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The Grace And Cost of God's Calling · The Bible Bit Podcast

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  Welcome back. This is Kimmy Miller of Women at the Well Ministries bringing
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  you another Bible bit for you to enjoy.
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  The grace and cost of God's calling.
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  Today, as we walk through the scriptures, finding God's meaning for our lives,
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  we conclude our study on Luke 5, 1-11.
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  In our final lesson, we see a gentle grace in the calling that Jesus places on Simon Peter's life.
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  Jesus revealed Simon Peter's need. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
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  Jesus' knees saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
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  Luke 5.8 Peter saw more than the miracle that Jesus had multiplied the catch.
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  He recognized the presence and power of Jesus.
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  But by God's grace, instead of
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  condemnation or rejection, Jesus answered Peter's fear with reassurance.
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  Jesus said, Fear not. Luke 5.10 There is tremendous grace in Jesus' calling of Peter.
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  Jesus' light revealed to Peter his sinful nature.
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  But God's grace not only told Peter not to fear, but it also transformed Peter's purpose.
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  Peter had been catching fish. Now he was helping win others to Christ.
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  Despite Peter's weaknesses, Jesus called Peter to his service.
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  Jesus is still doing the same for every willing heart.
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  The Lord doesn't call perfect people. He calls surrendered people and changes
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  them and equips them for his service.
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  Your past failures and your current weaknesses do not prevent Jesus from using
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  you when you yield to him and his authority.
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  But God's call on your life comes with a price. And when they had brought their
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  ships to land, they forsook all and followed him. Luke 5, 11.
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  Peter, James, and John left their former security.
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  They had received a miraculous catch, yet they did not allow their material
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  success and blessing to become their master and God.
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  They placed Jesus above all their material possessions.
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  They surrendered their boats, nets, business, and personal plans to Jesus They were all in.
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  They forsook all and followed Jesus.
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  Peter, James, and John followed Jesus completely. They didn't hold back anything.
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  I wonder how many of us can honestly say that we have given everything we have,
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  and everything we are to Jesus.
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  I imagine that the vast majority of us are harboring habits,
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  desires, thoughts, pride, and strong will deep within our hearts.
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  We are refusing to release them to Jesus.
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  Peter, James, and John forsook all and followed Jesus.
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  Their response was more than amazement at a miracle. They committed themselves to Christ's service.
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  Have we committed ourselves to the service of Jesus?
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  The miracle of the multiplied fish was not the end of the Peter, James, and John story.
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  It was the beginning of their walk with Jesus and Christ's discipleship of them.
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  My friend, following Christ requires more than admiration.
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  It requires surrender. Following Jesus often requires leaving behind those things
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  that once defined us and those things and people to whom we were devoted.
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  God's call on our lives requires our trust and our unwavering obedience.
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  This passage in Luke 5, 1-11 moves from empty nets to an abundant catch,
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  from fear to reassurance, and from fishing for fish to following and serving Jesus.
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  Peter's transformation began at his willingness to obey.
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  Nevertheless, at thy word, Luke 5, 5, the greatest response to God's power is
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  to follow Jesus completely.
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  Where is Jesus asking you to trust Him and to obey Him? Where is Jesus calling you?
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  The question is not, what can I accomplish with my life?
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  But rather, will I obey Jesus at His word when He calls me to launch into the deep?
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  Remember, you are loved. Jesus loves you.
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  Please visit Woman at the Wow Ministries at WATWM.org for more resources,
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  podcasts, and to connect with us.
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  If you would like to have Bible Bits delivered to your cell phone via text messages,
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  go to our website at watwm.org to subscribe.