A Life-Changing Invitation

Excellent, what a special morning. These are always some of the greatest joys in our life

as a church when we see Jesus at work in people's lives. And it's just been so great to see what God

is doing in Reuben's. I just want to give a particular welcome, as I get my breath back,

used to think I was fit, to Reuben's friends and family. I haven't managed to say hello to you

this morning, but you're so, so welcome. It's a joy to have you. We love your boy. We will look after

him, but just know how welcome you are here today. And let me welcome you to the strangest group of

people on planet Earth. If you didn't know that before, churches are strange places and Christians

are strange people. Now here's what I mean by that. According to a recent survey, did you know

that there are something like 2.5 billion Christians around the world today? That's a lot of people,

2.5 billion. But let me take that overwhelmingly large figure and make it a much more manageable

one. So here's the figure. It's 100. So if 100 Christians represented all of global Christianity,

here's the stats. Take this in. 26 people would live in Africa. 24 people would live in Latin America.

23 people would live in Europe. 15 people would live in Asia. 11 people would live in North America.

And one person would live in Oceania. And get this, your average Christian in the world today

is a non-white woman living her life in the global South with lower than average levels of both

societal safety and access to proper healthcare. How does that strike you this morning?

In our world, it seems to be getting increasingly divided and fractured and seems to be shouting

across at each other. Let me put it to you that Christianity is the greatest social phenomena

the world has ever seen. This really is a strange going on. This really is, if you're a 90s

kid like me, this really is one for Mulder and Scully, isn't it? Welcome to the strangest group of people

on planet Earth. Strangest and how do you explain that? 2.5 billion people. A group that started in a

sense 2,000 odd years ago with a group of a dozen disciples following a 30-year-old carpenter turned

preacher who came from Nazareth. Remember Leicester City won the Premier League a few years ago. What

were they? 5,000 to 1. Who would have predicted that? Who would have predicted 12 to 2.5 billion in just

over 2,000 years? Who would have predicted that? Well, as it turns out, what we're going to see in this

passage, and I should have said this at start, we're going to be in Luke chapter 5 if you have a Bible.

Luke 5 · chapter mention

1 to 11. We'll read it in a few moments time. Luke chapter 5. If you don't have a Bible, you can grab

Luke 5 · chapter mention

one in the pews around about you, or the words will go on the screen in just a few moments as well.

As it turns out,

what we see in Luke chapter 5 is that Jesus predicted it. He predicted it. In fact, he did way more than just

Luke 5 · chapter mention

predict it. He guaranteed it. You see, what Jesus says here in this passage is the explanation of days

like today. And it is the explanation of stories like Reuben's and like every single Christian who

follows Jesus around the world. This is the explanation of why that happens. So here's what

we're going to do. We're going to read from verse 1 of Luke chapter 5, and I want you to hear Jesus

Luke 5 · chapter mention

predict it and guarantee it. So this is Luke chapter 5.

Luke 5 · chapter mention

One day, as the crowds were pressing close to him to hear the word of God,

Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats moored by the land. The fishermen had

gone ashore and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats. It was Simon's,

and asked him to put out a little way from the land. Then he sat down in the boat and began to teach

the crowd. When he'd finished speaking, he said to Simon, put out into the deeper part and let down

your nets for a catch. Master, replied Simon, we were working hard all night and caught nothing at all.

But if you say so, I'll let down the nets. When they did so, they caught such a huge number of fish

that their nets began to break. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help

them. So they came and filled both the boats and they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell

down at Jesus's knees. Leave me alone, Lord, he said. I'm a sinner. He and all his companions were

gripped with amazement at the catch of fish they had taken. This included James and John, the sons of

Zebedee who were partners with Simon. Don't be afraid, said Jesus to Simon. From now on, you'll be

catching people. They brought the boats into land. Then they abandoned everything and followed him.

So here is this first century doctor come historian called Luke, who's taken the time in this gospel of

Luke to do his investigatory homework to produce this well-researched account of the life of this man,

Jesus. And this is what you'll find in the early chapters of Luke's gospel. In the opening chapters,

he writes about Jesus's birth. We're going to be thinking about that over the next few weeks in church

and in our country. You read about Jesus's birth. Read it and you'll see that that birth is supernatural

and yet brimming with purpose. And Luke then moves on to tell you about Jesus's family tree. Again,

read it and you'll see the stock that Jesus is from, questionable and yet full of hope.

And the message that Jesus is speaking, read it and you'll see a message that is controversial and yet

is full of explosive power. Read it and you'll see that Jesus is wonderfully surprising.

Someone who does more than just flip the world upside down.

Here is someone showing human beings what it is to live the right way up.

You know, we had our boiler service the other day, flashing faults. Guy came to fix it, switch off the

heating, new part in, fires it back up again, firing in all cylinders again. We've get heat.

And it's easy to think of the human problem a bit like that, that all we need to do is just make a few

tweaks, make a few adjustments, get a few new parts and hey presto, everything will be fine again.

But when the Bible talks about the human condition, it's actually a lot less boiler.

It's a lot more like a bunch of flowers that you'd buy at a florist

that look great for three or four days, but after a while they'll die.

And actually they started dying the very moment they were cut off from the very thing that was

giving them life. You see, that's our problem as human beings.

It's the essence of what the Bible calls sin that is in the human heart.

There's a lot of images that the Bible uses to talk about sin because it's a

multi-dimensional problem that we all have. It's our natural inclination to turn away from our

creator, reject his rule and want to go it our way. And that is our greatest problem,

that we are not right with the God who made us. And yet here Jesus tell us how he's come to be

the greatest solution, the perfect solution to our problem.

And it all centers on why he's come, to rescue sinners like you and me from God's judgment.

But he does more than rescue people from the reality of hell. What he does is he transforms

people. He sets people free. He gives people purpose and dignity in life.

And he restores us to the very God who made us in his image.

And you read on the Luke's gospel, you see Jesus stand up in all places at a Jewish synagogue.

In verse 18 of chapter 4. And he reads from one of the most precious prophecies anywhere in the Old

Testament. If you scan your eye there, what you'll see is this prophecy from a prophet named Isaiah.

Keep that name in mind. And he's God speaking through him about someone who will come and bring a good

news message of liberation for the world. All the world to here, who will put things right,

who will make things new, who will set people free, who will deal with our biggest problem as human

beings, that sin problem. Jesus reads it and it ain't controversial.

It'll be getting whoops and hallelujahs, I'm sure. But what is controversial is that Jesus reads it

and he says, that person who's come to do that, it's me. Now that is a mic drop moment if ever I've

seen one in the gospels. And that's why from this point on in the gospel, Luke focuses on Jesus' word.

Because it's this word that Luke is helping us join the dots to see that it's this word that brings

liberation to the poor. And people say that about Jesus. The end of chapter 4 verse 31 is Jesus heals

this demon-possessed man. The crowd comment that his word has, and it's the word beginning with A,

authority. And Jesus has set, verse 43, on taking this message out. So from this point in the gospel,

word is going out. And so here we are then, opening verse of chapter 5, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret.

And the great crowd have gathered, not just to see Jesus, a great crowd have gathered, do you see it, to hear Jesus.

Because they recognize that he's not primarily a good man or a wise teacher or even a messenger from God.

When he speaks, they hear the very words of God himself. When he speaks, things happen. When he speaks,

life's change. When he speaks, change, change, break.

And who's there by the lake working away, do you see him? Is this man called Peter. Day job?

Fisherman. Owns a boat. Has business partners there. And he's washing his nets after a long night.

And Jesus says to him, I want to use your boat. And after he's finished teaching, do you see what he says,

verse 4, chapter 5? I want you to pull out into the deep again and drop your nets.

Now, Peter at this point, fisherman, experienced as he was, thinking to himself, to head out into the

busy waters during the heat of the day instead of the quiet waters of night is a massive waste of time.

If you know anything about fishing, the place and the chance to catch them is when the waters are still.

And this is a carpenter giving a fisherman instructions. This is like a circus performer going to a hospital,

donning the scrubs, heading to the operating table and telling the surgeon, I see that you've made the incision there,

but how about you just try and make it on the other side?

This is nonsense. And yet, Peter says,

at your word,

master. He perceives something about Jesus' word. He's maybe seen,

he's maybe heard. His mother-in-law has just been healed in the verses just before.

Peter recognizes there's something about Jesus' word.

Maybe it's a Dr. Pepper moment here in Peter's life. I don't know.

What's the worst that can happen?

And what follows is an unexplainable catch. Notice the eyewitness details if you've got the text there.

Their nets were breaking due to such a large catch of fish, so much so that they had to signal for

their partners to bring another boat. And even then, the boats were sinking. And eyewitness details

that Luke pummels the reader with, an attempt to show us how extraordinary this was.

And it's amazing, actually,

think about it. Jesus has turned a potentially financial devastating evening

into an unprecedented windfall.

But then we get an unmissable response.

Do you see how Peter's not rubbing his hands with

glee, cracking open a bottle of bubbly, singing,

I'm in, the money.

Yeah?

His reaction is that he's utterly undone by this encounter with Jesus.

This man has blown his mind

wide open.

Isn't it interesting

that the first thing he's aware of

in this encounter with Jesus

is not his smallness,

it's not his

his unimpressiveness,

it's his sinfulness.

Isn't that interesting?

Now, this is more than just

I was in the presence of greatness, right?

In our celebrity culture,

it's often what happens when you find yourself

having to be in the same shop as a famous person.

We go all, oof, don't we?

This is more than just he's in the presence of greatness,

way more than that.

Peter recognizes that he's in the presence of God himself.

Just like Isaiah before him,

in Isaiah chapter 6,

Isaiah 6 · chapter mention

his reaction

to being in the presence of God

is,

woe is me.

And there's huge connections.

We can follow up afterwards if you want

between Isaiah chapter 6 and Luke chapter 5.

Isaiah 6 · chapter mention Luke 5 · chapter mention

Woe is me

because I am a man of unclean lips,

says Isaiah.

And Peter recognizes in this point

that he has got nothing to bring

to the negotiating table.

The only card that he's got to play

is not marked

me,

M-E.

The only card he recognizes he can play

begins with M-E

but ends in R-C-Y.

Do you see?

He goes

mercy.

And the ball at this point

is well and truly in Jesus' court.

The next move is his.

And what happens next,

dear friends,

you need to see this,

is Jesus to a T.

He doesn't go all

Oprah Winfrey on him,

does he?

And say,

Peter,

get up.

You need better self-esteem.

You need bigger goals.

You need to think better about yourself.

That will always be

the top sellers

in the Kindle store,

those kind of books.

But Jesus knows

that just doesn't work

when it comes to the human condition.

But nor has he gone

all Roy Keane on him.

Yeah,

if you know Roy Keane,

the notoriously harsh

Irish football pundit,

Jesus doesn't say,

Peter,

you're not fit to wear the jersey.

Sinful man,

you don't know the half of it, son.

This is Jesus.

Jesus does neither of those things.

Here is Jesus,

the one who was there

before the beginning

of anything.

This is Jesus,

the one who knows

all of Peter's mistakes,

past, present, and future.

And what does he say?

What's his opening line?

Just like Gabriel said to Mary,

verse 10,

he says,

do not be afraid.

Again,

interesting,

striking.

Do not be afraid.

What does he recognize

is going on in Peter's heart?

There's a lot of fear.

Do not be afraid.

And from there,

see Jesus make an unexpected call.

He says,

from now on,

you

will be fishing

for people.

And that's the punchline

of the drama here.

This is what it was

all about.

The great haul of fish.

I didn't really think about it

that much until this week.

Why fish?

Jesus could have done

all sorts of things.

Why fish?

Well,

I guess this is speaking

Peter's language in a way.

But he's always saying,

see this great haul?

Those fish,

they represent people.

That's what's going to happen

down the generations,

across the nations,

through history,

as my words,

as this gospel goes forth.

Here's what I want you to know.

If you're a Christian here today,

you are a fish.

You are a fish

who has been drawn

into Jesus'

gracious net.

You have been

hooked,

lined,

and sinkered

by the fishermen

par excellence.

Why do days like today

happen?

Why do stories like

Reuben's happen?

Because right here,

Jesus guaranteed

that it would.

And here's real quick

things

to see.

Number one,

it means that every moment

is a learning moment

with Jesus.

Do you see verse 11?

Peter,

James,

and John,

who would become

Jesus'

inner circle

of three.

And they left

everything

and they

followed him.

You could argue

that much of the rest

of Luke's gospel

is the record

of their three-year-long

apprenticeship

with Jesus.

Jesus invites them

to come and learn

from him.

Jesus invites them

to come and learn

his heart for people.

Come and learn

his father-shaped

priorities.

Come and learn

how life in his

kingdom works.

Come and learn

who they are.

Can I just say

it's only by coming

to understand

Jesus,

this God,

that we can truly

come to understand

ourselves.

Come and follow me

and most of all

learn what it means

for me to be

your savior.

You see,

way before this

is about

us serving

Jesus,

this is about

Jesus

serving us.

It's always

the way around

it goes.

when Peter says,

I am a sinful

man,

I just say

he's not wrong.

The rest of

this book

is full

of his mistakes,

but Jesus

will go to the

cross to die

for Peter's

sin.

He will go to

the cross to die

for my sin.

He goes to the

cross to die

for your sin,

and he rises

again

to show

that that

payment,

that debt

has been paid,

it's gone through

in the eyes

of a holy

God.

Peter,

as he takes

Jesus' word

in the power

of the Spirit

to the world,

will begin

to see

the beginnings

of this great

catch.

You see,

with Jesus,

every moment

is a learning

moment.

They followed

him.

It's what

to be a

disciple is,

to be a

lifelong

learner.

And with

Jesus,

every day

is a fishing

day.

Do you know

what I love?

I love that

Jesus could

have quite

easily

have commanded

the fish

to jump

into the

net all

by themselves.

Could have

done that,

right?

But he says,

Peter,

I want you

to be the

one to

drop down

the net.

You see,

Jesus is

guaranteeing the

work,

this is his

catch,

but he

wants to

do it

through

everyday

people like

Peter and

like you

and like

me.

Do you know

what I thought

as well this

week?

That he's

also in

control of

the fact

that Peter

during the

night caught

nothing.

Think about

that.

He's also

in control of

the fact that

Peter during

the night

caught

nothing.

I wonder

whether in

this moment

he wants

Peter to

feel his

emptiness

and to

know that

without

Jesus,

he can

do

nothing.

So often

where the

Lord takes

us in life,

isn't it?

And from

this point

on,

Jesus goes

on the

biggest

recruitment

drive the

world has

ever seen,

calling people

to come and

to join the

work with

him.

While fishermen

snatch living

fish away to

death,

do you see

how it's

flipped?

The disciples

are going to

be involved in

snatching dying

people away and

giving them

life.

They leave their

family fishing

business and

they become part

of his family

fishing business.

Taking this

message about

him to

their immediate

neighbors,

the surrounding

regions,

and to the

ends of the

earth.

2.5 billion

people.

And that's just

across the world

today.

You multiply that

down to

generations,

that's a lot

of people.

Jesus says,

come and

follow me.

You know,

just as we

close,

just want to

show my

kids built

yesterday when

I was at

men's breakfast.

We had a

men's breakfast

up here between

9 and 11.

This is what our

kids did while I

was there.

As we were all

fighting to get

here to the

room, we were

almost clapping

every person that

came in the

door because it

was so difficult.

Johan even

managed to

come with his

crutches on the

bus and we

were whooping

and everything.

It was great.

But did you

enjoy the snow

yesterday?

Yeah?

This is what my

kids built.

Needless to say,

they are all my

hats and

scarves.

Here's the

question that

came at night.

As he

reflected,

as he told me

on these

things about

the carrot

for the nose

and about

the hats that

he put on,

about the

scarves,

about the

works to

build these

snowmen.

All the

snow that

fell, the

question came

to me last

night, do

you think the

snow will

still be there

tomorrow?

And here's the

picture today,

less than 16

hours.

Yeah?

And I

guarantee you

when I go

home, those

two stumps will

not be there

anymore.

It's crazy,

isn't it?

How that's

happened in

such a short

space of

time.

But here's the

thing.

We live in a

world that is

saying to us,

invest in

things, love

things, you

need things, that

friends just will

not last.

Do you know,

looks will fade,

jobs will start

and end, our

emotions will dip

and dive, people

will come and go

in and out of our

lives.

question for us to

think about,

particularly if you

don't know this

Jesus, is the

thing that you're

building your

life on going to

last?

Or is it going to

be like the

snow?

It's going to be

here looking very

impressive one day

and in a matter of

hours it could be

all gone.

What I want us to

see is that Jesus

is calling us here,

all those who

follow him, no

matter how

unimpressive you

think you are,

no matter how

short or how long

you've been a

Christian for,

he's inviting all

those who follow

him to come and

be part and

participate in the

greatest mission

this world has

ever known.

And to invest

ourselves in the

one thing in this

life that's going

to last.

When he says,

come and I will

make you fishers

of men, it really

is an invitation to

the greatest mission

the world has ever

seen.

So let's pause

just for a minute

and I'd love us

just to pray.

And maybe

particularly this

morning if you

don't know this

Jesus for yourself

is something that's

been said or read

or something that

Ruben said,

anything like that

or we've sung is

maybe just piqued

your interest.

Dear friends,

don't waste this

moment.

Grab somebody who

you've come with

maybe in the

quietness now bring

your own prayers to

this God.

Maybe today is the

day of salvation

for you.

So let's just have

a moment of silence

and then I'll pray

and then we're going

to stand to sing

our final song.

Come all you

who are thirsty

come to the waters

and you who have

no money come

buy and eat.

Come buy wine

and milk without

money and without

cost.

Why spend money

on what is not

bread and your

labor on what

does not satisfy?

Listen,

listen to me

and eat what is

good and your

soul will delight

in the richest

of fear.

Thank you Lord

that that's how

grace works.

Thank you that we

bring nothing to

the negotiating

table before you

a holy God.

Father, thank you

for your mercy.

Thank you for your

grace in welcoming

people like us.

I pray Father today

that as we think

about, as we've

seen the newness

of life that Jesus

brings, his death

on the cross, paying

the debt of our

sin, his resurrection

life that the

spirit gives.

Lord, I pray that

we would be, some

of us particularly

would be moved to

give our lives to

the Lord Jesus.

So Father, we thank

you for this time.

Thank you for each

other.

Be with us now as we

finish our time

together.

We just pray for

Reuben.

I thank you for him

Lord.

We thank you so much

for the way that

you've been at work

in his life, how

he's just come and

given himself over

the last little

season to the

life of the church

here.

And may today be a

special one, particularly

for him.

So Lord, thank you

for your love for

him.

Thank you for your

love for us.

And we just pray all

of these things in

Jesus' wonderful name.

Amen.