Launch Out into The Deep
INTRODUCTION:
Petra
I Am Available Lyrics
“I don’t have much to offer you, I don’t have much to give
There’s so much I may never be as long as I may live
And I may never be all I want to be although I’ll always try
But if you choose me, to use me, there’s just one reason why
I am available, I am available, I will go when you say go
I am available, I am available, I will stop when you say no
My whole life was incomplete, till I laid it at your feet
So use me as you will, I am available
I’m not the most dependable, sometimes you can’t rely
There’s no excuse, there is no defense, there’s only one reply
I am available, I am available, I will go when you say go
I am available, I am available, I will stop when you say no
My whole life was incomplete, till I laid it at your feet
So use me as you will, I am available
I know that my ability is not your main concern
It’s my availability and willingness to learn
I am available, I am available, I will go when you say go
I am available, I am available, I will stop when you say no
My whole life was incomplete till I laid it at your feet
So use me as you will, I am available
So use me as you will, I am available
Available, I am, I am”
Our Text
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NKJV) 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
On this day Christ was the fisherman and he caught men to do his eternal work
“The Ministry Of Availability”
God has a ministry for every one of His children … NOT JUST the Pastor. EVERY Christian has a ministry … every one of YOU!
Not all will be great soul-winners … BUT … we all have a part in leading others to Christ. We are ALL a link in the chain although not all are the LAST LINK. For some, it’s inviting … bringing … personal testimony … teaching … praying … Nursery … Children’s Church …
I want to talk to you about the “Ministry of Availability.” Whatever ministry God has given you (and He HAS) … you need to be AVAILABLE to DO it.
Before God will use anybody, they must be AVAILABLE to be used … AMEN? NOBODY was consistently and mightily used of the Lord in the Bible … UNLESS … they were first willing to be made AVAILABLE.
EXAMPLE:
- SAMUEL – 1 Samuel 3:4 – “The Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.” SAMUEL was mightily used by God.
WHY? BECAUSE … he was AVAILABLE.
- MARY – She was the mother of Jesus. There were thousands of virgins in Galilee … perhaps hundreds in Nazareth. BUT … Mary was the one who went down in history.
WHY? NOTICE what Mary said when the angel told her of her chosen ministry –
Luke 1:38 – “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” In other words, “I’m available!”
- DISCIPLES – They were mightily used … BECAUSE … they were AVAILABLE.
Matthew 4:22 – “And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”
- PAUL – When God called him, he was the worst sinner around … killing or putting into prison as many Christians as he could get his hands on … a blasphemer.
How could God use him so mightily? LISTEN to what he said after his confrontation with Christ –
Acts 9:6 – “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” He made himself AVAILABLE to Jesus.
- JESUS – He walked perfectly in the will of God. WHY? Jesus was AVAILABLE. As the Son of God, He wanted ONLY to do the will of God. His 1st recorded words showed His availability –
Luke 2:49 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
He said “I’m available!”
“But” … you may say … “I am no Samuel, Mary, Disciple, Paul, or Jesus. I am just ME!
God cannot use ME like that! I am a nobody!”
Sure, He can! Just like Jesus used the little boy to feed 5000 people. What did the boy have? All he had were 5 biscuits and 2 sardines! He did not have MUCH … BUT … all he did was make it AVAILABLE for Jesus to use. Jesus took what he had multiplied it, used it … AND … there were 12 basketfuls left over!
TURN with me to our text – Luke 5:1-11 (don’t read yet). NOW … let us look at the END RESULT … the salvation of souls. READ 5:10b.
10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
OUR STORY – Jesus had just healed Peter’s Mother-in-Law. He had healed the sick & cast out demons. The next day He went to a deserted place to rest. The people flocked to hear Him. Jesus then went to the cities of Galilee to preach. They flocked to hear Him there.
NOW … He is at the Sea of Galilee.
Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV) 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Next week we look at the way these verses break down.
