LAUNCHING OUT INTO THE DEEP | Northstar Church

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” – Luke 5:4-6 (KJV).

Peter was standing in swallow water washing his nets with James and John. They were so intent on rinsing the grime from the Galilean Sea off their empty nets that they didn’t notice the crowd approaching them. After a long night of fishing, they didn’t have anything to show for their efforts.

Suddenly, Peter heard his name. “Simon, can you push your boat into the water.” Peter left his net, nudged the boat away from the shore, and listened to Jesus speaking to the crowd on the bank. Jesus finished His message and turned once again to Peter. His request this time was astounding: “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a drought” (Luke 5:4 KJV). Peter could obey Jesus and launch out or follow his senses and decline.

Peter’s decision and the resulting miracle (they caught so many fish that the boat was on the verge of sinking) reveal that obedience to Christ’s command can change the course of an entire life. Peter’s life was never the same.

It’s easy to stand on the shore, hear the Word being preached, clap for the preacher, sing a few worship songs, and then go home and back to everyday life. But that isn’t what Jesus came for. He is looking for people who will launch into the deep with Him. Jesus wants a deep, personal, intimate experience that cannot be had on the shore. That is the end goal of every church service, every sermon preached, every prayer uttered: finding yourself “in the deep” with Jesus.

The Bible does not tell us exactly what happened in the deep, but Peter was never the same again. Luke says that after that intimate experience with Jesus in the deep, Peter “left everything and followed Jesus” (Luke 5:11).

When was the last time you had an experience in the deep with Jesus? Just you and Him alone? No multitudes around, no distractions, no hurrying…just you and Jesus in the deep. It’s easy to stand on the shore. But what Jesus wants from His relationship with you is so much more…so much deeper than that.

Discussion Questions:

What does launching into the deep mean to you in practical terms?
What can we do this week to move into deeper waters?