We have been in the series entitled The Call, which it's
been a real blessing for me personally as I've spent time
studying the Lord's word and I'm packing this for us.
And we've been, as you know, in the section where we've looked
at the we've looked at the three calls in the story of when Jesus
calls Simon into the boat and they leave the boat.
And then there's Jesus speaks to the people and then what
happens? Jesus says go out into the deep
and he says let your Nets down, etcetera, etcetera.
And we looked at within that story, there are three calls of
Jesus. The first one is the call to be
with Jesus. Because we're before we call to
something, we're called to someone that our doing comes out
of our place of being. And often times we look at it
the other way around. You know our first thing when
you meet somebody, what do you do?
Why don't we say, hey what? Who are you?
What do you be? That doesn't really
grammatically work, but you get the point, right?
So the first thing is be in the boat with Jesus.
Second thing is the call to walk in holiness.
What did Jesus say to Simon? Let's push out a little.
What is that? A separation?
And we looked at what holiness looks like.
It's been set apart and consecrated for him.
And then we looked at the fear of the Lord.
And now we're on the the doing bit, the call to fulfil the
Great Commission. And Anya talked about this
earlier as we were worshipping the call for each one of us to
make disciples. And we looked at within this
story, there are 10 hallmarks of the call to fulfil the Great
Commission and we are at number six.
It's taken a while, but I've enjoyed it, a nice leisurely
pace. As way of a recap, here are the
top five. Number one, God calls us at the
point where we feel weak and tired by getting an Amen in the
house for that one. Number two, it will require us
to go deeper than we did before. #3 it doesn't always seem to
make sense to us. His ways are higher than our
ways. #4 It requires obedience to his word that nevertheless
moment when Simon said, listen, we've been toiling all night.
I mean, we didn't catch anything and we're professional
fishermen. I clearly added that one bit in,
but nevertheless, at your word I will do it.
That's the nevertheless moment. It is a doorway into walking in
what God has for you and #5 last week there is blessing in the
call, and we looked at from Genesis all the way through the
Bible, at what it means to be blessed by God.
And I'd encourage you, if you've missed that, to catch up on that
one. And so that brings us to
Hallmark number six, and we get to the part of the story.
Well, up until this point it has been Jesus and Simon alone.
We had the moment where the call has come, go into the deep.
We've we've then had the nevertheless moment.
And then we see the blessing of God when the Nets go down.
But why don't we read the story and work out what happens next?
We're going to look at verses four to seven in Luke 5.
It's going to be on the screen if you're in the room, and if
you're online, it'll be on your device and it says this.
And when he had finished speaking, this is Jesus, he said
to Simon. Put out into the deep and let
your Nets down for a catch. And Simon answered, Master, we
toiled all night and took nothing.
But nevertheless, at your word I will let down the Nets.
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of
fish, and their Nets were breaking.
And so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to
come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats,
but they began to sink. Now, this is a really
interesting part of the story because what it does for us is
it shows us another Kingdom principle of the call that God
places on us. And it is this hallmark number
six, The call comes with others. The call always comes with
others. You know, as a pastor, I've had
the privilege of talking to many people and praying with many
people. And what sometimes surprises me,
although of course it shouldn't, we are human.
We seem to hold on to a truth that isn't biblical.
You know what I mean? Well, here's, here's a great
one. You've.
I'm sure you've heard this before.
Well, I know God says I shouldn't.
I know it says in the word that. But he told me specifically that
it's OK You heard that one. It's like, really?
Do you think the God does that? Like.
No. Here's another one you'll like.
My faith is personal. It's private.
You heard that one. That is one of the most
unbiblical statements that you can say I'm sorry, like how,
how? Just have to read the Bible to
see that just even read Genesis like and to see that's not the
case. I mean the fact is that we've
all been called for the Great Commission.
And so in that very fact, aside from the rest, that I'm going to
show you, how can you make disciples if you don't share
your faith? So please don't think that your
your faith is private. And the problem with this is I
don't need church. I can do church at home.
We got YouTube with such wonderful resources.
And of course it is. But you need to be connected to
the body because the enemy wants to isolate you so he can pick
you out and throw arrows at you. I was reminded of a story as I
was preparing this talk and a pastor of a church had noted
that one of his congregants wasn't hadn't been there for a
while. And so he decided to to visit
this gentleman. And so he he visits.
The gentleman knocks on the door and the gentleman says, oh,
pastor, it's lovely to see, please come on into my now and
they sit down and there is a coal fire in the lounge.
The pastor doesn't say anything. He just gets up.
He gets one of the implements, the tongs or whatever, and he
gets one of the coals in the fire and puts it on the heath
separate. And then he just sits down and
he looks at the coal and all of a sudden the coal stops glowing
and all of a sudden the coal stops getting hot.
And the point at which it seemed to die off, The pastor got up,
didn't say anything, shook the man's hand and left.
Next Sunday, the man turns up to church.
If you're not here for two weeks, I'm coming to your house.
Just saying. And can you please set it up so
there's a coal fire? Otherwise it won't work.
Just kidding. But it was a very obvious
illustration that if we want to be on who sang earlier, set us
on fire. Well, you can't be set on fire
if you ain't with other people. Preach it, Pastor, someone said
Amen. Thank you, sister.
I appreciate the encouragement. And so when we get to this part
of the story, which is the call comes with others, I want to
give three points. I'm going to be a bit
traditional in my sermon structure.
Three FS, function, fellowship, friendship and fun.
Now, for those observant, you'll recognise that I've added a
fourth one for free. You're welcome.
So let's look at this, shall we? Let's look at function.
We need to recognise that we've been created uniquely.
God could have made us all the same.
And while I think this world will be better, if everyone was
like me, God knew better than that.
But inherent in God's creative design is the value of being
unique and different. Like, I like to imagine that in
the story we read of Simon, his friends, and they come over to
help him. He's like Andrew Quick, come and
help me. You're so good at the way you
lugged that net out. And and Matthew can you?
The way you just throw those fish on, That's brilliant.
Like we haven't been creative to do it all.
That's not God's design. God has created us with the
unique gifts in order that we can function as a body.
Why don't we read together what is a very famous scripture?
And some of you I'm sure, will know I'm going there. 1
Corinthians 1212 to seven. Shall we read about what it
means to be with others in this context?
It's going to be on the screen for you in the room and online.
It'll be on your device. For just as the body is 1 and
has many members, and all the members of the body, though many
are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, all were made to drink of 1
Spirit. For the body does not consist of
1 member, but of many. If the foot should say, because
I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make
it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say,
because I'm not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would
not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of
hearing? If the whole body were an ear,
where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of
them as He chose. If all were a single member,
where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts.
Get one body and we'll leave it at there.
You know, we need to celebrate the uniqueness that we carry,
that each one of us has gifts which are uniquely wrapped up in
a diverse body of people. Not only that, the point here is
that you might feel, maybe you feel like a thumb and you look
at the eye and think, I wish I could be the eye.
It sees great things. But here's the truth of it.
If the eye sees something without a thumb, it can't pick
it up. Maybe you feel like a big toe.
You know what? I feel like a big toe.
Don't be handed up to that one. You know, hidden.
Feel like you're at the bottom and you look up and you think,
wow, look at those guys up there.
I wish I could be an ear and hear the amazing things.
Listen, if the body didn't have a big toe, it wouldn't find its
balance very easily, and in fact you wouldn't get the thrust of
the push off when you run. Some of you big toes are called
intercessors, by the way. That's not biblical.
I just sense that might be the case.
You're hidden in that secret place, but if it wasn't for you
praying, nothing else would happen.
And So what we need to recognize is when God calls us to fulfil
the Great Commission, he says. Right, You've got a fantastic
gift of administration, but you need someone else to work with
on that. You're a fantastic pioneer.
But you know what? If you do it on your own, you're
not going to get anything done. And So what we need to recognise
is that when we are called to walk in the plans that Jesus has
for us, we cannot do it alone, that we are Better Together.
That sounds like some ad somewhere, doesn't it?
I'm sure it probably was the British Gas advert.
We want to be together. Do you remember that one?
Sorry. Stick to the notes, Mark.
Stick to the notes. Right.
You know, unity doesn't come from uniformity and sameness,
OK? It comes from taking our place
in the diversity of gifts and personhood God has created.
When we talk about unity, we're talking about being united in
diversity under Christ and celebrating the individual gifts
that we have. It says in one piece of 410 each
of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve
others as faithful stewards of God's grace.
In listen, it's various forms. We all have gifts of grace,
grace, the Greek word, graceless.
These are things that we've been given in order that we can
extend Christ's Kingdom. And so we need to recognize that
in order to function as a body, we need to be part of the body.
And can I just encourage you to, you know, it says in Hebrews, do
not give up meeting with each other.
Even more so as you see the day approaching, don't be that coal
that's at home thinking you can do life without the rest of the
coals #2 fellowship, you know, fellowship.
The Greek word that we find in in in the old, the New Testament
is koi annoya. And I know I pronounced that not
correct for those of you who are Greek.
And I'm half Greek, which is why it's so embarrassing.
But in my defence, I was never taught Greek growing up.
Well, actually, Mum and Dad did send me to Greek school, but I
just found it so boring. So indoxy, some of you Greek.
Well, thank you. That means OK, right.
Koya. Noah.
I've had too much coffee. I think that's probably the
issue. So caffeine is not too good.
Joking. Acts 242.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayer.
You know, there isn't really one English word that encapsulates
koanoia. It means multiple things, like
joint partnership. It means a deep commitment to
one another. It means loving one another out
of a choice and servanthood. And so within this word of
fellowship, let me just bring out three points.
The first one is that we had called to support one another
and that's what fellowship is about.
It says in Ecclesiastes 4/9 to 10/2 people are better off than
one for they can help each other succeed.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.
But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
I I want to give you some good news and some bad news.
The bad news is that when you say yes to the call of God,
there may be times, probably times, where you will struggle
and you might even stumble. But the good news is because the
call comes with others, God will put people around you to have
fellowship with that are committed to you that will
support you in those moments. That is why fellowship is just
so important. This is a place, this church
family, where we have fellowship with one another.
This should be the place. And I pray it is that you can
come and speak to someone and say I just need prayer.
Right now I am really struggling in this area.
That is what it means to have fellowship.
The second point then on that is that we show love towards one
another. It says in John 1334, a new
commandment I give to you. You know this one, that you love
one another. Just as I have loved you, you
also are to love one another. By this all people will know
that you are my disciples. Listen, Love is an action word.
Love requires us to put the other person before us, and it
is within the the boundaries of fellowship that we can love one
another Aright. Those times where you need
someone to love on you. Those times where you need
someone to ask you how are you feeling?
Can I help you? Can I pray with you?
This place, the church, family, the body of Christ is a place of
fellowship. Why?
Because it's a place of Christ's love in US and through us.
And lastly on this Point C, that we are to grow in Christ through
each other. News flash.
You can't grow in Christ on your own.
It's not biblical. Doesn't matter how many YouTube
sermons you watch, how many devotionals you read, If you're
not doing life in fellowship, you can't grow in Christ in the
way he has intended you to. I mean, you know, we want to
pray for the fruit of the Spirit.
Patience, love, all those things, but we often pray it
asking for a miracle. Lord, I pray for a supernatural
impartation of patience. Well, I'm sorry it doesn't work
like that. Why?
Because God puts you in a garden of fellowship to bear the fruit.
You won't bear fruit of patience unless you are doing life with
one another and having fellowship, and you can't do
that on your own. It says in Proverbs 2/27/17,
Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.
Iron sharpens iron. All right, let's fellowship.
Last one, because we've only got a few minutes left.
Friendship and fun. And I'll give you another one
for free food. I mean, come on, that's good
value for money right there. You know what I love about Jesus
was he's he's resurrected. And we read this beautiful
account where he has breakfast with the disciples.
You remember this story? This is actually very similar to
the story we've read. Let me I'm going to read it for
you as we bring this plane into a smooth landing.
So put the seats upright, the trays in front of all that
stuff. You got it.
Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of
Galilee. Remind you of anything?
This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were
there. Simon Peter, Thomas Nathaniel,
the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
Simon Peter said, I'm going fishing, we'll come too, they
all said. So they went out in the boat,
but they caught nothing at night.
Funny that. At dawn Jesus was standing on
the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.
He called out. Fellows, Have you caught any
fish? No, they replied.
Oh, bless them. Another night of fishing without
any other fish. Then he said, throw out your
neck on the right hand side of the boat and you'll get some,
huh? Funny that, isn't it.
So they did, and they couldn't hold the net in because there
were so many fish in it. Isn't this very cool?
Then the disciple Jesus loved? That's John said to Peter.
It's the Lord. I remember this moment.
Do you remember this moment? We've only spent ten weeks in
it, looking at these hallmarks. I mean, look, it's the same
thing. I added that in myself.
Now Simon Peter heard that it was a Lord and he put his tulic
off. He stripped and he and he jumped
in the water and he headed to shore.
The other stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the
shore, for they were only about 100 yards from there.
When they got there. They found breakfast waiting for
them, fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread.
Bring some of the fish you've just caught, Jesus said.
Simon. Peter went aboard and dragged
the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and
yet the net hadn't torn. Now cut them some breakfast,
Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to
ask him. Who are you?
They knew it was the Lord and Jesus served them the bread.
He served them the bread and the fish.
How beautiful is that? The resurrected Jesus made time
with his friends, I think. Jesus, Jesus loved being with
these guys. He wanted to be with them and
have friendship. He wanted to have fun with them.
I bet he had a twinkle in his eye and he's like, all right,
you haven't caught any fish. Throw the net on the other side.
I bet he smiled as he saw Peter jump into the wall.
It's Jesus. I bet Jesus had a beaming smile.
Oh, there's my mates. And then what does he do?
He's prepared food for them and he serves them the food.
You see, we're called. As a body of of unique gifts, so
we function as one. We're called to have fellowship
with one another, so we can grow in Christ together, that we can
burn brightly together and we're called to have fun and
friendship and food with one another.
Jesus modelled all of this. And the question for us this
morning is this, Are we living our lives like that?
I'd like us to stand as we pray church.