Launch out into the deep

Luke 5 vs 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

In our newsletter titled Peter Gifts , we discussed about five things peter gave before he got his breakthrough. He gave his boat,strength,time,freedom and his life. If we carefully study Luke 5vs 1-7, we will notice that after he gave this things nothing happened until he launched out into the deep(as advised by Jesus). What Peter's gift got him was the attention and presence of Jesus . Psalm 62 vs 11 says in the presence of God there is fullness of Joy. Giving what Peter gave to Jesus will earn you fullness of Joy but there is a higher level of Joy as described in Jude 1vs24 called exceeding joy.

Jesus appreciated the efforts and gifts of Peter but He knew that alone will not earn Peter the breakthrough he desired so He advised him to launch out into the deep.

This brings us to the question what is in the deep ? Healing of diseases both curable and incurable. According to Exodus 15 vs 26 , the Lord is the greater Physician / Healer. He can heal the body , soul and spirit. In Mark 5 vs 25-34 , Jesus healed a woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years. I know most of us men might not understand what this means but just imagine a woman who had been menstruating non stop for twelve years. I need not to tell you that after her healing she was filled with exceeding joy. In Luke 13 vs 10-17 , Jesus healed another woman who had a bent back for eighteen years. In eighteen years , she never stood upright or straight for once but the Most High God healed her. In John 5 vs 1-18 is the story of a man who had been sick and been by the pool of Bethesda for thirty eight years. To be sick with fever for two weeks is a lot talk less of sickness that is worse than that for 38 years. I pray today that the Lord will heal every sickness in your body in Jesus name.

Also in the deep, fruitless efforts become fruitful. In Luke 5 vs 1-7 , Peter fished all night but there was nothing to show for his effort but when he got to the deep , he launched his net once and he caught a net breaking ,boat sinking catch. Sarah tried like every other women on earth but had nothing to show for her effort. She tried everything to get a child even she went to the extent of try to get a child through her maid and that one decided to despise her for been barren but one day the One who is so deep that no one can completely understand Him came and visited her and she became a mother of nation . Hannah was constantly reminded by Peninnah that she was barren- 1 Samuel 1 vs 6, but one day she launched into the deep and became a mother of six – 1 Samuel 2vs 21. I believe there is someone reading this newsletter at this point who is been reminded regularly that she is barren , I pray that in the name of Jesus , very soon you will be a mother of twins.

In the deep is wealth. Contrary to many beliefs , God does not give wealth He gives you the power to get wealth. Deuteronomy 8 vs 18 says and you shall remember the Lord your God , for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenants He swore to your fathers. He gave Isaac so much ability and power that He sowed in Genesis 26vs 12-13 and became very rich. Actually He was greater than a nation. He gave Solomon ability too and that one made silver as common as stone- 1Kings 10vs 27

Also wisdom can be found in the deep. James 1 vs 5 says God is the giver of wisdom. Proverbs 4 vs 7 says wisdom is a principal thing ;therefore get wisdom , and in all your getting ,get understand. When we talk of wisdom , Daniel was a man of wisdom .The bible says in Daniel 1 vs 20 that Daniel and his friends were ten times better than the intellectuals of Babylons. By the time we get to Daniel 6 vs 3 , the whole nation began to commend Daniel's wisdom , they said they found an excellent spirit in him. Bezalel was another man who was full of the spirit of wisdom. The man was so full of wisdom the Lord recommended him for work -Exodus 31 vs 1-5. I pray that the Lord will give me and someone such a spirit in Jesus name, If you are that person say amen.

In the deep is divine protection .There is no protection anywhere except in the Lord. Proverbs 18 vs 10 says the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs to it and he is save. Psalm 127 vs 1 says a house is only save when the Lord watches over it .Psalm 125 vs 2 says just like mountain surrounds Jerusalem so also He surrounds His people both now and forevermore. In 2 Kings 6 vs13-18 , Gehazi saw that the host of Syrians had surrounded Dothan and he ran to Elisha. The prophet prayed that the Lord should open the eyes of Gehazi and he saw Heavenly host in their multitudes on horses and chariots of fires all around protecting them. This is what I call protection.

Also in the deep is open doors -John 9vs 1-12, deliverance -Mark 5 vs 1-20 ,peace . Jesus said in John 14 vs 27 my peace I leave with you ,My peace I give unto to you;not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,neither let it be afraid. Isaiah 66 vs 12 talks of God extending peace like a river.

Now the question in most people's heart is how can I launch out into the deep or what does it mean to launch out into the deep ? How did Peter launch out into the deep ? The first thing Peter did to launch out into the deep was obedience. He fully obeyed Jesus .The problem with most of us is half obedience , some of us pay our offerings but we do not tithe, some of us tithe but do not witness or evangelize , many evangelize but do not pay their first fruits. Proverbs 3 vs 9 says Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase. Many of us even pay offerings,tithe ,support other projects in the church and still do dodgey or funny deals at work. All these are partial obedience and God demands full obedience. There are many who sisters who are not submissive to their husbands , there are many brothers who still abhors unforgiveness . The only way to move from fullness of joy to exceeding joy is total obedience.

Another thing Peter did was he stepped up his commitments, he said nevertheless at your word I will let down the net- Luke 5 vs 5. Anyone who wants to breakthrough needs to step up his commitments to God. We have to decide that no more attending church on Sundays alone ( Sunday Sunday tablets) but to attend mid week services,we have to put an end to ten minutes of prayer and step up our prayer lives ,we have to decide that we will not only speak in tongues during church night vigils but everyday , we have to decide that we will read at least a chapter of the bible daily, we have to decide to stop hiding our faith in Christ in our places of work or business or amidst friends,we have to put an end to coming to church late,we have to decide to not to be a church goer alone but a worker in the church. We all need to step up our commitment to Christ , we all need to begin to evangelize.1 Samuel 2 vs 30 says those who honor Me , I will honor. Honor the Lord today and He will honor you.

Another thing Peter did was he stepped up his efforts . Launching out into the deep requires an effort. The effort needed to sail a boat in deep waters is more than the effort needed to sail a boat on shallow waters. Proverbs 22 vs 29 says diligence in business is what makes a man to stand before Kings .Proverbs 12 vs 11 says he who tills his land will be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 31 vs 17 talks of a virtuous wife. The bible says she girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arm. It is a bad thing to be lazy as a lady too. Actually by God's standards a virtuous woman is one who seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands – Proverbs 31 vs 13.

A way of launching out into the deep is completely trusting the word of God. Peter said at thy word, Peter had faith in the word of God. The problem with many of us is we doubt the word of God. Hebrew 11 vs 6 says without faith it is impossible to please God in other words when you do not have faith you are displeasing God. Many of us are in the same place we are last year due to fear and lack of our trust in the word of God. We do not have faith in our ability . Colossians 1 vs 27 says Christ in you the hope of glory. Once you have Christ you can never fail. Make that move today and you will see God in action.

Another thing Peter did was he expected a good result that was what geared him to obey God. Proverbs 23 vs 18 says the expectation of the righteous will not be cut short. You will only get what you expect .If a man expects to fail , he will fail. I expect to succeed in Jesus name. Peter was expectant and he got his rewards .

And finally launching out into the deep means spending more time with Jesus. Peter increased the time he spent with Jesus and it paid off. God is not our messenger we bark orders to .We must learn to first worship Him, thank Him and then table our request or petition before Him. We must be willing to spend time in His presence praising Him, studying the word of God and generally fellowshipping with Him. We cant be too busy to spend time with the One who can solve all our problems.

Romans 6 vs 1 says shall we live in sin and ask for grace to abound ? It is impossible sir. 1 John 3 vs 9 says whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Anyone living in sin is not of God. Jesus said in John 3 vs 3 except a man is born again He shall not see the kingdom of heaven.

If you have not giving your life to Christ please do so and if you have backslidded you can come back to Christ today.

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.