Title: "Your Net Worth?"
On Sunday nights we have been studying the miracles of Christ. This is the third message in that series. In reading and rereading the text, I try to look for a common theme. I kept reading the word, "Net." I trust that the Lord will use this message to be a blessing to you.
For the purpose of today’s study, let me suggest that the net is speaking of the Church and its outreach ministry to reach the lost. It also could apply to every Christian as they strive to become "fishers of men."
1. A dirty net.
(Luke 5:1 KJV) And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
(Luke 5:2 KJV) And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Comment: There is no way that a person can pass through the seaweed of this life, and not become somewhat polluted by it. Our nets get dirty and need a daily cleansing. Perhaps, one of the reasons why the Lord is not using our lives as effectively as we would desire is because we have not taken the time necessary to get our nets clean. Let me encourage you to read the word daily and ask that you keep a short laundry list with the Lord!
2. An empty net
(Luke 5:5 KJV) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Comment There can be nothing more discouraging than fishing all night and catching nothing! Is God using your life? When is the last time that God used you to win someone else to the Lord? Is your net empty? What is your net worth?
3. A mended net.
(Mat 4:21 KJV) And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Comment: Have you ever eaten in a restaurant where the help was arguing with one another? I have. It destroys the wonderful night out that you have planned with you wife. Nobody wants to go back to a restaurant like that.
If there is strife and division within the Church, the Church will soon find itself empty. A fisherman can fish all night and catch nothing, not because there were no fish in the sea, but because the net had a tear in it! The nets need to be mended. It takes time to mend a net, but you will not catch anything until you do!
4. A retired net.
(Luke 5:4 KJV) Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Comment: In our text, the fishermen in the boat had launched out into the deep, but had not yet let down the net. That is very much like a Church having a big attendance on a Sunday, but failing to preach the gospel message. We must not retire from preaching the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. So that I do not fail to do this is today’s message, let me make the gospel as plain as I possibly can: Jesus Christ died to save you of your sin, he was buried, and on the third, Jesus rose again from the dead making this promise, "Believe on me, and you will not perish, you will have everlasting life!" (John 3:16)
5. An over wrought net.
(Luke 5:6 KJV) And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Comment: Jesus had instructed Peter to let down the nets. The Bible said that he let down the net. I don’t know a lot about the Greek language, but I can figure out the word "net" is not as many as the word "nets." Peter was making a half hearted attempt at obeying the Lord. Consequently he soon found that his net was overwrought by too many fish.
So often a Church worker finds himself overwhelmed with too much work to do, and too few people to help them. This past Sunday night, the youth Pastor of our Church and his wife held an overnight sleep over for the children and the youth of the Church. Many adults helped until about 9 PM, but guess what, none of the kids had gone to bed as of yet. Nathan and Kellie found themselves overwhelmed with too much to do and too little help!
In our text, Peter called for others to come and help him. Thank God when others do come alongside to help us!
6. A broken net.
(Luke 5:6 KJV) And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Comment: How sad it must have been for Peter for him to have such a great opportunity of catching a multitude of fish, and then to see the nets braking and then to see all of the fish swimming away!
Have you ever watched a sports fishing channel on television? I enjoy seeing the fishing expert bait his hook and pull the fish into his high priced boat. What maddens me is when he unhooks the big hunk of a fish and "releases" the dinner back into the water. If it had been me, I would have immediately cut the fishes head off and thrown it into the cooking pan as quickly as possible! What a waste of time and effort when the net brakes and fish all get away?
7. A full net.
(Luke 5:7 KJV) And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Comment: Having a full net, that should be our goal! That is the purpose of this message. Let’s clean our nets, mend out nets, get our nets out of retirement, and let’s all pull in together and get something done for God!
Do you have a net worth?
(Luke 5:8 KJV) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
(Luke 5:9 KJV) For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
