FISHER’S OF MEN
Believing for BIG things from God!
Psalm 107:23, 24 “Some go down to the sea and travel over it in ships to do business in great waters; 24) these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.
The mindset that I want us to have today as I talk about this scripture is that of “fishermen.” Think of yourself as “fishers of men.”
OFF SHORE FISHING…that says to me that this is more than just a little flat bottom boat with a worm and a hook and a cane pole! That sounds a little more out from the bank…a little further out and you maybe have been before…sounds like you might need a net for this!
Recreational Fisherman – stays close to the bank and is satisfied with small occasional catches…the pretty, colorful fish.
Commercial Fisherman – Fish in Deep Water…They get to catch big Trophy Specimens…Marlin, Sailfish, Bonefish, Tuna, Swordfish, Sharks, Wahoo, Barracuda, Tarpon, Mackerel.
That is where God is taking the church…IF we are willing to GO…He is calling us out to the DEEP.
“Deep calls unto deep…” Psalms 42:7
All through out the scripture Jesus compares US, who have the salvation plan, to being “fishermen.”
Jeremiah 16:16… “Behold, I will send for many fishers, says the Lord, and they will fish them out; and after ward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and out of the clefts of the rocks.
Isaiah 47:1-12….
Vs 1: The guide took him to the DOOR….(you got to go OUT to reach the lost!)
Vs 1: The water (out of your belly shall flow “living waters”) flowed OUT from the temple!! (ye are the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost!)
Vs 3-5… Took him to the DEEP waters! (Psalms 107:23-24)
Vs 7: Trees – (type of Men in the Bible)
Vs 8 These waters pour OUT toward the DEAD SEA! And as they enter the Dead SEA and those waters shall be HEALED and made fresh!
Stephen Covey says that self-centeredness is like Israel’s Dead Sea, for it welcomes in freshness but grows stagnant because it will not give.
Stagnation comes from the receiving life. Personal growth comes from the giving life.
Vs 9 The DOUBLE RIVER…wherever it goes there is a GREAT number of FISH! Everything shall LIVE wherever the RIVER goes!
Vs 10 FISH of MANY KINDS!
Vs12 Trees with all kinds of FOOD…shall not fail to meet the demand! Because the waters came from out of the Sanctuary!
John 21:7… Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman’s coat, his outer tunic)-for he was stripped (for work) – and sprang into the sea! (Amplified)
Oral Roberts says that “if your dreams don’t scare you at night, you’re not dreaming big enough!”
WE need to believe God for something so big that only a miracle could make it happen.
WE need to make the decision to be in a place where we can “see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.”
We must step out of our comfort zone and place ourselves in a position that puts us beyond what we know and understand with our minds…and into a place where we must trust God for a miracle.
The following is interesting facts about fish and how to catch the Trophy fish...when looked at in a spiritual sense too.
Big Trophy Specimen: Marlin; Sailfish; Bonefish; Tuna; Swordfish; Sharks; Wahoo; Barracuda; Tarpon; Mackerel.
Marlin – Spearfish, has a pointed spear measuring up to 2 feet long. Back fin looks like a sickle, tail crescent shaped, leaps high in the air.
Mackerel – One of the most valuable food fishes. Related to the tuna, shape and color is beautiful.
Barracuda – a salt water fish, which looks like the fresh water pickerel, or pike. Grows up to 6 ft long, roams the Atlantic Ocean. This one is called the “tiger of the sea” b/c it is swift, fearless and destructive.. Feeds on other fish but will attack people. Razor sharp teeth up to ¾ inches long. Barracuda flesh can be eaten but spoils quickly.
Bonefish – live in warm ocean waters. Been around 200 years.
Sailfish – these game fighting fish are caught on light rod and reel tackle in the warm waters off both US coasts and Central & South America. Belongs to the Marlin family.
Sharks – meat eating fish, one of the most feared sea animals; live in ocean throughout the world; most common in warm seas. Vary greatly in size and habits. Some kinds of shark live in the depths of the ocean; others are found near the surface. Eat their prey whole or tear off large chunks of flesh at a time. Also feed on dead or dying animals.
Swordfish – given name b/c of jaw. Are highly regarded by big game fishermen. Hard to catch b/c hooks pull out of its tender mouth easily. Difficult to get swordfish to take the bait. Their swords are sharp edged and strong – half as long as their body. Commercial fishermen catch swordfish by harpooning them from a pulpit on the bow of a sailboat. Flesh is coarse but has a good flavor when cut and cooked as a steak. USFDA found almost all swordfish contain the mineral mercury exceeding the safety levels. They have determined that this comes from industrial waste.
Tarpon – one of the best American sports b/c fish is a strong skillful fighter.
Tuna – rank among swiftest fish. Has gills that take in oxygen from the water passing over them. The tuna, unlike most fish, cannot pump water over its gills; therefore, it must swim continually in order to breathe.
Tuna are caught in 3 main ways:
1. Bait Fishing: crews throw live bait overboard to attract the tuna and then catch them by hook and line.
2. Long lining – caught with a line that measures 75 miles long and ahs as many as 2,000 baited hooks. Ps 16:6… “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.”
Isa 28:17… “ I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge if lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place (the shelter).
3. Purse Seining – traps fish in large nets called purse seines.
How Fish Are Caught
Fishing vessels vary greatly in size and in the number of crewmembers they carry. Their crews consist of as many as 20 to 25 people or as few as 1 or 2 depending on the fishing method being used. (Jesus sent them out 2 by 2)
Long-range fishing fleets stay at sea for months at a time and travel great distances from their home ports (missions).
Many modern fleets are processing-catcher vessels. Processing-catcher vessels are used for both catching fish and processing the harvest into various products. Their crews have from 50 to 100 members and in most cases include a number of women.
Fishing crews use a variety of gear to catch fish. The equipment used depends on the behavior of the fish being sought and the nature of the fishing grounds. The chief types of gear include (1) nets, (2) hooks, (3) traps and (4) harpoons.
Most of the world’s commercial fish catch is taken in by huge nets. There are three main types of nets: (1) seines (saynz), (2) trawls, and (3) gill nets.
Seines account for more than a third of the world’s fish catch. Fishing cres use this type of net to catch the type of fish that swim near the surface of the water.
Hooks take advantage of the feeding behavior of fish. Bait or lures attached to a hook tempt fish to bite the hook. (feeding the hungry, clothing the poor…) Hooks account for only a small percentage of the world’s fish catch.
Traps depend on the migratory of feeding habits of fish. Most traps contain bait or lures to attract fish into the devices. Only a small fraction of the worldwide fish harvest is taken by means of traps.
A fish trap has an entry consisting of a funnel like tunnel or ramp. This entry directs fish through a small opening in the side of the trap. After fish are inside the trap, they have little chance of finding the opening again and escaping.
Harpoons are barbed spears connected by a rope to a vessel or large float.
FISH FARMS account for about 7% of the world’s annual commercial fish harvest. Fish farming is also called aquaculture.
Fish farms range from simple ponds or flooded rice fields to highly engineered hatcheries in which the environment is almost completely controlled. Fish farmers try to eliminate harmful environmental conditions so fish can flourish. The provide fish with proper nutrients and protect them from animals that prey on them.
The oceans are by far the main source of fish. Only a small portion of the world’s commercial fish catch comes from such inland waters as lakes and rivers. (why churches remain small)
Inland catches are fish such as carp, catfish, and whitefish.
The fishing industry employs more than 6 million people worldwide. In the US about 193,000 people work on fishing boats and about 103,000 work in fish-processing plants.
After WW II ended in 1945, many countries expanded their fishing fleets. These fleets increased their fish catch along their home coasts as well as in distant waters. As a result, the fish harvest generally increased year after year. Disputes also arose among countries over the ownership of fish resources. Traditionally, fish have been considered common property – that is, no one owned them until they were caught. The fish then became the property of whoever caught them.
FISHING TIPS!
Successful fishing requires much practice and study. A person can learn only from experience how to hook and play (tire out) a fish properly. To catch a particular species of fish, an angler (one who fishes for sport- they enjoy the challenge of hooking and landing fish) must study its habits – what it eats, the kinds of waters it lives in, and the water depth and temperature it prefers. (Pastor at city dump in Juarez)
Many anglers try to catch certain species of fish. Some fish are prized for their beauty. Others are unusually strong or fast and fight hard to escape. Some species are considered crafty game that must be outwitted in order to catch them.
The habits of a fish influence the choice of bait, the fishing technique used, and the place chosen for fishing. The temperature of the water influences the hunger and activity of fish. Certain species may even wait until night or early dawn to feed if the water temp near the surface is too warm.
HOW FISH LIVE TOGETHER
Many species of fish live together in closely-knit groups called schools. A school may have few or many fish. All fish in a school are about the same size. Baby fish and adult fish are never in the same school. In some instances, the fish become part of a school when they are young and remain with it throughout their lives. The fish in a school usually travel in close formation as a defense against predators. But a school often breaks up at night to feed and then regroups the next morning. The approach of a predator brings the fish quickly back together.
HOW FISH ADJUST TO CHANGE
Two most common adjustment changes are (1) changes in water temperature (word/water) and (2) changes in the salt content of water (ye are the salt of the earth).
If the water temp rises or falls, a fish can adjust accordingly, but the change in water temp must not be too great and must occur gradually (discipleship).
Most fish can adjust if the change is not too sudden. A slow change in water temp allows the body of the fish to make the necessary adjustment.
Both fresh water and ocean water contain various salts, many of which fish need in their diet. But the body fluids of ocean fish are not so salty as the water in which the fish live. Under certain circumstances, water from a weak solution will flow into a strong solution. This natural process, called osmosis, takes place if the two solutions are separated by a membrane (thin layer) through which only the water can pass. The skin and gill membranes of fish are of this type. Thus, marine fish constantly lose water from their body fluids into the stronger salt solution of the seawater. To make up for this loss, they drink much water. But ocean water contains more salt than marine fish need. The fish pass the extra salt out through their gills and digestive tract. Salt-water fish need the water they drink.
Fresh water fish have the opposite problem with osmosis. Their body fluids are saltier than fresh water. As a result, the fish constantly absorb water through their membranes. In fact, they absorb so much water that they do not need to drink any.
