Luke 5:1-9 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;
Jesus asked Simon to take him out in the boat which he did. He let Jesus use his boat for the work of the Kingdom. After he finished speaking Jesus told them to go out and do one more time what they had been laboring at all night long. Simon (Peter) at first told him (out of frustration no doubt) that they had already done that all night for nothing, but then he says "nevertheless at your word I will let down the net." It's interesting that Jesus said "let down your nets" - plural, but Simon said "net" - singular. Also from Simon's words it's easy to see that they were focusing on the task of doing that again and not on the promise Jesus gave them - "for a catch". It was Jesus' intention to bless them abundantly and fill both boats, that's why he said "let down your nets" meaning take both boats out. Simon took out only one boat. Simon was struggling with the catch because it was enough fish to fill two nets all in just one net! As a result the nets almost tore. They finally brought out the other boat (good choice) and they were both filled so full that they began to sink! Now don't cha' know this was a great fish story that the whole town talked about for the next month! By doing this miracle, Simon recognized that Jesus was from God and fell down at his feet (another good choice).
In "Got Pot?" the lady had the relationship and the jar of oil which the blessing was built upon, but she did not have any way of receiving, gathering or containing the blessing. Here Simon had two boats and at least two nets, so he had a way to gather the fish with the nets and he had a way to hold or contain the fish in the boats. His offering of the use of the boat for Jesus to teach the crowd was the basis of the relationship now with the kingdom of God. Before they were just Simon's boats now they were God's boats. Simon and his crew labored in the flesh without God's blessing and got nothing. We've all been there haven't we! But now he did not labor he simply obeyed and God filled his boats with fish!
Now some people say that God is interested in every part of your life except money. For some reason they just cannot accept God as being involved in money, but he definitely is! He told the pot lady to sell it, get cash!, pay off debts and live on the rest - that's money my friend and lots of it! Simon used the catch to sell it. He had overhead to pay - a crew and two boats! No doubt he might have had a buy-one-get-one-free promotion because fresh fish doesn't keep well in the hot sun! I encourage you to learn to stop laboring in the way of this world and surrender to the way of the Kingdom of God to receive bountiful harvests that you need and long for. God says...
Luke 12:29-32 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Jesus asked Simon to take him out in the boat which he did. He let Jesus use his boat for the work of the Kingdom. After he finished speaking Jesus told them to go out and do one more time what they had been laboring at all night long. Simon (Peter) at first told him (out of frustration no doubt) that they had already done that all night for nothing, but then he says "nevertheless at your word I will let down the net." It's interesting that Jesus said "let down your nets" - plural, but Simon said "net" - singular. Also from Simon's words it's easy to see that they were focusing on the task of doing that again and not on the promise Jesus gave them - "for a catch". It was Jesus' intention to bless them abundantly and fill both boats, that's why he said "let down your nets" meaning take both boats out. Simon took out only one boat. Simon was struggling with the catch because it was enough fish to fill two nets all in just one net! As a result the nets almost tore. They finally brought out the other boat (good choice) and they were both filled so full that they began to sink! Now don't cha' know this was a great fish story that the whole town talked about for the next month! By doing this miracle, Simon recognized that Jesus was from God and fell down at his feet (another good choice).
In "Got Pot?" the lady had the relationship and the jar of oil which the blessing was built upon, but she did not have any way of receiving, gathering or containing the blessing. Here Simon had two boats and at least two nets, so he had a way to gather the fish with the nets and he had a way to hold or contain the fish in the boats. His offering of the use of the boat for Jesus to teach the crowd was the basis of the relationship now with the kingdom of God. Before they were just Simon's boats now they were God's boats. Simon and his crew labored in the flesh without God's blessing and got nothing. We've all been there haven't we! But now he did not labor he simply obeyed and God filled his boats with fish!
Now some people say that God is interested in every part of your life except money. For some reason they just cannot accept God as being involved in money, but he definitely is! He told the pot lady to sell it, get cash!, pay off debts and live on the rest - that's money my friend and lots of it! Simon used the catch to sell it. He had overhead to pay - a crew and two boats! No doubt he might have had a buy-one-get-one-free promotion because fresh fish doesn't keep well in the hot sun! I encourage you to learn to stop laboring in the way of this world and surrender to the way of the Kingdom of God to receive bountiful harvests that you need and long for. God says...
Luke 12:29-32 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.