Hear and Obey

This powerful message takes us into Luke chapter 5, where we encounter a transformative truth: obedience to God's word changes everything. The sermon walks us through the context of Jesus' early ministry—the momentum building, crowds pressing in to hear the word of God, and then a pivotal moment with Simon Peter. After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus speaks a specific word to Simon: launch out into the deep. What follows is remarkable—when Simon obeys despite his exhaustion and doubt, his empty nets overflow to the point of breaking. This story reveals a profound spiritual principle for us today: we all have areas where we've toiled all night, where we're exhausted and vulnerable, where nothing seems to work. The answer isn't another self-help strategy or distraction—it's a word from God. The message distinguishes between the logos (the eternal, written word) and the rhema (the spoken, present word God gives us for our specific battles). We don't just need to know what the Bible says in general; we need God to speak directly into our circumstances today. When we position ourselves to hear and obey—through consecration, prayer, fasting, and prioritizing God's presence—identity shifts happen. Simon became Peter. Empty nets became overflowing. Toil became spoil. As we approach a new year, this is our invitation: forsake the distractions, turn off the noise, and press in to hear what God is saying specifically to us right now.