Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Author Archives: Giles


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1. Into the Deep – Part 1

Luke 5:1-11

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

It was early morning the sun was up dancing across the sand and sparkling on the deep blue water. Our fishing boats were resting by the water’s edge the sails down and wrapped for our night of fishing was over but there was nothing to show for all our efforts. Yet the work was not over so there we sat cleaning and mending our nets when we first heard the crowd. They were following Jesus the one my brother Andrew had introduced me to the one he said was the Messiah. Jesus was teaching them but as the people crowded in He looked directly at me and stepped into my boat and that is when my life changed forever. Today as we look at the lives of the 12 disciples we are going to start first with Simon Peter. In all three of the Gospel that provide a list of the 12 disciples Simon Peter is named first. Today as we come to the call of Peter we see not only several powerful principles but are confronted with several uncomfortable questions. As we come to verse 3 we see Jesus stepping into Simon’s boat and instructing him to push it out into the water. It’s here that we are confronted with this question:

  • Are you on board with Jesus?

The crowd needed to hear Jesus and so Jesus used Simon’s boat as a platform to project His word. Being in Simons boat with the water around Him it created an amphitheater effect, thus carrying His voice to the far side of the crowd. Who created the water, Jesus, and now He uses it to carry His message, because just like water it gives life. But Jesus wanted to use more than just the water to carry forth His Word He wanted to use Simon Peter and He also wants to use you.  As Jesus steps into your boat will you join Him? He wants to use an ordinary fishing boat and an ordinary fisherman and transform them into a platform for the gospel, so others can hear the truth. How rude of Jesus to just get into Peter’s boat without asking! But let me ask you was it really Peters boat, who created the trees that were used to make the boat, Jesus. Did Peter ask if he could use Jesus trees? The point is this so often we feel like it’s our life and Jesus needs to get our permission before He carries out His plan. But He is the King of Kings and as King He has the right to do what He wants. But notice what He does with that power and authority, He invites us to join Him. How many of us miss the invitation of Jesus because we are busy trying to boss Him around and get Him to do what we want? If that is how you are living, demanding that God do this and that, then you don’t want God you want a Gene. Someone to grant your every wish. So, let me ask you again, are you going to respond to His invitation and join Him? The bible uses many illustrations to help you see that you are either on board or you are not. In Noah’s day when the rains came only 8 people were on board, and they didn’t gradually get on board. They were not born on the ark they had to make a conscious choice to get on board.  Are you on board with Jesus?  Simon could have made a lot of excuses:

  • Not now Jesus I’m busy working to clean and mend my nets. When my work is done when I have fixed my own nets then I can get on board with you. If the nets are not cleaned they will not last and the fish will see them, they have to be cleaned right away or the job is harder if it is allowed to dry. It’s so easy to justify disobedience. Is your career important sure but when it comes to obeying the voice of the Creator, getting on board or getting your work done Simon chose Jesus.
  • Not now Jesus I’m tired from all my work. So often we make it about how we feel instead of what God has said.
  • Not now Jesus I’m discouraged, I’ve failed I have nothing to show for all my work, you really don’t want a looser like me. How often does the work cycle keeps us stuck? We don’t have time for Jesus because of all of our work, because we’re tired from all of our work and we have nothing to really show for all of our work, so we have to go back to work.

So, let me ask you when it comes to Christ’s call are you obey or objecting? Are you engaging in His call or making excuses? Many of us miss the miracle of being invited by the King of Kings to engage in His Kingdom. Why, because we see His call as a pain instead of a privilege. Thankyou Jesus for inviting me a common fisherman to partner with you in preaching your plan.

 


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31. From Sinner to Servant – Part 3

Acts 9:10-31

10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. 26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

Not only did God save Saul but He also sent:

  1. Support

The Lord now calls out to a disciple named Ananias in a vision in verse 10. Notice that unlike Saul, Ananias doesn’t have to ask who is speaking to him because Ananias knows the Lord. Interestingly, his name means, “Jehovah is gracious.” He was about to find out what grace really means. His assignment is found in verse 11: “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.”Notice the change in Paul from persecuting to praying. If we say we are saved it should show, conversion should result in change. But instead of obeying Ananias objects because his focus is on his doubts and not on the Deity. Doubt is one of the greatest obstacles to obedience. You would think Ananias reaction would be one of rejoicing and praise not one of protest. Because not only has God rescued His servants He has rescued Saul. Why was Ananias dominated by doubt instead of delight because like many of us he made his decisions based on public option instead of God’s plan. Are you going to listen to worldly wisdom or God’s Will? Are you obeying or objecting? How does the Lord deal with his disobedience, He reiterates His command and reassures His child: “Go This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” Ananias obedience results in Saul being freed from the bondage of blindness. Your choice to obey or delay doesn’t just affect you. There are two things that Ananias does to communicate acceptance and support. First, he places his hands on Saul and second, he calls him “brother.” Through touch and words of inclusion, he gives Saul the support he needs. Never underestimate the power of touch it is one of the most powerful tools we have to encourage. Also, your words can carry incredible weight; with them you can restore or ruin relationships. Who do you need to reach out and touch with God’s truth? It’s here that something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes as God restored his sight. Some of you are what I call cataract Christians, you say that you believe but the truth is you are blinded by your bigotry.  Ananias called Saul his brother, not just a friend but part of the family. Some of us are so focused on the color of people’s skin that we don’t see the soul. And our blindness will be what binds us. Saul went from darkness to light, and his first response to redemption was to be baptized. Notice that belief always precedes baptism. Saul is saved and then he is soaked; delivered and then dunked. What about you if you are a believer have you been baptized? Saul didn’t just need support physically but also emotionally and spiritually, when we drop down to verses 26-27 we see that when Saul returned to Jerusalem, the disciples did not accept him, why? Because they were focused on fear. They were following their feelings of fear, I think that describes many Christians today who live based on fear instead of faith. But there was one disciple who wasn’t focused on fear and doubt, Barnabas. Instead of focusing on his prejudice he focused on Saul’s preaching. Saul was a transformed man who went from spreading terror to spreading truth. The problem with America is that we are letting terror dictate our decisions instead of truth. We have become bigoted believers, we are ok with sending mission teams to other parts of the world because we believe Muslims need to be saved but would we be ok with those same people coming to our church? In God’s family we shouldn’t act like enemies we should embrace one another. We all need someone who will help us feel included, who are you helping get connected? Are we a caring congregation or a calloused one? Are you being a Barnabas especially to those with bad backgrounds? It’s interesting to note that there is more space in Scripture devoted to convincing Ananias to be accepting than there is to the conversion of Saul. There should be no foreigners in the family of God. Jesus saved Saul, but the saints almost sent him away because he didn’t fit the mold. The truth is that we are all made in the same mold, only some are moldier than others. We have lost our way today because we are allowing fear to move us instead of the Father. As a result, we are trying to preserve a way of life instead of preaching the Word of life. Scripture tells us that after being saved and supported Saul:

  1. Served

We were not saved to sit and soak but to serve, “immediately he began preaching about Jesus”Saul went from persecuting to preaching. Salvation changes everything and serving should be the natural outflow of our salvation. It’s not just about a change of destiny from hell to heaven, but a change of direction from our wants to God’s Will, and a change of desire from hurting to helping. Saul started as a slave to sin, but he ended as a servant of the Savior. Who or what are you serving, is it self, sin or the Savior? The story of Saul reminds us that anyone can be saved, that your sin is not greater than the Savior. It’s not about what you have done it’s about what Jesus did on the cross. You may be religious, you may be rebellious, or you might just be a regular person but regardless you need to be saved. Some of you today need to repent of your sin and be saved while for others you need to repent from your prejudice and pursuing the wrong plan and start following the Father instead of your fear.