How to Be Successful

Attention

Situation

We were exhausted. Every bone in our body ached. We had been up all night working and had nothing to show for it and the sun had just poked its head over the horizon.

Have you experienced something similar? Have you been hard at work for a long time with nothing to show for it? Does it seem like nothing you do brings about results? For many this is the picture of the local church. Year after year, we donate our time, money, and energy to the growth of God’s kingdom, yet it seems like there to be no growth at all. Does anything we do actually matter? What are we doing wrong?

Peter, Andrew, James, and John knew exactly what that felt like.

Their story can be found in .

Luke 5:1–11 NKJV

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Luke 5

Solution

We fail on our own

The four fishermen had been casting their nets all night long and caught nothing. What were the fish on vacation? Did they swim west for the holidays? How could these experienced fishermen not catch a single fish all night? It definitely wasn’t for their lack of trying. These weren’t lazy fishermen. They gave it their best, they fished with all they had. And yet…nothing.

I’m sure you have experienced something similar. You are given a task, a job to do. You want to succeed, so you give it your best. You work hard, you even work with others who are experts in completing the task at hand. Andrew and Peter teamed up with James and John, but with all their effort and combined intellect, no fish.

Life seems to be like that sometimes, especially church life. We too put our nets out into the water time and time again. Nothing. We team up with others who have caught fish in the past. Still nothing. Why do we fail time and time again?

What could a carpenter know about fishing? Absolutely everything.

The fishermen failed for the same reason we fail. Because we do it on our own.

We need a word from Jesus

It was only after Jesus had taught the multitudes that their results changed. The fishermen received a word from Jesus along with the command to cast their nets into the deep parts of the sea.

Luke 5:4–6 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.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Luke 5:4-

Even when Jesus commands Peter to cast his nets into the sea again. Peter and perhaps the other fishermen have doubts. The fish are unlikely to be within range of the nets as the sun is now up and about.

They had been fishing all night and there were no fish to be found. Why not cast their nets in another part of the lake?

How often do we think there are no fish for us to catch? No one wants to hear our message we say. Everyone is going to another church. Theres none here who want to come and be baptized.

But Jesus tells them to let down their nets in exactly the same place and the same way.

Yet the results were staggering.

Our work paired with Jesus will produce miracles

If were a scientific study, it would make absolutely no sense. On the surface there was no difference between the two times the fishermen put their nets in the water.

It was the same nets.

It was the same location.

It was the same boats.

It was at a worse time.

Different results.

Why?

We can work incredibly hard and on the outside it may look like everything we do is no different from those who succeed.

But if we are not working paired up with Jesus, our results will be drastically different.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were successful because they heard a word from Jesus and obeyed him.

Lessons to Ponder

Our success in life and especially in the life of the church is dependent on our connection to God.

We may do all the right things but have no results.

We may pray the perfect prayers but not be listening.

God performs miracles through us when we listen and obey him.

Appeal

Luke 5:9–11 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.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:

When these first four disciples saw the power of God in Jesus. They left everything to follow him.

Why?

Because he was a great fishermen? Because he knew all the tricks of the trade?

Not at all.

Because he performed a miracle in their life.

Because they were given an invitation to do more than catch fish, but to catch men and women.

He provided purpose and hope.

Jesus provides purpose and hope for you too today.