The Explanation – Let me show you why
Luke 5:4-7 & 10 - MSG
5 1-7 Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.4 When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.”5-7 Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.)
11 Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.}
Summary:
Simon spent his night fishing and did not catch anything. Jesus approach Simon with a crowd watching. Simon was instructed to go back into the water and cast his net. God said I know you just came from there but I’m going to send you back because I have something to show you.
Verse. 3.
He climbed into the boat that Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd
This verse jumped into my spirit. Jesus went right to Simon's boat and told him to push back into the water. Simon was instructed to lead Jesus right back to the place where his doubt started. This is a heart posture within itself. Lead God to the place where the pain, fear, and confusion originated. Show him exactly where it hurts. Verse three continues with Jesus using the boat as a pulpit. The pulpit is used for the teaching and the declaration of the word. Healing happens and souls are saved from the words of the pulpit. God is going to use you as a vessel to share his word. You are a vessel through which souls will be saved. This will not be by your works but by the works of the Lord.
Jesus is about to show Simon why he experienced the fishless night. He said let me show you why I needed that doubt to brew a little bit. Let me show you why I had you go through what you went through. Let me show you why I need you and why you need me.
The presence of God was required
Simon was a skilled fisherman. He could tell by the tide of the waves if fishing was ideal. Simon knew by the season what he was most likely to catch. The night that he went fishing he did not catch any fish. Imagine the defeat that he could have felt. Perhaps the lack that he experienced reflected his ability to execute his gift. We’ve been in Simon's shoes before.
“God I’ve been teaching for a while and now the kids don’t like my class”
“God you blessed our union but we have reached a struggle point”
“God I have my degree but now I can't find a job”
Our plea to God shifts when our prayers are answered. We don’t pray the same once he answers.
We often grow too comfortable with our abilities. In the natural we are adults. In the kingdom, we are children of God. How dare we think that we are the sole providers. When we rely on our abilities we create our own alter.
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Simon had to lay down his ability and trust God! If this is for you, lay down your trust in your ability and trust God.
Reference scripture
Pslam 23: Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for your rod and staff comfort me
2. The multitude needed to bare witness - Its not just about you!
We are true examples of God’s word. While God will bless us in private sometimes, he will us to publicly exemplify his glory. God could have allowed Simon's overflow to take place the night before. However, God allowed time to pass while Simon tried his way. He had Simon at a point of doubt that fish were even nearby. The crowd watched as God sent Simon back into the deep to catch more fish than his boat could handle.
The expectation, the standard, and the power of Jesus.
There was an expectation of miracles that just took place because of Simon being used as an example.
The standard of those walking Jesus has been shifted.
The power of God showed us that even in our moment or season of a doubt God will still provide.
ITS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU!
Someone needs to see God change your situation. Someone needs to see God provide in your dry places. Someone’s faith is dependent on the parable God is using you for. We have grown accustomed to grinding and being corrected in private and showing a public result. To be used by God is to be seen at your weakest, lowest, and most vulnerable times in our lives. This is the experience that sources our faith and the faith of others. We must let people see the open wound that heals and leaves a survivor’s scar.
3. Overflow may cause you to return to your broken place
After Simon spent time fishing the night before he was instructed to go back. I could imagine myself in his shoes. I would have been irritated “I know there’s nothing there because I tried it already”. God made Simon return to his place of doubt just to produce faith. He stripped the very thought of doubt right out of his mind.
Perspective: There is a season of my life that I begged God to bring me out of. I couldn’t understand why my trying effort didn't change my situation. I left that season defeated. My faith was tested. I began to doubt the purpose of my life. I didn’t want to share what has turned into my testimony. Doubting myself like that was the perfect example of doubting God. The word tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalms 139:14. I couldn’t see myself in God's image, but I could see myself quitting. Fast forward … God brought me out of that season. I thanked God for years because that season made me stronger and closer to God. God showed me that everything I went through was necessary for my purpose. The real thank you came recently. I was working with a young lady that shared that she was going through the exact situation that I had experienced. My first thought was “I’ve been here before. This is too much”. The young lady cried, and It started to feel like a flashback. My heart began to pour out with thanksgiving. At that moment I returned to the very place where I began to doubt myself. It was almost as if I was talking to the younger me. I was picking up the younger me and embracing her with the experience that I dreaded so much. I never imagined that I’d be so grateful for pain. God sent me back to cast down my net to help pull someone out of sinking water. I’ve always wanted to be the person I needed when I was younger and now I’m here. I went back to recover the most broken part of myself. God sent me back to the very moment that my identity crisis started. Sometimes we must return to a season to recover what we lost.
4. He is a limitless God
Fishermen gauge the size of their nets by the type of fish they are seeking. For example, they are not going to catch a shark with a fish tank-sized net. Simon went into the deep with a certain size net for the occasion. He was expecting to catch a few fish, fill the net, or not to catch anything at all. God not only filled the net, but he broke the net. The net broke and the fish began to weigh the boat down. I encourage you to take him out of every box that you’ve put him in. Stop limiting him to that one job, car, man, house, etc. Stop limiting him to what society tells you that you should have. He is too big for that box! He will not be confined to that net. Change your posture when you go before his throne of grace. I’ve learned that my will minimizes God. When the desire of my heart began to seek his will, my prayer changed. My net disappeared. Hands cannot hold the blessings that he has for us.
Reference Scripture:
Matthew 12:22: Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water, and came toward Jesus
This is Simon now called Peter. Notice how his faith has shifted. He now stands firm in his faith to say “God, if this is you call me out” and he was able to walk on the same water that sourced the storm. LIMITLESS
5. He is intentional
Vs. 10 Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.”
Verse three told that Jesus used the boat as his pulpit. The pulpit is elevated from the rest of the sanitary. Jesus was so intentional about the Simons elevation but he has to teach him first. As a new disciple Simon – Peter had to learn that the presence of God is always required .. even after his death. Simon had to learn that it's not just about him. Being used by God means being seen by everyone else. Simon had to go back and recover his doubt and pick up his faith. God helped Simon to take him out of every box that he has placed him in. Lastly, Simon had to learn just how intentional God is.