I know football is in the air. Man I love this time of the year, but no I am not referring to a receiver running a deep receiving pattern in a football game. Let me ask you a question. Do you feel frustrated in your life? Maybe you can honestly say that you are tired of common Christianity. Maybe it’s because you have been to shallow. That’s the state we find Simon Peter in this passage in the gospel of Luke chapter 5
“4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down[b] 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.”
Did you catch what Simon Peter said in verse 5 “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” To be honest I have felt like that at times. I have been working hard and yet have little to show for it spiritually. But I find Jesus’ call to me the same as for Simon Peter. “Go a little deeper!”
We are living in a world right now that is facing so much. And to be honest I believe we as a nation and personally are lacking spiritual direction. As I write this I have things at work that need to be better, I have things at church that need to be better, and things with my family. But in truth the answer is not me being a better worker, pastor, husband, or father in myself. Just like for Simon I have to hear the call of Jesus to go deeper. Look at what Simon Peter said,” But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” We all need to respond to the call of our souls to go Deep with Christ.
Here are some things for us to consider:
1. Being used of God is not necessary being deep with God
So many think that since they serve God in some form they are close to the Lord. We fall into the trap of being busy for God but losing an intimate relationship with Him. More than God wants me to teach Sunday school, give in the offering, sing a special, He wants my heart. It is easier sometimes to do things for God instead of be with God.
2. To get deep Go past the Message
We must be willing to be a seeker of the Lord outside of Church. We must go past the Sunday message “Amen’s”, and live a life devoted to everyday Christianity. God loves for us to go to Church, but God also loves it when we are alone. It is there: no choir, no preaching, no pews; just you and God. In solitude you will find the deep things of God.
3. To go deep with God brings a deep repentance
Simon Peter in our passage says a similar phrase,” away from me for I am a sinful man.”
A deep encounter with God will bring the worst out in you. But it must if you’re to stay deep. Have you ever seen a bottle sink? The air in the bottle must be pushed out with the water for the bottle to sink. I can see that so many are spiritually puffed up and God must push the air out of us if we are to get deeper with Him.
4. A deep repentance brings a deep calling
Isaiah received a deep calling of God on his life after his encounter so did Peter. One that would make Peter leave everything he had to follow Christ. I wonder if so many Christians are falling away because we are shallow in our callings. Our commitments are good as long as it is not uncomfortable. When the trials come there is not depth in our faith to make us stable and so we are tossed to and fro.
I ask you to join with me in a challenge: Go Deep!
Pastor Chris Whittingon Living Water Worship Center
