When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken. Luke 5 V 4-9
Beloved of the Lord, this is powerful lesson! I want you to know that as we spend time with the Lord, and recognize His voice, there will be times when we are asked to do things that make no sense to us.
Peter was convinced that he knew more about fishing than Jesus did. He was looking at this in the natural and thought, “This is ridiculous, but I will do it anyway to please Him.”
I am not going to suggest that you start doing unwise things. I am going to say that sometimes we are going to be led , by the Lord, to do things that don’t fit into the natural way of thinking. I have had it happen more then once. As a matter of fact it has happened to me so much that, like Peter, I have come to obey the voice of the Lord. He always knows the way in which to bless us.
For instance, to make a long story short, I was once in desperate need of a car. My credit was not good, due to some medical problems at that time. I had little money and I needed a miracle. I was driving down a major street in the town I lived in at the time. I was in a rental car. I lived in a suburb with no buses and I needed to work. I could ill afford to drive that rental car another day. I was desperate.
I had been fasting and praying for a miracle. Driving down the street, filled with car dealerships, I heard the still small voice of the Lord, urging me to turn into one. I, like Peter, began to argue with the Lord. “You have got to be kidding, Lord. This place won’t sell me a car,” I said. Still the voice continued “Go into the dealership.” I pulled into the used car section of a Chevrolet dealership. I stopped the rental car and went inside.
As I walked in the door I heard Christian music playing in the background. I thought, “Now what, Lord.” I heard the voice of the Lord, saying “Tell them the truth.” Again, I thought, “Are you kidding me Lord, this is too embarrassing, they will send me out the door.”
The salesmen approached and I said “I need a car, and my credit is shot.” To my surprise he didn’t seem too shocked. I told him my story and he said “I will be right back.” I thought, “I knew it, Lord. I told you so.” He appeared a few minutes later and said “The sales manager wants to see you. He then ushered me down the hall. As we went down the hall the source of the Christian music got louder. The Sales Manager was a Christian. He was also a part time minister.
When he found out that I was an ordained minister, we had a nice conversation. He told me his testimony and I told him mine. I ended up with a slightly used car that looked brand new, and I still have it to this very day. The car still runs like new and the only things I have ever replaced on it are the tires. To this day I don’t know how the sales manager pulled it off! I got a great car and low payments and in the natural it still makes no sense.
This is just one time, in many, that God has worked miracles out of seemingly impossible situations as I was open to obey Him, when in the natural it made no sense.
Someone needs to hear that today. Perhaps you need a miracle. Fast and pray. Don’t be led by your “carnal” thoughts or what others may suggest to you. Step out in faith and obey the voice of the Lord.
I have a ministry friend who recently received a miracle. The woman is a giver and encourager. She lives on a very, very limited income. She recently called me and we agreed in prayer for her to get her broken computer up and running again. She is going back to school and she needed it for ministry, ect. We were praying when I heard the Lord say “I am going to give her a new computer!” In the natural it made no sense. She didn’t have the money to buy one and I didn’t have the money to give to her. I told her, “The Lord is going to give you a new computer, I don’t know how, but I know He is.” We began together to praise God. This week I received an email from her and she said “Pastor, Cat, I got a brand new computer!” God parted her Red Sea of difficulty and brought her to the other side.
Father, I thank you today that when we have the faith to believe you, no matter what it looks like in the natural, miracles can and do occur. Father people reading this today, need miracles. I agree with them in prayer, that when they ask you will give them God-inspired idea’s leading to miracles. In Your Name we pray, the Name above all names. Amen and Amen