Luke 5:1-11
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. He sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Last week I asked a question: What are you leaving to the generations that come after you? This kind of talk last week was about stopping the curse and releasing the blessing over your family, and while we are going to continue that thought process a good bit, something an idea like this invokes is the word legacy.

What legacy are you leaving?

I love this story of Peter meeting Jesus for the first time. Honestly, any Simon Peter story. I so deeply relate to his emotional and fleshy reactions to almost everything.

I’ve talked to my friends a lot about the fire inside of me. I have this fire, this passion inside of me constantly, and I love it because it makes me yearn for what’s over the horizon and try things that most wouldn’t, but there are times when I can easily hate it, too, because the same fire that drives me to do great things can easily burn into a fury through my emotions and reactions. I want to be a forge that creates, but sometimes I am a wildfire that rages. God help me. And my wife and kids lol.

Over the course of Peter’s time with Jesus, we see the same ups and downs in him. We see moments of greatness that are legacy leaving kind of moments, but then we see those destructive, doubt-filled, fleshly moments that destroy.

It is kind of like curses and blessings. We traffic in both. And a huge part of the discipleship process is to minimize the former and maximize the latter.

Did you know that was the point of discipleship? We talk all the time in church about it, but has anyone ever actually told you why we focus on it so much? Discipleship is the forge. It is the process where you take what you are and what you've been thinking and what you've been believing, and yes, what you've even been doing, and we put that into the fire of the word of God and of Christian community and of passion and worship, moments empowered by the Holy Spirit, classes and meetups and DGroups, and the result is you come out looking more like Jesus thinking more like Jesus, talking more like Jesus, doing more like Jesus.

It isn't enough for you to be saved. We want you growing in your relationship with God. We want you in a place where not only can you learn more, but where you can be empowered to do more. God's plan for you wasn't just for you to know him, but for you to get involved in the family business of restoring people to himself.

One of the things we can instantly take from the story of Peter meeting Jesus for the first time that it wasn't just about Peter having a moment with the Lord, but beyond that, him being empowered to not just fish, but fish for men. Jesus didn't want Peter to just consume for himself. He wanted him to learn what it meant to be a contributor.

Yet over the course of the Gospels, we see Peter having good and bad moments. And what I find interesting is that in the good moments, that's when he was closest to being what Jesus wanted him to be. He was contributing to the Kingdom. Legacy-level moments. In the bad moments, though, it was his flesh, his emotions, his naivety, his controlling nature, his ignorance, those are the things that drove those moments.
Fleshly, sin naturish. Consumerism.

When you think of the Apostle Peter, what comes to mind first? By the way, when you think of a person, what comes to mind first? Jesus? King Henry the 8th? Abraham Lincoln? Rockefeller? My Memaw? Yourself? What you think of first when you think of a person, to you, that’s their legacy. Kind of scary, isn't it?

Just like us, Peter had these moments of greatness and doubt, consuming and contributing. Look at some of these:

Walking on water in Matthew 14:28-31
After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus walks on the sea. Peter boldly asks to join Him, steps out, but fears the wind/waves and begins sinking. Jesus rebukes his "little faith" and doubt.

Rebuking Jesus about His death in Matthew 16:21-23
Shortly after Peter’s great confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus predicts His suffering. Peter takes Him aside and rebukes Him: "This shall never happen to You!" Jesus replies, "Get behind Me, Satan!... you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." This is classic fleshly, human-centered, consumer thinking.

Suggestion at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8
Peter, James, and John see Jesus glorified with Moses and Elijah. Peter blurts out a plan to build three tabernacles. Mark notes he spoke out of terror and not knowing what to say; a heavenly voice interrupts, directing them to listen to Jesus.

Now, you might think what's so bad about this one? The fact that it was Jesus, Moses, and Elijah is very important. Moses represents the law, Elijah represents the prophets, that's the Bible up til that point, and what Peter didn't understand was that Jesus was the fulfillment of both. There was no need for a tabernacle because Jesus was there to fulfill any need for a tabernacle and shift the location of God's presence away from a geographical location into a human, metaphysical location, our hearts. That's the theological explanation. The layman's explanation is Peter didn't know how to keep his mouth shut when he needed to keep his mouth shut.

Constant lack of understanding in questioning parables/teachings like in Matthew 15/16
- Peter often spoke for the group and all of them were in confusion and needed further explanation. I feel that sometimes!!
- They tried to keep children away in Mark 10:13-16
- They argued about greatness in Mark 9:33-37
- Peter resisted foot-washing in John 13:6-9. At the Last Supper, Peter first refuses ("You shall never wash my feet!"), then swings to the opposite extreme ("Not my feet only, but also my hands and head!"). Shows his pride mixed with misunderstanding of humility.
- He boasted of loyalty, declaring he will never fall away or deny Jesus, even if it means death.

Peter was always responding in his flesh.
Falling asleep in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46, Cutting off the servant’s ear in John 18.
Then of course, his greatest regret, denying Jesus three times in Matthew 26:69-75.
Out of fear in the high priest’s courtyard, Peter denies knowing Jesus to servants and others, with oaths and curses.
The rooster crows; he weeps bitterly. Peak moment of fear overriding professed loyalty.

Why take the time to go through all of this today? Because you are leaving a legacy, whether you realize it or not.

When I think of the Apostle Peter, what my heart wants to think about is, after being empowered by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, he stands up before all of those people he was afraid of before, and rather than reacting out of carnal, selfish emotion, he responds with exceptional courage and zeal and passion and the result was that thousands of people get saved.

That's what I wanna think about, but when I think about him, the first thing that comes to mind is John 21. Peter is inconsolable, ashamed, utterly heartbroken. Choosing to go back to the only life he’d known before Jesus. I have often seen myself as Peter in John 21 where I am crushed beneath the weight of my own thoughts and beliefs and actions, my sin and shame. I've consumed and it left me with no hope to be able to contribute. Thankfully, the denials in John 18 were not the end of the story for Peter. And whatever that thing is in your life that you think has ruined your legacy doesn’t have to be the end for you either.

Let me give you three things that happened to Peter that made the difference that needs to happen to you too if you are going to stop consuming and start contributing to your godly legacy.

1. You have to know Jesus.
Before you roll your eyes and scream, "No duh,” let me remind you that there was only one apostle that was with Jesus at the cross: John. They all deserted Jesus when he needed them the most. And they knew him personally, face-to-face.

I know this sounds very negative to bring up, but what I'm hoping you will understand is that there is a difference between knowing info about Jesus and truly knowing him. And you know what, chat, there is a difference between him knowing info about you and genuinely knowing you as well. You're gonna have to truly get to know who Jesus is if you expect to leave a godly legacy, and contribute to the generations that come behind you. Why? Because just like a banana pudding requires bananas, godly legacy requires godliness.

Philippians 3:7-8
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

There are so many things that Peter thought were important, mindsets, how he was seen as a leader, as a man. And I know deep down he thought he was chasing the right things, but that's until he truly understood who Jesus was. At that point, he understood completely there was nothing more important than Jesus. Unfortunately, for Peter, he discovered that after he made the worst decision of his life, denying Jesus.

But then there's Paul. Paul discovered this as well. He discovered that there is nothing on earth that's better than having Jesus, and honestly, I don’t even know when he discovered that. We see a definitive moment with Peter, but we don't see one with Paul. Maybe you say it was when he had his Damascus Road experience. Perhaps, but Paul couldn't possibly have had the depth of knowledge in that exact moment that he had as he did towards the end of his life. So then what was it that made the difference?

If you're asking me, I'll tell you what i think: it was his ongoing personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ over the course of his entire life.
Paul understood the value of the constant connection and communication with Jesus. Why? Because that's how Paul got to know Jesus. Paul did not follow Jesus before the crucifixion and resurrection. Paul is in the same boat that we are in, in that we have a relationship with Jesus who is metaphysical now, not a tangible technical human being like he was for three years. Yet he knew the only way forward was to know Jesus, and that’s why he follows that Philippians 3 passage with Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul says, “It isn’t about what I consume. It is about what I contribute. And if I am going to contribute anything, if I am going to leave any kind of legacy, it all starts with knowing Jesus. I ain’t perfect, but I am choosing to lean in with all my might to the one who made me his own.”

The secret to becoming a contributor, to leaving a godly legacy starts with you knowing Jesus. Are you forgetting what lies behind you and straining forward to what lies ahead? Paul did that. You know who else did? Peter. You don’t get the passion of Acts 2 without the forgiveness of John 21.

There’s another thing that has to happen, too, to help you leave a godly legacy, to contributing.

2. You have to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The biggest thing that happens between John 21 and the end of Acts 2 happens in Acts 2:4.

Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This doesn’t seem like a huge deal to us because we’ve always lived in a world where we have the Holy Spirit available to live within us, but the heroes of the Old Testament longed for what we get on the daily.

The most important event in your life is the moment you confess Jesus as Lord and are saved, and the reason is that after that moment, the entire Bible now applies to you. Seconds before that confession, God’s promises weren’t for you. But one second after that confession, now they are. And one of the biggest promises God made to us was the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper

Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

Why is this so important when it comes to being a contributor and godly legacy builder? Because you cannot contribute godliness and holiness out of your flesh. It has to be done by and through the Spirit.

Romans 8:2-4 tells us that we have been set free from the power of sin, and that God did what the law couldn’t do: he sent Jesus to die to declare an end to sin’s control over us. So we aren’t controlled by sin but but the Spirit to live righteously.

Romans 8:9-11
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all. 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

So you are now led by the Spirit and are empowered by the Spirit and you have been made right with God. Righteousness only comes through Jesus and holiness is only maintained through the Spirit and you need both to leave a godly legacy.

Romans 8:12-14, 16
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

So how do you deal with the sin and iniquity, inner vows and curses and brokenness? By the Spirit’s power and leading, you put them to death.

If you have consistently failed to abandon your consumer mindset, and have struggled to choose to contribute to the godly legacy God wants you to leave to the generations that follow you, it's most likely because you have not been led by the Spirit of God in your daily thoughts, beliefs, and actions. How do I do that?

Start:
"Holy Spirit fill me. I receive you. Empower me. Lead me. Remind me. Give me everything I need to live a godly life, and to contribute to a godly legacy."

Then: Commit to letting the Holy Spirit have a second with you before you respond. Bu you have to do it. You can be broken or better. Your pick.

Let me give you one more thing today:

3. You have to consistently choose the right thing.
This is as simple as sowing and reaping, yall. Let me give you two things here you have to do daily if you want to contribute.

1. You have to properly plant.
I tried to grow grapes once and it didn't work because I only planted one plant. Apparently, you have to plant at least two as they cross pollinate each other. I think some of us try to plant something, but we're trying to do it in our own way with our own understanding and then we don't understand why we're not reaping a godly harvest. If you don't know, learn. If you don't understand, get help. You will never contribute anything meaningful and will never leave a godly legacy if you are determined to do it your own way and in your own understanding. That’s pride. Where pride is planted, the harvest is destruction, disgrace, strife, and contention.

Maybe you are just doing what your parents did or doing all you know how to do. I love you, but that's not honorable. And it's not an excuse either. If your good enough isn’t good enough, don’t just give up. Get with Jesus first then with someone who is doing it and learn. I have a responsibility to my children to do everything I can to help them be the very best that they can be. And you know what, most times it's less about pulling greatness out of them, and more about making sure that I'm providing greatness to them,
and that means having someone in my life who’s pulling greatness out of me!

Don’t get mad when you are challenged. Get better. Get stronger. A friend that challenges you is a friend that loves you.

I don’t have to be perfect but my best effort doesn’t stop with my current understanding or else I’m just Peter trying to build a tabernacle for Jesus. I better learn and grow so I can contribute and leave a legacy. You have to properly plant. WHAT YOU SOW MATTERS!!

2. You have to appropriately prune.
And let's not pretend that we like this. At some point if you keep coming here, a message or Bible study or class or meetup is going to force you to see something inside of yourself that you don't like and you're going to have to choose whether or not you do something about it. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
- You having a beer might not be a sin, but it needs to be cut out of your life.
- Those jokes you make might be borderline, but they need to be cut out of your life.
- The way your momma or pappy did it might've worked for your momma and pappy, but it needs to be cut out of your life. (Love you moms! And Pappies, too.)

What's interesting about pruning is that you prune branches that are leafy and look really good, but a good farmer understands those are the branches that are robbing nutrients that should be going into producing fruit. Just because it looks good doesn't mean it is good. You couldn’t wait to see the first leaf to know the sown seed had sprouted. But now the tree is bigger and there are lots of leaves but no fruit. What worked to get you here might not work to keep you here. And what was excitement at the start might be what’s hindering you now. (Ex. Maybe your kid’s defiance was cute at 9 months old but is a curse at 9 years old)

When you look at what you are producing, do you like it?
If you want to fix what you are producing, change what choices you are making. You have to choose the right things, family. You have to choose godly things.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.”

What is something you’ve been choosing that may have worked before, but you see now that it is a choice that is keeping you from contributing and leaving a godly legacy?

Do you want to be a contributor? Do you want to leave a godly legacy?

You have to know Jesus.
Do you? Do you know info, or do you know him?

You have to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Are you? Are you trying to flesh your way into godliness, or are you actually being daily led by him?

You have to consistently choose the right things.
Are you? Are you choosing the path of least resistance or the godly path where you find rest for your soul?

Legacy is never left in the big things you want to be remembered for. It is always in the little things that reveal who you really were inside.

If you’ve been choosing the wrong things and are consuming, leaving a bad legacy, have a John 21 moment right now. Peter met Jesus in John 21 in the same exact way he did the first time. Maybe you need to have a come to Jesus moment, first time, or again.
“Jesus I confess you as Lord. I believe in you. I repent of my sin. Save me.”

Jesus forgave Peter in John 21 just like he will you right now. Forgiveness is simple and soul-cleansing. You simply confess your failures and you find soul-cleansing in his forgiveness.
"God, I have sinned and I am broken hearted about it. I confess. I repent and choose not to do those things again. Forgive me.”

Peter was empowered to contribute to the Kingdom, to leave a legacy in Acts 2.
“Holy Spirit fill me, empower me, lead me. Direct my thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Help me live the life I can only live in you.”

Godly choices create godly legacies. What godly choice do you need to make today?

Let’s pray