86 - Entering the Deep Waters#
86 - Entering the Deep Waters
(JP Text Group - Happy Angel Compilation)
The topic of sharing is: Entering the Deep Waters
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 at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from 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.
This is the first Sunday of 2015, and today's topic is entering the deep waters, which is also the theme for this year. What does this theme really mean? Water symbolizes the Holy Spirit in the Bible. This year, I hope everyone can experience the power of the Holy Spirit. We should not only understand our Lord Jesus at the beginning of the doctrine but also know Him more deeply.
The article mentions that when Jesus found Peter, Peter was leaving the boat to wash the nets. Before this, something happened: Peter had caught nothing all night long. Why didn't he catch any fish? Was it because the time was wrong? No, it wasn't that there were no fish. It wasn't that Peter lacked professional fishing skills, nor was it that his fishing tools were inadequate. These are not the important reasons.
Why couldn't he catch fish? Of course, we must remember that it was not God who intentionally made him unable to catch fish. Our God is a God of blessings. Sickness and suffering do not come from God. Peter did not catch anything the previous night not because God made him unable to. Many people have a wrong understanding of our God. They say they can believe in Jesus, but when they get sick, they think God is saving them through their illness. Is this correct? This idea is wrong. Many people hear the gospel in their sickness but do not accept it. But we know that sickness is not given to them by God. However, when this person accepts Jesus and is healed by God, that is called God's grace. God's grace has come upon him.
At first, Peter caught nothing, but what caused him to catch a boat full of fish later? It was because he encountered Jesus. Amen! When he met Jesus, his life changed. What he did with his hands also changed. He received thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold blessings. In fact, what Peter received was far more than this. He got unexpected results, which we call miracles. So from that moment on, Peter chose to serve Jesus Christ. Amen!
This day was also a turning point in Peter's life. Why? Because Jesus came! At the moment when Peter's life was most lacking, helpless, and desperate, Jesus personally came to find him. So I hope that brothers and sisters can encounter the Lord Jesus in their lives this year. You have already met the Lord in your lives. I hope you can see this God in your daily life. That is, you can experience the miracles that Peter experienced, which is a tremendous blessing! Amen! When we truly see God's power in our lives, our lives will be renewed, and our faith will increase.
The article mentions that he saw two boats at the water's edge, and the fishermen had left the boats to wash the nets. Is this Peter's boat? What was Peter's original life like? It was a life lived relying on himself. Before Jesus found Peter, Peter had always relied on himself. So what I want to tell the brothers and sisters is that on the first day of the new year, the first Sunday, the past of relying on oneself, 2014 has already passed. There may have been many failures in the past relying on oneself. Even many disappointments, but that is all in the past.
Starting this year, I hope everyone can experience walking with Jesus Christ. Look at what Peter's original life was like. He was a busy person, wasn't he? He spent a whole night fishing. This proves that Peter was not a lazy person, Amen! Christians must not be mistaken. I have been to some places where some people say: as long as you believe in the Lord, everything will be fine, and you don't need to work, you don't need to do anything, God will provide everything. This kind of thinking is wrong.
The Bible also tells us: "Do not be lazy, but be diligent in your work," right? The world also knows that 'without labor, there is no harvest.' But what we want to say is that even if you labor, you may not necessarily have a harvest. There are many people busy for themselves everywhere. At this time, many companies will do summaries at the end of the year, and many people will calculate how much income and expenditure they have this year. They will find that after a year, they have gained nothing. A monthly salary of ten thousand, but at the end of the year, there is nothing in the account. What does this indicate? This year was a waste of effort.
You cannot say that he did not work hard, nor can you say that he did not gain anything, but he did not gain anything, just like Peter's life. Peter worked hard fishing all night long, and he did not slack off, but he did not catch a single fish, and instead, he was exhausted, just like many Christians today, striving to get closer to God. Many churches say, you strive to be holy, and God will be pleased with you. You must work hard for God, and God will bless you... This is a kind of human effort. When we rely on our own efforts, the results we get are very likely to be the same as Peter's, so many people work hard but do not know why. After a year of effort, they find that they have gained nothing. This is very similar to Peter's situation now. If this situation is very similar to yours, do not lose heart. Starting this year, you can learn to trust in the Lord Jesus. Amen! When Peter and the others went fishing with hope but returned disappointed.
Many believers are willing to change their bad habits and want to receive God's blessings. It is just that their faith has problems, thinking that they need to add a lot of self to their faith. But I want to tell you that God's blessings do not depend on your behavior; the key is whether you are willing to believe that He can bless you! So Peter's situation may be a true reflection of us.
Working hard all night indicates that at this moment, he was in a very fatigued state, losing his rest. At this time, he gave up the boat to wash the nets. Amen! Washing the nets represents giving up! He was no longer trying to catch fish from the boat, looking for a place to cast the nets; he felt that the time had passed, and further effort would be futile. He gave up the boat and returned to shore to wash the nets. Thank God! Just when Peter was at his most desperate moment, he encountered a Savior in his life named Jesus Christ! Peter could not change his environment or his life by relying on himself.
But Jesus Christ came to change his life. Jesus was going to give His grace to Peter. Jesus saw Peter, saw the boat, and asked Peter: Can I use your boat? Peter said: Sure, I don't need it right now anyway. Jesus was not alone in the boat; He invited Peter to join Him in the boat. Then He said to Simon Peter: Put out a little from shore, just a little from shore. I think many people have read this passage. But I want to explain it to the brothers and sisters from a spiritual perspective.
The shore represents the world, the boat symbolizes Jesus. The water represents the Holy Spirit. When you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you, do not do things using the world's methods. You need to separate from the world and do things with God's thinking. So Jesus asked him to push the boat out a little from shore. He sat down and began to teach the people from the boat. In fact, there were many people following Jesus at that time, and they were all willing to listen to Jesus preach.
Why? Because Jesus' words can bring release to people, Amen! Because He is the gospel itself; He is the beginning of the gospel. If you go to a church and hear the word that can bring you release, it proves that it is the true gospel. If a church exalts Christ, this message will definitely bring you the gospel and blessings. Amen! Jesus preached the gospel for three and a half years, always bringing people positive faith. He told people that you can have a better way of life in this world, which is to believe in God's power. Amen!
While Jesus was teaching the people from Peter's boat, what was Peter doing? He was right next to Jesus, right? He was also listening to the word. Let's think about it; last year I told the brothers and sisters how to meditate. When you read this passage, you should meditate. At this moment, did Peter really have the mood to listen to the word? No, what was he thinking? Say it out loud; it doesn't matter. What he was thinking about was fish, right? He was not thinking about fishing but about fish.
There is nothing shameful to say about this. If you have a certain burden, you must be brave enough to speak it out when you come to church, and then we can pray for you. Because God knows what you are thinking and what you need. Hallelujah! Jesus also knew why Peter was feeling down at that moment, why he was discouraged; it was because there were no fish. But what did God supply him with? What did Jesus give him? "The word," not fish, but "the word." Is fish better or is the word better? Fish is good? The word is good! You must know that the word can produce fish, but fish cannot produce the word.
The words spoken by Jesus Christ can produce fish, right? Peter realized this when Jesus' words came out; the fish appeared. If Peter had only seen those fish at that time and had not seen the one who produced the fish with the word, he would have tightly grasped those two boats of fish and given up on the one who spoke the word. Peter saw that the word was more important than the fish.
You also need to know that the lack in your life is not important; what is important is to know that you have Jesus Christ in your life. The words of Jesus Christ can change your situation. Amen! The words of Jesus Christ can change your current physical illness and turn you around from difficult situations. Likewise, Jesus Christ can pull you up from despair. Even if you are at the bottom of despair, it doesn't matter, because He can lead you up. This is our God!
Brothers and sisters, when we encounter Jesus in our lives, your life will surely change. Thank the Lord! Peter happened to be listening to Jesus preach. Perhaps at that moment, Jesus was preaching the gospel of the kingdom, telling them: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest! Peter might have said: That sounds nice. Just like I am standing here preaching today, many of you might be thinking: Teacher Ren, you have no idea what my situation is like; try putting my situation in your shoes and see. Many people doubt God's power, even saying you don't understand my situation, just keep talking; you can't relate to my situation.
Indeed, I cannot relate, but Jesus Christ can. Amen! You must know that what is being said now is not my words but the words of Jesus Christ! These words can change your situation. Hallelujah! Even though Peter came to listen like this, he still absorbed it. No matter what worries or problems you have right now, temporarily set them aside. Come and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, Amen!
If the person on stage is speaking in accordance with the Bible, just listen for a while, and then see how miracles are produced, Hallelujah! When Peter was listening: It was pretty good, but my situation hasn't changed. I believe many people are confused here, saying: Oh, when I am in church, I am full of faith, but when I get home, it disappears because I see the original situation again. What to do in this situation? Jesus is going to give you power!
Use His words to change your family, change your situation. Amen! When this word was finished, God let Peter practice His words. In verse 4, He said to Simon: Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Amen! To emphasize here, Peter was not an ordinary fisherman; he was very professional, had his own boat, and had a professional fleet. In short, his skills were very strong. But he knew very well that this time of day was not suitable for fishing. In his very smart mind, he knew that this time was not suitable for fishing because night was the best time, and the time for fishing had passed. If he fished at this time, it would be a futile effort. But Jesus' words explained this to him at that moment.
Brothers and sisters, this is often a contradictory moment in life. The environment is like this, but God's words are like this. Which one should we choose? According to your experience and past experiences, that is feasible; this is impossible. But God's words come to tell you how to choose in the impossible. This is the most difficult time for people to choose. Last year, you might have relied on your own experiences and performances to judge some things. But this year, at the beginning of the new year 2015, I hope you will fill your hearts with God's words and renew your thoughts.
Although this time of day is not suitable for casting nets, Jesus said: Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Do not forget who spoke this word; it came from the mouth of Jesus Christ. Amen! Today, when this word comes to you, can you believe it? For example, we often say: By the stripes Jesus suffered, you are healed. Can you believe it when you see your illness still on you? You say: No, it’s not like this; why is your word ineffective? It is not that God's word is ineffective; it is a matter of whether we can receive it.
Another thing, the Bible tells us: He crowns the year with His goodness. This means that from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, God covers you with His goodness! That proves one thing: sickness, pain, and accidents do not come from God. Because what He gives you is goodness. The year is like this. The key is whether people can believe; this is important. God's word is here; can we say, Lord, this word is for me? For example, the Bible tells us: In Christ, God will make you sufficient in all things. The key is whether we can believe; if you can believe, the word will be fulfilled in you! Amen!
For Peter, it seemed impossible; this was not a good time for fishing. People still have thoughts; when God's words come to us, not everyone can accept them. Peter was the same. In verse 5, Simon said: Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. Is this his thought? Actually, it doesn't matter, brothers and sisters. If you pray to God and feel that the words He gives you are wrong or not good enough, you can tell God; it doesn't matter.
Jesus did not say: Hey, Peter, you doubt my words; have you forgotten who I am? In Peter's eyes at that time, Jesus was just a teacher. Amen! When did Peter change his title? At the beginning, he said: Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.
In verse 8, what title did Peter change to? Lord...! Under what circumstances did Peter change his title? After he received God's grace. Amen! Brothers and sisters, this is exactly the message we want to convey. When a person does not know Jesus, he thinks Jesus is just a teacher. When he sees God's grace come upon him, he opens his mouth to call Jesus Christ Lord! Amen! This year, I hope more people experience such grace and start studying the Bible to see what kind of preaching can be delivered... You might see me as a storyteller, a teacher, just different from what is said in the world or other churches.
But if you know that what you hear is the word of Jesus Christ, it will become the way of life and can change your life and your living because this is God's word. Peter was in such a situation when he said: Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. At this moment, Peter did not have faith because he saw the environment and relied on his own judgment, not on God.
Again, I teach the brothers and sisters how to meditate. At that time, when Jesus spoke to Peter, He must have been looking at Peter, and when Peter answered, he was also looking at Jesus. This means that even if you have no faith, but if you focus your attention on Christ, you will have faith because He is always full of faith. Hallelujah! Our Lord Jesus is always full of faith, no matter how weak you are or how big the problem is. When you look up to Jesus, His faith becomes your faith.
We think that at that time Peter said, Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but he saw that this young man had great faith and showed no intention of changing. He did not say, you have already worked hard last night, so forget it, don't fish anymore, just go home. Jesus had no intention of giving up; Peter saw the faith of Jesus Christ. He said, even so, but because you say so, I will let down the nets. Amen! This is a very key statement; whose words did he obey? The words of Jesus Christ!
This is an important reason for life change and an important reason to experience miracles in life. Obeying the words of Jesus Christ, I will let down the nets. Amen! What you hear is not my words, nor the words of some famous pastor. If you want to hear the word, there are many places to go; you can search online, and you can find famous pastors from all over the world. If you go to listen for the sake of someone's fame, you will gain nothing.
When we listen to the words of Jesus Christ, our lives will change; they will no longer be the same because you know that whether it comes from the mouth of a famous person or a non-famous person, if he speaks the word of God, the word of Jesus Christ, it will definitely be full of power. Amen! Thank the Lord.
So at that time, Peter said, but because you say so, I will let down the nets. This action was quite difficult, meaning that God's words were already here. By His stripes, I am healed. So can you boldly say, I have been healed? This is a difficult step. Can you tell your friends, I have been healed by God; I am healthy? This is a challenge.
So Peter said, okay, but because you say so, I will obey your words. He began to let down the nets and pushed the boat into deep water. It was through this action that he saw two boats full of fish and witnessed the power of Jesus Christ. Many ordinary people only keep Jesus in their minds, listen and forget, without applying the word in their lives. I hope this year everyone enters the deep waters and applies God's words in their lives, experiencing God's wonderful and abundant grace. Amen!
We need to know one thing: Jesus said, push the boat out, and Peter pushed the boat out, bringing it to deep waters. Jesus said, cast the nets, and at that moment, something happened, still a spiritual matter that can only be understood through meditation. Jesus had not fished before, but that does not mean He could not fish. Can the brothers and sisters understand this? Some say Jesus is a doctor; although Jesus does not have a medical license, He can still heal the sick. Although Jesus has not been to school, He understands all kinds of knowledge in the world. Amen! This is the Jesus we rely on.
Although Jesus had not fished before, this might also be the reason for Peter's doubt, saying, is this young man mistaken? He is only thirty; has he never fished? How can he ask me to push the boat into deep water to fish at this time? But because He is Jesus Christ, when Peter cast the net into the sea, something was happening in the sea. All the fish began to swim from all directions, diving into the net. Isn't this God's blessing? This is the power of Jesus.
Jesus did not use the net to look for fish everywhere, just like many people want breakthroughs in their finances and families, desperately relying on their own methods to make money, desperately trying to improve relationships, desperately trying to maintain their families. But God's method is very simple: just follow me. When you follow me, your problems will naturally be resolved. This is God's method because the wealth of the world belongs to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ can improve relationships because He is the peace offering between people. If your family has very poor relationships, bring Jesus into your home and let Jesus be the head of your family, and your family will undergo a tremendous change.
A few days ago, many people shared testimonies that after they believed in Jesus, many miracles happened in their families. Past tense, very dangerous and tense relationships began to recover. This is the power of God; when you follow Jesus, everything behind will be correct. Amen! This year, I hope brothers and sisters will walk forward with Jesus Christ. Do not worry about what is behind; God will take responsibility for you. But if you want to do it yourself, God cannot do anything. If Peter had said at that time, no, it is not the right time to cast the nets, could he see the miracle? No, even though Jesus' words were already there, full of power, if he did not act, he would not see it. Here, I want to emphasize that God never wants us to be lazy; He wants us to be people who rely on Him in everything. Amen! When the fish were desperately diving in, a miracle happened, and Peter also saw it; he caught two boats full of fish.
In verse 6, they let down the nets and caught many fish, and the nets began to break.
How much is God's blessing? A net full of fish; is Jesus limited to just this amount of power? What limits the rich grace of God from coming down? Is it the net? Brothers and sisters, I want you to meditate on this passage. In fact, Jesus' power far exceeds this net of fish. This was the largest catch Peter had ever had. I don't know if you have heard others talk about this. I want to tell you that this is the result of my meditation. If Peter had caught such a large net of fish before, he would have changed to a bigger net; there were too many fish. If the boat could not hold them, he would need a bigger boat. This is human faith. If you experience a small miracle from God in your life, your faith will grow.
A few days ago, Deacon Diao shared a testimony that a sister prayed for her daughter who had a fever, and the fever went down. She said, I have faith now. This is just a small miracle. The power of Jesus Christ far exceeds this. After experiencing that, we say it is great, but God's power far exceeds a net full of fish. Amen! So I say this was the most fish Peter had ever caught in his life; the nets were almost breaking, meaning how much God's blessing there was. When the fish were desperately diving in, Jesus said, stop diving; if you dive more, the nets will break. This means that our own vessels limit God's blessings. The more you know God, the more you will receive God's power and supply. Amen!
If at that time Peter had such faith and said, Jesus, you want me to cast the nets, I will go get a bigger net. Would Jesus stop him? No, unfortunately, at that time, Peter did not think of that. Just this net could be filled. Do you believe that this year God will bless your family? Your family is like Peter's small net; God will fill it. If you can expand your vessel, wait, Jesus, I will get a bigger net today; Jesus will fill it for you too. Hallelujah! This is the message we need to receive this year. We must stop our tongues from speaking negative words and believe that God's grace and supply for you are sufficient.
The Bible says: If you open your mouth wide, I will fill it. Hallelujah! Do not be afraid that God cannot provide; be afraid that you do not dare to ask. Some say this is boasting, but this is the word of the Bible. If you open your mouth wide, I will fill it. However, many people do not believe, saying, Lord, it is impossible; it is unrealistic. Isn't this just like Peter's reality? But God filled him with a net full of fish, and here it mentions that the nets were almost breaking.
At that time, Peter truly recognized the power of Jesus Christ. He fell at the feet of Jesus Christ and said: Lord, go away from me; I am a sinful man. When do we realize our unworthiness? It is when we experience God's grace. Amen! Even if you believe in the Lord, saying I am doing well this year... you still have not experienced God's grace. When you truly see God's abundant grace upon you, you will definitely feel unworthy because He always gives you more than you ask or think.
In fact, Peter was much older than Jesus. When he knelt at the feet of this young man, he truly recognized Him as Lord. Amen! Just as the Bible tells us: We are merely jars of clay. What is the characteristic of a jar of clay? It breaks easily. Are people very fragile? They break with just a slight touch. The heart is also fragile; it breaks with just a little blow. So many people say, you really broke my heart! Is it that the resistance and endurance are very small? We should not laugh; this is a normal thing. Jesus also knows that we are so fragile.
So the Bible says: What is mankind that you are mindful of them? They are like grass, which withers in the wind. But it is this kind of life that God wants to change. Although you are a jar of clay, Jesus said He wants to put His treasure in your jar of clay. You will become different. Your value far exceeds that of a jar of clay. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, let me tell you a story. Do you know how Moutai liquor became famous? At a world-class liquor expo, high-end liquors from various countries participated. China presented Moutai liquor, while other liquors had very beautiful boxes and exquisite designs. However, the Chinese liquor was just packaged in a jar. People from other countries praised the liquor, saying it was good and the design was great. But no one paid attention to the Chinese liquor. The Chinese exhibitor was very angry and smashed the Moutai liquor jar on the ground. Suddenly, the fragrance of the liquor filled the entire hall.
Everyone fell silent. One expert cautiously picked up the jar and took a sip, saying: Wow, good liquor, really good liquor! Amen! It is not the value of this jar; what does this jar count as in others' eyes? It has no design. Just this little broken jar, what good things can it hold?
Although we are jars of clay, Jesus Christ has placed His treasure inside us. From then on, our lives become different. In the past, relying on oneself to show off, you are still a jar of clay. Now, if you tell others, I have the most precious Holy Spirit inside me, your value will no longer be the same. We are now God's most beloved children! Our identity has changed; this is who we are now.
Although we are like this, there is nothing to boast about, except for two things: Jesus Christ and His cross. Amen! All our blessings come because God is so pleased with us. It is precisely because Jesus Christ was crucified for us. After He shed His precious blood, our sins were forgiven, and God fully accepted us. I believe this year Jesus will surely take care of us, protect us, and supply us because of His crucifixion.
The second thing to boast about is our weakness. Do not boast about how capable you are; you cannot do anything by relying on yourself. Just like Peter, even though he was very professional, when he relied on himself, he still gained nothing. This year, no one dares to boast and say, don't worry. Relying on myself, I will definitely earn more than last year. No one dares to make that guarantee. How many companies were thriving in the past two years, and suddenly went bankrupt this year? Such things are very normal. In this era, we need to know that only Jesus Christ is unchanging! He is everlasting!
God's blessings will never change! This is the God we rely on. When you rely on people, when they fall, you will fall too. Relying on Jesus Christ is unshakeable! Whenever you look up to Jesus, you will have faith. This year, I hope everyone truly establishes an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit in their hearts, pushing the boat into deep waters. You will surely see miracles like Peter. There will definitely be a great harvest. Thank and praise the Lord! Do not rely on your own efforts to change; rely on the power of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
When Jesus asked Peter to push the boat into deep waters, He was telling us to believe in God's words and believe in the power of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! When we rely on ourselves, we will truly fail, but if you are willing to work in the Holy Spirit with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, you will be different. You will truly experience miracles and powers that you did not experience last year. So Peter listened to the Lord's words and caught two boats full of fish. I call this God's grace. Amen!
Will it be painful? How long did it take Peter to catch a net full of fish? How long did it take Jesus to give him a net full of fish? It was a matter of moments. Do not forget that He is the Lord of time. Amen! What was Jesus' first miracle? Was it not turning water into wine? How long does it take to turn water into wine? Several months, but Jesus Christ compressed time and turned water into wine instantly. Amen!
Similarly, Jesus Christ also compressed time and filled the net with fish. Amen! This year, you completely hand over all your worries to the Lord Jesus. Do not use time and busyness to exchange for your wealth or good relationships. Do not do that. When you hand your worries over to Jesus, He will compress time.
Many people say they cannot rest on Sundays; they must work hard to earn money, do more work to support their families. You have forgotten that God will compress your time. Amen! God will give you both rest time and not less earning. You must believe that God will bless you this year. He will give you rest and joy. Hallelujah! Do not say, after resting, today is a waste of time; the best time has passed; what a pity. God will not let you feel regretful. After Peter followed Jesus, he returned with unexpected gains. If Peter had known that fishing was so easy, would he have needed to stay up all night? If he could fish during the day, who would want to fish at night?
I hope this year you can walk in God's words and enter the deep waters! Establish this intimate relationship with God. How to do it specifically? I suggest brothers and sisters persist in attending worship, persist in reading the Bible, and persist in prayer. Amen! I do not ask you for a long time; as long as you persist in doing this, sincerely establish this intimate relationship with God from your heart, you will see miracles come upon your family, not just legends, saying another person in our church was healed by God, but it will be you... You will experience this grace; it will be you! Amen!
You need to recognize yourself; do not rely on yourself. In the past, you relied on yourself; now do not rely on yourself anymore. When people leave God, that is when we fail. The Bible clearly tells us: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. Correctly recognize that you are just a jar of clay. You are a jar of clay used by God. When you are used by God, your family will not only not suffer losses but will instead receive greater blessings. Amen!
Peter used to rely on himself to fish hard to support his family. Later, he followed Jesus Christ and walked the path of service. When he served Jesus, did his family suffer? No, instead, the supply in his family continued. Otherwise, Peter would have stopped serving long ago. If his mother came crying every few days, saying: Peter, hurry back; we have run out of rice. After a few such scenes, could Peter still follow Jesus? Did it happen? No, it proves that God's supply is abundant! Amen!
I hope this year more people will stand up to serve Jesus and participate in service in our church. You must believe that even if your current problems seem hopeless, it doesn't matter. When you enter the deep waters, God will take responsibility for your family; God will take responsibility for the things you worry about.
Let us not let this "I" always come out. When you have a little achievement, you say: Hmm, I did it; it seems I am more capable this year than last year, feeling I am more handsome than before, or saying, don't worry; this year I can do anything by relying on myself. Many marketing theories say to believe in yourself, and you will climb higher. I say you will fall harder. Because you keep relying on your own efforts, if you rely on God, you will not fall. God will hold you up! Amen!
In Christ, you can live a different life. Let the Lord be the Lord! What is the Lord? The Chinese character is the king plus a dot. It is called the Lord, right? What is the king in your heart? If it is money, take it away and put Jesus up. You will lack nothing! If you need wisdom, desperately pursue wisdom by reading books and various kinds of wisdom. Take that away and put Jesus up. When He is your Lord, you will have wisdom. This year, no matter what, I hope you will have such wisdom. Do things according to God's words, and you will have unexpected gains. This year, I will continue to see how miracles are manifested in you.
Last year, many of us experienced God's wonders; this year, more people will participate. God's words are the most trustworthy! The Bible says: No matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. If you believe in "Yes," God will let you see. Amen! If you say it cannot be done, God cannot do anything either; God will never force you. We have always said that even if God adds blessings to you, if you are unwilling to receive them, God cannot force them upon you.
Unless you say: Lord, I am willing, then God will give it to you. Hallelujah! Peter said: Lord, go away from me; I am a sinful man. In fact, Peter was ashamed. He repented. Many churches have preached this message incorrectly, saying you must first acknowledge your sins before God will bless you. Did Jesus say this? Jesus first gave Peter grace, and then Peter repented. Today, your behavior may not be good; it doesn't matter. I want to supply you with God's grace and give you this word. You will repent.
When you see God's grace is so abundant, you will humble yourself to serve Him. Hallelujah! So do not let the "I" always appear. Let Jesus Christ appear! Amen! Paul often boasted about his weakness. He said every time I am weak, I am strong. Why? Because every time he saw his weakness, he knew he needed God's strength. Amen!
If you always feel strong, you do not need God. What do you need God for? You think you are great; do you still need God? But every time you see your insufficiency, your lack, your weakness, you will know that God's grace is about to come upon you. This is our Lord Jesus Christ! I hope you see your insufficiencies in life and pray to God. When you pray, you take Him as your God. Amen!
When Peter fell at Jesus' feet and said: Lord, go away from me; I am a sinful man. Did Jesus say: Hmm, good job, kid; now that you have repented thoroughly, you finally realize you are a sinner. You started not believing in me, and now you believe because I gave you a little grace? Jesus did not criticize him; instead, He comforted him, saying: Do not be afraid; from now on, you will catch people as you catch fish. Amen!
Have you noticed that Jesus always comforts us? Even if we truly doubt Him in our hearts, sometimes complain to Him, not understanding Him, and even point fingers at Him, God does not get angry with us. Instead, He says: Do not be afraid; I will always provide for you. This is the promise in the Bible. I checked, and there are a total of 365 "do not be afraid" in the original text, one for each day. Amen!
In short, God tells you not to be afraid; you have Jesus Christ, so do not be afraid! This year, if you are willing to serve Jesus, God will take care of your business, your family, and your children. Everything you give will be rewarded by God. Amen! At the beginning, He just used Peter's boat; what did He give him? He gave him what he needed most. Our God is not unrealistic! Do not think that believing in Jesus is just empty talk, receiving spiritual food. Is there something practical? Yes.
Jesus said, Peter, can I use your boat? Peter said, go ahead, but what Jesus returned to him was two boats full of fish. Today, when you are willing to follow the Lord Jesus, believe in His words, what He returns to you is a life without lack. Amen! Thank the Lord! This is our God!
This year, I hope to promote this theme so that everyone knows to enter the deep waters. Amen! Do not stand at the beginning of the doctrine, thinking about whether you will enter the kingdom of heaven, whether God will bless you, whether God will heal you. Do not get entangled in these matters of right and wrong; be sure that God is willing to bless you, willing to heal you, willing to supply you, and then walk in. How about that? Walk into the deep waters; there are many fish waiting for you. Amen! It is really like this; the fish are waiting there. When will the net come? Because they want to hear Jesus' words. Amen! I hope you receive this word at this moment and keep it in your heart. Wait to see God's grace come upon you.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, I especially thank and praise Your grace! Lord, let us truly see that when Peter left God, he relied on himself. Just like many times we rely on ourselves, his life changed when he encountered Jesus. In fact, it was not he who sought Jesus, but Jesus personally came to find him. Lord, today I have accepted You, but many times I still rely on myself to act. You have not abandoned me time and again, seeking me again and again. At the beginning of the new year, I am willing to believe in Your words and follow You.
Lord, I am willing to act according to Your words, believing that I will see Your supply, Your healing, and Your power in my life. You will also change my family, my family, and my work will be in Your hands. This year is a year of abundant blessings from God, and I thank and praise You for it! In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, I pray! Amen!