Luke 5:6-9 (NKJV) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;
Do you believe that the Lord can make a way in the wilderness and a path in the desert? Most definitely! Acting on what He has spoken to us through the prayer of consecration is how He has made a way in the wilderness and a path in the desert! Nonetheless, it takes faith to follow the path. However, we can be encouraged that we have the Holy Spirit to guide and help us.
Simon Peter could have had two reactions when he heard the Lord’s instruction to launch into the deep. The first would have been to reject the instruction, be offended by the suggestion, and stay on shore. After all, they had toiled all night, washed their nets, and all professional fishermen know the best time to fish is at night. However, he wouldn’t have seen the catch if he had taken time to rationalise and had reacted in his flesh against the idea. Nonetheless, many of us would take this option because we think we know better than God and we want to decide for ourselves because of our pride, or we would rather listen to men’s opinions than God’s instructions.
The second option was to obey Jesus’ instructions, which he did. Peter acknowledged Jesus as Master and launched into the deep since it was what Jesus had instructed him to do, even though launching out into the deep during the day did not seem logical or wise.
We can learn from this passage that the way to please God is through faith—simply believing in God and His Word to us. Faith is established when God’s Word is spoken and we take His Word for it. God and His Word are one, which means He backs up every Word that He has spoken and watches over it to perform it in our lives.
Hebrews 11:1,6 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
There must be a corresponding action to our faith when we perceive that we have heard from the Lord. We will not witness God’s work in our lives unless we step out in faith to believe.
Reflection: What keeps you from acting on what you have heard from God? How can you overcome those obstacles to your obedience?
Sermon Series: Walk into the future with a word given by God
听主话并付诸行动
路加福音 5:6-9 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。
你相信主能在旷野开道路，在沙漠开江河吗？当然相信！透过分别为圣的祷告，并且按照祂向我们所说的话去行动，这正是祂在旷野开道路、在沙漠开江河的方式！然而，跟随这条道路需要信心。但我们可以得着鼓励，因为我们有圣灵来引导和帮助我们。
当西门彼得听见主吩咐他“把船开到水深之处”时，他本可以有两种反应。第一种反应是拒绝这个指示，被这个建议冒犯，然后停留在岸边。毕竟，他们已经整夜劳苦，洗好了网，而所有专业的渔夫都知道，捕鱼最好的时间是在夜间。然而，如果彼得花时间用理性分析，并且按照自己的血气对这个想法作出反应，他就不会看见那一网丰盛的收获。然而，许多人可能会选择这个方式，因为我们认为自己比神更清楚，我们想要自己做决定，因为骄傲的缘故；或者我们更愿意听从人的意见，而不是神的指示。
第二种选择是顺服耶稣的指示，而彼得选择了这样做。彼得承认耶稣是夫子，并且因为这是耶稣吩咐他做的，所以他把船开到水深之处，尽管白天出海捕鱼似乎并不合乎逻辑，也不明智。
我们可以从这段经文中学习到，讨神喜悦的道路就是信心——单单相信神，并相信祂对我们所说的话。当神的话语被宣告，并且我们接受祂的话语时，信心就被建立起来。神与祂的话语是一致的，这意味着祂必为自己所说的每一句话负责，并且看守祂的话，使祂的话在我们的生命中成就。
希伯来书 11:1,6 信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。…人非有信就不能得神的喜悦，因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
当我们领受并确认自己听见了主的话语时，我们的信心必须伴随着相应的行动。除非我们凭着信心踏出去，相信神会工作，否则我们不会看见神在我们生命中的作为。
默想：是什么拦阻你去行出你从神那里所听见的话？你如何能够胜过这些障碍，以顺服神？
讲章系列：带着神所赐的话语迈向未来