https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dFP1791ymzFvwOSAqzHoh?si=o3SN0UNeRQyn9ygNFVTBmA David W Palmer (Luke 5:1, 3 NKJV) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ... {3} Then He g…
(Luke 5:1, 3 NKJV) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ... {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.
In today's Bible passage, we see an incident where Jesus supervised Simon's (Peter's) use of his fishing boat—his business. It ends with a huge catch of fish and a repentant businessman going to a new level in his relationship with Jesus. Let's read on to see what we can learn and apply to our own lives.
The first part of this assignment was Jesus stepping into Peter's boat: "He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's"; Jesus literally jumped into the middle of Peter's business. This is very similar to what happened to Rosanna and me at our salvation. We were a full time, professional rock band, when suddenly—without any advanced warning—Jesus "got into" our "boat," so to speak. He stepped right into the middle of our band, our business, our lives … and everything changed.
Second, we see that Jesus asked Peter "to put out a little from the land." When Jesus steps in, we see that he begins to give directives. This has everything to do with him being Lord—the Lord who saves, heals, delivers, provides, and protects: "He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9 NKJV).
Peter obeyed; he accepted Jesus into his boat, and pushed it out a little from the shore. This made him into the perfect captive audience for what Jesus did next: "He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat"—including Peter. Peter's assignment that day began in the word.
We note that John's gospel begins: "In the beginning was the Word …" (John 1:1 KJV). In God's mind, the word comes before anything else. Jesus began his foray into Peter's business with a massive amount of word. This is exactly the same as he did with Rosanna, our band, and me, when he stepped into the middle of our lives. He filled us with a hunger for his word; we went to every church, healing, deliverance, and home meeting we could get to. I studied his word for hours each day—locked away in our car garage, as there were often so many coming and going that there was no room in the house. So I encourage you today; everything Jesus does in our lives begins with his word.
(Luke 5:4 NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Jesus—not the clock or Peter's tiredness—purposed when the teaching should stop. With every part of that long teaching had come: faith, life, light, creativity, and health. Now that the atmosphere and Peter's heart were charged with the word, Jesus moved on to helping Peter's business. Note carefully the wording: "launch out into the deep," and "Let down your nets" (plural "nets," not singular "net") … "for a catch."
Jesus's faith mixed some very specific directives— "launch out … let down, etc."—with a specific and positive outcome— "for a catch." This is the perfect picture of how faith works: it begins with the word, lots of word; it involves very specific, but somewhat illogical directives from Jesus; and it confesses the outcome as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus obviously wanted to bless Peter's business, while at the same time, showing him how to do it by faith. Peter now had part two of his supervised assignment.
What did Peter do? We note that the next word is "but" … oops!
(Luke 5:5 NKJV) 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."
Peter's first reaction was to speak from his intellect and tired flesh; he was resistant to obeying. So he offered a compromise, a partial obedience: "At your word I will let down the net." Note the word, "net," this time—singular, not plural,"nets," as Jesus had instructed him. Peter—according to the training of years of normal, natural life—was focused on how much toil he had to do, and how much sacrifice he had to make, to catch any fish. When he added this to his "professional" status and know-how as a fisherman, he was very reluctant to invest any more effort into what had been a fruitless, dark season of toil—especially when the instruction was coming from a preacher/carpenter. But at least he did obey … albeit partially:
(Luke 5:6 NKJV) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Full obedience would have saved him the added work of repairing a net that was now "breaking." But at least, "when they had done this"—when they obeyed the portion of Jesus's instructions that Peter agreed to and confessed—they "caught a great number of fish." They caught so many fish by Jesus's method—word first, then obedience to his illogical instructions—that he provided so much abundance that even the surplus nearly sank their "partners'" boat as well:
(Luke 5:7 NKJV) 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.
Today, you don't have to be running an actual business to allow Jesus to step into the middle of your "business"—your whole life—and take over the reins. Remember, the first thing he assigns you is a season of listening to him—his word, his teaching, his preaching, and his explanations—while you are sitting at his feet. Then, when the atmosphere is charged full of his word and faith, he begins to give illogical instructions. Obedience to him in these moments brings copious blessings.
We also see that Jesus first used Peter's business as his platform for preaching. Are you willing to allow Jesus to use your business, home, workplace, family, etc. as a platform for his word? Remember, he always puts the word first—in importance as well as chronologically.
(Luke 5:8 NKJV) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
Finally, Peter repented of not only his partial, unwilling obedience over the nets/net issue, he experienced a very deep repentance when he realized the inherent sinfulness of his very nature. (He hadn't yet received Jesus's new birth, as Jesus hadn't yet risen from the dead.)
Have you given the word first place in everything—including your business? What illogical instructions has Jesus given you? Do you have any areas of unrepented unwillingness, partial obedience, or complaining before obeying? If so, perhaps it's time to follow Peter's example as he fell to his knees aware of his sin. But, even though you may feel like asking Jesus to depart, don't follow Peter's words in this; instead, simply ask for and receive forgiveness on the basis of Jesus's shed blood.
Today's lesson from Jesus through this supervised assignment shows that full wholehearted obedience to him—no matter how inconvenient or illogical—always brings a blessed outcome. So, whether you are running a business, fishing for men, or just focused on the "business" of everyday life; obedience to Jesus after receiving faith and revelation from his word is always, and only, the best option. God bless you.
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