THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 3

THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES

Moving from a preaching ministry in Capernaum's Synagogue, Jesus sought Capernaum's fishermen at their place of labour on the shores of Galilee. He had laid His hands of healing on a great multitude of sick from sunset till morning. He now sought seclusion in a desert place to rest but the people pressed in on Him to listen to the Word of God. Jesus entered into one of two ships asking Simon, its owner, to push out a little into the water, so that He could sit in the boat and speak to the crowds from there. The boat was all that Simon had but it was gladly given to Christ. Have we allowed Christ to take possession of our lives? Our business? Is Christ at

the helm guiding our affairs? If Christ is not Lord of all then He’s not Lord at all. When Christ had finished speaking. He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets." It is not the shoreline Christians, but those who launch out that see "The works of The Lord." Let us launch out into the deeps of His thoughts. The deeps of His wisdom and the deeps of His love. Simon answered, "Master we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing, nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. They had toiled all night without Him and confessed their fruitlessness. The indispensable things for true Christian success are:-

1. The previous failure. 2. In spite of the time ■"day," 3. In spite of the place "near the shore." "But God knows the way that I take, when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10). And when the net was lowered they inclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net broke. Simon's faith had really been put on the line that day. One historian states that there were as many as 4000 ships on Galilee at that time. Thousands would have watched with much interest his test of faith. Here was a perfect reward. "Ask and it shall

1. "Without faith there is no pleasing God." (Heb, 11:16). 2. "Without love there is no profit in anything." (1 Cor. 13:1-3). 3. "Without the Word of God there is no light." (Isa. 8:20). 4. "Without holiness of life there is no fellowship with God." (Heb. 12:14). 5. "Without Christ as Lord of the life there is no fruitfulness." (John 15:5). Simon launched out into the deep with faith in Christ. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:2). The basis of Simon's faith was "At thy word." "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17). Simon's was a real test of faith when you consider:-

be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." (Math. 7:7). What followed could be described as a partnership of faith. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both ships, so that they began to sink. The result was two fold. Firstly unfeigned humiliation. Simon fell down at Jesus knees saying." Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." and secondly, complete consecration, "They forsook all, and followed Jesus." Monday 's Message from