Catching the Big One
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One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Aconteció que estando Jesús junto al lago de Genesaret, el gentío se agolpaba sobre él para oír la palabra de Dios.Y vio dos barcas que estaban cerca de la orilla del lago; y los pescadores, habiendo descendido de ellas, lavaban sus redes.Y entrando en una de aquellas barcas, la cual era de Simón, le rogó que la apartase de tierra un poco; y sentándose, enseñaba desde la barca a la multitud.
Fishing story about me and Danny
That lake was in recession in Los Banos
Tonight, we are going to talk about one of the greatest fisherman stories ever told!
WE FISHED ALL NIGHT AND CAUGHT NOTHING!
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Cuando terminó de hablar, dijo a Simón: Boga mar adentro, y echad vuestras redes para pescar.Respondiendo Simón, le dijo: Maestro, toda la noche hemos estado trabajando, y nada hemos pescado; mas en tu palabra echaré la red.
Do you ever feel like this?
I’ve worked all week [all night] and my bank account is dryer than a 5 year old sponge.
Sometimes this happens in life!
You give it your best shot and you come up empty handed!
Sometimes you work hard long hours everyday and you have nothing to show for it!
You get paid on the 3rd and your account is empty by the 4th!
These 4 fisherman worked hard all night and caught nothing!
Sometimes you hang in there with your marriage and you struggle...
But you do not see any improvement at all.
It’s just not getting any better
Sometimes those that are in school spend all night, all week studying for an exam.
And you still do not pass.
That happens in life!
You worked hard all night and you catch nothing!
Believe it or not, everyone is fishing for something!
Sometimes we are fishing for approval.
Maybe you are just looking for someone to treat you with respect!
Maybe you are fishing for a new girlfriend.
Maybe you are fishing for a new husband/wife!
Maybe you are out of work and you are fishing for a new job!
Everybody is fishing for something!
This Miracle in the bible teaches us what to do when we come up empty.
This miracle in the bible teachers us what to do when we work all day and see no results.
When you have been fishing all night!
And you catch nothing!
You do not see any results from it!
When these 4 fishermen did what Jesus told them to do, Jesus blessed them.
He blessed them so much that they had to share that blessing!
And their lives were changed forever!
So, Jesus uses Simons and Peters boat as a platform to preach the good news!
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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.
So, when they did this the bible says that they caught so many fish that the nets began to break.
That is a lot of fish!
They then signaled to their partners, that was James and John to come help them!
They came and filled both boats!
So much that the boats began to sink!
They caught more fish in ten minutes then they had caught in 10 hours.
God can do more in 10 minutes in your life then you can do in your lifetime
Only if you do it the way he tells you too!
The disciples took 3 steps of faith here .
You need to learn these three steps of faith when you are going through difficult times.
When you are coming up empty.
#1 You need to give Jesus complete access to your life!
#1 You need to give Jesus complete access to your life!
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Y entrando en una de aquellas barcas, la cual era de Simón, le rogó que la apartase de tierra un poco; y sentándose, enseñaba desde la barca a la multitud.
You have to let Jesus on your boat!
That is the starting point!
They were fishing the entire night before and caught nothing!
They let Jesus on the boat and they caught an enormous amount of fish!
It was the same lake!
The only difference was Jesus, on the boat.
Once Jesus gets into your boat he will take care of all your needs!
We need to expect Jesus to turn things around!
If God tells you to go fishing and he comes along with you in the boat, and then he points out and tells you where to drop your nets, do you think you are going to come up empty?
If God tell you to do something, do it!
You will not come up empty handed!
A lot of Christians normally think like this:
God, make me a success, then I’ll serve you with that success.
God, bless my finances, then I’ll serve you with that money.
Wrong!!!
It’s the total opposite!
God use me now, then the success will come!
God use me now, then I’ll continue serving you with that success.
1st Peter let God use his job.
Then Jesus blesses Peters job with enormous success!
It’s not make me a success and then I’ll serve you!
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek first the kingdom of God
Not 1st
Not 2nd
Not 3rd
Not 4th
Not success
Not satisfaction
Not a pay increase
Read again!
We must get our priorities right!
You got to get Jesus in the boat!
When you do that, he will take care of your needs.
If you honor God, God will honor you!
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Whatever you want Got to bless you put him first in.
You want God to bless your time?
Give Him the first part of everyday!
You want God to bless your week?
Give him the first day of every week; which is Sunday!
You want God to bless your money?
You give him the first 10% of your money
No matter how small or big it is!
Here is the million dollar question!
Have you committed your boat to Jesus?
Some of us might be going through some stuff times right now!
Some of us might be going through some health problems right now!
Some of use might be going through a relationship problem right now!
Some of us might be going through some financial problems right now!
But, you might be trying to change everything else
The four fishermen did not need to change their nets!
They did not need to change the boat!
They didn’t need to change their location!
They did not need to change their marriage!
They just needed Jesus I charge of the boat!
Some Christians are trying to change everything else!
Some of you might be saying I might need to move out of Porterville!
Maybe you just need to get Jesus in charge of your boat!
And admit that my way is not working!
#2 I admit my efforts are not working
#2 I admit my efforts are not working
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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.
These four fisherman were PRO fishermen.
They did this all the time
Do you think it was hard for Peter to admit they were working all night and did not catch anything?
Admit my efforts are not working!
Sometimes even when you are a PRO you fish all night and get nothing!
So, what do you need to do?
You need to let Jesus on your boat
Admit that my efforts are not working
Maybe some might think!
I do not want to let Jesus on my boat because i am scared he might steer it in a direction I do not want to go!
#3 I obey whatever Jesus tells me to do!
#3 I obey whatever Jesus tells me to do!
Even if it does not make sense!
Even if it is not logical!
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Respondiendo Simón, le dijo: Maestro, toda la noche hemos estado trabajando, y nada hemos pescado; mas en tu palabra echaré la red.
But because you say so, I will let down the nets!
But because you say so, I will let down the nets!
That is the KEY to a miracle!
Obey whatever Jesus tells me to do!
Now Jesus is in the Boat and he is giving the fishing instructions.
Notice what Peter does not do!
He does not argue with Jesus
You are a carpenter and I am a fisherman!
You know wood i know fish!
If you do this we are in on missing so many blessings!
Notice Peter did not listen to his feelings!
He obeyed knowing the fish were not biting!
Question
What has God told you to do that you are not doing?
What has God told you to do that you are not doing?
So, what do you need to do?
You need to let Jesus on your boat
Admit that my efforts are not working
I obey whatever Jesus tells me!
Most people live their lives in shallow waters!
Most people live their lives in shallow waters!
They live baby beach Christianity.
Just enough of Jesus to bug Him but not bless them.
These Christians come to church and even catch some minnows.
Barley getting their feet wet. And they miss Gods best.
Why is that?
I always ask myself why so many people live shallow lives?
Because it is safer there.
There are no big waves by the shore line!
It is not risky to live a shallow life.
We all want to receive the blessings that the Lord has given us.
We came up empty!
We need to launch out into the deep and take a risk!!!
Obeying Jesus when it doesn’t make sense is the scariest, riskiest thing to do in life.
It’s also the most rewarding way to live.
Y habiéndolo hecho, encerraron gran cantidad de peces, y su red se rompía.
Y habiéndolo hecho, encerraron gran cantidad de peces, y su red se rompía.
If we do these steps, God will bless you so much that we are going to have to start giving things away!
God is looking for people to bless!
We need to get blessable
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
Viendo esto Simón Pedro, cayó de rodillas ante Jesús, diciendo: Apártate de mí, Señor, porque soy hombre pecador.Porque por la pesca que habían hecho, el temor se había apoderado de él, y de todos los que estaban con él,
Check this out!
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Y cuando trajeron a tierra las barcas, dejándolo todo, le siguieron.
They left everything!
All the fish!
They forgot about the blessing because they knew if they followed Him more would come!
We need to be more interested in the blesser not the blessing!
There is way more from where that came from!
God is calling some of us to leave our nets and follow him!
Me and Brother Danny and the Pastor Fished all night and caught nothing!
#4