Jesus Can Repurpose

Luke 5.1 – 11

The idea of repurposing is to take something that is no longer usable or lacks purpose and give it a different and new purpose

• Someone could take an empty paint bucket that has already served its purpose and transform it into a simple boat anchor by adding sand into the bucket and sealing the bucket.
• I know of some men who took a old chicken house, tore it down for the lumber, then use the same Lumber to build a very nice, very stable, long-lasting porch for a mobile home.
  • they repurposed the lumber.
  • they reuse it in a different way

Jesus is in the business of repurposing.

Let’s read through Luke 5 to find out what He can repurpose.

A crowd was pressing on Jesus just to hear his teaching of God’s word. v1

 Jesus saw two boats by the lake. v2

 Jesus noticed the fishermen were not in the boat but were taking care of their equipment. v2

 Jesus got in Simon’s boat. v3

 He asked Simon to push off from the bank just a little distance.

 When the people came to the edge of the water it formed an amphitheater

 Jesus then taught the people from the boat.

 Jesus repurpose a boat into a pulpit

• Had the boat become a non-functioning boat? No.
• Did Jesus take the boat and give it an additional purpose? YES
• Jesus Took a boat and turn into a tool so he could teach people who wanted to learn

What are the tools in your profession? Or the things you use for recreation?

• Postal workers are amazing with the rubber band.
  • The rubber band normally holds bundles of letters together for the mail carrier.
  • But it can be repurposed.
    • They are given an additional purpose
    • They can hold packages to the mailbox.
    • Or keep the mailbox door closed.
  • Some people use their cars as classrooms during the Covid Pandemic.
    • They take children to Walmart where is there was good internet connection.
    • They do their school work in the car.
    • The car was given an additional purpose other than transportation
    • It is repurposed.

What are some of the tools in your profession or recreation that can be turned into a teaching tool for God?

• Remember in the Old Testament how the fathers were to teach their children, and when they were to teach their children.
  • Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
• When you drive down the road in your car, can your car become a classroom for Jesus?
  • Can you show family or children the wonders of God?
  • Can you talk about creation from the seat of your car?
• Can you use a rifle to teach how the message of Jesus can cut people to the heart
• Can a tractor be used to teach how Christian bear one another’s burdens?
• Could a farmer use a hay rake and a baler to teach how Jesus wants to gather people into his church?

Jesus can use anything that you have to teach his message.

He just needs your voice to make it happen.

There is something even more profound repurposing found in Luke 5.

Jesus finishes teaching the people. Luke 5:4

He tells Simon to put out into deep water and use his net for a catch of fish. v4

• But you need to understand who Simon is.
  • Simon is a professional fisherman.
  • Simon is a tired professional fisherman. v5
    • Simon told Jesus that he and his crew had work all night and had not caught anything. v5
    • Simon certainly knew the fishing business better than Jesus.
      • Or so he thought.
    • So why did Simon call Jesus master?
      • Because Simon had heard of Jesus healing many people.
      • Recently Simon’s mother-in-law had been cured by Jesus from a high fever
      • Now Simon has just finished hearing Jesus teach God’s word w/authority
      • Simon was a man who recognized Jesus has abilities in religious matters.
      • But he may have considered Jesus as inadequate as a fisherman
    • Simon was a respectful man because he gave Jesus a chance even though he was not a professional fisherman
    • Simon agreed to go into the deep water and cast his net again.
    • When Simon obeyed Jesus, a large number of fish were enclosed.
      • It was such a large number that is nets began to break.
    • Simon signaled to his partners, James and John, to come help his crew with this massive number of fish.
    • James and John helped Simon and both boats began to sink.
    • When Simon perceived what was happening, he asked Jesus to leave.
      • Simon saw the miracle for what it was.
      • He recognized that Jesus had powers beyond his wildest ideas.
      • He realized he was unworthy to be around Jesus.
    • He realized Jesus knew more about fish than He did, even though he was the professional
    • Everyone present there was amazed at the size of the fish catch.
  • This would include James and John
• Jesus tells Simon to not be afraid
  • Jesus then told Simon that from now on He will be catching men
• Simon was being repurposed.

 What is your profession or avocation?

 What do you do?

 Is it possible for Jesus to “repurpose” you?

• Once “repurposed”, Peter became the first preacher of the Gospel
  • It did not mean that he was perfect but that he was repurposed
• Paul described himself as a blasphemer and a persecutor. (1 Tim 1:13)
  • But Jesus repurposed him into the greatest of  missionaries to the Gentiles. (Acts 22.21)
• If Jesus can change the purpose of men like these, certainly he is capable of changing you.

 But there’s one major difference between these men and you.

• These men immediately became willing to be changed.
• They were willing to take on an additional purpose for life.
  • To be repurposed.
• Are you willing to take on the additional purpose for your life.
  • Living for Jesus
    • Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
  • Changing into Jesus
    • Colossians 3:8-10 ESV But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  (9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices  (10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
  • Teaching Jesus
    • Matt 28.19-20

 Jesus can take the humble servant and change them into powerful people that change lives for him.

Would you be “repurposed” today?