April 26 2014 When Life Doesn't Meet Your Expectations

WHEN LIFE DOESN’T MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-3 - One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the Word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Luke 5:4-5 – When he had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.’

WHAT TO DO IN A DISCOURAGING SITUATION

1. Give Jesus complete access to your life.

Luke 5:3 – Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

2. Admit that my efforts aren’t working.

Luke 5:4-5a – When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’  Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.’

3. Obey whatever Jesus tells us to do.

Luke 5:5 – 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.

WHEN: “Now launch out”

WHAT: “Let down your nets”

WHERE: “Into deep water”

4. I expect Jesus to turn things around.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 – The One who calls you is completely dependable.  If He said it, He’ll do it!

Luke 5:6-7 – 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!

PETER’S REACTION

Luke 5:8-9 –When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

THE REAL LESSON

Luke 5:10-11 – Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.

October 3 2010 The Great Invitation

The Great Invitation

(Matthew 4:18-22 - As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.)

Four Lessons To Learn

1. Intimacy

(Verse 19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said)

2. Intervention

(Verse 19 - "and I will make you")

(Matthew 16:18 - "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.")

(Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.)

3. Investment

(Verse 20 - At once they left their nets and followed him.)

(Verse 22 - and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.)

4. Increase

(Verse 19 - "and I will make you fishers of men.")