There is Other Ship
Luke 5:1-7 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. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 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.
Introduction: We give God the glory for opportunity to witness another week as we learn at His feet.
I pray that we all shall be doers of His words and not hearers and teachers only. After ministering to others, we will not be a castaway in Jesus name.
This week, as I read our text, something dropped in my heart that there will always be other ship available for God to use.
Representing the ship as a Christian vessel which we are, it is a great privilege to be used by God.
Two ships were at the lake, Jesus chose Peter’s ship. Supposing Peter denied Jesus of using his ship, I noted that will not deter the move of God because there will always be another ship.
If as God’s vessel you are privileged to minister the word of God to your boss, and you refuse for whatever reason, there will always be another vessel to be used.
There are occasions whereby Christians are ashamed to minister salvation for several factors such as, I can loose my job, I may be denied the contract, I will be seen as fanatic, I may not get that job, and other seemingly good reasons to keep quiet or even deny our faith.
There will always be another vessel to accomplish God’s purpose.
Some years ago, I was desperate for a change of Job as finance houses were collapsing and where I was working, it was bound to collapse as depositors could not get their money back.
I was being interviewed among many others in a newly established mortgage bank. The G.M. who was a Muslim asked how as a treasurer of the bank can bring in money. Knowing that I did not know or have rich people, and I was new in Lagos, I said, only Jesus Christ can help me as a man can receive nothing except it comes from above.
Ordinarily, even a Christian G.M. will not consider me not to talk of a Muslim but I was employed. During one of our management meeting, the G.M. said he didn’t consider me for that post but he couldn’t sleep because my name kept ringing in his heart. I knew it can only be God. I could have lied that I know rich people who can bring deposits. Jesus secured the job for me because I was not ashamed to tell that He is my only helper.
If we refuse to lift Him up before men for whatever reason, there will always be other vessels.
Hear the Scriptures in Luke 19:37-40 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Can you see that stones can do the work of God to replace human vessels?
This is true, after all, we are dusts that became a living soul due to the breath of God.
May we never be replaced by God in Jesus name.
There will always be another vessel to be used by God to fulfil His purpose.
There was a time Elijah left his duty post and ran away from Jezebel who threatened to kill him.
God came to Elijah where he was hiding in the cave.
Hear God’s question to Elijah;
1 Kings 19:13(NLT) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah justifiably told God about his zeal in Israel where God placed and empowered him. Elijah erroneously thought that he was the only one who had not bowed unto Baal.
1 Kings 19:14(NLT) He replied again, “I have zealously served the lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
When we think that we are the only one serving God and there is no other like us in the ministry that God placed us, it is an error.
When you leave your duty post or position God has placed you for whatever reason without God’s approval, then there will always be other vessels that will replace you to achieve God’s purpose.
1 Kings 19:15-17(NLT) Then the lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!
Can you see that immediately God chose Hazael and Jehu to take over rulership of Aram and Israel?
Do you also notice that God chose Elisha to replace Elijah?
There will always be other ship to fulfil God’s purpose. No one is indispensable before God.
Hear God with confirmation that there were 7,000 vessels that can be used for His purpose.
1 Kings 19:18(NLT) Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
Let it be known that God’s purpose can never be disrupted by anyone including the Devil.
Scriptures speak in Isaiah 14:24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
Hear the NLT version of Isaiah 14:24 The lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath: “It will all happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided.
When Saul was made to be king of Israel and he disobeyed God to please men, God chose another vessel.
1 Samuel 15:28(NLT) And Samuel said to him, “The lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.
There will always be better vessel to accomplish God’s plans and purpose.
✍ Finally brethren, as I conclude on the fact that there will always be other ship, I want to remind you that there was Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot for the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Christ by twelve apostles to the world.
Acts 1:24-26 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Always remember, whatever God is using us to do for Him is a privilege and not by right, our righteousness, wisdom, power, connections and whatever makes us puffed up, it is by God’s mercy because there are others better than us.
🙏 May God not replace us for His purposes in this world in Jesus name.
✋ Maranatha.
