"All in"

It is hard to believe we are about to go into the Fall Season, many return to school this week, some have already left for their first year in College, and many families are preparing for the fall season routines after a very busy summer.

Prior to entering this passage I want to give you a few prior thoughts that I want you to keep in mind throughout the study of this passage. Here at the West Buxton Baptist Church, there around roughly 14-16 outreach ministries that go on throughout the year. As individuals of God’s Church I think that most of everyone is connected to at least one of those ministries. You may not be the leader, but you are involved in some capacity (Prayer, helper, prep, setup/take down, speaker, teacher, games, snacks-You name it- there are a lot of moving parts to these ministries. This fall, many of these ministries start up again. This morning I want you to be thinking about two things- 1) Your individual walk with the Lord, 2) Your involvement with the ministry that you are tied to within this church.

Luke 5:1–11 NKJV

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 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. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 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.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 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.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

The place: The Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret, Lake of Tiberius or as the OT calls it, the Lake of Chinnereth.

The Sea of Galilee is approximately 41,000 Acres while Sebago Lake is 30,510 Acres. In recent years locals have noticed that the water level of the Sea of Galilee has reseeded drastically. This has many locals and government officials worried for the tourism aspect. In recent months the officials have been brainstorming as to how they could increase the water levels back to a sustainable level. The same goes for the Jordan river. The Sea of Galilee is the second lowest body of water in the world, that sits about 700 feet or 200 meters below sea level.

SImon and Christ were building a close relationship that would only continue to strengthen over time. From the moment Christ entered his house (Luke 4), then his ship (Luke 5), His heart (Luke 8), and back on the shoreline at the Sea of Galilee in John 21. As our culture would explain today, “they had their high and low moments”.

There are three particular things we learn about Christ in this passage.

Christ was focused on ministering to the individuals. These people were hungry for the Word of God. Romans 10:17.

Here in this passage, professional fishermen were about to call it a day after no success. Now, in our days, if someone even offers up advise to a fisherman, the fishermen typically consider it a critique and are quick to being defensive. (Island life). “Don't tell me how to fish!” We must realize that most likely Simon had navigated a boat since his childhood. It is possible that 7 of the disciples were actually avid fishermen ( John 21:1-3). Jesus was a carpenter by trade after all. These two trades dont typically cross-train or cross utilize too much in our day and age.

Additionally, I think we fail to realize that this crowd was witnessing the entire situation from the shoreline. Not only was God speaking the Word to the multitude, He was preparing SImon Peter, while the response of the future disciples were to be an example to the multitude! There is alot going on at this moment!

2. When Simon and his partners thought it was over, Christ was only beginning.

Jesus here speaks out to Simon specifically and tells him that they should load up all their gear again, and set up a ways off shore. No fisherman typically likes to hear this type of advise, but here Jesus is standing in Simon’s boat and requests him to setup a ways off shore. This is no simple request. Typically the longest part about fishing it the setup process. These professionals were just about to clean up all their gear and put it all away for the night. I half wonder if during the setup process is when Jesus began to speak to the multitudes. For professionals first to be ready to call it a day, then be summoned to go back out, then have to listen to Jesus preach… Perhaps they began to get antsy. These are fishermen after all.

As Jesus concluded his message to the multitudes that were pressing in on Him, He asked Simon to go into the deeper water.

3) Jesus was giving visual steps towards Discipleship.

A) GO Deeper

B) Obey Me

As they began to catch fish, they quickly realized that this was the Messiah on their boat! Only someone with supernatural knowledge could have orchestrated this type of catch!

5 Ways that the disciples responded:

They realized they were called- Not just once (Mark 1:16; Matt. 4:19; John 1:35-42)

-“Walking by the sea vs “in the boat”

-In Matt/ Mark they were currently fishing.

These seem to be separate events in comparison to what Luke is writing.

2. They obeyed- There is always a testing period for the Soul (F.B. Meyer). Simon, will you surrender the command of the boat and let Christ be Captain?

“Master, we've toiled all night. Dont you think we would have caught fish if there were some around?” “God dont you think we know what we are doing?”

3. They repented- First they recognized He was the Master! They knew this wasn't the first time they had been called to do this mission work. In our human flesh there always seems to be a time of struggle before surrendering to the Lord. This is normal!

—Sin

_Of Christ as Lord

_Of Awe-Reverence

5. They were astonished- Although this dialogue was directed to Simon Peter; James and John were also there witnessing this amazing encounter. This word of “Astonished” actually means that the men were amazed out of one’s senses. They were “besides” themselves about the works of Christ.

6. They followed Him-They were commissioned by the Lord to do what they know, be with the Gospel Message in mind. He was speaking the language they knew best. Typically the Lord does this will His followers. He uses us through our giftedness and passions. They was no disappointment about the fact that Jesus took over. (Example Peter’s “net” landed 3,000 souls -Acts 2:14-42.

Questions for us today:

Do you realize you are called to do the work of the Lord in this present day? It is a huge commitment (Noah-Door-Infrastructure).

Are we Obeying His Direction?

3. Do we realize when the Lord is at work in our present day?

4. Have we repented of our reluctance towards the direction that the Lord is calling us?

5. Are we astonished at the mighty works of our Lord? Do we feel it? Are we quick to fall to our knees in amazement? Or is this a dull encounter that does not simply affect us? Do we revisit encounters of God’s faithfulness within our lives in the past? In the past of our church?

6. Are we following Him? Challenging people to discipleship, that is to catch other people. in John 21 after the Resurrection Jesus actually does a similar acts to reiterate the disciples calling prior to His assention.

The Main Idea:

Reality is, the Lord is using ordinary men living ordinary lives, working ordinary jobs to further the Gospel Message. Here in this passage it is before the crucifixion and Resurrection. There had to be an amount of faith on the disciples part that this thing was actually going to happen. What is stopping us from forsaking all our desires and following Him-It has happened! Are we all in?

In all 16 ministries of our church, if we are doing everything that looks and smells like a ministry but we aren't Gospel Centric we are entirely missing the point and wasting our time!

Are you all in? As Norman Lewis says it best= “Go Ye means you!”