Nazarene Church PM service



The Deeper Life

The word in this outline may not be a deep word, but it does address digging deeper in the

Word of God to receive the deeper blessings.

A] Luke 5:1-11; please read this account in your Bible

1] Before I came to the Lord if I were to read this account, I would think it’s nothing more than a good fishing story. But for the child of God, depending on where you are in your spiritual walk, you know it’s much more than that. So, the real message is about launching out in the deeper things of God and obtaining the blessings that come your way.

2] The use of a good Concordance is imperative, Vines Expository is a good one, and Strongs; Strongest Strongs is good as well to determine the words true meaning.

a] I like to pick out the “player words” or phrase from the account. Then figuring what those words mean will help to unlock the true meaning to the story. Below we’ll investigate 3 player words for now.

3] Verse 3b; and He prayed him that he would “thrust out” a little from the land.

3a] Verse 4b; He said to Simon, “launch out”.

3b] Verse 4b] into the “deep”.

a] Is it not interesting that two different words would be used to equate to basically the same thing, or do they?

1] In Strongs Conc. The word “thrust” is Greek ref # 1877. It means to “put out or push out, thrust out. In Strong’s Conc. both words (Thrust and Launch) use the 1877 ref and in Strongs Conc. and both essentially translate as the same thing, depending on context.

2] However to dig deeper, In Vines Expository Dict. the word “launch” is Greek ref # 1877 also; but it says it means to “put out to sea, a nautical term. Vines provides a better usage of the word in it’s context. I find that an important clue.

3] In Vines Exp. the word “deep” is Greek # 899. meaning = deep, depth, deepness, deep water, metaphorically, of God’s wisdom and knowledge, of God’s council, of the dimensions and the sphere of the activities of God and the love of God that occupies that sphere, (how deep is that). (So, it carries a note of more than deep water to be sure).

b] What can we take away from these player words so far?

1] Thrust and launch are “almost” interchangeable, depending on their contextual placement.

a] As noted in the text “thrust” was used to shove off a “little” from shore thus allowing the Lord some teaching room and/or distance from the assembled crowds.

b] However in the case of “launch” out, the inference is to, as Vines says; put out to sea, hence the word “deep” follows.

2] This usage of the word “deep” is interesting, the Grk. ref 899 appears only three (3) times in the Bible.

a] The 1st reference is the Parable of the Sower. Math 13:5b; because they had no deepness of earth, (depth of Word in heart). This is relating to spiritual depth-ness, not water, in this case.

b] Luke 5:4; Launch out into the deep for a draught (our text)

c] I Cor. 2:10; But God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.

1] These 3 verses do not mention water, inferred once

3] So, from our analysis of the word “deep”, we see it’s not “all” about deep water as in fishing. But the deeper things/truths of God! If you have read anything much in the Word of God, Jesus always uses physical objects to explain a great Spiritual truth. (Parables) Does anyone think this was just instructions on fishing? Consider;

a] When Jesus was teaching from the boat to the “crowd on shore”, was He not was teaching from shallow water, some “shallow truths” something those folks could grasp. Even Simon Peter was being taught , since Jesus was in his boat at the time, you can be sure these folks didn’t know much about anything spiritual.

1] In John Chapter 4, Jesus was teaching the woman at the well. In same fashion He shared things much deeper than the well she was drawing water from you can be sure, the same in our story here.

b] Then the Lord says to Simon after the He dismissed the crowd, launch out, (using Vine’s Exp. Dict. words) or set sail, put out to sea, into the deep (deeper truths/things of God?). This was meant to be a metaphor no doubt, the deeper water signifying the deeper truths that were available.

c] Was Simon Peter taking mental notes? Bet he was, as he would become the leading Apostle before Paul shows up.

4] There is an old proverb, if you give a man a mess of fish he lives another day, if you teach him to use a fishing pole, you feed him for life. Lets fish some more.

a] Per my fishing experience fish don’t (except minnows) hang around in very shallow water. Like the Lord said, head out to the deep for the bigger catch.

b] But per the meaning of “deep” as we saw, it’s not just about deep water, but the deeper things of God. This is no play on words, it seems exactly what the Lord had in mind.

1] Consider; Jesus is God, He could have very easily called all the fish to the boat without launching out anywhere, especially after the guys said they worked all night to no avail, verse 5, but He didn’t.

2] On a more personal note.

c] I got this from J. Cahn, see end of this outline in credits for this insight below, (he Pastors a huge Church). Per him studies of Christian growth and behavior, most alleged Christians (those that claim salvation in their lives) stay at the shoreline of their walk. Pastoral insights are very valid. They never wanting/caring to venture out into deeper water/truths. They stay near that which is familiar and comfortable. They never fully leave their old ways, or the old life.

d] Others never really launch out, maybe thrust out some. They never enter the deep. They believe, but with a shallow faith. They read the Word, but never much depth to it. As a result, the other portions of their life suffer, such as prayer, intimate fellowship, the deep/er blessings that lie untapped.

e] Have you noticed their seems to be a whole lot of promises in the Word of God that not too many by comparison seem to receive? There is a reason for this, and it’s not that God didn’t make the provision.

5] But if you want the blessings of God, you/me/us have the opportunity of going deeper in our walk with God. How far do you want to go? Big question, a few thoughts provided to help.

a] Distractions, these things are a killer, there are ga-zillions of things that rob people of their precious time. I’ve seen people even miss Church for all manner of sport related stuff, social media, too much TV. Where does God fit in? We better get that one right.

b] We must get away from the old and familiar, in other words, what/where is a better place to spend your time and resource?

c] Anyone for spending some extra time in the Word that increases your faith and knowledge of Him? There is a difference between, reading and studying and studying and applying.

d] Entering into His Presence with intercessory prayer. I have known some that take a deliberate excursion to a special place of prayer, you may remember the Lord Himself done that regularly with the Father. I’m talking just you and Him, taking your time. Has the Lord ever spoken to you? That would include the Holy Spirit as well of course. I haven’t found many that say they have heard His voice. Maybe they just don’t recognize it.

1] Nothing but Him, does that confession make sense? You want to make a statement that gets the Lord’s attention don’t you? This is “another level” or should I say another depth in our walk.

6] Every one of us controls how deep we want to go. Is the Word of God filled with some serious deep truths, you know it. The deeper things doesn’t just fall in ones laps, we have to dig, pray, ask the Holy Spirit to help us.

a] I think I’ll head out into the deep for a draught. By the way, draught is Greek ref #61; it means = catch, that’s it. In this context fish, but not always fish, as the Lord told Simon Peter, and you shall be a fisher of “men”.

Credits; Jonathan Cahn, “Book of Mysteries”.

“footnote”

# If you feel this outline has enriched you in some way, please drop this Ministry a line to let us know on our Contact Page, Blessings, Pastor Tom

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