Words of Jesus Part 30

Here is the beginning of the words of Jesus study from the book of Luke. I'm including only those not covered in Matthew and Mark. The actual words of Jesus is in bold.

Here is another one of the many passages of scripture that really touches my heart. The key words being, "Nevertheless at thy word."

• Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
• 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
• 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Why the Lord chose to teach out of a ship, I don't know, but we can trust Him to have a purpose in everything He did. This may have been a lesson for Peter. Perhaps Peter may have been considering leaving all to follow Jesus but as yet had not made that decision entirely.

The main thing here is that Jesus taught. He made use of what was available and taught from the ship. The word of God doesn't have to be taught only in large cathedrals or churches. We can teach on the streets, on the beaches and whatever is made available as the Lord would lead us. I use the Internet. Several years ago that means was not available but it did not stop the word of God from being preached.

• Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Perhaps this next demonstration of the Lord is to convince the fishermen that He (Jesus) was the actual Son of God. Fishing is a great industry but God had better plans for the lives of these ordinary fishermen. 

• Luke 5:5 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.

I love this part of scripture. Peter knew that it wasn't of any use to go back out since they worked all night trying to catch fish but they had no success but he said, "At they word" I will let down the net.

AT THY WORD.
How many of us can say that?

We may not understand why God may require certain things, make certain commandments and stress certain truths but at His word, we will obey. Is that our attitude? Are we the type that try to explain away what we don't understand and try to change it to suit our understanding.

Nevertheless Lord, at your word I will try again. Peter listened to the word of Jesus and received a great harvest of fish for his accepting of the word of Jesus.

There are some beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord who do not recognize those that speak with tongues as being "right". Some believe us to be in error. Some even discount it as not of God because they do not understand it and have never experienced speaking with tongues as the spirit gives utterance.

Some of us have the attitude that if the bible speaks of it and it is the gift of God that accompanies the Holy Spirit indwelling, then at His word, we will receive this gladly. Whatever He has for us we will receive.

Then some believe tongues are not given to all when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit but some may receive another of the gifts of the spirit. No matter how we believe on that score though my emphasis is on the fact that tongues are spoken of in the word of God and was received by the apostles and many others on the day of Pentecost and later to the house of Cornelius.

• Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
• 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
• 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
• 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
• 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

When Peter saw that the house of Cornelius received the Holy Ghost he immediately wanted to baptize them in water in obedience to the word of God.

The signs that those with Peter heard and saw the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit were speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Yet to those who may not understand tongues and why God uses tongues as a sign, our attitude should be, nevertheless at thy word, I will accept it or at least accept those who speak in tongues as fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.

It is in the bible. This did not end with the days of the apostles. Peter said:

• Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

To all that are afar off means us.

• Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

The apostle Paul also imparted the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. Prophesying is delivering a message by speaking in the Spirit either as an interpretation to tongues or without the tongues. It is a prophetic utterance by the spirit. It may or may not contain a message about the future but a message of comfort, correction, or exhortation. It should never be opposite what the word of God teaches. It is in the same native language that the speaker speaks on a regular basis.

• Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I'm including this about Holy Spirit baptism to emphasize the importance of taking God at His word even if we do not understand it fully.

• Luke 5:6 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.

When Peter saw all this, he knew that he was in the presence of God. He knew then that Jesus was the promised one sent from God and immediately he feel down to acknowledge his sins.

This is what the presence of God should cause us to do. If we are still in our sins and not yet come to Christ for salvation, we should feel condemned and guilty before God if we come into His presence. We should not feel comfortable. What I'm saying here is that if God is in our midst, sinners should be made to feel welcome but not comfortable. They should not be able to come around an assembly of believers and not feel guilty of sin unless they have heard the gospel so much and refused it so much that they come to the point of being hardened against it.

• Luke 5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
• 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
• 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Now we see why all this big demonstration of the draught of fish. Jesus wanted them to know that from now on they were to preach the gospel and gather as many as possible into another kind of net, that being the safety net of salvation from sin and entering into the kingdom of God.

Words of Jesus Part 31

Words of Jesus Index