Fishers of Men

rickshriver

Rock Family Church of Morgantown WV

Miracles • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Fishers of Men - Receiving, Responding, Results

· Miracle = occurrence that demonstrates God’s involvement in the course of human affairs.

Theme: Cooperate with God

Process of Miracles – Receiving, Responding, Results

Receiving (by Hearing), Responding (“doing” by faith), Results

Patterns:

Personal – no name, Master, Lord

Location – shallow shoreline, push out some, go deeper

The First Disciples – (Mat 4:18–22; Mar 1:16–20 ) heard and followed, with no mention of the great catch of fish

Matthew 4:18–22 NLT

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

· What made the difference? A MIRACLE

· Miracles were a main reason that people followed Jesus

· First, the crowds followed Jesus because of His powerful TEACHINGS, now they will follow Him because of His powerful ACTIONS.

· People will also follow the end time church if we would simply follow Jesus’ example by TEACHING God’s word and ALLOW Him to confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles.

· Modern application – if miracles are not taking place today, then either we are not teachingthe Word of God, not expecting miracles, or we are not allowingGod an opportunity (adequate space and time) to move.

Luke 5:1–11 describes a miracle of nature

· This miracle was performed by Jesus and was received by Peter.

· Things mentioned: Simon Peter’s boat, fish, net.

• Miraculous Catch of Fish (Wikipedia)

Luke 5:1 NLT

1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.

· One day – can be YOUR day – if you will be where God’s Spirit is – such as a Spirit filled CHURCH, or an anointed broadcast

· Preaching - 2476 ἵστημι [histemi /his·tay·mee/] - “to cause to stand” (your faith)

· Great crowds - 3793 ὄχλος [ochlos /okh·los/] – multitude gathered without order

o REASON – why were the crowds there?

o Human nature does not do something for no reason – they must have seen that Jesus had what they needed!

· Pressed in - 1945 ἐπίκειμαι [epikeimai /ep·ik·i·mahee/] – pressed in with urgency

o Perhaps the crowds heard about the miracles of water turning to wine at the wedding at Cana.

o Perhaps they heard Jesus preach somewhere else

· To listen – 191 ἀκουστός, ἀκούω [akouo /ak·oo·o/] – to find out

· To the Word of God – 3056 λόγος [logos /log·os/] – God’s direction, instruction and commands which leads to blessings now and eternal life tomorrow.

o God’s Word was IMPORTANT TO THEM

o Not to be entertained by religion! They had hundreds of years of religion and it only produced dryness.

o They wanted more than man’s tradition. They wanted the real thing!

o WHERE – and meeting a man from Galilee by the seashore vs meeting in the Temple

o WHEN – Even if it meant stopping their busy lives during the work week vs the Sabbath.

o Personal challenge – are you willing to go wherever and whenever you receive your miracle from God?

Natural illustration: - Too many people –

God uses natural events to teach spiritual principles, both in word, such as the parables, as well as events, such as fishing.

God would soon teach Peter that the people on the shore would represent the fish in His boat and vice versa.

Luke 5:2 NLT

2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

Irony – the fishermen left the same area the crowds were pressing into – TOO BUSY

You could be so close yet so far from your miracle.

Actions reveal Priorities

· The crowds left their natural plans to seek Jesus’ spiritual teachings.

· At the same time and place, the fishermen left the spiritual for the natural. Although they were Jews, the fishermen did not express any interest in the King of the Jews.

· Christians today are often too busy for the things of God. They drive right past their church on the way to do something else.

· Personal challenge: Where does God rank on your list of priorities? Do you realize that the natural things that you put before the Lord may be the very things blocking you from your blessings?

Left the boats -

Washed the nets – done for the day

Personal challenge –

· are you struggling? Have you worked for a long time with no results?

· Are you frustrated in praying and seeing things not change, or even get worse?

· If so, you are a prime candidate for a miracle

· God is about to turn your “setback” into a “set up” for miracles.

Luke 5:3 NLT

3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

Stepped in the boat –

· Jesus changes the equation of your situation

· Miracles occur when God steps in what man steps out of.

· God is about to step into your boat,

o your family, your health, your finances, your marriage, your business, your church, your community, your country.

Jesus didn’t ask verbally, but Peter didn’t refuse either.

· Peter could have seen Jesus as an uninvited stow away and told Him to leave his personal property

· How would you feel if, after work, you saw someone sitting in your car that has been the recent talk of the town? What would you do?

· Is Jesus allowed in your home? Your finances? Your marriage? Your work? Is He only Jesus the Savior or Jesus the Lord?

Miracles are negated through negativity

· Peter could have reasoned his opportunity away

· Many people come face to face with their miracle, only to make excuses and miss out.

· Then oftentimes they blame God for not doing anything about their situation, when the whole time Jesus was sitting in their boat, trying to help them.

Push it out – Peter cooperated with God!

· Cooperation is the doorway to miracles.

· Personal application – how many people are doing without today?

o It is not that God does not WANT to do miracles

o It is that God CANNOT do miracles (in MOST cases) – apart from our cooperation

o Cooperation comes from faith –

o faith in God’s Word leads to ACTION – FIRST on YOUR part, THEN on GOD’S part

o hope factor – you are one step from a miracle! Won’t you take it by faith today? Simply do what God said! God has already done the 99% all He needs is your 1% of faith to unleash His power in the earth.

Taught the crowds –

Miracle Win #1 – Change of MIND – by Hearing the Word

· people’s lives were changed, which is the greatest miracle of all

Luke 5:4 NLT

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

Finished speaking –

· What was the sermon? - my theory is – “Obey God’s Word and you will be blessed” what was the clue? Peter obeyed Jesus and was blessed!

· The Word comes first! The signs follow (confirm the Word)

· Said to Simon – was on the boat – private audience! Front row seat

Go out deeper – miracles are WHERE God says

Let down your nets! – miracles are WHAT God says (to do)

Miracles Know What we need vs want

· Grace factor – Peter did not ask for fish!

· But God was going to give him some anyway!

· Why? Because Peter simply said YES to God! Peter represents all those who will cooperate with God’s plan – When, how and where He wants it done.

· God will meet you at your point of faith, but He expects you to grow, as Peter was about to find out!

Needs vs wants

Why did Peter fish?

1 – to FEED his family

2 – to CARE for his family - For MONEY

Since Jesus knew Peter needed money, why did he not simply give him money?

Because Jesus is not a counterfeiter.

God already created the fish of the sea in Genesis chapter 1.

Although God will not make more fish, he will attract the fish that are there to you!

Faith confession – “My fish are coming to me!”

Luke 5:5 NLT

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

The challenge of faith – Contrary orders

· WHO – opposite person – Carpenter instructing fishermen?

· WHEN – opposite time – hot day when fish probably swim deeper to cool off vs night when they come up to feed

miracles are based on how we receive Jesus

· Master = overseer (limited)

Miracles can challenge our thinking

· We can either make Excuses – “we worked all night”

· or we can make adjustments – Repentance – “but if you say so”

· When God speaks to you, will you follow your head or your heart?

The WORD leads to ACTION – (HEARING leads to DOING)

· RESULTS are the REASON to hearing the Word –

· Hearing brings faith, and faith leads to godly action.

Luke 5:6 NLT

6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!

THIS TIME – things will go God’s way

· THIS TIME is MY Time

· That was then, this is now!

Miracles REDEEM - God will rock you with the things that mock you.

God will rock you with the things that mock you.

· Redemption – Miracles will use the very thing that was barren to be fruitful and the unproductive to bring results

· THIS TIME – The same boat that was empty is now full to sinking!

· THIS TIME – The same nets that were drying are now breaking!

· THIS TIME – Is MY time!

o The same low business sales that mock you will come up

o The same empty church chairs that mock you will fill up

o The same empty crib will have babies!

Miracles can happen suddenly

God did in a moment what man could not do all night.

Luke 5:7 NLT

7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

Miracles turns sadness into gladness

· Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

· Want to make someone happy? Bring them a miracle!

Miracle Win #2 – Change of CIRCUMSTANCES

· Natural blessings – for Peter, his family his partners, their families and the entire marketplace community

· God is a God of prosperity! He wants His people RICH!

· To defy the prosperity of God is to defy the character of God.

· The FULLNESS is for YOU – the OVERFLOW is for OTHERS

· The overflow of miracles is to bless others!

· Miracles can have a “trickle down” effect

· Will you allow God use you to open the door for miraculous blessings for others?

Luke 5:8 NLT

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.”

Miracles REFORM – the heart

Miracles change the natural to change the spiritual

Miracles change the EXTERNAL with the goal to change the SPIRITUAL

Realized

Realized – God used a miracle of nature to open Peter’s spiritual eyes!

Realized = 3708 εἶδον, ὁράω [horao /hor·ah·o/] to become acquainted with by experience.

Fell to his knees –

· Peter’s actions now moved past the point of external instructions to internal conviction.

· In other words, when miracles take place, no one has to tell you what to do.

· Peter’s convicted heart now gave Jesus even greater obedience than just pushing a boat or lowering a net

· Peter is now pressing into Jesus like the crowd before! NOW Peter “gets” it

Convicted of sin –

The greatest miracle of all is a saved soul!

Miracles become personal – draw us close to God – Peter is now addressing Jesus by Name (Lord).

Lord = G2962 – kurios = supremacy, one who has the power of deciding, owner, title of honor, respect and reverence, the title given to the Messiah.

The God of miracles stays the same, but miracles open our eyes to Him.

Sinful = G268 ἁμαρτωλός [hamartolos/ham·ar·to·los/] stained with crimes

Miracles bless the unlikely

It’s a miracle that Jesus chose Peter, the worst of the worst.

It’s a miracle that God would use any of us.

Let’s always show our appreciation for the Lord taking us from what we were doing what we can be in Christ.

Luke 5:9 NLT

9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.

Awestruck = comes from two Greek words –

G2285 thambos, which mean “to render immovable” and

G4023 periecho, which means “to seize with astonishment”

Number = G61 agra = haul

Caught

Record catch! I doubt Peter ever saw so many fish in His life before!

Ephesians 3:20 NLT

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

In these last days, I believe God ‘s end time miracles will more than make up for all the dry seasons of “fishing all night”.

Miracles can be trusted

God knew how many fish the nets could hold without completely breaking.

He also knew how many fish each ship could handle without sinking, to include the weight of the men onboard.

For us, God knows how many customers our business can hold safely, how many members our church can effectively serve, and how much blessing we can handle personally.

Luke 5:10 NLT

10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”

Miracles REVEAL the Fear of God

Don’t be afraid – G5399 phobeo – to flee

Miracles prove that God is HELPING us, not HURTING us.

Let’s EXPECT God sized miracles from the God OF miracles.

Miracles REPRODUCE

· You RECEIVE a miracle in order to BE a miracle

· Miracles are designed to flow TO you so they can flow THROUGH you

· Let’s be a pipe for God to flow throughrather than a bucket just for you.

“I WILL MAKE YOU Fishers of Men” –

How was Peter “made” to be a fisher of men? By receivinga miracle

How would Peter fish for men? – by BEINGa miracle (of a changed life that God can use)

A converted heart lead to a converted life

· Peter would catch others the way Jesus caught Peter! (Miracles)

· How did they catch fish? By listening to Jesus and following His commands

· How will the disciples catch men? The same way. Obey Jesus and signs will follow to confirm His Word, “drawing” men to salvation.

Luke 5:11 NLT

11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Miracle Win #3 – Changed LIFE

· Spiritual Blessings – Peter’s ministry began!

· Except for one brief moment, Peter would never go back to his old life of fishing

Irony – Jesus stepped INTO the boat because of the great catch of men, now Peter steps OUT of the boat because of the great catch of fish!

Miracles are designed to Multiply

THEY landed – James and John too!

Followed = G190 akoloutheo = to join as a disciple or an attendant, to side with his party.

They left everything, not just the nets and the boats, but their former lives.

Miracles are life-changing partner Peter, Andrew, James, and John would never be the same. Life as they knew it would pale in comparison to the plans of Jesus.

One miracle catapulted a handful of unlearned blue collar workers into their destiny of forming the foundation of the New Testament church, resulting in the salvation of billions of souls, and still multiplying!

Miracles bring CHANGE

· The crowds were changed by listening to Jesus

· Peter was changed by following Jesus

· YOU will be changed – by doing both

· you may be asking God for a miracle, but are you ready for a change? Or TO change?

Self-exam –

· why do you go to church, read your Bible or pray?

· If it’s not to apply God’s word to your everyday life (that brings change), then you are doing religious things for the wrong reasons.

· WE too will be changed if we will FOLLOW God’s Word!

Signs follow BELIEVERS

Mark 16:15–20 NLT

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” 19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

· Peter was sent to HIS generation, now Jesus is sending us with the same power that Peter had (and even Jesus) had, which is the power of the Holy Spirit.

· Let’s BE a miracle and catch men until the Rapture sounds!