Obey First

Introduction

Because the crowd of people who wanted to hear Him was so large, Jesus borrowed Peter's boat.

Anchored near the shore the acoustics of the water would carry His voice so that everyone would be able to listen.

Jesus’ Command

Afterward, Jesus told Peter to go back out.

Fishing in those days was done at night, and the night before had been unproductive.

Yet at Jesus' command Peter went.

His experience told him fishing during the daytime was pointless.

His pride no doubt informed him that the other fishers would find his actions laughable.

His body was certainly worn out after a night of fishing and catching nothing.

But Peter set his objections aside, did what Jesus said...

And caught more fish than his nets could hold!

Application

This is always God's pattern.

He blesses us when we do what He says regardless of what others may think or say.

Often we are tempted to stay by the shore and keep the nets in the boat.

Jesus could have just ordered the fish to jump from the water into the boat, but instead He wanted Peter to learn the lesson of obedience.

Nothing will take its place.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late—and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.”

Prayer for revival is vital.

But prayer—nor any other spiritual exercise—should be used as a substitute for simple obedience to what God has said.

Our faith in God is revealed in our obedience to His Word.