“Luke 5:1-11
Simon had seen Him heal, he had been in the front row to His teaching… Peter would have recognized something special about Jesus…
Maybe the hard nights toil with nothing to show for it was directed by God for this moment… the healing and teaching softened Peter’s heart, but the fishing overwhelmed him… Jesus knew what would speak to this fisherman’s heart… Jesus knows what will truly speak to your heart…
Peter recognized he didn’t deserve to be in the same boat as Jesus… Jesus doesn’t refute Peters claim that he’s a sinful man, he only calms their fears, embrace them, and called them! “fishers of men”
The blessing didn’t blind them to the One who had blessed them…
Peter was not yet able to catch men, he needed to be equipped…
John 21:2-11
Peter fell back into familiar things to busy himself…
John put it together, but Peter wasn’t quite getting it… but was zealous when he did…
Jesus already had a fish… but invited them to bring a fish that they had a hand in, and we’re a vessel in bringing in… 153, an exact number, not rounded off…
A few points:
Remember their call… to be fishers of men… this same miracle happens… Jesus had them bring their own fish… do you think when Jesus had a fish already for Himself it slipped His mind that His disciples would like something to eat…
• Jesus did the miracle, but used their hands in the catch…
• Jesus does the miracle salvation, but uses our hands to play a role in the process…
• He has some fish for us to bring to Him… ‘I’m going to do the work, I’m going to save them, but I want to use you in the process…’
The nets were not torn… this time…
• Three years of discipleship and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit would enable and empower them to have a ministry with untorn nets…
• “I will make you fishers of men” they weren’t quite ready yet in Luke 5… The Great Commission calls us to “make disciples” not converts… Jesus modeled this…
• They were now finally equipped to fulfill the calling, with nets that worked…
In missions and outreach the Spirit does the work, but gives us the privilege of being a vessel…
• When you give to missions you are vital part of sending, you are a vessel for advancing the Kingdom of God…
• Maybe God is calling you into full time ministry… if not, please know we still all have the call of the great commission…
2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
If we want untorn nets we have to be purposeful about discipleship, training, and being Spirit led…”