OUR COMMISSION FOR 2015–2016
For the past several weeks we
have been considering our call for the next year as seen though the life of
Peter. We have learned…
1.
We have
to hear and obey God’s voice, His ‘rhema’ words.
2.
Between
the call and the commission is a time of preparation.
3.
After
the time of preparation God commissions us to the call.
Let’s look again at our theme
verse for this next year:
Luke 5:4 (NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into
the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
There are four terms in this verse that defines our commission.
1. The
first term is “launch out”.
The same word is used on
verse 3, ‘put out’. In verse 4, however, there seems to be an intensity to it.
This is seen in some translations as ‘thrust out’! It is in the imperative
case, a command!
Launch can mean many things
in English.
1.
Setting
a ship or boat in motion by pushing it or allowing it to roll into the water.
2.
Setting
a newly built ship or boat afloat for the first time.
3.
Sending
a missile, satellite, or spacecraft on its course or into orbit.
4.
Hurling
something forcefully.
5.
Making a
sudden energetic movement.
There are some observations I
would like to make about these definitions…
1.
They all
require a decision.
2.
They all
require some kind of force or effort.
3.
They all
require an appointed time.
I remember growing up during
the space race. I would watch every launch. They always talked about a ‘launch
window’. This was the period of time that the rotation of the earth and the
parameters of the launch itself would provide the necessary power to go into
orbit. If you missed the launch window, you had to wait until the next day!
Sometimes we have a limited
opportunity. If we don’t take the initiative to move within that window, the
launch will not be successful!
Illustration: The children of
Israel at Kadesh-Barnea…
The opportunity may come
around again, but we will have to wait for the right moment, the right
opportunity, the right window to open. Brothers and Sisters, the time is now!
The window is open now! Anyone who heard the message last week from Pastor Fred
Bennett knows that the time is ripe for the harvest!
Luke 10:2 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the
laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into His harvest.
John 4:34–38 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,
and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and
then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at
the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps
receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and
he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows
and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored;
others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Romans 13:11 (NKJV) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to
awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first
believed.
1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NKJV) But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on
even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep
as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice,
those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world
as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the
day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.
2. The
second term is “the deep”.
This Greek word can also be
translated ‘depths’.
We need to first launch into
the deep things of God…
1 Corinthians 2:10 (NKJV) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
The depths of His love
Ephesians 3:17–19 (NKJV) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God.
The depths of His wisdom and
knowledge
Romans 11:33 (NKJV) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
We also need to launch out
into the depths of people’s needs…
The depths of Satan’s hold on
lives
Romans 8:38–39 (NKJV) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height
nor depths (of Satan), nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 2:24 (NKJV) Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not
have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will
put on you no other burden.
The depths of poverty and
need
2 Corinthians 8:2 (NKJV) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and
their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3. The
third term is “let down your nets”.
The phrase means to ‘slacken
the ropes’ to let something down.
Mark 2:1–5 (NKJV) And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard
that He was in the house. 2Immediately many gathered together, so that there
was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the
word to them. 3Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by
four men. 4And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they
uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down
the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5When Jesus saw their faith, He said
to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Acts 9:23–25 (NKJV) Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24But
their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to
kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the
wall in a large basket.
2 Corinthians 11:32–33 (NKJV) In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the
city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33but I was let
down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
4. The
last term is “for a catch”.
Comes from a Greek word
meaning to ‘hunt for a catch’. You came for a purpose: to catch something. You
didn’t just go out for the pleasure of fishing. The end game was to catch
something. People say they love fishing; I love catching! There is a
difference!
What are the applications here?
1. All of us need to launch out in new areas of
ministry. We need
to take a risk! What if we fail? We will fail if we do nothing! If we risk, we
just might succeed and bless many because of it!
There has long been a secret
to business success: find a need and fill it. The same is true in ministry.
What is not being done? What is not being done here at RF or anywhere in the
city.
Don’t duplicate; be an
original!
A few outreach ideas:
Sponsor a school or classroom
Food Ministry
Family movie night
Super Bowl party
Resource center for seniors
After school care for
children of single parents
Host a music concert
Host a block party
Community festival
Halloween alternative
Community heroes
Christmas nativity tour
Community garden
Art show
Build a maze
Free hotdog lunch
School supplies
Parent night out
Mother’s day out
Raise money for a local cause
Church Homecoming
Themed worship
Recognize special groups
Worship with other congregations
Community VBS
Community Thanksgiving service
Holidays for singles,
seniors, others
Day camps
Multi-generational groups
Craft groups
Day trips for seniors
Senior adult programs
Talent show
Free carwash
Car care for single moms
Make a difference day
MLK day events
ESL classes
Computer access
Computer training
Job training
Employment assistance
Grief workshop
Grandparents activities
Daddy/daughter, Mother/son
banquet/ball
Advent activities, booklet,
devotions
Milestone celebrations
Achievement recognition
Election forums
Election day activities
County or state fair booth
Trade show booth
Tourism booth
Homebound ministry
Grief ministry
Nursing home ministry
Hospital visitation
Report card rewards
Skate park ministry
Youth Service Corps
Door-to-door food collection
for needy
Christmas parties for target
groups
School recognition
College day
FAFSA/Financial aid help
Financial courses
Driving lessons
Non-profit helping agency
fair
Volunteer recognition and
thanks
Social services
Community action partnerships
Literacy program
Addiction programs
Single adult programs
Single parent groups
Special needs events
Health screenings
Diet and cooking classes
Book discussions
Neighborhood assessments
Open sanctuary or prayer room
Community celebration events
Community unity events
Community newsletter
Community bulletin board
Newborn gifts
Newcomer welcome baskets
Community music program
Resource inventory
Volunteer directory
Home blessings
Scout and Club Sundays
Youth sports teams
Sports ministry
Fellowship groups
Mailing personal invitations
Easter, Palm Sunday
invitations
Food, clothing, and supplies
pantry
Civic club Sunday
Family skate nights
2. Find a deep place, a place where people are drowning,
and rescue them.
Let me mention a few…
No hungry children in our
area.
No naked children in our
area.
Every family has a
Thanksgiving.
Every child has a Christmas.
Every child has school
supplies.
Every child has school
clothes.
No one is lonely in our area.
No one is homeless in our
area.
I am heart-broken as I share
this because I must admit I don't know who in our area is hungry, or naked, or
without all they need!
Illustration: San Elizario…
3. Let down your nets. Many times we launch out in
a place where people are hurting, but we don’t let down our nets! In
evangelistic services we call it ‘drawing the net’, getting people to make a
decision.
Personal testimony
Roman Road
4. Fish on purpose! When you do ministry or
outreach, make the goal to win people to Christ!
Luke 5:10b (NKJV) And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will
catch men.”
If you are looking for a
ministry to dive into, these passages will do…
Matthew 25:34-40 (NKJV) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you
blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave
Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the
righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed
You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You
in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and
come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the
least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
James 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion
before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
