Let's follow Jesus part 3

Jerry underwood

Let's follow Jesus • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Let’s follow Jesus Part 3

His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"

And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning Southpointe, we are in this series Let’s follow Jesus.

In this story, Jesus called Simon to do something specific.

Look at:

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."

Jesus told Simon go out where it is deeper. But Simon told Jesus it was a waste of time, they had tried and it didn’t work.

How many of us we testify to the fact that we have tried things and it just didn’t work. Things that we tried to do ourselves and we failed miserly at it.

We tried to run our own life, we tried to make our marriage work, we tried to raise our kids, we tried to be successful in our job and career and we failed miserly.

We tried to make a ministry work, we tried to teach a sunday school class, we tried to lead worship, we tried it, we have done that, we been there more than once and it does not work.

That is what Simon saying to Jesus here, I tried and you just don’t know we were out in the boat all night long, Jesus and we caught nothing.

"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing.

But there’s one thing that Simon leaving out of the picture here, they didn’t have Jesus in the boat with them the night before.

His presence with them on that day made all the difference. One encounter with Jesus changes everything.

It changes the way we view Jesus, ourselves and those around us. Seeing Jesus rightly puts everything into perspective.

Understand this: Whatever Jesus is to you, He will be through you.

You see, Simon Peter here had to engaged his faith and be obedient to Jesus’ request to further out into the lake, to go deeper if he was going to see a miracle.

I love the way the King James version put it:

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Nevertheless, let’s always remember it is never the less when we obey Jesus’ word, it will always be the best.

If you think about it Simon Peter was the expert fisherman and Jesus was a carpenter and the last time they threw their nets out all night long nothing.

Are there times in your life, that you been doing the same thing over and over again and nothing changes?

You have been praying for a love one and nothing, you have been trying to heal this marriage and nothing, you tried and tried and same old same old.

You have been praying and believing for a healing and you are getting the same report back. Nothing

We must be obedient. Nevertheless at thy word.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

If you will, then God will.

Peter threw the nets out at the Word of Jesus and the nets where so full that the crew was struggling to get in all in the boat.

Jesus invites us to partner with Him. it is not about our gifting, qualifications or abilities, it is all about partaking in Jesus’ life, in other word, in Jesus’ plan.

We must engage our faith and be obedient and just follow thru with whatever Jesus asked you to do.

Jesus knows our circumstances, struggles and fears. We often times are like Peter and we are put in a place to either step out of faith and be obedient or to step back into unbelief and be disobedient.

But when we chose to engage our faith and obey Jesus then amazing things can happen, miracle can be manifested.

Our simple, weak “yes” is all Jesus asks of us. When we obey, even in our fear and insecurity, His power is manifested.

Now let’s understand something Jesus didn’t just do this miracle so that Peter would think that Jesus was a good fisherman.

This entire scene was for Simon to now only trust Jesus but also was Simon to know who Jesus created him to be.

You see, Simon viewed himself as a fisherman, but Jesus viewed Simon as one who would win souls.

His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"

Jesus was using this miracle to speak into Simon Peter’s life.

You see, as you believe His words over your life, you gain confidence to respond to His call.

We must allow Him to put passion, confidence, and character inside you for His mission for your life.

Be prepared to let Jesus interrupt your plans and call you out into the deep.

Jesus told Simon Peter from now on, you will be fishing for people.

To sum to all up Jesus put a calling in everyone of our lives. To be soul winners.

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered: it is a command to be obeyed.

Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

As Christians, it’s easy to grow comfortable inside our churches and places of fellowship—but there’s a lost and desperate world outside.

The reason we gather inside the gates is for spiritual rest and worship, to practice our calling, and to prepare for the challenges beyond our walls.

After all, the church is home base for Christians while we’re in this world, and it’s nice to be home, to fellowship, to praise and worship God, and to enjoy the blessings of “body life.”

But someone once said, “The Gospel isn’t something we come to church to hear; it’s something we go from church to tell.”

In Jesus emphasized four things in this passage.

His Power

1. His Power

The first being His power and authority. Notice how He used His words: “All authority has been given to Me, therefore you go.”

The implication is clear: As we go with His message, we’ll have His power. Jesus made this even clearer in:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

This is great comfort in witnessing. In my preaching and in my personal conversation, I can flub up, I can make a mess of things and think I’ve failed.

This is great comfort in witnessing. In my preaching or personal conversation, I can flub up, botch the job, and think I’ve failed. But the Holy Spirit has a way of using some word or verse, for the power isn’t in my personality or intellect, nor in my skills of persuasion. It’s in His Spirit-anointed Word, and His Word doesn’t return void.

But the Holy Spirit has a way of using some word or verse, for the power isn’t in my personality or intellect, nor in my skills of persuasion. It’s in His Spirit-anointed Word, and His Word doesn’t return void.

It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

2. His Purpose

Having reminded us of His power, Jesus then stated His purpose for the church—to “make disciples of all the nations.”

The word “disciple” means “a follower, learner, one who adheres to a leader and teacher.”

But notice those words “all the nations.” It’s a global task. This is the village—the world—that Christ wants us to reach;

That world means your children, your spouse, your mom and dad, your neighbors, your co-workers but it also meaning people in Africa, China, Japan, Russia, etc. and it takes the church to reach our village.

and it takes the church to reach our village.

In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness, and Jesus promises that they will have His divine power.

In John, Jesus tells the disciples, they will have the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins and to withhold forgiveness.

We have a great big job before us. To make the disciples of all nations.

Are you telling people about Jesus? Are you teaching people about Jesus? Are you making disciples?

3.His Plan

His Plan

The question might be: How do we do it? What is the plan? Well Jesus gave us three steps plan —going, baptizing, and teaching.

Literally this passage says, “As you are going, make disciples by baptizing . . . and teaching.”

The main purpose is to make disciples, but the process is by going, baptizing, and teaching. So we’re to go, win, and instruct.

So we have make up our minds here at Southpointe, we are going to go.

And then He told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

4. His Presence

Jesus ends the Great Commission by assuring us of His presence. As we draw on His power, adopt His purpose, and implement His plan, we’ll enjoy His presence:

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus does not leave us alone:

Then David continued, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly.

Jesus will be with you!!

Get involved. As you come to church Sunday after Sunday remember that this is a blessed home, it’s a place of rest, place of refreshing and rejoicing, and of growth.

But we’re not hermits who sit by the fire, but servants who spread holy fire.

The Great Commission isn’t an “inside job.” We’re called to go outside the gates—to reach out to the world.