I remember when our children were young and they were looking forward to Christmas or maybe a birthday and how they would let us know what they’d like to receive. And as I think back on those days I have to chuckle because our granddaughters are doing exactly the same thing. Usually in a not so very subtle way.

I remember how our kids used to go find the catalog from Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, JC Penney or one of the others and they would start circling all those things they wanted.

Those were things that they wanted and it was always too many to number!

As Gods children there are things that we want and desire throughout our lives and God shows us in today’s Scripture exactly how they come to us.

First of all let’s get this out-of-the-way right now! I want you to know that there are no limits on what are good God can do for us or give us! The enormity or the price tag does not scare God! 

The reality is though, not everyone receives what they ask for, because there are two qualifiers in our Scripture that Jesus, the Master said, must be met first.

Again Jesus said “if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you you’ll ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.”

Qualifier #1 - Abide in Me

You’ve got to stay hooked up and linked up with Jesus! Allowing Him to live His life through you.

Qualifier #2 - His Word must be abiding in you

You’ve got to not only read the Word and hear the Word but you’ve got to latch hold of it and not let go!

I think the Passion Translation John 15:7 states it well: 

"If you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you - then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done."

*|FNAME|*, God wants to bless you beyond anything you can possible imagine

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We say amen to the truth of the Word of God when we hear it preached or taught or maybe it’s something we’ve read, but it doesn’t seem to be working for me. Why is that?

As I was thinking about our Scripture for today the Lord said this; “If you will work the Word, the Word will work for you.”

And the Scripture also says that if we are not doing what we’ve heard we are deceived. Ouch!

I like what the Message Bible says; “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭MSG‬‬

We cannot shortcut any of God’s promises. He will not do for us what we need to do ourselves. God has His part and we have ours.  

Now I like shortcuts! With all of the electronic gadgets and helps that we now have, everything is so much quicker.

We’ve got fast food lanes, express checkout’s and quick pay. Now days orders can be made online and they will bring it to you, quickly! Within hours of placing an order with Amazon someone’s knocking on your door with the package. Amazing!

Order online and someone will do your shopping and when you go to the store they'll load it in your car. The list goes on and on.

It takes very little effort on our part to accomplish so much these days. Now that’s a good thing but we must be careful that we don’t forget to do our part as far as the Word of God is concerned.

Being a doer of the word requires effort, lots of effort! No shortcuts here! 

For every instruction you would read in the Word I would encourage you to ask the Lord how to apply it to your life and He will help you.

It’s one thing to know what to do but it’s another thing to know how to do it. And that’s what He will show you!

“If you will work the Word, the Word will work for you.”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us....”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20 NKJV

Regarding today’s Scripture I would like to ask you a question. Have you ever had a REALLY BIG IDEA? A thought, of something you’d like to do and your initial thought is, that’s not possible? No way, not going to happen? 

Listen there will be times when God will drop a REALLY BIG IDEA in you. Something way beyond what you could possibly accomplish. I mean it staggers you at first!

The Bible is filled with people who did great things for God, directed by Him, but lacked what was necessary in the beginning to fulfill the mission.

We’ve held back on doing things because we haven’t gotten a hold of what God has said and promised. 

God said He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...”

Notice the responsibility for “doing” is based entirely on His ability.

And all of this is “according to the power that works in us....”. That word power in the Greek is dunamis and is also translated force, miraculous power, ability, might and strength.

I like how the Message Bible puts it: 

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20 MSG‬‬

So the next time God drops that REALLY BIG IDEA in you, embrace it. Let Him know you are ready for the mission and He will empower you and provide all the resources you need.

“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:1-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

These guys had been fishing all night and they caught nothing. These are experienced commercial fishermen who made their living from fishing. Yet on this particular night they had gone out and labored all night and ended up with nothing.  For these guys catching nothing meant there was no income for that day! 

The Scripture says that they had left their boats and they were washing their nets getting them ready for the next nights fishing.

I would suspect these guys were bummed out, probably a bit agitated and upset! Their labors produced nothing! What’s the wife going to say? How are we going to feed the kids? How are we going to pay the bills?

Simon is on land tending to the nets and here’s Jesus in his boat. It causes me to chuckle when I think about this! I can see Jesus climbing into his boat and then asking Simon for his help.

He speaks directly to Simon, after getting into Simon’s boat, He asks him to move out from the shore so He could speak to the people, this multitude that had come.

Simon had a choice to make.  Either help Jesus or finish cleaning his nets. 

Simon said yes to Jesus and because of this one decision it would forever change his life. He would go from catching fish to being a fisher of men. Joining the Master on the most amazing faith adventure one could ever imagine.  

Simon’s decision would not only lead to him and his fishing partners being blessed with an unbelievable catch of fish but it would cause the multitude to hear the message the Master brought.

After Jesus had finished ministering to the people He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon and his fishing buddies were about to be rewarded by the Lord!

Simon had another choice, another decision to make. Do what the Master says, or call it a day. Go home, go to bed and hope for a better tomorrow?

Simon didn’t hesitate and said, “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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.”

The Master needed to deliver His message and Simon cooperated with Him. He allowed Jesus to use his boat and as a result not only would Simon be blessed but all of his fishing partners as well.

Simon partnered with Jesus in His ministry and he was rewarded mightily! Simon sowed his boat and he received a NET BREAKING BOAT SINKING HARVEST!

God always rewards His children when they obey him. That’s His nature!

My friend, as your partner in God’s Kingdom business, expect to receive a NET BREAKING BOAT SINKING Harvest!