Truly Trusting

Introduction

Good morning.

Luke chapter 5. One of the amazing things about the scripture is that even when you think about heroes of faith, when you think about pinnacles of trust in Jesus, that even his closest disciples showed a degree of faithlessness, or a degree of being what we would call human, that they too made mistakes. That they like me didn’t always see the big picture of Jesus and found it hard to sometimes truly trust in him. In Luke chapter 5, as we discussed the idea this morning of truly trusting, of course, in Jesus, our Lord, Jesus, the crucified Savior. We think about Luke chapter 5, and you read in verse 1 on one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesareth, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

You see, Peter’s a lot like us in a lot of ways, and one of those ways is that when we don’t understand something or when we don’t necessarily agree, it’s difficult to truly just say, Yes, Lord, yes, God, I will do what you say. It’s as easy as that. See, one of the key differences in someone who just says, Yes, thy will be done no matter what, and someone who struggles is we’re a little bit into excuse making. It’s kind of like the military man who was supposed to report back for a curfew, and he lost track of time. And he came in about two hours late, and as he was reporting to his colonel, the colonel said, Why are you late? And he said, I was on a date and I lost track of time, so I missed the bus.

So I knew I had to get back, so I hired a cab, but wouldn’t you know it? The cab broke down. But I saw a farmhouse, so I went and I bought a horse. And so I bought the horse and was on my way back, and the horse fell down. And I had to run these last ten miles. The colonel wasn’t pleased, but he said, Go back and move on. But the problem was there were still several others missing. And seven other military men came in and had the same excuse. The colonel said, What happened? They said, You wouldn’t believe it, but I was on a date and I lost track of time. I missed the bus. I took a cab, the cab broke down, I bought a horse, and the horse dropped down.

Finally, the ninth man came in, and he said, You wouldn’t believe it. And the colonel says, What? That your cab broke down? He said, No, I got in a cab, but there were so many horses in the road I couldn’t get anywhere. He liked to make excuses. There’s always some reason we can’t be where we need to be, do what we want to do. But no excuses are pleasing to God. And certainly we need to understand, not only does our trust need to be firm, secure, and built up in Jesus, we need to see secondarily this morning these two points that also Jesus is worth trusting in. And when you read the story, when you go back and you look in verse 4, Jesus has told him, he says, put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

He says, I want you to reach out. I want you to go ahead and search, and your net is going to be full. And notice Peter’s answer in verse 5. Not yes, that sounds fantastic. In verse 5, Peter says, Master, we toiled all night and we took nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets. Now, I will add in verse 5, Peter goes a half step farther than many of us, because a lot of us would be tempted just to say, look, I tried all night long and there was nothing. And then in sentence. At least Peter says, but at your word I will do so. But you notice there’s some thoughts in here that lack trust that I think Peter illustrates that we suffer with.

1. It’s the Wrong Time

One of those is it’s the wrong time. Did you notice that? Peter says, look, last night we toiled all night and got nothing. It’s not the right timing, Jesus. You just don’t understand. Have you ever thought this to yourself as you go through and you know what Jesus expects of you? You read the scriptures and you know what submitting to God looks like, but you kind of know what your life wants to look like in your own mind and from selfish desires. And we say, you know what? I will do what God wants. I’ll be more intense in my service. I’ll start doing this new challenge I know my Lord expects of me tomorrow. I’ll start in a week or next year, or when my job settled, or when the family settled, or my bank account’s high enough.

And you go through all those things, and guess what happens in life? You never reach the time where it’s the just right moment to please Jesus. Can I give you a major spoil alert? And if you took one thing from the lesson this morning, this is it, right from the onset. Now is the time to serve Jesus. There is nothing to wait for. There is no reason, no life circumstance that will make it better. Today is the day to trust in Jesus and do as he commands. When we think about it’s not the right time, though, what we’re doing is we’re letting ourselves off the hook. We’re saying, yes, I know I need to do what God says. But not right now. I would show you a scripture to illustrate that point, but there isn’t really one, for when Jesus says you have to pick up your cross daily, denying yourself and follow after me, the implication is you do it now.

Or not at all. In fact, in Luke chapter 9, you see an example of that idea. In Luke chapter 9, note Jesus’ strong words in chapter 9 and verse 57. He addresses people, not necessarily rebuking them, but just pointing out this is an all or nothing proposition. In Luke chapter 9 and verse 57, as they were going along the road, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holds and birds of the air have nest, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. To another, he said, Follow me, but he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. And Jesus said to them, Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Yet another said, I will follow you, but first let me say farewell to those at my home. And Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. Peter looked at Jesus and said, Look, we toiled all night. There’s not any fish there. And again, we have our two dilemmas. The one is, should Peter have just trusted in Jesus? Yes. Should those who Jesus is speaking to just leave and follow after him? Of course. But then also there’s that second element. What was Peter wrong about when he said, We’ve toiled all night? That when Jesus said, lower your nets, what was going to be there? Fish. How much fish? Luke chapter 5, not only were their nets full, they had to get other boats, and they were so full, those boats began to sink.

Jesus knows what’s best for us. And when we say it’s the wrong time, we’re telling Jesus, not only am I not going to do today what I know you expect of me, but that I know better than you. And that if I can do your will in my own time, it’ll be best for your will. We see the problems there, and we’re kind of like the person Jesus responds to in verse 62. Anyone who puts his hand into the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. Where are my efforts? Are they all in with what Jesus has said? Or are there some excuses? Second phrase, and this isn’t necessarily what Peter was implying, but certainly when you go back to verse 5, it’s it’s somewhat implied in his response.

2. I Know What Is Best

Thoughts that lack trust include, I know what is best. I don’t think Peter was going to have a fishing lesson with Jesus, but consider what was Jesus’ occupation. To many people, Jesus was nothing but a lowly carpenter. And here Jesus says, remember a lot of his disciples were not just fishers of men. They were clever wordplay here, fishermen. And so here’s Jesus saying, hey, you let down your lots. And Peter’s thinking, Are you kidding me? I’ve just been doing this all night. Not only did we do it all night, verse 5 says, we toiled all night. And by the way, what did we get for all of our hard work that took a long time? Nothing. And Jesus says, you put down your nets now, and there will be something there.

Peter shows some wisdom when he says, but because you have said so, I will do it. But sometimes I don’t know that I show that trust. Have you ever struggled with the thought of, I know what is best? We might not ever say it that way. Here’s the way it might sound. Many of you may be familiar with the former athlete Dion Sanders. And he was famous for saying, There’s something about those Ida guys. He said, I always call them Ida. He said, They always have an answer for something. I’d have been a millionaire if I had just, or I’d have been the fastest player in the prose if I could have just. He calls them Idas. There’s always a reason. They could have been the best, but they weren’t.

Neon’s perspective was, I grew up with these guys, and some of them were faster and better than me, but when I was at practice, they were on the streets. And when I was shaping myself to be in the NFL, they were shaping themselves for the life that’s unfolded for them. This is where you start thinking about what am I reaping? Well, what I’m reaping is what I’ve sown. Look what me in Galatians chapter 6. If you note in Galatians chapter 6, this is exactly what God says for us, and this becomes an uncomfortable thought. Not that anyone here would look to God and say, Look, I know what’s best, God. But I wonder what we’re reaping. And to understand that, we have to see, what have I sown?

And Galatians chapter 6, if you look with me at verse 6, let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life. By the way, verse 9, let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. See, here’s that problem with the thought that says, I know what is best. Obviously, God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts.

Of course, that is an application. But consider when we think about what Jesus expects, what is it that he expects of me? Luke chapter 9, verse 23 says self-denial. I know from reading the pages of both the Old and New Testament, God expects my complete submission and wholehearted obedience. Can I tell you what’s a sham teaching of the scriptures? That following God is about not breaking certain rules and kind of showing up on Sunday and following some others. Following Jesus is a lifetime commitment. And when we dilute it and well, I don’t do bad things. Or I need to pick up doing a couple more good things. We’ve missed the boat. We are Christians because we are to be like Christ, who had compassion on others, who came to seek and save the lost.

If we understand that God’s ways are truly best, then when I think about my past week and I’m trying to decide what will I be reaping, I have to examine the question of what have I sown? And I ask this past week, what have I done? What have I sown to the Spirit? Have my actions this week been focused on this life? People, places, and things that are confined to the joys and pleasures of this life. Or have I been planting anything to reap what I’ve sown to the Spirit? It’s very powerful if you read verse 8 again. The second part the one who sows the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let’s not be mistaken. Paul also says, God is not mocked. He knows what we’re doing.

3. I’ve Already Done All I Can Do

We may not ever say I know what is best, but maybe we have kind of the attitude of Peter that says, okay, Jesus, I know you said to do this, but even though I know it’s not going to work, I’m going to do it. We need to know God’s will is best. Maybe this final thought is most illustrative of our struggle. When you go back to Luke chapter 5, and again, one more time you spotlight Peter’s answer. When Jesus says, cast down your net and look for a catch, and Peter says, Master, we’ve toiled all night and took nothing. I think this might be a little bit like the Christian. Makes me think of the prodigal son. And when you think about the prodigal son’s story, it’s not about him, but about his older brother.

And when you start thinking about Christians, I start thinking about myself. It’s not necessarily that I don’t know who God is. It’s not that I think it’s the wrong time. It’s not even that I don’t think God’s ways are best. It might be that I think I’m either doing enough or I’ve already done all I can do. Notice what Peter says. We have toiled all night. We’ve caught nothing. There’s nothing left for me to do. Have you ever felt that way? God, I’m doing everything I can, and I don’t know why things aren’t working out the way I thought they would. I’m giving my all. I come every time church doors are open. I listen to every YouTube link that’s posted and I share them. Those are good things to do, by the way.

I read my Bible, I pray to God, I encourage others. There’s nothing left for me to do. The problem with all of these statements, in and of itself, is that they don’t show trust in Jesus. If we know that following him is a lifetime commitment of which we continually improve, when we echo the words of Paul in Romans chapter 12, are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind, not conformed to this world, but rather that transformation has occurred every single day. I’m going to focus on trusting in Jesus because his ways are right and his ways are best. And if I know Jesus is right and his ways are best, can I tell you how that would help us in a real practical way?

4. Realize My Attitude May Be Wrong

When I don’t understand why God is allowing what’s happening to me to happen, I can know God sees this. That is not to say everything happens because God made it so. Or everything happens and it’s going to be to my betterment. Some things just stink. Some challenges in life rock us to our core and cause us to lack trust or tempt us to lack trust in Jesus. And what we have to tell ourselves in that moment is this is the time more than ever, I need my Lord and my Savior. And that means I have to submit to him. And so if we put aside these excuses, if we’re going to learn to truly trust, the first step is to realize, like Peter did, my attitude may be wrong.

I may be a fisherman. Jesus may be a carpenter by trade. I may think I understand what it’s like at my office. I may know what it’s like in my family, and nobody but me understands. But maybe if we’re going to truly trust in Jesus, we have to allow his will to permeate through our lives. And that means realizing my attitude, my perspective might be wrong. When you look at Luke chapter 5, when you consider Peter’s response, the important part was he did say, but at your word I will let down the nets. And when you look back at Luke 5 and verse 6 and 7, what happened? Predictably, Jesus’ will was right. When they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, so much so their nets were breaking.

Verse 7, they needed more boats to come in, and those boats began to sink. But notice Peter in verse 8. Do you think it’s a big deal to doubt Jesus? Peter even did what Jesus said. He did it reluctantly. He did it after saying he toiled all night and got nothing. But he did what Jesus said, and then note Peter’s response in verse 8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Can I tell you what’s troubling to me there? Sometimes I, and maybe others in the assembly this morning, can allow ourselves to think, you know what? You know, I may not trust in Jesus, but if I just do it anyway, that’s fine.

As long as I just make myself do it. There’s something to be said for trusting in Jesus and doing it, even if we don’t have all the pieces or parts. But notice Peter recognizes when he doubted, when he said, I’ve toiled all night and got nothing, even though he did it, even though he saw the success of following Jesus’ way, he falls to his knees in verse 8, and he says, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man. In an instant, Peter realized he was wrong. And likewise in an instant, he wanted to make it right. That’s the attitude of someone who truly trusts in Jesus. Do you notice what it took, though, to develop that trust? Did you see what happened with Peter? Peter says, okay, I’m gonna do it.

Then verse 6 and 7 happened, and verse 8, he’s changed. What was 6 and 7? He saw all the fish. It broke the nets. It sank, started to sink the boats. I wonder if I’ll have my moment where I realize I need to trust in Jesus now or at the day of judgment. There will be a day when I, when we as individuals recognize how powerful, mighty, and deserving our entire lives of servitude, our God and Father and Jesus the Christ are. Will I choose to make that moment now? While I examine the scriptures and see how God’s will is always done, God’s ways are always best. Or will it take to when it’s too late on the day of judgment when I realize I have missed the mark.

I haven’t truly trusted. I’ve tried to live my way. Look at me in 2 Corinthians chapter 7. Paul helps us understand this idea a little bit. In 2 Corinthians chapter 7, if we are going to change, if we’re going to be better, we need to not only realize we’re wrong, we have to do something about it. In 2 Corinthians chapter 7, beginning in verse 8, for even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that letter grieved you though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what zeal, what fear, what longing, what punishment. At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. Notice what Paul says. I wrote you a letter. I pointed out some wrongs. And while I’m upset in the one hand that I might have caused you some grief, I’m not on the other. And most importantly, I’m not bothered because you did what? Verse 9 and 10. Your godly grief produced repentance, leading unto salvation. We have to be moved in that direction. If we truly trust Jesus, can I say one element of us that will match Peter, in which he was a good example in Luke chapter 5 is true recognition that sin is awful.

In this world, it’s so easy to act like sin is just something wrong that people choose to do and I need to avoid. And if it happens, so be it. I’ll move on. What was Peter’s response in Luke 5? Depart from me, Lord, I am a sinful man. I have no place in your presence. Sin should grieve us to our core. And if it doesn’t grieve me, if it doesn’t cause you any grief that you’ve sinned, we’re lacking the proper motivation, verse 10 says, produces a repentance that leads to salvation. Perhaps that’s why in Romans 12 and verse 9, Paul said, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor. Strongly hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. There is no truly trusting in Jesus without truly hating sin.

5. Stop to Give Thanks

That means when we see it on our computer screens, when we watch it on television, when we hear it with the groups of people we hang around, sin is not funny. It is not cute. It’s not something to wink at. It separates us from God and requires the death of Jesus. Sin is serious. And to truly trust in Jesus means that when I have sinned, I am honest, I am forthright, I am grieved into repenting, which leads to salvation because that’s how I please and show my trust in God. Second way to truly trust is to stop to give thanks. This is a good weekend for this point. To stop to give thanks. Look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. You might know chapter 5 and verse 17 for a particular reason.

We’ll read that just to get everyone pretty excited. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 17. You’ll know this. In fact, verse 16 also, if you’re looking for short Bible verses, these two are good ones. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing, verse 17. Verse 18, give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Ken, I don’t know if you possibly know the number, but can you imagine anyone who’s even here? How many times Ken or I or anybody has ever quoted 1 Thessalonians 5 17, pray without ceasing? Countless times. And that’s critically important. But do you notice verse 16 and verse 18 which surround it? Verse 16, rejoice always. Verse 18, give thanks in all circumstances. Why? For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

One way that we can start trusting in Jesus and to recognize, to have our Peter moment now instead of at the day of judgment, is to look around and see the fish that are sinking the boat. Peter had an upfront seat to see the miraculous works of Jesus. He saw what Jesus did. He said, I worked all night and saw nothing. Jesus said, Cast down my nets, and there they all were. But you know what I can see? I can stop today. I can stop on a weekend. I can stop on my car ride, and I can think about everything God has done. And you know what else I can do in particular? Not only giving him thanks and glory for this, I can say, if I had taken my pathway, how much worse would my life be than if I took God’s pathway?

6. Only Jesus Can Do the Impossible

God’s pathway involves true peace, joy, and love. God’s pathway enjoys a family in Christ, regardless of our family in this world is. God’s way includes salvation. We need to stop to give thanks, not just for Jesus’ sacrifice on the first day of the week, although that is important in following scriptural example. We need to be thankful for that sacrifice every day. We need to be thankful for every day that we can give thanks at all. If we stop and give thanks, we’ll start seeing the fish in the nets. And if we’re really looking and really being honest, we’ll see our blessings overflow us, much like the fish were overflowing the nets and the boats. One final point this morning learning to truly trust, not only do I need to realize my attitude may be wrong and do something about it, not only do I need to stop to give thanks, I have to know and embrace and live the idea that only Jesus can do the impossible.

If you look in Philippians chapter 4, this is the point that Paul makes. How is it that we can give thanks in all circumstances? That’s pretty difficult to do. I don’t like giving thanks when I’m upset, when I feel wronged, and yet 1 Thessalonians 5 18 remains true regardless of how I feel about it. Give thanks in all circumstances. So this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. But Philippians chapter 4 echoes some of those very thoughts. We know verse 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But notice how Paul goes through these verses, his perspective on life. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you, Philippians yourselves, know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only.

Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God, in verse 19, and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

I know how to live in any circumstance. But notice what he recognizes. That God’s will is being done, even if it’s not in the way he would have expected, or the way that we think it’s deserved. I find it interesting that Paul of all people, Paul the apostle, the apostle to the Gentiles, the apostle who, by the time of writing this Philippian letter, was not Saul the torturer of Christians. And yet he says in verse 15, You Philippians yourself know in the beginning when I left Macedonia, no one entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you. But what was Paul’s reaction towards that one group who was willing to share in his work. Not only was he thankful for them, not only did he trust God’s will in being there for him.

Notice where his focus is in verse 17. Don’t get me wrong, Paul says, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your account. The Philippians probably never dreamed that they could travel the first century world and touch as many Gentile Christians as Paul did. But by sharing in God’s plan, by sharing with Paul the Apostle and his work, taking care of him and his basic necessities, what was growing to their account. The fruits of salvation. It might be that I think to myself, I could never evangelize in Europe or Africa or even Australia. But God’s plan has a way for the gospel to reach everyone. And by the way, that includes two critically important components: someone willing to go and people willing to support them there.

Conclusion

You may say, going there is not for me. That’s great. But know that with Jesus’ plan, what we consider impossible is totally possible, doable, and it’s happening before our eyes. Too often we’re like Peter. Jesus says, cast your nets over there. And we have all kinds of reasons as to why. It’s not the right time. I don’t think you’re right about that, Lord. Or maybe even the idea that says, you know, it’s really not for me. Jesus says, you need to trust me. We need to have the moment that Peter does that says, I see God’s will is best. If you’re here this morning and you realize that you need to trust in Jesus fully, recognize that, as I said from the onset, the number one takeaway is the time to serve Jesus, the time to build up that trust and know that his ways are best begins right now.

If you’ve never become a Christian, recognize salvation is possible for you. It’s possible today. All things are possible because Jesus has paid the price. If you believe in God, if you believe in Jesus as the crucified Son of God, if you’re willing to confess Him as Lord and live out that confession of faith that He is the resurrected Savior. If you repent of your sins, being moved by godly grief, recognizing you have not trusted fully in Jesus. You can be baptized, immersed in the water, having your sins forgiven, baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Have no more grief, no more sorrow, but only joy and love, knowing our God has reached out to you and He’s there for you.

Maybe you’re a Christian and you never fully trusted in God, or you’re struggling with your trust. Recognize that God’s plan is perfect and God’s will can do the impossible. You might think you’re too far gone, but we’re never too far gone for our great God. We can pray with you. We will pray for you. If we can help you in any way, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.