Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord!

Matthew 4:18-20 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.”

The going is important. You catch no fish unless you GO fishing. Fish don’t come to you. You have to go to them if you’re going to catch them.

COULD THIS BE OUR PROBLEM? But how do we go? 30 or more years ago we might go door-to-door, knocking on doors and inviting people to church. And occasionally, it would work but it apparently, doesn’t work as well today. For one thing, many people have been turned off by door-knockers, selling religion and many other things.

ILL.- Recently, we had a guy come to our door around noon when I was eating lunch. He was persistent even though I told him I was eating lunch. He wanted to talk to us about some kind of healthcare program. When I kept telling him that I was in the process of eating my lunch, he said, “Can I come back at 7 tonight.” I said, “No,” then he offered another time and I said, “No.” I wanted to say, “What part of the word NO do you not understand?” I wasn’t mean but he was certainly persistent.

I think the greatest way of “going” with the gospel message is to be open to the people around us, especially, to those who have problems for one reason or another. These are the people who are more open to the gospel. They are hurting and help and we know that the help they need is the Lord.

I Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

The going is a matter of being open to the people around us. Do they have a need? Do they need Christ? Be quick to listen and then share Christ who can turn their life around, bring forgiveness, etc.

II. THE FLOWING OF THE TEARS

5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow...

ILL.- R. A. Torrey wrote: "One of the mightiest soul winners I ever knew was Colonel Clark of Chicago. He would work at his business six days every week. And every night in the week the year round five or six hundred men would gather together in that mission hall. It was a motley crowd: drunkards, thieves, pickpockets, gamblers and everyone who was hopeless. I used to go and hear Colonel Clark talk, and he seemed to me one of the dullest talkers I have ever heard in my life. He would ramble along and yet these five or six hundred men would lean over and listen spellbound while Colonel Clark talked.

"Some of the greatest preachers in Chicago used to go down to help Colonel Clark, but the men would not listen to them as they did to Colonel Clark. When he was speaking they would lean over and listen and be converted by the score. I could not understand it. I studied it and wondered what the secret of it was. Why did these men listen with such interest, and why were they so greatly moved by such prosy talking?