YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

 “Burn the Ships”

We've been doing this “All In” series -meaning we have surrendered all to Jesus and are following Him - the early disciples were great examples of this; they had jobs, they had families; yet they surrendered everything in order to follow Christ. They “burned the ships’- so to speak.

​

What caused them to do that? Did they bump their head? Did they lose their minds?

​

Peter heard Jesus calling him - he was a small-town fisherman from Capernaum who became a great apostle known around the world. How did that happen? It happened with the decision to “burn the ships” and leave it all behind. Jesus first encounters Peter (Simon) as he was cleaning his nets after an unsuccessful fishing trip.

​

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

​

Jesus has a word specifically for Simon Peter - Peter hears this Word from Jesus - and he’s doubtful but he says “at your Word, Jesus, I will let down the net!” When you hear that Word in your spirit; it may cause you to do something that is uncommon and unnatural. Peter wasn’t a daytime fisherman - he knew that fish don't move in schools of shallow water during daytime hours - but according to the Word from Jesus, he does something that is uncommon.

​

In receiving the Word, you must believe the Word, and then act on the Word - faith without actions is dead faith. Nevertheless, at your Word, I will… this is the proper response - to move in faith…to receive the word into your heart, to respond in faith and to obey. It leads to a revelation - it may not be miraculous like getting a boat load of fish, but God will reveal His will to you through circumstances, situations, through His Word or even through an inner voice that can only be God.

 

And on receiving this revelation from Jesus - Peter, his brother Andrew, and John and James...  gave it all up - Peter left his household, his way of life, he left his boats at the dock. He “burned the ships” so to speak. Peter surrendered all for the sake of following Jesus and doing what He wanted him to do.

​