NET BREAKING & BOAT SINKING

1. Introduction

a) What I want to share is about net breaking and boat sinking encounter with the Lord. It is about the availability of breaking anointing (Luke 5:6) and the miracle of double blessing:

i) Net breaking & boat sinking

@1. 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke 5:6, 7 NIV)

ii) Miracle of double blessing

#1) Job:

@1. 2He had seven sons and three daughters, 3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. (Job 1:2, 3 NIV)

@2. 12The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13And he also had seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:12, 13 NIV)

#2) Elisha:

@1. Elisha 28 miracles (2 Kings 2 - 13) versus Elijah 14 miracles (1 Kings 17 - 2 Kings 2) during their career in ministry.

2. Net Breaking & Boat Sinking

a) Let's review and highlight Luke 5:1 - 11:

#1) "1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (i.e. the Sea of Galilee), the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. (Luke 5:1, 2 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee used nets, often bell-shaped nets with lead weights around the edges. A net would be thrown flat onto the water, and the lead weights would cause it to sink around the fish. Then the fishermen would pull on the a cord, drawing the net around the fish. Net had to be kept in good conditions, so they were washed to remove the weeds and often mended (That's what the fishermen were doing...)

b) When the people were crowding to listen to Jesus speaking the word of God, Jesus noticed two (2) idle boats left by the fishermen.

c) What does the Bible say about idleness (not useful for work, inactivity, uselessness; laziness)?

i) 19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. (Proverbs 15:19 NIV). Lazy man has troubles all through life; the good man's path is easy.

ii) 13Besides, they (widows) get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. (1 Timothy 5:13 NIV)

iii) 16A perverse (corrupt) person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28 NIV)

d) What did Jesus do?

#2) "3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. (Luke 5:3 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) God has chosen to use something or someone for his miracles.

b) Jesus took the opportunity to use the boat of Simon to teach the people from the boat.

c) Do we always look out for available opportunity to share the word of God with the people we know? Maybe, the ones closest to us, our families, our childhood friends, our working colleagues, etc.

#3) "4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) Jesus said, "Put out into deep water." At times, the Lord will ask us to go beyond to unfamiliar ground. Ground that is not our comfort zone and there is uncertainty, risk and even danger. Will we obey?

b) Jesus always knows best in the circumstances for us. He also gave specific instruction for the catch. He knew where the fishes were despite the fishermen caught nothing for the whole night. That was why they left their boats idle at the water edge and continued with their normal lives.

c) Different instructions for different purposes i.e. in verse 3 'to teach' and in verse 4 'to catch' and we see a pattern in progressive direction in this situation.

d) We must go to the 'deep water' if we want to catch something! This is the key to net breaking and boat sinking encounter with the Lord.

e) What had happened?

#4) "5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:5 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) To encounter the miracle of God, we need to obey his specific instruction given. "Because you say so, I will do it" - that's obedience!

#5) "6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) We have to encounter the miracle and its effect. The big catch is found in the marketplace. Peter, James and John were expert fishermen but they caught nothing all night through. It was not their knowledge and skills that determined the big catch but their obedience to the Lord that caused the encounter of supernatural miracle.

b) "The net began to break" shows us that the catch was miraculously big because God is big and therefore he gives big things to us. This is net breaking encounter with him.

#6) "7So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke 5:7 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) There is a double blessing when a miracle is given, others will have to come and to help out in the situation. Even that is not enough because God is showing to us how to have the overflowing blessing in the boat sinking encounter with him.

#7) "8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) Miracle will create self-awareness in our current state of affairs.

b) 2But your iniquities (wickedness; gross immoral act) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2 NIV) - Sin separates us from God.

c) 44I am the Lord your God; consecrate (set aside for sacred use) yourselves and be holy (sanctified, purified), because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. (Leviticus 11:44 NIV)

d) 9Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. (Psalm 99:9 NIV)

e) 20Consecrate (devote) yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 20:7 NIV)

#8) "9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners (Luke 5:9 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) The miracle of God will always astonish us. It will blow out our minds.

b) All amazed!!! Who will benefit??? We!!!

#9) "10...Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." (Luke 5:10 NIV) - Evangelism in the marketplace!"

@1. Highlights:

a) 6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 118:6 NIV)

b) 7The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. (Psalm 118:7 NIV)

c) 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. (Proverbs 11:30 NIV)

#10) "11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:11 NIV)"

@1. Highlights:

a) After the miracle Peter, James and John left everything and followed Jesus. Will we follow Jesus 100% after we have been saved?

3. What do we mean by following Jesus?

a) Do not walk in darkness.

i) 12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)b) 

Do not engage ourselves in wrong doing.

i) 2"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, (Exodus 23:2 NIV)

c) Deny ourselves and take up our own cross.

i) 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NIV)

d) Keep ourselves pure.

i) 4These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4 NIV)

e) Love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.

i) 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV)

f) Fight a good fight.

i) 18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, (1 Timothy 1:18 NIV)

g) Then, what will happen?

i) 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6 NIV)

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray for net breaking and boat sinking encounter with the Lord so that we may experience miraculous abundance in our lives.