On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 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. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees,
saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:1-11 (ESV)
“Risk in God’s language is spelled: F A I T H.” Rick Warren
GOD WILL REWARD MY (our) RISK TAKING IF…
1. I VERIFY MY PLANS
Ask: “Is this something that God wants done?”
Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. … and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.
Proverbs 3:5, 6 (VOICE)
People can make all kinds of plans, but only the LORD’s plan [purpose; advice] will happen [succeed].
Proverbs 19:21 (EB)
The steps of the God-pursuing ones follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and God delights in every step they take to follow him. If they stumble badly they will still survive, for the Lord lifts them up with his hands.
Psalm 37:23-24 (TPT)
2. I PURIFY MY MOTIVE
Ask: “Am I doing this for the right reason?”
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.
Proverbs 3:5, 6 (VOICE)
When you pray, don't be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Matthew 6:5 (GW)
3. I FORTIFY MY FAITH
Ask: “Can I do this without the help of God?”
My faith is always the key to my victory.
…every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.
1 John 5:4 (GNT)
3 ways that faith is fortified: I fortify my faith by …
Committing to listening to the word.
So faith comes from hearing the Good News…
Romans 10:17a (ERV)
You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation.
1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)
Calling out to God in prayer.
And now, Lord, listen to [consider] their threats. Lord, help us, you servants [slaves], to speak your word without fear.
Acts 4:29 (EXB)
Connecting with strong believers.
NOTE: God used people to begin my faith … and He will use people to build my faith.
So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (ERV)
Day and night we sincerely pray that we will see you again and help you to have an even stronger faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 (CEV)
Listen to your leaders, who have spoken God’s word to you. Notice the fruits of their lives and mirror their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 (VOICE)
4. INTENSIFY MY EFFORT
Ask: “Am I willing to work hard to achieve this?”
So, then, brothers and sisters, don't let anyone move you off the foundation of your faith. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (GW)
He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:37-39 (NIV)
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 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. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees,
saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:1-11 (ESV)
“Risk in God’s language is spelled: F A I T H.” Rick Warren
GOD WILL REWARD MY (our) RISK TAKING IF…
1. I VERIFY MY PLANS
Ask: “Is this something that God wants done?”
Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. … and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.
Proverbs 3:5, 6 (VOICE)
People can make all kinds of plans, but only the LORD’s plan [purpose; advice] will happen [succeed].
Proverbs 19:21 (EB)
The steps of the God-pursuing ones follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and God delights in every step they take to follow him. If they stumble badly they will still survive, for the Lord lifts them up with his hands.
Psalm 37:23-24 (TPT)
2. I PURIFY MY MOTIVE
Ask: “Am I doing this for the right reason?”
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.
Proverbs 3:5, 6 (VOICE)
When you pray, don't be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Matthew 6:5 (GW)
3. I FORTIFY MY FAITH
Ask: “Can I do this without the help of God?”
My faith is always the key to my victory.
…every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.
1 John 5:4 (GNT)
3 ways that faith is fortified: I fortify my faith by …
Committing to listening to the word.
So faith comes from hearing the Good News…
Romans 10:17a (ERV)
You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation.
1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)
Calling out to God in prayer.
And now, Lord, listen to [consider] their threats. Lord, help us, you servants [slaves], to speak your word without fear.
Acts 4:29 (EXB)
Connecting with strong believers.
NOTE: God used people to begin my faith … and He will use people to build my faith.
So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (ERV)
Day and night we sincerely pray that we will see you again and help you to have an even stronger faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 (CEV)
Listen to your leaders, who have spoken God’s word to you. Notice the fruits of their lives and mirror their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 (VOICE)
4. INTENSIFY MY EFFORT
Ask: “Am I willing to work hard to achieve this?”
So, then, brothers and sisters, don't let anyone move you off the foundation of your faith. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (GW)
He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:37-39 (NIV)