Forward in Faith: Time to go fishing
We are continuing in our theme of Moving Forward in Faith and as always I start with a question,
Can you remember the very first time you felt the need to ask Jesus into your life?
Let’s take a look at Mark 1:16-20 NLT.
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed Him. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed Him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
Like the ones Jesus called that day, you and I also called to follow Him and to become fishers of people.
To become fishers of men, to tell others about the good news we need to share what Jesus has done for us in our lives.
Maybe when you first met Jesus you were full of great aspirations, ideas and hopes of how you would serve Him,
but perhaps somewhere on your journey you let other things take a higher priority in your life.
All of us probably have felt the urgency to bring others into the family of God, before Jesus returns,
but in the modern church there are too many people who have become content with just keeping a seat warm on a Sunday morning,
instead of being active in seeking and saving the lost, instead of being salt and light in a sinful world, we look for what the church can do for us rather than what we are meant to do for others.
The great command of Matthew 28 has become the great suggestion, witnessing, evangelising, sharing the message of Jesus with others, well that’s what the Pastors are for isn’t it?
Actually, no... Jesus calls all of His disciples, all of his followers, all who say they have been saved, all who say they love Him to be actively involved in sharing the message of salvation with others.
Let me remind you of the great commission, the final command Jesus gave to us before He ascended to Heaven, in Matthew 28:18-20:
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Are you involved in making disciples? Really?
Do you speak about how God the Father loves you?
Do you share the Love of Jesus with others?
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to use the gifts and talents that God has given you?
Are you teaching others what it is to be a follower of Christ?
Are you proclaiming by the way you live, the way you speak, the way you act, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour?
Are you involved in making disciples?
Maybe your thinking,
Hold on, I go to church... most of the time.
When the offering bag goes by... I give something.
I pray for others... if I remember to.
That’s good, but when was the last time you told somebody about Jesus?
When was the last time you told someone they needed to accept Jesus as their Saviour?
When was the last time you invited someone to a church service?
Not a church social event, not the coffee morning, not the Games Club or the Art Class an actual church service.
When was the last time you realised, that you have a God given responsibility to tell others about who is supposed to be the most important part of your life?
The one you are meant to love with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind.
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Maybe you identify with what I’ve said so far, or maybe your think I’m being a little harsh.
After all what difference can we really make in this world, what difference can you make, what difference can I make, I’m only one person....
Friend, when you really believe in something, you should be willing to put your all your effort into it.
You should be totally committed to Jesus and your life should reflect your commitment to God.
And God can use everyone of us to bring glory to share the truth of the Gospel.
God can use you, yes even you to make a difference in this world.
Do you think Billy Graham ever wondered what difference he could make?
Or Charles Spurgeon, or John Wesley,
or William Booth or Smith Wigglesworth,
or D.L. Moody or George Jeffreys....
But Dean, those are all famous Christians -
not when they started they weren’t.
But they were men who believed and knew as long as they followed God,
as long as they trusted Him and not themselves, God could use them to change the world,
not just their world, but the whole world for the better!
God can use you... if you let Him.
Sometimes we still tend to think, even after hearing inspiring stories and events, what can only one person do?
The world has that mentality, you know the glass is half empty all the time line of thinking,
but with God in our life, we should have a “my cup continues to runneth over” mentality!
Because if you believe it and live it, it does!
How long are you going to wait, to start experiencing the abundant life that God has for you?
What kind of picture does your life paint for the people you should be trying to win to Christ?
Are your friends and family looking at your life and saying, what’s so great about following Jesus?
If the people who were there when Jesus spoke the “Great Commission”, had the cup ½ full mentality none of us would be here this morning, none of us would be saved.
Were the first disciples perfect? No.
But they had desire, commitment, determination and the power of the Holy Spirit!
The disciples had none of our modern technology, no cars, no TV, no radio, no mobile phones, no internet, no face book, no twitter, but they readily accepted the challenge and command Jesus gave them.
They realised then, the same thing that we need to realise today:
people need to be saved from their sins,
people need to hear about Jesus,
people need to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour
And God has called US to reach the people.
Romans 10:11-15 reminds us:
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Are you going to do something for the Kingdom of God?
Are you going to do more for the Lord than occupy a seat in church on a Sunday morning?
Are you going to stop being a passenger and start being a participant in proclaiming Jesus Christ is Lord?
Are you going to move forward in faith?
Its time to ask not what God and your church can do for you, but what you can do for God, in your church!
Instead of just taking from God, it’s time to start serving by giving others the opportunity to know God, to love God, to be in relationship with Him.
It’s time to get involved and get committed to the commandment God has given to us.
It’s time to follow His Great Commission to us.
Jesus didn’t die so we could feel good on a Sunday morning, He died to set the captive free, He died to bring salvation, He died to bring healing and wholeness and restoration to a fallen and sin sick world.
Jesus died for you, what will you do for Him?
Will you help build His church?
Will you encourage others to praise the Name of Jesus?
Will you share the Gospel?
Will you make a difference for the Kingdom of God! in this generation?
Will you allow God to impact the world through you?
Will you make a commitment this morning to make an impact in your family, with your friends, in your community?
Don’t put it off.
Don’t wait any longer.
Don’t wait for the Pastor to do it.
Don’t wait for the Evangelist to do it.
Make the commitment to do everything that God will enable you to do to make a difference.
This life is short don’t waste it.
One day when you stand before God,
He’s not going to be impressed or pleased
if He asks what you did to tell others about Him and you say Lord, I went to church on a Sunday morning, I thought that was enough...
Look for the opportunity to get involved,
focus on sharing Jesus with others.
Do everything you can for the Lord,
take advantage of every opportunity that comes to proclaim the truth of the Gospel.
So that one day, you’ll here the Lord say the same thing He said to David, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
God has something very important for you to do.
God wants to do incredible things in His church, all He is waiting for is someone to stand up, embrace the challenge and say,
“Here am I Lord, Use me.”
Friends it’s time to go Fishing.
Will you accept the challenge? Will you make the commitment?
