Boat seeking net breaking blessings – Buruburu Community Centre Church of God

Seniors Ministry Sunday

Luke 5:1-11

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signalled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Introduction

Personal testimony.

All of us face problems in this lifetime. Most of them are issues we can control. But sometimes we face ones that are beyond our control. Two thousand years ago a fisherman called Peter had such a problem too. One night Peter and his friends tried every tool and trick of the trade – but didn’t catch a single fish. The next morning, he met Jesus who seemed to control even the mother nature. Peter followed his instructions and caught a great load of fish in the broad day light.

It’s not only Peter’s situation, which changed. Peter’s life was transformed. That was 2000 years ago. Do you know that same Jesus is here to do the same with you and your problem this morning? Let’s find out.

The Scripture

In the previous chapter we note: –

Jesus had just overcome temptations by the tempter.
He had then gone to a synagogue in Nazareth and read a scripture on his prophesy: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

He had thereafter gone to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath, he had taught the people. o He had driven out an Impure Spirit from a possessed man.

o	He had healed	Simon’s	mother-in-law who was suffering from a high fever.
o	At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

In our scripture of attention today: –

The story is placed at the Lake of Gennesaret, otherwise known as the Lake of Tiberius or the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus happens to be standing by this lake.
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.
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. NOTICE THAT THE NETS DID NOT BREAK!
So, they signalled 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. NOTICE THAT THE BOATS DID NOT SINK!
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Synopsis

Problems are a part of God’s plan
The setting: The fishermen were washing their nets because they had gathered a lot of dirt and filth instead of fish (Luke 5:1 –2 ).
At this time Jesus intentionally got into Peter’s boat, (Luke 5:3 ) and taught the crowd for a while. There was one more boat – Why did he choose the one that belonged to Peter?

He had a plan for Peter and his friends. He had chosen them though they didn’t know. God has a plan for you too. He knows you though you don’t know him. He utilizes your crisis to manifest himself. Do you believe? Would you give him a chance?

All things are possible with God
After a while Jesus said, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter replied

– “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.” (Luke 5:4 –5 )

Peter was right. Night is the best time for catching fish. Besides, who knows best about fishing. Jesus the carpenter or Peter the fisherman?

They had labored hard. They were fatigued. They were worn out. Have you labored hard for nothing last year, last month, yesterday? Are you fatigued? Are you worn out? Are you ready to do what God tells you – no matter what it takes?

Is God your last resort?
“But at your word I will lower the nets”. For Peter Jesus’ advise was just a last resort.
They got such a big catch of fish that their nets started breaking and boats almost sank, (Luke 5:6 7 ). They didn’t have adequate resources to handle it because they had never caught such a big load of fish before.

Did you come to God after everything else failed? Do you believe that God is able to help? Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.

What was Peter’s reaction?
Peter’s reaction was 3-fold. First, he felt guilty. Second, he was amazed. Third he left everything behind and followed Jesus along with his companions.
Why did Peter feel guilty? because the miracle reflected Peter’s own sinful nature, (Luke 5:8 )

Why was he amazed? because he didn’t believe, (Luke 5:9 ) Why did he follow Jesus? Because after the miracle Peter believed that Jesus is God, (Luke 5:10 –11 ).

Application

This afternoon some of you will experience the first miracle in your life. You will have a personal encounter with God. You will become a follower of Jesus.
Repent and confess your sin: Sin is the only barrier between man and God. Peter said, “Lord I’m a sinful man”. Was Peter a criminal? No. Is it a sin to be a fisherman? No. Then what made Peter a sinner? What makes you a sinner?
In the beginning of this sermon I said that God has a plan for you. He just used your problem to reveal himself. What he has for you is something more than a miracle. More than a solution. Would you like to follow him just like Peter and his friends and find his broader will for your life?

Principles of getting a big a catch, a boat seeking net breaking blessing:-

Be at the source. Peter was at his place of work with his tools of trade, on the waters of lake Gennesaret.
Preparation and repair. Peter and his colleagues cleaned their nets in spite of poor fishing escapades the previous night.
Know who is in control. Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.
Be obedient. Peter obeyed Jesus’ advise. But I will do as You say and let down the nets.
Share your blessings with others. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.
Know and acknowledge your weakness. “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Follow Jesus the Christ. So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. John 14:6

If you desire for boat seeking net breaking blessings, come to Jesus now.

2Cor 6:2 Behold, now is ‘the accepted time’. Behold, now is the day of salvation.