WEEK 16 THE MIRACULOUS CATCH: BECOMING FISHERS OF MEN April 25, 2021 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 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. 4 When He 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." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at ' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of , who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. :1-11 (NKJV)

THE SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OF SIMON WHOSE NAME JESUS CHANGED TO PETER

THE LIFE CHANGING EVENT PETER HAD KNOWN JESUS PETER HAD FOLLOWED JESUS PETER HAD BELIEVED JESUS IT WAS THIS EVENT THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE CONNECTED TO JESUS BY FAITH THIS LIFE IS CHARACTERIZED BY SURRENDER

WHAT LED UP TO THE LIFE CHANGING EVENT PETER HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO JESUS BY HIS BROTHER ANDREW He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). :41-42 (NKJV) I do not believe Peter had any idea what was going on with the name change. He would find out later. But at this point he met Jesus and even followed Him. The following here was most likely that he liked Jesus and found His teachings interesting. But he was not fully convinced. LATER HE WOULD MEET JESUS ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN JESUS CAME TO PETER’S HOUSE AND HEALED PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. :38-39 (NKJV) Peter witnessed Jesus’s miraculous power firsthand. But it would be during a later supernatural encounter with Jesus that Peter’s life would be forever changed. Peter did not have saving faith at this point. I am sure he appreciated the : His healing work, His teachings and His friendship. It would be safe to call Peter, in the loose definition of the word, a . He followed Him like we follow people on twitter or Facebook. He was probably even a student of Jesus. But at this point he was not saved. He was not surrendered to Jesus as the Christ. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! James 2:19 (NKJV) APPLICATION—Many people today know about Jesus, they even like Him and seek to follow His teachings. They call themselves “Christian” but they are no more saved than Peter was.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE LIFE CHANGING EVENT? Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and who also became a traitor. :12-16 (NKJV) Before Jesus chose the 12 disciples, He spent an entire night in prayer. Jesus had a large number of disciples and from those He picked 12 who were to be close to Him. These were specifically called apostles (apostolous) as opposed to the term disciples (mathētas). Disciples were followers, but apostles were those sent out as messengers with delegated authority (cf. "apostles" in 9:10; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10). In Luke's list of the Twelve (as well as Matthew's and Mark's lists) Peter is listed first and Judas Iscariot is last. Bartholomew must be Nathanael (John 1:45), Levi and Matthew are the same man, and Thaddaeus (Mark 3:18) is Judas, son of James. They were now willing to be sent out as apostles, being with Jesus on a full-time basis. The twelve were separated out from the larger number of disciples and called apostles. The word apostle referred to this special group who had been with Jesus in His three years’ ministry and had seen Him after the resurrection. It was these twelve apostles who were the first messengers of the after the death and Christ. It was these twelve apostles who were the foundation of the church—with Jesus being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). (gotquestions.com) Peter became, with eleven other of Jesus’ followers, Apostles—ambassadors. The word apostle means “one sent forth.” SAVING FAITH—TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN THE WORK OF JESUS AT THE CROSS LIVING FAITH—CONNECTING TO JESUS DAILY AS YOU FOLLOW HIM IN SURRENDER So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” :13-14 (NKJV) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)