These are the days of crisis. Just listen to the newscast any day. You will hear of corruption in government and church, of murders, robberies, and all kinds of problems. They say the employment is better than ever, but If you think it's over for poor people, or if you think that the battle is fought, and the victory is won; look at the unemployment figures, and you will see that we are still caught up in a serious crisis.
Let us look at a serious crisis that took place almost two thousand years ago and see if we can't relate to this type of problem in the days we are living. It was a morning before the hustle and bustle of the day. It was morning, while the dew was still on the roses. The sun had just reflected itself in gold upon the still waters of the lake. Three men stood in the midst of the morning, weary, tired, disappointed and frustrated, because they were caught up in a special kind of crisis. Simon Peter was one of these men, and he said, "We have toiled all the night and taken nothing." (Luke 5:8) They had brought vessels to be filled with fish, but even though they had fished all night, their vessels were empty.
Some of you will say, "So what. I've gone fishing before and didn't catch anything. What's the crisis." You may say it's been embarrassing at times and it may make you want to stretch the truth, but understand this, these men did not go fishing like you and I for relaxation purposes. They were not on vacation; it was not a holiday for them. These men were professional fishermen. When they failed at fishing, they failed at the only thing they knew how to do. When they did not catch fish, it was like a store owner without any customers to come in when doors are opened. When they did not catch fish, it was like a doctor who opens his door and has no patients. When they did not catch fish, it was like a lawyer who hangs his shingle out and no clients come. When they did not catch fish, it was like an architect without any plans to draw even though he has the ability to do it. When they did not catch fish, it was like a preacher who opens the doors of his church and no members come. That's a crisis!
They had failed at the only thing they knew how to do. They were standing on the water's edge in the early morning hours. But thanks to God, when you're caught up in your crisis, if you just look and listen, you will hear evidence that help is around, if you are willing to accept it. Jesus was at the water's edge, and knowing these men were facing a crisis for survival, spoke to them. It was a strange thing, here was a carpenter from a small town (Nazareth) telling professional fishermen how to fish. The carpenter said to the fishermen, "Don't give up. Don't call it off. I want to make a suggestion to you. I want you to move away from the water's edge and go out where the water is deep. You see, part of the problem is that you are on the water's edge, and you ought to launch out into the deep." Of course we know by doing so, the three men's nets were filled to the extent they began to break. When they had taken the fish into the boats, there were so many fish that the boats even began to sink.
Instructions for life are what needs to be dealt with. Many, many people know the shallow depths of education, but when a crisis comes, and they will, they have not the education to reach down into the depths of God's resources to become overcomers.
One of the reasons some of us can't stand it when crisis comes, is that there is not enough depth in our lives. Our lives are too superficial; it's not enough to be a member of the church. We need education, and we need to begin with the young, teaching the milk of God's Word and continue to teach to all ages, even the meat of the Word.
Although today I have spoken to you pertaining to a crisis, we need to be a part of a church that is on fire for God. The church should educate it's people and teach them not only a general knowledge of the Bible, but provide a plan of study and acquaint them with major doctrines of the Christian faith so as to help others with problems they are facing. People have a motivation burning inside them to be active in sharing the gospel while developing a fruitful ministry in their local church. People need to learn that they need to be reaching lives through many different channels and methods. The church you attend should not be like some T.V. ministries that claims to be for you, but in truth are not in that they are not there to counsel you or your family in various situations of life. They are not there when you are sick, hospitalized or dying. They are not there to perform a marriage, a dedication of your child or to bury a loved one. But the church you belong to should not only educate its participants, but be there in your needs, marriage and burial ceremonies and many other needs pertaining to a Christian walk.
