CASTING OUR NET

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.  (Luke 5:4-6)  

This was simply a matter of obedience.  No matter their emotions or experience, these fishermen were being tested at the point of their submission.

They didn’t argue or debate.  They didn’t dispute or delay.  They just did what they were told.

You won’t catch any fish until you respond to the command, “Go fish!”  God’s demand is clear.  He has called us to fish for eternal souls—so we are either sinning or soul-winning! 

I cannot guarantee that you will catch a soul for Christ the next time you share the Gospel, but I can guarantee you won’t if you don’t!  I’m not saying it is easy to reach a culture that is increasingly hardened to the Gospel, even hostile to it—but at least you don’t have to stand on the bank all day hoping for a bite—there are lost people everywhere—and a surprising number have never even heard the Gospel.  Our world is not “fished out!”

Cast the net!

CONFESSING OUR NEED

 

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…”  (Luke 1:1-5a)

These fishermen felt like complete failures.  Despite their best efforts, they didn’t have so much as a minnow to show for it!  How discouraging! 

These weren’t sportsmen in a competition.  This wasn’t a hobby done for relaxation.  It was catch fish or starve to death. 

Folks, when it comes to catching people for Christ in evangelism, it is a matter of life and death.  Churches all over America are dying!  They are failing to reach new people.  I am concerned that a deadly lethargy has gripped us—that our passion for souls is not a priority any more.  Pole Creek is a solid, Bible-believing, mission-minded congregation, but we’ve become complacent.  While giving lip-service to evangelism, when all is said and done, there’s more said than done!

Let us confess our need!  I say US because I need a renewed zeal for the lost also. 

Recently, at the funeral of a fifteen-year old football player, our auditorium was overflowing.   The pews were packed, and folks were lining the walls and even in the foyer.  A fellow told me afterward, “I may visit your church.”  I responded, “Great, and on Sunday morning you can find a seat because it won’t be standing room only!” 

But shouldn’t it be? 

It won’t until we cry out to God, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing!”  (emphasis added)  This is the confession of need—the desperate plea—acknowledging that we have done many good activities, but have failed to, “Go fish!”  The Great Commission too often is “The Great Omission.”

GO FISH!

 

Maybe you are familiar with a simple little child’s card game called, “Go Fish.”  I take all forms of competition seriously—but, after all it’s still just a game.  But, for Simon Peter, and the brothers James and John fishing wasn’t a game—it was the way they survived.  Yet, Jesus told them He had a bigger fishing job for them—to catch souls for God! 

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.  (Luke 5:1-11)

Church, Jesus has commanded us to, “Go Fish!”  It’s not a game.  This is deadly serious.  Every day people are slipping out into eternity without God and without hope!  There are some fishing lessons we need to learn from this text.  It is our intention this week to examine them.  Load up your net, untie your boat, and shove off because there are some fish to catch!

THE LEADER’S AVAILABILITY

 

I once heard Dr. John Tiller, the former pastor of the church I now serve say in a sermon, “The greatest ability is availability.”  It doesn’t matter how much potential you have until your performance fulfills it.  Then, I think of what leadership guru John Maxwell said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  Jesus—as in all things—exhibited the leader’s availability absolutely.

 

This is THE FORCE OF OUR SERVICE.  As we make ourselves available to be used of God, we see Him work through us in incredible ways.

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DISTRESSED.

 

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”  (Luke 4:31-37) 

 

Now, whether we encounter those who are actually possessed by demons, or more likely oppressed by spiritual forces, the grim reality is  so many are under Satanic bondage these days.  What shall we do?  Will we reach out to them in compassion, and declare to them the power that will set them free?

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DISEASED.

 

And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.  Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.  When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.  (Luke 4:38-41) 

 

We have a ministry to the sick.  Elders may be summoned to anoint with oil and pray for the sick.  Physical infirmity may hinder spiritual productivity.  Sometimes God is most glorified through giving grace to press on despite our weakness, and sometimes He is most glorified in giving grace to bring healing—even miraculously.  But, whatever a Sovereign God decides, he has chosen to use us as channels through which that grace can flow.

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DESPERATE

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.  (Luke 4:42-44)

 

These people were desperate for Jesus.  Wherever He was and whenever He was there, they sought Him out.  That is true of people everywhere.  He moved from place to place.  His mission was urgent.  Lives are filled with hopeless desperation.  Is there any hope?  Does anyone care?  As God’s church we offer hope to the world, but a church will not be encouraged to this task without the example of her leaders.

 

If a leader shuts himself up in an ivory tower far from the hurts of people, then he has forfeited his right to church leadership.  Shepherds must be with the sheep if they are to help them.  Ours is a day of celebrity preachers who don’t counsel the distressed, visit the diseased or take time for the desperate.  What would Jesus do?  You can see here by answering the question, “What did Jesus do?”  Go, and do likewise.

 

THE LEADER’S ACTIVITY

 

An effective leader doesn’t just say what others ought to do, but shows what leaders do.  Jesus shows us in Luke chapter four THE COURSE OF OUR SERVICE.  We do what Jesus did. 

 

As He embarks on His public ministry—three and one half years that changed the world—He was active as God’s spokesman and soldier.  He shared the Gospel and He stood His ground. 

 

Jesus COMMUNICATED THE WORD (Luke 4:18b-21).  We see the words, “preach” and “proclaim” (twice).  He had a Word to declare.

 

·         It would be a message of good news to the poor, “Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor.”  None are so low the Gospel cannot reach them.

·         It would be a message of healing for the grieving, “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.”   None are so brokenhearted that the Word cannot mend them.

 ·         It would be a message of liberty to those in bondage, “To proclaim liberty to the captives.”  None are so enslaved that the truth cannot free them. 

·         It would be a message that brought light to the blind, “And recovery of sight to the blind.”  None are so blind that God’s light cannot restore them.

 ·         It would be a message of deliverance to the oppressed, “To set at liberty those who are oppressed,” None are so burdened that God’s promises cannot lift them.

 

What Jesus said was in the context of the Jewish Year of Jubilee.

 

And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years.  Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.   And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.  That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine.  For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.

In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession.  And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another.  According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you.  According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops.  Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.  (Leviticus 25:8-17)

Christ said His message was, “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  Jesus is our Jubilee—the fulfillment in His New Covenant what was prefigured under the Old Covenant.

What Christ communicated is the same message Christian leaders today need to declare.  Our message can inspire those we lead to rise above their circumstances and become all God means for them to be. 

 

But you will soon discover that plenty of people are opposed to the light.  They don’t want the Gospel for the poor, because in their pride they won’t admit their spiritual bankruptcy.   Rather than embracing the pain of a broken heart and seeking the Healer, they callus their heart to shut out the pain.  Such refuse to admit their slavery, proclaiming their liberation.  They hide from the light because they don’t want to see the dirt on their soul.  These reject the idea of needing help for their burdens asserting their independence.   Their mocking attitude was addressed by Jesus,

 

He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”  Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  (Luke 4:23-24)

 

People seemed impressed as a first response, but then took a second look.

 

Jesus, in His leadership then not only communicated the Word, He COMBATED THE WICKED (Luke 4:22-30). 

 

·         Some of these wicked opponents were the skeptical, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ ” (Luke 4:22).  There are always those who want to make Jesus only a good man.  We must fight that error.  It is when you say Jesus is the only Way and we must bow to Him that people will reject you.

·         There are also the hateful. 

But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. (Luke 4:25-30) 

 They wanted to kill Him already!   Jesus illustrated from Scripture two instances where the Jews rejected God’s work and Gentiles instead received the miracle.  This was like throwing a lit match into a gas can!  Truth can be incendiary!

 

But a man is immortal until his lifework is done.  Jesus would die—not by being thrown down a hill, but raised up on one in crucifixion.  He would die according to the will of the Father and not the whims of men.  What a picture of Jesus—not some delicate, effeminate Christ of medieval portraits—but a muscular man pushing the mob aside as He marched threw their gauntlet of fury. 

Like Jesus we need men who will take a stand no matter the cost—men of courage and conviction.  We are following the footsteps of Jesus when this is the activity we conduct.  This is the course of our service.

 

THE LEADER’S ABILITY

 

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me...” (Luke 4:16-18a).

 

As the Model Leader, Jesus described THE SOURCE OF OUR SERVICE.  Jesus had a supernatural assignment, so it required a supernatural ability.  Likewise, we have a task too great for human ability.  We must have Heaven’s anointing! 

 

God’s leadership standard demands one who is SCRIPTURALLY EQUIPPED, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written...” (v.16-17).   Jesus was a student of and in submission to the Word of God.  For our service to be effective, we must be Scripturally equipped.  Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  God’s kind of leader knows the administration manual is the Holy Book and follows its direction.

 

Furthermore, the leader who emulates the Jesus model will be SPIRITUALLY EMPOWERED, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me...”  (v.18a).  Remember how after His baptism the Dove had descended upon Him.  Following that we read how He went into the wilderness to do battle with the Devil, “filled with the Spirit” as He was “led by the Spirit.”  (Luke 4:1)  He went out to minister, “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). 

 

When early church leaders were chosen, the preeminent qualifications were, “men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.”  (Acts 6:3) They would be men Scripturally equipped—the source of their wisdom—and supernaturally empowered—the source of their strength.  This is the standard for leadership in the church today—for pastors, deacons, or whatever task we have.

It is time for church leaders to raise the level of their experience to the high bar God has set, rather than bring the bar down to the level of our experience!  It is not hard to jump over a bar designed for the limbo instead of the high jump!  Yet, that is the failure we are succeeding in accomplishing far too often.  Churches are crumbling because leaders are stumbling short of God’s standard.  Lord, help me to what I can’t do apart from You!

HIS MISSION, OUR MANDATE

 

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:16-21)

 

Years ago it was the rage to wear a rubber wristband that had the letters WWJD—and you would see it in other places—t-shirts, bumper stickers, and so forth.  It meant, “What Would Jesus Do?” 

 

But, I like the letters WDJD better: “What Did Jesus Do?” because if we know what He did, then we know what we are supposed to do.  Before Christ ascended back to heaven He told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  His mission is our mandate.

Let’s do a spiritual inventory this week and see how we measure up!

TRIUMPH OVER THE PRIDE OF LIFE

 

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”  And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ” Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”  (Luke 4:9-15) 

 

Here was a shortcut to being acclaimed as the Messiah.  He could make a grand entrance and have the applause of the masses in the place of prayer below.   It was a temptation to the pride of life. 

 

The Devil even quotes Scripture as an incentive to take “the leap of faith,” which was really not faith, but presumption! 

 

The sly speech of the serpent, however, is taken out of context.   This is what false religion does.  Let’s examine the original quote and see how Satan amended it:

 

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.  You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. (Psalm 91:11-13)

 

I think we can see why the Devil left out a significant part.  First, he ended the phrase, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you” and omitted, “in all your ways.”  His ways were ever the Father’s ways, as He did not come to do His own will, but to glorify the Father’s name by doing His work.  It is even more apparent why Satan would not quote verse thirteen, “You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.”  This predicted the Devil’s demise!  It is the very thing Christ was doing in the desert—overcoming Satan who goes about as a roaring lion (1 Pet.5:8) and stomping the Old Serpent’s head underfoot (Gen.3:15).

 

Satan whimpers off like a scolded puppy.  James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  But he won’t go far, and won’t stay long.  As with Jesus, Satan will watch for an opportunity later to assail us again.  He is nothing, if not persistent!

 

Jesus proved His impeccable credentials and was now ready to embark on His mission with great power.  He was tested and triumphant.  God’s voice had spoken His approval from heaven at His baptism and now His victory had given the assurance of holiness in His temptation. 

 

May God help us to be tried and true—His tool to do our task for Him.

 

TRIUMPH OVER THE LUST OF THE EYES

 

 

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”  And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”   (Luke 4:5-8)  

 

The crown rightfully belonged to Christ.  The glory of the world’s kingdoms should have been His to claim.  But, first He would have to wear a crown of suffering before He could wear a crown of sovereignty.  Humiliation would precede exaltation. 

 

Adam had been given dominion over the earth, but forfeited that when he sinned.  Satan claimed the kingdoms of men.  In fact, Jesus called the Devil, “The prince of this world.”  Now, he offers the scepter back to Jesus—and all He must do is worship him.  That is what the angel Lucifer craved that turned him into Satan.  If he could but get Jesus to bow and worship, he would have what he wanted. 

 

Of course, Christ rejected it—and by quoting the Word of God.  That is how you overcome temptation.  The Psalmist said, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  (Ps.119:11)  Each time Satan attacked, Jesus gave the counterthrust with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

 

All the quotes that Jesus used were from Deuteronomy.  How many of us could recite three verses from that book?  We might argue, “But being God, Jesus was omniscient!”  Indeed, but recall that He had limited Himself in living as a man.  His knowledge of Scripture wasn’t the product of Divine attributes, but of diligent study—the same way we can—and must.

 

Spend time looking into the Word and it will diminish the appeal of the world.  Scripture provides a lens through which we can correctly view how worthless this world is compared to the value of eternity.  That knowledge will aid us in triumph over the lust of the eyes.

TRIUMPH OVER THE LUST OF THE FLESH

 

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” (Luke 4:1-4) 

 

When did this temptation occur?  It was after an occasion of unparalleled blessing.  Some of the most dangerous times you will face are after such times.  Christ had just been baptized and heard Heaven’s approval—and now He will engage in a titanic test with the Tempter.  You cannot drop your guard for a moment.  Satan is like a poisonous viper coiled to strike as soon as you cease to be on the watch for him. 

 

Thankfully, Jesus was ready.  He goes out in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit.  But, so can you.  We are no match for the Devil in our own strength and wisdom, yet we are foolish to think we must—when God intends for us to be filled with His Mighty Spirit.  Indeed this test was ordained of God.  Jesus was not only filled with the Spirit, but it says He was led by the Spirit.  God will never lead you into a war you can’t win.  If he brings you to it, He will bring you through it. 

 

Where did this conflict occur?  In the wilderness—and isn’t that an apt description of the battlefield we find ourselves on—the wilderness of this world?  It was in the wilderness that Israel was tested for 40 years and failed, and it is in the wilderness where Jesus is tested for 40 days and wins! 

 

What was the nature of this temptation?  He fasts for that period of forty days—to the limits of human endurance, and is famished and fatigued at the end.  Then Satan tempts him to fulfill a God-given drive in an illegitimate way.  He suggests, “The end justifies the means.”  It is a pragmatic approach to life that asks, “Will you get the right results?”  The world functions that way—naturally.  Sadly, the church has bought into the same philosophy far too often.  This is a man-centered approach that appeals to our desires.  What we need is a God-centered approach that rests in God’s designs.  Jesus had this theological approach to life that asked, “Will this be the right thing?”

 

It was then that Jesus overcomes the lust of the flesh by a greater appetite for the Word of God.  The body requires food, but life is about more than our body—for we have a spiritual side to nourish as well.  The Lord always did this—daily feeding on that which put strength into His soul—and thus, when the battle broke, He had the resources in reserve to answer the challenge.

 

Have you fed on God’s Word this morning?  That is how we have triumph over the lust of the flesh!