Fishers Of Men

Many of you who have been around a little while. Remember Sam and Louise are you who served as the chief financial officer of Coca-Cola for many years. Most often, when he asks you for something he would ask it in such a way that you could never say no. He developed that somebody else and with that something you develop in the Middle East, he said no. I landed in New York, so Sam comes into my house one day and bangs on the table and he said we are going fishing as it were, doing what he said we're going fishing and immediately in my head on and all I know about fishing is that people with loads of time and patience and know-how. I guess because all I see them standing there for hours fishing. That's my ideal fishing and I said Sam without Eliza courses no use trying even though I did try, but he was not going to take no for an answer will finalize it. Sam where we going fishing.

He said Canada. That said, I don't have this kind of time, I'm on the time for the Salama trustee and I'm giving you time off. Is it all right. Finally he walked out the door and he said see you 5 o'clock on Tuesday where the day was at the airport flight such as such known about anything else to bring a close of them fished before my life I knew nothing about fishing not try to explain that there was a dim view understand that I never fit that I don't care just to show up so I showed up. We flew to Minneapolis and from there we drove 300 miles into Canada and the Canadian border. I was very apprehensive for me and I cannot tell you I just felt it was just going to be a futile trip. I love Sam a lot to be with Sam but I don't know how to fish. I don't want a fish.

I wish Sam hadn't gone to all this trouble and bought me a ticket and on and on and on and off, but my biggest fear by far is that we will get on the plane. Sam would say we going to be camping for three days.

Sam enjoyed camping already tell you something. Those of you who don't know me I am not made for camping. This body is not made for camping. The closest to camping. I want to go is a holiday so I was so worried about that. And finally we got to our destination and it turned out to be a very nice fishing resort. I did no such thing exist. And when we got there. Lots of people from everywhere from Indiana from Ohio there from all over the United States and this is a very nice place is a nice was the people of the fanatical about that. Sorry if you are forgive me. I think it's all right for you. I said okay, now is not camping but all but tomorrow will be a whole new day. So we get up in the morning and in the dining room to serve the wonderful breakfast.

I do need much because I was worried I might get seasick in the lake so the two of us get on a boat and a guide is a Canadian Indian who knew those parts of Canada.

Like the back of his hand in those guys they from there they know the area. They understood all that needs to be understood. So they give me some conflict. Then I saw the resort management loading the boat with all kinds of stuff and I got a sneaking suspicion that when you come back for lunch so we took off into some deep waters and the guide said we'll stop here. There is fish here in boy. He knew what he's talking about. I mean the fish was asking us to catch. So what do I do I don't know which end is that thing with goal of the rod liner which end is he hands it to me is to just hold it this way okay I can do that. Peter, the hook and he put the right bait on the hook and he said you think you can throw it in the water sit on the novel is too technical, but I try and I saw the line into the water and few things less literally two minutes later, he said, looking up people is what you mean, is it really that is, and how do you know he said you got a big fish. You know this by looking at this line is, this is not just really really not really been really linen. Sure enough, it wasn't seaweed or old shoe assembly. It was huge fish.

Listen guys, this is not a fish story. I don't have to worry about the gazelle is not my problem, and discerns are the delight he sees this thing is it hold hold hold and he's getting his camera and clicking away and clicking away and actually my wife and I were looking for those pictures confide and show you how braggadocio so I am about these things, keeping them special confinement but anyway I wanted to show them to you.

I can't but just take my word for it was there and it didn't get away.

We did actually take it in tell you something I'll never forget that feeling I had at that very moment when I got this big fish. No apprehension whatsoever about fishing where where was was my fear wears my reluctance about going fishing Minnesota canister. This again this is good I'm good at this. What about my total ignorance of how to fish and I've never done this I've done nothing.

What about my complaining and moaning and soaking well all disappeared. That moment when I caught the big when I caught the big fish. All of a sudden I became an instant expert fisherman.

I felt like I am an instant authority on fishing. I felt instantly that I have all the knowledge that needs to be known about fishing. While I've had a couple of humbling experiences then but that's all right that I want tell you about those. But, at least for that moment I become an expert. What's the secret of my success. While there are several things actually that had to take place first. I had to realize that my apprehension in my fear and my uncertainty was stemming from the fact that I've never fished before and is not true that what we do not know is what really keeps us in our comfort zone was, since I hadn't been to fishing school, I thought.

I don't know how to fish. Not only that, but I did not want to experience failure.

I did not want to go fishing and staying there for hours like these dear people I see fixing and then have nothing to show for it.

I don't want to experience failure.

But when I did all of these applications disappeared the moment I caught the big one. What happened to my reluctance and and and complaining well you know the answers that you say that some of the secret Santa took care of everything.

Sam ensured that I would become a success. Sam made sure that an expert was in the boat with us.

Sam trusted that this expert would take us to the right place where the fish were so trusted this expert will take us fishing and using the right bait and the right folks and all the right things.

That's why become a success.

Had I tried to do all this by myself.

How promise you I would know where to go with the use and with everything would've been wrong and over ended up in failure and disappointment and out of never fished again. What made the difference say Sam made the difference now wanted to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4 verse 19 I'm going to put it in context.

Verse 19 comes in arrived after Jesus had called his disciples after he call them I said follow me uses verse 19. Now remember, this most of not all Jesus's disciples were professional fishermen that were not hobby fishermen. These were officiating men for living.

Some of them had a lucrative fishing business very successful fishing business. And Jesus said to them. Verse 19 after he called them to follow him. He said follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Now this is one of those messages that has only two points. Some of you heard me say this before when I was in seminary, a seminary in one, asked the professor he said how many points of sermon should have said at least one well this is to what did Jesus mean by following him in order that he may make them. And secondly why fishers of men to questions. What is it mean to follow his will in the context here of this passage to follow Jesus means that you are willing to abandon yourself to him to follow Jesus means that you are willing to be more concerned about him and his kingdom and his work and his heart, then your own world to follow Jesus means that you are willing to sacrifice what is near and dear sometimes that's your strong opinion. Sometimes that means you gonna sacrifice your ideas. Sometimes that means that you going to sacrifice your stop on will that standing in the way of following Jesus means that you're willing to place him above you needs a new once you notice I said, willing, willing, willingly because sometimes God does not necessarily ask you to do any of these three, but you will be willing and that's what is looking for. I remember each preacher from yesteryear once said visit if you're not willing, you can pray to God make me willing to be willing and I pray that many times.

Lord, make me willing to be willing look at the context he just called Lee's very successful fishermen. These very successful businessman who had a profitable business. And he called them to follow him, at least for a time and hand over the business to somebody else.

He had just called me strong leaders to be his followers. He had just called Lee's decision-makers to humble themselves and trust him completely wanted humor on this when I don't want to miss. You see, we tend to forget that you fishing pond, whatever it may be.

There are people around you who are watching you and they're watching you more than you even realize they watching everything they watching to see how you act there watching to see how you talk there watching to see how you react. They watching to see how you live and if they see no great door tracks the myth they see no way to allure that they see no way that they want. Listen to me, beloved friends if they see a person who claims to be a Christian.

I believe in Jesus Christ who is full of bitterness and anger and jealousy and envy and hatred.

I'm goshawk and unforgiveness. They see us doing some shady deals. I'm not caring for the other person is seen as being hypocrites indulging ourselves while we are criticizing others for doing the same thing that fish will run away will run away. They don't want this kind of life they got it all. Thank you very much. And so Jesus was saying to be fishers of people need to model him just as I had to trust Sam and follow his directions and instructions just as had to depend on saying just that the trust him. You and I have to follow Jesus completely and abandon ourselves to him and he's going to do the rest. That's the thing he's going to do the rest. See fishing is not hard when Jesus is in charge whenever he's in the boat you can be sure you can be a success. All you need to do is you place him first in your life.

All you need to do is to emulate him in your life.

All you need to do is copy of his example in your life and he will ensure that your success in the business of fishing for Jesus, why did Jesus and secondly say fishers of men. Why did he say hunters of men.

Why didn't he say persuaders of men. Why didn't he say good salesman.

So the gospel command what what why did he say teachers of men. Actually, the answer is going surprisingly so simple. It really is very simple to see Jesus was speaking to fishermen, so he speaking to them in the context of the life experience is talking to them in the context of physics their expertise in life what they do for living.

Jesus talking to. How does this sound as of men for targeted group of cells on the set persuaders of men that he would vary at the very least he's talking to fishermen and so he speaking to them in the context of their life because all they know is fishing. They grew up since little boys. That's all they know to do and so Jesus is saying, regardless of where you are regardless of what you do take your skills and use them for my kingdom. Take your talents and use them for the salvation of the lost take your expertise and your experience and use them for libel, already as I say near neighborhood. Your office and your social club new sphere of influence. Whatever it might be is all you fishing ponds got placed you there for a reason. Listen, this is something I learned from Charles Spurgeon and I was struggling as a young preacher and I began to read this great man who suffered from a lot of depression is years of ministry.

One of the great preachers of yesteryear and London. One of his chapters. He was saying, don't ever forget that the childhood that you had was by God's will.

The parents that you had in the grandparents. The holes he lived in the school you went to. It's all my cousin God placed you in all these places so that you will be somebody else. God is not interested in duplicating people is not interested in making copies. He's done all that he has done for you in placing you where you are today for one purpose – to be you and the Jesus my live in you don't have to go to a 10 year training school to be a good fisher of men. You don't need to learn a new skill hit on the change and you do not need to be somebody else know. Take what God gave to court. God has placed you to clean God brings to you take all of that and follow Jesus is follow Jesus and humic success. Just as my reluctance in going fishing was based on my thinking.

I have to know everything I have to do everything and I have to have all the facts under my belt, as it were, so is so many Christians who are reluctant to witness for Jesus Christ. It really is. They think that they have to do everything they have to know everything you don't realize God did it all and he's going to do it through you. All you need to do is throw the line in the water. Jesus already has put the bait on the hook and God is going to do the rest just the Sam set everything up for me. God has already set up everything for you. He's taking care of all the details just invite them to the dinner invite them to life works. Invite them to the church invite them to small group invite the they are waiting to be invited Matteo.

This is, I conclude many years ago, an Italian recluse was found dead in his house and when his friends went over to the house to try to sort out what they thought the few things that he had left behind to their utter amazement, they discovered 246 expensive violins hidden all over the house 246 expensive violins. Virtually all the money that this meant having a very frugal all the money that he saved he would save and go and buy expensive violins and in his stashed away in his house so misdirected his devotions to that beautiful instrument. He robbed the world.

He robbed the world of those beautiful sounds the violins make because he selfishly treasure these violins. The world never heard the beautiful music that it can been played. In fact, I heard it was reported that the first file in the great Strada virus grade violins ever made was not playing 447 years, the beloved, I want to tell you something many Christians treat their faith like this man treated those violins, they really do that they hide the light tonight for the treasures from the stash. The great treasure. They don't realize that by not sharing the light by not sharing the treasure the most precious treasure of all the faith they are missing out on the joy of seeing others experience salvation.

They are reluctant like me that reluctant to give away the most rigid position, with the result of the neighbors and friends continuing to live in darkness continuing to live in poverty, spiritual poverty, that is outed this week. Some researchers said that as many as 95% of Christians listen to me. 95% of all Christians have never never played a role in leading another to Christ and pray for them than support didn't help, didn't invite didn't do anything. 95% that breaks my heart just like my reluctance to go fishing. They think that they have to do everything themselves. They think they have to know everything while in reality all you have to do is follow Jesus. He said follow me and I will make you as his job as his desk as he committed himself to that, he would say to you here let you know about writing this place. There invite this one doctor this one call this. Others, like me, probably reluctant because they are afraid of failure. They don't want rejection with thirtysomething listen to me if you forget everything upset I don't want you for going until you because it's of vital importance in the Christian faith. There is no such thing as failure the data. Jesus never never never condemned anyone who failed who tried and did not succeed, but he did condemn those who have never try just trust the guy and he will make you a success. Father, just as I proclaim these words. Father, they can be just words but only the Holy Spirit can take them and penetrate deep in the heart of everyone just heard me just as you the only one who can make us you the only one who can use these words that they would not fall on hard soil, unproductive soil, but oh God, I pray the Holy Spirit in his power and might penetrate deep into course, bring forth the fruit in Jesus name, amen.

Thanks for listening to this message from Dr. Michael use that recently featured on leading the way. If you'd like to know more about us, please visit LTW.org@LTW.Ward