“LIFE -CHANGING FAITH”, LUKE 5: 1-11
THIS WEEK: A life changing faith is required to follow Jesus and to lead others to do the same.
QUESTION: “What Steps Should We Take To Live A life Of Faith?”
THE POINT: “FAITH BEGINS WITH THE CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS.”
MEMORY VERSE: LUKE 5: 10b (KJ)
“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
“Are we so tied up and preoccupied with ourselves (busy schedules, other people’s lives, or our own pride) that we miss the very opportunity to experience Jesus? God calls us into unchartered territory, which sometimes requires a deep faith rather than the faith that longs for comfort and consistency.” Trust and obedience are linked.
- READ: LUKE 5: 1-3 STRIVE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD
A business world adage referenced: ‘Make sure the right people are on the bus.’ In today’s lesson, it was important that Peter had the right person on his boat. Large crowds followed Jesus because of the miracles He performed (healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding thousands, giving sight to the blind, and some waiting for Him to mess up so they could accuse and condemn Him.) Jesus was also a great teacher and preacher of the gospel who came to save people from their sins. Jesus is fully God and fully man; the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1: 14). Needing a little space from the crowd that pressed Him, Jesus asked to borrow Peter’s boat from which to teach. “Often Jesus calls us slowly into an adventure. He invites us to take one step, then another, and then another…Jesus calls us out of our ordinary, day-to-day life into a journey with Him.” Although busy cleaning his fishing equipment, Peter didn’t get distracted or ignore Jesus and let Him on his boat. “The crowd needed to hear God’s Word. He didn’t interfere with the process. He didn’t make excuses…his first step toward a life filled with glory and adventure. Romans 10: 17 says, ‘So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ’. Peter realized that there was something greater going on here.”
- “WHEN DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING GOD’S WORD IN A WAY THAT WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL?”
The life of Charles Studd who came from privilege, was called by Jesus, and spread the gospel in China, India, and Africa. He wrote, Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last’.” Why get consumed by the things of this world? Let Jesus on your boat, be blessed, spread the gospel, and be a blessing to others.
- READ: LUKE 5: 4-7 OBEY CHRIST’S DIRECTIONS FOR BIG RESULTS
“Amazing things happen… simply do what Jesus calls us to do.” Jesus asked a simple request to Peter, to take his boat out to deeper water, and cast his net to catch fish. Peter and his brother, Andrew, had been out all night fishing and had caught nothing. Instead of ignoring Jesus, Simon Peter followed Jesus’s instruction. I wonder how we would have reacted after a night of failure. Moreover, how soon we forget what Jesus has already done in our lives. “He knows precisely what He’s doing. He’s never once been proven wrong. “Did Peter hear Jesus’ preaching? Is this why he obeyed? “That’s what the Word of God does. It emboldens us to be obedient. It gives us guts to do illogically wonderful things.” Great things happened to Peter because he trusted and obeyed God. “Many people will regret at the end of their lives that they didn’t do exactly what Jesus said as Peter did. However, no one will regret the times that they clearly heard in scripture and prayer His call and decided to simply obey.” And when Peter did, he caught so many fish that his net began to break, he had to call his partners, James and John, with their boat, and they loaded so many fish on both that the boats almost sank.
- “WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT FAITH WALK THE LORD HAS ASKED YOU TO TAKE?”
- READ: Luke 5: 8-11 HUMBLE YOURSELF AND FOLLOW CHRIST
Light exposes darkness and our sins are uncovered in the presence of a Holy God. Isaiah felt “undone” by being in the presence of a Holy God (Isaiah 6: 5). Peter “fell at Jesus’s feet and proclaimed his shamefulness.” In v.8 on his knees Peter said, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” His sins exposed he felt unworthy, as the only righteousness we have comes from God’s grace through Christ. I am humbled and amazed by what Jesus did on the cross for me. “As Isaac Watts wrote: “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Peter’s life changed from that point moving forward. “Jesus has a way of calling us out of the ordinary and moving us into a completely different place. Yet, so many people who lived, worked and developed a life for themselves have a difficult time docking the boat…Do we want to continue in our ordinary, comfortable life or do we want to change eternity?” Our decision could impact generations to come. “It’s so easy just to go with the flow and drift into retirement with plans that you have made over the decades…Deep faith beckons us to adventure and radical generosity of our time, talent, and treasure. It’s deep faith that allows us to dock the boat and follow asking our Savior, ‘What’s next?”
- “HOW HAS FOLLOWING JESUS NECESSITATED THAT YOU LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND?”
LIVE IT What is hindering you from doing what God has asked you to do? Will you accept His call?
“The adage is true, ‘Where God guides, He provides’. Deep faith is listening and responding to the call of God. 1 Samuel 15: 22 reminds us that the Lord takes pleasure in our obedience. We can trust that He will honor it. The where, when, what and who God calls us to, may not make sense or line up with our current activities, but God is infinite in wisdom and knows the life-changing plans He has for us (Jer. 29: 11).
- Examine: Take an inventory of your heart. Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads?
- Drop a net: We all have unnecessary, useless activities and pursuits. This week, drop something to make room for God’s call.
- Speak: Share your personal story of salvation with someone who isn’t a follower of Christ.”
Adapted From: YOU, WINTER 2023-24, www.lifeway.com