(Luke 5:11 ERV) The men brought their boats to the shore. They left everything and followed Jesus.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Last week I introduced you to Simon the fisherman, who later came to be known as Peter the Apostle. We have learned a great deal from his life already. I am really looking forward to studying his life in detail. However, in today’s message Simon Peter is not the focus. The focus is Jesus. What I want to focus in on this morning is how Simon, James and John all left their fishing businesses after one encounter with Jesus in order to become fishers of men.
There is something special, or better yet supernatural, about the mesmerizing magnetism of Jesus’ attraction. Peter, James and John were all professional fishermen. Peter had a family to take care of. James and John had friends and family in the area. These men were willing to walk away from everything they had and knew, to follow a man they barely met, for an offer they barely understood. Where would they go? What would they do? How would they fish for men? What did that mean? To the rational person it makes no sense to uproot your life without having clear answers to tough questions, but when you come in contact with Jesus rationale, reason and logic often fly out the window for the mystical power of His pull.
John experienced it when Jesus came to him to get baptized. John had known Jesus, his cousin, all his life. As a matter of fact, John met Jesus before either of them was born. When both their mothers were pregnant, Jesus’ mother, Mary, visited her John’s mother, her cousin Elizabeth. As soon as Mary walked into Elizabeth’s home, baby John leaped in his mother’s belly because he sensed the presence of baby Jesus. So Jesus was no stranger to John, but when Jesus walked up to get baptized John cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” It was a magical moment for all those present. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, ‘just so happened’ to be present and his life was changed from that moment. He knew Jesus was the Messiah and he ran to tell his brother. Simon was mesmerized by Jesus in a different way, with a net-breaking boat-sinking load of fish. And both men, along with Simon’s partners in the fishing business (James and John), left everything to follow Jesus.
For me the special encounter happened one fateful night in Kuwait. I had known about Jesus from as far back as I could remember. I learned about Jesus in my catechism classes as a boy. I had to learn many aspects of Jesus’ life in order to take First Communion and to later participate in my Confirmation service. But although I had been to church all my life, I did not know the man. I had never come in contact with Jesus until that magical night in Camp Doha, Kuwait. I was in a chapel, in the back of the room, attempting to stay reserved in a place where the power of God was flowing. Even though I resisted it, I was swept up into God’s presence. That night, August 27, 1995, I met Jesus and my life has never been the same. It’s hard to explain. Of all us who know Jesus know what I’m talking about, but still, it’s hard to communicate to anyone who has not experienced Him. His power is amazing. His pull is magnetizing. His love is life-changing. His peace is unspeakable. His power is immeasurable. His impact is life-changing.
So what does this mean to you today? I know this series is supposed to be about success and this message seems somewhat out of place. But it’s not. There is no success outside of Jesus and any day is a good day to talk about our Lord! Let’s get into what this means for you today.
- True success in life begins and ends with Jesus.
- One encounter with Jesus can change the course of your life forever.
- When Jesus is revealed to you and your inner man acknowledges His deity, it’s hard to resist the power of His pull.
- The mesmerizing power of Jesus’ attraction is absolutely special, movingly magical, and clearly supernatural.
- The moment you met and decided to follow Jesus was the moment you started down the road to God’s best for your life.
- Souls are saved, burdens are removed, yokes are destroyed and lives are changed forever in the presence of Jesus.
- Think about the special moment when you made Jesus the Lord of Your life. Now share that moment, your testimony, with someone today.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. Grace and faith were both in operation the moment I made Jesus, Your Son, my Savior, my Lord! You saved me by Your unearned and amazing grace. I could never be good enough for salvation. I could never earn eternal life. You have given me eternal life as a gift, by Your grace, IN Your Son Christ Jesus. I accepted that gift by faith. It was my faith and Your grace. It was Your love and my acceptance of it. It was Your power and my repentance. It was You saving me like a brand from the burning. Thank You Father for sending Jesus to die in my place. Thank You for revealing Your Son to me, in me, and now through me. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for now using me to tell others about the life-changing power of Jesus the Christ. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. People will come to know Jesus through me, because I will lift Him up with my life and living. I live my life in honor of His death! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
