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Monday, 14 July 2025

Deep Water Faith

(or Drop Everything and Follow Jesus) 

Howard Sands

Example

Edith, mother of 8 came home from neighbours house  - 
things seemed a little too quiet.


As she peered thru door saw children huddled together  -  drew closer  -
to her surprise,  in the middle of a circle of children  - 4 baby skunks.
Edith screamed 'Quick children run"
Each child grabbed a skunk and ran.

 

Some days are like that aren't they

Even when we try to solve them, pressures multiply.



Jesus the son of God was not immune from pressures when he was amongst us

  • regularly in the synagogue teaching,
  • answering questions,
  • facing their criticisms,
  • dodging the Pharisees and Saducees bullets,
  • casting out demons,
  • healing the sick,
  • confronting the forces of evil.
 

In the midst of all this at one point:-

Luke 5:1  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,

2  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3  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.

4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5  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.

6  And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7  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.

8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

 

His emotions spent, his body weary, but he pressed on and taught the people.
He told Simon Peter Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.
Simon replied, Master, "we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."

 

No one can criticise Peter for being reluctant, he'd been fishing all night but caught nothing, but he wisely surrendered.

And when they had this done, they enclosed 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.

 

When the master of heaven and earth, sea and sky, calls the shots amazing things happen - which explains Peters explosive reaction.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.


Earlier Peter calls Jesus "Master" after the miracle of the fish he calls Him "Lord".
Gripped with the realisation that he was in the boat with the Most High God.

He sounds like Isaiah who said, 
Isa 6:5  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Jesus said to Him Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.

There the two of them stood, thigh deep in cold wet clammy slimy fish and Jesus used the opportunity to give them his real message of deep water faith.

Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.








Amazing isn't it, Once they heard his invitation they literally dropped everything;
  • their occupation
  • their familiar surroundings
  • their own goals
  • nets boats business future dreams  everything
 

Perhaps its time for us to take a mental boat trip out with Jesus into the deeper waters of faith and when Jesus says, "follow me"   -  DO IT.

Unlike Edith's children, drop everything and run


Why should we be willing to drop everything and follow Jesus?
and what happens when we do?

 

1 Jesus chooses not to minister to others alone.

He could have rowed the boat himself but he didn't.

He could have let down the nets himself but he didn't.

He certainly could have pulled up the nets busting full of fish but he had them do it.

He specifically stated "From now on YOU WILL BE CATCHING MEN."

 

2 Jesus uses the familiar to do the incredible.

He came to their place, their work, used their skills to work a miracle.

He always uses people.

 

3 Jesus moves us from the safety of the seen to the risk of the unseen.

He led them out into deep water (couldn't touch bottom).

Nothing spectacular happens in the shallows.

 

4 Jesus proves the potential by breaking our nets and filling boats.

When Gods hand is on a situation

nets break,
eyes bulge,
deck planks groan,
the boat almost sinks,
Its Gods way of putting his potential in you on display.

 

5 Jesus conceals his surprise until we follow his leading

No halo round the boat,

no tingle at the touch,

no special shimmer on the water that day,

angelic voices didn't thunder from the sky,

Nothing happened until after they dropped the nets. Until they were simply obedient to his word.

 

6 Jesus reveals his objective to those who release their security.

Only after they have been obedient does he tell them what they will be involved in "Catching men"

they jumped at the chance.

 

Will you:- 

Push out into the deep?

Let down your nets (Obey his word-even though you may have done it 1000 times before)?

Work hard to bring in the catch?

Then leave it all to Follow Him and be a fisher of men? 

------------------------------------------------------

Your comments on this topic are welcome below.  
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Connect with BFTF on other media. Facebook Group by Beautiful Feet Task Force Growing African Christian Leaders, https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingafricanchristianleaders Additional information about Beautiful Feet Task Force can be found here Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulFeetTaskForce Africa Network BFTF: http://bftfafricanetwork.ning.com/ a place for African leaders (and those interested in African church development) to grow in faith, unity and maturity and development of the great commission. Free membership.


Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions. 

INTERESTED IN INVITING HOWARD SANDS 
to speak at your church, College or organisation? 
For more details on how to frame an invitation see here.
See ministry recommendations here. 
See products and services here.
Send your invitation here via facebook messenger

If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here.  
Payment options
PayPal – The safer, easier way to pay online! 


or
Bank account Direct Deposit
Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614

Account 94 0442




Monday, 19 May 2025

The Preaching Goose

Preaching Goose. 

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish Theologian who lived from 1813 to 1855. He related a homely parable about a flock of geese that milled around in a filthy barnyard imprisoned by a high wooden fence.

Preaching goose came, stood on old crate admonished geese for being content (ripped it into 'em).

Goose recounted exploits of fathers who spread wings and flew trackless wastes of sky and spoke of the goodness of the Creator who had given geese the urge to migrate and wings to fly.

This pleased the geese, they marvelled at his eloquent words,

nodded their heads,

applauded his preaching;



just then Mrs Farmer came in with some good corn so they waddled off; 

after having their fill they gaggled for years about the greatness of the preaching goose.

They never did fly.

Will you do what you were made for? 


acknowledgements 

Get the Point Across,  

by Graham H Twelftree

Published SCB Publishers. 


If we don't have change the past will be the present and the future

boring, lifeless, useless, dead

Abraham would still be in Ur of the Chaldees (Iraq).

Moses would have been the next Pharaoh of Egypt instead of Israel's deliverer.

David would have continued as his brothers lunch boy instead of slaying Goliath.

Esther may have lost her life along with thousands of Hebrews, Mordecai said Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

Nehemiah would still be serving wine to King Artaxerxes in Susa instead of motivating a bunch of no hoper Hebrews to build a wall around Jerusalem.

Peter & John would still be out fishing for lunch instead of changing the world as Christs apostles.

Paul would still be a religious narrow minded, threatening, murdering bully instead of converting the gentiles to Jesus. 



Your comments on this topic are welcome below.  

Connect with BFTF on other media. Facebook Group by Beautiful Feet Task Force Growing African Christian Leaders, https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingafricanchristianleaders Additional information about Beautiful Feet Task Force can be found here Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulFeetTaskForce Africa Network BFTF: http://bftfafricanetwork.ning.com/


Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions. 

INTERESTED IN INVITING HOWARD SANDS 
to speak at your church, College or organisation? 
For more details on how to frame an invitation see here.
See ministry recommendations here. 
See products and services here.
Send your invitation here via facebook messenger

If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here.  
Payment options
PayPal – The safer, easier way to pay online! 


or
Bank account Direct Deposit
Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614

Account 94 0442

 



Thursday, 23 January 2025

How will you change - what will you change?


Its a new year. 
New decisions to make.
New choices to make.
New goals to achieve. 
New people to meet. 
New people to help.



Will you be totally, 100% sold out for the cause of Christ, for winning those outside the kingdom to faith and discipleship in Christ, for maturing yourself and the church, developing unity in your local church as well as across your city and nation? 
Will you ensure that whatever you do puts the kingdom of God first? 
Will you make a determined effort this year to improve your ABC's:- 

Attitude
Believing
Conviction
Determination
Evangelising 
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Holiness
Industriousness
Joyfulness
Knowledge
Loving
Maturity
Nourishing 
Obedience
Positivity
Qualifications
Reading
Sincerity
Trustworthiness 
Understanding 
Vigilance 
Wisdom 
Xenacity 
Yearning 
Zeal. 


What practical steps will you take to do that? 
How will you change your daily routine to incorporate more of the above into your life, (thinking, conversation, public speaking and behaviour.)
If nothing changes - nothing changes. 


Here is a tip: 
One years preaching program alternate weeks -26 weeks
Preach on one topic in this list every second week to develop understanding of Christian character and behaviour in your congregation. 


Your comments on this topic are welcome below.  

Connect with BFTF on other media. Facebook Group by Beautiful Feet Task Force Growing African Christian Leaders, https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingafricanchristianleaders Additional information about Beautiful Feet Task Force can be found here Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulFeetTaskForce Africa Network BFTF: http://bftfafricanetwork.ning.com/


Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions. 

INTERESTED IN INVITING HOWARD SANDS 
to speak at your church, College or organisation? 
For more details on how to frame an invitation see here.
See ministry recommendations here. 
See products and services here.
Send your invitation here via facebook messenger

If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here.  
Payment options
PayPal – The safer, easier way to pay online! 


or
Bank account Direct Deposit
Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614

Account 94 0442

Wednesday, 15 January 2025

Identified with Christ

Through the fall we have seen that man in Adam was legally identified with Satan in spiritual death.

Rom 5.12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—  

Heb 10.12-14 When Christ sat down at the Father’s right hand, man had been perfectly redeemed because he had been legally identified with Christ in His redemptive work.

 

SIX STEPS TO IDENTIFICATION

 

1/ I WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Gal 2.20            correct grammar, “I have been …”

Rom 6.6            our old man (sin nature) was crucified

2 Cor 5.21        made sin for us

 

 

2/ I DIED WITH CHRIST

Rom 6.5            Rom 6.8 Jesus by taking our sin nature, had our spiritual death laid on Him

Matt 27.46       “…my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”

                             He became mortal, ‘subject to death’   His death was in our place.

Rom 6.6            We (our sin nature) died with Him

 

 

3/ I WAS BURIED WITH CHRIST

Rom 6.4     Col 2.12  we are buried with him through baptism

His body lay in the tomb. But his spirit suffered in hell as he paid the penalty due to man. He was there in our place.

From the Father's perspective, it was you and I.

On this basis, the person who receives the redemptive work of Christ need not go to hell, for his penalty is paid.

Rom 6.7      freed from spiritual death.

When man is free from spiritual death, he can receive God's life line.

2 Cor 5.21   and God could declare him righteous.

RIGHTEOUS - The ability to stand in the presence of God as free from condemnation and sin as if there had never been any spiritual death in His spirit.

 

 

4/ I WAS MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST

Rom 6.8            Col 2.13            Eph 2.5 dead with him, we shall also live with him. 

Col 1.18.          He is the first born from the dead.

Rom. 8.29        (the first to be born out of spiritual death)

Rom 6.9b         over whom the dominion of death was broken.

     CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE.  - made exactly like he is.

Rom 6.11         Alive unto God.

    We were made legally alive in him when we received Christ as our Saviour.

John 3.16.   For God so love the world, YOU.

That you should not die, (live any longer in spiritual death)

but receive the life of God

YOUR NATIONALITY CHANGED

Col 1.13.          Delivered from the authority of darkness to the Kingdom of the Son of his love.


 

 

 

5/ I WAS RAISED WITH CHRIST

Eph 1.20-23    Christ is raised far above all.....

Eph 2,6            and raised us up with him.

Col 2.15           Spoiled principalities and powers.

 

 

6/ I WAS SEATED WITH CHRIST

After his spirit was freed from hell, He re entered his body. Raising it to immortality.

Acts 2.31.        So that his body would not see corruption

Eph 1.20           seated at the Father's right hand

v22                    All things (legally) under his feet (body)

Eph 2.6             We are seated with him

      He is waiting for us to take vitally what is ours legally.

 

CONCLUSION

What Christ is - I AM,               What Christ has -I have.

His:- authority, position, power, prosperity, humility, righteousness, ability, love. 

Is all mine         because           I am in Him.

Matt 28.18      All authority is given to me in heaven and in earth, go you therefore...

Authority in earth given by God to man,   man to Satan,  restored by Christ to YOU.

 

Therefore I       

am more than a conqueror -               because I am complete in Christ

Can do all things -                               through Christ.

 

If God be for me, who can be against me (?)

I AM A        devil conqueror           BECAUSE         I am complete in Christ

Sin defeater                                          seated with him in heavenly places. sickness beater  
poverty defyer.

circumstance overcomer

 

I AM            Living out from the throne                   Instead of trying to live up to it

Moving out in my calling                       Not trying to live up to it.




Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Africa Network BFTF offline

 APOLOGIES
Our Webmaster has been making some changes to Africa Network BFTF http://bftfafricanetwork.ning.com/ the website has been offline most of today.
We are working to resolve the issue and will notify here when we are aware it is back online.
9.10pm 29 Nov 2024 Sydney Australia

We are pleased to advise that
Africa Network BFTF is back online and as far we can tell, fully functional.

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