Launching Out
080914 Launching Out
Luke 5:4-11
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
- I want to stir us some regarding the upcoming Boots on the Ground Conference.
- Have you see the advertisements for Ken Hagin Jr. Men’s Conference. “Call to Arms” Dogtags and brochure will remind you of our conference.
- Church of the Highland—are hosting a conference entitled Boots in the Field.
- We are doing something that we have never done before. Prophetically I see this conference bringing our church’s ministries together in a new way we have seen before.
- It is as if we are being mobilized by the Hand of God to perform a work He has been planning for a long, long, time.
- This conference is not the work but it is the gateway, or launching of this work.
- Launch Out Into the Deep vs 4
- Definitions
i. To begin—I really feel that God is launching something with the conference. He is beginning something with the conference. I believe that the a big part of the beginning will take place in our hearts and in our understanding.
ii. Propel with force. You cannot launch with a halfhearted attitude. When one launches you go all the way with everything you have got.
iii. Establish: set up or found. There is a coming together that is happening. Not everyone is hearing nor are they moving towards it. If our part is to just break open that door in the spirit so that others can rush in there then that is what we will do. This conference will establish some things in us, in the spirit and in our community.
iv. To move a boat from land to water. That simply means that a boat on land is a boat that is void of its purpose. When Jesus tells you to launch out
v. When Jesus says launch out, He sees something that we do not see.
- The deep
i. The Deep holds more than the shallows. There is more to be found there.
1. More treasure.
2. More fish
3. More opportunities. Jesus wants us to launch because of the opportunities he sees.
4. When God calls you to launch out into deeper places than you have been before it is because more opportunities lie there.
a. I believe the conference this year will present more opportunities if we come looking for God and listening for what he desires to impart.
b. The crowds will be smaller but we are launching out into the deep—the deep things that God has for us.
ii. The Deep is full of unknowns.
1. That simply means that every time you launch you take a risk.
2. Risks are the unknowns in life.
a. You take a risk when you get married
b. You take a risk when you get pregnant
c. You take a risk when you start a new job.
d. You take a risk when you decide to be a witness for Christ.
3. You can’t get to the rewards with out going through the risk.
iii. The Deep requires more work.
1. Peter just came from there, (the deep) not having caught anything.
2. His nets were about clean and now he is being asked to do it all over again.
3. Launch always requires work. It takes work to launch a shuttle. It takes work to launch a family. It takes work to launch a regional church. (See Boots on the Ground pt. 1)
iv. Deep Call to Deep Ps. 42:7
1. Ps. 42 is a Ps of a man who seems to have been denied everything he lives for. (Peter lived to fish yet caught nothing)
2. I have lived my entire Christian life desiring the supernatural outpouring of His Spirit in miraculous ways. To see a church, city, nation transformed by the power of God.
3. David is crying out to God. God is not shallow. David understands that the deep things of God will come if he remains faithful. The Ps. Ends by saying that.
- Let Down Your Nets (for a catch)
- Meant that Peter had to obey.
i. It was a call to obedience.
1. Peter complained at first but then said, Luke 5:5 "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." NKJV
2. Mt 21:28-32 Parable of the two sons. One said, I will not go but later did. The other said I will go to the field but did not. Who got the reward? The one who obeyed. There are many who sign up but fail to make it into the Fathers fields.
3. Boots on the Ground is our obedience to the Lord to help position us to get our feet into the fields that the Father has prophetically spoke for us to move into.
- It meant doing something that they had already been doing but with no success!
i. It is harder to obey when you know that what you have been doing has not been working.
ii. Ie. CFBs Conneting People, Forming Friendships, Building Lives. We have done small groups before with limited success. But God said last year for us to do it again. You know what I believe it is going to work and I have a team who believes it will work.
1. It was hard to start again because everyone had the mindset. We have tried that before.
2. I like Suni’s mind set, “Nevertheless at your word we will begin CFBs!”
iii. It is harder to obey when you have just cleaned up the failure of the last attempt at success. Peter and crew were tired. Lets go home. (Notice how strong they got when they started catching fish!)
- Let your nets down was a command that was given by Jesus. It is in the imperative tense. He really was not asking Peter he was commanding him.
i. Luke 5:5 And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our nets]. But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again]. AMP
ii. It is great to step out when you have a word from God.
- Let down--Chalasate-Greek for let down from a higher place to a lower.
i. Obedience is the low road of humility.
ii. Peter had to release his pride as a fisher men to embrace the reward of the Lord by lowering his cleaned nets once again. We will see that more clearly next point.
- Do Not Be Afraid vs 10
- Jesus saw what others couldn’t and Peter Trusted when others wouldn’t. There was only one boat that went out, Peters’.
i. Peter’s partners stayed on the shore.
ii. Peter’s partners were busy with their portion of the business.
iii. Peter’s partners watched as Peter launched out into the deep.
- When his nets were beyond capacity he signaled the others. Come together. Vs 7
i. Cindy Jacobs, Bob Jones, Shawn Bolz/Paul Keith Davis? And others have prophesied that the next move of God here this regions no church would contain the outpouring but many churches would experience the same outpouring. People would not come from all over the world and ask where is the church revival is at but which church should we go to tonight for revival.
ii. When they came together both boats were filled to the point of being swamped.
iii. I also believe that there are many things coming together for our church right now. A life time of what has appeared to be wondering in many directions and swimming in many passion puddles is beginning to be sewn together in the Spirit.
1. Disciplers class—word “If you will keep training fish cleaners I will make sure there are always fish to be cleaned.
2. Dream team—four years ago interpreting dreams was a passion puddle. Now pastor Joe is leading them out to the malls and using dreams interpretation as a way to get into the hearts of the people who need Jesus.
3. Last Thursday I was teaching the discipler’s class and while I am teaching God is talking to me. “See, this is why I do not want them to have a canned plan. I want them to use the prophetic gifting on the foundational understanding of the Gospel to lead people to me. It is what my Son did.” A meshing of evangelism and prophetic.
- The Nets held but Peter broke. Why?
i. He realized he was full of doubt. His nevertheless was change to “With Pleasure…”
ii. He was fishing in his own strength. Pride.
iii. He was a sinner and still God chose his boat. That is so humbling, when God loves us like that.
iv. He was undeserving of the success. He received from God what He did not deserve.
Conclusion:
- Do not be afraid. Another imperative from Jesus.
- Jesus can change you life. I am talking about real change, if you will give him a chance.
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