The Decision that Will Cost You Everything

From Empty Nets to Eternal Purpose

“One of the most encouraging things about Jesus calling His disciples is where He found them.”

“Not in a synagogue. Not at the best part of their lives, but right in the middle of their everyday lives. Think about it Fishermen… tax collectors…ordinary people—full of flaws and struggles. And that ought to encourage every one of us because it means this—Jesus doesn’t wait for you to get your life together when He calls you…He meets you right where you are.

And the place you are right now… may be the exact place Jesus is about to step in.

You may be here this morning thinking you have little value to Jesus. What’s dangerous about those moments: they can pull you away from God or they position you for a life-changing encounter with Him. In Luke 5, we meet a group of men who had just experienced failure, frustration, and fatigue doing the only thing they knew and that’s exactly where Jesus meets them.

Here’s the truth I want you to see today: The greatest catch of your life might be the moment you finally let go of everything because following Jesus will cost you everything, but gain so much more.

JESUS STEPS INTO YOUR ORDINARY LIFE

Luke 5:1–3 ESV

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Notice this—the crowd isn’t pressing in for miracles. They’re pressing in to hear the Word of God. There is a hunger here and Jesus—seeing two boats—steps into one. Simon Peter’s boat.

Now don’t miss this. Peter is not on a spiritual retreat. He’s not in the synagogue. He’s not praying on a mountain. He’s at work. Cleaning nets after a long, failed night and Jesus steps into his world.

That’s how calling often begins. Not with you climbing up to God— but with God stepping into your ordinary life. Into your routine. Into your workplace. Into your exhaustion and suddenly… everything changes.

That’s how God has called people all throughout the Bible, the question is will you respond?

Exodus 3:1–2 ESV

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

1 Samuel 16:11–12 ESV

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

Some of you are waiting for a “spiritual moment” to encounter God but He often shows up in the middle of your schedule, stress, and responsibilities

The question is not where God will meet you. The question is—will you recognize Him when He steps into your boat?

JESUS WILL ASK YOU TO DO WHAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

Luke 5:4–5 ESV

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Now this is where the tension rises. Peter is the professional. Jesus is the carpenter, and yet Jesus tells Peter how to fish and not just how—but when. This is the worst possible time to fish. They’ve already tried all night. Nothing.

And Peter says what all of us would be thinking: “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing…”

Translation: “Jesus… we already tried that.”

But then comes one of the most powerful statements in Scripture: “But at your word I will let down the nets.”

That’s the turning point. Obedience.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Hebrews 11:8 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

JESUS WILL ASK YOU TO DO WHAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

Church, this is where faith becomes real.

Faith is not agreeing with God when it makes sense.

Faith is obeying God when it doesn’t.

Where is God asking you to obey right now… and it doesn’t make sense?

Forgive that person

Step out in ministry

Share your faith

And everything in you is saying: “This isn’t practical.” Your breakthrough is often on the other side of obedience

JESUS’ PROVISION EXPOSES OUR LIMITS

Luke 5:6–7 ESV

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

JESUS’ PROVISION EXPOSES OUR LIMITS

Don’t miss this:

Same lake.

Same boat.

Same nets.

Different result.

Why? Because Jesus is now involved.

And what happens? Not just provision—overflow. So much that:

nets begin to break

boats begin to sink

When Jesus moves, He doesn’t operate on your limitations. He operates on His power.

But don’t miss this: The miracle came after obedience.

Malachi 3:10 ESV

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Some of us want God to show us the outcome first. “Lord, if You’ll prove it, I’ll obey.” That’s not how this works.

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

A TRUE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS PRODUCES HUMILITY

Luke 5:8 ESV

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.”

A TRUE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS PRODUCES HUMILITY

This is the moment everything shifts. Peter doesn’t celebrate. He doesn’t high-five his partners. He doesn’t say, “Let’s build a bigger business.” He falls to his knees.

the miracle didn’t impress him—it exposed him. He realizes: “I am standing in the presence of holiness.”

Earlier, Peter addresses Jesus as: “Master” (Luke 5:5) But after the miracle, he falls down and says: “Lord” (Luke 5:8) That’s not just a change in wording. That’s a change in understanding… posture… and heart.

“Master” — ἐπιστάτης (epistatēs)

This word means:

supervisor

commander

one in authority (practically speaking)

It’s used in Luke’s Gospel by the disciples when addressing Jesus in a functional, respectful way. At this point, Jesus is a leader to Peter—but not yet fully his Lord.”

“Lord” — κύριος (kyrios)

Now everything changes. This word means:

Lord

owner

sovereign

one with ultimate authority

It’s the same word used throughout the New Testament for: divine authority and even referring to God Himself (LXX usage)

Peter is no longer just listening to Jesus—he’s surrendering to Him.” In other words, Peter changed and that’s is the difference between:

Admiring Jesus vs Submitting to Jesus

Listening to Jesus vs Belonging to Jesus

Calling Him helpful vs Calling Him Lord

You can call Jesus “Master” and still be in control of your life. You cannot call Him “Lord” and stay in control.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Some people are comfortable with “Master Jesus.”

The distance between ‘Master’ and ‘Lord’ is the distance between control and surrender.

JESUS CALLS YOU INTO A NEW PURPOSE

Luke 5:9–10 ESV

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

JESUS CALLS YOU INTO A NEW PURPOSE

What a statement. “From now on…” Everything changes. Their identity shifts.

Jesus doesn’t just forgive Peter. He repurposes him. And this is critical for you to hear: Salvation is not the finish line—it’s the starting point.

Jesus doesn’t save you so you can sit. He saves you so you can be sent. And notice—He doesn’t say: “Go figure it out.” He says: “Follow Me.”

Some of you are asking: “What is God’s will for my life?”

Start here: Are you following Him? But what does following Jesus look like? It’s radical! Following Jesus in 2026 is not about quitting your life…it’s about who’s directing it.

Peter didn’t leave the lake because fishing was bad, he left because Jesus was Lord. Because you don’t discover your purpose sitting still. You discover it walking with Jesus.

THE CALL REQUIRES TOTAL SURRENDER

Luke 5:11 ESV

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

THE CALL REQUIRES TOTAL SURRENDER

I want you to consider what they left. They left:

the biggest catch of their lives

financial security

their careers

their plans

Everything. And here’s what’s fascinating: The greatest business success they had ever experienced… became the very thing that they needed to abandon.

Jesus is saying to all of us: “Follow Me.” Not halfway. Not conditionally. Not when it’s convenient. That’s when you know you gone from being a fan to a follower.

CLOSING – HOPE

Let’s bring this home. There are people sitting here today… You’ve been working hard. Trying your best. Doing everything you know to do and your nets feel empty. Spiritually empty. Emotionally empty. Maybe even relationally empty.

And you’re wondering: “Where is God?” He’s stepping into your boat.

And He’s saying: “Trust Me. Obey Me. Follow Me.”

And yes—it may not make sense. It will cost you something. It will require surrender.

But hear me when I say this: You are not losing your life. You are finally finding it. Because the greatest catch of your life might be the moment you finally let go of everything.

1. Trust Him When It Doesn’t Make Sense

“Nevertheless… at Your word…”

2. Humble Yourself Before Him

“Depart from me… I am a sinful man…”

3. Follow Him Without Reservation

“They left everything…”

Jesus didn’t come to improve your life… He came to take it over.