Luke 5:1-11
Jesus standing on the shore of lake Gennesaret, pressed by the multitudes, yearning for the word of God gets into a boat so that he can teach them. When finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." V4.
Was Simon's response any different to you or me? "we have toiled all night." Simon an experienced fisherman, was familiar with the best places for fishing, and the tricks of the trade. There was no way this Jesus could tell him how to fish, was there??
Simon had worked hard and worked long into the night and caught nothing. However, he trusted Jesus (not fully knowing who he was at this point) and cast the net into the water again. The result?? A net of fish that could not be contained... WOW!!!
This story gives us a wonderful lesson in not doing things in our own strength and trusting God at his word. So often when we are looking for answers or direction but human tendency is that we try to do it on our own. How many times has this led to further frustration and bigger problems? At times we become complacent with life because it becomes familiar that we do things automatically without considering Jesus' view. Jesus gives us a wonderful solution to toiling in our own efforts... TRUST HIM AT HIS WORD!! At the words of Jesus, Simon caught a net of fish that could not be contained, which led to the boat sinking.
Today if your facing a problem and you are weary, stop toiling right now! You don't have to work it out or find the solution. Rest in knowing that Jesus cares "..casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
Simon didn't know Jesus fully at this point but yet trusted Him. How much more as a child of God should we trust Him? Give your problem into the hands of Jesus and trust him at His word.
Not only will you be amazed at the results, but others around you will too. "For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken." v 10.
Today, declare! "At YOUR WORD I will let down the net!"
Monday, April 2, 2012
Friday, November 11, 2011
The LOVE Response!
As a leader in my local church and soon to be in full-time ministry one of the many questions I'm asked from other leaders around the country is "What do we do to get more people to the Sunday service?" "What do we do to get more people attending the prayer meeting, to evangelise?" and the list goes on and on. You probably can relate if you attend church.
This is something I've been considering for going on the best part of a year. One of my favourite gospel stories is in Luke 7:36-50.
The story tells of were Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to have dinner with him in his home. Jesus duly obliges Simon and arrives for dinner. A prostitute got word that Jesus was in Simon's house so makes her way with her flask of oil underarm. As both Jesus and Simon reside at the table for dinner, the prostitute sees Jesus, falls to her knees and as she weeps she washes his feet with her tears and hair and anoints His feet with the oil. Jesus knowing that Simon was struggling with this, told him a story of a creditor who had two debtors, one owing 500 denari, the other 50. The moral of the story was that when time came to pay the creditor, either of his debtors could afford to pay. However, he freely forgave them both.
Jesus then asks Simon an interesting question in relation to the debtors "Tell Me, which of them will love him more?" Simon responded with the correct answer "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." Jesus response was remarkable:
"Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven the same loves little." 44-47
In essence what Jesus was saying to Simon was that the reason why she loves much, the reason why she did all this is because she KNOWS in her heart, not her head, that she's been FORGIVEN MUCH!!
Here in lies the problem! So many people in the church today don't fully believe they've been forgiven of all their sin. So many in the church are like the Pharisee Simon. Simon did not do for Jesus what the prostitute did. Why?? He didn't fully understand Jesus loving character to forgive sin. The woman did what she did for Jesus out of a love for who He was. She made it her business to be at that house. She went prepared to give with her oil. She gave out of a love response to what Jesus already had given her... Love and acceptance!!
My role as a leader, and any other leader, and in fact any other church member is to exhibit the same love and acceptance that Christ portrayed to this prostitute. The problems of 'attending meetings' is not essentially the issue. The issue is revealing to people the true love and heart of God for His people. In doing so.. like the prostitute.... we will then see MANY give out of a love response to Jesus.... Our church buildings will not be big enough to contain our meetings, no longer will it be a struggle to find volunteers for the evangelism team or what other initiatives you run.
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH, YOU WILL LOVE MUCH!!
Yours in Him,
Darren
This is something I've been considering for going on the best part of a year. One of my favourite gospel stories is in Luke 7:36-50.
The story tells of were Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to have dinner with him in his home. Jesus duly obliges Simon and arrives for dinner. A prostitute got word that Jesus was in Simon's house so makes her way with her flask of oil underarm. As both Jesus and Simon reside at the table for dinner, the prostitute sees Jesus, falls to her knees and as she weeps she washes his feet with her tears and hair and anoints His feet with the oil. Jesus knowing that Simon was struggling with this, told him a story of a creditor who had two debtors, one owing 500 denari, the other 50. The moral of the story was that when time came to pay the creditor, either of his debtors could afford to pay. However, he freely forgave them both.
Jesus then asks Simon an interesting question in relation to the debtors "Tell Me, which of them will love him more?" Simon responded with the correct answer "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." Jesus response was remarkable:
"Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven the same loves little." 44-47
In essence what Jesus was saying to Simon was that the reason why she loves much, the reason why she did all this is because she KNOWS in her heart, not her head, that she's been FORGIVEN MUCH!!
Here in lies the problem! So many people in the church today don't fully believe they've been forgiven of all their sin. So many in the church are like the Pharisee Simon. Simon did not do for Jesus what the prostitute did. Why?? He didn't fully understand Jesus loving character to forgive sin. The woman did what she did for Jesus out of a love for who He was. She made it her business to be at that house. She went prepared to give with her oil. She gave out of a love response to what Jesus already had given her... Love and acceptance!!
My role as a leader, and any other leader, and in fact any other church member is to exhibit the same love and acceptance that Christ portrayed to this prostitute. The problems of 'attending meetings' is not essentially the issue. The issue is revealing to people the true love and heart of God for His people. In doing so.. like the prostitute.... we will then see MANY give out of a love response to Jesus.... Our church buildings will not be big enough to contain our meetings, no longer will it be a struggle to find volunteers for the evangelism team or what other initiatives you run.
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH, YOU WILL LOVE MUCH!!
Yours in Him,
Darren
Friday, April 29, 2011
You are His beloved!!
What is it that makes you feel loved by God? Have you ever doubted God's love for you? Do you feel loved because of what you do? You read your bible, you do the 'right' things, you say the 'right' things. What about when we don't do these things as often as we should? Maybe you didn't have time to read your bible this morning, maybe you did something you shouldn't have done or made some remark you shouldn't have? Do you feel any less loved or unappreciated by God? I would say for many, the answer to this question is YES!!
Do you get tired of 'trying' to be the 'perfect' Christian? For so long I was living like this. Trying to be as the army puts it, "the best I can be". But how often do we do this and end up doing things in our own strength? Last year, God started to show me that I was starting that I was making it about what I was doing and not about Him. Weeks of searching for God in this, He spoke these amazing words to me "Son. I love you. I ALWAYS have, and ALWAYS will". Needless to say, such affirmation was overwhelming.
In Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism in 3:16-17 it says "...and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My BELOVED Son, in whom I am well pleased". Here we have God's affirmation of His own Son. Now if you read Matthew up to this point... had Jesus begun His ministry, had He performed a single miracle, or did any teaching?? The answer is NO!!
God's love of His Son was not dependent on WHAT HE DOES OR WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO!
If we read on in Matthew 4 we have Jesus' temptation. In v3, we have Jesus' temptation in the desert. What does Satan say to Jesus?? "If you are the Son of God?....". Notice anything missing from this question?????
The word BELOVED. What a nasty piece of work Satan is! He was trying to remove the Father's affirmation. Is this ringing any bells for you?? How many times does the enemy try to rob you of your affirmation from the Father? How many times does he condemn you for things you shouldn't have done? should be doing? shouldn't of said? should of said? something you shouldn't have thought?
Some years back, when my father passed away. Thankfully he knew the Lord and is now with Him. However, my father did some things that used to annoy me. I would say to him that he shouldn't be doing them. When he died, I had one question of God. "What is the point in trying to be the best Christian if we're going to be with you anyway?" For six months I struggled with this question when on January 8 2008 in a New York hotel room that God spoke to me. He said.. "Darren when I looked at your father, I did not see him but I seen my Son".
For this no condemnation for those who are IN Christ (Rom 8:1). Please don't misunderstand me - it is right to do the right things but they do not bring our affirmation! Beloved, if you are IN Christ, you are the righteousness of God because the Father sees His Beloved Son in YOU. You are affirmed by the Father and loved by the Father. You ALWAYS have and ALWAYS will!
Be blessed this day!
Darren
Do you get tired of 'trying' to be the 'perfect' Christian? For so long I was living like this. Trying to be as the army puts it, "the best I can be". But how often do we do this and end up doing things in our own strength? Last year, God started to show me that I was starting that I was making it about what I was doing and not about Him. Weeks of searching for God in this, He spoke these amazing words to me "Son. I love you. I ALWAYS have, and ALWAYS will". Needless to say, such affirmation was overwhelming.
In Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism in 3:16-17 it says "...and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My BELOVED Son, in whom I am well pleased". Here we have God's affirmation of His own Son. Now if you read Matthew up to this point... had Jesus begun His ministry, had He performed a single miracle, or did any teaching?? The answer is NO!!
God's love of His Son was not dependent on WHAT HE DOES OR WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO!
If we read on in Matthew 4 we have Jesus' temptation. In v3, we have Jesus' temptation in the desert. What does Satan say to Jesus?? "If you are the Son of God?....". Notice anything missing from this question?????
The word BELOVED. What a nasty piece of work Satan is! He was trying to remove the Father's affirmation. Is this ringing any bells for you?? How many times does the enemy try to rob you of your affirmation from the Father? How many times does he condemn you for things you shouldn't have done? should be doing? shouldn't of said? should of said? something you shouldn't have thought?
Some years back, when my father passed away. Thankfully he knew the Lord and is now with Him. However, my father did some things that used to annoy me. I would say to him that he shouldn't be doing them. When he died, I had one question of God. "What is the point in trying to be the best Christian if we're going to be with you anyway?" For six months I struggled with this question when on January 8 2008 in a New York hotel room that God spoke to me. He said.. "Darren when I looked at your father, I did not see him but I seen my Son".
For this no condemnation for those who are IN Christ (Rom 8:1). Please don't misunderstand me - it is right to do the right things but they do not bring our affirmation! Beloved, if you are IN Christ, you are the righteousness of God because the Father sees His Beloved Son in YOU. You are affirmed by the Father and loved by the Father. You ALWAYS have and ALWAYS will!
Be blessed this day!
Darren
Friday, March 25, 2011
Like Father like Son
"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." John 5:19
Jesus' words here are provoking. We were all once children and watched our parents as we grew up through life and those of you who have the privilege of being parents know or should know that your child listens to and observes everything you say and do. An amazing opportunity to be an influence in their life.
In this passage, Jesus had just healed the man at the pool of Bethesda and was now standing before the Pharisees defending his healing of the man and his relationship with the Father. The feeding of the five thousand followed this dialogue with the Pharisees and where before walking on the water Jesus had spent most of the day alone with the Father.
In John 6:2 we read that the crowd "FOLLOWED Him". In John 6:24, the people realizing that Jesus was no longer at Galilee sought Him out - .."so when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum SEEKING Jesus".
To those who are seeking to win the lost, I believe John 5:19 is wonderful example of not relying on self but total dependency on God. Even Jesus said he could do nothing of himself!! He mirrored what the Father did. In order for Jesus to do what the Father did, He had to spend time with the Father, to learn from Him, to seek Him, to listen to Him. It tells of such an intimate, powerful connection with His Father. We can see this on many occasions in the gospels.
What is the result??
A life that was totally radical!! Jesus' relationship with the Father was so intimate He did "exactly" what the Father did. As a result people "followed" Him and "sought" Him out.
This speaks to me. If Jesus acknowledged He could do nothing of Himself.. how much more should we acknowledge this? A life that is intimate with the Father will lead us to do what the Father would do and say. We would no longer toil and struggle with trying to share the gospel with people but we would be living it!! People would be drawn to us and ask what it is you have. What a position of influence we would have in pointing someone towards Jesus.
We've heard the phrase "like father, like son"... is this true of you??
Yours in Him
Darren
Jesus' words here are provoking. We were all once children and watched our parents as we grew up through life and those of you who have the privilege of being parents know or should know that your child listens to and observes everything you say and do. An amazing opportunity to be an influence in their life.
In this passage, Jesus had just healed the man at the pool of Bethesda and was now standing before the Pharisees defending his healing of the man and his relationship with the Father. The feeding of the five thousand followed this dialogue with the Pharisees and where before walking on the water Jesus had spent most of the day alone with the Father.
In John 6:2 we read that the crowd "FOLLOWED Him". In John 6:24, the people realizing that Jesus was no longer at Galilee sought Him out - .."so when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum SEEKING Jesus".
To those who are seeking to win the lost, I believe John 5:19 is wonderful example of not relying on self but total dependency on God. Even Jesus said he could do nothing of himself!! He mirrored what the Father did. In order for Jesus to do what the Father did, He had to spend time with the Father, to learn from Him, to seek Him, to listen to Him. It tells of such an intimate, powerful connection with His Father. We can see this on many occasions in the gospels.
What is the result??
A life that was totally radical!! Jesus' relationship with the Father was so intimate He did "exactly" what the Father did. As a result people "followed" Him and "sought" Him out.
This speaks to me. If Jesus acknowledged He could do nothing of Himself.. how much more should we acknowledge this? A life that is intimate with the Father will lead us to do what the Father would do and say. We would no longer toil and struggle with trying to share the gospel with people but we would be living it!! People would be drawn to us and ask what it is you have. What a position of influence we would have in pointing someone towards Jesus.
We've heard the phrase "like father, like son"... is this true of you??
Yours in Him
Darren
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
It's back
Hey guys,
It's been quite some time since my last blog. But its back and I will be adding to it over the next few days or so. Please feel free to read previous blogs and leave any comments. You can even click on the follow link to keep updated with whats going on :)
Chat soon!
Darren
It's been quite some time since my last blog. But its back and I will be adding to it over the next few days or so. Please feel free to read previous blogs and leave any comments. You can even click on the follow link to keep updated with whats going on :)
Chat soon!
Darren
Friday, January 8, 2010
Extreme Makeover
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought your were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a paalace. He intends to come and live in it Himself - from mere Christianity
Friday, September 11, 2009
Whats your excuse?
One day a woman named Louise fell asleep in her bed and dreamed a very fearful dream. She dreamed that someone in hell wrote a letter to her, and it was to be delivered to her by a messenger. The messenger passed between the lakes of burning fire and brimstone that occupies hell, and found his way to the door that would lead him to the outside world. Louise dreamed that the messenger walked to her house, came inside and gently but firmly woke Louise up. He gave her the message, saying only that a friend had wrote it to her from hell. Louise, in her dream with trembling hands took the letter and read:
My friend, I stand in judgment now and feel that you are to blame somehow. On earth, I walked with your day by day and never did you point the way. You knew the Lord in truth and glofy but never did you tell the story. My knowledge then was very dim. You could have led me safe to Him. Though we lived together on earth you never told me of his second birth. Now I stand this day condemned because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things that are true, I called you friend and trusted you. But I learn now that it's too late, you could have kept me from this fate. We walked by day and talked by night and yet you showed my not the Light. You let me live and love and die, you knew I'd never live on high. Yes I called you a friend in life and trusted you through joy and strife. Yet on coming to the end, I cannot call you "My Friend"
Marsha
After reading the letter, Louise awoke. The dream was still so real in her mind, and sweat dropped from her body in pools. She swore she could still smell the acrid smell of brimstone and smoke from her roo. As she contemplated the meaning of her dream she realized as a Christian she has failed in her duty to "go to all the world and preach the gospel". As she thought of that she promised herslef that the next day she would call Marsha and invite her to church with her.
The next morning she called Marsha and this was the converation: Yes, Bill is Marsha there? Louise, didn't you know? No what Bill? Marsha was killed last night in a car accident. I thought you knew.
What is our excuse today, tomorrow, and next week? There may not be another chance!
My friend, I stand in judgment now and feel that you are to blame somehow. On earth, I walked with your day by day and never did you point the way. You knew the Lord in truth and glofy but never did you tell the story. My knowledge then was very dim. You could have led me safe to Him. Though we lived together on earth you never told me of his second birth. Now I stand this day condemned because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things that are true, I called you friend and trusted you. But I learn now that it's too late, you could have kept me from this fate. We walked by day and talked by night and yet you showed my not the Light. You let me live and love and die, you knew I'd never live on high. Yes I called you a friend in life and trusted you through joy and strife. Yet on coming to the end, I cannot call you "My Friend"
Marsha
After reading the letter, Louise awoke. The dream was still so real in her mind, and sweat dropped from her body in pools. She swore she could still smell the acrid smell of brimstone and smoke from her roo. As she contemplated the meaning of her dream she realized as a Christian she has failed in her duty to "go to all the world and preach the gospel". As she thought of that she promised herslef that the next day she would call Marsha and invite her to church with her.
The next morning she called Marsha and this was the converation: Yes, Bill is Marsha there? Louise, didn't you know? No what Bill? Marsha was killed last night in a car accident. I thought you knew.
What is our excuse today, tomorrow, and next week? There may not be another chance!
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