The dynamics of discipleship (part 24)
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. – LUKE 5:4-6
Sometime around 1987, the Lord spoke to me about going to the Philippines on a mission trip with some friends and meet a man who was a missionary there.
He said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
I checked the water depth around the Philippines and it is 35,000 feet deep in some places.
Upon arriving in Manila after a 17-hour flight, we spent the night there and then the next day met Larry Neese, the brother of Junior Neese, the man who would pray with Mary Ann and I over the boy who died of an overdose in my home many years to come in the future.
We spent 30 days on Luzon preaching, teaching and ministering to local pastors and their flocks. It was the most open I had ever seen people for the gospel, and they were hungry for God’s word, many of whom were poor and needy.
One night in a service I laid hands on a young lady who came for prayer, and she immediately fell backwards to the concrete without anyone to catch her and just laid there with a divine smile on her face – unharmed.
We also went into areas where there were lepers, and we prayed for them – we baptized those who were saved in the river and preached in many open-air venues.
Another night the locals turned off the lights on us wanting us to quit preaching, but we did it anyway. It was a glorious trip, and I even considered moving there because of the hunger they had for God’s word.
If God speaks to you about missions, by all means GO. It will change your life!
For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. – LUKE 5:9-11