Luke 5:1-11 – BEHOLD, REPENT, ABSOLUTION, SENT: The Gospel to Peter and to Us All.
Notes
Transcript
IINTRODUCTION
IINTRODUCTION
Stand with me as we read together God’s Word to us today.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Last week we read how the hometown synagogue of Jesus
rejected the mission of Jesus.
In their pride, they tried to run Jesus off a near by cliff.
As we saw the Gospel is offensive as it confronts
Our spiritual poverty
Our captivity to sin, fallen spiritual powers,
Our blindness to our own evil heart –
Jeremiah 17:9 ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
And how we are actual slaves to sin and incapable of saving
ourselves.
It is this offense that either pierces & breaks or hardens our heart.
The Gospel of Jesus confronts the reality of our despair and
then it offers hope.
Jubilee – Freedom, restoration, reconciliation, purpose!
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Today Luke will walk us through the Gospel through a series of
calls and responses from Jesus to a fisherman named Peter.
Ask yourself as we follow the story, how would you respond if you were Peter.
If you pay close attention, you will notice a clear pattern between the calls and responses that Luke uses in this story and the entirety of his Gospel of Jesus.
You may even notice a similar pattern in how we come together on Sundays to worship.
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GATHER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.
GATHER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.
I love how Luke starts this story with the people’s hunger for the Word of God.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
I wonder if the Holy Spirit searched our hearts today would He find a hunger for the Word of God?
It is the Word of Christ that gives us faith.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
If you were set free from sin and reconciled to God and filled with the Spirit of God, it was not a man’s sermon that did that.
Jesus, spoke through that man, directly to your heart!
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A CALL TO WORSHIP
A CALL TO WORSHIP
Now we move to our first call in the narrative:
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.
Peter has no idea what is in store for him and everyone else.
Peter is a fisherman by profession, this is his job, and here is Jesus, saying lets go out. There are no fish Jesus. Been doing this all night.
Imagine what Peter is beholding in Jesus.
Power over nature
Love for those in need and the power to fulfill that need.
Peter is a poor fisherman, spent all night no fish, no money, no food.
Behold, the Glory of God in Jesus, power, love, concern, and the willingness to meet Peter’s need.
Peter is experiencing God reaching to Him with absolute power and love.
Yet if Peter would have rejected Jesus call to come and behold, Peter would have missed seeing the majesty, power, and love of Jesus.
How often does jesus call us to behold Him and we ignore His call to Worship?
When we reject the opportunity to behold Him we are rejecting the opportunity to be changed and transformed.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
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They have gathered to hear the Word of God
Peter has been called out to behold the majesty of Jesus and worship.
NOW WE COME TO PETER’S RESPONSE TO BEHOLDING THE POWER AND LOVE OF JESUS.
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A RESPONSE OF HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE.
A RESPONSE OF HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE.
But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;
WE ARE CALLED TO COME AND HEAR THE WORD OF CHRIST
WE ARE CALLED TO COME AND BEHOLD THE MAJESTY OF CHRIST.
The natural response to the Majesty of Jesus is always worshipful repentance.
Reminded of Isa 6- when Isa sees the Lord.
Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
And
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
There is no arrogance, pride, or self-righteousness in the presence of Christ.
It is this humility, that pleases the Lord,
the confession of sin,
the understanding that our righteousness compared to Him is as filthy rags.
Confession of sin to God is us agreeing with God about our condition and our need for Him.
This is the most powerful position humanity has. For it places us at the feet of God in humility.
For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
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WE HAVE THE CALL TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, THE CALL TO BEHOLD AND WORSHIP, AND THE RESPONSE OF PETER TO REPENTANCE AND WORSHIP.
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NOW JESUS RESPONDS TO PETER’S REPENTANCE AND WORSHIP
A RESPONSE OF ABSOLUTION AND A CALL TO NEW PURPOSE.
A RESPONSE OF ABSOLUTION AND A CALL TO NEW PURPOSE.
and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
The fearful wonder of Christ is matched by His grace, mercy, and love.
How could we stand before the almighty, yet He responds to Peter’s faith, repentance, and worship, with mercy - do not fear.
Like a child before his dad - fearful, dreadful, - my dad can beat your dad up. But also full of mercy, love, and protection.
NOT ONLY IS PETER COMFORTED AND ASSURED OF HIS ACCEPTANCE BY JESUS BUT HE IS GIVEN A NEW PURPOSE.
From being a fisherman - to fishing for men.
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TODAY, EVERYONE OF US ARE IN NEED OF CHRIST JUST LIKE PETER.
TODAY, EVERYONE OF US ARE IN NEED OF CHRIST JUST LIKE PETER.
Someone has been called here to here the words of Christ and receive faith.
Others of you are being called to behold, the lamb of God who takes away our sins.
Still others of you are being called to repent and to follow Him.
THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU RESPOND? HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?
Are you ready to obey Him even when it does not make sense?
Are you willing to fall before Him and worship by giving your life fully to him?
Are you willing to allow Him to search your heart and call you to repentance?
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