
The Lord needs many kinds of workers for many different purposes.
However, there is a core of character that will be found in the more useful one.
Despite his weaknesses, the Apostle Peter had qualities that made him useful.
What did Jesus see in Peter that morning on the Sea of Galilee that persuaded Him to sign on the fisherman as a fisher of men?
READ Scripture – Luke 5:1-11
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
As we look closely at this account in Luke 5, we can see the kind of workman God can use.
A. God uses Working Workmen –
people who are willing to work and know how to do so.
Looking back at the long night of fishing – God’s men had endured the night – a night of drudgery in spite of failure.
If a man cannot see work to be done in the world, he will not be able to see work that needs to be done in the Kingdom of God.
There is a discouraging tendency for folks to feel that if one is “religious” he should not be expected to work.
Myron Taylor, a Christian Church preacher living in West Virginia, insists that a preacher needs to work at his ministry – especially his sermons, “Like a miner under a landslide.”
How quickly and diligently would anyone in this kind of situation work to escape?
Secondly, God uses an Orderly Workman (vs 2) –
Workmen who know how to use and take care of their tools.
2 Timothy 2:15 tells us that God looks for “A workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
James, in his letter to the 12 tribes, warns about the trickiest tool a teacher of the Word has to deal with – that is the tongue. - 3:1-5
The story is told of a preacher who borrowed a paintbrush and used it for his job. After he finished the job he cleaned the brush before he returned it to its owner.
The wife of the man who loaned the brush to the preacher examined the brush and said to the preacher: “You’ll pass. My husband said we would know a lot more about our preacher when the brush came back.” The preacher passed the test of being an Orderly Workman.
Thirdly, God uses a Respectful Workman (vs. 3)
A Respectful Workman is one who is not too busy to do a favor for someone else.
The weary and discouraged fisherman still lent his boat for the Lord’s use
There is something interesting to note here – that is, how much of Jesus’ ministry took place informally - “as He passed by,,,”
He needed workers who could catch the opportunity of the moment to minister to those He saw in need of His service.
The respectful follower of Christ will give the “cup of cold water” to another person in the name of Jesus.
Next, we find that Jesus used the Knowing the Lord Workman (vss. 4-5)
It is imperative that His workmen accept the Lord’s authority.
Remember that Peter was a fisherman - Jesus’ calling was not as a fisherman.
Yet, Peter obeyed the instruction - or order - of a carpenter on how to fish!
That would be like me – a preacher – giving my Dad, who was a Plumber, advice about Plumbing!
But Peter knew something about this Carpenter. He knew He was no ordinary carpenter.
As a confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, this is almost more significant than Peter’s confession of who Jesus is as recorded in Matthew 16:16 – where Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say that I am” and he answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
The fisherman would accept responsibility and do more than his share in obeying --- “Because you say so, I will let down the net.”
Show me a businessman who will take Jesus’ directives in taking care of his business, and I will show you a workman who can be trusted to accept the Lord’s authority in the Church.
Next, we see that Jesus used the Meek Workman (vs 8)
Now, when most people hear the word Meak to describe a person, they immediately think of that person as being weak.
But, meek and weak are two totally different ways to describe a person.
A meek person, when we mean regarding workmanship, is not one who is weak, but rather is one who is aware of his relationship to God.
Peter acknowledged the power and the purity of Christ.
He showed appreciation for the miracle of provision.
When he was confronted with what he saw in Jesus, Peter did not need anyone to accuse him of weakness and sin, but he willingly admitted, “I am a sinful man.”
And then, Jesus chose men who were able to choose – able to make choices (vss. 19-11)
He selected the best in preference to the good. Peter, again, is an example of one who was able to make choices.
He left an honorable and profitable calling when the Lord transformed him into something better.
The ability to make wise choices in an ability greatly needed by all of us amid the multitude of opportunities we may be offered.
It is important that we don’t ask, “What’s wrong with an opportunity we are considering?”
The better question to ponder is, “What is right with it?”
Is this the best investment of my time and energy – thinking, of course, only about my own benefit?
Again, there is a better question to consider as we make decisions.
That question is: Will my decision be one that I will use my time and energy for my own glory – or will this be an opportunity for me to use my time and energy for the glory of God?
And Finally – Jesus sought Conscious Workmen (vs. 11)
The fishermen’s immediate change in lifestyle and occupation probably seemed hasty to their friends, but consider this:
Sufficient evidence was at hand.
The validity of the Lord’s claim was established. The boat was loaded with fish because of Jesus’ instruction.
There was nothing to be gained by delaying following Him and His instructions.
The same indecisiveness would be required in their work.
Consider the answers to those who would forbid them to preach – Acts 4:18-21.
READ
And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;
Paul said later “Now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
Here is a question to ask of ourselves as we commit our service to our Lord:
“Am I the kind of workman God can use?
The answer may depend on my answer to that question Peter and his partners answered that day.
And we have the opportunity now to ask the question and answer it --- Is Jesus the kind of Lord I want to follow? Am I willing to let Him guide my life and decisions I must make daily?
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