Sermon Central
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At Thy Word (Peter)
Contributed by Arlen Payne on Jul 13, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: If we would only trust God like Peter did and obey Him at His Word.
At Thy Word
Intro: Luke 5:1-7
-I often have people who come to me for advice.
-Usually it’s to try and fix the problems that are in
their life.
-They are usually a mess because they have made bad choices.
--God’s lets us choose.
--We do not choose the consequences.
-Many of them profess to be believers
-Many have recently come back to the Lord.
-Many want to do the right thing NOW.
--If they had only obeyed the Lord in the first place
--Most of them knew what God says in His Word.
--Yet they knowingly disobeyed God and wonder why they are in the mess they are in.
-Jesus said to them…Matthew 7:22-29
-Look at the choices Peter made…..
Tell Story Luke 5:1-7
-Jesus had begun his ministry in Galilee
-He was on the north side of the Sea of Galilee.
-This was the first time the Jesus and Peter meet.
-Peter and the other fishermen where cleaning their nets.
-This had to be shortly after dawn…in the morning. Vs 2
-Because of the crowd, Jesus asked to use one of the boats and from there He taught the people. Vs 3
-Then Jesus says those magic words…Let’s go fishing.
1. Peter’s dilemma.
-It was the wrong time to go fishing…
--They fished at night.
--I wonder if Peter looked around to see what his friends would say about this.
--"Don’t listen to him…"
--"Wait till the time is right".
-How many do not obey the Word of God, because it doesn’t fit into their timing.
--He had to go against His past experience.
--Experience told him there would be no success.
--He may have tried to go out during the day before.
--Experienced fisherman knew you did not go during the day.
-How many refuse to obey God’s word saying…it won’t work based on their experiences in the world.
--the source of mocking and ridicule.
--based on what they think will happen.
-The circumstances were not right.
--It was the wrong time of day.
--He had to be tired by now…no sleep.
--People were watching him make this decision.
--Experienced fishermen were watching.
--Believers were watching too.
--There circumstances were just not right to go fishing.
-How many have said…the circumstances are not right to obey the Word of God.
--“Well, you don’t understand.”
--“When I get straightened out…”
--“When I’m done with my sin.”
--“When the circumstance are different.”
-His fear of failure entered His decision.
--Fear of embarrassment. Vs 5
--Fear of failure. (caught nothing)
--Fear of what the other fishermen might say.
NEVER THE LESS
2. Peter’s decision.
-Peter could have been guided by his…
--His friends.
--His experience
--His circumstances
--Or by his fears.
-NEVER THE LESS….AT THY WORD.
--Because you said so…
--He trusted the Lord, not knowing what would happen.
-God wants us to just trust Him, He will take care of
the rest.
--He simply obeyed the Word of God.
-He let down the net.
-The results of obedience.
-They caught a “GREAT MULTITUDE”
--The nets broke…had to be fixed again.
--no guarantees of it being easy
---They had to get help.
----The ships were so full of fish they began to sink.
---This meant that they would have all their needs met.
3. Peter’s Devotion
-Peter recognized his own sin. Vs 8
-O Lord…(confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus)
-Their commission. Vs 10
-They returned their ships (no doubt rejoicing)
--They forsook all
-They left the old life behind…(didn’t drag the nets)
--And followed Him
--Trusted Him
--They learned of Him
--They tried to be like Him.
Conclusion:
-What are you waiting for?
-Don’t follow the world’s way.
-Don’t wait...this is the time.
2 Corin. 6:2 behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
-Don’t look at your circumstances.
-Don’t let your fears keep you from trusting the Lord.
-AT THY WORD….
Trust Him
Obey Him.
Let Him bless your life.
