♰ Bible Study by Abouna Arsanios Peter Chosen (Part 2) Luke 5:1-11 Failure ------- I worked ALL NIGHT LONG, and I CAUGHT NOTHING. That is the way of life, grasping for wind. The Lord then teaches. Only through wisdom can one obey the “unrealistic,” “impractical,” “strange” commandments of God. Strange command --------------- Jesus gives a strange command. Turning ------- “Nevertheless, at your word” (is a turning point). Abundance --------- The net is bursting! They need another boat! The boats are sinking! Awe --- Peter sees that the one who commanded him must be divine. He was shaking. He fell down at Jesus’s knees. He saw who was behind the catch -- not just the catch. Peter sees his smallness. Compassion ---------- Jesus said not, “Yes you are sinful, you need to repent.” He was compassionate. He said, “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.” He called him not because he was in material need. After they experienced that he was the Lord of the Fish, He called. You can be changed (in a moment) -------------------------------- The Lord changed failure into fullness, the bursting net, the sinking boats, the graciousness of God. Look at the sequence: • The darkness of night, the lack of fish. That is our condition! • The Lord gives the Word, so you can obey the strange commandments of God. • The taste of change of failure and despair into success. • The Lord calls after this experience. It is good to serve the Lord, but it will wither out unless the servant experiences the power of the Lord in his life. • Because they had this taste, they forsook all (v. 11). Personal touch -------------- I trust that this is the Lord of the Universe. I trust that if I follow Him, I can forsake everything, and I will have no need for anything. I was not merely convinced by a person. I am not just following the crowd. God Himself touched me. I felt his might. From darkness to light. From failure to success. From worrying about the things of the world to following the Lord without worrying about anything. I’m ready to give up everything and follow him. Failure? -------- Through our failure, God reveals Himself. If there is failure, trust in God that he is ready to change it. Not only success but that he is going to change you. Not some tapes my friend told me. But I see the Lord myself. “You came and sacrificed for me. I’m ready to do it.” If there is failure in your life, ask yourself, was there failure in the life of Moses? He was the prince of Egypt, but ended up a fugitive of Egypt! But God changed it. He ended up speaking with God, becoming the leader of the children of God out of Egypt. How about Joseph? Imprisoned with a false accusation. Sold as a slave to work for years in Potiphar’s house. Went from being a coddled son in his father’s house to a prisoner. But look what God made of him, saving the people from a severe famine for seven years. Tasting failure or a very difficult tight situation is a great opportunity to taste that God is there. He is Almighty God, and when I taste his presence, I’m ready to forsake everything. Homework -------- Read: • Luke 5:1-11 • John 21:1-14 Write: • The differences between these two miracles. • You will see something shocking. Reading #1 ---------- Luke 5 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then 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 But 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. Reading #2 ---------- John 21 1 After these things, Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.