Partners blessed by association

“And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 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 5:5-7 ESV)

Miraculously filled to the point of breaking

It’s interesting, how in the above passage, Simon’s net was miraculously filled to the point of breaking, so he signaled to his partners in a nearby boat to come and soon their nets were full also to the point of breaking. The second boat benefited from partnership with Simon and completely shared in his blessing. 

It’s not you!

I went into full time ministry as the executive director of Whatcom County Youth For Christ during the Jesus Movement that started in the late 1960’s early 1970’s. All my meetings were jam packed and many people responded to the invitations to trust in Christ. I saw amazing results all around me but I took it all for granted at the time. It was so easy and wonderful! I fully expected it to continue forever with the same kinds of amazing results. I hadn’t any concern that it would end someday. Then, I received a phone call from a local pastor who asked to meet with me. He told me he was a long time pastor and wanted to tell me something important. So I met with him. He said, “Mike, I have noticed the crowds at your events and have been very happy to see so many young people responding and making commitments to Christ! That is so wonderful, but, I want you to understand something very important—It’s not you! What you’re experiencing here is a special move of the Holy Spirit that you are fortunate enough to be sharing in. God is doing something amazing and you just happen to be present and receive His blessing in it. One day, however, the crowds may no longer be there, but, if and when that happens, remember what I said, ‘it’s not you!’” He then gave me some advice. He told me that if I wanted to continue to be successful in ministry in the future, I should look around carefully and find out what God is actively doing—where His mighty hand is at work—and then get involved and partner with it. Then, I would continually be a part of what God is doing and what He is blessing. I took what he said to heart and did what He said! I got involved (partnered) with ministries that were obviously being blessed such as the Billy Graham crusades that came to our area and the Promise Keepers rallies, just to name a couple of them. And, yes, I have been truly blessed as a result! Just like those fishermen who had partnered with Simon, my “nets” have been been miraculously filled!

Therefore…

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13 ESV)

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Eph. 3:20 ESV)