LAUNCH INTO THE DEEP

  Get Ready For A Catch!

  Doug Fortune

"And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." (Luke 5:1-4)

I believe that the supernatural events recorded in Scripture were recorded for a purpose. I also believe that purpose goes beyond just conveying some facts and details concerning Jesus supernatural ministry. Keep in mind that this is not a matter of 'spiritualizing' things, as these events literally happened, however there is also a spiritual truth contained in the literal events. The Bible is filled with literal events that happened, but it does not read simply like a history book. The Bible is first and foremost a spiritual book written in spiritual language to spiritual people. "And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]." (1Corinthians 2:13 Amplified Bible) With that in mind, I want to explore beneath the surface of our passage of Scripture and I believe we may find a message for the Church today.

First we read that, "The people pressed upon him to hear the word of God..." I believe that today people are pressing to hear a 'word' from God. Granted, many are looking in all the wrong places, but people are hungry for something spiritual, something beyond their physical existence. That is why we see such a rise of interest in New Age, Scientology, Kabala, psychic hot-lines, and a host of other spiritual experiences. Spirituality has become not only accepted, but even 'fashionable' in Western society. The traditional religious Christian mindset sees that trend as a threat... the Kingdom mindset sees it as evidence of spiritual hunger. Spiritual hunger is a good thing if you have some 'meat' to offer.

Other than writing books and preaching, there are few things I enjoy as much as cooking. When a 'hungry multitude' is coming to our house, I don't feel a bit threatened, rather I get excited. If I were not adept in the kitchen, therefore having nothing to offer to satisfy their hunger, it would be quite a different story. Friend, we must begin to spend time in the 'Kitchen of the Kingdom' so we can have some 'meat' to offer those who are spiritually hungry!

Next we read that, "He stood by the lake of Gennesaret..." The meaning of the word Gennesaret is 'a harp'. We can look to the book of Revelation to glean the symbolism of the 'harp'. "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of HARPERS harping with their HARPS: And they sung as it were a NEW SONG before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were REDEEMED from the EARTH." (Revelation 14:2-3) "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the HARPS of God." (Revelation 15:2) The 'harp' represents a company of Overcomers, redeemed from the 'earth' of carnality, having victory over the image and character of Adam (victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark), reflecting the glory of the Throne of God (on the sea of glass), bringing forth a NEW SONG as the voice of many waters. We will discuss this NEW SONG more in a moment.

Here we find "two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were GONE out of them, and were WASHING their NETS." What a poignant picture of the Church at large, the fishermen are GONE, and are busy WASHING their NETS. May I suggest that we have a tendency to spend too much time 'gone from the boat' that is supposed to be in the 'sea' of the unregenerate world? It would seem that we spend too much time engrossed in our own 'Christian culture', busy with Christian activities. May I also suggest that we have a tendency to 'wash our nets', planning and developing our next evangelism program, more than we actually USE our 'nets'? As I say those things I certainly don't mean to point the finger at anyone, for I find myself indicted also. I am saying that I believe it is definitely time for a change in our mentality and our activity.

Here we also find "TWO ships standing by the lake..." It seems that there are always 'TWO ships' in life. One 'ship' stays behind, one 'ship' moves out in faith. Jesus enters only ONE of the 'ships'. I don't know about you, but I want to be in the 'ship' that He is present in. The 'ship' that Jesus entered into was Simon's ship. The name Simon, shimone in Hebrew, means HEARING; it is from the Hebrew word shama, which means to HEAR intelligently (often with implication of attention & obedience). Jesus is looking for a people who HEAR intelligently, a people that understand the purposes of God, a people that will give Him their attention and obedience. This is the kind of 'ship' He desires.

Next He entreats Peter to "thrust out a little from the land." The 'land' is stable, unmoving, no surprises, but also it is not productive... Peter won't catch any fish on 'land'. Are we ready to "thrust out a little from the land?" Are we willing to let go of that which seems to be stable and unmoving, and understand that we may be in for some surprises with every wave? I find the next thing Jesus does to be extremely important, "And he sat down, and TAUGHT the people out of the ship." Before we can ever be somewhat prepared for the coming draught/ harvest, we need to have solid understanding of the spiritual principles of the Finished Work of Christ. We must understand who we are in Christ and Who He is in us.

For the most part, the message of the Church to the unregenerate has been that Jesus died so we could escape punishment, and we must be ready to die and go to heaven. Although these things may be true, they were never the emphasis of Jesus' teaching. He taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND. The Finished Work of Christ on the cross did so much more than allow us to escape punishment, that work provided a new nature for us; "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the DIVINE nature..." (2 Peter 1:4) He didn't merely die FOR us so that we may escape punishment, He died AS US, in order that we may LIVE AS HIM; "For to me to live IS Christ..." (Philippians 1:21), "...because as He is, SO ARE WE in this world." (1 John 4:17) The Finished Work provided a new origin, a new GENESIS for us, we were RE-GENerated; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of REGENERATION, and RENEWING of the Holy Ghost;" (Titus 3:5) Our GENESIS, our origin is not determined by the life of the first Adam! Our GENESIS, our origin is determined by the Life of the Last Adam, Jesus Christ! This basic foundational understanding of the Finished Work of Christ on the cross empowers us to release others into their DESTINY in Christ, rather than merely get them ready to die and go to heaven.

In our illustration Jesus is about to call forth a great draught/ harvest; "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." This sounds like the very time frame we are living in today. You see, the feast we are moving into, the Feast of Tabernacles, is a feast that includes an ingathering, a harvest. I believe that we are about to experience the greatest ingathering, draught, harvest that we have known. Father will have a people of understanding who KNOW their identity in Christ and are empowered to release others into their DESTINY in Christ. Jesus entreated Peter to "Launch out into the deep", and that is exactly what He is doing today- He calls us to "Launch out into the deep!"

The spiritually hungry of the world are not looking for neat tidbits of Christianeze sound-bytes. Something deep within them is crying out for the depth of Who God is. Most of Christendom is fishing in shallow waters... we like to keep things 'lite' and entertaining, 'seeker sensitive'. Genuine 'seekers' of truth are sensitive to the TRUTH, they are hungry for something of spiritual 'substance', something beyond their everyday existence. We must "launch out into the deep" to find the ingathering/ draught/ harvest we are looking for. Jesus Himself said clearly that "No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me..." (John 6:44 Amplified Bible) I believe that the very Essence of Father's nature is calling out, drawing us to Himself, searching for something inside us that RESONATES with His voice. Truth resonates within the spiritually hungry. There's not much in modern 'Churchianity' that resonates... it is not really a 'voice', it is merely an echo. "Deep CALLETH unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." (Psalms 42:7) Deep- the very depth of Who God is- is calling to the 'depth' within us.

I offer the following quote from my book entitled "The Power of an Endless Life" to help explain:
"This sounds like what science would call the phenomenon of resonance. When I am not away traveling and ministering or writing books, I like to cook. Sometimes I sing while I cook. When I sing in the kitchen I sometimes can hear resonation happening. You see, we have this apparatus hanging from our ceiling that our pots and pans hang from. Sometimes when I hit certain notes, a pan will start to ring a bit. That means I have hit the particular tone that is the natural frequency of vibration of that particular pan. It is like the frequency of my voice goes out looking for the same frequency, and when it meets the same frequency in the pan, then the pan begins to resonate. Different pots and pans will resonate with different tones because they are different sizes and shapes. Each container has it's own frequency because it is fashioned and shaped based upon its' intended use. The Voice of God that spoke your calling and your very being into existence goes out looking for the same frequency, and when it meets the same frequency in the 'pan', then the 'pan' begins to resonate."

I believe we must "launch out into the deep" to find the 'frequency' of the Voice of God that will cause the spiritually hungry of the world to 'resonate'. This is the NEW SONG that we read of earlier in Revelation 14:2-3, the voice of many waters that resonates from the Throne of God. This 'resonation' in the spiritually hungry of the world will bring the ingathering/ draught/ harvest we are looking for.

That word translated as deep, bathos in Greek, means profundity, extent, MYSTERY. It seems that you don't hear much about 'mystery' these days in Church. It's just a little too ambiguous a term to use, too mystical, seems a bit scary, it's too hard to fit into a neat package. Friend, I believe it's time to "launch out into the MYSTERY." Allow me a moment to look at a bit of what the Bible has to say about 'mystery'. Firstly, I find it interesting that the very GOSPEL itself is referred to as a mystery; "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the MYSTERY of the gospel..." (Ephesians 6:19)
Now let's move on to just a few more references:
"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the MYSTERY of the kingdom of God..." (Mark 4:11)
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this MYSTERY..." (Romans 11:25)
"Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY, which was kept secret since the world began..." (Romans 16:25)
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" (1 Corinthians 2:7)
"How that by revelation he made known unto me the MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ)" (Ephesians 3:3-4)
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" (Ephesians 3:9)
"Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:26-27)
"And without controversy great is the MYSTERY of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..." (1 Timothy 3:16)
"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY of God should be finished..." (Revelation 10:7)

A Biblical mystery is a spiritual truth that is cloaked, and then unveiled by PERSONAL REVELATION. The best example I can think of is found in Matthew 16:16-17, "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not REVEALED it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." When it comes to the ingathering/ draught/ harvest we are looking for, all the evangelistic techniques, evidence, convincing arguments and apologetics in the world can not do what one PERSONAL REVELATION will. Jesus even told Peter that He would build his church on the 'rock' of personal revelation; "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (personal revelation) I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) That is why we must "launch out into the deep", that is why we must "launch out into the MYSTERY."

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is a mystery...
Paul said that we are not to be ignorant of the mystery...
The power to establish us according to the gospel is revealed in a mystery...
The hidden wisdom of God ordained before the world is revealed in a mystery...
The hope of glory, the great ingathering as the result of Christ living in a people, is revealed in a mystery...
This is the day to "launch out into the MYSTERY!"

In our illustration, Jesus goes on to say, "let down your nets." Nets that are on land being washed will not bring in a draught/ harvest. In some ways, I believe that our Church buildings and programs have been our 'nets'. We have labored long 'washing' them so we might have the best looking 'net' around. Then we have a difficult time understanding why the 'fish' are not jumping into our 'net'! Perhaps instead of trying so hard to get fish to jump, we should take the 'net' to where the fish are?

This principle is illustrated so clearly in the wedding at Cana in Galilee, as a wedding is symbolic of people being joined in union to Christ. I offer another quote from my book entitled "The Power of an Endless Life" to help explain:
""On the THIRD DAY a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee... and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have SAVED THE BEST till now." (John 2:1, 9-10 NIV) You see, Cana in Galilee translated literally means 'circle of heathen'. I am looking for the wedding feast of many being joined in union to Christ, that end time 'revival' that so many long for, but I don't believe I will see it within the four walls of what we call 'Church'. I am looking for the Third Day 'revival' to happen in the 'circle of heathen'... in the workplace, in the marketplace, in all those places we deem unspiritual. As we move into this Third millennial 'Day', indeed the world has run out of cheap wine. They have 'been there and done that' and nothing satisfies the thirst. However, I believe that the Bridegroom has saved the best till now."

We must take the 'net' to the 'circle of heathen'. Nets on land just lie around in useless piles. Perhaps we need to change our entire mindset when it comes to 'nets'. You see, I believe that WE are the 'nets', not a building or a program or an activity. Just our everyday lives, doing the ordinary everyday stuff that everyone else does, only with a difference... living as vessels of His presence, our very lives BEING the testimony of Jesus. Here is a Scripture we are all familiar with, but let's look at it in a different light for a moment; "...I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus IS the spirit of prophecy. And I saw heaven opened..." (Revelation 19:10-11) I believe that we can walk as 'fellowservants', vessels of His presence, and as our very lives are BEING the testimony of Jesus the spirit of prophecy/ revelation is released in others. I believe that we can be so full of Christ that it releases a PERSONAL REVELATION in others and like John, they see "heaven opened." WE are the 'nets', and it is time that we "let down our nets" to where the fish are!

Notice what happens next as the ingathering/ draught/ harvest begins to come in; "And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the OTHER SHIP, that they should come and HELP them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." (Luke 5:7) Remember the other ship- the one that stayed behind? Even that ship is ultimately blessed because one ship, the Overcomers, move out in faith. This is the way I believe it will be as we move into this time of ingathering/ draught. The thing that I find most fascinating is that the ship that moves out in faith, the Overcomers, are so 'over themselves' that they operate in a CORPORATE mindset, there are no superstars. I think that if the truth be known, if we were were indeed experiencing a time of ingathering/ draught, most of us would want to make sure that the fish ended up in OUR ship! However this is an entirely different mindset, a corporate mentality, no need for superstars.

Friend, I believe that we are moving into the greatest hour that the Church has ever known. Father is bringing forth a company of Overcomers, redeemed from the 'earth' of carnality, having victory over the image and character of Adam, reflecting the glory of God, bringing forth a NEW SONG as the voice of many waters that resonates from the Throne of God. Father is bringing forth a people so full of Christ that the testimony of Jesus within them releases a PERSONAL REVELATION in others. It is time to "Launch out into the DEEP, and let down your nets for a draught!" (Luke 5:4)