336 - Following God's Word Will Bring Great Blessings#
336 - Following God's Word Will Bring Great Blessings
(JP Text Group - Organized by Yun Dan Feng Qing)
Luke 5:1-11
1 Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and the people crowded around him to hear the word of God. 2 He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 One of the boats belonged to Simon. Jesus got into it and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you! Thank you for preparing this wonderful time; we come before you to worship and praise you! We commit this time to the Holy Spirit, to illuminate and renew us through this passage, so that we may have a bountiful harvest like Peter. May the Holy Spirit renew everyone's thoughts and intentions. Thank you and praise you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
The topic of sharing is: Following God's Word Will Bring Great Blessings.
The words Jesus spoke to us are beneficial. Look at the beginning of this passage: Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and the people crowded around him to hear the word of God.
At that time, Jesus broke the norm in preaching, using what we call today a situational teaching method. He did not limit himself to teaching only in classrooms or synagogues; Jesus' teaching method was very flexible. Sometimes he taught on a mountain, sometimes by the river, sometimes on a boat, and sometimes he preached to his disciples amidst storms. What is the benefit of this method? It helps everyone remember deeply.
For example, in this passage, "Do not worry; look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field"... Jesus used this example, proving that at that moment in the wilderness, a bird might have flown by, and Jesus said: Do not worry. When we worry and look up at the birds, what do we remember? Do not worry! They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Today, Jesus arrived at a special place, by a man's boat.
In verse 2, he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
Where did the fish go? This is the question. Early in the morning, if you go to the port, you will see a very busy scene with many people waiting to buy goods. The people on the boats should be very busy loading and selling fish, but now it is completely different. Both boats are there, but not a single fish is seen; the fishermen are washing their nets.
The first point of sharing: When relying on oneself fails, this is not the end.
Is the current situation a failure? Simon Peter had two boats, but unfortunately, he saw no fish and was washing his nets, proving that he had worked all night. The nets might be full of trash, or the boat and nets might be damaged, and he was doing maintenance work. Jesus came, not to fish with his boat, but to preach! This was something that had never happened in Peter's years of fishing. A person got on his boat, not to buy his fish, but to use his boat to preach. Does this have anything to do with Peter's fishing? It has nothing to do with it!
Just like someone invites me to their business opening, I go, but I won't sell them anything; instead, I will share God's word with them. Sharing God's word has nothing to do with their business, from a worldly perspective. However, in Jesus' view, it is related. Jesus preaching from his boat is the most important thing. Do not forget, wherever Jesus goes, he brings grace. If Jesus goes to someone's home, that person will be blessed because of Jesus.
During Christmas, I will share that Mary and Joseph were very poor. When they had a son, they went to the temple to offer a sacrifice, which was a dove, the offering of the poor, not a sheep or a cow, proving that their family situation was not good. However, after Jesus was born, because of Jesus, this family changed. There were several wise men from the East who brought very precious gifts to seek Jesus and worship him. Mary and Joseph were changed because of Jesus. When Jesus was born, there was such great blessing; how much more so now that he wants to preach using Peter's boat. Peter might not have imagined what the outcome would be.
Today, I want to tell everyone, if you have failed, please return to the Bible, because your failure is not the end. At this moment, start seeking Jesus, let Jesus enter into your failure, and you will see God's abundant grace from your failure.
Look at Luke 4:18-21
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Perhaps this passage has been shared by many high priests and rabbis in the past, but few have spoken like Jesus did. Jesus said to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Do you know what this means? A miracle is about to happen to you! For example, if a poor person hears this, Jesus says: "This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." It means that the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus to proclaim good news to the poor because poverty must leave this person; this is called the gospel. This gospel will be fulfilled in your hearing today.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. There are many prisoners in the world, those bound by alcohol and smoking, those bound by many bad habits, and children who are trapped in video games. Such people will be released immediately as long as they hear the gospel. Amen!
The blind will see, and the oppressed will be set free. The message Jesus is preaching now is this content, Amen! Think about it, Jesus is sitting in Peter's boat, he is closest to Jesus. If you were Peter, what do you think he is thinking? Where are the fish? He might be thinking: You are a young man, not older than me, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, talking about how you will die for the world... Would Peter be willing to listen to this at that moment? No! If you tell him, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind," what is Peter thinking? Just give me some fish first. I want something tangible.
Today many people seek Jesus, sitting here thinking: I have an illness; when will I be healed? I am burdened with debt; when will I be free? My child has problems; when will they be solved? The message being preached is quite different from your situation. Just like at that moment, Jesus' message is certainly not telling you how to catch fish; it is definitely not that kind of content. Peter is thinking about other things. He didn't catch a single fish last night, and he doesn't know how to get through today. As a business owner, how much do I have to spend in a day?
For those who run a business, when you wake up in the morning, you think: How much do I have to pay out today, regardless of whether I make money or not? Rent, wages, a pile of expenses are waiting for you. What to do? Peter might be in the same situation. Do not look at how powerful he is with two boats. If he doesn't catch fish today, he will be in the red.
Jesus began to preach using his boat, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the power of God, letting the oppressed be set free... Peter does not need these things; he wants something tangible. But I want to tell everyone; this is precisely the ultimate solution to Peter's problem.
You come here today with problems, and it seems that the message I preach has nothing to do with your reality, but in fact, it is related because Jesus' words are full of power. Jesus' words are also practical. Brothers and sisters, you must remember: Jesus' preaching is directly related to our lives and existence. He never speaks exaggerated words, "As long as you have high aspirations, you can be called president..." He never speaks such nonsense. He will lead you step by step in a practical way, telling you this is the gospel of the kingdom. Amen!
After Jesus finished preaching, he now wants to use this word. Perhaps Peter did not absorb much, but now Jesus wants Peter to practice what he just preached, which is to let Peter witness the power of God's word. Just like the passage we just read, Jesus said to the people in the synagogue: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Immediately, many were released, the blind saw, and the lame walked. Many miracles happened. Jesus' words are meant to tell everyone: You have heard it; when you go to use it, there will be power.
Perhaps Jesus preached for an hour or two, and Peter could no longer sit still. Jesus said to Peter: Now let you practice what I just preached. For students, isn't this the most painful thing? You preached, and I didn't want to listen, and now you want me to practice it; how painful is that? But what Jesus is saying now seems different from Peter's thinking. Let's see what Jesus said?
In Luke 5:4, when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch."
What Jesus just preached was not about how to catch fish, nor did he say: You fish at night, but I have the secret to fishing during the day. If it were like that, Peter would definitely listen. Now it has nothing to do with fish; after Jesus finished preaching, he said to Simon: "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." Did Peter know that putting the boat out into deep water could catch fish? Yes, but he also knew that it was not appropriate at that time.
I want to tell everyone: Today you come here, after listening to my preaching, there will always be practice afterward. If someone has a problem, I hope you will lay hands and pray for them. When you have a problem, you expect everyone to pray for you; isn't this practicing the word? I finished preaching and said: Now pray for him, lay hands on the sick, and they will be healed. Is it not the time to practice this word?
Now Jesus finished preaching and said to Peter: "Simon Peter, put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." This is a process of practice. Today I want to tell everyone: You not only need to listen to the word but more importantly, you need to live it out. Then you can meet Jesus in your life! Jesus is still alive! When do you know he is still alive? When you use this word at home, you will see Jesus alive. Otherwise, you may just learn a pile of theoretical knowledge. The Bible tells us that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. After Jesus said this to Peter, what was Peter's reaction?
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything."
When God's word comes out and asks him to practice, Peter expressed his thoughts. At this moment, Peter did not feel that Jesus' words had any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young people are increasingly anxious, unable to sleep soundly at night. God says this is vanity.
In verse 24, "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil."
Have you found satisfaction in your toil? God hopes we see his hand upon us and more importantly, that we find satisfaction in our toil. Do you know what that means? If you work for someone else, eight or ten hours a day, can you find satisfaction in your toil?
"Still finding satisfaction? Every day I get scolded like a dog by my boss..."
Too many people live like this. How can you find satisfaction? Your eyes cannot look under the sun; there is no blessing to speak of here. You must see through this and see the God above! His hand is upon you. Then you will be able to see blessings, Hallelujah!
Too many people only know toil but do not find satisfaction. Once they do not receive, they worry. Peter is now worried; he has not caught any fish. This is Peter's current mood: laboring and worrying! If you realize that finding satisfaction is from God's hand, you can let go of your own thought patterns, be renewed by God's word, and find rest in his words. Amen! If Peter could hear Jesus' preaching, he would believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the poor will be made rich, the blind will see, and the lame will walk; as long as you believe, you will receive.
What are you thinking in your heart? Can the fish swim into the net? How many people ask me: "Can believing in your Jesus bring me money?" What is the truth? If you believe, you will definitely see! I guess Peter is thinking: You talk a lot; why don't you try fishing all night and see how easy it is for fish to swim in? You talk about the gospel of the kingdom; can you make the fish swim in? After Jesus finished preaching, he began to speak: "Now put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." When the words of Jesus came to Peter, he had two reactions: first, doubt and disbelief, even rebuttal; the second is belief.
Peter began to say: "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing."
God's word comes to him, asking him to practice, and Peter expresses his thoughts. At this moment, Peter does not feel that Jesus' words have any special power. This is a problem with Peter's understanding of Jesus. He thinks a young man, who has never fished, borrowed my boat to preach for such a long time, and now asks me to let down the nets; isn't this a joke? Is this the time to fish?
So he wants to explain: I have worked hard; according to the laws of nature, what you are saying now is useless! In Peter's view, the best time to fish is at night; now that it is bright, there is no opportunity. This is the way of life of worldly people, their experiences, and their growth, but these cannot solve all of a person's problems.
If you come here with problems, please remember: Let Jesus solve your problems. First, put down your preconceived notions. Because Jesus does not follow the usual path, Amen! His solutions absolutely exceed your imagination. Because he lives in the supernatural, he is God! Why do we say "God"? It proves that this matter is extraordinary; a miracle is something done by God! Catching fish at night is not a miracle. If others are resting during the day, and you catch fish during the day, that is a miracle! Hallelujah! What I am telling you is: If you have failed today, this is not the end. Look up to Jesus at this time! Never say "it's over." Never say "it's finished." Jesus is the beginning and the end. Amen!
Revelation 1:7-8
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen! 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Alpha and Omega are Greek words meaning "I am the beginning, I am the end." This illness, in the eyes of the doctor, is finished, but this is not the end. If Jesus says it is finished, then you can say it is finished. Amen! When you come to Jesus with problems and failures, do not be discouraged. Perhaps the message you hear is not about your current predicament, but if there is Jesus in the word, if there is the gospel, you will receive it. Just like Jesus has never fished and does not know how to catch fish, but the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are powerful!
Just now, Jesus may have preached a lot about the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe that he is God. At this moment, it is time for Peter to experiment with these words. This week, after you listen to the message, receive the promise from the Bible, and apply it in your life. Hallelujah! Apply it, and you will see! Jesus is in the world but does not belong to this world, and he transcends this world. The method of catching fish is nothing more than using a large net to catch the fish, but Jesus does not use this method; he transcends this method. First, let down the net; he commands the fish to swim into the net. This is a method that the world does not use and cannot achieve. Can you command fish to swim into the net? No, but do not forget who Jesus is! He is the one who created the fish, so he can command the fish to swim into the net, and the fish will obey, regardless of whether the fish is sleeping or doing something else; they will swim into the net until they cannot fit anymore. This is Jesus' power.
Do not ask Jesus how to have fishing skills; with Jesus, there is no need for skills, just his words are enough. What you learn from the world is skills; following Jesus, you receive his grace. Do you know what that means? It means customers will find you, inspiration will come from within you, and God will lead you to encounter good things, rather than you frantically searching for good things.
We live in the natural world, and through Jesus, we can live a supernatural life. What does a supernatural life mean? I am currently failing, but relying on Jesus, I believe he will turn everything around for me. Even if this is not the best time, I will still see that with God, every time is a good time. Other gods will tell you that the first and fifteenth days are particularly important days, but for us, every day is a good day! Hallelujah!
Going back to the Old Testament, the Jews will tell you: You have to wait fifty years for the year of jubilee, the year of forgiveness, the year of restoration... But for us, in Jesus Christ, every year is a year of jubilee. Every day is a day of rest, Hallelujah! Because he has already rested, for us, every day is a day of rest! Now Peter has lost his rest because he has not caught any fish, but Jesus' words can give Peter rest.
Today, regardless of what your problems are, come to seek Jesus. As long as you find Jesus in this word, you will find the solution. I am most afraid when some people say: "Teacher, my finances have problems; which sermon can turn my finances around?" "I have an illness; which sermon can heal me immediately?" "I am in a bad mood; which sermon can make me feel better?" "I don't know how to teach my child; which sermon can help me teach my child?"
May I ask: Which sermon can? Any sermon can! As long as you hear the truth about Jesus in this word, the truth is universal! Just like Jesus' preaching never mentioned how to catch fish, but now Jesus has spoken, do you know that Jesus' words can catch fish? Does Peter believe it? No! Peter still has human thoughts, worldly thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
Why did Solomon write such words? Is this not your state? No matter how much you are worth, or if you are like Peter, working hard, working night shifts and day shifts, just like a machine, laboring and worrying. I want to ask you: What have you gained from all this toil? Whether you are poor or rich, what have you gained? Some say, "I eat well," but the outcome is the same. You say, "I sleep on a high-end bed," but I still do not sleep longer than you; what is the point? Is this not vanity? What does all this amount to?
They worry every day; the bigger the business, the more they rely on themselves, the more they worry. As people age, various parts start to have problems, and they begin to worry every day. What are you worried about? Their labor becomes grief, and even at night, their hearts are not at rest. Is this situation not very common? Young