Launch Out Into The Deep

I present a fishing lesson. The Lord Jesus calls us to be fishers of men.Show more

For us to go fishing we have to leave the shore. Be willing to step off the beach. Get out there. Put yourself out. Leave the shore hugging Christianity.

The Lord urges: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Steer for the deep waters. The fish are out there.

Your mission field starts at the doorstep of your home. Are we willing to leave the comfortable place? And make some sacrifice.

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” Can we reach the lost ones of this city of Adelaide?

"The only thing the majority of Christians in the West know of Sacrifice is how to spell it."

Get out as a fisher of men – into the deep waters. The challenging waters.

Also, let us get the net out and get in the fish. Obey - and expect God to work, as you witness. Trust Him to work.

Peter was dog tired. He had been up all night, working without any results. He said, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Be a witness. Open your mouth and be used of God to give the Gospel.

Leave the comforts of land – into the deep.

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 the ships, so that they began to sink. Missions is a team effort.

The Bible urges us: Philippians 1:27 “...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

Peter forsook all and followed the Lord. Let’s set on a course into the deep waters, trusting God to steer as the pilot and captain of our vessel.

As a church, as churches, let us get out there. Let us leave the comfort zone. Be obedient to the Master’s call. Go out and fish.

I urge you to check your hearing, spiritually… Do we hear the Word of the Lord? The call?

Acts 16:9-10 …a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Their cries are ringing still. “Come over… and help us”. The need was urgent, pressing. It’s easy to say, let someone else answer the call…

Paul had to put himself out. It meant travel, and trials; prison and privation, for Christ. What about us? Will we put ourselves out? Launch out, into the deep? Are we willing to be a living sacrifice? To put our lives on the line?

To put our own desires aside? To give up our own wants and comforts, that another can be reached? To give and keep on giving? How much are we willing to help? Be big hearted.

Immediately we endeavoured to go… gathering that the Lord had called us.

Paul could see it was God calling them, through the voice of the crying one… God was speaking to them and they sensed the very call of God Himself.

Will we step up to serve in the place of need, or will we be a Jonah? Will we pick and choose what need we will respond to? Or will we just step forward, and get the job done? Will we be a servant, or will we choose to please ourselves?

Will it be that we will wait? Maybe till it is perhaps more convenient? More comfortable? How long will we wait? Maybe we will wait so long that it is, sadly, too late… Or will we act immediately? Promptly? Instantly?

Come over and help us. Can’t you hear them? Their desperate cry… Paul heard the cry, and responded, immediately.

Can you hear the Macedonians today? Will we reach to the people “beyond”…Outside of our comfort zone… Outside of our circle… Will we step outside and reach out…? Dare to venture out, to launch out, into the deep…

There’s some Macedonians calling out across the way, even across our own city. Crying out for help… Can’t you see them? …Hear their urging, their desperation.

Will you heed their call? Will you hear God’s voice, that still, small voice? His call. He’s sending you. As He urges you to Go… Will you obey His commission, as He sends and sends and sends… Yet more are needed.

The harvest is great… Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest… He is the Lord of the Harvest still. And labourers are needed, still…

One thing about God’s call to mission… Notice what He says: Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Notice – it says: Start in Jerusalem. Start now, right where you are. Start preparing. Your mission training starts right here, right now. In your Jerusalem. The mission starts at the church doorstep.