KINGDOM COME PT 1 - BORROWED BOATS, BREAKING NETS, AND RANGE BALLS

Scripture References:

LUKE 5:1–11

3 THINGS JESUS ASKS BEFORE HE FILLS THE BOAT

1. “Lend it.” He asks for the boat before he asks for the man. There is no blessing if he did not give control of the boat. (vs3) Jesus didn't stand on the shore and ask Peter if He could come aboard. He got in the boat, sat down in the middle of Peter's business, and then asked him to push out. That boat was Peter's paycheck, his livelihood and his family's security, and Jesus got all up in it. You can't keep God close to your heart and distant from your finances. American Christianity loves prenups with God. "You can have my heart, but what's mine stays mine."

1. “Lower it.” Obedience is your response to Jesus even after a long nights of nothing. (vs4–7) "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing… but I will do as You say." Don't forget. Peter's the professional here. Jesus is a carpenter telling a fisherman how to fish, in the wrong water, at the wrong time of day. Everything in Peter's experience said no. But he let down the nets anyway… Some of you are exhausted from fishing all night… and God isn't asking you to try harder. He's asking you to try His way.

1. “Leave it.” The catch wasn't the point. The call was. (vs8–11) This is my favorite part. Peter just had the best day in the history of his business. Two boats so full they're sinking. And what does he do? He falls at Jesus' feet and says "go away from me, I'm a sinful man." The miracle didn't make Peter richer… it made Peter smaller. And they then leave everything. They walked away from the fish. Because once you've seen who's in the boat, what's in the boat doesn't hold you anymore. Jesus wasn't after Peter's fish. He was after Peter.