Monday, October 22, 2007

From now on

In the Gospel of Luke, Simon Peter's first encounter with Jesus was when Jesus stepped into his boat, told him to push out into deep water and to lets down his fishing nets on the other side (Luke 5:4
Because we're on the other side of the story, we know that this encounter was the fist indication of Jesus calling Simon to die to himself and to come alive in Christ.

Simon had worked hard in the natural, but for no result. and it wasn't like he was going in blind either, Simon was an experienced fisherman. Sure he knew that sometimes you catch a lot and sometimes you don't, but at the end of the day if you keep working hard, the rewards will come.
Perhaps this wasn't the first time he'd worked all night for no return, but i imagine it was the first time that a stranger stepped into his boat and questioned his rationale, his judgement, and his wisdom. It makes a lot of sense at time to rest right? Peter was no doubt wise to return home for the night and to rest. But at that exact time when in the natural Simon was exhausted both physically, mentally and emotionally, Jesus instructions seemed to be for him to return to the deep waters and to continue to work in the natural for even longer.
And here is the first sign of Simon's greatness in Christ. Although what Jesus was asking seemed to make no sense at all, Simon's response was one of obedient faith. And what took place was an outworking of the supernatural - followed immediately by a revelation of inadequacy. Suddenly the game changed. Suddenly, Peter was in deep water and he hadn't yet learned to swim. If casting his nets into deep water at the point of exhaustion required faith; to be exposed to the supernatural power of Christ found him in a far greater realm of the unknown.
Then Jesus said this; 'from now on you will catch men' (Luke 5:10)
From now on, your destiny changes. From now on, who you are is in me.
Today's revelation comes from these three words, 'from now on'.
Jesus had to lead Simon to a point of death, not physical death but perhaps death to his own wisdom and judgement. Perhaps to a point of mental and emotional surrender. Perhaps to the place where revelation can come; that working in your own strength is not kingdom DNA
And then he said to him...'from now on...you will catch men'


'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me'. Galatians 2:20

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