Deep Faith

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me back to Luke chapter 5. And then, Find with me Colossians chapter 3. Luke 5 is our anchor text this morning, and then Colossians will be how we dive into what it means to have deep faith. We started this journey last week with a simple but piercing question: Can He use your boat? That question was less about a sermon and more about a posture—one of surrender.

We talked about Simon, how he was tired and discouraged, scrubbing his nets after a night of empty fishing. And yet, when Jesus stepped in, Simon said yes. Not to deep water yet—just to a little push from the shore. Just enough room for Jesus to speak. And we ended last week with this thought.. Obedience and love often begins with small steps. That comes from verse 3 hen Jesus and Peter was in the boat and Jesus had asked him to put the boat out into the shallows.

Easy right…. I mean, I imagine Peter being tired going, ok this isn’t bad, I'm not too far from the shore, and I’ll let him preach a little and we’ll be done. Now of course, that’s no where in the Scripture, I’m just seeing my life in this story. How I would of felt in this moment. But here we are again—same boat, same Jesus… but the invitation has changed. Verse 3 was about the shallows.

About saying yes when it’s safe. But now look at verse 4: “When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.’” That’s the turning point. Jesus is inviting Peter—and us—not just into a moment of obedience, but into a depth of obedience. Into something that isn’t safe or predictable, something that requires trust beyond what makes sense. And maybe you’re asking—what does that really look like in my actual life?

What does it mean to go deep with Jesus—not just emotionally or spiritually, but practically, day by day? That’s where Colossians 3 comes in. Because Paul shows us what a deep, surrendered life really looks like in real time—in your thoughts, your habits, your relationships, and your worship. So, let’s turn to Colossians chapter 3 together. I want you to see these words for yourself, because Paul isn’t just talking about a future hope or a past miracle—he’s laying out the blueprint for how you and I can live a deep, surrendered life right now.

Let’s read, starting in verse 1: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4, NIV) Let’s pause here for a second.

Paul is saying, “If you belong to Jesus, your old life—your old ambitions, your old priorities, your old way of doing things—it’s over. = Now, your whole life is anchored in Him.” In other words, if you want to go deep with Christ, it starts with what you set your heart and mind says on the shore and in the shallows. It’s not about living for the approval of others, or chasing whatever makes you comfortable.

It’s about making Jesus the very center of your desires. And that leads us to the first mark of a deep life with God—the first “test,” if you will—and it’s this: the test of sacrifice. Paul puts it bluntly in verse 5. Listen to his language: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Let’s be honest—this isn’t easy to hear.

“Put to death” sounds a lot more serious than “try your best” or “work on it when you have time.” Paul is saying, if you want to walk in the deep with Christ, something has to die. It’s not just about avoiding the “big sins.” What had to die for Peter in our Scripture in Luke? Well, I think his understanding. Right? Think about it… how could a carpenter tell a fisherman how to fish?

Peter even says in Luke, Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing.. Peter thinks its about fishing. But Jesus is trying to show him its not about the fish, its about the people. You’re gonna fish for people… its the people still on the shore, and maybe even in the shallows.. You see, the test of sacrifice is our willingness to obey even when we don’t understand. It’s about surrendering every part of yourself that’s pulling you away from Jesus—desires, habits, even things that might seem normal or harmless to everyone else.

Its the, this makes no sense… Here’s the question I want to lay before you, church… What is God asking you to let go of so that you can walk deeper with Him? Maybe for you, sacrifice looks like releasing an old grudge, forgiving someone who hurt you, or finally surrendering a habit you’ve justified for years. Maybe it’s about letting go of your need for control, your obsession with being right, or your constant pursuit of “just a little bit more”—more money, more affirmation, more comfort.

Paul is calling us to get practical: Where in your life are you still living for the things “below”—earthly things—rather than setting your heart and mind on Christ “above”? You See, sacrifice isn’t about earning God’s love or impressing other people. It’s about making space for more of Christ in your life. The more you let go, the more He fills. The more you surrender, the more you find real, lasting life.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Daily—every morning, every decision, every moment, we’re invited to lay down our will so that His can be done. And I want you to hear this: Sacrifice isn’t loss—it’s the doorway. You’re not surrendering something precious to a God who wants to make you miserable. You’re letting go of lesser things so you can finally be free to live the life God designed for you.

There is more joy, in this surrender.. I want that kind of joy. Don’t you? Don’t you want real joy—not the thin, fleeting pleasures that leave you empty by nightfall? Not the cheap imitations the world holds out—pleasures that promise so much and deliver so little? I want abundant joy. Overflowing joy. The kind of joy that rises up, even in the dark, and will not be put out! And listen: this is what Jesus offers you.

This is what He died and rose to give you. Not just pardon. Not just a clean slate. Jesus says, “I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Full! Not a trickle, not a drop—fullness. Oh, church, don’t you hear it? The living God is not in the business of rationing out a few scraps of happiness to His children.

He is the fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13). The table is spread. The invitation is real. Do you want it? Do you want the kind of joy that Paul tasted—so rich, so overwhelming, that he could sit in prison and sing? That he could lose everything—reputation, comfort, even his own life—and call it all “rubbish” compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, his Lord (Philippians 3:8)? This isn’t stoicism.

This isn’t grit-your-teeth religion. This is joy—deep, blood-earnest, unshakable, resurrection joy! But, oh, how easily we settle for less. How quickly we trade the river for the mud puddle. We cling to our comforts. We grip our little treasures. And all the while, the fountain flows—free, full, forever. Church, hear me: The greatest lie Satan whispers is that God is a killjoy, that surrender means loss, that obedience is drudgery. But look at the cross!

Look at the empty tomb! Joy flows from Calvary. Joy explodes out of the grave. If you want that kind of joy You’ll find it where Jesus leads you—through sacrifice, through surrender, through the emptying of self—right into the arms of the Savior, where there is “fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). But Paul doesn’t stop with sacrifice. He moves us even further into the deep. Because the life Jesus calls us to isn’t just about what we lay down—it’s also about who we let lead.

So the next mark of deep faith that Peter experienced is the test of submission. Peter said, Jesus there’s no fish. Nothing. In my expieince all night, my toil, my suffering, there’s no reason do do what you’re asking… then there’s something… look at what Peter says… BUT, if you say so ill let down the nets. This submission. Jesus would do this in the garden, If this cup can pass yet, let your will be done.

Full and total surrender…. Even to death. Not my will but yours. Paul would say in Colossians in verse 6 and 7, “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” (Colossians 3:6–7) Paul is saying, “Look, that was your old life. That was who you once were… before Christ. But now, your walk—your lifestyle—is meant to change.” And that change is not just about behavior modification, but about a new authority in your life.

It’s about surrendering your will, your plans, your independence, and saying, “Jesus, You get to be in charge. Submission means that I stop arguing with God about what He says is true. It means I let Him define what is good, what is best, and what needs to go. It’s an attitude that says, “I trust Your wisdom more than my own. I want Your will, not just mine.” Submission isn’t just about the big, dramatic moments—it’s also about the little choices, the daily habits, the ways I treat people, the way I handle my words, my money, my time.

Look at verse 8 and 9… Paul tells the Colossians, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices…” (Colossians 3:8–9) Did you notice? This isn’t just a list of things to quit—it’s a call to let God’s Word and God’s Spirit have the final say in how you live You might think you have a right to hold on to anger.

You might think it’s just normal to say what’s on your mind, to gossip a little, to stretch the truth to protect yourself. But the test of submission is: Will I let Jesus be Lord, even in these “everyday” things? Will I let Him transform my heart, not just my habits? And, honestly, that’s not always easy. I don’t know about you, but there are times when my pride gets in the way.

Times when I’d rather be right than be humble. Times when I want to defend myself, or make sure I’m seen in the best light, or just have things my way. But Jesus keeps inviting me—inviting us—to trust that His way really is better, even when it feels hard or unfamiliar. So let me ask: Where do you need to stop fighting for control and let God have His way? Is there an area where you know what God wants, but you’ve been holding back, making excuses, or just trying to do it your way?

Are you willing to say, “Lord, I surrender—even this—to You”? This is the test of submission. It’s the step deeper that Jesus calls us to take, and it’s where freedom and transformation begin to take root. We have the test of sacrifice and submission—yes. But next comes the test of sorrow. Look with me again, in verse 8-10… “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:8–10) In other words, if you’re in Christ, you’re not who you used to be. The old you is gone. God is doing something brand new in you. But, let’s be honest—letting go of those old habits, that old way of life, that’s hard.

It’s not just about changing what you do. It’s about changing who you are. And here’s where the sorrow comes in. Let me put it this way: The things that hurt you the most are usually the things you care about the most. The deeper the relationship, the deeper the pain when it’s broken. If you accidentally bump into a stranger, you say, “Sorry!” and move on. No big deal. But if you say something harsh to your spouse or break a promise to your kid—oh, that hits different, doesn’t it?

There’s real pain, real regret, because that relationship matters to you. It’s the same with our relationship with God. When we sin, when we drift, it’s not just about breaking a rule. It’s about breaking the heart of the One who loves us most. So if you’re feeling that sorrow, that weight, that “ugh, why did I do that again?”—don’t ignore it. Don’t stuff it down. Don’t brush it off. Here’s the truth: Sorrow is often the sign that God is working on your heart.

Think about that… even in my sorrow, God is still drawing near. He promises in His Word that He draws near to the brokenhearted. And I just have to wonder—how many times, right in the middle of my pain, was God right there with me, reaching out, and I just didn’t see Him? How many times was He ready to comfort, to restore, to heal—but instead, I kept looking somewhere else?

And honestly, that makes me stop and ask: Where was I turning for satisfaction? Where was I running for comfort? Was it drugs, or my job, or alcohol or even intimacy with my spouse… what was my comfort? Was it to God—or was it to something or someone else? But here’s the truth: None of those things really satisfy. None of them heal the ache. They might distract for a moment.

So what do we do? Well, we learn to rejoice in our sorrow—not because the pain is good, but because Jesus is better. I want to invite our worship team to come up as we come close to closing… but there’s one final point to seeking a deeper faith… And its this… its the test of satisfaction. How do we see this in the story of Peter and Jesus? Well remember that boat?

At first, he’s satisfied with the shallow. He’s satisfied with empty nets, with “good enough,” with a night of failure and no catch. He’s ready to pack up, clean the nets, and call it a day. But then Jesus steps into his boat and calls him out into the deep. And when Peter obeys—when he goes into the deep at Jesus’ word—he experiences a catch so great it breaks the nets and overwhelms the boats.

He’s undone. He’s not just surprised—he’s humbled, convicted, and ultimately, satisfied in a way that fish could never do. But notice what happens next, because this is the point: Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. They left everything. Why? Because after tasting the goodness, the power, the presence and the forgives of Jeuss.

, nothing else could satisfy them anymore—not the boats, not the nets, not even the miracle catch. That’s what Paul is talking about in Colossians 3: When Christ is your all, you can leave anything else behind. You can walk away from your nets—from lesser satisfactions, old ways, disappointments, and even your suffering—because you’ve found Someone better. Deep faith is not found in the abundance of what you have, but in the abundance of Christ in you.

That’s deep faith.. its holiness. Stepping out into the deep.. that test our surrender, and who we look to for sorrow and pain, and what we’re willing to sacrifice… but holiness comes when we find our satisfaction only in Jesus.. and that’s going to take Peter some time learning and hurting, and dying to self and being forgiven on a shore… deep faith leads to satifcatipon. And maybe your listening and you go, pastor I have that desire.

Me too… but its not about desire… as much as its about delight… do you delight in Jesus? You see church, having a desire for Jesus only gets you started, but its delight that takes you deeper. Desire is a wish, a hopeful want, but delight is treasuring, savoring, taking great pleasure in Christ. To delight in Jesus is to seek to please Him above all else—even unto death. It’s what Psalm 73:26 declares: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”My soul leaps to seek and live for Jesus, because there’s nothing else in life that satisfies.

I delight in Him more than forgiveness itself, more than food or rest, more than anything under the sun, moon, or stars. I delight in Jesus with holy abandonment—He is my life, my all in all. Do you know what we call this? Its called Holiness. Not because you just avoid sin, but because you’re captivated by Christ. Holiness is Christ in me—and me delighting in Him. The love, grace, and forgiveness I show the world is Christ in me, pouring out into the lives of others.

As David writes in Psalm 63:5, “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” Why do people fall into infidelity, or abuse drugs and alcohol, or why do we binge Netflix and endlessly scroll face or Twitter. Why do we get caught up in playing video games and watching movies? We do these things because people have not found happiness.

Life is this endless pursuit of trying to find satisfaction. Trying to find a comfortable life. And At the root of our dissatisfaction is a never-ending thirst that nothing in this world can satisfy. And we’ve been duped into thinking that a better job, more money, cooler friends, another spouse, or a new life is really what we need. And if we can’t obtain any of these things, or when they leave us dissatisfied, we resort to things that become like treasure to us.

Can I just say something… who you are right now is who God wants right now. There is no, let me get better, or let me get my life strait… if left to ourselves we will never get where we want to be. Thats deep faith! Treasuring Christ above all else. Repenting of our sin, hurting like Peter in his sorrow, Depart from me, Jeuss, for I am a sinful man.

And then. hearing the love and kindness of Christ saying saying, don’t be afraid. You see church, Faith is remembering what He’s done and trusting Him enough to step into the deep, knowing He is enough. But let me ask you: Is He enough for you today? If you want to go deeper in your faith—to step out of the shallows, to leave the comfort of the shore—remember this: When the miracle happened, there were two kinds of people.

There were those standing safely on the shore, watching it all from a distance… and there were those in the boat, those who got their hands wet, those who risked and obeyed and saw the power of Jesus up close. Which one are you this morning? Are you content to watch what God does in others’ lives from a distance? Or are you ready to step into the deep, to trust Him, to get your hands wet—because you know Jesus is enough?

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