TAKEN FROM "BURN YOUR BOAT" BY REV. PRINCE GUNERATNAM, CALVARY TODAY.
As the title suggests, you will read about What Boat You've Got To Burn in Christian Life. I was practically travelling to my University on fine morning when I heard this message from Rev. Prince Guneratnam. I got so excited and marvelled at the depth of the message. I was quite attracted to his English as well. But to be clearer when you read the post, I would suggest that you should read it with an open mind.
So before you can burn your boat, what boat are you in now? Looking at The Bible, Simon called Peter was initially a fisherman. He was one of the finest in his town and great career man. He had great moments with his nets and fishes. And obviously he travelled to the mid sea with a boat. But that isn't the matter yet.
When Jesus called him to follow, he was called to fish men. He left behind the boat and the net and followed Jesus alongside with his brother. I mean like if Jesus called me when I was playing FIFA 2013, I would have surely asked Him to wait (sincere lar). But Simon Peter followed without a word. That was fascinating.
He just left behind his career, hope and life supporting job to follow Jesus. And the story goes as he followed Jesus till the synagogue judgement and then ran away. But it is admitted that he is indeed one of the most promising disciples of all whom Jesus himself called the Rock of the Church.
But after Jesus had died and resurrected, which Simon Peter did not know, things were different than it were before. When Jesus lived with them, they forgot their past and followed Jesus. Faced everything with Him and even came forward to die with Him. But when He died, they all were affected by great sorrow and confusion. Simon Peter especially, was clueless of his future. He was called out of his older profession of fisherman by Jesus to be assigned to another job.
But due to the uncertainty of his future or in other words, a small hole in the faith in Jesus, Peter return to the sea and to his boat to continue his work. Jesus said Fish-Men but he chose Fisher-Man. He had a choice to go back to. And then Jesus appeared to him and tested him again before assigning him to do His ministry.
What we've got derive from here is that, Jesus doesn't call free people who has nothing to do to give them something to do. He calls busy people who would have had their future well planned. He calls people who think they have nothing to do with ministry. If you think that it's because of your qualification He's going to call you, no, He calls you as He wishes.
When He calls, our life needs great transformation. We need to become Peter from Simon. From wild to soft; rude to polite; arrogant to humble; unavailable to always available. Simon was a fisherman but Peter was a Men-Fisher. Both might look alike but the latter needs the Help of the Holy Spirit to do.
Secondly, BURN YOUR BOAT! Peter did not burn his boat and that's why when he was stroked by adversaries, he turned back to normal life. NO! God doesn't work that way. Burn your past when God calls you. Don't ever think that it might back you up when trouble arrives. Instead, place Jesus in Your Boat who will safely sail you through in all aspects of life.
If you think your degree, work, talents, influence etc might back you up when you face problems in ministries, I tell you, please press Ctrl+A and Delete it now. It's just to survive in the world today and THAT'S ALL.
Burn your boat and Don't turn back! He will provide and protect!
Amen.
