The Astonishing Results of Obedience

Text: Luke 5:1-11 Theme: When Peter simply obeyed Jesus, he was astonished, humbled and compelled to follow Him. Key verses: “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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.'” (v. 3-4) “Simon answered…’But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” (v. 5-6) “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 his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken.” (v. 8-9) “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.” (v. 10b-11) What God said to me: Dwayne, this is not rocket science. Those hadn’t even been thought of yet. This is not terribly difficult to comprehend or apply. In fact, what Peter did was simply obey my simple directions. I know where the fish are, Dwayne. I created them and control them. I know where the results are hidden. I can get you to the big fish and lots of small ones too. You can’t; they couldn’t. But I can. Notice that asking Peter to launch out into deep water wasn’t my first request and test. First I asked him to simply put out a few feet. Some would not have even done that for me. Still today, many are not even willing to get involved with me at all. Peter did. Then he sat as a captive audience beside me in that tiny boat and he heard every word of teaching that I did. That softened his heart and prepared him for what was next for him. Once I knew his heart was open and his mind had been engaged and enlightened, then I knew his was ready for the plunge, for the deeper water. See, Dwayne, not everyone is ready at the same time to go out deeper. There must be a season of preparation and growth. There must first be obedience to less threatening, more reasonable requests – requests like, “I have something I want to teach you,” “Are you willing to let me in your boat?” “Will you make yourself and what you have available to me to use?” If a person takes that first step successfully, then he is more ready to move on out into the faith-demanding, rediculous-looking, kinda-scary deep, dark water of discovery. And that water keeps getting deeper with me. You will never arrive at learning what I have out there for you. I will never stop challenging you to deeper, greater obedience. And I will never stop astonishing you with the results. What I said to God: Lord, I believe. Help, thou, mine unbelief. May I also learn from this how to better teach and lead those I disciple. May we as Your church methodically lead them from the shallow to the deep of experiencing Your grace, power and love.