Victory Outreach Cape Town

VICTORY OUTREACH CAPE TOWN PREACHER: P.G. NDU TITLE: DEEP RIGHT

TEXT: Luke 5:1-9, John 21:1-7 KJV

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, ² And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. ³ And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

⁴ Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. … THE DEFINING MOMENT.

⁵ And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. ⁶ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. ⁷ And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, 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 was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken

JOHN 21:1-7

21 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. ² There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

⁶ And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

• In both scenarios above, Jesus threw a challenge at them.
• First was to launch out into the DEEP.
• The second was to cast their net on the RIGHT Side.
• Deep speaks to LEVELS and DEPTH while
• Right speaks to LOCATION, POSITION, and ACCURACY/PRECISION.
• Notice that in both cases, the disciples had a challenge and yet, Jesus challenged them despite their challenge.

1.    THE CHALLENGE:

 A challenge is a difficult or demanding situation that requires effort, skill, and determination to overcome or achieve. It can be a problem to be solved, an obstacle to be overcome, or a test of one’s abilities. Challenges can help individuals grow, learn, and develop new skills, and can also build resilience, character, and confidence.

 In a broader sense, a challenge can be any situation that pushes someone out of their comfort zone, forcing them to think creatively, adapt, and innovate. Challenges can come in many forms, such as:

1. Physical challenges (e.g., running a marathon)
   1. Mental challenges (e.g., solving a complex puzzle)
   1. Emotional challenges (e.g., coping with a difficult situation)
   1. Professional challenges (e.g., meeting a tight deadline)
   1. Personal challenges (e.g., setting and achieving a goal)
   1. Spiritual challenge (e.g. doing something unusual for the Lord)

 Overall, challenges are an essential part of personal, professional, and spiritual growth,  and  can  help  individuals  develop  new  strengths,  abilities, and perspectives.

 Life is full of challenges.

It is either a challenging situation (Problems and Predicaments) or a Challenge (A huddle to cross, a goal to attain, a milestone to reach, a push for growth, a target meet).

 Usually a challenge cannot be convenient. If it is convenient, then it may not be a challenge.

A challenge typically involves some level of difficulty, effort, or struggle to overcome an obstacle or achieve a goal. Convenience, on the other hand, implies ease, simplicity, and minimal effort.

If something is done out of convenience, it usually means that it is easy, straightforward, and requires little to no effort or struggle. In this case, it would not be considered a challenge.

For example:

• Using a microwave to cook a meal is convenient, but it’s not a challenge.
• Using a calculator to solve a math problem is convenient, but it’s not a challenge.

PETER WAS CHALLENGED:

• Peter had a challenge yet Jesus challenged him.
• Peter’s Knowledge and Intellect were challenged
• Peter’s Pride and Ego was challenged
• Peter’s ability to listen and obey was challenged.
• Peter’s strength and Capacity was challenged
• Peter’s Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight were challenged.
  • Hindsight looks back at the past.
  • Insight provides a deep understanding of the now
  • Foresight prepares for the future.

Note:

• Peter had an insight about the TRADE, the TERAIN, the TRICKS, and the

SEASONS

• Yet he was challenged by Jesus …..The Alpha and Omega, the MAKER of ALL THINGS. The same YESTERDAY, TODAY and FOREVER

• ‘Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men’…. Was a challenge for Peter’s future, which was unknown to Peter at the time.

• The challenger is Jesus Christ, the one who lives in the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.

MY CHALLENGE:

1. Does your situation change God from being God?
2. Does taking the challenge make God LESS God or MORE God?
3. Does not taking the challenge make God Less God or MORE God?
4. Does your taking the challenge despite your situation make me LESS ABLE?
5. So why are you making it about yourself, your inabilities, inadequacies, and limitations?

2.    DEEP RIGHT

 At the inception of his discipleship journey with Jesus, Simon Peter was challenged to go DEEPER.

 Later on in his work with the Lord, having attained a considerable level of depth, He was now challenged to be better positioned.

 The deeper you are with the Lord, the more accurate you are required to get.

 The deeper you go with the Lord, the Better you hear Him.

 To stay in shallow waters is COMFORT and CONVINIENCE but to go DEEPER is a CHALLENGE.

 Ezekiel 47:3-5….A call to go DEEPER

 THE INSTRUCTION YOU OBEY AND WHO’S INSTRUCTION YOU OBEY DETERMINES THE FUTURE YOU CREATE AND THE RESULT YOU GENERATE.

 The instruction we receive from the Lord, changes as our level with Him and in Him changes.

• THE DEFINING MOMENT – At Thy Word
• ‘AT Thy Word”…HIS Word creates a defining moment in our lives

• Luke 5:4 and John 21:6 were both defining moments in the stories respectively.

⁴ Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP, and let down your nets for a draught.

⁶ And he said unto them, CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

… THOSE ARE THE DEFINING MOMENTS.

• NOTICE that in Luke 5, Peter had a momentary moment of doubt and hesitation HOWEVER, in John 21, it was not so.

• This time he obeyed promptly and instantly without doubt

WHY?…

• Because Navigation on the water is better and more accurate when you are in the DEEP.

• Now that Peter has gotten used to being DEEP, it was easier to challenge him to go RIGHT.

• Precision comes after depth has been attained.

• To flourish by His word will require the following:
• Hearing and having a Revelation of His word

1. Obedience and taking steps of faith

4.    THE HARVEST

• The harvest itself was, and is still a challenge…… A good challenge though.

• In both scriptures, the HARVEST was challenging.

• The HARVEST placed a challenge on:
  • Their Strength and Capacity
  • Their ability to contain and retain
  • Their relationships
  • Their ability to discern and respond correctly.

• In Luke 5, Peter could not DISCERN Jesus correctly so his response was

….” DEPART FROM ME FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN”

• However, In John 21, Peter DISCERNED who Jesus was correctly and RESPONDED by RUNNING (SWIMMING) TO JESUS.

• BOTH responses of Peter in both cases are clear indications of where he was in his walk with the Lord.

• THE CHALLENGE for a new believer starting with the Lord is to go DEEPER with the Lord. Step away from your comfort zone and sail

Whereas,

• THE CHALLENGE for a more seasoned believer is to HEAR GOD CLEARER with precision.

However

• When we take on the CHALLENGES God gives us, ENORMOUS HARVEST is usually the outcome as seen in both stories.

THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US TODAY IS TO GO:

IT’S A NEW SEASON

IT’S A HARVEST CHALLENGE

IT’S TIME TO REEL IN THE HARVEST.