Depart From Me

Luke 5:1-11

Verse 1 - In the press that followed Christ, some whom He had already called were not following.

1.   Jesus went after them.

2.   Compare with Matt. 4:18-22 when Christ called Peter and his friends to follow Him.

a.   John 1:40-42 - This is the first time Peter was introduced to Christ.

b.   Matt. 4:18-22 - This is the second time Peter was introduced to Christ.

c.   Luke 5:1-11 - This is the third time Peter was introduced to Christ.  Here he is back in his old rut after being commanded by Christ to follow Him.

d.   John 20 - This is the fourth time Peter was found by the sea side.

Verse 3 - Peter and company was busy washing their nets, but Christ stopped their labor so they could listen to Him.

1.   Tired, disappointed men sometimes have heavy leaden hearts.

a.   They were concerned about how to supply for their families.

b.   Matt. 6:33 - Put God first, and He will supply all your needs.

2.   Sometimes we let "necessary work" take us away from God's service.

3.   A person will never "get behind" because they do what God instructs them to do.

4.   God will pay sufficiently, and over abundance.

a.   When Peter supplied the boat, Christ paid with more fish than Peter thought possible.

b.   When we turn our material possessions over to Christ, He pays more "rent" than necessary.

Note the order.

1.   Christ first entered the ship.

2.   He then asked Peter to cast out a little.

3.   He then asked Peter to go one step further and cast out into the deep.

1.   Don't worry about going out into the deep, let Jesus get into your ship (life) first.

2.   When you have learned a little, rejoice in that, then cast out into the deep things.

3.   Everything in its own order.

Imperfect obedience.

1.   Jesus said "nets", Peter let down a single net.

2.   Perhaps he didn't see any sense in getting the clean nets dirty since he had fished all night and knew what he was talking about.

Verse 8, Peter's speech.

1.   Was Peter saved at this point?  Probably, but it is hard to tell, because he was acting so much like those that don't care.  Can people see Christ in your life?

2.   Peter is burdened about his sinfulness.

3.   Peter misunderstood the purpose of this revelation.

a.   He was saying that he couldn't be around Christ because he was sinful.  Peter was honest, but ignorant.

b.   These are the only kind of people that Jesus came to save and use.

c.   What would have happened had Christ obeyed Peter?

1.   Separation from the sin bearer.

2.   Separation from emancipation - If the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

3.   Separation from the church - the body of Christ - no example as to how to live.

4.   Separation from all future blessings - those future blessings and life he doesn't know about.

5.   Think of the impact of this on his family.

d.   Peter really didn't want to belong to the group Christ will depart from.

1.   Matt. 7:23 - Religious, but lost.

2.   Matt. 25:41 - At the judgment of the nations, the evil must depart.

e.   Christ didn't answer this prayer request.

1.   God doesn't answer many of our prayer requests because it wouldn't be good for us.

They left all worldly endeavors.

1.   Their business ventures.  The ship Peter returned to in John 20 very likely was this same ship.

2.   Mark 1:20 - Peter didn't give the ship away, but left it in charge of hired servants.

3.   Their just caught miracle catch.

4.   They kept their families.