READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l As we come to the month of June, it is timely to do a half-year check on our discipleship and walk with God. Let the Scripture text today from Luke 5 encourage us. There are three discipleship lessons.
The Choice of Trusting Obedience
Peter did as Jesus commanded because he trusted Jesus. This was not Peter’s first encounter with Jesus: he had witnessed how Jesus healed his mother-in-law in Capernaum. When Jesus instructed Peter to let down the nets, perhaps Peter was feeling exhausted, disappointed or insulted because he had been unsuccessful the whole night. Nevertheless, Peter trusted and obeyed when he had yet to see the evidence. And Jesus filled his net with fish.
We often want to see proof of the results before we decide to believe or act. This story shows us that God may not always work this way. He asks us to trust Him before we see results, while it may not yet make sense. Yet when we receive the Lord’s call to obey Him, Peter shows us that we can confidently trust God and He will take care of the outcome. We can obey Jesus at His Word and trust that God’s way is good.
The Conviction from Humble Awe
When we step out in faith and trusting obedience, we are often met by God’s provision of strength. The presence of God’s divine power produces humility and reverent awe in us, as we realise our sinfulness and unworthiness, in contrast with God’s holiness and majesty. The more we are convicted of our unworthiness in humble awe of God’s holiness, the more we are ready for God’s use and assignment.
The Comforting Assurance for Greater Purpose
Jesus was calling Peter and us today to the purpose of “fishing for men” – which means bringing people to know Jesus and helping them to truly live in Him. This can mean sharing the Good News, or discipling others in our families, social circles, and workplace. Putting Jesus’ love first requires a radical reorientation of our priorities. But as we follow Jesus, we are transformed for His greater purpose.
The Lord provides two comforting assurances to encourage us as we trust Him:
1. God provides for our needs as we work for Him.
Jesus’ provision of fish represents the abundant provision of God. In a literal sense, He meets our physical needs and puts food on the table. In the same way, God also provides for our emotional and spiritual needs.
2. God uses us despite failure and lack of readiness
Jesus wants us to obey Him, even if we think we won’t be good at it. He does not ask us to prove our worth. He tells Peter, “Do not be afraid”. God uses us even when we feel defeated and unsuccessful. He empowers sinful people for a higher purpose. He wants us to trust and depend on Him.
What is God calling you to do? Are there areas of your life where you are called to trusting obedience? Step out in faith and be awed by a God who provides for you and transforms you.
(Sermon notes by Bryan Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Why do you think Peter let down his nets despite a previous night of catching no fish?
- Share an instance when you obeyed in faith even though it didn’t make sense to do so.
- Why did Peter ask Jesus to go away from him?
- Why is it important to be humbled by God before you can be used by Him?
- What did Jesus mean when he told Peter that he would be fishing men?
- What is the impact of this greater purpose of fishing men?
- Have you encountered the provision of God when you followed His calling? Share an experience.
- How have you experienced God using you for His purposes even when you didn’t feel worthy or ready?
- Pray for each other to trust and obey the Lord in this current season of life.
