
The word “draught” means a “catch”. In other words, Jesus is saying, “If you want to catch, put out your nets.”
Now, pay attention here: the power is in the pronouns of this chapter!
He responds to Jesus: “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing…”
Now wait a minute…
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.
We just read that the only two people present were Jesus and Simon. So, when he tells Jesus that “we have toiled all the night,” he was referring to himself and all the other fishermen.
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.
And, “Jesus, we’ve toiled all night at this. Not much happening. But “nevertheless… at thy word… I will let down the net.”
NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! Because His word never returns to Him void!
You want to know why I keep coming here on Sunday morning?! Because i’ve found out every time I put down my net… THERE’S ALWAYS A CATCH!
You want to know why I keep praying Tuesday and before services and throughout the week?! Every time I put my net down… THERE’S ALWAYS A CATCH!
His Word cannot return to Him void! It’s IMPOSSIBLE! He is the uncreated one!
There’s One in the Boat
There’s One in the Boat
So, he obeys Jesus. But listen to the first part of verse 6:
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.
“They?” Who is they? Again, we were just told that the only people present were Simon and Jesus! So, I have to believe in reading this verse that it was Simon and Jesus who were using the nets!
The power is in the pronouns! Yes, WE toiled all night and nothing came of it… but the WE of your last night is not the same as the WE that’s here right now!!! THERE WAS ONE IN THE BOAT WITH HIM THAT DAY!
I have found that when what I do and who I am is not enough… JESUS MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE!!!
I just came to tell somebody…
You may be the only one in your family who is living a true Apostolic lifestyle, and you’re desire is to see your family saved!
You may be buckling under the pressure you have in your life!
You may be battling sickness today - CANCER may be knocking at your door…
BUT THERE’S ONE IN THE BOAT WITH ME TODAY!!!
HE’S MY FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE!!!
We Need A Bigger Net
We Need A Bigger Net
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
And it begs the question today… if this is my field… if it’s destined to be fruitful… if this is my lake… and He promises a catch (fishers of men)… IS THE SIZE OF MY NET GOING TO MATCH THE SIZE OF HIS PLAN?
I firmly believe that if Simon had brought a bigger net, he would’ve gotten more fish.
Today, I submit to you under the unction… it’s time for a bigger net. It’s time for spiritual expansion! What I see is babies being born!
I was reading something an Apostolic pastor wrote recently… “Signs Your Church Is Growing”.
Increased Attendance
Diverse Demographics
Expanding Ministries
Involvement of New Volunteers
New Guest Engagement
Capacity Challenges
Spiritual Transformation
Positive Atmosphere
Financial Health
Can I tell you that we check each and every one of those boxes!
It’s not a fluke! It’s not an anomaly! The only anomaly that we are is that most other churches are not growing, but the Apostolic church IS GROWING!
WE’VE GOT A MAN IN OUR BOAT!!!
And there are people coming here today that have been to other kinds of churches, but when they got here, they found something real, something powerful, something that matches what they’ve heard of in Scripture all their life!
How do we respond to all of this? When we’re seeing growth? When God is moving so greatly?
Brother, sister, I plead with you today… look down at your net… if it’s breaking, it’s time for a bigger net!
It’s time to move forward into the next step in God! Let’s widen our reach! Let’s increase our capacity! For you that could mean many different things…
Sunday school teacher - prepare for bigger classes.
Long-time saint - befriend some new babes in Christ… put your hand on their shoulder and pray for them when they reach out for God!
Preacher - let God lead you to a word to open your mouth and speak!
Church staff - think about the logistics of having more people - not less!
If I keep a small net… I’ll have a smaller catch. But if I go for a bigger one… ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to have a big church!
Simon’s Response
Simon’s Response
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:
In all of the work that we do… there’s something I’ve got to understand.
We have a great team here.
We have great teachers.
Great singers.
Great musicians.
Most of the time, we have good preaching (just say amen!).
But in the midst of catching the fish and doing the work and seeing God move… I want to be careful and be sure that I’m growing personally, too!
He fell down at Jesus’ feet! “I need SPIRITUAL expansion!!!”
Conclusion
Conclusion
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.
And then… he demonstrated it.
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
That’s our destiny! There’s a leper in our path!
Thank God there’s a man in our boat!
It’s time for an expansion - it’s time for a bigger net! Why don’t you let God heal you today? Why don’t you let Him grow you even higher today? Get lost in His presence!
After the leper, He would go directly into healing the man that they let down from the rooftop. And they somebody said…
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
There was a shift after that moment with Simon. All of a sudden strange things started happening. And people were moved by the miracles, signs and wonders.
Release your power, Jesus!