1. “It Is All in the Preparation” 07/16/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles

2. “It Is All in the Preparation”
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. (Luke 5:1-3)

3. “It Is All in the Preparation”
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 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.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:4-6)

4. “It Is All in the Preparation”
7 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, (Luke 5:7-9)

5. “It Is All in the Preparation”
10 and so were James and John, the sns of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:10-11)

6. “It Is All in the Preparation”
OUR TENDENCY TO DOUBT
Because our perspective is so much more limited than God’s, His will for us often seems unwise to us.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)

7. “It Is All in the Preparation”
5 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.” (Luke 5:4)
God’s way is often “counter-intuitive.”
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

8. “It Is All in the Preparation”
FAITH’S WILLINGNESS TO ACT
To Peter’s credit he was willing to do as the Lord said -- just because it was the Lord speaking!
5 But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5).
God’s will is not to be judged in terms of what we predict to be the consequences of an action.

9. “It Is All in the Preparation”
God’s will is not to be defined in terms of what we think is reasonable.
The very essence of “faith” is that we obey, based on our trust that God knows what He’s doing

10. “It Is All in the Preparation”
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5-6.)

11. “It Is All in the Preparation”
THE GREATNESS OF GOD’S PROVISION
When we are willing to act in faith, God’s brings about results that far exceed our expectations (Luke 5:6-7).
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6)

12. “It Is All in the Preparation”
7 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. (Luke 5:7)

13. “It Is All in the Preparation”
God richly blesses those who are willing to trust Him (Eph. 3:20).
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Eph 3:20)

14. “It Is All in the Preparation”
We need a greater vision of what God can do through His faithful people.
19 …his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, (Eph 1:19)

15. “It Is All in the Preparation”
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Eph 1:20)

16. “It Is All in the Preparation”
THE IMPORTANCE OF REVERENCE AND HUMILITY
The proper response to demonstrations of God’s power is reverence (v.8.)
To catch even a glimpse of God’s glory is to be reminded of our own unworthiness.
It is often those who have been guilty of great failure in life that end up being the most effective workers (1 Cor. 15:9,10).

17. “It Is All in the Preparation”
READINESS TO LEARN GOD’S WORK
When our hearts have been prepared by reverence and humility, then we are ready to be taught how to be God’s workers (vv. 9-11).
Discipleship involves the willingness to be “trained” (Heb 12:11) Cf. Eph. 6:4; 1 Tim. 4:7,8.

18. “It Is All in the Preparation”
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:11)

19. It Is All in the Preparation
Conclusion
It is often our “self-confidence” that keeps us from doing what we should do in the Lord and that keeps God from being able to accomplish His purposes through us.
If we suppose that we are doing God a favor by offering our services to Him, we are not yet ready to be His workers,

20. It Is All in the Preparation
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10)

21. It Is All in the Preparation
May we make whatever changes we need to make in order to be prepared for the Lord’s work (2 Tim. 2:21).