Latest / The Bible Bit Podcast / At Thy Word: Launch Out Into the Deep

Transcript

At Thy Word: Launch Out Into the Deep · The Bible Bit Podcast

0:00
Welcome back. This is Kimmy Miller of Woman at the Well Ministries bringing
0:04
you another Bible bit for you to enjoy.
0:07
At Thy Word, launch out into the deep.
0:11
Today as we journey through the scriptures, seeking God's truth regarding how
0:15
we should live our lives, we are going to begin our study on Luke 5, 1-11.
0:21
Here we read about a fishing expedition that Simon Peter and his colleagues took.
0:26
On their strength, they came up short and empty.
0:31
But through the power and might of Jesus, they were blessed abundantly and hauled
0:35
in more fish than their nets could bear.
0:39
Simon Peter and the other fishermen had worked all night and caught nothing,
0:42
yet Jesus entered Simon Peter's boat and gave him a command that challenged
0:48
his experience, launch out into the deep, Luke 5.4.
0:52
At the word of Jesus, they launched into the deep and let down their nets.
0:57
Their obedience led to an overwhelming blessing.
1:01
God blessed them with an enormous catch of fish and ultimately a personal call to follow Christ.
1:08
When we trust and obey Jesus, He transforms us, ordinary people,
1:14
into faithful servants.
1:17
Obedience to christ's commands brings us from empty nets to fruitful service,
1:25
god requires obedience and obedience begins with faith and faith is obeying
1:32
jesus's words especially when our circumstances seem to contradict what god is saying to us.
1:41
It is then, especially then, that we must employ our faith and trust in God.
1:47
In this account in Luke 5, 1-11, the fishermen had worked all night and caught nothing.
1:55
They were tired, discouraged, and washing their nets when Jesus enters Simon Peter's boat.
2:03
These fishermen were not novice fishermen. They were experienced and highly successful fishermen.
2:09
Yet when Jesus enters the boat, he gives Peter a command to launch into the deep.
2:15
This command challenged everything that Simon Peter knew about fishing.
2:20
Jesus challenged Peter's experience by asking him to go out and do what he had
2:24
done before that resulted in no fish being caught.
2:29
Jesus knew that Peter had been fishing and caught nothing, and Peter was more
2:33
than aware of the fruitlessness that had come from his long night of fishing.
2:38
Yet when Jesus asked Peter to launch out into the deep, Peter did just that.
2:44
There's so much to learn from this account in Luke 5, 1 through 11.
2:49
So let's begin to unfold its truths now.
2:52
Peter's miracle began with these three words. At thy word, Luke 5, 5.
3:01
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.
3:07
Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.
3:12
Luke 5.5 Peter exhibited complete and uttered obedience.
3:19
The command didn't make sense, but that didn't stop Peter from doing it.
3:23
Peter trusted Jesus to be right and acted upon his faith in God to do the next right thing.
3:30
Too often in times of confusion or distress, we try to figure it all out ourselves.
3:36
And even if we turn to God, we try to understand every move and every step from
3:41
beginning to end before we even start to obey.
3:46
The truth is that we don't know the hows, the whys, or the whins of God's call in our lives.
3:54
We just know the next step he's calling us to do.
3:58
Peter teaches us that it doesn't have to make sense for us to follow God.
4:02
What always makes sense is that we do what God is asking us to do when he is asking us to do it.
4:11
Peter heard God's command and expresses that it doesn't make sense,
4:16
but declares, because God said it at thy word, he would trust and obey.
4:22
He would launch into the deep.
4:24
Notice God didn't chastise Peter for not understanding the why and expressing
4:29
that it didn't make sense.
4:32
But notice as well that Peter's circumstances and the emotions that Peter was
4:36
feeling, such as confusion and probably even frustration, did not keep Peter from obeying God.
4:43
Peter did exactly what God and Jesus said, even though he didn't understand
4:49
it or know what his obedience would bring.
4:52
Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
4:57
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
4:59
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15, 22.
5:08
My friend, it is better to obey than to sacrifice.
5:12
How has God challenged your experience?
5:15
What is your response to God's challenge?
5:19
Your response demonstrates your faith in God. If you trust Him,
5:24
fully trust Him, you will follow His commands fully, completely, and faithfully.
5:30
My friend, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not into thine own understanding.
5:37
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
5:43
Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3, 5-7.
5:51
Obedience doesn't come naturally. Obedience is something we must choose to do
5:57
every minute of every day.
5:59
We must choose to live the Jesus way.
6:03
We must choose to put Jesus above all else, and we must choose to follow God's commands.
6:10
Hebrews 11, 6 tells us, But without faith it is impossible to please him.
6:15
For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
6:20
of them that diligently seek him.
6:23
So today, choose faith over fear and obedience over disobedience.
6:29
Just as Peter did, let your miracle begin at thy word.
6:35
Remember you are loved. Jesus loves you. Join us tomorrow as we continue our study on Luke 5, 1-11.
6:43
Please visit Woman at the Well Ministries at WATWM.org for more resources,
6:48
podcasts, and to connect with us.
6:51
If you would like to have Bible Bits delivered to your cell phone via text messages,
6:55
go to our website at WATWM.org to subscribe.