I greet you all in the name of God which has made us alive today.
It is a prividge to have the gift of breathing in our souls today and we are thankful to the maker and creator himself.
We are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made in his image.Amen
Today we share from the book of Luke 5:1-10
Jesus a man on a mission.We see him at the sea side after healing the seek,appearing in the temple we sea him on what he was sent he on earth to do.Bring men and women closer to God through the living word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
Verse 1
The fisherman had toiled all night long,they had tried to catch fish,struggled with the waves and had finally given up as their effort came to no avail.They washed their nets and their boats where put on the anchor and they were tired,sad,frustrated and wanting to try again the following night.They did not know what to tell their wives,they would be no fish for that day,the store they supplied would not have any fish to sell and so they were disraught.But Jesus comes to that place,seeing their faces he knew this was atime to work a miracle.He was not intresed that they did not catch fish but in how they would accept what he was about to do.
He was frustreated more than the others.He was the one with the most expirience and they looked to him to use the expirience he had to cath fish that night.But after failng that night by the sea side,Jesus comes preaching the word of God to those that thronged around him in eagerness to have a life changing message from the master's lips.How embarrasing after failing the whole night to catch,here a large group of people come to sea your failure...
1)How often are we worried about our failures that we forget that the God who turns failures into success is just right there?
2)How often do we hide our failure from people so they may only sea our success?
Shame on Peter as he grew angry.But Jesus was there on a mission.Killing two birds with one stone.The people were being edified by the solemn words that fell on their ears.
Now Jesus as if not aware by what was going on in Peter's heart and mind asks to use Peters boat(see verse 3).Jesus took the oppotunity he had to preach.He did not need a pulpit,he did not need a PA system,he di not need a special song.All he needed was an audience.He did not care whether by the seaside,river,wherever was okay for the master to teach the people.This drive to our first point:
-CEASE EVERY OPPOTUNITY TO TEACH ABOUT CHRIST
As a believer,the name and word of Christ should be at the tip of your tongue wherever you are.Tell your boss at work,your friend at school,your neighbour who loves pleasure.Tell them about Christ.You do not need a pulpit,a one man audience is enough to tell about Jesus.I travelled from Swaziland in May this year,in a combi that occupies 30 people,when i left home i had said a word of prayer for the journey,as we departed we crossed the borders into South Africa.As we left the South African border behind time,the drive was moving at "unholy" speed.Young and old were in that combi and all seemed well until a young lady started a song loudly.All joined in and i thought okay they all know the song and are just singng along.The song took 7-8minutes,thereafter they all began praying at the top of their voices for long minutes.Dont know if it was out of fear of speed or what but they prayed.I kept quiet in awe and said to my self "What if we had an accident before they started praying?"...But then it stuck me that these people do not care where they are,who is around BUT THEY KNOW THE GOD IN WHOM THEY BELIEVE IN AND ARE READY TO TALK ABOUT HIM HIM ANYWHERE,ANYTIME AND ANYHOW.Amen!!!
I got to learn that the Jehovah's witness pamphlet in Swaziland is named PHAPHAMA meaning WAKE UP.Everywhere you go they give you this pamphlet telling you WAKEUP,Wakep from what i woke up in the morning,mad my bed,had breakfast,took a bath and started of for the day,you want me to wake up again?....But then it strikes me"OH CHRISTIAN WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER AND TALK ABOTU JESUS"
Then i say thank God for Jehovahs witness who remind us to be awake and tell all about Christ.
When Christ had finished talking to the people,he got practical now.Peter had given up ,a failure,loser,hopless,downcast then Jesus comes and tell him launch your net into the sea.1)It is in the morning,fish dont come to the surface during the day.2)Peter had expirience and he knew number one.So why would this man who knows nothing about fishing say this to Peter?If i were Peter, i would have looked and laughed at Jesus right in the face.But Peter did not do so,to this absurd idea Jesus passed,Peter replied "Master,we have worked HARD all night and have caught nothing.BUY because you say so,i will let down my nets".:
-TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD
It may not mean sense to you,but its for your benefit.He knows nothing about fishing so you may think but he is the creator of the fish.He knows nothing about your problem but he is solution.Taking God at his word calls for certain level of STUPIDITY.Many will laugh at you(Joseph's brothers),forsake you(Job),hate you but GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE.Fear not.His promises are not fake.He says he will do this and that for you,he means exactly that.He will do it.He has never let anyone down and never will.He tells you do this and you go your own way cause you think its better and you can think better than him?...
DO NOT BE EQUALLY YOKED WITH AN UNBELIEVER.As an Adventist pastor i realised that Adventist think an Unbeliver is own who is not Adventist.You will be shocked to know that some are mere Church goers and seat warmers than believers.God want you to marry a believer,commune with one and enjoy with them.Then you think God is afull you go take a sinner from the world,you bring him to church 3 or 4 timesyou organise he gets baptised but all you doing is "taking a dry sinner,making him awet sinner and later on to dry up again"..Why not wait for God to show you.Talk to him and listen to what he tells you.Forget your proffesion,expirience and let God lead.
When you let god lead,things do not remain the same anymore.Everything changes and you will never regret (see verse 6).Peter and the crew caught many fish.They dont know how.But God did it.Their boats were too full and they needed help from others around them,but they too began to sink.
Point 3
-LEAVE THE RESULT WITH GOD
It doesnt make any sense how they caught so many fish at once yet they failed all night.But Peter took God at his word and left the result with God.
We to ought to do the same.Le t God control all that is happening and you will recive blessings untold you never ever thought you would recive.They recived blessings they never imagined.Have you ever seen people helping each other to fail?
Friends at school saying do not do your home work,peers organising sex oriented chill sessions,alcohol parties?...Peter got happy with the catch he thought it was his doing.Pride filled his heart.But as he began to sink he called others to help and they too began to sink.You have seen them,MATERIALLY FINE BUT SPIRITUALLY SINKING?...They have it all but no God?...They still think they are in control.
The dont leave the result with God.Let God do his work
When Peter saw all this and had come up out of the water he said "Go away from me Lord,I am a sinner"
-ACCEPT WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE
Tell God what you are.Drunkard he will make you sober,sex addict he will give you satisfaction.God will do things you cant imagine if your let him in and tell him how you lived before you met him(1 John 1:9)
Today we ought to say Lord,because you say so:
Il cease every oppotunity to talk about you
Il take you at your word
Il leave you with the result
Il Accept who I am
Be What God Wants You To be!!1...
May God bless you
Amen
Pastor T.Mhlanga
