Launch Out!
by B.D. Stanford
by B.D. Stanford
...Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke 5:4
These are the words Jesus Christ spoke to Simon Peter over 2000 years ago on the
banks of the lake of Gennesaret. Jesus had borrowed Simon's boat and sat down
using the water as a natural amplifier increasing his volume and effectiveness as he
taught his followers. On this lake Jesus gives His dynamic directive to Simon to
"launch out!" Here is where Simon and his fishing partners experience a miracle
and in so doing it changes them forever. But first we must see the significance of
the words and how they can be applied to our lives today.
The Lord Jesus shows all of us including Simon Peter that to be of help to the
gospel ministry you can be certain God will repay, but first you must "launch out!"
Our Lord gave Simon an opportunity to see the Mighty Hand of God in operation.
In verse 5 of Luke 5, Simon gives a weak excuse, "And Simon answering said unto
him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at
thy word I will let down the net." When I read this, I immediately thought how we
as Christians make excuses like, "I'm just too tired to go to church," or "I just
can't give anymore, I've given my fair share," and "I can't do this faith thing
anymore, I've tried it and it doesn't work for me." The excuses can go on forever!
We may attempt to believe God and when we don't see any results we begin to
doubt and become a partner with unbelief and our faith goes shipwrecked! So many
start out believing the Lord for things but soon run aground. Some are saved and
filled with the Holy Ghost and their life completely turned around and the first time
their faith is really tested they give up and fall right back to their old devilish ways.
Too many have quit on God! Multitudes have travelled down the highway of
holiness ever so far and simply made a detour and headed back to the comfort and
security of their own little world, when the going gets tough. Many have begin to
walk with the Lord by faith and found the path much too treacherous and fearful and
risky to stay the course. They confess,"that living by faith is too hard and difficult,
I don't think that way any more, it is not reasonable or sensible to live like that, I
must think about what is at stake here." The fear of the unknown is what keeps so
many from the abundant life. What may or may not happen in the future is foremost
in many minds that contemplate living by faith. What stymies the blessings is
simply not obeying the Word of God. The apostle Paul said,"I do not frustrate the
grace of God" in Galatians 2:21. We frustrate and block and prevent the blessings
to come our way every time we do not follow the Word. We are also told to
"quench not the Spirit!" When we know the Word and how to apply it to our life in
any given situation and are not obedient to the Word, we quench the Holy Ghost
and go from faith to fear in an instant. It can happen so very fast. One minute we
are walking by faith and up pops a devil. A test is given to believe and follow the
Word, we flunk the test and fall away in confusion and regret.
Let's go back and see how Simon Peter did on his test. The Lord Jesus tells Simon
to "launch out in the deep, and let down your nets for a draught" and immediately
Simon makes an excuse. Lord, we are tired. We have worked all night long and
fished and fished and have not caught a single fish. Simon comes through and takes
Jesus at His Word and simply obeys! Simple obedience is what the Lord wants
from us! Obey the Word! Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, as he called a little child and
set him in the middle of his disciples, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven." We should never cease from being like little children. This scripture
says, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children..." After we are
converted and become a Christian, we are to continue to be as innocent, trusting,
humble and obedient children not questioning our Heavenly Father or making
excuses, but simply obeying Him. I regret so much the times in my own life when a
crisis arose and I was confronted with either believing the Word and obeying or
simply doing something else. I regret so much doing something else. I just did not
trust Him and obey His Word. Those are the times I wish I could go back and
relive and walk by faith and see the Hand of God work. I trust things would have
been much different in my life. We are called as a Christian in every situation with
childlike faith to innocently and humbly look to our God. As Daniel said, "but the
people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32 If we
will only trust Him, our exploits will be filled with victory and triumph! It is all in
knowing Him and the way we get to know Him is through His Word and in the trials
and tests of life. The Lord says, "... prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it." His blessings are there just for the
asking and for the believing and for the receiving! He wants us to prove Him!
When we are tested and a severe trial awaits us, each time we trust Him in strong
faith, we have the opportunity to prove His Word and His promises and His power
truly works! He must always receive all the glory and honor and praise! He is
worthy!
Look at what Simon Peter said, "nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."
He obeyed the voice of the Lord. The Bible says, "And when they had this done,
they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." The harvest was too
great for Simon and his partners to contain. Every time a crisis comes, our words
should be "nevertheless at thy word!" Regardless what the circumstances may be
our response must be "nevertheless at thy word!" Now Simon Peter had to get his
friends in the other ship to come and help take up this giant catch. The Word says,
"And when they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." What
a glorious sight that must have been. First their net begins to break and then when
they haul in all the fish, the boats begin to sink. This should tell us when a situation
looks hopeless and there is no way out and you have done all there is to do, do what
the Word says and prepare for a major breakthrough! The harvest is coming and
you better get ready!
The real key to success in our failed attempts at faith is, "nevertheless at thy
word." Jesus instructed Simon Peter to "Launch out into the deep, and let down
your nets for a draught." It was not until Simon Peter launched out into the deep
and began to fish in obedience, that he saw advancement. After believing God for
days, weeks, months and even years we can only say, "nevertheless at thy word"
Lord! What else can you do? Give up? You can't quit! The Holy Ghost on the
inside of you won't let you! You need healing for your body, you are believing for a
son or daughter or husband or wife to come to the Lord you just can't quit now! You
are too close! Launch out! You need a word from the Lord to keep going! Look at
what Daniel said, "He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in
the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." Daniel 2:22 The Lord knows all
about your situation. He knows how you have struggled. Don't give in! Don't stop!
The Lord knows what is ahead of you and what is behind. He defeated the powers
of darkness! He dwells in Light! Launch out! You must see that you or I will never
have the kind of faith that moves mountains until we launch out into God! It is like I
am going to commit myself to Him and stay in faith and see His blessings come
what may! I am done with man and leaning on the arm of flesh! There are places in
this life where man just can't help anymore. Those places require only God's power
and anointing! The deep places, the secret places, where Almighty God speaks to
your spirit! In times of extreme darkness you need extreme light! You need His
wisdom and His authority! You need His voice to speak loud and clear! Jeremiah
17:5 says, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and
maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Launch out into
God! Be finished with the arm of flesh! Jeremiah 17:7 says, "Blessed is the man
that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." There you have it! Trust in
God and make Him your hope!
Back to Luke 5:10 where we see the words of Jesus, "And Jesus said unto Simon,
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men." You think you have really seen
something Peter, just stick around the best is yet to come. The Bible goes on to say
in verse 11, "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and
followed him." Evidently they gave up this great catch of fish and even their
livelihood and followed the Lord Jesus. They "forsook all!" This is exactly what is
required in desperate situations when the doctor gives you no hope or your
marriage is on the rocks and your life is coming apart. When you have lost your job
and you are about to lose your house and the bills keep stacking up. When
everything and everybody has failed you. You must forsake all and lean on the
Everlasting Arm. He is all things and above all things and in all things. He is all
you need! Those disciples deemed Him worthy to follow and pledge their life and
everything they owned. They saw something in this Jesus of Nazareth that caused
them to turn to Him and turn their backs on every thing else. From that time
forward, they were never the same! They launched out into God and became
fishers of men! Launch out!
These are the words Jesus Christ spoke to Simon Peter over 2000 years ago on the
banks of the lake of Gennesaret. Jesus had borrowed Simon's boat and sat down
using the water as a natural amplifier increasing his volume and effectiveness as he
taught his followers. On this lake Jesus gives His dynamic directive to Simon to
"launch out!" Here is where Simon and his fishing partners experience a miracle
and in so doing it changes them forever. But first we must see the significance of
the words and how they can be applied to our lives today.
The Lord Jesus shows all of us including Simon Peter that to be of help to the
gospel ministry you can be certain God will repay, but first you must "launch out!"
Our Lord gave Simon an opportunity to see the Mighty Hand of God in operation.
In verse 5 of Luke 5, Simon gives a weak excuse, "And Simon answering said unto
him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at
thy word I will let down the net." When I read this, I immediately thought how we
as Christians make excuses like, "I'm just too tired to go to church," or "I just
can't give anymore, I've given my fair share," and "I can't do this faith thing
anymore, I've tried it and it doesn't work for me." The excuses can go on forever!
We may attempt to believe God and when we don't see any results we begin to
doubt and become a partner with unbelief and our faith goes shipwrecked! So many
start out believing the Lord for things but soon run aground. Some are saved and
filled with the Holy Ghost and their life completely turned around and the first time
their faith is really tested they give up and fall right back to their old devilish ways.
Too many have quit on God! Multitudes have travelled down the highway of
holiness ever so far and simply made a detour and headed back to the comfort and
security of their own little world, when the going gets tough. Many have begin to
walk with the Lord by faith and found the path much too treacherous and fearful and
risky to stay the course. They confess,"that living by faith is too hard and difficult,
I don't think that way any more, it is not reasonable or sensible to live like that, I
must think about what is at stake here." The fear of the unknown is what keeps so
many from the abundant life. What may or may not happen in the future is foremost
in many minds that contemplate living by faith. What stymies the blessings is
simply not obeying the Word of God. The apostle Paul said,"I do not frustrate the
grace of God" in Galatians 2:21. We frustrate and block and prevent the blessings
to come our way every time we do not follow the Word. We are also told to
"quench not the Spirit!" When we know the Word and how to apply it to our life in
any given situation and are not obedient to the Word, we quench the Holy Ghost
and go from faith to fear in an instant. It can happen so very fast. One minute we
are walking by faith and up pops a devil. A test is given to believe and follow the
Word, we flunk the test and fall away in confusion and regret.
Let's go back and see how Simon Peter did on his test. The Lord Jesus tells Simon
to "launch out in the deep, and let down your nets for a draught" and immediately
Simon makes an excuse. Lord, we are tired. We have worked all night long and
fished and fished and have not caught a single fish. Simon comes through and takes
Jesus at His Word and simply obeys! Simple obedience is what the Lord wants
from us! Obey the Word! Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, as he called a little child and
set him in the middle of his disciples, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven." We should never cease from being like little children. This scripture
says, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children..." After we are
converted and become a Christian, we are to continue to be as innocent, trusting,
humble and obedient children not questioning our Heavenly Father or making
excuses, but simply obeying Him. I regret so much the times in my own life when a
crisis arose and I was confronted with either believing the Word and obeying or
simply doing something else. I regret so much doing something else. I just did not
trust Him and obey His Word. Those are the times I wish I could go back and
relive and walk by faith and see the Hand of God work. I trust things would have
been much different in my life. We are called as a Christian in every situation with
childlike faith to innocently and humbly look to our God. As Daniel said, "but the
people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32 If we
will only trust Him, our exploits will be filled with victory and triumph! It is all in
knowing Him and the way we get to know Him is through His Word and in the trials
and tests of life. The Lord says, "... prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it." His blessings are there just for the
asking and for the believing and for the receiving! He wants us to prove Him!
When we are tested and a severe trial awaits us, each time we trust Him in strong
faith, we have the opportunity to prove His Word and His promises and His power
truly works! He must always receive all the glory and honor and praise! He is
worthy!
Look at what Simon Peter said, "nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."
He obeyed the voice of the Lord. The Bible says, "And when they had this done,
they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." The harvest was too
great for Simon and his partners to contain. Every time a crisis comes, our words
should be "nevertheless at thy word!" Regardless what the circumstances may be
our response must be "nevertheless at thy word!" Now Simon Peter had to get his
friends in the other ship to come and help take up this giant catch. The Word says,
"And when they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." What
a glorious sight that must have been. First their net begins to break and then when
they haul in all the fish, the boats begin to sink. This should tell us when a situation
looks hopeless and there is no way out and you have done all there is to do, do what
the Word says and prepare for a major breakthrough! The harvest is coming and
you better get ready!
The real key to success in our failed attempts at faith is, "nevertheless at thy
word." Jesus instructed Simon Peter to "Launch out into the deep, and let down
your nets for a draught." It was not until Simon Peter launched out into the deep
and began to fish in obedience, that he saw advancement. After believing God for
days, weeks, months and even years we can only say, "nevertheless at thy word"
Lord! What else can you do? Give up? You can't quit! The Holy Ghost on the
inside of you won't let you! You need healing for your body, you are believing for a
son or daughter or husband or wife to come to the Lord you just can't quit now! You
are too close! Launch out! You need a word from the Lord to keep going! Look at
what Daniel said, "He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in
the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." Daniel 2:22 The Lord knows all
about your situation. He knows how you have struggled. Don't give in! Don't stop!
The Lord knows what is ahead of you and what is behind. He defeated the powers
of darkness! He dwells in Light! Launch out! You must see that you or I will never
have the kind of faith that moves mountains until we launch out into God! It is like I
am going to commit myself to Him and stay in faith and see His blessings come
what may! I am done with man and leaning on the arm of flesh! There are places in
this life where man just can't help anymore. Those places require only God's power
and anointing! The deep places, the secret places, where Almighty God speaks to
your spirit! In times of extreme darkness you need extreme light! You need His
wisdom and His authority! You need His voice to speak loud and clear! Jeremiah
17:5 says, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and
maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Launch out into
God! Be finished with the arm of flesh! Jeremiah 17:7 says, "Blessed is the man
that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." There you have it! Trust in
God and make Him your hope!
Back to Luke 5:10 where we see the words of Jesus, "And Jesus said unto Simon,
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men." You think you have really seen
something Peter, just stick around the best is yet to come. The Bible goes on to say
in verse 11, "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and
followed him." Evidently they gave up this great catch of fish and even their
livelihood and followed the Lord Jesus. They "forsook all!" This is exactly what is
required in desperate situations when the doctor gives you no hope or your
marriage is on the rocks and your life is coming apart. When you have lost your job
and you are about to lose your house and the bills keep stacking up. When
everything and everybody has failed you. You must forsake all and lean on the
Everlasting Arm. He is all things and above all things and in all things. He is all
you need! Those disciples deemed Him worthy to follow and pledge their life and
everything they owned. They saw something in this Jesus of Nazareth that caused
them to turn to Him and turn their backs on every thing else. From that time
forward, they were never the same! They launched out into God and became
fishers of men! Launch out!
"launch out in the deep, and let down your nets for a draught" |
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