"FISHING WITH JESUS"

>>>Gospel of Luke written to Theophilus (goal of reaching Gentiles)

>>>In Luke 5, Jesus has begun His ministry and was teaching/healing.

>>>He gets on Simon Peter’s boat a teaches the crowd that followed Him.

*Simon Peter was a fisherman-HARD work.

Luke 5:4–6 “And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.”

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Luke 5:4 “And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.””

>>>Jesus was still in the boat when He finished speaking to the crowd.

>>>He looked at Simon and told him to pull into deeper waters and throw down the nets to catch fish.

HE SPOKE PERSONALLY.

>>>Jesus talked to the whole crowd but now turns His attention completely to Simon.

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Luke 5:5 “And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.””

>>>Simon responded to Jesus saying that he and his brother worked hard through the night, and there was nothing to catch.

*They were fisherman who were working hard to catch fish.

*Nighttime was the prime time to catch fish-not the day.

SIMON WAS SEARCHING.

>>>How many times did Simon and his brother sail around the sea and throw out their nets? Several!

>>>Before Jesus came, there was searching and no finding-no results. But now here was Jesus addressing Simon’s need.

>>>Everyone is searching for something. They try over and over again to find acceptance/purpose/relationships/etc. only to come up with empty nets.

Luke 5:5 “And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.””

>>>Simon tried all night on his own, but now he is deciding to do what Jesus says. This was now at Jesus’ word and not his own effort.

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Luke 5:6 “And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.”

>>>When Simon obeyed Jesus, he had an overabundance of what he was searching for. There was so much fish that the nets were breaking.

>>>Jesus was the solution to what Simon and Andrew needed.

THEY WERE OVERWHELMED WITH JESUS’ PROVISION.

>>>When we stop trying to find our answers in our own way and believe Jesus, there is an overwhelming of His love and provision.

>>>Our needs cannot be found in anything we are trying to do but the presence of Jesus stepping in an taking control.

>>>Simon and Andrew’s partners (James and John) came to help when the fish became too much to bear. Not everyone had the same response.

Luke 5:8 “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.””

>>>Peter was overwhelmed by the physical result of Jesus’ presence in this situation. But he also realized the spiritual result-his sinful state.

*Jesus Himself was too good and overwhelming that it brought Simon to his knees.

>>>After this Jesus called Simon (and the others) to be His disciple, and he would be pivotal in the start of the church. It was no coincidence Jesus was in his boat.

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>>>While this is a message for everyone, is Jesus personally speaking to YOU?

>>>Jesus knows our needs and wants us to give up our own efforts and obey His word.

*Not necessarily the Bible but salvation.

>>>Jesus is the overwhelming solution to what our lives long for. But for that to mean anything for us, He has to take complete control, and we have to realize our sinful state and need of Him.