Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Introduction

There are two accounts in the Bible of a miraculous catch of fishes. In the first account (Luke 5:1-11), the net broke, signifying to Peter that as a fisher of men, his ministry would bring many into God’s kingdom. In the second account, the net was about to break but did not (cf. John 21:11), reminding Peter of his calling; and it was also Christ’s restoration of Peter to serve Him still even though he denied the Lord thrice.

From the first account, let us learn how we should serve the Lord.

1. Serve while it is still day. The multitude "pressed upon Him to hear the word of God." (v1) Christ was by the Sea of Galilee, and there was no place to stand to preach. Jesus saw two ships anchored by the shore without any fisherman. The fishermen were done with fishing and were washing their nets. Jesus chose Peter’s ship and got into it and asked Peter to launch out a little from the shore. Peter obeyed. Jesus sat down and preached to the multitude.

Jesus could have sent the multitude away as He had nowhere to stand near the shore. But the people wanted to hear His teaching. Whenever the Lord gives us the opportunity, He will give the strength that we need, and we must serve and not make excuses.

JC Ryle says "If we cannot do all we want, let us do what we can. Let us work with such tools as we have. While we are lingering and delaying, souls are perishing. It is the slothful heart that is always looking at the hedge of thorns and the lion in the way. (Prov 15:19; 22:13.) Where we are and as we are, in season or out of season, by one means or by another, by tongue or by pen, by speaking or by writing, let us strive to be ever working for God. Let us never stand still.” This is excellent advice. Let us number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom.

While it is still day we must serve, before the night comes and we cannot serve anymore.

2. Service demands Absolute Obedience. After Jesus had finished speaking, He bade Simon "launch out into the deep and let down his net for a catch." It appeared that the sleep-deprived Peter had not yet washed all his nets or had another extra net in the ship. To go again was not only demanding but made no sense. Expert fishermen, like Peter and his partners, had fished all night and caught nothing. Now, Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter’s son was telling him to take the ship out into the deeper part of the Sea of Galilee and to let down the net once more. Night time was the best time to catch fish, not early morning when the sun was up. Nevertheless, Peter trusting in Jesus’ word replied, "Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net."

God expects the same from us: obey even when we do not understand the wisdom of His instructions. Peter denied himself as a master fisherman and acted against every experience he had accumulated all his life, to do what the Master said. God is pleased to save souls by the simple and faithful preaching of the Word of God, and also to build up the faith of the saints by the same. The world will think it foolish, and we may likewise be tempted to try something to replace or supplement God’s Word to lure people into the church. Only let us believe, obey and trust in the power of God to do His work in His way, through His powerful Word and Spirit.

3. Great Reward for Service. They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Verse 6 was recorded for our encouragement to obey God. All servants of God must obey implicitly all that God says. Sometimes God’s Word may appear hard and disagreeable to us or others; nevertheless, God must be obeyed. However, when we have the mind of Christ, nothing will move us. We know that the results are sure, even if they do not come in our lifetime. God allows us to see the results of some of our obedient service to Him, but not all. Let us walk by faith and not by sight and believe that what we don't see now is right and reasonable because we have served in obedience to God’s Word. We shall see the results and justification, hereafter. 

4. Humbled always by a Sense of God's Presence and Feeling of Unworthiness. The miraculous catch convinced Peter that One greater than man was in his boat. Peter “fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." This feeling of unworthiness, in the presence of the Almighty, of sinners like us, and God using us for His service should remain for all our lives. Like Peter we must also say “Depart from me”. Not that Peter wanted God to depart; he felt so unworthy to have Christ in his presence. This feeling of unworthiness must keep all of God's servants humble. Do not lose it, especially in the latter years of life and ministry, for that is when pride can easily set it.The moment we lose this sense, we have become proud of our righteous deeds and foolishly think that it is because of us that people are blessed. When we think this sinful way, we are no longer a branch attached to the Vine. We have exalted ourselves to be the vine thinking that we can bear the fruit. God forbid! Let us repent! That God is pleased to be near, yea even in the third Person of the Godhead residing in the temple of our body, and causing His presence to be known to us (2Cor 13:5) must always humble us and make us feel unworthy. But it should also strengthen us to serve with renewed zeal and fervency for Him, to do His bidding in His Name. He will help us and cause His own will to flourish in our lives for His glory alone.

5. Serve as Fishers of Men -- "Fear not, from henceforth thou shall catch men."  This promise was not for Peter alone, but for all believers since all believers are entrusted with the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew 28:18-20. We must cast the net by preaching the gospel according to the Scriptures. Christ shall call the fishes into the net through the work of the Holy Spirit. Although we are weak and unprofitable, we have the treasure of the gospel in our earthen vessels. (2 Cor 4:7) We are men of like passions as others, but the great Head of the Church promises and assures us --"Fear not, you shall catch men as fish."

Amen.