Title: In the Troubles of Life
< Dec. 11, 2011 Las Vegas Blessed Church / Third Sunday of Advent / Bible Sunday / Part 1 Worship >
< Dec. 11, 2011 / This message is for third Lord's Day of Advent. >
Luke 5:1-11
『In the Recession of Life』, 『In Life's Recessions』
『Unexpectedly the greatest blessing』, 『Biggest Blessing』
It was one morning. Two boats lay empty on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (by the shores of Gennesaret and Tiberias), catching no fish all night. The fishermen looked very tired and weary, mending their nets. The fishermen had deep wrinkles on their foreheads, and their hands and arms were covered with wounds from the substance. As the fishermen thought of their families waiting eagerly for the money they sold for meat, sorrow and worry were evident on their faces. It was just a sigh. Jesus came to the fishermen who were very weary in heart and body amidst such disappointment and sighing.
Jesus got into Simon Peter's boat. Then he told them to go out into the deep and let down their nets to catch fish. Peter said, “Teacher, we have toiled all night and caught nothing, but at your word I will let down the nets.” replied and obeyed. Then they caught so many fish that the nets were torn, and they filled not only Peter's stomach, but also James and John's other companions. Peter's obedience to Jesus had an unexpected result.
The reality of our lives sitting here is also different from the two boats anchored on the shores of the Sea of Galilee without catching a single fish, and the fishermen who let out a sigh in disappointment and helplessly trim their nets with their droopy hands. isn't there? Sometimes, when we look at the reality of our lives, there are times when we do not know what to do, and there is a lot of complexity and retina. How can we get through such a life?
What did Peter show?
It is in purebred.
Location is the most important factor in the success of a business. Of course, if the location is good, it is really appreciated and good. However, please believe that if God is with you, it will work out regardless of location. When you go to a famous restaurant that is bustling with customers even during a recession, location has nothing to do with it. Deep in the mountains or in rural areas, on dirt roads, you have to run for a short period of time. Nevertheless, it is overflowing with guests, and there is not enough time to park the car. Sometimes there are no seats, so you have to write down your name and wait to get in. Same with him. If God is with you, there will be no depression even in the midst of depression. Please believe that those who are with God will prosper and prosper when everyone else is complaining that they can't do it.
Following his father, Joseph, and learning the work of a carpenter, Jesus, who is believed to have only known the work of a carpenter, told Peter, a professional fisherman who had been a fisherman for half his life, to go deep. It was an order that Peter, a professional fisherman, did not like at all. This is because fish are best caught at night and in moderately deep water. Peter and his companions, who had not caught a single fish all night, and who were terribly weary from their disappointment, needed rest right now. In the midst of the experience of being a professional fisherman, the finishing of netting, and the situation where we now have to rest, Jesus' instructions to go deep and lower the net in the morning when the sun is shining brightly were absolutely absurd. In such an embarrassing situation, Peter “by the word will let down the nets.” and obeyed. The situation or process for Peter to obey Jesus' words was never easy. Because he didn't like it. But what was the result of Peter's obedience? It was a completely unexpected blessing that exceeded expectations.
Dear brothers and sisters, what do we have to choose from in the midst of life's downturn that sometimes comes unexpectedly? It is seeking and looking to God. It is obedience to the word of God. What is our problem? Without looking for and looking at God, without obeying God's word, I complain and complain about why a recession is coming into my life. In the midst of life's downturn, put aside our abilities, experiences, and possessions for a moment, and hold onto God and cling to God. Be humble and earnestly seek God's help. Surely God will answer you. You are sure to help. It is foolishness and foolishness to hope that it will come true without asking. No parent can beat their children. Where is the parent who will say no to a child who cries and cries and begs? God is the same. When we, our children, cling to and plead with us, He never says that we do not know. As long as you don't ask for evil things, you are supposed to listen to them. Therefore, I hope that you do not live by your head, but by faith and obedience.
Look at the worker ants. It's been carrying around for years without a break. But what about? In one moment, a few hand-carried movements is far better than a bunch of worker ants carried over years of non-stop movement. Same with him. Please believe that God can do things that we cannot do, things that we cannot do, in an instant, all at once.
No matter how much you bounce the jujube egg or hit the calculator, how about it? Wealth does not increase according to human will and desire. The characteristic of wealth is that people have greed