Fishers Of Men
Part 1
Pastor Adron Wheat
Matthew 4:18 - 22 / Luke 5:1 - 6
Introduction: As children we sang the little song; " I will make you fishers of men, fishers of me, if you follow me." We put he hand motions of casting a line and reeling it back in. While the theology was right, our method was all wrong. Jesus taught the "Net" method of fishing.
Maybe we are using the wrong method today when we try to "bait, hook, gig, or snare" sinners into coming to Christ. We would be better served learning how Jesus taught us to fish for men.First of all Jesus said; " Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. ( Matthew 4:19-20 )
From this statement it is safe to say; "If we are not following we are not fishing, and if we are not fishing we certainly are not following.
( I ) The Lord Used Three Things About Net Fishing To Illustrate How To Catch Men
(1) The "Weaving and Mending:" of the net.
(2) The proper "Working or Use" of the net
(3) The necessity of "Washing and Cleaning" the net.( II ) Take A Look At What A Net Is Made Of. ( Illustrate with a fish net if possible )
(A) A "Net" is nothing but a bunch of "holes" tied together with a string !
(B) That all "we" really are, a bunch of "nothings and nobodys" woven together by the thread of God's Grace, knit together by His Spirit!
(C) Paul Said: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1: 26 - 27 )Look at the charter member of the Early Church. (Talk about a bunch of nothings)
** The First General Overseer, cursed - denied the Lord, later preached the first Assembly
** The First Ladies Ministry President, had seven devils cast out when Jesus found her.
** The First Lady Evangelist, married five times, living with the sixth, when Jesus found her
** Who were they? Peter, Mary Magdaline, and the Samaritan woman at the well (D) What about all of us? We were "nothing" until the Lord found us, cleaned us up!He takes Nobody's, introduces us to Somebody, as tells us to go tell Everybody about this Somebody that can save Anybody !
(E) If we are knit together in Him, there is nothing we cannot do. ( Imagine trying to use one hole to catch a fish)
(F) Some say; "I don't need you, the church, or anybody!" ( I need you, and you need me )
Remember: It's the banana that leaves the bunch that always gets pealed !( III ) Notice How The Net Is Used, The Working Of The Net (Luke 5: 1-6)
Jesus teaches us Four things about the "working" of the net in order to catch men.
(1) We must depend on Him and follow His instructions. "And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; (Luke 5:5)
*** Anything that starts with "WE" always ends with "NOTHING"!
(A) These were fishermen, they thought they knew how to fish, but had caught nothing.
(B) Jesus said; Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.We say: Look at our beautiful net (church) Our "net" has beautiful carpet, pews are comfortable, our net is friendly, good music, singing. ( We just can't understand why the fish (people) are not running to get caught in our net. Here we are, come on in !)
Illustration: How many own a boat? Did you go buy a fine boat, the best tackle and bait, then go out to the lake and say; "here I am fish, look at my beautiful boat, tackle, bait. Come on and jump in !
(C) Jesus said: Get out to where the fish are! ( We have been fishing in all the "Fished Out" places rather than go to where they are ) "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." (Luke 14: 23 )
(IV) We Must "Let Down" The Net ( Get Down Where The Fish Are)
People Say; I don't say anything around people I work with, I just let "my life" do the talking
Never woked, never will ! WHY? (1) All seem to "look" pretty much the same outside the church. (2) Not one will ever be saved by "your life" but by looking at "His death"!
But I'm a good influence! Thats great, but did you ever go fishing and "influence" any into the boat? ( That like a fisherman coming home, asked if he caught any today, and he replies; No but I sure influenced a lot of them today.(V) We Must Get Our Eyes Off Past Failures.
Luke 5:5 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. ( Remember, "We" always ends with "nothing."
(VI) Jesus Knows "Where" The Fish Are, And "When" To Let The Net Down.
John 4:3-4 "He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria." ( There was a woman that needed a drink)
(VII) Let Me Tell You A Prophetic Fish Story.
John 21: 10 - 11 "Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Why were the "number"(153) of fish mentioned ?
For some time there have been around 153 nations in the world. (Varies from year to year)Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. ( Matthew 4:19-20 )
Friend, its time to start Following and Fishing !