Scripture: Luke 5 v 4 - 9: "Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken."
This portion of the Word could be labelled 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained!' People have fallen into a habit of waiting for God to do something, when He is actually waiting for us to launch out so He can respond.
We want to line up with God's promises and stretch to meet His expectations. Its a time to boldly go where you have not ventured before, spiritually speaking.
We have been filled with the Holy Spirit and His anointing is fresh every morning. He wants us to launch out into the deep of the Spirit of God and discover the excitement of new revelations and new directions that open us up for growth in the knowledge of God.
We have seasons of growth and seasons of quiet. In
Spring when everything is fresh and new fruit trees are full of blossoms and we too should be blossoming and bringing forth new life. Seeds that have been germinating through the cold and dark of Winter, are warmed by the Sun and manifest their green shoots.
These are the answers to our prayers that seemed to have faded out of sight of God. We all go through spiritual winters at any time of the physical year. We worry and doubt when God does not immediately respond, but He does His quiet work on those situations until the blessing and joy are ready to spring forth.
We have this life of Christ manifesting within us. Jesus in our heart is changing us to be like Him. Our part is to have faith to believe we can be like Him. We often have just a carnal sense of our abilities and neglect that we are spirit beings that have a soul and body.
Our spirits were dead before Jesus came in and we were born again. Our spirits came alive but they need to be exercised. They need muscles and boldness to reach the heights Jesus has for us.
Our spirits are seated in Christ in heavenly places - Ephesians 2 v 5 - 6: "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
When Jesus told Peter to launch out to bring in a load of fish, Peter complained that he had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus must have smiled at that and laughed when Peter brought in a huge catch.
When we launch out under Jesus direction expect healings, miracles and prophecies for the power of God is at work to become a testimony of Jesus' abilities as He works through us to bless others. Its like when Summer comes and the fruit is ripe and ready for picking. That becomes fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
My ministry started back in 1983 after a forty day fast somehow catapulted me out of the church I was in. The Lord said, With a great and mighty hand I have delivered you out of Egypt. I was not sure what to do next. My husband was still a member of the Church I had now left. Awkward!
The Lord has plans not problems and He called me to be an Intercessor, which has lasted 45 years. It has changed its form over the years but it is still a ministry of intercession with some of the original members still a blessed part of it. I launched out under the direction of the Holy Spirit and have never looked back.
Jeremiah 18 v 1 - 6: "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."
We start out our Christian walk as vessels that are marred by the world. The Lord has to break down all the defects to remould us into a person who can be used effectively in ministry. We may go through many different breakings to get to the place where the Lord wants us to be. The breaking process can be alarming and uncomfortable even terrifying but if we know we are in the hands of the Lord, He will achieve His will in us.
In the Autumn the leaves change colour and begin to fall. This is a time of pruning in the Body of Christ. The Lord allows a number of seasons to go by before He removes the dead wood. He spends time and effort on every soul that calls on His name but some are stubborn and unyielding. They could be blocking others who are willing to submit, learn and grow, so the Lord sadly lets them fall back into the world of sin. He remains ever ready to welcome home the prodigal sons and daughters with a feast of good things.
To spiritually launch out with the Holy Spirit takes faith and determination. The enemy catches on almost immediately to a new threat to his control over the world. This is not the moment to shirk from fear, its the time to gain the high ground and resist Satan. Actively submit to God in prayer and praise the resist, cancel, reject all temptation. Satan will flee.
While he is on the run its time to capitalize on your victory. Get direction from the Holy Spirit as an eager prayer warrior. Pray up a storm. Don't quit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father our zeal for You is pouring forth. We are ready to launch out to gather in the harvest of lost souls needing a home. Direct our steps in the way we should go. In Jesus' name. Amen.