Can You Bear the Weight (Part 3)
Pastor Tim Continues the series, “Can You Bear the Weight” with part three (March 8, 2018).
Luke 5:1-11 (TPT)
On one occasion, Jesus was preaching to the crowds on the shore of Lake Galilee. There was a vast multitude of people pushing to get close to Jesus to hear the word of God. 2 He noticed two fishing boats at the water’s edge, with the fishermen nearby, rinsing their nets. 3 Jesus climbed into the boat belonging to Simon Peterand asked him, “Let me use your boat. Push it off a short distance away from the shore so I can speak to the crowds.”
4 Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished, he said to Peter, “Now row out to deep water to cast your nets and you will have a great catch.”
5 “Master,” Peter replied, “we’ve just come back from fishing all night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you insist, we’ll go out again and let down our nets because of your word.”
6 When they pulled up their nets, they were shocked to see a huge catch of fish, so much that their nets were ready to burst! 7 They waved to their business partners in the other boat for help. They ended up completely filling both boats with fish until their boats began to sink!
8 When Simon Peter saw this astonishing miracle, he knelt at Jesus’ feet and begged him, “Go away from me, Master, for I am a sinful man!”
9–10 Simon Peter and the other fishermen—including his fishing partners, Jacob and John, the sons of Zebedee—were awestruck over the miracle catch of fish. Jesus answered, “Do not yield to your fear, Simon Peter. From now on you will catch men for salvation!”
11 After pulling their boats to the shore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus.
- Are you available to Jesus?
- Shallow Christianity will never accomplish the greater purposes of God.
- The natural mind cannot comprehend the supernatural ways of God.
- Can you handle the increase Jesus wants to bring into your life?
- If you’re too proud to ask for help or think you don’t need it – your boat’s just gonna sink!
- Peter’s poor self-image pushed away any possibility that Jesus could ever use him.
- Fear and faith are polar opposites. You cannot move forward with one foot in fear and one in faith.
James 1:8 (TPT)
“When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?”
- You’ll be unstable until you choose to walk away from fear and embrace faith.
- Jesus will use your natural giftings in supernatural ways!
John 21:1-17 (TPT)
Later, Jesus appeared once again to a group of his disciples by Lake Galilee. 2 It happened one day while Peter, Thomas (the Twin), Nathanael (from Cana in Galilee), Jacob, John, and two other disciples were all together. 3 Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” And they all replied, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and fished through the night, but caught nothing.
4 Then at dawn, Jesus was standing there on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize that it was him! 5 He called out to them, saying, “Hey guys! Did you catch any fish?” “Not a thing,” they replied.
6 Jesus shouted to them, “Throw your net over the starboard side, and you’ll catch some!” And so they did as he said, and they caught so many fish they couldn’t even pull in the net!
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Peter heard him say that, he quickly wrapped his outer garment around him, and because he was athletic, he dove right into the lake to go to Jesus! 8 The other disciples then brought the boat to shore, dragging their catch of fish. They weren’t far from land, only about a hundred meters. 9 And when they got to shore, they noticed a charcoal fire with some roasted fish and bread. 10 Then Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
11 So Peter waded into the water and helped pull the net to shore. It was full of many large fish, exactly one hundred and fifty-three, but even with so many fish, the net was not torn.
12 “Come, let’s have some breakfast,” Jesus said to them.
And not one of the disciples needed to ask who it was, because every one of them knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus came close to them and served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.
15 After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me more than these?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
16 Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of John, do you have great affection for me?”
Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!”
Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!
- Any time you try to do things on your own the results will be disappointing.
- How many times is Jesus speaking but we don’t recognize Him?
- Through disappointments and failures Jesus can strengthen your ability to handle more.
- If Peter had sat sulking in the boat or afraid to face Jesus again he might have missed out on the very thing he was created to do.
Revelation 3:20 (TPT)
“Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.”
Song of Solomon 2:4 (AMP)
“He has brought me to his banqueting place, And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me].
- He is a feasting God ready to sit with you and fill you up with His goodness today!
- Jesus already knew what was in Peter’s heart. PETER had to learn what was in Peter’s heart! Jesus was just drawing it out.
- There is no higher calling than loving what Jesus loves.
