Simon Peter could have had two reactions to the Lord’s instructions to launch their nets into the deep. Either continue to stay on the shore or do as the Lord had instructed. At the time, Simon Peter could have rationalised that even in their professional experience, that it would have been better to fish at night. Yet their toil all night brought no results. They had also washed all their nets and were physically tired. He could have been offended by the suggestion to do it differently after toiling all night and rejected the Lord’s instructions in order to stay on the shore to rest. However, he chose not to react in his flesh but instead followed the instructions given by the Lord, which brought him and his friends a great catch of fish, over and beyond their expectations.
Simon Peter had acknowledged Jesus as Master and obeyed his instructions to launch his nets into the deep, even when he thought it was not logical to do it that way. Nevertheless, he acted on what he heard from the Lord. This led to their incredibly huge catch which caused both boats to sink under the weight of fish. Simon Peter knew immediately that it was supernatural and that Jesus had divine powers. He was so moved that he repented of his sinfulness.
When we face difficult or even hopeless circumstances, our ‘wilderness’ so to speak, especially while walking in His will and we don’t know how to proceed, the Lord is able to help us out of our situation. He speaks to us when we pray the prayer of consecration, then we have to act upon what He says to us because that will be the way out of the ‘wilderness’ for us. It does take faith to follow His instructions, more so when it may not make any sense to us. However, if we perceive that we have heard from the Lord, there must be a corresponding action of faith. We will not witness the work of God in our lives unless we step out in faith to believe. For He is our Master and the best coach, guide, helper and strategist that we can ever have in our lives. God can teach and guide us through every twist and turn in difficult and unpredictable situations that we go through, we just have to do what He says when He speaks.
Sermon Series: A Firm Footing
勇往直前！当神说话时凭着信心行事
路加福音5:3-9 有一只船是西门的，耶稣就上去，请他把船撑开，稍微离岸，就坐下，从船上教训众人。讲完了，对西门说：“把船开到水深之处，下网打鱼。”西门说：“夫子，我们整夜劳力，并没有打着什么。但依从你的话，我就下网。”他们下了网，就圈住许多鱼，网险些裂开，便招呼那只船上的同伴来帮助。他们就来，把鱼装满了两只船，甚至船要沉下去。西门·彼得看见，就俯伏在耶稣膝前，说：“主啊，离开我，我是个罪人！”他和一切同在的人都惊讶这一网所打的鱼。
对主指示西门彼得要下网到水深之处打鱼时，彼得可以有两个反应要么继续呆在岸上，要么照主的指示去做。西门彼得本可以按着他们职业的经验觉得在夜间打鱼是比较合理的。然而他们整夜劳力，并没有打着什么。。他们已经清洗了渔网并且身体非常疲惫。他们整夜劳力之后也可能会对要他们改变做法的建议而感到冒犯，为了留在岸边休息而拒绝了主的指示,，然而，他选择了不凭自己的肉体行事，而是遵循主的指示，这使他和他的朋友们捕获了许多鱼，远远超出了他们的期望。
西门彼得承认耶稣是主并遵循祂的指示下网到水深之处，尽管他觉得这样做不合逻辑。然而，他就照主所吩咐的去行。这使他们捕获到的鱼简直难于置信，这么重的鱼让两个船都几乎要沉下去。西门彼得立刻知道那是超自然的神迹。他深受感动，为自己的罪过感到忏悔。
当我们面对困难甚至绝望的情况时，或者说我们在“旷野”中，特别是当我们在 神的旨意中行走但不知道如何前进时，神能够帮助我们脱离困境。当我们做分别为圣的祷告时，祂会对我们说话，我们要按 祂对我们说的去做，因为那将是我们走出“旷野”的道路。我们确实需要信心来顺服 神的旨意，尤其是当它听上去对我们没有任何意义的时候。然而，如果我们知道我们已经从 神那里听见了，就必须有与信心相应的行动。除非我们凭信心跨出一步，否则我们将无法见证 神在我们生命中的工作。因为 祂是我们的主，是我们一生中最好的教练、向导、帮助者和策士。 神可以教导我们，引导我们在困难和不可预知的情况下，度过每一个危机中的曲折，我们只要照着 祂说的去做。
讲章系列: 稳固的根基