Ministering: Rev. Lanre Oluseye
Topic: Living Above the Law
Texts: Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV), Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
At the shore of Lake Gennesaret was a convergence of two problems.
Jesus had a problem of growth – He had too many people following him, but did not have enough space to minister to them.
Peter had a problem of lack – he and his team of experienced and competent fishermen had toiled all night and caught nothing. They had already left their boats and were washing their nets in deep frustration, fatigue and pain.
While Jesus’ ministry was booming, Peter’s business was declining. They were both in the same geographical location yet having opposite experiences – failure and success cohabiting in the same space.
Success intersected with failure in Luke 5. Both scenarios were a prophecy and a testimony to each other.
To Peter, the prophecy was: ‘If God is blessing your neighbor, it means God is in the neighborhood; and if God could do it for A, He would soon do it for B.’
To Jesus, it was a prophecy and testament that Peter’s lack did not mean he did not put in the required effort. There is a place of grace and election; and time and chance . If God has blessed you, be humble.
It is tough to see someone succeeding where you’re failing. Being in the same space with someone prospering more than you are, is meant to inspire you, not provoke you. When God gives you a foretaste of something, it is so that you can develop a taste for it. Exposure to what God is doing in another person’s life creates desire in you, for your own. Do not be envious of anyone, understand that each person’s journey is different.
Jesus (the succeeding one) asked Peter (the failing one) for his boat. Jesus used the tool of Peter’s failure to do his own work. Peter’s success was tied to his alignment with the succesful. Find an anointed person and align with him – submit your tools to support the growth of someone who has the success you’re praying for.
Luke 5:3 – The first instruction to Peter was to put out a little from the land. Life is in phases; live your phase per time. Learn to crawl before you try to fly. Respect the process. Big dreams start with small steps. If you master the shallow, you will master the deep.
Luke 5:4 – The second instruction was to move further into the deep. The deep represents the place of assignment, destiny, impact, reward; the place where God takes glory from your life.
Peter could obey both instructions because he already had a boat – a vehicle -to take him to each next level.
Do you have a boat to get you to the deep – the level of impact? Your boat could be your education, proper relationships, pedigree, career, language, business, a course, etc. It is what will take you further and bring you before kings. God wants to bless you but He needs a vehicle to bless you through.
Luke 5:4 – When Jesus instructed Peter to let down his nets, Peter had been washing the net he had used the night before. Daytime nets were different from nighttime nets because fishing tactics varied depending on the time of day. However, they used the nighttime net to catch a daytime harvest. This means that God can use any net in your hand to give you your harvest. God is not bound by seasons. The question is whether you have a net.
Luke 5:4 – The third instruction was to let down their nets for a catch. This net is a metaphor of the fruit of the Spirit. Peter let down one net (Love) and it pulled in all manner of fish (Luke 5:6).
Release your net of love. Let down your net of joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, etc. Your lack of the fruit of the Spirit is costing you some blessings, opportunities and open doors. Your blessing is not far – you are in the deep; the right fishes are swimming under you now – you’re just not letting down your net; which is the nine expressions of the fruit of the Spirit. If you will release them, you will live above the law.
Nothing can hold back a man who is walking in the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Against this kind of person, there is no law of limitation and stagnation.
Prayer: Father, .Help us to walk in discernment and wisdom in this season. As we release our nets and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, our nets break with the blessings that we earnestly desire in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
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