What’s Not God’s?
Is Everything the Lord’s?
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5).
Have you ever argued with God? One of the first sermons Jesus ever gave was from a boat. It was Simon Peter’s boat. Jesus used a businessman’s business to preach the Gospel. However, Peter had to first make his business available to the Master. When he did, something wonderful happened to his business.
Job 41:11 (Who has confronted me that I should repay? Everything under heaven belongs to me!)
This scripture reminds me that God is in control and everything on this earth is His.
* I am simply a steward over what He has given on this earth.
* This also means that I am His and that my body is not my own (Romans 12:1) and that I need to treat it as such.
My selfish wants should never overpower His heavenly desires for me. Thank you for cleansing me of me oh heavenly Father! It is ALL Yours!
You see, Peter’s fishing business was in a slump. They had just fished all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, Peter made his boat available to Jesus to use as He wished. Jesus used it to preach to the multitudes. After Jesus used Peter’s boat for His purposes Jesus did something interesting for Peter. He blessed his business.
However, Peter almost Missed the Blessing because he began to argue with Jesus. Peter was looking at the market conditions instead of the instruction of Jesus. (#1. Keep our eyes on JESUS. Heb 12:2 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. ….)
Something inside of him made him reconsider Jesus’ instruction. Jesus rewarded his obedience. ”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink?” (Luke 5:6-7).
We see a number of Kingdom principles we can apply in our work lives in this story.
1) We must be willing to let God use our work life for His purposes.
2) We must not look at circumstances and argue with Jesus when His instruction seems to contradict what we have seen or experienced already.
3) We must obey the Lord. When we obey the Lord we might just see Jesus use US for His glory and bless our obedience.
4)Wow! One more thing. When you listen to the Lord’s commands, be prepared to receive a blessing that is too great to contain!
*** You may have to mend your nets!
Jesus admonishes us as to “go deep”. He told the disciples to move from where they were and go deep and immediately they had a bounty of fish in their nets.
There are times we have to leave where we are and travel by ourselves to where God has created opportunities for us. It is in this place that the blessings of God will overtake you.
– My future has unlimited opportunities – when I follow Jesus daily. (What better example of a leader is there?)
1) We follow by being connected to God and others
*Jesus didn’t do life or ministry alone – he had his apostles and followers
* Paul used his local church as a body and worked together
* Jesus led by example and his apostles followed the model of their leader
2) We follow by listening
* Every Believer has GOD – the Holy Spirit Living inside of them
– Primarily we follow God through:
– The written Word
– Influence of The Holy Spirit
3) We follow by changing (teachable and flexible)
* God wants to TRANSFORM our lives through our Bible study to know how Jesus lead in different circumstances.
* “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves”
* God I am ready and excited to follow you
*God I am ready to be changed on the inside
*God I am ready to change the world through YOU
*God I am ready to make you look GOOD! ALL Glory goes to the Lord.
Matthew 4: 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
•God loves us enough to speak into our lives at different times and in different ways.
•Three very distinct times God will speak to us…
1. The call to Come
2. The call to get Closer
3. The call to Serve
•Do you hear Him calling?
•The closer my walk with Jesus, the more He deals with my inner struggles and sins.
•LOVE to be acts of kindness in relieving or helping those who are hurting in some way.
Jesus wants to teach us to be fishers of men. What will be the bait? Our love AND lifestyle.
Psalms 105:
1. GIVE thanks to the LORD,
proclaim his greatness; TELL the nations what he has done.
2. SING praise to the LORD; TELL the wonderful things he has done.
3. Be GLAD that we belong to him;
LET all who worship him rejoice.
4. GO to the LORD for help; and Worship him continually.
Eph. 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Be prepared and willing to progress in the areas of your anointing and creativity. Pray and watch for opportunities for a greater and more complete expression of your gifting both spiritually and naturally. And, the Lord will establish you in confidence and boldness to do all that HE has set before you. Exercise your faith.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Amen