1. Luke
5:1-11.
2. Simon
Peter and the others had fished throughout the night with no success. The
original wording that is translated toiled indicates they had labored hard and
were weary.
3. The
fishermen were now out of their boats and were washing their nets. Why? They
had no intentions of quitting. Although they caught no fish this particular
trip, they were preparing their nets to try again.
4. Why aren’t
we washing our nets?
1. We
ourselves may not be as faithful as we ought to be.
a) There is
no doubt that there are some whose unfaithfulness prevents them from
properly influencing others.
b) Jesus
taught the importance of getting our own house in order before we can help
others – Matthew 7:1-5.
2. We may
think we do not know enough.
a) This may
be true, but if it is, whose fault is it – Hebrews 5:12-14.
b) We are
to prepare ourselves that we may be meet for the master’s use – II
Timothy 2:20-22.
3. We may
simply have no interest in the souls of others.
a) We ought
to learn, through Christ’s example, the importance of loving others – I
Thessalonians 4:9, I John 3:16-17, Luke 19:10.
b) We ought
to strive to have the evangelistic zeal of Paul - Romans 1:14-15, Romans
9:1-3, Romans 10:1-3, Romans 10:14-15.
4. We may be
afraid.
a) Remember
the parable of the talents and the fate of the one talent man - Matthew
25:24-30.
b) Someone
has said we ought to be ashamed to be afraid and afraid to be ashamed. How
true that is! See Revelation 21:8 regarding the fearful.
5. We may be
rejected.
a) Yes, but
Jesus was rejected - Isaiah 53:3.
b) When we
are rejected, people are rejecting the gospel, not us - I Samuel 8:1-7.
6. We may
simply feel others will not listen. See Isaiah 55:11.
7. We may
think we are too busy. But we always seem to find time to do those things we
want to do.
8. We may
think it is not our responsibility.
a) The
commandment to teach others is as applicable to us today as it was to those
in the early church - II Timothy 2:1-2.
b) Consider
Ezekiel 3:1-21.
