At the Master's Word, Launch Out

Give Testimony

Read Luke 5:1–12 (Have congregation stand if able)

Bring attention to Vs. 4 and 5. Launch Out, at thy word.

Often we remain comfortable in our Christian lives, but God calls us to a life of faith and trust. One way we display this is through Discipleship. Jesus is about to call Peter, John, and James to a specific life of following Him and catching souls for eternity. It is in this moment, Jesus calls for Disciples. Discipleship is a has a cost, and today’s Christians have grown complacent in their walks with Christ and have the lost the value of Discipleship. The church has fallen pray to the lie that comfort and ease is what the Master has called for us in life. However, as we will see in this, we see this is not the case. The Master calls for us to “Launch Out” into a lost and dying world by following Him and catching men for the Cause of Christ.

I want to preach a message to you this morning which I have titled At the Master’s Word, Launch Out

Context

Background context:

Chapters 1-2 Describe the birth of John the Baptist and Christ

Chapter 3 Describes Christ’s Baptism and the imprisonment of John the Baptist

Chapter 4 Describes Christ’s Temptation in the Wilderness and the beginnings of His ministry in Galilee.

Chapter 4 ends with Vs. 44 saying, And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

The people were enamored by Christ, His message, and His miracles. In verse one Jesus is at the Lake Gennesaret, and the people are pressing him. It gives me the image of the press swarming a celebrity, or family tackling each other to hold the new born niece or nephew. They wanted to hear Jesus. They wanted to see what he could do, but Jesus had another reason for being here.

In Verse 2, Luke accounts that Jesus saw two ships docked by the lake, and that the fishermen were washing their nets. This tells us this is in the morning and the fishermen were finishing their “shift”, as fishermen fished at night. Day time was not the ideal time for fishing due to the ruckess of the land, the fear predators, and the cooler deep water pushing fish further and further to the Lake floor. At night, fish come up to feed on algae and insects on the surface of the water, making a prime time for fishing. Jesus, however decides in verse 3, to get in one of the boats and teach the crowds.

But when he finishes, we see...

I. Jesus’s Call to Launch Out

A. Into the deep though we think our work is done

The fishermen were washing their nets. As Peter says, “they toiled all night.” Their job was done for the night. However Jesus still calls for them to launch out into the deep. I am reminded of Abraham and Sarah. They had thought that their child bearing days were over.

Genesis 17:17–21 KJV 1900

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Abraham laughed at the thought of God blessing him with a child. He thought his and his wife’s time for child rearing was over. However God’s time is far beyond our time. In chapter 18 of Genesis, Sarah has the same response. God immortalizes this reaction in the name of their some Isaac which means “laughter.” God had a plan, and He wasn’t concerned about the natural time table.

The church has fallen pray to this very mentality. God calls us to do something and we laugh or shy at the idea of serving Him because we’re too old, too young, too weak, too busy, or not equipped. When God calls us to launch out into a life of servitude, He desires our obedience, but that is far from what we give. Part of this is because we have grown complacent or simply, we’re tired. We have worked and labored, but the results have not been in our favor. We then get into the next mindset that Jesus calls to launch out...

B. For a catch that seems nonexistent

Not only are the fishermen done for the day, their whole night wrought no profit. They toiled all night and have taken nothing. Their whole livelihood was based around catching fish. This had to be disheartening for these men. I’m sure they were ready to throw in towel.

I am sure there are moments in our Christian walk where we have been ready to call it a quits because soul winning doesn’t seem to work or our church growth strategies fall short. We believe that the laborers are few, but we strain at the idea of the harvest being plenteous. The numbers truly do show that it seems like that it is impossible to reach the world for Christ. But I’ve lived in Youngstown, I’ve lived in Warren, I’ve worked people, and talked with people. I have no problem standing before you this morning to tell you that Mahoning Valley is ripe unto harvest and the harvest in absolutely plenteous. There are people who need Jesus, there are Christians who need discipleship, and lives that need changed. I believe that’s God’s Word is absolute truth and He is completely able to do all things according His Will. We may not understand why things are going the way that they are, but God knows all things and has worked out all things according to His will.

Moses wandered the wilderness hoping for the promised land. David prayed that the temple would be built under his reign. Jeremiah preached for repentance for 40 years. None of these things came to pass for these people. They expected something, but found their expectations fallen flat. But God still showed His working in time. Joshua led Israel into the promised land. Solomon built the temple. Nebuchadnezzar repented before the Lord. The Application is this...

Application: The Master’s call supersedes our understanding

II. Peter’s Obedience to Jesus’s Word

A. Was without resistance

Peter expresses that they toiled all night and caught nothing, but he says “never the less, at thy word, I will let down the net.” Peter witnessed in Luke 4 the healing of his Mother in Law. He has witnessed the working of the Lord. He had no reason to distrust the Lord Jesus. He reacted in faith. Jesus calls us to surrender to him completely.

One Scripture that comes to mind in regard to surrender to Christ is Philippians 3:3-10

Philippians 3:3–10 KJV 1900

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The Apostle Paul gives his religious petagree and shows how he considers it all but loss for the cause of Christ, but not only this but also in II Corinthians 11:20-30

2 Corinthians 11:20–30 KJV 1900

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

The Apostle Paul has gone through trial and tribulation, yet he considers it all a glory to the Lord. We often find disobey due to the discomfort. Back to the text in Luke, Peter goes against the discomfort of a failed night of fishing, the chance of being made a fool for dropping his nets at the wrong fishing time, and so much more. Yet, he obeys. Our comfort zones pale in comparison to the calling God has on our life. Discipleship comes with a cost, but it is well worth the price. Are we willing to go out into the world and make disciples of the nations even when it seems uncomfortable or illogical? I can honestly say that the comforts of the 20th and 21st centuries have attributed to the lack of discipleship in the world. 2020 was a time we needed to come out of our comfort zones to reach the world in the midst of a global pandemic. The church as a whole failed in this, but its not too late to change course, we must be willing to let down our nets, even at the cost of looking foolish or politically incorrect. Jesus doesn’t call us to be subservient to the opinions of the world, but to be completely reliant on him. Peter’s obedience to Jesus’s Word shows complete reliance on the Lord.

B. And reliant on the Lord.

Peter awaited the word of Jesus to let down his net. He didn’t just launch out and then immediately drop his net. He waited for Jesus. As we strive to serve Christ in our Christian walk and follow after Christ, we must do so in complete reliance on him. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people working completely reliant on the Lord. In Exodus, Moses trusted the Lord to lead his people out of Israel. Joshua trusted the Lord to take the promise land. David stood before a giant because of his faith. Elijah called down fire from heaven. Hezekiah saw God turn back the sun to defeat Sennacherib and the Assyrian armies. God has shown time and time again he is all powerful and worthy to be trusted and relied upon. He says in Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

God wants us to lean on Him wholly and completely

Jesus said in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

and in Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

If you do not know the Lord Jesus today as your personal Lord and Savior, trust in him today. Salvation is a free gift of God and God alone. You cannot rely on your own works to save you from your sins. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That the wages of sin is death. We are born in sin and deservent of hell. But God made the way through his son to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This faith is in the finished work of the cross. That Jesus died on Calvary, was buried, and rose again that we may have eternal life. If you do not know Jesus rely completely on him for your salvation. If you do know Jesus, this is a reminder of God has called us to launch out into. We are called to rely on him to save souls, but he uses us as the means of doing so. We are called to Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV 1900)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I Corinthians 3:6 says

1 Corinthians 3:6 KJV 1900

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

We plant the seed, we water the seed, but God gives the increase. We must rely on him to do the work. But we must obey him. Obedience to the Master’s Word will bring reward. Now this isn’t a health and wealth, name it and claim it reward. But a reward of value. This may be treasures stored up in heaven or even the salvation of a loved one. We may never see the fruit of our labor, but God can and will do a work through our obedience to him. That is the application. Obedience to the Master’s Word will bring reward.

Application: Obedience to the Master’s Word will bring reward

Conclusion:The Astonishment of Jesus’s Work

A. Brought Peter to personal submission

B. And his colleagues to a cause.

Application: Jesus’s work is bring Disciples to himself

Jesus has called us to a life of surrender to him and to be disciples to his cause. We have fallen short in discipleship in the church. We’ve been comfortable, looking for business growth strategies. Jesus just called one man to obedience and from there, the fish filled so much, the nets broke and need to be put into another boat. It takes one to launch out in obedience and drop the net in reliance. Do you trust the Lord today to do a work in your life? Do you trust the Lord to do a work in Northside Baptist Church? What about Youngstown? Can we go further to North East Ohio? We are called to reach souls, disciple then, and then send them back out. I know we’ve toiled all night. I know the catch seems unlikely. We’ve waited for God to do something. But we’ve sat back and done nothing. It’s called a leap of faith, not a sit there of faith. Let’s break the norms and launch out for a daught.

Pray with me.