"1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 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. 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.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 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, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."
(Luke 5:1-11)
Luke 5:1
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God."
Humans cannot live far from the Word of God, everyone needs spiritual food. Many people waited for Jesus because of the Word, but Jesus also cared about people's physical needs. Jesus noticed two boats were idle, while fishermen were washing the nets, why? Because all night they did not catch any fish.
What they experienced is like the condition of many people today, when businesses and employment are halted. See, when they did not have jobs, they washed and fixed the nets.
Downtime is preparation time. When we are unemployed, it is a time of divine preparation. This period of downtime will one day be of use to us. There are many divine investments that we cannot see useful now. However, don't complain, stay faithful.
Even though there is no benefit or gain that we can feel in the current season, be fruitful in this moment of time.
Luke 5:3
“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."
God will enter into our boats, our families, our studies, our businesses, our careers. Do not give up. In the area of ??our struggle, invite God in it. He invites us to depart a little far from the beach; just like in Gethsemane, there was a deliberate attempt to be alone, to focus. Intimacy with God must be intentional. Whoever seeks God will not be in vain!
There are 3 things that happen when we are intentionally intimate with God:
1. We will hear God's voice more clearly
2. We will experience God's presence more real
3. We will find our vision/calling that is more glorious.
Luke 5:4
"When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
After Jesus finished "speaking", Jesus "said"
What is the difference? It's the same as when listening to a sermon or reading the same word, but everyone will receive different things for the application. Don't stop until you hear, but continue until you hear His voice!
"Into the deep"
When we have entered the presence of God, run, target for an immersion with Him.
"Let down the nets for a catch"
God will use the nets we prepare when we are idle, to be spread in the ocean! The time will come! Our greatest trials will be our greatest testimonies.
Luke 5:5
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.”
Simon came from a fisherman family, while Jesus was a carpenter's son. In this case, the experienced Simon presented his argument, but afterward chose to obey. Simon put God above his experiences and traumas.
Our experiences can be our biggest challenges in trusting and obeying God. If we want to experience God's miracles, don't rely on our own experiences and understanding.
The past does not have to determine the future. The present does not have to determine tomorrow. Even though what we see today is reality, we don't have to stop here, don't be a prisoner of faith.
Luke 5: 6-7
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
The time will come! There will be times when the nets you prepare in times of downtime will be used! Not only that, from the beginning 2 boats were idle, Peter then needed the help of another boat. God's plan and God's calling for us are too big to be enjoyed alone. Too great for it to be done alone. God's calling and plan are so great that they cannot be fulfilled in our lifetime or exclusively in us.
Trust with faith that God will show His greatness, to the extent that we have to call other people to be involved, until our descendants must fulfill His calling. God will bless us in such a way that other people will also be blessed. Other boats will be very grateful for our obedient life in difficult times.
153 fish caught speaks of: I am God.
Luke 5: 8
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Simon Peter struggled with economic problems, but it turned out that what he wanted was not money. This should be the heart of entrepreneurs. The end of our journey should not be our career.
When God reveals His miracle, will we fall down like Simon Peter?
Luke 5: 9-11
“For he and all those who were with him were amazed at the multitude of fish which they had caught. so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's friends. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid, from now on you will be fishing for men." And when they had pulled their boats to land, they left everything and followed Jesus. "
After they received the miracle, they found the most glorious vision/calling in their life, which was to become fishers of men. They left everything behind, even though there were so many fish. This does not mean we become pastors, but so that we wholeheartedly follow God, not just seasonally follow God.
Our true calling is in God, not just the treasures in this world.
Excerpted from Philip Mantofa's sermon, April 11, 2020, Instagram Live.
