Deeper Still - Sheldon Pryor
Notes
Transcript
It’s time for the church to go deeper in consecration, faith, and expectancy!
It’s time for the church to go deeper in consecration, faith, and expectancy!
King James Version Chapter 5
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, 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 was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
You haven’t seen deep enough yet, it’s time to launch
out into the deep.
Deeper still…
Peter was a fisherman by trade
Peter knew the nuances of his craft.
Not only was Peter a fisherman, but Peter was a
successful fisherman.
Peter knew what it was like to have a good day on the
sea.
Peter was a prosperous fisherman.
So prosperous was Peter that he owned his own boat.
A boat that Jesus would use as a platform for his
ministry.
Can I remind you today that there are some platforms
in your life?
Your job is more than a paycheck, it’s a platform…
The people that God has brought into your life are more
than just friends and acquaintances, they’re a
platform…
The campus that God has placed you on is for more
than just a diploma or degree, it’s a platform…
God is looking for some people today, that will say God
here’s a platform you can use…
My job is available God, my hobbies are available God,
my grocery run is available God…
Will you transform the mundane and the ritual into a
platform for your glory?
God is asking us today,
“Peter can I use your ship?”
Some of us have gotten so tired,
We’re so weary,
You can see it on the faces of those around you,
Irritation, impatience, frustration
The statistics are staggering. Road rage is on the rise.
Domestic abuse is on the rise.
We live in a world that is disheartened and discontent.
A million voices cry out words not only found on the
lips of a tired fisherman, but often enough on those of
the weary Christian…
“We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing…”
Under discouragement and apparent defeat,
A tired voice cries out.
“I will lay down my weapon; it is useless to proceed.”
Peter a successful fisherman, a prosperous
fisherman…
Peter a quitter…
Peter was getting ready to quit.
Peter was washing the nets.
He was tired.
He had been toiling through the night.
Catching nothing, He was done.
(It’s over! I’m done! I’m selling my business… I quit this
team… I’m filing for a divorce…)
Peter was washing the nets…
But, can I tell you today…
God’s not done yet!
God’s getting ready to do a new thing!
God’s not only going to take you back, but he’s going
to ask you to go deeper!
Launch out into the deep!
It’s no coincidence that on Re-LAUNCH Sunday God
is calling us to launch out into the deep.
Deeper in devotion, deeper in prayer, deeper in
consecration, deeper in fasting, deeper in serving…
Deeper still…
Often, you don’t mind Jesus using your boat, but you
don’t want to go deeper!
We don’t mind operating in the shallow waters, but
when God wants to take us deeper, for some reason we
get hesitant…
This is faith at it’s apex… Going deeper into something
that ain’t working.
You’ve heard the old adage, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it…
Today, many of us are quick to say, “If it is broke,
definitely don’t call me back out to it…”
I’ve invested everything that I had into my job, and I still
lost it…
I’ve spent all of my money opening that business, and
it still went bankrupt…
I put all of my heart into that relationship, and we still
broke up…
And now you want me to go deeper?
Jesus, don’t you know that the definition of insanity is
trying the same thing over and over and expecting a
different result?
I’ve already toiled through the night, Lord…
I’ve caught nothing but sorrow and disappointment.
Let me speak to you today…
The miracle that God has for you,
The breakthrough that God has for you,
The blessing that God has for you,
It’s in the deep!
It’s easy to listen to the preacher in the shallow waters,
But it takes obedience… It takes faith, to step out into
the deep…
Jesus was saying I can preach in the shallow waters,
but I’ll only bless you in the deep!
I can stir your spirit at your level, but it’s going to take
obedience to get the blessing…
What God has for you lies in deep water…
Deeper still…
Peter was an experienced fisherman. For him to go
deeper after washing the nets, was to go against every
grain of his being. Every fiber of experience.
For Peter to go out into the deep was to fight against
the voice of reason and rationale.
Everything that doesn’t make sense to you,
Everything that doesn’t line up with your background,
Everything that those around you are quick to tell you
is unreasonable,
God’s getting ready to take you deeper!
Somebody needs to shout…
“Nevertheless, at thy word!”
My finances may be struggling… Nevertheless, at thy
word.
I may be growing impatient… Nevertheless, at thy
word.
I may be frustrated… Nevertheless, at thy word.
I may be tired… Nevertheless, at thy word.
Stop washing your nets.
What you put away, God’s getting ready to use
What you thought was over, God’s going to renew
What you thought was lost, God’s going to restore
It’s time for the Pentecostals to get our faith back,
It’s time for the Pentecostals to get our shout back,
It’s time for the Pentecostals to get our praise back,
Peter, let down the net!
A church that’s committed to going deeper will always
seek higher.
You can’t get where God’s calling you without a sincere
desperation for His direction.
A church that’s committed to going deeper will always
search wider.
We have to reach outside of the four walls of this church.
Our systems aren’t broken, we just haven’t searched
wide enough yet.
Our tools aren’t outdated, we just haven’t searched
wide enough yet.
On the other hand, this is why we are committed to
ruthlessly reinventing and finding new ways to reach and
impact our community.
We have got to be committed to searching wider.
Luke 5:6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a
great multitude of fishes and their net break.
Can I take a moment to give my God some praise…
Jesus Christ has all dominion, all authority, all power…
Psalm 8:5-8 says…
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and
hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever
passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
When they made that decision to launch out, God so
blessed them that they couldn’t contain the blessing on
their own.
The King of Kings, excellency of excellencies, poured
out in abundant overflow…
Ephesians 3:20 – Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,
I wish I had some believers that would start praying for
an Ephesians 3:20 blessing…
Over their jobs, over their families, over this church…
I wish I had some believers that would launch out into
the deep end…
Luke 5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners which were
in the other ship, that they should come and help them.
A deep work, requires deep bonds of unity…
A deep work, requires you and I, setting aside our
differences and committing to the work at hand…
A deep work, requires setting aside our pride, and
admitting that we can’t do it on our own…
Oh, Brother…
Oh, Sister…
God has a deep work for our community.
God has a deep work for this church.
God has a deep work for your life.
Will you launch out with me?
I know you’re looking at me like I’m insane, but what
will you go deeper?
I know it might seem crazy, but will you let down the
nets again?
I get it… 2020 has been a rough year.
COVID-19, Murder hornets, riots in the street…
I told someone the other day that 2020 feels like a
boxing match, where the rounds just won’t end…
But, God’s not done yet…
Luke 5:10 - And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from
henceforth thou shalt catch men.
A new calling lies for you in the deep end.
A fresh anointing lies for you in the deep end.
When you walk out in faith, you’re not going to walk
back in shame…
Fear not… From henceforth thou shalt catch men…
Fear not, God’s not done with the Pentecostals yet.
Fear not, God hasn’t left your business high and dry.
Fear not, God hasn’t left your home empty.
Gordon Winslow Jr. says this… “Not seeing results?
Consider this: the last thing to grow on a fruit tree is
the fruit.”
Stop worrying over little things,
Start praising Him over big things!
Are you ready to Re-LAUNCH?
Are you ready for what God has in store in the
remainder of 2020?
God’s getting ready to take you from shallow to deep…
From empty nets to overflowing nets….
Deeper still…
Psalm 150
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him
in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his
excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with
the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with
stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the
high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye
the Lord.
Nevertheless at thy word… I will Praise Him!