"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING GOD SPEAK TO THEM"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING GOD SPEAK TO THEM"
Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:5  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.”
Luke 5:6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
A few explanatory thoughts:
When Jesus had finished speaking, or teaching the multitude the Word of God, He turned to Simon, ( Peter ) and asked him to take the boat they were both in, and go out into a deeper part of the lake, and to let down his nets, for a catch. Peter's immediate response was both correct, and incorrect, but, ultimately the right one. And, the results were astonishing to say the least.
1. First of all, Peter called Jesus Master, which means superintendence, or a chief, commander. Indeed, this is exactly who Jesus is. He is the Lord of Lord and King of Kings. He is the master of all as it were.
2. Secondly, Peter explained that they had already tried to catch some fish, in fact, they had been fishing all night, but had caught nothing. Peter was actually now telling the Master, No, You are wrong, this won't work, we have already tried this.
3. Thirdly, and this is what I love about Simon, he said, "nevertheless, at Your Word, I will let down the net" Nevertheless, is like saying, "but, if You say so, we will try again.
4. As they moved the boat out into deeper water, and let down the net, the catch of fish was so great that their net started to break.
A prayerful reflection and application:
Father, thank you for speaking to us as You do. You often speak to us after we have tried to do whatever it is that we do, and we have had no great success. But, then we hear You, and You direct us, and like Simon, we may have a little, or a lot of disagreement with You. We tend to think that we know more then You do.
But, also like Simon, by Your grace, we then do what You tell us to do, and like Simon, we are astonished at what happens.
If you say to do something, even though it may seem fruitless to us to do it, it's ok, because You know what You are doing, and You want to show us something by giving us direction, just as You did for Simon.
Lord, let there be lot's of "nevertheless's " in our speech and heart toward You. Let there be lot's of "but, if You say so, we will do it"
That's the way to live, to hear You, and obey You. It's like what we read in Proverbs 3:3-5
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Prov 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Prov 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Thank You Lord.
Pastor Bob Grenier

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL HOPELESS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL HOPELESS"
Job 7:6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
1Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. Job, was right in the middle of a major "Job" type trial. It was as bad as it could get, without losing his life. He had lost everything. And, he was stating in Job 7:6, that his days were going by so quickly, and they were spent without hope. Hope here means, a cord, or an attachment. It has the idea of expectancy, something to live for, or something to long for. Job, along with many people from time to time have this "no hope" experience. It's a feeling of detachment, and a life being lived without anything to look forward to, nothing ahead, or so it seems. 

2. Please notice the apostle Paul's perspective on the hope that he had for the believers in Thessalonica. These truths would apply to you and I today as believers in Jesus Christ. First of all, Paul had hope, and then called it a joy, or crown of rejoicing. So, he was living in hope for these believers. 

3. Here's what he said specifically about them. "Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ as His coming. That's a mouthful. Let's break it down a little bit. He viewed them, the believers as one day being in the presence of God. He knew that as saved people that is where they were going, and, it's where you and I are going as those who have faith in Jesus Christ. 

4. Furthermore, Paul speaks of Jesus Christ's coming. That's a reference to His second coming. The future as it were. When Christ comes again, heaven on earth will begin, and so will eternity as it were for all who know Him. With Jesus in heaven for eternity.
5. May I encourage you to pause, and to consider these verses. It may be true that you are feeling hopeless, but, please meditate on the verse in 1st Thess 2:19, and let the Lord minister to you about your future. You have one. You have a hope in Jesus Christ. 

A prayer:

Father, You are called the God of hope. And, You know Lord how often we can find ourselves in place where we feel hopeless. Would You please for any reading this today, who are indeed in that place of being without hope, help them to turn their eyes to You, and let Your Word remove the lie of not having hope, and replace it with the truth that is in Jesus Christ, He is our living hope. We are going to be with Him, see Him, reign with Him forever and forever. We ask this of You Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.