Sermon Central
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"Going Deeper”
Contributed by Sean Dees on Mar 1, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: When we were kids we played in the shallow end of the pool because we weren't physically prepared for the deep end. As we grew and learned how to swim and overcome our fear of the deep end we were able to final get in the waters. The same can be said of us in the spiritual.
Intro: Tonight I want to talk to you about going deeper. For many of you; you have spent your time in the shallow seeking after those things in the deep. You see in the shallow there are only a few different types of fish whereas in the deep there is more of a variety. And it’s time to go out further you’ve been fishing in the shallow so long your coming up empty and your ready to go to the shores of complacency and defeat. Turn to your neighbor and tell them “Lets go Deeper”.
I. We can’t be washing our nets.
A. In verse 2 we see a group of fishermen standing by the shores of Gennesaret or more commonly known to us as the Sea of Galilee. These men were washing their nets after a night of no luck as recorded in verse 5.
1. The washing of the nets here show a sign of defeat for these fishermen, they had fished all night and came up empty.
2. For many of you, you can relate to these fishermen you’ve toiled all night praying seeking God for your blessing, and for some you’ve been seeking for days, weeks, months, and for some evening years. To veil you are still empty, and ready to give it up. You want more but your not to sure what to do.
3. You have tried it all you have knocked, and you’ve seeked, you prayed in tongues, you’ve wept, sought the council of your Pastor, read all the books on receiving your blessing, watched all the miracle services on TV, or evening tried to get to some and still nothing. Just as these fishermen did all they knew how to do.
A. You have come to the place where you’ve done it all and now your ready to live with defeat your ready to wash your nets and live with the fact you failed.
1. In your mind you think it was you it must a sin in your life and that God is judging me because my past. I’m not good enough and I must be a failure.
2. NO! I say that is a devils lie for in Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 1 Peter 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: He sees you struggling and like a lion hunting a weak animal he makes his attack filling your mind with doubt and anger toward God telling you to just give up just be complacent, and Satan then begins to tell you “that when you try to seek God he pushes you off and doesn’t care about you look how he blesses others you know you are better then them and yet they get there’s while you get nothing, to tell you the truth its an impossible request He can’t do things like that.” But I want you to know that Satan is liar and that he is not a lion just as stated in 1 Peter 5:8 but like a lion that means he is not he is still that serpent in the Garden there is but one lion and that is the Lion of Judah Jesus Christ.
3. I say don’t believe those lies for it is written 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. And that in Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. And that in Luke 18:27 The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. He does care for you and what He is doing for another He will do it for you; God doesn’t play favorites with His children.
4. Now that you know that it wasn’t you and that all efforts and attempts couldn’t change the situation God now has you in place where He wants you.
II. Cause now Jesus can get on board.
A. In verse 2 we see two ships and in verse 3 we see Jesus board one of those ships and it just happened to be Simon Peters. I don’t believe it was chance that Jesus chose Peters boat that day. I believe it was his day.
1. John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
2. I believe if Peter would not have came back empty that day it would be a lot harder to get him back on his boat if he had already received that which he needed. But instead we see Jesus come at the right time.
