9th October, 2014 10:30 am, Paya Labar Methodist Church
Luke 5:2-7 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
John 21:3-11
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Success is dangerous. When you’re pulling in 153 big fishes, you need a miracle for the Net not to broken.
Net breaking means you have lost something, opportunities are lost, 1 step forward and 2 steps backward.
In the first story, the fishes were divided in to 2 different boats, but in the second story, they were united.
The Lord wants us to be united. Unity is powerful.
Matthew 5: 23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
If pastors and evangelists get along together, the world will be shaken.
Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Jesus distributed the ministry to men.
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ
Grace is the battery that makes the Gift of God to work. When Gifts and Grace are together, things become easy. You can do things easily, that’s impossible. When God calls you, He gives you the grace for that calling.
When you try to operate aside from your gift, you will find it difficult, burdensome.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to force those around you to do the same thing as you do. If you think, everybody should be doing, probably that’s what you should be doing. Stop forcing others from doing what you’re called to do, said Daniel Kolenda.
Realize that each one has a gift. God’s desire is to raise you up what He has called you to do.
John and Peter were different personalities. John was meek, mild, soft spoken. But John complemented Peter at the end of his chapter.
When you get a revelation of how Jesus loves, you do not need to be competitive. There is nothing to prove, you don’t need to fight. It doesn’t always have to be about you.
In the first story, they let down their “net” and not “nets”, contrary to Jesus’ command. Obedience is what they didn’t do.
Obey the vision that God has given you. If God has not given you any other vision, then obey the same vision that you received first.
In the first story, the net broke when they were bringing it into the boat. In the second story, they jumped onto water. If you want the net to be safe, bring the glory to Jesus, increase Him, increase His fame. You will never fail. Point people to Jesus and you’ll never go wrong.
Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love Me?”. Peter’s ministry is not motivated by love for sheep but love for Jesus. Peter was good in catching fish. Jesus asked Peter, Do you love Me more than these?
You must love Jesus more than success, and ministry. Everything you’re doing is out of love for Jesus and then everything will be successful.
