WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? — A STUDY OF THE LIFE OF JESUS (11)

Luke 5:1-11 - JESUS THE CARPENTER TEACHES FISHERMEN HOW TO FISH FOR MEN

God's priority is people not fish, or business, or sports, or you name it.

Human effort alone is not enough. Skilled fishermen fished all night and caught nothing — not one fish. Sometimes the Lord dries up our business results to get our attention and change our priorities.

Jesus revealed His supernatural power over creation (the fish) but He still used the disciples and their skills and gifts in the process. The boat, the net, the men were all instruments of God. God uses weak, imperfect people to be His instrument to catch fish (other people) today. Give Him what little ability you have and He will multiply and empower your efforts and use you as the messenger to speak His gospel to those He is drawing to salvation: John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!""

Learning about who God is comes from obedience not just from instructions/teachings. "But I will do as you say and let down the nets." Obedience to God brings revelation of God.

Peter, James and John were all rightly amazed at realizing Christ's power (Deity) but Peter didn't understand grace yet. Jesus says to Peter and to us fear me rightly but don't fear me wrongly: Exodus 20:20) "Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."" The fear of the Lord is to keep us from sinning, not keep us at a distance. He tells us to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us (James 4:8) and to follow Him and learn from Him.

Matthew 4:19 ""Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Follow Me" means to follow Jesus' example of how He related to the Father (prayer, knowing God's Word and humble obedience) and how He related to people — He served their true needs, spiritual (salvation and growth) social and physical. Today we follow Jesus by knowing and obeying His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Becoming like Christ will mean an entire change of the way we viewed life before we were Christians. It is as radical as a championship golfer who has learned and put into practice all the fine points of great golfing suddenly becoming a football player never having played the at all and having to learn a whole new game. And if he is to become proficient at it he will have to study the basics, be coached by someone who, through experience, knows the game, then practice, practice, practice by playing the game. We must let Jesus coach and teach us, do what He says even when, like Peter, we don't understand His ways and learn the game of living life to the glory of God.

Making disciples, making fellow fishers of men, cannot be done in mass. Like Jesus we must invest our lives in Christ deeply into a few people. One-on-one and small group discipleship is what our Lord modeled to us. He ministered to the crowds but He discipled the twelve and His true disciples. (See John 6:66)

Leaving all may mean we actually leave our business as God calls some to do that, but it certainly means that we forsake the sin of preoccupation with this world and our selfish pursuits and become fishers of men. Colossians 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Those who are the most heavenly minded are the most earthly good for the cause of Christ.

How close are you following Jesus? At a distance lukewarmly lost your first love or passionately following in His steps ? (See 1 Peter 2:18-25)