WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:07.120 Well, good morning. My name is Billy Nye. It's good to see everyone this morning. 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:12.300 And today we're going to be looking at Luke chapter 5. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:18.320 So, feel free to open up your Bibles. There's a Bible in the pew back in front of you. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:20.920 ESV or NIV, it doesn't matter. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:24.400 Open up to Luke chapter 5. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:27.960 And let's get ready to hear from God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.700 Well, when I was in 8th grade, I had an encounter. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:39.480 No, not that kind of encounter. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:42.420 Not a romantic kind of encounter. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.600 It is a, although it is kind of like a romance story. 00:00:48.980 --> 00:00:54.060 I was in 8th grade when I first encountered hobbits. 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.240 And a wizard named Gandalf. 00:00:57.240 --> 00:01:01.660 And a gang of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:08.000 And if some of you are wondering what in the world I'm talking about, it's because you need to have that encounter too. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:17.540 I was in 8th grade when I first read the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and many, many others. 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:23.819 And let me tell you, after I had that encounter, I was transformed. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:28.599 I was a committed fan afterwards. 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:34.619 And fan is probably speaking lightly because I was a devoted fan. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.079 I was a hobbit nut. 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:44.400 And I read Tolkien's book so much that it just, it changed, really changed part of my identity. 00:01:44.739 --> 00:01:48.519 I began to see my life through the lens of Middle Earth. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.400 And I started, it changed the people I hung out with. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:58.039 I started hanging out with people who shared my affinity for all things hobbitish. 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.520 And my alter ego was Samwise Gamgee. 00:02:02.900 --> 00:02:09.640 And get this, my first email address was Iamsamwise at hotmail.com. 00:02:10.920 --> 00:02:12.080 Please don't email it. 00:02:12.140 --> 00:02:13.500 It is no longer in service. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.439 That was a thing of the past. 00:02:18.640 --> 00:02:25.040 I eventually became the president of the High Council of Middle Earth at College Heights Christian School in Joplin, Missouri. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:27.579 I had an encounter. 00:02:28.299 --> 00:02:34.199 And it transformed me into someone who was devoted and committed to something greater than myself. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:36.139 And it changed me, really, forever. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:43.579 Well, this morning, I'd like us to look at another transforming encounter that a man had 00:02:43.579 --> 00:02:50.019 in the pages of a far more precious book than anything written by J.R.R. Tolkien. 00:02:50.020 --> 00:02:59.100 In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5, there is a beautiful picture of what happens to one guy, 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:06.000 one ordinary sinful man, when he has a transforming encounter with something far greater than himself. 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.460 This guy's name is Simon. 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:14.780 And this is what happens to Simon when Jesus decides to knock on the door of Simon's life. 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:19.740 He winds up giving up his whole life to follow Jesus. 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:24.219 And once he has encountered this Jesus for real, 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:30.759 he walks away from the scene as a changed man, committed and attached to Jesus Christ. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.699 And I think that's what we're going to see this morning as we examine this passage, 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:38.740 and what it has to say to us is that when we encounter the real Jesus, 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:47.540 when we encounter Jesus in a genuine way, we come away as transformed and committed followers. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:50.180 We are changed forever. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:52.780 But how does that happen? 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:56.180 What does a genuine encounter with Jesus look like? 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:01.879 And how does it make committed disciples out of ordinary sinful people like us? 00:04:02.760 --> 00:04:04.340 Well, let's go and find out, shall we? 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:09.340 The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 5, the first 11 verses. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:12.439 We'll walk our way through the story. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:19.060 And as we go, we're going to peel back four layers to this encounter. 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:24.579 So be watching, listening for those four layers of that encounter as we come to them. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:25.920 Are you ready? 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:27.699 Here we go. 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:33.280 So first, Luke sets a great scene for us in verses 1 and 2. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:34.319 Let's read. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:34.919 Let's dive in. 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:41.539 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 00:04:41.919 --> 00:04:44.059 he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 00:04:44.159 --> 00:04:45.699 That's the Sea of Galilee, FYI. 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:52.539 And he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:57.839 So Jesus is teaching a crowd of people near the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:02.000 He's probably in the town of Capernaum, which was Simon Peter's hometown. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:09.240 And as well as it was kind of served as a Jesus' ministry base while he was ministering in Galilee. 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:13.519 It was a bustling fishing town in the first century. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.680 It had all the sights and the sounds that accompany the fishing industry. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:22.660 You can just kind of sniff the tangy, fishy smell in the air. 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:29.280 The splashing of the water is something you can hear as it comes up and washes the shore. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:32.280 You can feel the sandy gravel under the feet of the crowds. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.400 And you can hear Jesus' voice teaching them the word of God. 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:42.140 You see this group of sweaty bodies warned by the midday sun. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:44.700 They're pressing in on Jesus as he speaks to the crowd. 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:50.000 But then Luke's camera kind of pans away from this scene, and it focuses on two boats. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.039 And we see Jesus looking over. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:54.899 He sees this pressing crowd in on him. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:58.500 And he sees two boats, and you see a little light bulb go on over Jesus' head. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:05:59.439 Like, hey, I got an idea. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.439 And so the owners are right next to him. 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:04.419 They're cleaning their nets. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:09.399 And Jesus decides, hey, this is going to be a really good, useful teaching tool. 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:13.939 And so he hops into one of the boats, as we're about to read. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.979 And that is the first layer of our encounter, as we're about to see in verse 3. 00:06:19.139 --> 00:06:23.000 So the first layer of our encounter, let's see if we can identify it, verse 3. 00:06:23.739 --> 00:06:28.539 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. 00:06:29.039 --> 00:06:32.139 And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:34.179 So what's the first layer? 00:06:35.039 --> 00:06:38.079 Remember, although Simon hasn't really come into the picture yet, 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.759 he and Jesus are really the main characters of this story. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.439 And so first interaction between Jesus and Simon in this story, 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:46.359 Jesus initiates contact. 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:48.979 That's the first layer of this encounter. 00:06:49.159 --> 00:06:51.800 Jesus initiates contact with Simon. 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:57.539 He's the one who initiates contact with those whom he calls to be his disciples. 00:06:58.159 --> 00:06:59.519 Jesus is the go-getter. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:03.139 Now this may seem obvious, but it's really significant. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.759 Jesus initiates contact with the fishermen. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:10.539 He hops into one of their boats and he asks Simon to go out a little under the water. 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.379 And he creates an ideal teaching situation. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.019 This would have made a nice natural amphitheater. 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:18.180 The crowds gather just along the shoreline. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:21.920 The boat is just a few yards off the shore. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:25.139 It allows Jesus to have a good teaching situation. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:26.759 His voice carries across the water. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:27.860 It works well. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:30.180 He teaches the crowd at a comfortable distance. 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:31.120 They could all hear him. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:39.819 However, this initiation of contact with Simon is not something that came completely out of the blue. 00:07:40.340 --> 00:07:45.579 In the Gospel of John, the first chapter, we learn that Jesus had previously met Simon, 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:52.340 along with Andrew, his brother, probably further south in Judea when John was baptizing people in the Jordan. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:54.040 And they had spent some time with him. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:56.640 They probably heard him teach on several occasions. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:07:59.080 They probably seen him even work some miracles. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:03.000 And so there was some familiarity here. 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:10.740 But notice that this initial reaching out to Simon is a beginning of a big journey that Simon's about to take with Jesus. 00:08:11.140 --> 00:08:14.640 And it's Jesus is the one who reaches out first. 00:08:16.080 --> 00:08:17.920 He seeks him out. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:24.980 He had more than just a helpful teaching technique in mind when he called Simon and hopped into his boat. 00:08:26.140 --> 00:08:29.460 And by the way, this is not standard procedure. 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:36.279 Jewish rabbis of the first century did not initiate relationship with their disciples. 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:40.039 If you wanted to become a follower of a rabbi, you signed up with him. 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:44.759 He had a clipboard around with a little pen attached, quill, parchment. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.159 And you signed up with him. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.179 If you wanted to hang out with him, he didn't go to you. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:51.939 This was not standard procedure. 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:54.340 He was going against the normal tradition of his day. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.679 And what does Simon do? 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:01.000 Well, we would think just from the first look, well, hey, no big deal. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:02.120 Okay, sure, you can use my boat. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:02.500 That's fine. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.480 But think about it. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:10.240 We find out later that Simon and his partners had just been out fishing the entire night. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:25.120 And now they're having to prolong their rest time to go back on the lake the next evening to have a successful fishing trip after an unsuccessful fishing trip just that previous night. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:26.940 And so this is an inconvenience. 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:30.740 And yet, Simon responds positively to Jesus. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:33.120 He could have declined Jesus' request. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:36.100 So Peter obeys. 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.320 He takes Jesus just offshore. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.179 Jesus finishes teaching the crowd. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.940 But the scene soon changes. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:43.139 So Jesus finishes teaching the crowd. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:45.519 And then he turns to Simon in the boat. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:49.679 And that's going to be our second layer to this encounter in verses 4 to 5. 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:50.700 Let's read. 00:09:50.700 --> 00:10:18.680 The second layer to this encounter is Jesus that makes a call to trust. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:22.500 Jesus calls Simon to trust him. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:26.539 This request was ridiculous. 00:10:27.599 --> 00:10:29.879 On the face of it, it's like, oh, no big deal. 00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:30.359 Okay, sure. 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:32.199 But think about it. 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.679 I'm not much of a fisherman. 00:10:35.479 --> 00:10:45.479 But even a greenhorn like me knows that the best time to go fishing is in the morning or at night, not in the middle of the day. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.839 It's not the best idea. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:53.080 When the sun is hitting the water directly, fish like to be in the cooler water at the bottom of the lake. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.700 And Simon's a professional fisherman. 00:10:54.920 --> 00:10:56.080 He knows this. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:11:02.680 And so on top of that, they're guaranteed probably not to have anything to catch. 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:05.800 And that means their nets are going to have to be washed again. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.800 And they're going to have to get out of the boat, do all the cleanup, redo. 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:16.799 They'd basically be wasting all their work from the previous morning of getting done with fishing. 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:21.139 And so this is just a ridiculous request. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:32.500 Jesus is asking them to prolong their work, inconvenient, and basically not have anything to show for it because there's no fish to catch along the surface of the water. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:36.419 Humanly speaking, the situation is just kind of funny. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:43.340 You see a carpenter turned rabbi, Jesus, is telling a professional fisherman how to fish. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:51.039 Any self-respecting professional fisherman would have told Jesus to dive to the bottom of the lake himself if he wanted to get the fish so badly. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.000 So why would Jesus make this ridiculous request? 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:00.339 Well, remember that Jesus and Peter aren't exactly strangers at this point. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.360 They had crossed paths previously. 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:09.079 And Peter had also just finished hearing Jesus teach God's word. 00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:16.799 He had just been listening to the words of God coming from the mouth of the man sitting next to him in the boat. 00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:19.759 And what was that word of God? 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:26.379 Well, if we look up just a few verses in chapter 4, verse 43, just above this story, we'll see it. 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:35.399 Jesus says, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:42.679 Jesus is talking about and he is proclaiming the invading kingdom of God into this world. 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:49.120 God's almighty present kingship, his authority and his ability to reign in righteousness. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:54.519 His absolute control over all things and invading in a person. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.500 The man Jesus Christ. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:13:04.700 And he came to undo the effects and the reality of sin to establish God's righteous reign over his people once again. 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:10.879 So Jesus has just been speaking these words of authority and kingship about the kingdom of God. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:14.919 And then he turns to Peter right away and he says, hey, put down your nets. 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:19.799 He's basically asking Peter, do you believe what I've just said? 00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:24.379 Do you believe that the kingdom has come in me? 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.620 Are you ready to act on it? 00:13:27.099 --> 00:13:28.240 Are you ready to put skin in the game? 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.819 Or are you just letting me use your boat? 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.240 It's not a call to trust intellectually. 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:36.679 It's an active, obedient trust. 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:41.779 Jesus is calling Simon to have faith, real faith, active faith. 00:13:41.939 --> 00:13:46.899 To be confident that the person speaking next to him knows his profession better than he does. 00:13:48.599 --> 00:13:49.779 So what does Simon do? 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:52.059 He trusts. 00:13:52.959 --> 00:13:53.719 And he obeys. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.319 Trust and obey. 00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.559 There's no other way. 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.659 At first, though, he protests. 00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:04.659 They had a wearisome labor the night before. 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.639 They had lack of success the night before. 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:10.740 That's his personal and professional opinion on the matter. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.259 However, notice that he calls him master. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.819 My dad once owned a boat. 00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:19.699 And when dad got on that boat, he was the captain. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:23.159 And not in a dictatorial way, but he knew his boat. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.799 He was the master of his boat. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.559 Peter's in his boat. 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.719 He's in his boat. 00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:28.839 This is his livelihood. 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.620 And now he's showing deference. 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:35.779 He's showing respect and saying, okay, Jesus, you're the captain. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.379 You're the owner of this boat. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:41.440 I'll do what you say, even though everything in me says that's nuts. 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:46.899 I am going to acknowledge you as the master of my boat, the master of my life. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:50.139 So he humbly takes orders from Jesus. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:56.539 He puts Jesus' words over his own opinion and his own preference and his own convenience and comfort. 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:59.120 So he rows out the deeper water. 00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:02.120 He lets down those heavy nets into the water. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.039 And Jesus is looking on. 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:06.240 And here comes our third layer. 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:09.079 And really, the climax of the story. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.179 It gets really intense. 00:15:11.959 --> 00:15:13.419 Let's read verses 6 to 10. 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:20.759 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish. 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.279 And their nets were breaking. 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:26.219 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:30.360 And they came and they filled both the boats and they both began to sink. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:38.480 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees saying, depart from me. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.579 For I am a sinful man, O Lord. 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:48.040 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken. 00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:52.160 And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:56.740 So what's the third layer of this encounter? 00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:01.879 The third layer is that Jesus gives Simon a glimpse of his glory. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:06.480 Jesus gives Simon a glimpse of his glory. 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.840 The action is tense. 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.680 Just imagine the scene. 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:16.960 The nets are no sooner submerged than all of a sudden they feel this rush of fish 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:21.180 and the pull of a swarm of trout or whatever it was. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:26.139 And not only do they see the fish, but they realize that their nets are creaking 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.580 and they're snapping at the pressure. 00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:29.259 And so they jump into action. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:31.580 Simon has to signal the other boat to come and help them. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:34.240 And James and John hop into their boat and they get out there. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:38.600 And they're trying to get all the fish out of the nets before the nets break. 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:43.659 And then once they get all the fish in, they realize, oh, shoot, our boats are starting to sink 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:45.379 because there's so many fish. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:52.679 The astonishment of Simon and his companions is really profound, 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:55.120 especially considering that these guys were professionals. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.600 They do this all the time. 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:01.779 And all of a sudden, this is probably the biggest catch they've ever seen. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:04.339 And it happened at the most unlikely time of day 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.920 and at the command of the most unlikely person. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:14.940 However, as amazing as this catch is, the critical moment is Simon's response. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:21.000 You would expect Simon to be really surprised, really excited, 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:23.440 and maybe later extremely grateful. 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:30.360 So it should catch us off guard when we read Simon falling down at Jesus' knees. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:33.060 Now, knees because Jesus is sitting in the boat, so he falls at his knees. 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:37.259 He's just watching all this happen, probably with a huge grin on his face. 00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:42.599 And Peter cries out, depart from me. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.179 Get out of my life. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.659 I am a sinful man, oh Lord. 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:50.720 Now, Peter obviously didn't mean that instant. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.639 They were in the middle of a lake. 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:55.159 But he's begging Jesus to get out of his life. 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:56.799 Why? 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.379 I'd say, hey, you want to come fishing tomorrow? 00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.559 No. 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:04.679 No, Simon recognized something. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.960 Actually, he recognized two somethings. 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.000 Something about Jesus and something about himself. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:14.859 He caught a glimpse of Jesus' unique glory. 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:19.639 He saw that Jesus really does have authority. 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:25.379 He has a power and authority that is above anything that Simon has ever encountered. 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:28.040 More than any other person. 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:32.760 More than any other royal political figure. 00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:35.480 More than any rabbi or scribe. 00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:39.200 Jesus has unquestioned authority. 00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:41.700 And then he saw himself. 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.900 In the light of that authority. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:48.380 In the light of that unmatched power and goodness. 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:55.940 And he saw his sinful unworthiness to be in proximity to such purity and such authority. 00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:59.660 I love the way one writer put it. 00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:10.660 Simon's reaction to the power shown in the miraculous hall of fish puts Jesus in a realm or sphere to which Simon himself does not belong. 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:14.120 Today we know the whole story. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.720 We've read the whole Bible. 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.960 Simon didn't have that opportunity. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:23.320 Jesus really was and is God in the flesh. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:26.720 Through whom God made all things. 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:29.240 The second person of the Godhead. 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.720 Fully God and fully man. 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:35.759 Dictating the movements of the molecules of the entire universe. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:35.960 Jesus. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.339 And so though Peter didn't have that complete knowledge yet. 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:46.559 He certainly recognized that Jesus' power and authority were not of this world. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:52.839 And that he was in the presence of someone who was in the very close to God. 00:19:54.039 --> 00:20:00.720 He recognized that the rabbi sitting next to him in the boat wielded an authority greater than Peter had ever encountered. 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:04.500 And it takes Peter's attention completely off the astounding hall of fish. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:06.299 Though it probably would have got him a lot of money. 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.819 And he falls to Jesus' knees. 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.880 He's terrified. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.839 He realizes that he is in God's holy presence. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:24.380 And he is right next to the hot spot of God's presence and authority and goodness. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:25.960 His holiness. 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:35.519 And he is near to an unworthy, unclean, unholy person like Simon. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.120 And like us. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.799 Simon's response is absolutely appropriate. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:45.980 This is how sinners should respond to God's pure and holy presence. 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:48.759 By the way, does it sound a little familiar? 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.160 You don't have to turn there. 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:58.579 But Simon's reaction to Jesus is very much like Isaiah's reaction when he sees the glory of God on display in Isaiah chapter 6. 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.059 Isaiah says, 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:23.779 Simon and Isaiah both are desperately aware of their utter unworthiness to be near to God's holy presence because of their sin. 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:26.019 There's no bargaining. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:28.220 There's no excuse making. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.539 No self-justifying. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:34.660 It's just eyes full of the power and brilliance of God. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.519 And full awareness of the danger they're in. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:43.980 How their sin has angered a righteous God who has full authority to separate them from him forever. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.660 And this is the ancient problem. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:50.079 It's not just Simon's and Isaiah's. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:55.299 It's been all of humanity's problem from Adam and Eve to us today. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:59.439 We cannot casually approach God because of sin. 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.939 He is not someone to be walked up to lightly. 00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:07.139 We bear guilty stains of rebellion against him. 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.199 He's a just God. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.619 He is a consuming fire, Hebrews says. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:18.179 Anything sinful and unclean that comes near to his fiery goodness is in imminent danger of being consumed in holy wrath. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:31.460 So that makes us wonder how is Jesus going to respond to this guy who is rightly acknowledging the nature of the relationship between Simon and Peter. 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.880 Well, he could have consented to Simon and left him. 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.820 He could have gotten out of his life. 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:40.360 He would have removed his holy and good presence from Simon forever. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:43.019 He could have judged him then and there. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.639 He could have consumed him in just wrath. 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.419 He could have brushed off. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.119 Actually, he couldn't have. 00:22:49.219 --> 00:22:52.879 But he noticed he doesn't brush off Simon's confession and say, 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.379 Oh, Simon, you're not that bad of a guy. 00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:56.979 Your sin isn't too bad. 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.159 I'll just sweep it under the rug. 00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:58.679 It's okay. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:05.660 Instead, without denying his sinfulness, he calms him and assures him. 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.240 He says, Do not be afraid. 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:14.440 In Jesus' presence, Peter doesn't need to fear God's judgment. 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.460 Why? 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.600 Why not? 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.599 Why not? 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.599 Why not? 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:31.819 This command not to fear is pointing forward to how God is going to fully deal with Simon's sin and our sin through his son Jesus about three years later. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:36.559 Later, Jesus would be nailed to a cross. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:41.980 He would become Simon's sin and not just Simon's, my sin and your sin. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.539 And we paid for by Jesus on the cross. 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:50.720 It's as if in Jesus' mind, telling Peter at that very moment in the boat, 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:51.980 Do not be afraid. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:24:01.680 His mind is looking forward to Gethsemane and Golgotha and the cross and God's angry wrath toward him that he never deserved. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.480 And knowing that this man would be okay. 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:07.619 And he would be forgiven. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.839 And he would be justified. 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:13.599 And he has no reason to fear because of what Christ was going to do three years hence. 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:21.220 That brings us to the last layer of this encounter. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:24.240 Let's read verses 10 and 11. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:28.400 Jesus said to Simon, 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.440 Do not be afraid. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:33.019 From now on, you will be catching men. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:38.339 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything. 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.920 And they followed him. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:43.720 So what's the fourth layer to this encounter? 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:50.279 Jesus invites Simon to join his mission. 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:54.220 Jesus invites Simon to join his mission. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:59.720 He's just dealt with Simon's sin. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:04.420 He's just reassured him that his sin is going to be dealt with. 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:07.779 And that he doesn't have to fear being in Jesus' presence. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:12.059 And now, now that he's just dealt with Simon's sin, 00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:16.299 now he's inviting him to participate in his mission to the world. 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:19.200 The mission of the kingdom of God in this world. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:25.700 Jesus gives Simon this astounding invitation to catch men. 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:30.419 Now, the language is just wonderfully appropriate 00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:34.059 because Jesus and Simon are having this conversation 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:38.619 with a bunch of gasping fish flopping around on the deck of the boat 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:40.079 right in front of him. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:44.419 And so, it makes sense that Jesus would say, 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:47.220 guess what, your profession's about to change. 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.679 Your identity's about to change. 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.519 Your purpose is about to change. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.960 Because you're no longer going to be catching fish. 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.379 You're going to be catching men. 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:57.240 There's a couple of different verbs for catch 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.839 that Luke uses in this passage. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.899 And this one is different. 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:02.199 They're all unique verbs. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:05.819 This one means to catch alive or to capture. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:12.500 Not as the idea is an ongoing gathering of live fish out of the water. 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:18.960 If Jesus is the kingdom of God on earth, 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:23.259 then God is through him rescuing men and women 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:26.420 from the dangerous waters of judgment by his grace 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:30.480 and gathering them into his kingdom to give them life. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:33.220 But notice how he does it. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.200 How does God catch sinners up from the waters of judgment? 00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.759 What's his instrument? 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.640 It's people. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.620 Jesus' disciples. 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:48.839 The whole miraculous catch story right here that we've just read 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:53.099 kind of serves as a little mini picture of the mission of the kingdom. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.599 Jesus is the master fisherman. 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.640 He catches a few fish. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:02.580 That's Simon, James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew, etc., etc. 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:07.360 And then the master fisherman also knows where the other fish are 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.259 that need to be caught. 00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:10.280 And so he tells his disciples, 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:12.800 hey, go cast your nets over there. 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:15.160 Even though it may not make any sense to them. 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:18.800 It may not be convenient or comfortable or even likely. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:22.940 And he invites them to participate in his mission through faithful obedience. 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:29.039 And then he is also the one who gives them the success in their mission in the most unlikely of ways. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.900 As they put their full confidence in him and respond to him by letting down their nets. 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:37.880 So how do Simon and the other disciples respond? 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:43.460 They respond by radically committing themselves to Jesus. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.420 Verse 11 is simple and it's powerful. 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:48.840 They left everything behind. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.240 They followed Jesus. 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.800 Two verbs. 00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.560 They abandoned everything. 00:27:54.320 --> 00:27:55.720 It was their previous priority. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:28:01.000 And they committed themselves wholeheartedly to Jesus and to his mission. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:07.380 So in heart and action, they are now fully committed to Jesus as his followers through this encounter. 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:11.960 This new commitment takes priority over all of our previous allegiances. 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:15.500 They leave everything to commit themselves to Jesus. 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:20.860 They now have a new governing priority in their lives. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:27.580 Jesus has demonstrated that he's worthy of their total trust and commitment. 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:31.539 He knows their profession and their needs better than they do. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:38.220 And that is the right response for them to commit themselves wholeheartedly to him. 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:42.180 And it is our right response as well. 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:56.320 You see, when we have a real encounter with a real Jesus, we experience someone who lays claim to our priorities, to our commitments, and to our whole life. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:00.220 We see the four layers show up. 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.819 He initiates the contact with us. 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:05.179 He's the one who goes after us. 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.480 He's the fisherman. 00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.919 He snatches us up. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:14.880 And we respond because God's awakened our hearts to our condition and to our need for him. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:17.200 Then he calls us to trust him. 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:24.200 These are in no particular order, but I think they help us see very clearly how Jesus calls us. 00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:30.300 He calls us to trust him wholeheartedly and to act on that trust even if it costs us. 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:32.740 In fact, it probably will cost us. 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:41.720 And yet, in spite of the cost, we lean on him to give us grace to put our trust in him as he calls us to trust him. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:51.399 And then he gives us a glimpse of his glory that can be a conversion that can be all throughout our Christian walk. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:57.660 We see Jesus in new ways, little sparks of light that open our eyes to, wait a minute. 00:29:59.540 --> 00:30:00.840 This really is real. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.920 This guy is for real. 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:05.300 He has something that I don't have. 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:10.620 He is wanting to give me something that I desperately need. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:15.040 And yet, as we see his glory, we also see our sin more clearly. 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.220 And sometimes we get despair. 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:21.480 But as we look to him, he says, don't be afraid. 00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:23.920 Because he points us ahead to the cross. 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:26.079 And he reminds us of what he's done for us. 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:29.980 And we see his glory even more clearly and now without fear. 00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:34.579 And he also invites us to join him on his mission. 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:38.299 All of these things work together when we encounter Jesus. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:42.360 All of these things are a part of the package of following Jesus. 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:48.679 As we look to a new year, we're in 2016 now. 00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:53.159 And as I wrap up, I want us to think about how we can respond to this rightly. 00:30:54.479 --> 00:31:00.459 Maybe you are going into 2016 and God's been kind to you. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.639 You're resting in him. 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.519 You're trusting in him. 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:07.419 You're confident that no matter what 2016 may bring, you're ready for it. 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.720 By God's grace. 00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:13.320 Or maybe, maybe you're a storm-caught, tossed Christian. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:16.860 And you're looking back at 2015 and you're wondering what hit you. 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.539 Or maybe you're just a weak sheep. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.480 Storm-tossed or not. 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:25.519 And you don't even care what year it is. 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:29.160 You just are trying to survive day to day. 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:34.140 Or maybe, maybe you're like, I'm not really sure about this whole Jesus thing. 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:41.019 I'm not really sure if I want to commit myself to this guy that lived 2,000 years ago. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:46.360 And people go to church and sing songs to him and read a weird old book. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.560 I mean, what's up with that? 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.820 But maybe you're curious. 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.860 Maybe that's why you're here. 00:31:50.859 --> 00:32:05.959 Well, wherever you find yourself, I want to ask you, if you would ask yourself and ask God how you should respond to this encounter you have had this morning with the living Christ through his word. 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:10.799 Let me just encourage you to consider responding in four possible ways. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.199 They go right along with the four layers. 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.339 They're four R's. 00:32:14.699 --> 00:32:15.459 Four R's. 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:19.599 First, remember that he initiates contact. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:19.740 Contact. 00:32:20.459 --> 00:32:22.459 Remember that he initiates contact. 00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:27.099 If you're a Christian, it's because Jesus pursued you. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.899 You didn't pursue him. 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:37.000 I look back on my life, and I am astounded at the grace God has shown me and how it was so unlooked for. 00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.879 Jesus is the one who pursues us. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:43.740 If you're a Christian this morning, remember, you're not hanging on to him. 00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:45.759 He found you first. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:48.500 That means he's hanging on to you by the power of his grace. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:56.219 And so your relationship with him has less to do with your performance than it does with the power of his redeeming grace at work in your life. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:33:00.139 He saved you when you were still a sinner and weren't even looking for him. 00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:02.840 That means he can still save you now. 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.780 He can still maintain you now. 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:06.840 He can still uphold you now. 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:09.660 Thank him and praise him for that grace. 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:21.680 If you're not a Christian, but you might be feeling awakened to something that you haven't before, a desire to know more about this God and this Jesus, 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:25.580 that's a sign that he might be initiating contact. 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:29.299 So yield to him and pursue it back. 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.940 Talk with somebody here about it. 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.320 Respond to him. 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.480 Don't delay. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:38.039 If the king is initiating contact with you, don't delay. 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.759 Don't put it off. 00:33:41.060 --> 00:33:43.560 Everything, eternity, is at stake. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:47.899 So first remember, second, reply. 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:53.220 Reply to his call to trust him, even if it's costly. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:34:01.019 How is Jesus calling you to trust him in a way that might even be costly to you? 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:04.539 And to act on that trust in your life right now. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:12.960 What is Jesus calling you to do to obey, to trust him in faith? 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.840 What is he calling you to be faithful in that you don't really want to be faithful in? 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:21.759 What command is he telling you to obey that you have been neglecting, perhaps? 00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:28.380 What sin is he calling you to put to death, even if it costs you? 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:34.860 What godly fruit is he asking you to pursue, even if it costs you? 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.680 Even if it's not comfortable. 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:41.400 Maybe he's calling you, if you're not a Christian this morning, 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:47.019 to renounce your claim of being in charge of your own life and give it up to him. 00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:52.720 No matter what it costs you, Jesus is so incredibly worth it. 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:57.820 So first, remember, second, reply. 00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.740 Third, run. 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:03.280 Run after glimpses of his glory. 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:05.240 Pursue. 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:11.400 Run after glimpses of his glory, his goodness, his grace, even if it stings. 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:16.340 Just like it stung Peter when he saw that glimpse of Jesus' glory. 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.100 Run after it. 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:23.580 Even if it means you see more of your sin in the light of his beauty, 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:26.680 nothing satisfies like being near to Jesus. 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:28.639 So run after it. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:28.699 Run after it. 00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:34.659 Only when you're close to Jesus can you experience the delight of being loved by God the Father 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:36.859 and having fellowship with God the Spirit. 00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:42.279 Abandon the smoke and mirrors of worldly pleasures if they are distracting you 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:45.760 from the pure light of his immense power and glory. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:55.000 Maybe that means turning off the TV more and opening the Bible more. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:00.540 Maybe that means taking an audit of the way that you spend your time. 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:04.360 The way you value the priorities you have in your life. 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.159 It's a new year. 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:08.039 It never hurts to make some changes. 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:11.199 To pursue glimpses of his glory. 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:19.639 Maybe it just means simply falling to your knees this afternoon and asking him to give you more. 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:25.299 to make you more aware of himself and have more glimpses of his glory. 00:36:25.379 --> 00:36:26.460 It's always a good place to start. 00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:31.420 So remember, reply, run, RSVP. 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.599 RSVP to Jesus' invitation. 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.619 He's inviting you to join him in his mission. 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.199 RSVP to that mission. 00:36:39.319 --> 00:36:39.940 Say, I'm in. 00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:44.400 Listen, refuse to live your life for your tiny kingdom. 00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:47.119 Jesus' kingdom is huge. 00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:48.980 It's something greater than yourself. 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:51.079 And it gives you so much to live for. 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:57.079 He is calling you, all of us, if you are Christians, to let down our nets. 00:36:57.559 --> 00:37:00.960 Even if it makes no sense to us to let down our nets. 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:03.179 Even if success seems unlikely. 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:08.800 I've got neighbors on my street whose eternal destinies I don't know about. 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:11.579 Jesus is asking me to let down my nets. 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.400 Be wise. 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.700 Be prayerful. 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.019 Be watchful. 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:18.179 Accept his invitation. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:23.840 If you're a Christian, you were once in those dangerous waters of God's judgment and God, 00:37:24.200 --> 00:37:27.320 through someone letting down their nets, snatched you up. 00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:35.260 So ask God to expand your heart for the lost and RSVP to his invitation to join him. 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.639 He is worth it. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:41.719 Christ the King Church, Jesus is calling us to be his committed disciples this year. 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.879 Let's honor him. 00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:44.940 Let's trust him. 00:37:45.259 --> 00:37:46.059 Let's obey him. 00:37:46.379 --> 00:37:47.319 Let's treasure him. 00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:50.739 And let's join him for the glory of God's kingdom. 00:37:51.500 --> 00:37:52.299 Let me pray for us. 00:37:52.300 --> 00:38:00.940 Father, it's good to hear from your word. 00:38:04.160 --> 00:38:06.019 Father, thank you that you speak to us. 00:38:06.120 --> 00:38:07.000 Do not be afraid. 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:13.920 You've dealt with our sin fully and finally through the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:16.980 And in that we stand and we rejoice. 00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:19.559 God, help us to trust you. 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:22.240 Help us to obey you wholeheartedly. 00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:27.539 Help us to join you in your mission to have faith that you're going to give us success 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:32.619 as we let down our nets to catch folks, to bring them into your kingdom. 00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:37.159 Father, I pray that we treasure you above all this year. 00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:39.139 In Christ's name, amen. 00:38:39.139 --> 00:38:39.240 Amen. 00:38:39.240 --> 00:38:39.300 Amen. 00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:39.340 Amen. 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:39.360 Amen. 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:39.420 Amen. 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:41.300 Amen. 00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:41.360 Amen. 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:43.360 Amen. 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:43.420 Amen. 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:43.440 Amen.