Let's Go Fishing

Let’s Go Fishing

Matthew 4:19 “Jesus said, ‘Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Today we are going fishing. Let’s sing the children’s chorus:

“I will make you fishers of men, fisher of men………” “If you follow Me.”

“Hear God’s calling come unto me. Come unto me, come unto me. “If you follow Me.”

I like action fishing – My first fishing in Florida was with Lucien Behar – Ft. DeSota – wade out in inlet waterways - catch sea bass. One scary fish I often made a fast get-a-way from was needlefish.

On one occasion I took my Dad deep-sea fishing. We chartered a boat and went out 25 miles and fished over a wrecked Mexican ship. At 100 feet we caught grouper. We also hooked cobia a game fish.

I had a strike and began pulling up my line and then it went limp, the fish was no longer fighting. I pulled out a five pound amber jack – half of one the other half was gone. I decided to go after the fish that ate my amber jack so I put ion a steel leader and used the amber jack for bait. After about five minutes I had a strike and after 30 minutes pulled in a five-foot barracuda. I still have the picture some where of my prize catch.

Jesus said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” If we are following Jesus, then we naturally are witnessing to others about Jesus and His love.

Someone told a parable about fishing:

Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all a round. In fact the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.

Week after week, month after month, and year after year these, who called themselves fisherman, met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fisherman. They loved slogans such as “Fishing is the task of every fisherman.” They sponsored special meetings called “Fishermen’s Campaigns” and “The Month for Fisherman to fish.”

These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called “Fishing Headquarters.” The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn’t do, however; they didn’t fish.

Large elaborate training centers were built. Over the years courses were taught on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology but the teachers did not fish.

The fisherman built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. A speaker’s bureau was organized and speakers were scheduled to speak on the subject of fishing. After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity of Fishing,” one young fellow left the meeting and actually went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two large fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and the new fisherman was scheduled to visit all the large meetings and tell how he caught fish. So he quit fishing in order to have time to tell about how he caught two fish. He was placed on the Fisherman’s General Board as a person having considerable experience in successful fishing.

Imagine how some of the fisherman felt one day when someone had a the audacity to suggest that those who don’t go fishing and catch fish were not really fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be.

Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Are we really following if we aren’t involved in fishing?

Jesus calls everyone to follow Him.

Jesus calls men and women of various backgrounds and personalities to follow Him.

The twelve apostles Jesus called represented the spectrum of humanity. Some were shy like John the Apostle, some were outgoing like Andrew, some were brash and impulsive like Peter, and others by nature were loving and kind, some had trigger-find emotions and others had emotions of steel. Each one was used by God to advance the Kingdom.

Whatever your personality Jesus wants to use you. If you have a willing heart Jesus will use you. About ten percent of you are bold and can witness without fear. Ninety percent of you are gentler in your persuasion.

When you follow Jesus you become fishers of men and women in your FRAN network – friends, relatives, associates and neighbors. Studies show that 90% of people who follow Jesus and get involved in a church come thought the FRAN network.