God's Will in your Life

God’s Will in your Life

Luke 5:1-11 (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. 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. 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. 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.” 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.

Have you ever had to do something that you just did not want to do?

Maybe it was something at home, an unpleasant task like taking out the garbage. Maybe it was something at work.

Maybe it is a part of your job that was assigned to you because nobody else wanted to do it.

Even though you did not want to do the task, you did it anyway.

Why?

Maybe because you felt an obligation to do it because you are were part of the family or a member of a team.

Maybe you did the job out of respect for the person who asked you.

Jesus even spoke about this in the book of Matthew.

“A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.”

In our selected scripture, Simon Peter is called upon to do something that he did not want to do. However, because it was Jesus Who asked Him, Peter complied.

How can we develop a mindset the Peter displayed? A mindset of does what the Lord asks, regardless of how we personally feel about it.

I. A life of a tired fishermen

A. These verses tell us that Jesus was by the seashore and was going to speak to the people who were gathering to hear Him. The people were pressing upon Jesus to hear what he would say. Jesus stepped into Simon Peter's boat and asked him to move away from the shore just a little. When Peter had done this, Jesus sat down and spoke to the crowds.

B. After He had finished His preaching, Jesus then commanded Peter to go out deeper so that he could let down his nets and catch a a load of fish. Peter immediately objected that he and his partners had labored all night and has caught nothing! They were tired and discouraged.

C. Why were they tired and discouraged? The knew how to fish. It was their livelihood. We would consider them professional fishermen, who knew how and where to fish. They were tired and discouraged because they had been fished all night and had caught nothing. As in not even one. Their failure had nothing to do with how they were fishing or where they were fishing. It was an opportunity for the Lord to teach them what they could achieve in obedience to God. I believe the lesson is that with Him, we can accomplish more than we could ever accomplish on our own.

D. This is a lesson that we need this morning! There is much we can accomplish when we are directed by God in the steps we take in our lives. Churches across the country are equipped with sound equipment, instruments, projectors, and other resources and they continue to lose ground in the mission of bring people to Christ. In a similar manner, we have attempted to implement what has worked for others. We need to allow the Lord to guide our steps as individuals and as a church!

E. We need to remember that when we face opportunities to serve the Lord: Our success or our failure rests entirely on where Jesus stands in the picture!

The Lord tells us in John 15:5 (ESV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” When we trust Jesus, we will find His provision sufficient, for in Philippians 4:13 (ESV) we read “I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “

II. A life of obedience

A. We can picture in our minds Simon Peter and his partners were wanting to call it a day. They had fished all night and had caught nothing. They were tired, frustrated, discouraged, and defeated. The last thing any of them wants to do is go back out and fish some more. Yet, when Jesus tells Peter to do just that, in obedience he does the will of the Lord and go out to cast their net.

Peter had no expectation of catching fish. In his mind there were none to be caught that day. However, when they let down their nets, they caught so many fish that their net began to break and they had to call the other boat to help them bring in their catch. What made the difference? Obedience to Jesus, even when Peter did not want to do what the Lord asked.

B. What will make a difference in our lives? When we come to the same place Peter came to. We need to decide that regardless of how we feel about the task we will be obedient to God’s Will!

I have heard it said, “If your heart isn't in it, then you might as well not do it!”, but the truth of the matter is we should not put our trust our heart, but in our Lord Jesus Christ.

C. There are areas of our lives that we may have not surrendered to God, but if we want to be right with the Lord, then we have to do what Peter did and let down our nets. If we want the blessing of God, then we must do the will of God!

III. A life of satisfaction

A. Because of their obedience, they witnessed a miracle that would bring these tired fishermen to worship Jesus Christ. When they submitted to Him, He revealed to them a life of satisfaction found in obedience to God’s Word. When they heard this, they immediately left everything behind and followed the Lord Jesus.

B. This is a lesson that we all need. The secret to deep satisfaction as a child of God is found in absolute surrender to the will of the Lord in every area of our life,

John 14:15 (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:21 (ESV) “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

We can never expect Him to bless us as much as He wants to if we with hold our obedience to all that He commands.

C. If you would like to see all of your tomorrows altered and your life filled with the best that God can give, then the secret lies in total surrender of everything in your life to His will!

Conclusion

When the Lord told Peter “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter did not want to do it. However, he decided to be obedient to the Lord. The results were far greater than he could have ever imagined!

In a similar manner Jesus is asking each of you to be obedient to His Word.

Like Peter, you may not like what the Lord is calling you to do, but may you respond as he did “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Communion

The Lord himself ordained this holy sacrament. He commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and wine, emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is His table. The feast is for His disciples. Let all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins, and have believed in Christ unto salvation, draw near and take these emblems, and, by faith, partake of the life of Jesus Christ, to your soul’s comfort and joy. Let us remember that it is the memorial of the death and passion of our Lord; also a token of His coming again. Let us not forget that we are one, at one table with the Lord.

Let us pray…..

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who out of Your tender mercy gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption: hear us, we most humbly beseech You. Grant that, as we receive these Your creatures of bread and wine according to the holy institution of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of His passion and death, we may be made partakers of the benefits of His atoning sacrifice.

We are reminded that in the same night that our Lord was betrayed, He took bread and, when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

May we come before You in true humility and faith as we partake of this holy sacrament. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Distribute the elements)

Please hold the elements, so that we may partake of them together.

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Take and eat this, in remembrance that Christ died for you.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

Let us pray… (thanksgiving and commitment)

Benediction:

‘May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.’