Hook, Line & Sinker 1 Peter 3:15
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN FISHING I AM SURE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FRUSTRATION OF A FISH JUST PLAYING WITH YOUR BAIT or LURE.
IT’S ANOYING…TAP, TAP, TAP! YOUR BOBBER SPINNING AROUND IN THE WATER MOVE BACK & FORTH…THE WHOLE TIME YOU’RE TALKING TO THE FISH…
“COME ON…TAKE IT…IF YOU WANT IT HERE IT IS COME & GET IT” BUT HE NEVER DOES! IT WILL AGGRAVATE YOU TO NO END!
EVERY FISHERMAN LIKE A FISH THAT TAKES THE BAIT OR LURE “HOOK, LINE & SINKER” I MEAN THERE’S NO DOUBT…THE ROD ALMOST LEAVES YOUR HAND…AGAIN YOU START TALKING “FLIPPER WANTS TO PLAY”!
ILLUSTRATION: I WAS WATCHING THE SHOW “YOU GOT TO SEE THIS”. THESE MEN WERE SHARK FISH OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA. THEY WERE WEARING THESE FISHING RIGGS THAT MADE YOU AND THE ROD ONE. NOW IF YOUR OBI-ONE-KANOBI or YODA TRAINING JEDDI KNIGHTS THAT WHOLE ONENESS THING OK. BUT IF YOU’RE 25 MILE OFF THE COAST IN A BOAT FISHING FOR FISH THAT WEIGH 100’S OF POUNDS MORE THAN YOU FORGET THAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A SHARK HIT WE’RE TALKING HOOK, LINE, SINKER & MAN ALL WENT RIGHT OVERBOARD…FORUANTELY HE WAS FREED BUT WHAT A FISH STORY!
WELL IN SOME WAYS WHEN WE FISH FOR MEN FOR THAT IS WHAT JESUS HAS CALLED US TO DO…. ‘Come, I will make you fishers of men”. Matthew 4:19
WE HAVE THOSE WHO SORT OF PLAY WITH US…THEY SEEM INTERESTED…THEY NIBBLE AT TRUTH BUT NEVER TAKE IT.
IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING FOR YOU KNOW THEY ARE SO CLOSE TO ETERNAL LIFE YET THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT.
WELL THIS MORING I WANT US TO CONSIDER HOW TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE IT HOOK, LINE & SINKER…
BY THAT I MEAN, HOW CAN WE SHARE OUR FAITH EFFECTIVELY.
1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Here are 3- things you can do to prepare yourself to be the fisher-of-men God has called you to be! First of all...
I. Know What You Believe. “Always be prepared to give…the reason for the hope that you have”
I BELIEVE THE REASON MANY DO NOT FISH FOR MEN IS THEY SIMPLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY BELIEVE. HOW CAN YOU SHARE W/ CONFIDENCE SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW or ARE NOT SURE ABOUT! THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS…YOU CAN’T!
PETER’S ENCOURAGEMENT HERE IS THIS…. - KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE - WHY YOU BELIEVE IT AND - HOW TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS
John 5:39
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
WE MUST HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH CORRECTLY! OUR FAITH, HOPE AND ETERNITY ARE BASED ON THE SACRIFICAL & ATONING DEATH OG JESUS CHRIST GOD’S ONLY SON.
IN ORDER TO SHARE THAT TRUTH WITH OTHERS WE MUST KNOW & OWN THAT TRUTH OURSELVES!
If you want a quick summary of what Christians believe, I suggest learning the Apostle’s Creed which was developed between the 2nd & 9th centuries and for many was their statement of faith.
Some congregations recite this every week, which is a great idea, because it outlines the fundamentals of our faith.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The third day he arose from the dead and he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church [note: that’s catholic with a "little c" referring to the universal church consisting of all followers of Christ], the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
- MY FRIEND YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR FAITH EFFECTIVELY? - DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO COME TO FAITH? - AS YOU FISH FOR JESUS DO YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE IT HOOK, LINE & SINKER
THEN KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE & WHY YOU BELIEVE IT THEN SHARE IF WITH BONDNESS
ILLUSTRATION: A little boy came home from Sunday School…his mother asked him what he had learned that morning. "Well Mother, we learned that Moses went behind the enemy lines and freed the Israelites. Then he took the army engineers and built a pontoon bridge across the Red Sea. Then when the Egyptians tank division started to cross over the bridge he called in the dive bombers and blew them to bits." His mother was outraged and said, "IS THAT WHAT YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER IS TEACHING YOU?" The little boy looked down for a moment and finally said, "Well - no Mom, but if I told you what she taught us this morning there’s no way you would believe it!"
MY FRIEND IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE & SHARE IT THEY WILL BELIEVE!
Secondly, being prepared means that you should...
II. Be ready to share Your Testimony. …give an answer to everyone who asks you…for the hope that you have.
FOR SOME THE WORD TESTIMONY STRIKES A CORD OF FEAR IN THEIR HEART!
- VISIONS OF STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH SHARING WHAT JESUS… - OR PEOPLE JUMPING TO THEIR FEET IN A SERVICE COUNTING BLESSINGS 1X1
BUT WHAT IS A TESTIMONY? HOW CAN I BE READY TO SHARE MINE WHEN THE TIME COMES? THE BOY SCOTT MOTTO “BE PREPARED”!
YOUR TESTIMONY IS SIMPLY THIS… Part 1`: What caused you to seek a relationship with God?
Part 2: How did you come into a personal relationship with Christ?
Part 3: What has happened since, what difference has Christ made in your life
When your fishing-for-men you’re testimony is important so be ready to share it! A word of advice, share your testimony clearly & concisely no more than 3-4 minutes.
Luke 12:35 Watchfulness
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
ILLUSTRATION: A mother was trying to explaining, to her little girl, the death of her father. The mother said: "God has sent for your father and will send for us, but I do not know just when." Finally, the little girl said: "If we do not know just when God is going to send for us, do you not think we had better pack up & get ready to go? God might send when we are not ready."
THE THING ABOUT FISHING-FOR-MEN IS THIS…YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN GOD WILL PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY….
SOOOOO, BE PREPARED TO SHARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU & HOW HE LONGS TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS!
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Sharing effectively means, knowing what you believe, knowing your testimony & thirdly...
III. Believe that God will give you the chance to Fish:
REMEMBER WHEN JESUS SAID “COME, I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN.” HE MEANT IT!
IT WAS HIS PLAN….OUR RESPOSIBILITY…MEN’S SOULS HANG IN THE BALANCE!
NOTICE, PETER SAYS IN THIS VERSE “be prepared”. THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS “be ready always”.
THE IDEA IS THAT WE’RE PREPARE BEFORE HAND TO FISH-FOR-MEN BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT PRESENT IT SELF….
BUT LISTEN…IT WILL PRESENT IT SELF IT’S GOD’S PLAN!
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
GOD’S WORD ALSO TELL US… - GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH - GO INTO THE HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS & COMPELL THEM TO COME IN… - FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE & HE GAVE & HE GAVE!
GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FISH…SOOOO. EXPECT THAT CHANCE & BE READY WHEN IT COMES!
ILLUSTRATION: MATT ALWAYS HAD A FISHING POLE IN HIS CAR!
HE NEVER KNEW WHEN HE MIGHT COME UP ON A LAKE, SO HE WAS ALWAYS PREPARED JUST IN CASE!
JESUS SAID, “Come I’ll make you fishers of men” IF THAT’S YOUR DESIRE…
- NAIL DOWN WHAT YOU BELIEVE & WHY!
- BE PREPARED TO SHARE WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU!
- EXPECT GOD TO BRING PEOPLE TO YOU!
CLOSING: Satchel Paige threw his first major league pitch at the age of 42. Actually, he was good enough to play in the majors at the age of 18, but he couldn’t--Satchel Paige was black. Seven years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, Paige, an undisputed superstar everywhere but in the major leagues, finally got his chance.Cleveland owner Bill Veek was criticized for adding such an old man to his roster--some sportswriters and critics called it a publicity stunt. Others said Paige was finally getting the break he had deserved for years--though most doubted his ability to compete effectively at his age.Paige silenced the critics when he won his first three games as a pro--shutting out Chicago twice in the process.
