At that time Simon and his friends were “upset” because they had worked all night catching fish but not getting any result (Luke 5:1-11). They needed God to work to help them. At the end of the story, we all know, God worked and their problem was settled completely. How can we make God work in our lives? What we should do when God is working:
1. Listen to the Word of God.
“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret” (v. 1).
When you’re worried, you should listen to the Word of God that has been spoken by ministers who really delivered a fresh word from Heaven. Many people when they’re worried they don’t want to listen to the Word of God, not want to seek God. “Later when everything is fine then we worship again,” they said. That is a wrong thought concept. Breakthrough in our lives often starts from hearing a fresh Word from Heaven.
2. God speaks personally.
“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (v. 4).
When we listen to the Word of God which is generally delivered to the entire congregation, often in the end God speaks personally to us. When God speaks personally to us, that is a sign that the Lord will soon work. Because God’s work always begins with His words. Pay attention to what He says!
And when He works, this is what we should do:
1. When He works make sure we are in the right place and time.
“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship” (v. 3).
Simon was in the right place and time, that’s why when God worked, he was ready and he enjoyed the results. Make sure you are always in the place where Jesus is, because you never know when He will work. If you continue to be in the place where Jesus is, when He works on His time, you are ready and will enjoy the results.
2. When He works make sure we provide appropriate and immediate response.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake (vv. 4-6).
Jesus spoke personally to Simon and his friends, and they immediately responded. Because they responded appropriately and immediately, then the result immediately came visible. We often can not see God is working because we respond to His Word wrongly. We do not do what He says, because we are often hampered by past failures. They had worked hard all night and did not catch anything, and now, He told them to cast their nets.
3. When He works make sure we do something to expand and enlarge His work.
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink (v. 7).
When God is working we have to do something that makes God’s work expand and enlarge. They told their friends to get involved in what God was doing, so that more and more fish were caught, which was then only one boat, now became a lot of boats. Other people also enjoyed the work of God. God’s work became more and more extended and enlarged.
When God is working, we should do something to expand and enlarge the work of the Lord. One of the things we can do is to testify. Tell others about what God is doing in our lives, so that God’s work can be extended and enlarged.
4. When He works His purpose is to bring us into His plan.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him (v. 11).
After experiencing God’s work in their lives, they left everything to follow Jesus. They entered into the plan of God who wanted to make them fishers of men. Whatever God is doing in our lives, the purpose is that we enter into His plan, live for His plan.
Those are what we should do when God is working. I pray that God will work in your life and you immediately enter His plan, live in His plan.
Also read: What is inside us Determines our Perspective and Decision.
