Friday, September 18, 2009

LITN V, Verses 1 - 11

1. On one particular day Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Lake Galilee, and great crowds pressed in on Him there so that they could hear the message of God.

2. And as the crowd got bigger and closer, He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge...boats that the fishermen had left while they were washing their nets.

3. Without asking permission, or explaining what He was doing, He stepped into one of the boats and asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water a few feet. Then He sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4. When he had finished His message, He turned to Simon and said, “Now I want you to go out where it's deeper, and let down your nets there to catch some fish.”

5. “Teacher,” Simon replied, “You should know that we fished here all night long...we worked really hard...and we didn’t catch a thing." Jesus had no response to his words, so after a short, awkward pause, Simon said, "But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

6. As soon as Simon did what Jesus told him to do, he started catching fish immediately...and he continued to catch so many that the nets he used began to tear from the enormous amount of fish!

7. In fact, the haul was so big that he had to yell for his partners to come help him with it, and when they brought out the other boat, both boats became filled to capacity with fish...filled to the point that they were on the verge of sinking.

8. When Simon Peter perceived what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please just leave me...I’m too much of a sinner to be around You...You're out of my league, and I don't know how to handle this kind of thing.”

9. He was overwhelmed and awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were his fishing partners.

10. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were there, too, and they were equally amazed and engulfed with awe at the miracle. Jesus calmly replied to Simon, “Hey...don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing like this all the time...but you'll be fishing for people!”

11. When they got back to shore, they just left everything they had and started following Jesus.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

verse 3 ....Then he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. Just as you sat in the boat and taught us from there.
Sissiedo

Larry Usher said...

Wanted to share an interesting experience from today:

At about 4pm I was about ready to head to the last stop of my work day. I happened to see a neighborhood that looked like it might have some "prospects". After checking out the neighborhood and finding there were none, I headed for the entrance to the subdivision. I wanted to stop- out of curiousity- to see what the homes were selling for, so I stopped to pick up a sheet on one of them. In so doing, I closed my car door(with the engine running) and it locked behind me! All my stuff, cell phones included were in the Jeep! Having tried all the other doors I realized I was locked out and would need a locksmith! Ugh! So I see a guy standing out by his garage looking at me, so I head over and ask to use the phone. The guy is very nice and offers to help in any way he can, even giving me the name of what he feels is a reasonable locksmith.
As we sit waiting for the locksmith I tell him I don't believe in "accidents" and there must be a reason for this. He proceeds to tell me that his wife was murdered back in 2002 and since that point he has been pretty much reclusive, angry, unfulfilled and feeling empty inside. He goes on to tell me that years before his wife's death(killed by her brother over inheritance money!) he was a truck driver and had several elderly couples in a car pull out in front of his 18 wheel truck killing them instantly! I stayed talking to this guy for 30 minutes(after the locksmith had come and gone) talking about my own 18 year trip through the "No-Purpose Recluse Desert" and how the Lord had set me free and shown me how important and valuable we all are.
No mistakes! No accidents!

Pray for him, his name is Ray and he's about 65-70 years old and I am expecting to hear from him with a miracle cuz God loves him too much to let him stay that way the rest of his life!

Amen,

Larry

word ver(no kidding): SURODE!

Unknown said...

Cool, Larry. You were the personification of LITN IV, v.18to Ray...setting the oppressed captives free!

And its good to see your wordver favor is still all over you --[smile]...

Teezy313 said...

Hey Bishop!
It has been quite a while since I've blogged on here and I thought it was time for me to drop by....I've been so focused on my life on campus I almost forgot I do have a church family back in Conyers...NAHHHHHH!!! I actually think about CITN often and how much I miss it. I haven't been able to stream because I've been busy leading worship for and keeping myself busy with some of the ministries that Univ of West GA has to offer. As much as I love being on campus and using the gifts God gave me to affect other peoples lives I still love CITN and miss you guys ALOT! So much has happened I bet since I was last there...I just recently found out that Cathedral has been worshipping with us (which I think is totally awesome and cool), then on top of that you just came back from Uganda, and who knows what else I missed haha! But all is indeed well with me and I am still amazed everyday at God's handywork not only in my life but in the lives of the people around me.

So with all that said...

To my beloved blogfam, to CITN, Cathedral, Nation of Worship, P404,and to my awesome Bishop and P.Deb...I love you all and hope to see you guys around thanksgiving or so!

Grace & Peace,
Terrell

karl said...

I think I need greater revelation and understanding over the importance of rest, I'm passing out at 4:30am. Daddy, do I have to go to bed now, can you just put me in a trance instead?

Goodnight Bishop, er, good morning!

For some reason I keep hearing and reading the words "rolling thunder." Mean anything to anyone?

oh gosh, I'm getting hungry now!.. rolling thunder might come soon if I don't pass out now.

Love ya' Bishop, really look forward to Sunday...missed Wed. night.

Izumi/JOY said...

Good morning beloved Universe,

Service is just about to start there. I'm in AZ, visiting my sister in hospital ICU ward. Making my prayer request known to God: Miraculous recovery from pancreatitis.

Internet/phone connections unstable; hope this posts. On the road possibly today or early tomorrow morning.

Laughing with JOY about the posts; times of refreshing. Karl, re: rolling thunder - I've been enjoying the mountainous landscapes, singing, "How Great Thou Art". At sunset, last night, one cloud formation looked like a shofar horn!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Y'all,
I'm still out here. I have been reading the blog - great stuff! It's just that I have very, very limited time now and I am trying to make the most of what I have to follow Christ admonition “Now I want you to go out where it's deeper, and let down your nets there to catch some fish.”

I have time to put short thoughts on FB and twitter and a little on my blog.

Teaching from the boat reminded me of the sermon Bishop preached from the boat. Those visual aids really stick with you....

I appreciate you so much Bishop and Pastor DE. Last Sunday blew me away! loved the tag team style. I think it brought much clarity to the subject bringing the different personalities together expressing one message. The body of Christ singing as it were; working in harmony creating a beautiful word like the harmonious melody of a song.

I love you all,

Peace,
Dennis

Lisa said...

Greater things will you do than me! I am in awe and am so not worthy in the natural... Thank You Father that in you ALL Things can be accomplished... Like the fisherman who didn't understand and then felt shame for doubting him! The greatest move of GOD is NOW! The greater things is HERE... The rolling thunder of GOD is roaring and the rain where there were no clouds is pouring. The drought is over and GOD is pouring out his Spirit like never before.... I am in awe and humbly like those fisherman say wow LORD This is huge and you want me to do what? In YOU ALL THINGS CAN BE... DO unto us all as you have said and according to your words!

Son of Zadok said...

Great seeing you Teezy. Pastor D, and Lisa to!

This is home. You don't have to apologize when you stop by, you just come on in. There's always a place for you and your thoughts.

Unknown said...

Homecoming...blogfam style...very cool. Hello ALL...

Izumi/Joy! You have an extra day...service is tomorrow so maybe you'll be able to join us!

I had you in mind when I was noticing the second scorpion in the pic on this post...wondering if you could find another, or what else your eye might find--(smile!)

Agreeing with you for a sister-miracle!

Anonymous said...

I love these verses!
My favorite is verse 10 ....
"Hey...don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing like this all the time...but you'll be fishing for people.

Lindsey

Izumi/JOY said...

Good morning beloved Universe! Back home again. (looks like a lot of material to catch up on - stay right back - talk amongst yourselves...)

Avatar - no idea what was up w/the time thing. (was me, in the future, and I look much better than when I wrote that note - hehe) Thank you for agreeing w/me for a sister-miracle. Still a little road weary - haven't noticed scorpions in the pic you mentioned. (only the POWER propelling the vessel! Woohoo!!!)