Cast Out Your Nets

Cast out your nets. The scripture tells in Luke 5:1-11. Jesus told them to cast out their nets, even though they had been toiling all night to catch fish. What if they had not trusted Jesus and did what he instructed them to do? What if they just went on back to shore and called it a night? What if?

^1-3 Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.

⁴ When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.”

^5-7 Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

^8-10 Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.

^10-11 Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him. (MSG)

This passage of scripture shows trust and obedience.

In life, we travel down many paths. We encounter many things. They are what we call life lessons. These lessons help shape us. God knew every path we would take before we were even born. He knew every decision we would make before we ever made it. We have choices and the hope is that we will make the right choices. The question is when we make those choices do we include God in the process? Is He in on the decision-making? Do we consult God? Do we allow God to truly direct our path? That is what Proverbs 3:6 says. We know Proverbs 3:6 is the truth because God’s Word does not lie. Then why is it hard for us to truly cast out our nets and trust God? Why is it hard for us to cast out our fears? Why is it hard for us to cast out our doubts? Why is it hard for us to cast out our struggles, and our heartache and pain and leave them with the Lord? Why is it so hard to cast out our nets?

God saw that the fishermen had been fishing all night. He saw that they had caught nothing. He saw it. He knew it before it even happened. What happened next was the true test. Jesus said to Simon launch out into the deep and cast out your nets. Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” He took Jesus at his word and trusted him. We will say Lord I trust you. Lord, I believe you. Lord, I honor you but is that so? As soon as things look bleak, we begin doubting. When God blesses us oh for a few moments we are all in but the first sign that things start going left we are ready to run. We give up and head backward. We forget all that He has done for us. We forget all that He promised us in His Mighty Word. We forget. We must trust Him even in our darkest hour, not just when everything is all rosy and great. When it is all shiny and new. We must trust Him when it looks bleak. We must trust Him even when it looks like there is no way out. We must trust Him even when every door has been slammed in our faces. We must trust Him even when we are tired and worn out. We must find the strength to keep on going no matter how long we have been trying. We must trust Him.

What if the fishermen had said no Simon let’s go back. We have been out here all night. What if Simon had listened to them instead of Jesus and turned back? What if? If had listened to them he would have missed his blessing. You know, many of us have those so-called friends who say they have our back through thick and thin. But in an instant, they will turn their backs on you. In an instance, they are quick to try and talk you out of something. We make it so easy, or shall I say the enemy makes it so easy because we allow him to talk us out of our blessing. God is standing right there with the breakthrough with His hand opened wide. God is standing right there in the boat saying try again, try me. All He wants us to do is grab hold and He will bring us through. But we listen to the naysayers. When we listen to our doubts and fears. When we listen to everything else but Jesus, we allow those things to pull us away from our blessing, our breakthrough. Simon had a choice. He could have chosen not to listen to Jesus. Simon could have headed back to shore. But he didn’t. He was obedient and did what Jesus asked him to do. He trusted Jesus. That is what God wants us to do. Trust Him and be obedient.

God is saying in 2024 you did it your way. In 2024 you made decisions without including me. In 2024 you listened to your girlfriends and your boys. In 2024 you followed a path that did not include me. But in 2025 things have got to change. God is saying are you not tired of doing it your way and only making it halfway. God is saying do you want to keep living from paycheck to paycheck. God is saying do you want to keep hanging with those so-called friends that keep on pulling you down? God is saying I need you to remove all your doubts and fears. If you need healing God said, speak my Word over your life. If you need a breakthrough God said, speak deliverance over your life. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you”. God is saying DO YOU NOT TRUST ME? In 2025 God is saying cast out your net and follow me. Cast out your net beloved. Be like Simon in the boat, who had fished all night, he was tired and weary, but he took one more chance, by trusting Jesus. God is saying you tried it your way now try it my way. Stop casting out your net and coming up empty. Cast out your net and receive all that I have for you. Cast out your net and speak God’s Word over your life. Cast out your net and take God at His Word. Cast out your net and walk in your healing. Cast out your net and walk in your breakthrough. Cast out your net. God is saying try me, TRUST ME. Cast out your net.