Luke 5:4-6 (NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Economic uncertainty often necessitates adjustments in our lives. When we consider different options, we will need a firm footing so that we can move forward with confidence. A crisis often brings Christians back to the basics of walking by faith because even though we can plan, strategise and execute our plans, ultimately, we still have to revert to walking by faith due to the challenging circumstances we face. We are blessed that the Lord is interested in teaching and guiding us through every twist and turn, and He journeys with us daily.
To be confident, strong, and courageous amid a storm in our lives, we need to walk in God’s will. Unless we know that we are walking in God’s will or living out the consecrated life, it is very difficult to anchor our faith during the storm. Getting a word from God is what gives us a firm footing.
In the above passage, Simon Peter and his friends were professional fishermen who knew the best time and place to fish, but they had caught nothing all night; they had failed in their jobs, and there was no income for the day. They were washing their nets when Jesus came to them. What a frustrating yet humbling experience it must have been for them. Likewise, it is also a humbling experience for us when business fails to recover swiftly in the current environment despite being professionals in our industries. We might be at our wit’s end, trying to find ways to get things off the ground with our own effort.
During such times, it is wise to take the opportunity to seek the face of God even if we have already sought His face and are walking in His will. Walking in His perfect will doesn’t mean we are free from challenges. The good news is when we are walking in His perfect will, He will lead us continuously because of our close relationship with Him, to make the necessary adjustments, no matter how minor, just like when Jesus gave Simon Peter the specific instruction, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”, and he obeyed. Truly, faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
Sermon Series： Consecration
从上帝而来的话语
路加福音 5:4-6 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。
经济的不确定性往往要求我们在生活中做出调整。当我们考虑各种选择时，需要稳固的立足点，才能自信地前行。危机常常使基督徒回归信心行走的根本，因为即便我们能够规划、制定策略并实施计划，最终仍要在艰难的环境中凭信心而行。感恩的是，主关心我们，愿意在每个转折中教导和引导我们，并每天与我们同行。
要在生命的风暴中充满信心、刚强勇敢，我们需要行在神的旨意中。若不确定自己是否在遵行神的旨意或过着分别为圣的生活，我们的信心在风暴中就很难稳固。得到神的话语，才能让我们站立得稳。
在上文中，西门彼得和他的朋友们是专业的渔夫，知道捕鱼的最佳时间和地点，但他们整夜劳碌一无所获，工作失败了，这一天也没有收入。他们正在洗网时，耶稣来到他们面前。对他们来说，这一定是一个令人沮丧却又使人谦卑的经历。同样地，当我们在当前环境中即便身为行业专家，业务仍未能迅速恢复，这对我们也是一个谦卑的经历。我们可能绞尽脑汁，试图凭自己努力寻找办法让事情步入正轨。
在这样的时刻，即便我们已经寻求了神的面，并行在祂的旨意中，仍然智慧地把握机会再次寻求神的面。行在祂完美的旨意中并不意味着我们不会遇到挑战。好消息是，当我们行在祂的完美旨意中，因着与祂亲密的关系，祂会不断引领我们做出必要的调整，无论多么细微，就像耶稣给西门彼得具体的指示：“把船开到水深之处，下网打鱼”，而彼得顺服了。信心确实是从听道而来的，听神的话语而来的。
讲章系列：分别为圣
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