Luke 5:1-11 (4) (10)
INTRODUCTION
• Today we find ourselves on the shores of Lake Gennesaret also called the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberias. Gennesaret is the more ancient name of the lake. This particular area has been widely known as extremely fertile. Josephus explains the region like this,
“It is described by Josephus as being, in his time, universally fertile. “Its nature is wonderful as well as its beauty. Its soil is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it, and the inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there; for the temperature of the air is so well mixed that it agrees very well with those several sorts; particularly walnuts, which require the coldest air, flourish there in vast plenty. One may call this the ambition of nature, where it forces those plants which are naturally enemies to one another to agree together. It is a happy conjunction of the seasons, as if every one laid claim to this country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruits beyond people’s expectations, but preserves them a great while. It supplies people with the principal fruits; with grapes and figs continually during ten months of the year, and the rest of the fruits, as they become ripe, through the whole year; for, besides the good temperature of the air, it is also watered from a most fertile fountain.”
• It is in this setting that we find Jesus. He went fishing… for men!
I. LAUNCH - DO IT GOD’S WAY
• Luke 5:4 - “…Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
A. God’s timing is perfect
B. God’s techniques are perfect
1. You may have to re-rig the boat (Set things up differently)
2. You may have to do things differently (Fish backwards)
3. If you have a “comfort zone” you may have hung out to long!
C. Obedience and Attitude are Biblical keys to Success
• Luke 5:5 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.
1. There is something to be said for obedience even when we don’t understand!
2. Attitude has a lot to do with where God places you!
II. JESUS RECRUITED PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAD AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
• Luke 5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them…
• Luke 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon…
A. Peter, James and John were business partners
1. We can always accomplish more together than we could alone… provided we have the right partners!
2. If you are hooked up wrong (partnered with the wrong people) its better to be alone!
B. Let’s look at Ministry Team of Jesus (Luke 6:12-16)
1. Peter - Outspoken Leader, Bold, Courageous
2. Andrew - A Networker (It was Andrew who introduced Peter to the Lord)
3. James the son of Zebedee. - A Helper that always seemed to be there
4. John the son of Zebedee. - A Prolific & Prohetic Writer (Wrote Gospel of John; I,II,III John and Revelation)
5. Philip - Possibly a Greek Scholar (His name is Greek) signifying that Jesus had a multicultural mindset in the recruitment of His Apostles. He also told Bartholomew about Jesus (…We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. John 1:45)
6. Bartholomew - A Quiet Man (I like to believe he was a Thinker). Commonly thought to be Nathanael. Not much is written about him. Phillip told him about Jesus and he is mentioned in the listings of the twelve by other writers as well.
7. Matthew - A Tax Guy (Government Guy)
8. Thomas - Skeptical Realist yet faithful. (He still stuck with the disciples even when he thought Jesus was still dead)
9. James the son of Alphaeus - The Administrator. He may have been the leader of the church at Jerusalem after James, the son of Zebedee, was killed by Herod I.
10. Simon called the Zealot. - The MMA Fighter of the group. The Rough Guy, He was probably one of the wild followers of Judas the Gaulonite whose radical group of fanatics thought any deed of violence was justified for their faith and freedom. (They were like a political street gang but larger and stronger) They were called “Kananites or Zealots.” (not to be confused with Cana of Galilee)
11. Judas the son of James - The Armorbearer. He was always around and seemed to have an Earnest, Loving and Nurturing disposition. Possibly the author of the Epistle Jude and commonly believed to be Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus. He is not to be confused with Jude, the brother of Jesus, or Judas Iscariot.
12. Judas Iscariot - Treasurer of Jesus’ ministry. He later betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (He tried to make it right but it was too late) He came from the tribe of Judah - House of Praise. Jesus called him, “Son of perdition.”
C. There are Right People and Wrong People! We need the right team around us. We need a team like Jesus had!
1. So Jesus had an Outspoken Leader, Networker, Helper, Writer, Scholar, Thinker, Tax Guy, Realist, Administrator, Fighter, Armorbearer and Treasurer on His ministry team! WHAT…A…TEAM!
III. SPIRITUAL COMMISSIONING
• Luke 5:10 - “…Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
A. God already has His eye on YOU!
1. Jesus did not go to the lake that day to help them catch fish… He went to catch them so He could train them to catch others also!
• John 15:16 KJV 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.
• Ephesians 1:4-6 AMP
4. Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
5. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—
6. [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
• Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, 12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
B. Look around! Who is on your “life team”? Are they there because God placed them there?
1. Let God help you connect to the right people. Sometimes God takes us places for different reasons than we think.
a) Peter was not planning on Jesus stopping by while he was mending his nets.
b) Nor did Peter plan on a career change by the end of the day!
2. There are people that were designed by God to be a part of our lives! They will be a blessing for the most part.
3. We were designed by God to be a part of other peoples lives as well!
a) You are here because you are supposed to be here. I am here because I am supposed to be here. RELAX AND LIVE IN THIS TRUTH!
• Proverbs 18:24 Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
CLOSING | PRAYER
