LEAVING THE SHORE

[Albert Finch]

"For he (Simon) was awestruck by the size of their catch....Jesus replied, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for the souls of men!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and went with Him." - Luke 5:9-11

In one day, they abandoned their way of life and everything familiar to them to pursue Him and the DESTINY for which they were created.

What had happened? What made the difference? When Peter was willing and obedient to do what the Lord asked, the harvest of what he had believed for came to him (see Isaiah 1:19). In that moment his previous desires were replaced with a new desire.

In this place of undivided devotion to Him, He captures our hearts and, like the disciples, we abandon everything to pursue Him wholeheartedly. It is in this place that we find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13).

LEAVING THE SHORE

Jesus' invitation to Peter is still being given to us today. Are you ready to leave the shore and become something more?

"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all your waves and billows have gone over me." - Psalm 42:7

Can you feel the depth of God's heart CALLING to you in this season? Can you feel the depth of your spirit desiring Him more than your next breath? Launch out and launch into Him. It is in this place that your wilderness becomes a fruitful field.

NOT THE TIME TO BE COMPLACENT

"For the land of my people growing over with thorns and briers.....Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field and the fruitful field is valued as a forest." - Isaiah 32:13,15

Isaiah was addressing a people who did not recognize the season in which they were living -- through complacency, they lacked the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to perceive what the Lord was asking of them.
Their complacency to act and failure to discern the Lord's voice was leading them to a place of lack, disappointment, and despair if they did not recognize their invitation and adjust accordingly.

We must also not be like the Shulamite who was not willing to respond to the voice of her beloved in the day of her visitation (see Song of Solomon 5:2-8). She responded to the very invitation that she had so longed for with a list of reasons why His coming wasn't convenient for her.

In verse 6 she looked back with regret, recognizing how her heart leapt within her at the sound of His voice. Let us not look back with regret, but instead do whatever we can to meet with Him when He comes knocking.
Her complacency cost her the visitation that she had so desired. When He knocks, we must open!

PARTNERING WITH THE PROMISE

We have a responsibility in receiving what we believe for. The Lord gave a promise of power to 500 of His disciples (Luke 24:49, 1 Corinthians 15:6) but only 120 (Acts 1:15) were committed to partner with the Promise "until" they received power from on high.
For 380 of the 500 -- at what point did the "Promise" become inconvenient?
If we were able to interview those 380 today, there would be a number of folks echoing the same regret as the Shulamite. If they could have only discerned how close they were to the Promise knocking at their door.

We are standing at a place in history, poised to see the greatest wave of God's Spirit to ever come upon the earth. He is knocking and He is calling, in this season of ebb, to those who will open the door and launch out as we dine with Him in the deep.

If we will make it our highest goal to receive from Him everything that He has for us -- God's PURPOSE for our life (our CALLING in Christ) -- we, like Jesus, will come out with power greater than we have ever known (see Luke 4:14).

Let's join Jesus in becoming the water (the Word) breathed upon by His wind (Holy Spirit) that we might, with Him, become the wave!

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY