Hello GOD'S Beloved!
How are you doing? Salutations to you in JESUS' name
It's very strange for our letter to start this way but, so be it
How was your week?
Truthfully, it was quite a week for me and GOD has proven to be really amazing
GOD is so mindful of us and JESUS holds us very dearly
The overwhelming love of GOD makes sure that we're satisfied and and held tightly
JESUS made a statement in John chapter 10 and I have seen it play out in my life
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. - John 10:27-28 NKJV
There are even times that we're unable to hear HIS voice due to the noises from the outside but the reality that no one can snatch us from HIS hands remain sure
This is not something applicable to everyone, it's only applicable to we who are HIS sheep
Sometimes, we allow things HE gave us to even take HIS place or snatch us from HIS hands
One thing I have learnt is that HE destroys anything and anyone that stands in the way of the fulfilment of HIS plans for us
When we say “nothing can separate us from the love of CHRIST”, the “nothing” we're speaking of is not only bad and negative things and situations
Its also good things and progresses in different areas of our lives
And, once HE sees that we're beginning to worship the creature, HE shows us HE'S THE CREATOR by taking it away
It's a love language! Nothing can separate us from HIM.
That's the summary of my week, dear GOD'S Beloved.
I ended the last letter on the note that it was an introduction to a series on understanding the reality of GOD'S grace
But, as OUR DADDY will have, we're taking a detour from that and going into something else
HE has the authority to change our discourse and fix dates and timelines for what we learn here
So, we will wait for the best time to learn that together
Today's topic was birthed by a Spiritual furnishing that I started receiving while listening to one of Pastor Poju Oyemade’s sermons during WOFBEC
Honestly, if you have not listened to WOFBEC sermons, you should go and start today
So, he was preaching and he said “any time you have toiled all night and you've caught nothing, there's something JESUS wants to do”
And, that was my rhema out of everything he preached
A while ago, my daddy in THE LORD, Pastor Richard Oyeyemi was preaching and he mentioned that sometimes when you're listening to a message, your own word could be a sentence, a verse of the bible or song even used in that sermon
So, that single line spoken by Pastor Poju was my rhema in that whole sermon and my Spirit began to brood upon it, searching for answers and looking for possible meanings
I am in a season of my life when I need answers and truly, there must be something that JESUS wants to do
So, I began to search and as I prayed at night in the early hours of Friday, GOD gave me some light
I didn't think to share, but by constant communication since that light came, I am convinced this is what OUR FATHER wants us to digest this week
And, I strongly believe that it's first for my learning before it's for yours
LORD GOD, YAHWEH, it's my prayer that you will illuminate our hearts and let us know what's in your heart for us through this topic. In JESUS' name, amen
So, Luke chapter 5 opens with Apostle Peter's first encounter with JESUS at the Lake of Gennesaret which ended up being his calling
The bible says in verse 1 that there were people pressing in to JESUS to listen to HIS teaching and HE needed a boat to stay in and preach to them
More like needing a podium because of course, HE had to stand in a place where they could see and hear HIM
A place that exalted HIM and made it obvious that HE was the teacher
It wasn't about showing HIMSELF for HIM but I can't help but notice this
The smaller is blessed of the greater; if you'll be truly blessed by GOD, you must place HIM in a place where HE can actually do the blessing
HE must be exalted in your heart and life above everything and every one else
Pastor Chingtok Ishaku sang the song “the ONE I love is ever before me, HIS seal's upon my heart, I live for the ONE I love”
Does JESUS have a podium in your heart? Is HE exalted? Is HE in a place where HE can help you?
So, people were pressing in to hear JESUS. Even now, people are pressing in to hear HIM
Everyone is looking for an answer and they don't know that what they're actually looking for is JESUS
That's why JESUS is being dragged into everything
People do BBL now and call it “Christian BBL”, they just want to find a way to associate with JESUS
So, JESUS started looking for a boat to stand in at the Lake
Unfortunately, it wasn't a really good time for Simon (later Apostle Peter)
But one thing struck me and it's the fact that despite having had a really unproductive night, he still allowed an unpopular rabbi into his boat to teach
He must be a really good man
And, JESUS wasn't looking for a boat owned by a successful fisherman
You know, we all think that the obedience of Peter started at casting his net into the boat but, that's not true
His obedience actually started at letting JESUS into his boat in the first place
Then, JESUS gave another order; HE told Simon to put the boat a little away from the shore and he did
See, I know how grumpy I get when I have had a seemingly unproductive time
If I was in Simon's shoes, I might not have answered him because, he was stressed
So, Simon had something JESUS could use actually
He had a really good heart, he had compassion even towards those he didn't know
He was unsuccessful but he had a quality that JESUS could use
It didn't matter to JESUS whether or not he was unsuccessful, all HE needed was a boat
And even now, JESUS is not looking for successful people!
HE is looking for something HE could use to teach these people pressing in to hear HIM
HE is looking for someone who has something that can accommodate HIM as HE draws these precious ones to HIMSELF
Success sometimes is a stumbling block to the move of GOD
The fact that inns and hotels were filled up when JESUS was to be born meant they didn't have space for THE SON OF GOD
So, GOD sometimes needs us EMPTY!
You're asking if you have a boat. Well, you do!
Lives, businesses, academics, relationships and all are the boats that JESUS wants to use at this time
And, THE BOAT is usually that particular thing or area of you life giving you frustration
Simon was washing his net when JESUS asked him to push a little away from the shore and he did
He couldn't really care much because, he had given up anyway
The fist glimpse of miracle here is the fact that as frustrated as Simon was, JESUS could use his boat to teach- to satisfy the needs of the multitude pressing in to hear HIM
Oh, how frustrated I am!
That's why I said this letter is first for me before it is for you!
I am very very frustrated and on the verge of giving up on some things
But, I am reminded that even in this state, there are people that GOD wants to use my boat (the particular thing frustrating me) to meet their needs
And, it's very painful that while I am frustrated, GOD is busy using me to satisfy the needs of other people
Why not settle me first?
But, GOD is so meticulous in HIS doings- the people whose needs HE will use me to meet now are not the same ones HE will use me for when I am settled
At this stage, HE is still the one doing the work
At that time, I will do the work in and by HIM
So, the reality of season is very important!
He wants you to be a sign to yourself before you can perform wonders in the lives of others!
The second obedience of Simon was pushing away from the shore
This makes me remember a song by TY Bello ft Pastor Chingtok Ishaku and some other guys, Deeper Still
Perhaps you could also push a little away from the shore
Perhaps, there are characteristics of the shore that would make the work difficult
Perhaps, HE wants you to be away from the crowd just a little bit!
Why not push away from the shore just a little bit? Why not?
Then, after preaching, JESUS told Simon to let down his net for a catch
Simon must have felt really insulted
Like, “you think the reason I don't have any fishes is because I didn't let down my net? You think I'm lazy?”
A rabbi, a carpenter teaching a fisherman how to fish!
And, where the boat was must have been a place where a catch was barely possible
Simon tells JESUS “we have toiled all night”
Eventually, he did and then, the miracle we all know
If this teaches us anything, it's that GOD is to be put first!
HIS plans and purposes first!
Your fulfilment is in your obedience to the letter!
It is HIS will that you have good success and of course, HE will smile when you laugh
But, every time you have toiled all night and caught nothing, every time you try so hard and attain nothing, maybe it's time to ask THE LORD to use your boat
Maybe it's time to ask HIM what HE'S up to, maybe HE'D like to use you to reach out to some people pressing in towards HIM to hear HIM
Maybe, just maybe!
I know you have toiled all night but, JESUS needs a boat, can HE use yours?
When HIS purpose is fulfilled in your boat, you will get your heart's desire in abundance.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Shalom!🕊️🥂