153? Big Fish?

153?--- BIG FISH--- THE MIRACLE! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I WILL MAKE YOU… COME AND BECOME PARTNERS IN GOD’S MINISTRY… 7 of the 12 disciples were fishermen by trade.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

THE CALL WAS PERSONAL… The King of heaven was passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee: COME, COME FOLLOW ME… I WILL… TRUST ME… HAVE FAITH… I am absolutely sure there were many people fishing at the Sea of Galilee that day… but JESUS saw Peter and Andrew… Jesus was not looking for lazy do-nothing men. They were busy fishing and mending nets… JESUS HAS A CLEAR PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL… WILL WE HEAR THE DIVINE VOICE?

The call, the divine call will make a difference, their life will never be the same… CHANGED! JESUS WILL MAKE US… God will make us different than the world. COME! FOLLOW ME! You must let go of the love of this world… The boys had to make a change in priorities. COME FOLLOW ME! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR FISHING NETS… YOU ARE NOW FISHERS OF MEN.

Jesus make me… shape me… transform me… teach me to depend and trust by faith. RISKS? REWARDS? GET OUT OF THE BOAT? Willing? Jesus did not pick scribes, priest or the religious crowd. QUIT FOCUSING ON FEARS … FOCUS ON DIVINE POSSIBILITIES.

I HAVE A NEED… I HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR MY PROBLEMS. THE MIRACLES OF GOD CAN COME THROUGH SOME OF THE STRANGEST WAYS…

APRIL THE 15TH IS ONE OF THE MOST DREADED DAYS OF THE YEAR. UNCLE SAM PLACES HIS HANDS IN OUR POCKETS… Your taxes are due… PAY UP… DO I HAVE TO? No you can go to jail? Peter is approached by the IRS AGENT and the CLAIM FOR THE TAX BILL becomes real.

GO FISHING… DO WHAT YOU CAN. Could Jesus have placed the money in a bag in front of Peter? Could the Holy Spirit have asked a person to take an offering to Peter and Jesus? Sure, BUT GOD DEMANDS AN EFFORT ON OUR PART.

Peter knew how to fish.

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Not only did Peter catch a fish… There was money in the fish’s mouth. There was enough, enough for Peter! No there was more --- more than enough for Peter… there was enough for God’s part… Peter paid his taxes and he paid JESUS’ TAXES in full.

I AM SORE. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT FISHING… FISHING CAN BE MIRACULOUS --- THEY HAD TWO BOATS?

Luke 5:2 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

• PUT OUT A LITTLE DEEPER…

• BUT WE HAVE TOILED. WE HAVE WORKED HARD ALL NIGHT. WE ARE SORE.

• WE HAVE TAKEN NOTHING

• BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR WORD…

• BOTH BOATS WERE FILLED TO SINKING…

• PETER FALLS TO HIS KNEES

• DON’T BE AFRAID --- YOU WILL BECOME PARTNERS WITH THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD… YOUR OCCUPATION HAS CHANGED… YOU WILL CATCH MEN NOT JUST FISH…

WE CAN FIND LESSONS TO LEARN IN THE MIRACLES OF FISHING… CAST YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT…