Don't Give Up

Jesus had not long started his earthly ministry, and was preaching in Galilee. If we peak back into chapter four Jesus goes through spiritual boot camp being tempted for 40 days and 40 nights. After defeating the devil he is then begins his earthly ministry. says Jesus returns in the power of the spirit, and that his fame spread throughout the region. That’s why the Holy Spirit is so important(Touch your neighbor and say neighbor you need the Holy Spirit!). Many people try to play down the Holy Ghost in traditional and modern churches, but even Jesus did not do powerful ministry until the Holy Spirit was on him. Although he was anointed he was also disappointed by his home town. Sometimes church you can be anointed by God, but some folks are still worried about your past. After he read the scripture and preached a sermonette the folks asked is this not Joseph’s son? After he preached a convicting word the folks became so angry that they were planning on throwing him over a cliff! Jesus just being Jesus just walks on through the midst of them without being scathed. He cast out some demons, healed a multitude of people including Peter’s mother, and preached so until the Galileans wanted him to stay with them for a while. Jesus told them I must preach unto all the nations. Then we arrive at the text today. The Bible tells us that after Jesus preached, healed, and cast out demons a multitude began to follow him and press him. The Greek word for pressed is epikeimai which means to lay on or lean on. So at least the crowd had good since or since enough to lean on Jesus, because they were hungry for the word of the Lord. How many know that folks leaning on you all the time can wear you out! So Jesus sees two boats and some fisherman and here is were I park my sermonic tent.

Washing their nets: Giving Up

Wortham I need to pause and slow down for a moment, because this something we must wrestle with. We have all been here in some type of capacity. See the fisherman washing their nets meant they were finished or they were quitting. Sometimes church we have to be honest there have been times in our lives were we have started washing out nets. That job that seems like it’s going no where and you sit in your office or on your machine, and instead of focusing on your work you are looking at the prospects of leaving you are washing your nets. Some of us have dealt with this in marriage in which you have woke up early in the morning or late at night and look at your spouse or your live in and said I don’t know how much longer I can do this. You my friend have been washing your nets. Even preachers at church and workers in church have become so frustrated with church folks that you start thinking things like did God really call me to this place? Am I really supposed to be here? Why am I here they don’t even like me or receive me?? You have started washing your nets. Church we just have to get real in that we all have faced moments in life when life has been hard just like the Lake of Gennesaret. The lake of Gennesaret was a flourishing area with great fishing and good money, but sometimes a place or a person will look good and you worked hard all night, all month, all year, and seemingly all of your life and it yields nothing. Can I get somebody to be honest to say AMEN! These were skilled fishermen with the right equipment fishing at the right time at the right place, but it yielded them nothing. You have the right degree, you have the training, you have the experience, but it seems like it yields nothing. You are good at math and decent with money but you are always broke. You are good at listening and even kill emotionally, but your marriage is falling apart. You are great at teaching and skilled in oratory skills, but no one seems to learn a thing. You have great leadership skills and have a pleathura of experience, but it seems like no one will follow you. Pastors, preachers, ushers, deacons, mothers, and members we all have faced some things that will cause us to wash our nets! Tap your neighbor and say neighbor don’t give up yet!!! I just wonder if I have a few honest folks in here who can talk back to me, and say yes Pastor I know what you are talking about!!!

Launch out into the deep: move from where you are

The first thing you must notice next is that Jesus got in the boat. Somebody missed your shout! Things are about to change when you get Jesus in your boat. After Jesus got in the boat he says get your nets back out and push away from the land or the shallow water and launch out into the deep. The first thing you must realize is that Jesus never intends on you staying in the same place and situation you are in. Jesus generally changes the situation or changes you for the situation. He tells Peter and the other fisherman namely James, John, and Andrew to launch out into the deep. I can see them in my spiritual eyes looking at Jesus like what and rolling their eyes. Of course Peter has something to say. Can I paraphrase it. Listen Jesus we done fished all night long and caught nothing. Peter wanted Jesus to know two things first we tired. Sometimes church we get a little tired and when God is giving us a word for deliverance we try to remind God of what state we are in. Jesus is not interested in what state you are in, but what state he is about to take you to! Peter also said all night reminding Jesus that you are supposed to fish at night, because that is the time and season in which you are supposed to fish. We have to remember though in Chapter 4 Peter has an experience with Jesus in that he healed his mother. So because Peter had experienced the miraculous power of Christ he says, but at your word I will let down the nets. In other words Lord I will obey you and what you say! Notice Peter called him Master. Master in Greek is the word epistates which means one who is head or royalty or in charge. Wortham we have to know that if we want Jesus to change it we have to let him be in charge of it. I know some of you have been contemplating on throwing in the towel. I know you are tired. I know it seems like your the only one working in the relationship. I know it seems like you are the only one who cares. I know it seems like you take more losses than you gain. I know you are wore out, but let down your nets anyway, because he did for grandmother, he did it for grandaddy, and I know he can do it for you! Somebody shout it’s time to move!

Close: From Nothing to Overflow

Because of their obedience Jesus has taken them from empty nets, and from washing their nets and giving up to overflow. Can I illustrate this thang. (table and four young people) God is about to bless us so, but we are going to need everyone to do their part. If everyone doesn’t do their part then we all may sink or drag!

I just came to tell somebody this morning don’t wash your nets and don’t give up because God is about to bless you so that those who have been your ride or die are going to receive from your overflow! Watch this what Jesus did was teach his future disciples to never give up when Jesus is in the boat. Look at your neighbor and Say neighbor you are one word away from overflow! Can I mess you up and I am done! Notice that Jesus tells them to launch out in the deep in the wrong time and the wrong place? See some of you are only used to being blessed during tax season. Some of you are only used to being blessed during Christmas time. Some of you have limited yourself to what you thought was your time and season. I came to inform you that God is about to bless you even when it’s not your season! When you used to come up short he’s about to give you overflow. When you usually are struggling you are about to be striving. When you are normally sick you are about to become healthy. All you have to do is obey Jesus and Launch Out because your overflow is one word away!

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