TRINITY 5 LUKE v.i. - Rev'd - Paul Taylor, LLM

The fifth chapter of Luke referred to a turning point
in the ministry of Jesus.
He is no longer able to preach in the Synagogues. So
he take his message to the great out doors.
John Wesley remarked that he loved comfortable churches to
preach in, but he said field preaching saves souls.

Why, you might ask would someone preach from a boat.
The answer is because the sound carries very well over the
water and the water amplifies the sound so many can hear it. Jesus
saw the crowd and he saw the 2 boats. So he asked the
fishermen to let him preach from the boats. They wanted to
hear God's word. They showed their desire by letting him
use one of their boats.
When he had finished preaching he asked them to set
out into the deep to catch fish. They were experienced
fishermen and knew that in the clear water the fish would
see the boat and the nets. That is why they fished at
night. Not only had they fished all night, they had caught
nothing. What is remarkable they did not tell him no. He
said to go and they did. They did so by faith.

So in impossible fishing conditions they set out and
dropped their nets. When they lifted the nets, they were
full. So full that the nets began to break and the boat
began to sink and the other boat had to come and help with
the catch and it too began to sink. They were astonished!
So much that Peter said Lord I am a sinful man.

There are several messages that one can draw from this:

First: The word of God is to be preached to the people
wherever they gather. In fact the early word that the
Greeks had for church was inglesia, (the gathering of the
faithful). It is a duty of the Christian.

In many cases that means preaching outside the church
building. The best preaching is faithful Christian witness
to the risen Christ in our daily lives.
This is required because you are the church.

A Priest is only a servant who is to serve bread and
wine at the Lord's table, but you are the church.

Second we are to be receptive to the requests of the
Lord. As you see from the holy text they were receptive and
obedient. First they loaned him the use of their boat and
second they went to the deep to drop their nets, knowing it
was not humanly possible to catch fish in the daytime. For
most people, the disaster of life is that they give up just
one effort too soon. If you hear and obey the word of God
that won't happen to you.
Third you should turn and follow him. Look at the example of St.Peter. Peter said depart from me for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord.
Peter did like any man with a conscience, he was terrified to be near the Lord and wanted to flee. Peter by acknowldging his unworthiness became worthy.

In the midst of this great miracle he had forgotten his bible teachings.
The prophet Michah (7:18-19) tells us that God pardoneth iniquity and casts sins into the depths of the sea.
In Isaiah (43:22) ...(God says) I will not remember thy sins."

The Christ turned to him and said fear not. I will make you a fisher of men and and you will enlarge the Kingdom of God.

Fourth, there is a reward for following the commands of
the Lord. That reward is a miracle. A net breaking, boat
sinking miracle. God promises to you, miracles in your
life. So no matter how big your boat is, it is not big
enough to contain God's miracle. You should expect a
miracle. That is God's promise.

2005-07-06