DEEP WATER AND PLANTING

Time with Jesus – Monday 25^th March 2013

Hi All

Today, it’s time to be different. There are Eight Scriptures for the Evening. Thus it was a question of quoting all eight in limerick style. For clarity the Scriptures are listed from A to H as is their respective limericks. Finding a title for the poetry was a problem as usual. So we opted for, “Deep water and planting” is a sort of a “catch all” that doesn’t catch all. This style is slightly more difficult to write, but it was fun anyway.

There is a “moral” to the story. I’ve often said that perhaps, the greatest sermon I’ve ever heard or read, excluding those which Jesus Himself spoke, were spoken by a woman! The speaker? His mother! Her speech / sermon comprised 5 words. Read them in John’s Gospel. ⁵ But His mother told the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5 NLT

In spite of all our clever oratorical or verbal gymnastics or theological reasoning, I have found nothing in the Bible or elsewhere, anything which expresses so succinctly and adequately, the instruction in these five words. Well done Mary! Budding preachers and Bible teachers, take note! You face an awesome verbal challenge!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 25 March 2013				Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES		Deep Water and Planting
I’ve often wondered what exactly took place on the shore, when Jesus told them to, “go out into deep water to catch some fish”. Why did Jesus do this? Was He trying to embarrass Peter and the other fishermen? I don’t think so. It took place fairly early in His ministry. So I thought perhaps, it was His way of paying Peter, for the use of his boat that morning. As a carpenter, He would have been aware, of good business practices. Similarly, He may have wanted to demonstrate His authority, even over the fish in the lake. Another possibility is, that since Jesus’ time of speaking from the boat was over that day, the time was right for Peter to take charge of the boat again. Many of us try to read things into what was said that isn’t really there. Very often, critics make comments about things that have been written, that even the author knows nothing about. It’s a sort of “talent” we learn at school. We are asked to write an essay about an incident, e.g. going fishing. So we start “padding” the essay, with the stuff we’ve dredged out of our minds. No doubt Shakespeare would be amazed at the comments of his critics. In this instance, Peter’s reply is fascinating. The crowd had not yet departed. Many, if not most of them, were fishermen. Now Peter knew about fishing. You don’t go fishing at that time of the day. Experience had demonstrated that conclusively. So here he was, a thoroughly experienced fisherman, being told to go out and put down the nets! I can almost hear him say under his breath. “What a waste of time. We won’t catch anything. Many have tried it and it’s made them look like fools. So how do I do what Jesus says without other fishermen thinking I’m a fool”? To make the point, he says in a loud voice, “OK Lord, we will do it because you say so”. Peter wanted to make sure all the fishermen present knew this was not Peter’s idea. He was just doing what he had been asked. What we see next, is what happens with us regularly. We are told to do something that others will think looks silly. That’s when the blessing comes. It’s clear, if they had not gone out to try again on His instructions, there would have been no fish caught. It’s a bit like Naaman being told to wash seven times in the Jordan. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: "Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy." 2 Kings 5:10 NLT The end result for his obedience to God via Elisha was being cleansed of his leprosy. No other place for washing would work. Only after seven times in the Jordan did it happen. Six washings would not have been sufficient. Naaman must have thought he looked like a fool. Peter had similar misgivings. Peter had a huge catch! Naaman was cleansed. Obedience to the Lord, always leads to blessings. There are countless similar stories in Christianity. By allowing themselves to look foolish and weak, God’s power and strength was manifest! Our embarrassment is the least of His concerns. Obedience is what matters. Thank you Peter for such a magnificent illustration of success coming from obedience; even though it seems silly! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			A	5 Simon answered, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets Luke 5:5 GW	“Go out into deep water and there let down your net”. “We’ve worked all night,      A Without a bite, And we’ve caught nothing yet”. “But Teacher, since You’re asking, we’ll do it once again. Just as You wish. We know the fish, You stick with catching men”. Reluctantly they did it. The nets went down once more. They got a catch, They couldn’t match. Above what they could draw. Just like God’s Holy Kingdom, with nets thrown in the sea. They’ll take on board,    C The Slaves and Lords, From each society. Christ has all authority in heaven and on land. Go and equip,                          B Discipleship, To folk on every hand. “Teach them to observe the things I have commanded you. Baptise each one, Excluding none, Is what you are to do”. “Tell them I am with them wherever they may be. My Spirit’s care is everywhere; The Holy Trinity, He never will desert them and leave them on the shelf. If they will just, Give Me their trust. I’ll Love them as Myself!”		“I have to preach the Gospel; there really is no choice. There is no fee,                       D To pay to me. I have to use my voice, To bring the people tidings of what the Lord has done. Without a doubt, I must speak out, About God’s Holy Son”. “I share in people’s weakness to draw them to the Lord. I’ll be like them,                        E To win the men, And Christ can be adored! Let us not grow weary of doing what is right. We’ll reap a crop,                    F Whom none can stop, In God the Father’s sight!” “The Words that I have spoken are never old and stale. All men will see,                  G What I decree, And not one word will fail. For I will make it prosper and achieve what I intend. Man can’t resist    . My iron fist, ‘Till worlds without an end.” “Who cares who does the planting? God makes the seeds to grow. Without a doubt, Each seed will sprout.                H For God has made it so. But planting and the watering God’s given unto man. We play our part, And see the start, Of God Almighty’s plan!”
			B	18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Mat 28:18-20 ESV
			C	47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. Mat 13:47 ESV
			D	16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News! 1 Cor. 9:16 NLT
			E	. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 1 Cor 9:20-22 NLT
			F	7 Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Gal 6:-9 NLT
			G	11 It is the same with My word. I send it out, & it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:11 NLT
			H	6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. 1 Cor. 3:6-7 NLT
					Jim Strickland – Written Sunday 25th March 2012