Let Down Your Nets…Change Your Life
Luke 5:1
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.
There is a greater purpose for us in the plan of God than we have realized. The unfolding of this purpose awaits a
Challenge of Faith to awaken it. We need a
rhema word from God to issue that challenge. In the midst of the challenge, we need to look for the larger purpose of God. Once it is found, we must give ourselves completely to it since it will become our destiny.
Washing nets…
We find the fishermen, Peter, James and John, on the shore washing their nets. Washing nets signaled the fruitless end of an effort. The disgusted fishermen removed seaweed, debris and other remnants of failure. They would much rather had been removing fish from those nets.
Are you washing your nets today? Are you dwelling on what appears to be failure? Have you ‘toiled all night long’ in sincerity and diligence doing all you know to do? In times like these, it is important to always remember these words from the Lord,
‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (55:8-9).
There is no failure in God! It may be that you have not yet done all to stand. It may be that your blessing is right around the corner and you need to exercise patience.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-11,
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes says,
"I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time." In this we find the answer to the question: The profit of laboring is found in that you will eventually enter into your God-given tasks! Or to put it in New Testament terms,
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9).
For every seed there is a season of harvest. This is what is meant by the statement,
"He makes everything beautiful in its time." Time should not be a concern for us because God has placed eternity in our hearts. We are more mindful of things above than of things on the earth. We certainly need, and God supplies, blessings in this life, but we should not become anxious about things, like people who have no eternal hope.
Let down your nets…
Returning to the story in Luke, after Jesus borrowed their boat to teach from, He returned it and spoke these words,
"Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Jesus gave Peter a direct command. a rhema word. Remember that "
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the [rhema] of God" (Romans 10:17). Here also we find Peter’s
Challenge of Faith.
A
Challenge of Faith is an extraordinary request by God that defies our logic and habits.
Peter could have refused to comply with Jesus’ command, as many people do, but he never would have been released into the larger purpose of God for his life. Peter was not sent out jus to catch a lot of fish. He was being sent out to “catch” is greater purpose in life. This is more than a lesson on faith to receive things, but faith to receive purpose for one’s life.
The net was breaking...
The number of fish that came into the net was so great, that the nets began to break and the little boat began to sink. Peter called his partners over and their boats were also filled with fish. Obedience to the words of Jesus produced a supernatural result which exceeded Peter’s expectations. They were all astonished at what happened…not only about the number of fish, but how listening to Jesus brought about this result. These results shattered Peter’s sense of pride, failure and futility – symbolized by the breaking net.
Peter fell at Jesus’ knees because he realized why Jesus said
"Launch out into the deep!" He realized how wrong he was to second-guess Jesus in the first place. He realized the power and blessing of obedience. At that precise moment in time, Peter entered into his transition and expansion in the purpose of God.
God also has a larger purpose for you, and there is a day in which He will reveal that greater purpose to you! However, you will not enter that purpose by sitting around, acting "spiritual" and doing nothing. God calls people who are diligent in their current responsibilities and "God-given tasks."
When they reached the shore, they
“brought their boats to land” and
“forsook all and followed Him.” To one degree or another, you must forsake something you've been doing in order to move forward into something new and better.
Be faithful in your responsibilities. Be obedient to the Lord, steadfast in faith, and you will be in position for transition, and furn emptiness into fullness!
___________
Listen to my message: "From Emptiness to Fullness: Let Down Your Nets""
Download MP3
Subscribe to Firm Foundation Podcast
Start a 30-Day Devotional Today!
