AT THY WORD WE WILL

Text: Luke 5:5 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.

Intro: Describe the scene of the disappointed fishermen. A night of labor with nothing to show for it.

I. The seeming impossibility of the task.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

A. The rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Neh 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

B. The helplessness of the disciples alone. Master, we perish!

C. Paul, without me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

D. The impossible tasks we face. missions, building, witnessing, etc.
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

II. At Thy Word We Will!
A. We will take up our cross. Every success in service begins here.

B. We will be soul winners.
Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

C. We will go forward in missions.

D. We will keep ourselves and our church unspotted.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

E. We will work at whatever task he sets us.
Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

III. The obedience demanded.
A. Why call me Lord and do not--
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

B. It is required of a steward that a man be found faithful--
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

C. That a church should contend for the faith.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

D. All men everywhere, to repent!
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

IV. Refusal to obey always brings disaster and disappointment.
Luke 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
Luke 19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
Luke 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
Luke 19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Luke 19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

V. Obedience IS victory! Just to know we did what He commanded. Success? By whose standards? By man's standards, Jesus was a colossal failure!