The Miracle Map, Part 4
Having trouble with the video? CLICK HERE!
“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV)
This week we’ve discovered four of the five recurring principles found in the miracles of Jesus. These principles are embedded in every miracle like a treasure map that can lead us to the “X” that marks the spot where we, too, can experience the miracle we need most, one that will bring us into a closer and deeper relationship with the Source of all miracles, Jesus Christ. We call these principles The Miracle Map. Let’s review the four we discovered so far:
1. God always starts with the miracle you need most.
2. The miracle you need most leads you to what you really need most – a deeper relationship with God.
3. God works miracles in His time and in His way.
4. God’s miracles in your life will always bring glory to Himself and point people to Christ.
None of us can earn a miracle any more than we can earn our salvation, but we can put ourselves in a position to receive one. It’s like the wind in a sense. We can’t create the wind, but we can raise our sails to catch the wind and benefit from its power to move us. This is the final principle on the Miracle Map: Only God can provide a miracle, but you have to put yourself in a position to receive it.
One of the miracles Jesus did when He called Simon Peter to follow Him really opened my eyes to this Miracle Map principle of positioning. Multitudes of people had crowded around Jesus to hear Him teach the Word of God when He was by the Lake of Gennesaret. With nowhere else to stand, Jesus decided to get into one of the boats that just happened to belong to Simon. He asked Simon to put the boat out a little way from the land so He could teach the crowds from there. Jesus was setting the stage for a miracle in Simon’s life from which he would never be the same again! When He finished teaching, He looked at Simon and said, “‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’” Do you see it too? Simon was positioning himself for the miracle Jesus was about to do. How? By taking Jesus at His Word! Despite fishing all night and catching nothing, Simon said, “Nevertheless at Your Word, I will….” It strikes me when I read this story that Jesus told him to let down the “nets” plural, meaning many nets, and Simon only let down one net. Imagine what the miracle could have been had Simon let down all the nets? Still look what happened: “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”
Jesus was telling Simon, “If you’ll follow Me, you’ll see even greater things than this!” The same is true for you. You don’t have to struggle for God’s miracles and blessings. You don’t have to earn God’s miracles and blessings. You just have to prepare yourself. Put your heart in position for the miracle. Then, stand firm on God’s promises, take Him at His Word, and experience what only God can do!