Are You Ready to Face the
Deeper Waters and Overcome Failure?

Good Morning Friends,

In today’s scripture we learn that Jesus is never too busy to meet us individually. And when He does meet with us it is often to take us from our shallow faith to an unexpected success. Are You Ready to Face the
Deeper Waters and Overcome Failure?

Scripture: Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Matthew 4:1-4:11 (NRSV)

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.

John 21:3-7 (NRSV)

Message: Jesus has a way of redirecting our concerns to His concerns. Even in his temptation he shows us the way to spiritual growth.  It is in his way that our concerns move from things of the world that would tempt us to things spiritual. But all too often we, like Peter are concerned about fish while Jesus is concerned about men…men that do not know Him and have not matured in their faith…men that cling to the world. Jesus meets us in the middle of our lives. And sometimes he takes us back to face our failures in order to build something good into our lives. He gives us second chances as he did for Peter. He takes those things we are most concerned about and teaches us. He takes our health and hunger and shows us our humanity humbled. He takes our jobs and redefines what it means to be successful. He takes our marriages and families and teaches us to communicate in a spiritual way. He takes us from the shallow waters into the deep waters where we must learn to trust and obey…the deep waters where faith is required. Here a spiritual transformation can be ours when we encounter Christ…when we begin living a Christian life. Here Jesus is a friend. So, do not be afraid or hard hearted when you encounter Jesus.  Let Him take you into the deeper waters where His provision and purpose awaits us. Let Him take your sins and give you forgiveness and its surprising transformation. Let him help you discover that who you really are is not your possessions or positions or what others might think of you, but that you are who you really are when you are freed from fear in the perfect love of God. Know we are loved friends and that we are to love in return. That is the way to fish for people. That is the way to live as sons and daughters of God.

Pray that we always embrace the great adventure of obeying Jesus. Pray we not be offended by his directions. Pray we have the courage to go into the deep waters. Pray we gain the wisdom to engage others in the spiritual bounty of encountering Jesus. Pray we realize that Jesus knows how to help us in our times of failure. Pray Jesus helps us to revisit our failures and learn how to rely on the strength of God. Pray we receive a profound revelation of victory in the midst of our miserable attempts. Pray Jesus has our undivided attention. Pray we believe that success is really within our grasp but that Jesus has something even better in mind for us to experience. Pray we consider what God is calling us to do with the gifts He has given to us. Pray we know that we have a purpose in Him that brings us to life. Pray we do not underestimate the power of the call of God. Pray we obey and follow Jesus.

Blessings,

John Lawson