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Launch Into Greatness

Posted on 20 Oct 2019, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: Launch Into Greatness

Text: Luke 5:1-7

[Luk 5:1] So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

[Luk 5:2] and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.

[Luk 5:3] Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

[Luk 5:4] When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

[Luk 5:5] 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.”

[Luk 5:6] And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

[Luk 5:7] So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Introduction

The word greatness is from the word great.
The word great could be attributed to a person who has achieved distinction and honor.
The word great could be attributed to something that is relatively large in size or in number, for example, RCCG has millions of members worldwide. That is great.
The word great could also imply something that is outstanding, of major significance, remarkable, out of the ordinary in degree, magnitude or effect.
[Gen 12:1] Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. [Gen 12:2] I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
Gen 26:13 And the man [Isaac] waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
I pray that God will make you great, I pray that greatness will be used to describe you.

Main Topic

Jesus saw two boats, but He chose Simon’s boat.
- Jesus chose Simon’s boat because He knew the destiny of Simon.
- Jesus knew the intent of Simon’s heart – therefore He chose his boat.
- Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Jesus knew that He would use Simon greatly.
- To launch into greatness, you must allow God to use you in whatever capacity He chooses.
Jesus used Simon’s boat for teaching.
- Jesus could have used any other boat, but He chose the boat that belonged to Simon.
- Jesus chose the boat, Simon did not choose the boat. Therefore you cannot dictate to God what belongs to you that He can use.
- You must allow God to use whatsoever it is that He wants to use that may belong to you.
- To launch into greatness, you must allow God to use that which belongs to you.
Jesus told Simon, “Launch into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch”
- When Jesus was done using Simon’s boat, He intended to repay Peter for the loan of His boat for preaching the gospel.
- 2Sa 6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
- When you allow God to use you and use that which belongs to you, He has no choice but to bless you in return.
- Jesus told Simon, “Launch into the deep” – peradventure Simon had been launching into the shallow waters. You cannot catch great fish in shallow waters.
- Peradventure, you have been launching your nets in the wrong things, in the wrong area, and you notice that your efforts are being fruitless. When you allow God to use you and use your possession, He will tell you where to let down your nets.
- Simon recognized the voice of the Lord telling him to launch into the deep.
- To launch into greatness, you must recognize the voice of the Lord, your instruction must come from the Lord.
Simon – “we have toiled all night, and caught nothing”.
- The timing of greatness must be impeccable.
- The time that Peter was supposed to be listening to the Lord, he was fishing. Therefore he caught nothing.
- Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
- Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
- At the appointed time for Simon’s great catch, the Lord told him to let down his net.
- To launch into greatness, your timing must be right, it must be impeccable.
Simon – “Nevertheless, at Your word, I will let down the net”
- This signifies total obedience and submission to God.
- There are many that God is telling to try something again, but because they have failed in the past, they refuse to try again. The refusal at God’s word is the same as disobedience.
- Failure in the past does not imply failure in the future.
- Simon recognized the Authority speaking to him.
- To launch into greatness, you must be completely obedient and submissive to the word of God.
- To launch into greatness, you must recognize the authority that God has placed over you.
They caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
- The same Simon who has toiled all night and caught nothing.
- The same net was used before but they caught nothing.
- The same professional fisherman, the same boat, but he caught nothing.
- The only difference is that Simon allowed God to use him, allowed God to use his boat, and followed the instruction of God.
- Simon sowed into the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and he had a net breaking breakthrough in return.
- I pray for somebody here, as you allow God to use you, as you allow God to use your talent and possession, as you become obedient and submissive to God, your breakthrough shall be a net-breaking breakthrough.
They called their partners in the other boat to come and help them.
- The blessing of God upon your life is not meant for you alone.
- Others must be able to be a partaker of that blessing. You must be a blessing to others.
- When Jesus blessed Simon, he called on the other boat; I need your help in carrying my blessing.
- The other fishermen became a partaker of Simon’s blessing. Simon need not preach to them, his testimony was enough.
- I pray that through you, many shall be blessed. Through your ministry, many shall be saved. Through your generosity, many shall prosper. Through your testimony, many shall come to Christ.
The fish filled both the ships that they began to sink – this is greatness.
- Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
- I pray that the Lord will make you great
- Your greatness will touch your generations to come in the name of Jesus
- Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

Conclusion

To launch into greatness, you must allow God to use you.
To launch into greatness, you must allow God to use that which belongs to you.
To launch into greatness, your instruction must come from the Lord.
To launch into greatness, your timing must be impeccable.
To launch into greatness, you must be completely in obedience and submission to the word of God.
To launch into greatness, you must recognize the authority that God has placed over you.

Sermon

Launch Into Greatness