Discovering YOU Magazine Draft October/ November Special 2024 Issue | Page 44

SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH

GOD WANTS YOU TO EXPERIENCE A BIG CATCH!

Article by Pastor Philip Nissley,

New Hope Assembly of God, Taylor, MI

I want to share a story (though likely untrue) I read recently of a man with a reputation for always being able to catch fish. His brother-in-law (a Game Warden) amazed at the man’s success, one morning took his brother-in-law to a lake known for its poor fishing. The game warden watched his brother-in-law take the boat out to the middle of the lake and cut the motor, not concerned in finding a ledge or brush-pile, where fish might be. Also, instead of getting his rod and reel out, the game warden’s brother-in-law pulled a stick of dynamite out of a sack, lit it, and threw it overboard. A few seconds later, there was a big boom, and immediately the lake's surface was covered with stunned fish. The Game warden couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed so he began reciting fishing regulations to his brother-in-law. This didn’t seem to bother the man in the least. He simply reached into the bag for another stick of dynamite, lit it, tossed it to the game warden, and said, “You gonna talk, or are you gonna fish?” That’s what I ask you as I toss you some spiritual dynamite and see how serious you are to let God do miracles in your life. Here in Luke 5, we see:

I.HAVING JESUS IN YOUR BOAT OF CIRCUMSTANCES IS VITAL IN THE MIRACLE (Luke 5:1-3a)

A.Being close to Jesus the Source of All Miracles, is essential to experiencing miracles! Luke 5 opens with pressing, pushing crowds and two empty boats. Until Jesus got into a boat (v. 3) and was able to speak, not very much happened. But, when Jesus climbed on board (like when Jesus comes to Church), that boat became a place of personal closeness, intimacy and fellowship, and precious place of miracles!

B.Jesus is not limited by what you don’t have, he’s not limited by how were raised, and the family you come from. Food prices are up, our available cash may be down and there may be a lack, with you barely getting by. But this Bible is filled with God’s Supernatural provision, such as the day Peter didn’t have money to pay his taxes, Jesus told him to go to the Sea of Galilee, and the first fish he caught had two coins in it, enough to pay his and Jesus taxes. This is another example of God’s Supernatural Provision in the Bible and shows that God is not a “get by” God, He’s an “overflow” God. Don’t live with a