Launch Out into The Deep Part 1
“The Ministry of Availability”
5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
5:1 – “to hear the Word of God.”
Is that why you are here?
That is my MISSION … that is the GOAL … that is the means to SPIRITUAL GROWTH … the means to SALVATION.
Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
That is why we invite people to church … tracts … witnessing … Sunday School …, and Small Groups… It is so they can hear the Word of God.
How does God get the Word out to a lost & dying world?
ANSWER: He uses whatever source is AVAILABLE.
What did Jesus find here?
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
5:2 – Jesus was being pushed into the water by the crowd –
5:1. They were thirsty for the Word of God. To a preacher, that is like saying “Sick-em!” to a dog!
Everybody wanted a front-row seat.
They must not have been Baptists!
Jesus needed a pulpit.
He sees a boat … in the ship, He could be both seen and heard.
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.
5:3 – Jesus uses Simon’s boat. WHY? BECAUSE … it was AVAILABLE! It was ready for the Master’s use. Simon was willing to give up what he had … EVEN IF … it was a dirty, smelly, old fishing boat. God will use whatever we make AVAILABLE to Him.
NOTICE – Jesus did not DEMAND the use of the boat.
He did not just TAKE it … He “prayed” … i.e., he ASKED.
Peter could have refused.
Jesus does not FORCE us to be an instrument in the process of leading others to Christ.
We are supposed to be a link in the chain … NOT … the “missing link.”
He may make us wish we HAD yielded to His will … BUT … He will not force us. He uses only what is made AVAILABLE to Him.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5:4 – NOTICE – 5:3 = “out a little from the land”. – “Launch out into the deep.”
LESSON – When we make available what LITTLE we have …
He will lead us into deeper & greater things.
Do not give up if you are not winning 10 people to the Lord a day … or every month … or every year.
Do not give up even if you are NOT TRYING to win people to the Lord.
Jesus will not ask you to “Launch out into the deep” … UNTIL … you first go out “a little from the land.” Jesus will lead you one step at a time.
Every Christian here would LIKE to lead 10 people to the Lord every day. BUT … maybe your ministry is not to be the LAST link in the chain … the REAPING part.
MAYBE … the very thought of leading someone to Christ makes you say, “I just can’t do it!”
WHAT IS THE KEY?
You have got to make yourself AVAILABLE first with what you HAVE … THEN … you can go deeper and further with Him.
BUT … what do you have to do FIRST?
FIRST … you must let Jesus into your boat.
Too many Christians have not let Jesus into their boat.
He is still on shore.
You are glad to let Jesus save you & take you to Heaven.
BUT … you do not want Him in the boat with you.
You do not want Jesus to get too involved in your life.
You do not really want Jesus as the LORD of your life.
You FIRST must come to the point where you are willing to be AVAILABLE … to be WILLING for Jesus to use you.
You must be AVAILABLE to be a link in His chain.
NOTICE what Jesus told them to do – 5:4 – “Let down your nets for a drought.”
If you want to catch fish … you have to let down your nets.
Fish do not usually jump into the boat.
If you ignore the lost condition of those around you, the lost will not get any closer to Heaven.
What did they have AVAILABLE? NETS!
Jesus did not tell them to use what they didn’t have.
SO … Jesus tells them, “Put what you have AVAILABLE to use.” MAYBE … you do not have very much.
“Preacher, now you’re talking to me!”
FINE! BUT … put what God HAS GIVEN YOU to use.
Make it available to Him. PRAY! All of us can pray… Do what you can.
Mark tells the story of a woman who took an alabaster box of perfume and poured it on the head of Jesus. Some of the Disciples rebuked her, saying that she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. LISTEN to what
Jesus said – Mark 14:8 – “She hath done what she could.” If you do not do what you CAN DO … you will never “launch out into the deep” to do MORE.
Do not cry over what you CAN’T DO … do what you CAN.
What if I said that I will not preach at all, because I cannot preach like Billy Graham?
What if a High School quarterback said that he would not play football, because he cannot play like Brett Farve?
Well, we cannot!
BUT … instead of doing NOTHING … do what you CAN … AND … do it the very best you can!
- The Fish v.5
The Lord is waiting to bless us the moment we are willing to obey
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.
5:5a – This is a verse where DOUBT tries to sneak in. Up to this time, there has been GROWTH. They got into the boat … they went out a little way …
they launched out into the deep.
As we grow in the Lord, we become better & more useful witnesses.
The Disciples cited a previous experience … “worked all night … caught nothing.”
At NIGHT, the fish were closer to the surface.
LESSON – Perhaps you have failed Christ in the past.
Do not let that keep you from a ministry NOW. This is a new day … This is the first day of the rest of your life. This is the first day of the rest of your Christian ministry. Do not let past failures keep you from going on.
NOTE: “Nevertheless.” Here is where VICTORY comes.
“In spite of the fact that I cannot see what good it will do …
I cannot see how it will work …
I cannot see how God can use me …
I will do it!” WHY?
Because Jesus says so!
When Peter obeyed look what happened!
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
