Sermon 30th August 2021, Luke 5: 5

Sermon. Luke 5: 5

Simon answered, “Master, we have worked hard all night  and have not caught anything. But because you say so, I will down the nets”

Simon menjawab: “Guru, telah sepanjang malam kami bekerja keras dan kami tidak menangkap apa-apa, tetapi karena Engkau menyuruhnya, aku akan menebarkan jala juga.

Dear brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus!

When a person is in good condition, normal and calm, without problems and trials, it is easy for him/her to obey God or follow God’s commands. But on the other hand, when a person is in trouble, feeling disappointed, experiencing failure, despair and heartache, it is difficult for him/her to believe and obey God. In the face of failure people will be easily offended, and difficult to control their emotions.

This feeling may be happening in the hearts of Simon and his friends when they fish all night long, as described in our sermon text today. Simon and his friends ( were in a state of extreme exhaustion, disappointed and desperate because all night long toil in the middle of the lake catching fish but not event one  fish was caught.

In the tired and very disappointed condition that Simon and his friends experienced, the Lord Jesus got into one of the boats, namely Simon’s boat, and told him to turn the boat a little away from the shore. Where Jesus gave the command to Simom “’Depart into the deep and let down your nets to catch fish’. (Luke 5:3a, 4). Simon answered Jesus: “Teacher, we have been working hard all night and we haven’t caught anything, but because you told me to, I will let down the nets too.” (Luke 5:5). In fact Simon’s heart was very upset because he had worked hard all night without success, but suddenly he had to fulfill the desire of the Lord Jesus which felt very unreasonable. Because Simon is a reliable fisherman who already knows for sure the right time to catch fish, the right strategy and weather to catch fish, how and when to get more fish. Can’t imagine how upset Simon’s heart was at that time. People who are upset and hopeless find it difficult to accept God’s word. But Simon tried to do what the Lord Jesus told him to do, whereupon he answered Jesus “...because you told him to, I will let down the nets too.”

Simon’s obedience was never in vain; Humanly it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets began to tear, and together they filled the two boats with fish until they almost drowned” (Luke 5:6, 7b).

Things like this will also happen in our lives when we direct our ministry as servants of God, and as believers to what God wants. Our service will not be in vain, but will be a service that bears much fruit.

Unfortunately, many ministers of God direct their ministry according to their own will. In accordance with experience, own knowledge, and habits carried out in his ministry, for example following trending ways but not in accordance with the Bible/God’s word.

What’s more, in this day and age that favors cutting-edge tools, technology, and ideas that all rely on and highlight logic, making it difficult to believe in God’s works, which are sometimes far from human logic, that God often acts beyond human logic. In this increasingly advanced era there are many people who previously believed in the Lord Jesus, became increasingly distrustful because everything was measured by logic, no longer believing that God is an almighty God who is able to act beyond human logic, as written in Luke 1 : 37, because with God nothing is impossible.

Sisters, brothers who love the Lord Jesus!

In this era and in the age to come, let us learn from Peter, who was obedient to whatever the Lord Jesus directed even though it seemed unreasonable. It is God who owns the ministry so He is the one who has the right to determine the direction of service. And only He is able to make our ministry fruitful. Things that humans cannot do.

Simon Peter took a step of faith. He chose to obey Jesus. Simon answered, “Teacher, we have worked hard all night and we have caught nothing, but because you have told me to, I will let down the nets too” (v. 5).

Thus we always obey God’s commands. Because for him nothing is impossible, He is omniscient, the feelings of disappointment, irritation in the lives of His children. Let us be observant and obedient always to God’s commands and instructions. Because  Lord Jesus is able and faithful to answer our disappointment. Amen.

Sumber: Bvr. Roslinda Sihombing, S.Pdd., M.Si