There is power in the word of God   Luke 5:1-11

Beloved, to have power in this world, the word of God must dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16). You need the word of God every day because we live in a dangerous world where the devil and his agents are looking for who to devour. You also need the word to please the Almighty God, to fight battles, to pray, to bless people, to deliver the oppressed, to evangelize, and to compose spirit-filled songs like those of David.

How people react to God’s words:

In the chosen text, Luke 5:1-11, we discovered that people react to the word of God in two ways:

1. Those who love the word of God genuinely.

These are people who value the word of God by paying attention to what is being taught. They love to hear God’s words and do them. Jesus encountered these types of people almost every time during his lifetime, and He was pleased to teach them (Luke 21 vs. 37-38).

In Luke 5 vs.1, Jesus also encountered people who pressed Him to teach them the word of God in Gennesaret. These are people who want to operate in this world through the spirit. This group of people know that:

A. There is a limit to how far they can go in life without God’s word (1 Corinthians 16:9).

B. Clear direction on every life issue can only be found in God’s word.

C. Ordinary men cannot operate in the deep carnally without God’s backing.

D. God will always settle you after you have regard for his words.

E. For you to be a useful vessel worthy of master’s use, you must know his word.

F. Before you can be called a true disciple of God, you must be the hearer and the doer of the word.

2. Those who want to operate in this world carnally without the word of God.

They often exhibit the following features:

A. They always argue when spiritual instructions are given (Luke 5 vs. 4-5).

B. They want to operate carnally through their status, qualifications, experience, and connections.

C. They sleep when the word of God is being preached (Act 20 vs. 7-10).

D. They plan evil against the preacher (Luke 19 vs. 47-48).

E. They despise the authenticity of the word of God.

Although the first group of people was ready to hear the word (Luke 5:1), Jesus waited patiently for the second group, the fishermen, before teaching the word of God. He knew they needed physical and spiritual help. He stayed in their ship to teach all of them and thereafter had compassion on them. He ordered the fishermen to launch into the deep, a territory in the sea which they could not operate before. Simon, despite being taught the word of God, still wanted to rely on his experience as a fisherman. He despised Jesus’ order by saying, “We have toiled all night and caught nothing.”

Jesus did not reverse the order given because he knows the power that is in the word of God. Immediately, Simon corrected himself by complying with what Jesus said and relying absolutely on God’s word. He launched into the deep with his fellow fishermen and he discovered that their level of preparation was zero compared to what God had in stock for them. Their ship was not strong, their net began to break, and they lacked enough personnel to withstand the pressure on the sea and the huge harvest. But, the word of God which they relied on was strong and powerful enough to preserve them. Simon later realized he was a sinner, repented, and accepted to be a follower and disciple of Christ with his fellow fishermen.

You may begin to wonder what the word of God did for the fishermen.

1. The word of God preserved their lives and Destiny..

2. The word of God preserved their harvest.

3. The word of God preserved their equipment and fishing tools as there was no loss.

4. The word of God brought salvation to them.

5. The word of God sent helpers to them.

6. The word of God convicted them of their sin, put their feet on the path of eternal life, and made them vessels of honor worthy of master’s use (Luke 5 vs. 8-10).

Beloved, the worst type of famine is not scarcity of food but being tired of hearing the real word of God (Amos 8:11-12), let alone aspiring to do them. Once this happens, God’s wrath is inevitable on a nation and its inhabitants as we are experiencing now. Jesus said, “You are my disciples only if you abide in my word (John 8:31).” Simon and his fellow fishermen could not achieve anything at the initial stage until they embraced God’s words. This confirms what Jesus says in the book of John 5:5, that without me, you can do nothing (John 15:5). Ezra was also ordered to teach the Israelites the word of God to please the Almighty and to eschew His wrath when they neglected it. This instruction came with strong warnings and punishment for those who do contrary to His words (Ezra 7 vs. 25 & 26).

If we truly surrender ourselves to the will of God as individuals and as a nation, we shall have peace, and the world will be a better place to live in. Everything that has fallen apart in our lives and our nation will be resolved supernaturally through the power of God’s word. Although Jesus taught them the word of God, He made them realize that there is dignity in labourr. It is also not a substitute for hard work.

Remain blessed.

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The Christian Tract Department

Zion’s Disciples Christian Evangelical Ministry

P. O. Box 2796, Sapon, Abeokuta, Ogun State

08055168819, 07083307581

SOA/August/2024/35

Written by : Evangelist Alatise Sunday