greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say

Imagine watching some brothers long ago, fishing all night, and catching nothing! You can see them coming to shore tired, dejected, feeling like it was a wasted day, thinking how they would explain that there were no fish to sell at the market today to their families. And while all of that is going through their heads, they start the tedious process of cleaning their nets, and preparing once again for the next long day of fishing just hours away, and right then and there, their lives are forever altered....

While they were cleaning, along comes a teacher, His name was Jesus. Jesus walks up to the boat of the one they called Simon Peter (one of the brothers) and stands in his boat. Now, the story doesn't say this, but I can just imagine what Peter was thinking. "What in the world is He doing?" and in the middle of his thought Jesus says, "Peter, put out a little from the shore." Peter, being a good follower, and knowing that Jesus was a Rabbi, does as he was asked, but you can just hear his thoughts. "This man should stick to His teaching. I fish, He teaches, thats how it works around here. Can't He see we've already been out all night, and to top it off we havn't caught a darn thing." Jesus finally sits down, once they are in the water. (I'm sure it was an adventure to push a boat off shore with a man standing in it, but that's how the story goes)

Now, to top off Simon's morning Jesus decides to start teaching to him, and all the people on the shore, and around that area. (Keep in mind how tired, and probably frustrated Simon Peter might be at this point) Finally, when Jesus was finished, and Simon, I am sure, thought his morning was over, Jesus tells him to move the boat into the deep water and put down your nets. This is profound and often easily missed. You see, no one fished in the deep water as the fish always stayed closer to shore. Historians estimate that during this period there would be approximately 200+ fishing boats in the water, with about 5 men per boat. This is significant, because Jesus told a seasoned fisherman to do something he knew was at best, the worst fishing tip ever given, but he told him to do it in front of a 1000 of his peers.

Take a moment to think this whole story through. Simon is a tired, hungry man. He's just put in a 12 hour day of hard labour. He is being deprived of sleep and food that he desperately craves at this point. To top it off, someone without any knowledge of fishing is telling him to do something that he knows is foolish, and to do it infront of all his peers. (Those other fishermen wouldn't have thought Jesus was fishing out in the deep water, it would have been a reflection of Simon Peter's fishing ability) What would you have done?

Perhaps one of the most profound and life changing statements of the New testament came next. "Master, because you say so, I will..."

"Lord, I can't admit I have cheated on my taxes over the last 1,2,10+ years" because you say so, I will...

"I told my wife I don't do that anymore, I can't admit my fault again" because you say so, I will...

"My boyfriend or girlfriend won't understand, we've already gone too far to stop" because you say so, I will...

"I can't help that beggar, he'll just waste my money" because you say so, I will...

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" -Jesus because you say so, I will...

what are the statements coming to your mind? What has the Spirit been challenging you with? Perhaps he's been asking you to do something?

because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

You see, God always has a plan, but are we willing to follow. Peter goes on to become one of the greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say

r, and knowing that Jesus was a Rabbi, does as he was asked, but you can just hear his thoughts. "This man should stick to His teaching. I fish, He teaches, thats how it works around here. Can't He see we've already been out all night, and to top it off we havn't caught a darn thing." Jesus finally sits down, once they are in the water. (I'm sure it was an adventure to push a boat off shore with a man standing in it, but that's how the story goes)

Now, to top off Simon's morning Jesus decides to start teaching to him, and all the people on the shore, and around that area. (Keep in mind how tired, and probably frustrated Simon Peter might be at this point) Finally, when Jesus was finished, and Simon, I am sure, thought his morning was over, Jesus tells him to move the boat into the deep water and put down your nets. This is profound and often easily missed. You see, no one fished in the deep water as the fish always stayed closer to shore. Historians estimate that during this period there would be approximately 200+ fishing boats in the water, with about 5 men per boat. This is significant, because Jesus told a seasoned fisherman to do something he knew was at best, the worst fishing tip ever given, but he told him to do it in front of a 1000 of his peers.

Take a moment to think this whole story through. Simon is a tired, hungry man. He's just put in a 12 hour day of hard labour. He is being deprived of sleep and food that he desperately craves at this point. To top it off, someone without any knowledge of fishing is telling him to do something that he knows is foolish, and to do it infront of all his peers. (Those other fishermen wouldn't have thought Jesus was fishing out in the deep water, it would have been a reflection of Simon Peter's fishing ability) What would you have done?

Perhaps one of the most profound and life changing statements of the New testament came next. "Master, because you say so, I will..."

"Lord, I can't admit I have cheated on my taxes over the last 1,2,10+ years" because you say so, I will...

"I told my wife I don't do that anymore, I can't admit my fault again" because you say so, I will...

"My boyfriend or girlfriend won't understand, we've already gone too far to stop" because you say so, I will...

"I can't help that beggar, he'll just waste my money" because you say so, I will...

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" -Jesus because you say so, I will...

what are the statements coming to your mind? What has the Spirit been challenging you with? Perhaps he's been asking you to do something?

because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

You see, God always has a plan, but are we willing to follow. Peter goes on to become one of the greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say

sh always stayed closer to shore. Historians estimate that during this period there would be approximately 200+ fishing boats in the water, with about 5 men per boat. This is significant, because Jesus told a seasoned fisherman to do something he knew was at best, the worst fishing tip ever given, but he told him to do it in front of a 1000 of his peers.

Take a moment to think this whole story through. Simon is a tired, hungry man. He's just put in a 12 hour day of hard labour. He is being deprived of sleep and food that he desperately craves at this point. To top it off, someone without any knowledge of fishing is telling him to do something that he knows is foolish, and to do it infront of all his peers. (Those other fishermen wouldn't have thought Jesus was fishing out in the deep water, it would have been a reflection of Simon Peter's fishing ability) What would you have done?

Perhaps one of the most profound and life changing statements of the New testament came next. "Master, because you say so, I will..."

"Lord, I can't admit I have cheated on my taxes over the last 1,2,10+ years" because you say so, I will...

"I told my wife I don't do that anymore, I can't admit my fault again" because you say so, I will...

"My boyfriend or girlfriend won't understand, we've already gone too far to stop" because you say so, I will...

"I can't help that beggar, he'll just waste my money" because you say so, I will...

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" -Jesus because you say so, I will...

what are the statements coming to your mind? What has the Spirit been challenging you with? Perhaps he's been asking you to do something?

because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

You see, God always has a plan, but are we willing to follow. Peter goes on to become one of the greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say

most profound and life changing statements of the New testament came next. "Master, because you say so, I will..."

"Lord, I can't admit I have cheated on my taxes over the last 1,2,10+ years" because you say so, I will...

"I told my wife I don't do that anymore, I can't admit my fault again" because you say so, I will...

"My boyfriend or girlfriend won't understand, we've already gone too far to stop" because you say so, I will...

"I can't help that beggar, he'll just waste my money" because you say so, I will...

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" -Jesus because you say so, I will...

what are the statements coming to your mind? What has the Spirit been challenging you with? Perhaps he's been asking you to do something?

because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

You see, God always has a plan, but are we willing to follow. Peter goes on to become one of the greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say

greatest spiritual leaders in that time period, and his teachings remain today. However, he did the unconventional and followed some absurd advice that turned an ordinary fisherman into a giant of a man able to influence king and nation.

So again... because Jesus Christ says to, will you?

Luke 5:1-11 NIV version 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So 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.8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.