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.
