377-Obeying His Words, You Will Receive#
377-Obeying His Words, You Will Receive
(JP Text Group - shalom organized)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival.
The topic of sharing is: Obeying His Words, You Will Receive.
Luke 5:1-11
1 Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd pressed 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 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 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."
6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid! From now on you will catch men." 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You for preparing this wonderful time for us to share the truth together. Please renew our minds and thoughts, let Your words become the standard in our lives. By living according to Your words, we believe we will see miracles! We will see prosperity! We will see victory! We also commit this time to the Holy Spirit, guiding every brother and sister seeking You. You know our needs, provide for us in due time. Thank You and praise You, in the name of Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
This article talks about the story of Jesus seeking Peter and calling him.
Before this, Jesus had already gained a certain influence through His preaching, which was attractive. We can think about why so many people were willing to follow Jesus to hear His preaching? Because Jesus spoke not just knowledge, but words filled with life and authority, which gave people hope for life, thus they were willing to follow Jesus and crowd around Him to hear the word of God.
The true word from God is attractive; this is the way of life. Through the four Gospels, we can see that the words Jesus spoke were not difficult to understand, but rather simple and full of power. Therefore, more and more people followed Jesus to hear Him preach, Hallelujah!
When we believe in Jesus, if we become more joyful the more we believe, and the more we serve, the more joyful and relaxed we feel, it indicates that our faith is correct. Conversely, if we feel more tired the more we believe, and more irritated the more we serve, even unwilling to listen to the word, we need to adjust; or it may be that the word we are hearing has some mixed elements. The true word from Jesus, which exalts the truth of Jesus, will definitely attract people; it is not the eloquence that attracts people, but Jesus Himself.
Sharing the first point: Welcoming Jesus is a turning point.
Because the crowd pressed around Him to hear Him preach, at that moment, Jesus came to the lakeside, which is the Sea of Galilee, also called the Lake of Gennesaret. After arriving at the lakeside, Jesus used Simon Peter's boat, wanting to borrow his boat to preach to everyone.
Luke 5:3: "He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat."
What was Simon Peter's situation at that time? Weak, powerless, and even a bit discouraged. Because the night before, he had caught nothing and was washing his nets. After he returned, someone named Jesus wanted to borrow his boat, not to go out fishing, but to use his boat to preach. This was the beginning of Simon Peter's blessed path.
Over the years, many people have welcomed God's servants, dedicating their homes, praying together, sharing, establishing small groups, etc. Such homes are also blessed! Because they did the same thing as Peter, allowing Jesus to enter their homes and letting Jesus into their boats, everything will change! Historically, wherever Jesus went, changes occurred; even cursed places—like Golgotha—became blessed places, Hallelujah!
We can imagine that if Peter had not met Jesus, his life might have passed by without significance. That night, he caught nothing. Jesus changed everything for him! And what he did was very simple, something everyone could do: welcoming Jesus! Jesus did not ask Peter for a few fish to taste; He only needed what Peter was willing to offer Him.
Jesus said to borrow his boat for a while, which was something Peter could easily do. Everyone should remember, welcoming Jesus is a turning point! Where you have problems—your business, your family, your relationships—wherever there is a problem, welcome Jesus into that place, let God's word work in that area, and your turning point will come!
Welcoming God's servants brings rewards, because today we cannot welcome Jesus in a tangible way; the real welcome is through God's servants, receiving God's word into our hearts, and serving brothers and sisters as if they were Jesus. Your turning point will begin. This is not about exchanging actions for rewards, but about welcoming Jesus in our hearts, which is the turning point!
Matthew 10:40-42:
40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
After believing in Jesus, everyone hopes to experience His great power in life, to experience the prosperity of His words. It's actually very simple; just welcome Jesus. In the areas where you excel, welcome Jesus, and your situation will change. In the past, you relied on your own wisdom in that area; now live according to God's word in that area, and the situation will begin to improve. This is equivalent to welcoming God's servants. God gives us rewards; when the turning point comes, do not think it is your own achievement; it is God's reward for us.
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. What is a prophet? In the past, a prophet referred to someone who conveyed God's words, bringing good news from God. When you receive a prophet, you are actually receiving God's words into your heart. You will be blessed by these words, and God will reward you, regardless of how great the prophet's ministry is; God gives you the same reward because of this blessing!
He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Why do we receive this righteous man? Not because he behaves well, is handsome, or is wealthy and powerful, but because he is a believer. Therefore, we are willing to receive him, and by doing the Lord's work, you will be blessed, Hallelujah!
Whoever receives a disciple in the name of a disciple—what does that mean? This person claims to believe in Jesus and is someone who conveys God's words. If you give a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, it is just a cup of cold water. God does not want what you do not have, nor does He want you to force yourself to give; just offer what you are willing to give. If you give that cup of cold water to one of these little ones, our Lord said, this person will certainly receive a reward from God! This is welcoming Jesus, Amen! Therefore, wherever there is a problem, let Jesus enter there, and let Jesus take the lead; the turning point will begin.
At that time, Simon Peter was willing to offer his boat a little away from the shore, and Jesus sat in the boat and preached to the people on the shore. Simon Peter and Jesus were both in the boat; in other words, Peter was closest to Jesus and heard the words most clearly. Imagine, at that moment, Peter might not have been in the mood to listen to Jesus' preaching, feeling quite low. However, what he did not know was that Jesus' words were not just theories but the truth! The truth is powerful!
What did Jesus preach? Matthew 9:35 summarizes the content of Jesus' preaching: "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people."
I call this the three major ministries of Jesus. He came to the world to do these things. Teaching in the synagogues, using God's words to teach people, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and conveying the Father's will and God's salvation; healing every sickness and disease is to show us the Father's heart. In fact, Jesus has always been conveying grace and truth. The content Jesus preached on Peter's boat would not exceed these.
Is there a connection between the gospel of the kingdom and fishing? Many people are unwilling to listen to the word, one reason being that they feel it has little connection to their lives and current difficulties, and they are not interested. They would rather listen to lectures on how to make quick money or jokes that make them happy, thinking that this might yield faster results! However, through the four Gospels, we can see that so many people were willing to follow Jesus and listen to His preaching, indicating that Jesus' truth is not detached from life; rather, it provides the greatest assurance and supply for our lives, helping us not only in life but also to overcome in everything!
Many people ask, if there is a certain illness, which sermon should I listen to in order to be healed? Actually, it is not about which sermon; it is about any sermon that speaks of Jesus and the redemptive work He accomplished on the cross. If you can receive Jesus' love from it, you will be healed, Amen.
At that time, Peter probably did not realize these things. We can imagine that Peter might have been sulking, thinking, "I worked hard all night and caught nothing, and now you are preaching about the gospel of the kingdom and how good it is, how much the Father loves us. This has nothing to do with me. If that God is so good, why not give me a few fish first?"
Perhaps we all think this way. Many people are unwilling to believe in Jesus and might say: "Can believing in Jesus improve my life? Can I just stop working and have money fall from the sky?" People can have such strange thoughts. Does Jesus' word have this ability? Of course it does! Genesis 1 clearly states that our world came from God's words. Do you think the small problems in your life are beyond the power of God's word? Of course not! The problem is that we think He cannot, so we are unwilling to listen and miss out on the best blessings!
Luke 5:4: "When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.'"
After Jesus finished speaking, He wanted Peter to experience and digest the words He had spoken. If the truth is not applied in life, it is just some spiritual chicken soup or theory, which has no effect on life.
Hebrews 4:1-2:
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Brothers and sisters, many people are also listening to the word, but after listening, they point out that you mispronounced a word or your tone was not quite right, saying that is off-topic! If you listen to the preaching, and there is one sentence that you grasp, apply that sentence in your life, that is true receiving! The Israelites in the wilderness received God's words from Moses every day, with laws and commandments guiding them on how to live. Unfortunately, they still lost the promise of rest! God had abundant supply every day, with a cloud by day, a fire by night, and manna every day. Even so, they still complained, were unsatisfied, and lost their rest. This is something we should fear.
They did not lack God's words; they could hear them every day, but in the end, they became disconnected from life! If we also listen every day, but after listening, forget and are unwilling to practice, when problems arise in life, we still solve them as we did before, with no relation to the word. This is something we should fear!
Why? If the word we hear is not harmonized with life, it will be of no benefit to us. Instead, we will feel that there is nothing different; the current preaching is no different from the preaching of past pastors, leading to a strange theory that emerges. True, they all talk about Jesus; how much difference can there be? The problem is, if you grasp Jesus in this sermon, understand the Father's heart, and make a determination to hold onto this promise in life, applying it in your life according to His words, your change and turning point will come!
Otherwise, you will feel that so many people's sermons are similar; it does not matter whose you listen to. In the end, you will become a critic of sermons, saying this person is better in this aspect, that person is better in that aspect, and this person cannot preach well... This is the word heard being of no benefit to them; they have no faith to harmonize with what they have heard. God does not want us to comment on the goodness or badness of the word; He wants us to take any part of the truth that is useful to us and use faith to harmonize that word into our lives, and then that word will work, Amen!
The Israelites in the wilderness did not lack God's words; unfortunately, they did not apply these truths in their lives. Even if they heard those words, they had no effect, merely adding some theological knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. After listening to this sermon, realizing that Jesus loves you so much, you have received it! The words Jesus spoke are not knowledge; they convey the gospel of the kingdom and proclaim the Father's love!
John 3:16-17:
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
If you treat this sentence as something beautiful to admire, it will have no effect; but if you take it as God's love for you, that He truly gave Jesus to die on the cross for your sins, and you believe that God loves you so much, you should know that God no longer condemns you, and you are saved by faith, Hallelujah! This is the difference between truth and knowledge. Receiving the Father's love and living by God's promises is extremely helpful, allowing you to experience His great power in life and know that God is good!
Last week, a sister said: "Teacher Ren, thank you for your prayers; I have found out that I am pregnant!" She had been wanting a child for many years but had not received one. I said, "Don't worry, let's pray together. I only suggest that you listen to the sermons in order whenever you have time." She really did this, and in the process, she discovered that the Father loved her so much. As a result, she saw this beautiful outcome and sent me this testimony.
If Jesus had finished preaching and only spoke knowledge, everyone would applaud and it would be over! But truth is different from knowledge; truth is different from reasoning. Reasoning is through your rationality; truth touches your soul! After Jesus preached, He wanted Peter to immediately practice His words. This was a test for Peter. Jesus said, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." This was too unexpected for Peter, but Jesus was full of faith!
Many times, when we use God's words, we often have doubts, fearing what if it does not work out? We may even hesitate to ask God. I always encourage everyone, whatever you want, tell your Heavenly Father; just say it. He will not punish you, so what are you afraid of? Many people are even shy to speak up. This is little faith. Do not forget, at that time, when Jesus told Peter to let down the nets, many people were watching from the shore!
If you were standing next to Peter at that time, would you dare to say that to him? Let alone whether it would succeed, would you dare to speak up? This is something to think about. This is God's promise! The Bible has many of God's promises, such as "By His stripes you are healed," "By His chastisement you have peace." Do you dare to let this promise be fulfilled in you, to believe completely?
Many times, we are forced to believe only when we have no other choice. Jesus faced so many people on the shore and also Peter—a seasoned fisherman—and told him to let down the nets. If Peter said, "It won't work!" If he really caught nothing, wouldn't Jesus be embarrassed? Brothers and sisters, this is something we need to consider. Do you dare to declare Christ's promises to be fulfilled in us without doubt? Amen!
At this moment, Peter, I believe, had already heard some of Jesus' preaching, which is why Jesus asked him to act this way. Never say such words to someone who knows nothing about the gospel, because they do not have the faith to bear these words. This is why I always encourage everyone to listen to the word first. No matter how big the problem is, listen to the word first. After listening, pray to God about your problem based on your own understanding!
You cannot impose my faith on you, because everyone's level of understanding is different. Even if I give you my faith, it may not work. When a pastor tells a sick person, "In the name of Lord Jesus, sickness, leave this person now," and that person is healed, you cannot just imitate that without understanding. If you are weak and say, "It does not work!"
Why are there two different outcomes? The other person is someone who is often immersed in God's words, while some people do not even have floating thoughts in their hearts. They hear one sentence and try to imitate, which certainly will not work. If we neglect listening to the word and receiving it, what is the difference between us and those who perform miracles or sorcerers? Over time, people will focus on miracles rather than God's words, which can lead them astray. After Peter listened to Jesus' preaching, Jesus immediately said, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." In fact, Peter had doubts because he had his own thoughts, so he expressed his thoughts.
Luke 5:5: "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.'"
Peter's words are interesting. In the first half, he says, "Dear Teacher, I am not being lazy; I worked hard all night and caught nothing!" He seems to be complaining, but within his words, there is also a hint of doubt: "I am an experienced fisherman; how would a carpenter know when to fish?"
Dear family, from the perspective of an experienced fisherman, Peter's doubt is not unreasonable. According to the season and the habits of fish, daytime is not suitable for fishing; only at night do fish go into deep waters. What Jesus said was exactly contrary to Peter's experience. Jesus wanted Peter to do something he normally would not do according to common sense and experience. This is the part we need to adjust, which is often referred to as harmonizing faith with the word.
How to harmonize? When your thoughts do not align with God's words, you need to set aside your thoughts, ignore them, and take God's words as the standard! It is not about saying, "Lord, I cannot understand this word..." It is not about whether you can understand it; if you cannot understand it, just let it go. Say, "Lord, I believe," and that is enough. If you always try to understand every word of God, you will only understand when you see Jesus, and at that time, you will not ask anything! I know many of you have problems. Peter had his experience and thought this was impossible. He struggled in his heart, which we often call a stronghold or fixed mindset.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
At this moment, Peter was struggling in his heart. Why did He say this to me? It is clearly not the time for fishing! I have been fishing for years; I have two boats; I am very familiar with fish... Another thought said: But He has said this, and just now He spoke so confidently, looking full of faith. What should I do? This is called a battle, a struggle in thought!
Once this struggle arises, how do you choose? It is actually simple; just take God's words as the standard! Anytime our thoughts conflict with God's words, take God's words as the standard, set aside your thoughts, and live according to God's words. You will always see the results that God's words bring. If you insist on living according to your experience, you will also see the results that experience brings.
Now, according to Peter's situation, based on his experience, he would absolutely not go out to the deep to fish because he thought it was a waste of effort. What would the result be? He would not see a single fish! Right? Therefore, after struggling in his heart, Peter made a decision: "Nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net." Hallelujah!
This is a part worth learning from. Often, it is human experience and limitations that restrict God's ability, making us feel it is not feasible. If Peter had realized that the one standing before him was the Son of God, he would have understood that no matter how impossible His words seemed, he should set aside his own thoughts and simply believe Him to see beautiful results!
Do you know that Jesus is such a God? We always say with our mouths that Jesus created the heavens and the earth and governs all things, and still upholds all things with His mighty power... You are right, but why is it that in some small matters, when you pray to Him, you still doubt and worry whether He will accomplish it for you? This indicates that you are still relying on your own thoughts, experiences, and knowledge, which prevents you from seeing beautiful results! Simon Peter made a very correct decision to obey Jesus' words and let down the nets for a catch. No matter what, you said it, so I will do according to Your word!
Sharing the second point: "Nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net."
This "nevertheless" indicates a turning point. We can have our own thoughts and struggles, but if we ultimately choose to live according to God's way, we will see the beautiful results that God's promises bring! Abraham firmly believed that God would fulfill His promises, and today we see that Abraham's descendants are indeed as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands by the sea! Simon Peter, because he obeyed Jesus' words and let down the nets for a catch, experienced a change in his life, Amen! When your thoughts differ from God's words, I encourage everyone to set aside your own thoughts and fully trust in Jesus' words.
Matthew 9:27-29:
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
Look at this delightful dialogue between the Savior and the saved; miracles happened so evidently! As Jesus walked forward, two blind men followed Him, knowing that Jesus had this ability, crying out and following Him. When Jesus entered the house, they followed Him inside. What did these two want? They said, "Lord, heal our eyes; we want to see!" If we had various professional skills to examine them, we might say this is congenital blindness, due to some condition or damage, so it is impossible!
If our minds are filled with such professional knowledge, we might not even seek Jesus in prayer, thinking it is impossible! But these two people focused their thoughts on Jesus, believing that Jesus could accomplish all redemptive work, so they came to Jesus. Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said, "Yes, Lord!"
Do you see? This is obeying Jesus' words. Obeying Jesus' words is not based on others' testimonies or experiences but on what God has said in the past. God's word says so, and we believe it. By obeying His words, we will surely see miracles and turning points, Amen! You all have the Bible; there is no need to seek famous pastors for prayer or look for prophets to give you prophecies. You can pray directly to God.
Some say, "I prayed, but I did not hear what God said." Open the Bible; it is God's words to you. When you read the Bible, if one verse strikes you deeply or leaves a strong impression, that is what God has given you today! This is why we encourage everyone to develop the habit of reading the Bible daily. Every day, the Holy Spirit will give you different words. Even if you read that passage yesterday, when you read it again today, God may want you to focus on another aspect! Just like preaching, this sermon may have been preached before, but now when you see it, God gives you different guidance! Because the Holy Spirit is alive.
If you are learning knowledge, it will not change no matter when you look at it; but the words of truth, the Holy Spirit will give you new guidance based on the current situation! Therefore, when you read daily, that is receiving today's manna, Amen. Which verse particularly impresses you? Remember those words, "Lord, let me experience this verse today. Thank You and praise You!" This is obeying Jesus' words.
Just like now, Peter heard Jesus say to launch out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. Do not analyze whether this sentence is appropriate; this is what Jesus is saying to Peter now. He is not asking Peter to wait until night to practice this word; it is something that needs to be done immediately. Do it immediately, and you will see the results! There is no need to argue with Jesus, saying, "Jesus, will this work? I have already worked hard all night; let me go home and sleep first, and tonight you can fish with me. I believe we will have a great catch!" This is being too clever. Jesus does not need that; His words are given to you, and you just need to act on them now! After hearing this sermon today, if you have received something, remember it in your heart and apply it in your life. You will see the great power of God's word, Amen!
John 11:38-40:
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
Martha and Mary, these two sisters, were not as quick as Peter. After Peter heard Jesus' words, he immediately launched out into the deep to let down the nets for a catch. When Martha and Mary saw that their brother Lazarus had been dead for four days, when Jesus came, they began to complain, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
At that time, Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life." These two sisters said, "Yes, Jesus, You are right; You have spoken of the resurrection, and I know that my brother will rise again at the last day!" This is theological knowledge; they knew too much. But what did Jesus mean? "Now, I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha exclaimed, "Lord! Do not do this; he must be stinking by now; he has been dead for four days."
Do you see the difference? One obeyed Jesus' words and acted immediately; the other, upon hearing Jesus' words, began to reason. Jesus said, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Jesus had to repeat God's promise to her, indicating that her faith was a bit slow. Do you understand?
If Jesus says to take away the stone, you can just do it; leave the rest to Jesus! If Jesus says to bring the person out, then just bring him out. Many times, we add our own thoughts to God's words, embellishing them, which diminishes the power of God's words!
It is actually very simple; we should do as Jesus says. The story of Lazarus is well-known. After the people rolled away the stone, Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth!" Lazarus came out, hopping from inside. What a wonderful ending! If Martha and Mary had blocked the entrance, saying, "He is already stinking; let us honor the dead," then nothing would have happened!
Therefore, obeying God's words is extremely important! Because God's words transcend our reasoning and nature, what should we do? We must receive them by faith. What Jesus does is beyond nature; we call it supernatural ministry! Through these events, we see that His words are powerful and authoritative. At that time, Peter also experienced the power of God's words for the first time.
Later, as he followed Jesus, he experienced these miracles time and again, and his life gradually grew, leading to a different understanding of the Lord. We must have our own experiences; otherwise, no matter how much we hear, it will accumulate into mere knowledge, which is not very helpful. Many people can talk about God's words eloquently, but when faced with a small problem, they easily fall and lose faith. This indicates that the word has become disconnected from life. What should we do? Live according to God's words, Hallelujah!
Luke 5:6-7:
6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled 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.
At a time and place that Peter thought was incorrect, an incredible thing happened. His catch exceeded all previous ones; both boats were filled to the brim, and they began to sink! This was a miracle, something Peter knew he could never achieve by his own ability. Through this grace, Peter realized how ignorant he was!
When people possess too much theological knowledge or other knowledge, they may feel great, thinking, "I understand so much; I have learned this and that..." But if they understand these truths and apply them in life, they will grow in reverence for God and will never be arrogant or proud, because they know they cannot accomplish these things on their own. Hallelujah! Paul used a term called "fear and trembling." In the face of grace, fear and trembling come from knowing, "Lord, what great power this is! This is not something I can do!" Thus, he could revere God so much!
Luke 5:8: "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'"
Simon Peter was older than Jesus, and with so many people around, this big man no longer cared how others viewed him; he fell at Jesus' knees. What did he see that made him do this? He saw the two boats filled with fish, realizing this was not his own ability! If it had been the right time and place, for example at night, when both boats went out and returned with two full boats of fish, Peter would have thought that was due to his experience and skill. But at this moment, nothing was correct, nothing was right, and nothing was possible; yet unexpectedly, he had a great catch, and Peter knew this was Jesus' power.
So he began to repent for his previous disbelief and doubt, realizing he had been a bit arrogant, not recognizing this person who looked like a carpenter. After personally experiencing God's words, he humbled himself, fell at Jesus' feet, and said, "Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man!" He understood what his heart had been like towards Jesus.
We are the same; we often think our experiences, lessons, and efforts are so good. But only when we set these things aside and see God's grace in impossible situations can we humble ourselves, Amen! I hope that every brother and sister not only listens to the word but can immediately apply it to themselves, relying on God's words in problems, turning the impossible into possible with Jesus! It is not about your effort to turn the impossible into possible; that would be too much for you. It is not your ability; it is the Holy Spirit's ability! God will certainly be responsible for His promises, and what you need to do is hold onto God's promises and live by them. Do not declare what God has not promised; that will certainly not come to pass, no matter how loud you shout. God is only responsible for His promises, Amen!
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid! From now on you will catch men." They brought their boats to land, forsook all, and followed Him.
Through this event, these brothers experienced God's great power, and it also made them aware of the calling and mission God had for them. Through this event, they were willing to believe in Jesus and follow Him! Many people say they also believe in Jesus, but in the end, they do not want to believe anymore because they may not have truly experienced Jesus; it was just some knowledge. When problems arose, they were never resolved, and they were unwilling to follow anymore, saying, "Where is God?"
Peter and his two brothers experienced Jesus' great power and were willing to follow Him. This was precisely because they lived differently by obeying God's words. From then on, Peter and his brothers were no longer fishing on the sea, but just as Jesus said, "From now on you will catch men." From the first time Peter's fishing boat was willing to be used by Jesus to preach, Peter's boat often carried the disciples back and forth. This was the pillar of the kingdom of heaven; his boat was used to carry out the work of souls. Jesus did not deceive him; this was real, Amen. As Peter continued to know Jesus, Jesus also entrusted him with the mission and authority of the gospel, allowing him to use it and become more skilled in using these truths to help more people.
Finally, let us read a passage from Matthew 16:17-19:
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
As Peter continued to know Jesus, the truth and mission Jesus gave him became clearer, and Peter also understood the Father's will. He recognized Jesus as the Son of the living God. Because of this revelation, God's greater blessing soon came upon Peter. Jesus said to him, "Peter, I will build My church on this rock." Which rock? It is not Peter's rock; it is built on the rock of Jesus Christ! Because at that time, Peter had recognized Jesus as the Son of the living God, the church would be established on this foundation. This was Jesus' commission to Peter.
The church established on this rock of Jesus Christ will not be overcome even by the gates of Hades, Hallelujah! Jesus said to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
What are the keys of the kingdom?
It is knowing that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, which is equivalent to receiving the keys of the kingdom! Many people do not understand; they think the kingdom has only one door, and Jesus gave the keys to Peter, so we must treat Peter as a deity and be nice to him; otherwise, we will not be able to enter in the future!
It is not like that; today you also have the keys of the kingdom! As long as you recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, you have received the keys of the kingdom. These keys not only allow you to enter but also enable you to give these keys to others, allowing them to enter as well, Amen! So the latter part is what Peter was to do: whatever you bind on earth refers to the authority Jesus gave to Peter. Peter could use Jesus' name to bind the forces of darkness, commanding Satan to leave that person in the name of Lord Jesus, and the devil would be bound, and that person would be released, Amen. What Peter did on earth, our Father in heaven does the same. This is the use of authority, brothers and sisters; this is also doing things according to God's words, Hallelujah!
Those who believe in Jesus Christ should not treat this as mere knowledge; they should receive this word and apply it in their lives! Do not look at how terrible the surrounding environment is, how the time is wrong, how the people are wrong, how the place is wrong, and how everything is a mess. Even so, please remember to obey Jesus' words. Peter let down the nets for a catch, and as a result, miracles occurred. In the four Gospels, many people obeyed Jesus' words, and miracles happened, Amen! We can also do this. If we always focus on the problems, the problems will seem to grow larger; but if you obey God's words, miracles will appear, Hallelujah! Thank You and praise You, God bless everyone.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You for renewing our minds and thoughts through such words. We do not seek to understand more theological knowledge or biblical knowledge, but to receive truth and life. Your words are like the food I need every day. Each day, I take a portion of Your words, Your promises, and when I eat them, I receive! Your words are full of power; all Your words are powerful. I am willing to apply this power in my life. Please lead me, and as the new week begins, let me overcome by Your words! I believe You have already won, overcoming the devil and the world! By Your victory, I will witness Your great power in my life!
You also give me strength, making me a messenger of this gospel, to help more people know the beauty of Jesus, continually knowing You and experiencing You in life! I do not wish to turn more of the Bible into mere knowledge; I want to receive it every day and apply it, making it a part of my body, my strength, a part of my being that brings me supply and nourishment, allowing my life to continually grow into the fullness of Christ! Please lead me this week to experience Your words. Thank You and praise You; all glory belongs to You. In the name of Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!