How To Harness Seven Secrets Of Success

A Sermon By Jim Hammond from Luke 5:1-11

What is success? People view it differently, as you can tell by this story.

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
     The Mexican replied, only a little while.
     The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
     The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
     The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"
     The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."
     The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
     The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
     To which the American replied, "15-20 years."
     "But what then?"
     The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
     "Millions.. Then what?"
     The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

Perhaps the Mexican already knew that contentment was a better measurement of success than money. Of all people in the world, Christians should want to succeed. Our definition of success, and how we achieve it, may be different, but we want success.

Let’s take a look at a different fishing village. Not in Mexico but by a Lake in the Middle East, a lake in Gennesaret. This time it is not a wealthy American, but a respected Rabbi who speaks to some fishermen. These fishermen are weary. They have worked very hard and they have not fared well the night before.

Focus: Jesus gave a few fishermen who felt like failures a lesson on success that they would not soon forget.

If we want lives that count for something significant, we will want to learn how to harness the seven secrets of success that came from Jesus as well.

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV) ¹One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ²he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

I. Know Your Limitations

⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Peter, Andrew, James and John did all they knew to do and still had come up empty. While God gave us brains to think with, sometimes we don’t have enough cleverness on our own to do the job. We have limited resources, but God doesn’t. Always make success a joint venture with God’s resources.

II. Follow the Lord’s Leading

(even if it doesn’t make sense, or is difficult).

⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

How do you think these fisherman felt, taking advice from a carpenter turned preacher? Didn’t they know fishing? It was their business. One of the most important ingredients for success is to have an aim.

A. What Leads You?

We all tend to do what we believe will make us successful or happy. What is it for you that you believe will lead you to success or happiness?

What was it about Jesus that caused them to trust him with regard to fishing? This was just a Rabbi. What did he know about fishing? Just look at his eyes. See the gleam? Why would he smile the way he did. You couldn’t be too defensive. There must have been something in the way he said “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.,” that caused Simon to think twice about Jesus’ strange advice. Peter had to go against his natural inclinations to decide to follow the Lord’s leading. What did Jesus think they did all night?

We are not told how reluctant they were. We don’t know if there was a murmuring and grumbling because Peter had committed them to go out again. We don’t know if there was any faith or expectation. All we know is that because they decided to follow the leading of the Lord, they had a successful catch, a catch beyond their wildest dreams. I don’t think they ever had a catch like this before. It took their breath away. It was too much to handle. It was breaking their nets and causing problems. The came in with sinking boats swamped with fish. I wonder if Jesus was smiling as he watched? I think so. And it wasn’t an “I told you so” kind of smile. He blessed them. It was fun to bless them. But he blessed them for a reason.

We need to remember that this leading didn’t seem to make natural sense to these fishermen. Yet, for whatever reason, they decided to follow the Lord’s leading. It paid off.

B. Make Character based decisions rather than feeling based decisions

Those who have Self Control (a character quality) will succeed over those who don’t.

Peter didn’t feel like going out to fish again. He was tired. But he set aside what he was feeling. He had self control. He operated from another well besides feelings. He decided it would be the right thing to do, out of consideration for Jesus. A feeling based decision would simply have said, no, I’m tired. I’m not going back out there. We are through for now. A character based decision said what Peter said. (v. 5) “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Peter deferred to Jesus out of respect for Jesus. Not respect for Jesus as a fisherman. But respect for something greater he saw in Jesus.

The simplest way to put it is this way: Character based decisions are decisions because Jesus says so. Jesus made character based decisions. “Not my will but your will be done.” He taught us to pray character based prayers. These are personal goal adjusting prayers, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” This is a character based approach rather than a feeling based approach. You decide based on a well inside you that is not a well of subjective feelings, but a well that says, I’m going to do what’s right. I’m going to follow the Lord’s leading on this one.

What leads you? What image of success do you have that is leading you?

     Field of Dreams is a movie about baseball, pursuing a dream, and choosing life's priorities. Half way through the film, Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, travels back in time to meet with Doc Graham, played by Burt Lancaster. Doc had been a rookie ballplayer who made it to the big leagues for one season, only to play for half an inning—never making a defensive play, never getting to bat.
     The two men walk into Doc's office speaking wistfully about the joy and beauty of the game of baseball, the smell of leather, and the sound of the crowd. Yet, after his half-inning on the brink of glory, Doc had walked away from baseball, choosing to live out the rest of his days doctoring in his hometown. His chief regret: If only he could have gotten to bat, just once, he would have stood strong at the plate, looked the pitcher right in the eye…and winked. How he would have enjoyed that! Just once.
     Yet he walked away. Why? "I couldn't bear the thought of another year in the minors," says Doc. "So I decided to hang 'em up."
     "What was that like?" Ray asks.
     "It was like coming this close to your dreams and watching them brush past you like a stranger in a crowd. At the time you don't think much of it. We just don't recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they're happening. Back then I thought: Well, there will be other days. I didn't realize…that was the only day."
      "Fifty years ago you came so close," says Ray. "It would kill some men to get that close to their dream and not touch it. They'd consider it a tragedy."
     "Son, if I'd only gotten to be a doctor for half an inning, now that would have been a tragedy."[i]

Good Character is more important even than skills for success.

Just this week, I “happened” across a autographed copy of coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” that was given to Dave Hill, a hospice worker, who is working with Ed Dunn. On this framed document, the essential components for success are diagramed in a pyramid. Success is at the apex of the pyramid. Under “success” are all the essential character components that lead to success. One must build the foundational components before you can expect to top the whole off with that final component called success.

It is no accident that John Wooden's UCLA teams won ten NCAA championships in 12 years. He was convinced that more than basketball skills were necessary to develop a successful team. He was right about success in any endeavor, more than skills are required.

No one speaks more eloquently about Wooden than Bill Walton, who played for UCLA at a troubled time in America, a time of Vietnam and Watergate, a time when young people were asking hard questions, when dissent was in style.
For Wooden, the answers never changed. "We thought he was nuts," Walton said. "But in all his preachings and teachings, everything he told us turned out to be true….
     "His interest and goal was to make you the best basketball player but first to make you the best person," Walton said. "He would never talk wins and losses but what we needed to succeed in life. Once you were a good human being, you had a chance to be a good player. He never deviated from that.
     "He never tried to be your friend. He was your teacher, your coach. He handled us with extreme patience…."
     Today, Walton talks with the 90-year-old Wooden frequently. "He has thousands of maxims. He is more John Wooden today than ever. He is a man who truly has principles and ideas….
     "He didn't teach basketball. He taught life….
     "When you're touched by someone that special, it changes your life," he said. "You spend your life chasing it down, trying to recreate it.
     "He stopped coaching UCLA 25 years ago. Now he just coaches the world."[ii]

C. How Do I Follow the Lord’s Leading?

Jesus isn’t here talking to me audibly. How do I follow his lead? The following points help me.

1. Make a commitment to do so. (Proverbs 16:3 & Psalms 37:4-5)

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV) Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.

2. Make that Commitment your Top Priority (Matthew 6:33)

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

3. Equip Yourself To Know How to Do It. (Joshua 1:8 & Psalm 1:2-3)

Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

III. Take Risks

⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Do you see the risk Peter is taking here? He is tired. He hasn’t caught fish. He doesn’t think he is going to catch fish. He isn’t excited about Jesus’ advice. Jesus’ isn’t a fisherman, and what does he know? But perhaps out of respect for Jesus, Peter decided to risk failing another attempt.

There is no risk in doing what you know you can do. That’s where most of us live. Faith is expressed when we lean on God for things we don’t think we can do. Faith partners with God for success beyond our natural limitations.

After Simon came up against the wall of his own limitations, he risked partnering with Jesus to attempt something beyond his own limitations. The Lord will ask you to do things that are beyond your comfort zones. If you never stretch beyond your comfort zones you never exercise any faith, or dependence on the Lord, because you don’t feel you need to. You also miss out on the blessings the Lord provides when you do partner with Him.

IV. Persevere

⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

The fishermen were tired, but willing to do their part. They persevered even through disappointment and fatigue. They were discouraged, but willing to try again.

Don't Call It "Failure"

Jonas Salk attempted 200 unsuccessful vaccines for polio before he came up with one that worked. Somebody asked him one time, "How did it feel to fail 200 times trying to invent a vaccine for polio?"
This was his response: "I never failed 200 times at anything in my life. My family taught me never to use that word. I simply discovered 200 ways how not to make a vaccine for polio."[iii]

Mr. Holland’s Opus

Mr. Holland's Opus is a movie about a frustrated composer in Portland, Oregon, who takes a job as a high school band teacher in the 1960s. Although diverted from his lifelong goal of achieving critical fame as a classical musician, Glenn Holland (played by Richard Dreyfuss) believes his school job is only temporary.
     At first he maintains his determination to write an opus or a concerto by composing at his piano after putting in a full day with his students. But, as family demands increase (including discovery that his infant son is deaf) and the pressures of his job multiply, Mr. Holland recognizes that his dream of leaving a lasting musical legacy is merely a dream.
     At the end of the movie we find an aged Mr. Holland fighting in vain to keep his job. The board has decided to reduce the operating budget by cutting the music and drama program. No longer a reluctant band teacher, Mr. Holland believes in what he does and passionately defends the role of the arts in public education. What began as a career detour became a 35-year mission, pouring his heart into the lives of young people.
     Mr. Holland returns to his classroom to retrieve his belongings a few days after school has let out for summer vacation. He has taught his final class. With regret and sorrow, he fills a box with artifacts that represent the tools of his trade and memories of many meaningful classes. His wife and son arrive to give him a hand.
     As they leave the room and walk down the hall, Mr. Holland hears some noise in the auditorium. Because school is out, he opens the door to see what the commotion is. To his amazement he sees a capacity audience of former students and teaching colleagues and a banner that reads "Goodbye, Mr. Holland." Those in attendance greet Mr. Holland with a standing ovation while a band (consisting of past and present members) plays songs they learned at his hand.
     His wife, who was in on the surprise reception, approaches the podium and makes small talk until the master of ceremonies, the governor of Oregon, arrives. The governor is none other than a student Mr. Holland helped to believe in herself his first year of teaching. As she addresses the room of well-wishers, she speaks for the hundreds who fill the auditorium:
     "Mr. Holland had a profound influence in my life (on a lot of lives, I know), and yet I get the feeling that he considers a great part of his life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his, and this was going to make him famous and rich (probably both). But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous. At least not outside our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure, but he'd be wrong. Because I think he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame."
     Looking at her former teacher the governor gestures with a sweeping hand and continues, "Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each one of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. And we are the music of your life."[iv]

V. Network

As success came, they had to share the burden. Since Jesus was the ultimate focus, it didn’t matter who got the credit. Because the load was so great and because the fishermen valued the team they began to network. Our term for networking fits very well with the networking teamwork of the fishermen. When you value the team, you pitch in and make some personal sacrifices for the benefit of the team.

Dave Travis, in Church Champions Update (8-25-00) wrote,
     Tuesday night I couldn't go to sleep. I clicked on the hotel TV and found my beloved Atlanta Braves playing the Colorado Rockies. It was the 9th inning, and the score was tied at 6-6.
     The game continued. As the innings progressed, the Rockies used all of their relief pitchers. (Major league teams have 25 person rosters, 10 of which are usually pitchers. Of those, four or five are starters, and the rest are relievers.)
     Without any relief pitchers left on the bench, the starting pitcher from the night before was sent out to pitch an inning. He had pitched numerous innings the night before but went out again and held the Braves.
     In the 12th inning, the Rockies had a terrible choice. Should they send out one of their two remaining starting pitchers, who would have to play over the next two days, or a utility player? They chose to send an injured catcher, Brent Mayne, to the mound.
     The manager asked him: "Can you pitch?"
     "Sure" said Brent, even though he had never pitched at any level in his life.
     A few pitches went over the catcher's head. One flew behind a batter's back, but Mayne managed to get the Braves to ground into two grounders and a fly ball out to get the Rockies out of the inning. In the bottom of that inning, Mayne's position came up to hit. With an injured batting hand, he couldn't. So the Rockies sent out a new player who had never had a hit in the major leagues. Of course he drove a run in to win the game.

Why tell this story? Because sometimes Christian workers have to fill uncomfortable positions. Sometimes you have to do it even when you are hurt. You have to go out there and take one for the team. This is what I mean by networking.

VI. Be humble in your success.

God can give us more than we ask or imagine.

The catch of fish was even greater than they would have expected. Our God delights in surprising us.

Peter did not take credit for the success.

Peter knew where the success came from. In the hubbub of saving the nets and the boats it suddenly dawns on Peter. This was no accident. Jesus knew! He leaves everything to bow before Jesus. FORGET THE NETS! FORGET THE BOATS! He bows before JESUS! He is full of respect and awe, but an overwhelming sense of unworthiness fills him also. He thinks, God surely does not want someone like me.

He incorrectly assumed God couldn’t use someone like him. Do you ever think that? God surely can’t use someone like me. If you have felt that, then you have felt what Peter felt. The truth is, that sense of unworthiness actually becomes your resume for service. If you felt qualified, you would not be qualified. When you feel disqualified and admit it, you assume a position of humility and suddenly you are a prime candidate to become a follower of Jesus.

Humility is the Elevator to Success on God’s Terms

This becomes Peter’s resume for service. Humility is the elevator to success on God’s terms. If you want to be great, learn to be the servant of all.

Peter thought God only works with and uses pious people, and therefore it was dangerous to be a sinner in the presence of God. What Peter does not realize is that admitting one’s inability and sin is the best prerequisite for enlisting in the ranks of God’s service. The reason is, the only ones qualified to serve God are those who see their own need and therefore depend on God rather than their own resources to serve him. God could use Peter because Peter knew he needed God, and not the other way around. Peter’s strength came from knowing his weakness. Sinners who turn to God are the people God can use the most.

VII. Become a Lifelong “learner”

This was just a kindergarten lesson in the school of discipleship. Can you imagine if they had the attitude one kindergartener did?

When “Mike” returned home from his first day in kindergarten, his mother asked if he'd had a good day. Mike answered, "I can't read and I can't write and they won't let me talk, so what's the use?"

You don’t learn everything in the first lesson. Peter’s comments make it clear that this event was only the first day of kindergarten for him as a disciple.

You cannot be a disciple, a “learner,” until you realize there is much to learn. Jesus is looking for disciples. So many people are afraid to follow Jesus’ leading because they don’t feel like they know enough, or they don’t feel like they are good enough. Listen, that feeling of inadequacy is the prerequisite for following him to begin with! Begin to follow him, and don’t stop learning while you do. The minute you feel like you have arrived, the minute you feel like you have something that God can’t do without, you are on your way to falling, and falling hard. Ask Peter. He also knows about that lesson that came later in his schooling. Humble yourself or be humiliated, it’s your choice.

These fishermen learned some lessons here that they never forgot. They had to be reminded but they were learning. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter, in the throes of regret, decided to go back to fishing. Peter no doubt felt he had failed. Jesus came to him again and did the same old kindergarten lesson. Cast the net where I tell you. Peter was shaken back to reality. What am I doing? He evidently never forgot the kindergarten lesson. What am I doing here! This is the Lord. I’m following him! He went from merely fishing to become a great fisher of men. He became a spiritual success, and so can you. All you have to do is:

Know your limitations, follow the lord’s leading, even when there are risks, persevere, network, be humble in your success, and become a lifelong “learner.”

Dear Lord,

Lord, I identify with Simon Peter. When I consider your Holiness I don’t feel worthy to be called by you. So I am grateful to know that you are looking for someone who knows their own limitations, someone who knows they are not good enough. I do qualify for that. I know my shortcomings. Lord, I choose to put on the top of my resume, that I feel inadequate for your calling. I willingly put myself in a position of depending upon you for adequacy.

I am willing to enlist as a lifelong “learner.” I am willing to admit I need to learn.

Lord, would you show me what it means to follow your lead? I want to commit myself to you. Give me the strength to make character based decisions rather than feeling based decisions. Help me to know your lead, and to be able to pray, “Not my will but yours be done.” Show me your leading, when I pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done.” Then please give me the courage, the firm resolve, to follow your lead even when this means taking risks. I want to be like these fishermen who were willing to go at it again even through their discouragement, and through their fatigue. I commit myself to following your lead this morning. I want to make you top priority in my life. Show me the adjustments I need to make today. I make a commitment before you today to equip myself so that I can know how to follow your lead. I commit myself to be a student of your word, to study your word each day. I commit myself also to the team. You have asked me to network with my brothers and sisters. Help me to value the team, making the sacrifices necessary to stay relationally connected to a team of brothers and sisters because I know this honors you, and trains me to be more like you. You have designed me for the team. Forgive me for the times I don’t recognize this, when I’d rather go it alone.

Lord, please also guard over my heart when you decide to bless me. Help me to look to you after every success, to honor you as the one who blessed me. I want to remain in a humble position before you that you may be honored by my life. Forgive me when I take credit for your blessings.

Lord, thank you for being the kind of master that is willing to call people like us, and equip people like us, to live lives of significance. Thank you for being a God who blesses us even beyond what we dream and imagine. You are a good God, and we love you.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

[i] Field of Dreams, Rated PG, written for the screen and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, produced by the Gordon Company, Universal Pictures, released 1989.

[ii] Hal Bock, Associated Press, "A Coach for All Seasons," The Spokane-Review Newspaper (12-4-00), p. C8

[iii] John Ortberg, "A Mind-Expanding Faith," Preaching Today, Tape No. 126

[iv] Mr. Holland's Opus, (Hollywood Pictures, 1995), rated PG, written by Patrick Sheane Duncan, directed by Stephen Herek Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 2:05:50, and lasts for about five minutes