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Text: Luke 5:4-10
Thesis: To help my brethren see the need to serve the Lord.
Introduction:
1. Simon Peter, James, and John had been fishing all night in the lake of Gennesaret.
2. These professional fisher men had fished all night without catching anything, and now they were probably tired and ready to
go home and rest.
3. While cleaning their nets Jesus entered Simon's boat and asked him to throw out a little, so he could continue to teach the multitude.
4. After Jesus finished speaking to this crowd he instructed Simon to launch out into the deep and let his nets down for a draught.
5. Peter's mind knew that the Lord was wasting his time, but with respect for the Lord he said, "Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."
6. Our text reveals the great need of Christians to follow the Lord's word, to conform to the Lord's will, and the wonderful results of actually doing what is expected.
I. The need of the Christian to follow the Lord's will.
A. Simon knew his job, and he knew of no reason why he should launch out into the deep and lower his nets.
1. After delivering the Hebrew people from Egypt, they still failed to trust the Lord (Ex. 14:10-11).
2. After being cared for by the Lord for all of those many years, those 10 spies still failed to trust the Lord (Num. 13:28, 30 -14:2).
3. Aaron and his sons were the only ones authorized by our Lord to touch the ark of the covenant.
a. The work of preparing the ark for transportation belonged to the priests.
b. The Kohathites were responsible to transport the ark, but they were sternly warned not to touch it "lest they die" (Num. 4:15).
c. So when David moved the ark into Jerusalem without observing God's will, problems arose (II Sam. 6:6).
4. In all of these instances man thought that he knew best, but God knew better.
B. Many events in history make no sense to the human mind.
1. The plan was simple, Israel was to march around the walls of Jerico every day for six days.
a. On the seventh day the troops were to march seven times, the priests were to blow their trumpets and the people were to shout with a great shout.
b. At that moment, as God promised, the walls fell down flat.
2. Remember when Gideon was preparing to engage in battle with 32,000 warriors against Midian?
a. His force was too large so 22,000 who were afraid were released.
b. The Lord said that his force was still too big so 9,700 more are weeded out of Gideon's army.
c. With 300 soldiers divided into three companies, each man equipped with a trumpet, pitcher and a torch, Gideon defeated the Midianites.
3. Why was it possible for insurmountable odds to be victorious?
a. Because there men acted on faith (Heb. 11:6).
b. Because God's ways are so much higher than man's (Isa. 55:8-9).
4. When Simon's own reasoning came into conflict with the instructions of Jesus, Simon just said "Nevertheless at thy word."
a. To reject the Lord's word is so dangerous.
b. To accept the Lord's will is a blessing.
II. The need of the Christian to conform to the Lord's will.
A. "Nevertheless at thy word I will."
1. Peter's will conformed to the Lord's will, because Peter was doing his best to follow Jesus.
a. Jesus is the Christian's example (I Pet. 2:21).
b. Jesus' example was one of service (Matt. 20:28; John 6:38; John 17:4).
B. When an alien sinner is baptized into Christ, he becomes a new creature (II Cor. 5:17).
1. New creatures take on new roles and walk in a new way of life, or they die.
2. The new creature was created to walk in good works (Eph. 2:10).
3. Every member of the Lord's body has work to do (Rom. 12:4-5; explain context apply principle).
4. The child of God is to be about his Father's business, and that business is to be taken seriously (Rom. 12:11).
C. Conforming to the Lord's will means that the Christian will be a fisher of men (v. 10).
1. The church is the Lord's body on earth (Col. 1:18).
2. The Lord's spiritual body needs to be doing what his physical body did, seek the lost (Lk. 19:10).
3. In order for the local congregation to conform to the Lord's will and be effective in the work of evangelism, each member must do his part.
a. Elders can not oversee the local congregation if they are busy serving tables (Acts 6:3-4).
b. Deacons are servants and if they are not serving they are not deacons.
c. Dear sisters, the New Testament is full of examples of how our dear sisters in the first century served the church.
d. The Lord wants faithful men to lead the church in worship (I Tim. 2:8).
e. Discuss many areas needing attention in the local congregation.
D. Dear brethren, what are you doing to serve the Lord?
1. To serve in the church is to serve the Lord.
2. I imagine that many reasons could be pulled together this morning as to why one can not put some time into the work of the church.
3. Would it not be better to have the attitude of Peter and say, "Nevertheless at thy word I will."
4. Because the Lord has called us to good works.
III. The wonderful results of doing what the Lord has desired.
A. Peter did the Lord's will and caught so many fish that his boat and Zebedee's boat both began to sink.
1. The church needs to work like a well oiled machine whose business is to fish for men.
2. There comes a time when brethren need to just trust the Lord and launch out into the deep.
3. God will bless those who seek first his kingdom.
B. If Peggy Ann McCormack can find a way to serve the Lord, then no one here can really find an excuse not to.
1. In 1952 sister McCormack became paralyzed below the throat by an attack of polio.
2. She painted with her teeth and was known around Fayetteville as "the oral artist of the Ozarks."
3. Sister McCormack used her song writing abilities to write spiritual hymns.
4. In her hymn "My spirit is free" she wrote: "Physical handicaps make me feel so small, dependant on others for needs one and all; I know that God's grace is sufficient for me, My flesh may be week but my spirit is free."
5. True freedom is found in serving the Lord.
Conclusion:
1. The Lord expects men to obey his will.
2. Christians must rise above the excuses of the day and serve the Lord.
3. If you have tried it before and were unsuccessful, do not quit.
a. Babe Ruth is not remembered for striking out 1333 times, but for his 714 home runs.
b. George Washington is not remembered for his poor performance as a military leader at the beginning of his career, rather he is remembered as the father of our nation.
c. Abraham Lincoln was badly beaten when he ran for the legislature.
He spent 17 years paying back a bad debt after failing in business. He failed to be elected as vice president. He was defeated by Douglas, but he kept trying and today he is remembered as one of the great presidents.
d. Peter and Paul are not remembered by their failures, but by their success in doing the Lord's will.
4. Brethren the reward is tremendous for those who do the Lord's will.
- - Darrell Broking
