31 Faith-Building LessonsSample

LESSON 19

Launch Out into the Deep

It’s time for God’s people to launch out into the deep. There is a time in every Christian’s life when God says, “Go out into deeper waters.” In the book of Luke, Peter clearly demonstrates how God’s miracle working power can bless us when we dare to launch out into the deep.

5And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And 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. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And 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. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Luke 5:1-6

There was not a great miracle to witness, nor was there a multitude of fish caught until they launched out into the deep. They had been fishing all day and night and had caught nothing. Many of the discouraged fishermen were already on the shore washing their nets, and I am sure that Peter was tired and weary when Jesus told him to launch out into the deep. Throwing his nets back into the water was not an easy task, as the nets were very heavy and wet. Jesus told him to do something that, to the natural mind, seemed totally unreasonable.

Peter said, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. He obeyed Jesus and went out into the deep.

God will never ask you to do something without giving you the means whereby you are able to do it. In the natural it may look like it is impossible, but God will supply the power, grace, wisdom, and everything else required to complete the task. All He wants from His people is obedience.

The miracles are out in the deep water. God has always moved in the miraculous when people dare to get out into the deep. Peter began to make excuses as to why he couldn’t launch out into the deep but finally was obedient to Jesus’ request. What happened? He brought in so many fish that his nets broke, his boat began to sink, and he had to beckon to his partners for help.

7And 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. 8WhenSimon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10And 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. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke 5:7-11

Notice that they were fishing out of the same lake that they had been fishing from all night, but when they launched out into the deep, they caught so many fish that their nets could not hold them. They had to beckon to their partners for help.

Peter was not the only fisherman who was blessed by Jesus that day. When they say how big a catch it was, they beckoned to their partners, both ships were filled with so many fish that they began to sink. Jesus is not a respecter of persons. He will bless anyone who will follow Him out into the deep.

God wants His children to think bigger than we have ever thought before. There is a dying world out there filled with billions of people who have not heard the Gospel yet. It is staggering to imagine that there are over 7.3 billion people in the world today, but over 2.87 billion have not heard the name of Jesus. These are not people who have heard the name of Jesus and rejected it, but people who have not even HEARD the Name mentioned.

Some of the largest soft drink companies have gone into remote parts of foreign lands where Christians have not been. If these soft drinks can make it to the jungles of Africa, then so can we. We cannot afford to stay on the shore and watch any longer. It is time for us to launch out into the deep and win souls to Jesus.

The biggest population growth is occurring in countries where there is little, or no Gospel preached. Communism has been able to influence a large percentage of the world’s population in only 60 years. There are countries today where it is illegal to own a Bible. In fact, you could be taken to jail for having a scripture clipped from a Bible.

We have churches on every corner of America, and we receive Word teaching and biblical programming on television 24 hours a day in many cities. God has truly blessed us. I believe there is sorrow in His heart, however, when He sees such a privileged people stay on the shore.

Going next door to witness to a neighbor would be like going out into the deep for some of you. Anything the devil tells you that you can’t do is “the deep.” There are multitudes of fish out in the deep. He had to launch out into the deep to make the catch. It took some effort on the part of Peter and the other fisherman.

God will bless every Christian who hears His voice and launches out into the deep, just as Jesus blessed Peter for lowering his nets back into the water. God promises us miracles in the book of Psalms. Psalm107:23-24 reveals, 23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

We are determined to win more people to Jesus than ever before. Set your goals high, and be willing to LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!