100:00:00,120 –> 00:00:02,620Jesus is coming200:00:03,340 –> 00:00:04,260Notice this.300:00:04,260 –> 00:00:08,000It’s not, follow me and you will become fishers of men.400:00:08,000 –> 00:00:10,560That would take Christ out of it, wouldn’t it?500:00:10,560 –> 00:00:14,500It’s follow me and I will make600:00:14,500 –> 00:00:17,799you fishers of men.700:00:17,799 –> 00:00:21,680So, there is something that Christ will do800:00:21,680 –> 00:00:25,799to make us, as a church, effective900:00:25,799 –> 00:00:27,580in this work of evangelism.1000:00:27,580 –> 00:00:30,400Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,1100:00:30,400 –> 00:00:31,600I’m David Pick.1200:00:31,600 –> 00:00:33,480Thanks for being with us today and Colin,1300:00:33,480 –> 00:00:37,320it’s easy to imagine a Christian hearing that1400:00:37,320 –> 00:00:39,320and thinking well, that would be great,1500:00:39,320 –> 00:00:40,299but it doesn’t work for me.1600:00:40,299 –> 00:00:42,680I’m no good at evangelism.1700:00:42,680 –> 00:00:44,000Well, I know that feeling, you know,1800:00:44,000 –> 00:00:47,560that we sometimes think, is the Lord really using me?1900:00:47,560 –> 00:00:50,160That’s what I think is really important to remember2000:00:50,160 –> 00:00:52,340that the promise of Jesus here is spoken2100:00:52,340 –> 00:00:55,320not to one person, but to believers together,2200:00:55,380 –> 00:00:58,180to a small group of the early disciples.2300:00:58,180 –> 00:01:00,419It’s really a promise to the church.2400:01:00,419 –> 00:01:03,660Think of it that way, as we as believers together2500:01:03,660 –> 00:01:07,459follow after him, he will make us effective and fruitful2600:01:07,459 –> 00:01:10,760and we play into evangelistic fruitfulness2700:01:10,760 –> 00:01:13,779in all kinds of different ways and if I was to try2800:01:13,779 –> 00:01:16,459and list all of the ways in which people are involved2900:01:16,459 –> 00:01:18,620in ministry, of the church that I serve here3000:01:18,620 –> 00:01:20,699at the Orchard, we’d be here for a long time,3100:01:20,699 –> 00:01:22,820we’d need longer than the program.3200:01:22,820 –> 00:01:26,779The point is that we contribute in different ways3300:01:26,779 –> 00:01:29,720to the overall evangelistic effectiveness3400:01:29,720 –> 00:01:31,739and fruitfulness of the body of Christ.3500:01:31,739 –> 00:01:34,040We’re not called to do everything alone,3600:01:34,040 –> 00:01:36,879but what we do together for the sake of Christ3700:01:36,879 –> 00:01:40,199and in the name of Christ is far, far more3800:01:40,199 –> 00:01:42,459than what any of us can do individually3900:01:42,459 –> 00:01:44,540and I think that’s a really important truth,4000:01:44,540 –> 00:01:46,639especially in an individualistic culture4100:01:46,639 –> 00:01:47,980like the one in which we live.4200:01:47,980 –> 00:01:50,239We belong together in the body of Christ4300:01:50,239 –> 00:01:52,080and that’s how we serve him well.4400:01:52,120 –> 00:01:56,620So join us today, if you can in Matthew, chapter four.4500:01:56,620 –> 00:01:58,540As we continue the message,4600:01:58,540 –> 00:02:01,279Jesus will use us to win others.4700:02:01,279 –> 00:02:02,360Here is Colin.4800:02:02,360 –> 00:02:05,220This week I read a little book that I really enjoyed.4900:02:05,220 –> 00:02:09,279It’s got such a quaint title because it was written in 1773.5000:02:09,279 –> 00:02:12,080The fact it’s still in print shows its value.5100:02:12,080 –> 00:02:16,320It’s called The Art of Man Fishing, by Thomas Boston.5200:02:16,320 –> 00:02:18,639That’s about as quaint as you can get.5300:02:18,639 –> 00:02:22,339Boston wrote these thoughts when he was 22 years of age,5400:02:22,339 –> 00:02:24,139and he read in his quiet time,5500:02:24,139 –> 00:02:27,199Matthew, chapter four, in verse 19 that’s before us today,5600:02:27,199 –> 00:02:29,960and God’s spirit so burned a passion into his heart,5700:02:29,960 –> 00:02:34,779he said, God, I want to be able to do what you say.5800:02:34,779 –> 00:02:38,119So what will it take for me to become a fisher of men?5900:02:38,119 –> 00:02:39,619And he wrote down his meditations.6000:02:39,619 –> 00:02:43,039The main thing that he focuses on is the net.6100:02:44,080 –> 00:02:47,199We’re gonna catch fish, we gotta have the right net.6200:02:47,199 –> 00:02:51,580And he talks about the net of the gospel, the gospel net.6300:02:51,580 –> 00:02:53,619And that very, very helpful,6400:02:53,619 –> 00:02:56,059and here are three observations that he makes,6500:02:56,059 –> 00:03:01,059he says, the net is woven from the promises of the gospel.6600:03:02,899 –> 00:03:04,899In other words, if we want to see men and women6700:03:04,899 –> 00:03:07,600drawn to Jesus Christ,6800:03:07,600 –> 00:03:12,419we have to be good at spreading the net.6900:03:12,419 –> 00:03:15,339In other words, opening up the promises of Jesus Christ.7000:03:15,339 –> 00:03:16,539Let me put that another way.7100:03:16,580 –> 00:03:18,699You want to draw people to Jesus Christ,7200:03:18,699 –> 00:03:21,580tell them what Jesus promises to do.7300:03:22,500 –> 00:03:25,059Then Boston says, second observation,7400:03:25,059 –> 00:03:27,699if you want to catch fish,7500:03:27,699 –> 00:03:30,639you must make sure that the mesh of your net7600:03:30,639 –> 00:03:33,419is not too wide.7700:03:33,419 –> 00:03:35,619That’s an interesting observation.7800:03:35,619 –> 00:03:38,820If the mesh is wide, the fish will swim into it,7900:03:38,820 –> 00:03:40,360then they’ll swim out of it.8000:03:40,360 –> 00:03:41,860Obvious point.8100:03:41,860 –> 00:03:44,580So he says, if you only speak general truths about God,8200:03:44,580 –> 00:03:46,020if all you ever say to people is,8300:03:46,160 –> 00:03:47,699God loves you,8400:03:47,699 –> 00:03:48,759and you never really get8500:03:48,759 –> 00:03:50,960to the specifics about Jesus Christ,8600:03:50,960 –> 00:03:53,199you won’t catch many fish.8700:03:53,199 –> 00:03:55,699Third observation, I found this fascinating.8800:03:55,699 –> 00:04:00,699He says the net must have weights on it8900:04:00,699 –> 00:04:02,839and in the right proportion.9000:04:04,020 –> 00:04:06,399Now think about this net fishing.9100:04:06,399 –> 00:04:07,580If you just have a net9200:04:07,580 –> 00:04:09,179and you throw the net into the water,9300:04:09,179 –> 00:04:10,240what will happen?9400:04:10,240 –> 00:04:12,419The net will just float on the water, right?9500:04:12,419 –> 00:04:14,080You won’t catch any fish then.9600:04:14,080 –> 00:04:16,059So he says the net in order to catch fish9700:04:16,059 –> 00:04:17,880needs to have weights on it.9800:04:17,880 –> 00:04:20,440Now the net he says is the promises of the gospel,9900:04:20,440 –> 00:04:22,220that’s the great draw,10000:04:22,220 –> 00:04:24,140but he says the net must have some weights on it10100:04:24,140 –> 00:04:25,160and what are the weights?10200:04:25,160 –> 00:04:29,100He says the weights are the law of God.10300:04:29,100 –> 00:04:32,679In other words, people will come to Christ10400:04:32,679 –> 00:04:35,119when they hear what he offers10500:04:35,119 –> 00:04:37,779and when they see their need of it,10600:04:37,779 –> 00:04:40,119both things, the law and the gospel.10700:04:41,000 –> 00:04:43,940Forgiveness won’t mean anything to you10800:04:43,940 –> 00:04:47,000until you see that you are a sinner.10900:04:48,000 –> 00:04:50,399The gift of the Holy spirit won’t mean anything to you11000:04:50,399 –> 00:04:52,920until you really see that you can’t live11100:04:52,920 –> 00:04:54,839the life that Jesus calls you to lead.11200:04:56,140 –> 00:04:58,880The gift of everlasting life won’t mean anything to you11300:04:58,880 –> 00:05:01,640until you know that you’re lost11400:05:01,640 –> 00:05:03,440and there’s a hell to be saved from,11500:05:05,279 –> 00:05:07,040so keeping the net in good repair11600:05:07,040 –> 00:05:09,279is essential to our mission.11700:05:09,279 –> 00:05:12,459The weight of the law drives us to Christ11800:05:12,459 –> 00:05:17,119and the promises of the gospel draw us to Christ,11900:05:18,420 –> 00:05:20,320and then here’s the third observation12000:05:20,320 –> 00:05:22,619that I want to make before we move on,12100:05:22,619 –> 00:05:27,619we fulfill our mission by throwing out the gospel net,12200:05:30,739 –> 00:05:33,420You see after all that Boston says that’s so helpful,12300:05:33,420 –> 00:05:36,000you must have the net, it must be the right mesh,12400:05:36,000 –> 00:05:37,600it must have the weights on it,12500:05:37,600 –> 00:05:39,500and we’ve got a good boat and it’s a fishing boat12600:05:39,500 –> 00:05:41,859and has not a pleasure boat and all the rest of it,12700:05:41,899 –> 00:05:44,600but if we do not throw out the net,12800:05:44,600 –> 00:05:47,339if we do not throw out the net of the gospel,12900:05:47,339 –> 00:05:50,660then we will not catch fish,13000:05:50,660 –> 00:05:53,820and so I’m saying that we fulfill our mission13100:05:53,820 –> 00:05:57,160by throwing out the gospel net,13200:05:58,359 –> 00:06:02,459and this folks is of huge importance13300:06:02,459 –> 00:06:06,660in deciding what work we should do13400:06:06,660 –> 00:06:11,440and in evaluating the work that we are doing already,13500:06:11,440 –> 00:06:13,720how do we evaluate what we’re doing?13600:06:13,720 –> 00:06:16,279Well, here’s one crucial criteria13700:06:16,279 –> 00:06:18,799for evaluating our work,13800:06:18,799 –> 00:06:22,359how is the gospel net being thrown out?13900:06:22,359 –> 00:06:23,739That’s the question,14000:06:23,739 –> 00:06:27,480how is the gospel net being thrown out?14100:06:28,839 –> 00:06:30,320Folks, it begins with a preaching,14200:06:30,320 –> 00:06:32,160if we are to be a church,14300:06:32,160 –> 00:06:34,559where many people come to faith14400:06:34,559 –> 00:06:37,000in the Lord, Jesus Christ,14500:06:37,000 –> 00:06:38,739this must be a place14600:06:38,779 –> 00:06:40,880where the good news of Jesus Christ14700:06:40,880 –> 00:06:44,940is proclaimed clearly always,14800:06:44,940 –> 00:06:45,779always.14900:06:46,779 –> 00:06:48,619But it’s not just the Pope,15000:06:48,619 –> 00:06:50,220you think of the area of ministry15100:06:50,220 –> 00:06:51,839in which you are involved,15200:06:52,739 –> 00:06:54,059and you ask this question,15300:06:55,339 –> 00:07:00,320how is the gospel net being thrown out?15400:07:01,700 –> 00:07:04,559Because if we’re not throwing out the gospel net,15500:07:04,559 –> 00:07:08,119we are not fulfilling our mission.15600:07:08,140 –> 00:07:09,040Now please understand,15700:07:09,040 –> 00:07:10,720I’m not saying this is the only thing we do,15800:07:10,720 –> 00:07:11,540the only thing we do15900:07:11,540 –> 00:07:14,200is simply to speak the gospel to people.16000:07:14,200 –> 00:07:16,359Clearly the feeding of the 5,00016100:07:16,359 –> 00:07:19,220gives Christian basis for feeding the hungry.16200:07:19,220 –> 00:07:21,440Clearly Jesus healing of the sick16300:07:21,440 –> 00:07:23,299gives basis for Christian medical work16400:07:23,299 –> 00:07:24,720and so forth and so on.16500:07:24,720 –> 00:07:27,260But what I’m contending for is this,16600:07:27,260 –> 00:07:29,200that in every area of ministry,16700:07:29,200 –> 00:07:31,820including all of these ministries,16800:07:31,820 –> 00:07:34,119we must ask the question16900:07:34,119 –> 00:07:38,160how is the gospel net being thrown out in this ministry17000:07:38,160 –> 00:07:40,500because if the gospel net is not being thrown out,17100:07:40,500 –> 00:07:43,480we are not doing what Jesus Christ has called us to do17200:07:43,480 –> 00:07:44,880and in the midst of many other needs17300:07:44,880 –> 00:07:46,760we have lost our mission.17400:07:46,760 –> 00:07:49,559It’s absolutely crucial to keeping the church17500:07:49,559 –> 00:07:52,380in the work that Jesus has given us to do.17600:07:52,380 –> 00:07:55,100We fulfill our mission by throwing out the gospel net.17700:07:55,100 –> 00:07:58,160How is the gospel net being thrown out in your ministry?17800:07:58,160 –> 00:08:02,420Where is there clear communication of the gospel?17900:08:03,279 –> 00:08:06,220That’s the question.18000:08:06,220 –> 00:08:08,200So we’ve looked at the analogy18100:08:08,200 –> 00:08:11,440and we’ve seen that we can learn many, many things from it.18200:08:12,920 –> 00:08:15,779We’ve looked at how this promise of Jesus18300:08:15,779 –> 00:08:18,420is defining for our mission.18400:08:18,420 –> 00:08:21,899It gives clarity in the many, many needs in the world,18500:08:21,899 –> 00:08:23,980the many, many things that people who are not Christians18600:08:23,980 –> 00:08:25,540are engaged in as well as things18700:08:25,540 –> 00:08:27,019that Christians are engaged in,18800:08:27,019 –> 00:08:30,540what particularly did Jesus Christ call us to18900:08:31,220 –> 00:08:33,479as the church?19000:08:33,479 –> 00:08:35,479And we’ve gained clarity about that.19100:08:36,400 –> 00:08:38,640Fishers of man.19200:08:38,640 –> 00:08:39,559Now more briefly,19300:08:39,559 –> 00:08:43,260I want now to come to believing the promise19400:08:43,260 –> 00:08:45,599and following the invitation.19500:08:46,619 –> 00:08:49,119I want to invite you to believe the promise19600:08:49,119 –> 00:08:53,640of the Lord Jesus Christ that’s in this verse today.19700:08:53,640 –> 00:08:57,340He says, here’s the promise,19800:08:57,559 –> 00:09:02,559I will make you fishers of men.19900:09:02,780 –> 00:09:04,739Now these words, I will make you,20000:09:04,739 –> 00:09:06,580that’s the core of the promise.20100:09:06,580 –> 00:09:10,380This is Jesus saying that he will do something,20200:09:10,380 –> 00:09:13,020and it’s very important for us to grasp this,20300:09:13,020 –> 00:09:15,219and I want to encourage you to believe it.20400:09:16,659 –> 00:09:19,219Jesus is the master fisherman.20500:09:19,219 –> 00:09:20,799Just look at how he connects with people20600:09:20,799 –> 00:09:23,940from every walk of life in the gospels.20700:09:23,940 –> 00:09:26,840No one ever did it quite like him.20800:09:27,659 –> 00:09:30,979But he says to his disciples, he says to us,20900:09:30,979 –> 00:09:35,979if you follow me, I will make you fishers of men.21000:09:37,900 –> 00:09:39,739I’ll make you fishers of men.21100:09:41,320 –> 00:09:43,260I’ll give to you something that you21200:09:43,260 –> 00:09:45,440may not have had before, I’ll do something21300:09:45,440 –> 00:09:49,739in you that is going to equip you21400:09:49,739 –> 00:09:52,679for this work and make you effective in it.21500:09:53,820 –> 00:09:56,640See, notice this, it’s not follow me21600:09:56,679 –> 00:09:59,280and you will become fishers of men,21700:09:59,280 –> 00:10:01,960that would take Christ out of it, wouldn’t it?21800:10:01,960 –> 00:10:06,960It’s follow me and I will make you fishers of men.21900:10:09,320 –> 00:10:13,080So there is something that Christ will do22000:10:13,080 –> 00:10:18,080to make us as a church effective in this work of evangelism.22100:10:19,780 –> 00:10:22,460Now what is it the Christ will do?22200:10:22,460 –> 00:10:24,619Let me suggest two answers to that question.22300:10:24,619 –> 00:10:26,080The first is this.22400:10:26,099 –> 00:10:27,900Christ will make us fishers of men22500:10:27,900 –> 00:10:31,479by giving skill to the fishermen22600:10:31,479 –> 00:10:34,219and this is very obvious in the story of the disciples22700:10:34,219 –> 00:10:36,159that Jesus gave these men gifts22800:10:36,159 –> 00:10:38,960that they did not have before as they followed him.22900:10:39,840 –> 00:10:43,619I mean, they were the most unlikely candidates, weren’t they?23000:10:43,619 –> 00:10:44,780Who have we got here?23100:10:44,780 –> 00:10:47,359Peter and Andrew and James and John.23200:10:47,359 –> 00:10:48,599Let’s start with Andrew.23300:10:49,679 –> 00:10:50,960How many things do you remember23400:10:50,960 –> 00:10:52,619Andrew saying in the Gospels?23500:10:53,520 –> 00:10:56,559You can look it up, hardly a word,23600:10:56,559 –> 00:10:58,580this guy was painfully shy.23700:10:59,840 –> 00:11:03,880No, some of us are really shy,23800:11:03,880 –> 00:11:07,739we don’t talk a lot, very quiet, like Andrew.23900:11:09,119 –> 00:11:11,359And so your instinct is going to be to say,24000:11:11,359 –> 00:11:13,599well, of course, pastor, he’s talking today24100:11:13,599 –> 00:11:15,400to all these folks who have the gift of the gab24200:11:15,400 –> 00:11:16,659and can talk and so forth,24300:11:16,659 –> 00:11:18,520but you know what, this doesn’t apply to me.24400:11:18,520 –> 00:11:19,619Yes, it does.24500:11:20,419 –> 00:11:24,359Andrew, Jesus says to you,24600:11:24,359 –> 00:11:27,719I’ll make you a fish out of men.24700:11:27,719 –> 00:11:31,280Christ can use you in ways that will surprise you.24800:11:31,280 –> 00:11:34,080He will work through your temperament.24900:11:34,080 –> 00:11:37,080Your life can be a means of drawing others to Christ.25000:11:38,099 –> 00:11:39,679Now, what about James and John25100:11:39,679 –> 00:11:42,619who first heard this promise from Jesus?25200:11:42,619 –> 00:11:46,400Matthew notes that they had the nickname Boanergies.25300:11:47,400 –> 00:11:50,119Now, Boanergies sounds like what it is,25400:11:50,119 –> 00:11:53,159it literally means sons of thunder.25500:11:53,159 –> 00:11:54,599Now honestly, what kind of guys25600:11:54,599 –> 00:11:56,400get the nickname sons of thunder?25700:11:56,400 –> 00:11:57,840Do you think they were like Andrew?25800:11:57,840 –> 00:11:59,320I don’t think so.25900:11:59,320 –> 00:12:01,520I think these guys had fiery tempers.26000:12:01,520 –> 00:12:04,299They’re the kind of guys that blow their testimony.26100:12:04,299 –> 00:12:06,000They’re the kind of guys that shoot off their mouth26200:12:06,000 –> 00:12:07,739and say, oh, why did I say that?26300:12:09,179 –> 00:12:10,320They’re the kind of guys who say,26400:12:10,320 –> 00:12:13,059I wish I didn’t said that to the guy next to me at work.26500:12:14,020 –> 00:12:19,020Listen, Christ can make you a fisher of men.26600:12:21,119 –> 00:12:22,780And Peter, what can you say about him26700:12:22,780 –> 00:12:24,700with all his impulsiveness?26800:12:24,700 –> 00:12:27,940Yet, this man so impulsive becomes,26900:12:27,940 –> 00:12:29,400by the end of the New Testament,27000:12:29,400 –> 00:12:31,580a shepherd of the flock of God.27100:12:31,580 –> 00:12:33,099Read the first letter of Peter.27200:12:34,539 –> 00:12:36,419So there is a work of Christ27300:12:36,419 –> 00:12:39,599in each of these different temperaments27400:12:39,599 –> 00:12:41,700that takes these folks,27500:12:41,760 –> 00:12:43,320who really look as if they would be27600:12:43,320 –> 00:12:45,599of very little use in winning others27700:12:45,599 –> 00:12:47,080to faith in Jesus Christ,27800:12:47,080 –> 00:12:48,919and by the power of the Holy Spirit,27900:12:48,919 –> 00:12:51,520Jesus uses these men, and he says to them,28000:12:51,520 –> 00:12:55,299I’ll make you fishers of men.28100:12:55,299 –> 00:12:56,599You’re listening to Open the Bible28200:12:56,599 –> 00:12:57,940with Pastor Colin Smith,28300:12:57,940 –> 00:13:01,679and a message called Jesus Will Use Us to Win Others.28400:13:01,679 –> 00:13:03,419It’s part of our series,28500:13:03,419 –> 00:13:07,140Rock Solid, Seven Promises Christ Makes to You.28600:13:07,140 –> 00:13:09,359And if you’ve missed any of the series so far,28700:13:09,359 –> 00:13:11,500or if you ever want to go back and listen again,28800:13:11,580 –> 00:13:14,479you can do that by coming online to our website,28900:13:14,479 –> 00:13:17,299openthebible.org.uk,29000:13:17,299 –> 00:13:20,700or you can also find all of Colin Smith’s messages29100:13:20,700 –> 00:13:22,460on your favorite podcast site29200:13:22,460 –> 00:13:26,000by searching Open The Bible UK.29300:13:26,000 –> 00:13:29,059Back to the message now, we’re in Matthew Chapter Four,29400:13:29,059 –> 00:13:30,780here again is Colin.29500:13:30,780 –> 00:13:32,960Christ makes us fishing of men29600:13:32,960 –> 00:13:35,940by giving skill to the fisherman.29700:13:37,020 –> 00:13:39,020But he does a second thing.29800:13:39,020 –> 00:13:41,760Not only does he give skill to the fisherman,29900:13:42,659 –> 00:13:45,799Christ makes us successful in fishing30000:13:45,799 –> 00:13:50,799because he is the one who draws the fish into the net.30100:13:52,059 –> 00:13:54,580Now that folks of course is the point of the story30200:13:54,580 –> 00:13:57,280in Luke Chapter Five that was read to us.30300:13:57,280 –> 00:13:59,820The disciples had been out all night30400:13:59,820 –> 00:14:02,219and you remember that they had caught what?30500:14:02,219 –> 00:14:03,880Nothing30600:14:03,880 –> 00:14:05,299and Jesus says to Peter,30700:14:05,299 –> 00:14:07,859now you throw down the nets30800:14:07,859 –> 00:14:08,700and Peter says,30900:14:08,880 –> 00:14:10,059we’ve been out all night,31000:14:10,059 –> 00:14:11,340we haven’t caught a single thing31100:14:11,340 –> 00:14:13,619and then to his credit he says,31200:14:13,619 –> 00:14:15,260because you say so,31300:14:15,260 –> 00:14:17,419I will let down the nets31400:14:17,419 –> 00:14:18,719and so in an act of faith,31500:14:18,719 –> 00:14:20,659he throws out the net31600:14:20,659 –> 00:14:21,659and when they did this31700:14:21,659 –> 00:14:23,400they caught such a large number of fish,31800:14:23,400 –> 00:14:24,219Luke tells us,31900:14:24,219 –> 00:14:26,719that the nets began to break.32000:14:26,719 –> 00:14:28,140How did that happen?32100:14:28,140 –> 00:14:30,140It was a miracle, wasn’t it?32200:14:30,140 –> 00:14:31,280And what was the miracle?32300:14:31,280 –> 00:14:36,340The miracle was that Christ brought the fish into the net.32400:14:36,820 –> 00:14:38,400That’s wonderful.32500:14:38,400 –> 00:14:42,440Now look, Jesus is the Son of God.32600:14:43,960 –> 00:14:47,159The Son of God can make fish32700:14:47,159 –> 00:14:50,719jump from the water into the boat if He wants to.32800:14:50,719 –> 00:14:51,960Do you agree with that?32900:14:53,239 –> 00:14:54,479But He doesn’t do that.33000:14:55,619 –> 00:14:57,280He says, you threw out the net33100:14:58,320 –> 00:15:00,640and He draws fish into the net.33200:15:00,640 –> 00:15:04,239Folks, that’s our reason for proclaiming the Gospel,33300:15:05,080 –> 00:15:07,640because Christ does not make fish33400:15:07,640 –> 00:15:09,979jump straight into boats,33500:15:09,979 –> 00:15:12,739Christ brings fish into nets.33600:15:12,739 –> 00:15:15,520He saves through the Gospel.33700:15:15,520 –> 00:15:18,960He saves through your sharing of the truth,33800:15:18,960 –> 00:15:21,719our sharing of the truth of Jesus Christ.33900:15:21,719 –> 00:15:23,659That’s why we throw out the net.34000:15:24,520 –> 00:15:28,400And folks, I cannot think of a greater motivation34100:15:28,400 –> 00:15:30,940for us to devote our lives34200:15:30,940 –> 00:15:32,940to casting out the Gospel net34300:15:32,940 –> 00:15:35,700than this conviction that Jesus Christ34400:15:35,700 –> 00:15:38,640is the one who brings fish into the net34500:15:38,640 –> 00:15:41,940of the Gospel as it is thrown out.34600:15:41,940 –> 00:15:43,320Thank God for that.34700:15:44,440 –> 00:15:45,539Here’s the last thing,34800:15:46,580 –> 00:15:49,000there is an invitation that Jesus gives34900:15:49,000 –> 00:15:51,340and it’s for us today also.35000:15:51,340 –> 00:15:56,340Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.35100:15:57,580 –> 00:15:59,260Follow me.35200:15:59,260 –> 00:16:01,840And Matthew tells us very wonderfully in verse 2035300:16:01,859 –> 00:16:05,880that they left their nets and they followed him.35400:16:06,820 –> 00:16:08,719And they followed him for three years35500:16:08,719 –> 00:16:11,359before his death and his resurrection35600:16:11,359 –> 00:16:13,000and then after his ascension,35700:16:13,000 –> 00:16:15,280then was the time that they really launched35800:16:15,280 –> 00:16:18,440into ministry that led to many, many people35900:16:18,440 –> 00:16:21,799coming to faith in Jesus Christ.36000:16:21,799 –> 00:16:22,960So my question is,36100:16:22,960 –> 00:16:26,419what did they learn from three years of following Jesus?36200:16:28,840 –> 00:16:30,440What was the big picture impact36300:16:30,440 –> 00:16:33,280of three years of following Jesus36400:16:34,280 –> 00:16:37,520that put them in a position where God was able36500:16:37,520 –> 00:16:40,479to use them in the acts of the apostles36600:16:40,479 –> 00:16:42,479in such an extraordinary way to fulfill36700:16:42,479 –> 00:16:44,020the promise of Jesus right here,36800:16:44,020 –> 00:16:45,520they became fishers of men?36900:16:45,520 –> 00:16:47,219And I want to suggest just very briefly37000:16:47,219 –> 00:16:50,280in the last moments, three answers to that question.37100:16:50,280 –> 00:16:54,080What we will gain as we follow Jesus37200:16:54,080 –> 00:16:55,599that will be means of equipping us37300:16:55,599 –> 00:16:58,979for greater effectiveness in this kind of ministry?37400:16:59,020 –> 00:17:00,780And I think the first thing very obviously37500:17:00,780 –> 00:17:02,739is by following Jesus, they gained37600:17:02,739 –> 00:17:05,819a new interest in people.37700:17:05,819 –> 00:17:06,939I mean, these were men that lived37800:17:06,939 –> 00:17:08,900in the world of fish and nets and boats37900:17:08,900 –> 00:17:10,300out there on their own, on the lake38000:17:10,300 –> 00:17:13,660and all that stuff, perfectly content in the quiet.38100:17:13,660 –> 00:17:15,339And what Jesus did was He brought them38200:17:15,339 –> 00:17:17,359into a world people.38300:17:18,939 –> 00:17:21,099Everywhere in the gospels, it’s all people.38400:17:22,800 –> 00:17:25,859And at first, they didn’t like it.38500:17:26,579 –> 00:17:29,219So you keep finding the disciples saying,38600:17:29,219 –> 00:17:30,780oh, let’s send the crowds away.38700:17:30,780 –> 00:17:32,180Or when children come they think,38800:17:32,180 –> 00:17:34,619oh, these children are a real nuisance.38900:17:34,619 –> 00:17:36,239And when people of another race39000:17:36,239 –> 00:17:37,420come to the Lord Jesus Christ,39100:17:37,420 –> 00:17:38,699they get really edgy, and they say,39200:17:38,699 –> 00:17:40,160well, we don’t want these folks around here.39300:17:40,160 –> 00:17:41,459That’s where the disciples were39400:17:41,459 –> 00:17:44,579when they began, but Christ transformed them,39500:17:44,579 –> 00:17:49,140gave them a new heart, a new interest in people.39600:17:50,060 –> 00:17:51,300And you know, the Lord Jesus Christ39700:17:51,300 –> 00:17:52,219will do that for us.39800:17:52,219 –> 00:17:55,459Honestly, folks, some of us are most comfortable39900:17:55,540 –> 00:17:58,420with documents and an office,40000:17:58,420 –> 00:18:01,060writing software for a computer,40100:18:01,060 –> 00:18:02,540spreadsheets for a business,40200:18:02,540 –> 00:18:04,300reference books in an academy,40300:18:04,300 –> 00:18:06,520and Jesus says to us,40400:18:06,520 –> 00:18:08,900calling us out of our comfort zone,40500:18:08,900 –> 00:18:12,459he says, if you follow me I will make you fishers of men,40600:18:12,459 –> 00:18:14,560and following Christ will give you40700:18:14,560 –> 00:18:16,339a new interest in people.40800:18:17,380 –> 00:18:19,420You might like to pray that today.40900:18:19,420 –> 00:18:24,420Lord Jesus Christ, give me a greater interest in people,41000:18:24,880 –> 00:18:29,060expand my heart in this regard,41100:18:29,060 –> 00:18:32,900because in following him this will grow within you41200:18:32,900 –> 00:18:35,699over time and it will make you more effective41300:18:35,699 –> 00:18:38,500in the ministry to which Jesus calls us.41400:18:38,500 –> 00:18:39,780And then in following him41500:18:39,780 –> 00:18:42,420they gained a new clarity about Jesus.41600:18:42,420 –> 00:18:44,900They obviously find something compelling41700:18:44,900 –> 00:18:48,160in Jesus to leave their nets and leave him on that day.41800:18:48,160 –> 00:18:50,140But you know, it’s three years before the time41900:18:50,140 –> 00:18:53,459when Jesus says, who do you say that I am?42000:18:53,459 –> 00:18:54,520Previously they were saying,42100:18:54,520 –> 00:18:57,680who is this that even the winds and waves obey him?42200:18:57,680 –> 00:18:58,979Three years later Peter says,42300:18:58,979 –> 00:19:01,260you’re the Christ, you’re the Son of the living God,42400:19:01,260 –> 00:19:03,420but even then Peter does not understand42500:19:03,420 –> 00:19:05,959that Jesus has to die for sins and rise again.42600:19:06,900 –> 00:19:08,339Oh, but after three years42700:19:08,339 –> 00:19:10,540fully of following the Lord Jesus Christ42800:19:10,540 –> 00:19:13,579on the day of Pentecost this man gets up.42900:19:13,579 –> 00:19:15,859And there’s absolutely no doubt about his message,43000:19:15,859 –> 00:19:17,520there’s conviction, there’s clarity.43100:19:17,520 –> 00:19:19,339He speaks about Jesus43200:19:19,339 –> 00:19:21,439and he throws out the net of the gospel43300:19:21,439 –> 00:19:23,260and by the power of the Holy Spirit,43400:19:23,260 –> 00:19:26,3393,000 people are saved on that day.43500:19:27,479 –> 00:19:30,599So if you want to be a fissure of men,43600:19:30,599 –> 00:19:33,420you want to be really sure that you speak clearly43700:19:33,420 –> 00:19:36,540about the Lord Jesus Christ and by following him,43800:19:37,680 –> 00:19:39,880you will find that you have deeper43900:19:39,880 –> 00:19:43,239and stronger convictions about him,44000:19:43,239 –> 00:19:45,280greater confidence in him,44100:19:45,280 –> 00:19:47,760a greater sense of love towards him.44200:19:47,760 –> 00:19:50,699You will find yourself so bonded to Christ44300:19:50,699 –> 00:19:51,920that your own love for Christ44400:19:51,920 –> 00:19:54,079and your own faith in Christ44500:19:54,079 –> 00:19:56,839comes out in your communication to other people.44600:19:58,619 –> 00:19:59,800And then lastly,44700:19:59,800 –> 00:20:01,900they gained a new confidence in God’s power44800:20:01,900 –> 00:20:04,099because by following Christ for three years,44900:20:04,099 –> 00:20:06,280they saw lives changed.45000:20:07,420 –> 00:20:09,000So this is the big transformation45100:20:09,000 –> 00:20:10,739that comes when we follow Jesus.45200:20:10,739 –> 00:20:13,520By nature, these guys kind of loners, you know,45300:20:13,520 –> 00:20:15,099they don’t like people,45400:20:15,099 –> 00:20:18,380they don’t know Christ and they don’t trust God45500:20:18,380 –> 00:20:21,140but following the Lord Jesus changes that.45600:20:21,140 –> 00:20:22,579They gain a new interest in people45700:20:22,579 –> 00:20:24,780and new confidence in Christ45800:20:24,780 –> 00:20:29,339and a new faith in God’s power to change lives.45900:20:29,339 –> 00:20:31,140Now that is what we need.46000:20:32,079 –> 00:20:33,400That is what we need46100:20:33,400 –> 00:20:36,500and that is what Christ will give to us46200:20:36,500 –> 00:20:38,339as we follow after Him.46300:20:38,339 –> 00:20:41,579Follow me and you will become fishers of man,46400:20:41,579 –> 00:20:45,180I’ll make you fishers of men.46500:20:46,119 –> 00:20:46,959This is promise.46600:20:47,900 –> 00:20:49,880One story and then we’re through.46700:20:52,260 –> 00:20:54,260The story is told of a student46800:20:54,260 –> 00:20:58,000who came on one occasion to C.H. Spurgeon46900:20:58,000 –> 00:20:59,339and the student was worried47000:20:59,339 –> 00:21:01,800that people were not responding in repentance47100:21:01,800 –> 00:21:02,839and faith and so forth,47200:21:02,839 –> 00:21:05,339being converted when he preached.47300:21:05,339 –> 00:21:06,180And he said, you know,47400:21:06,180 –> 00:21:08,300I’m preaching the gospel, Mr. Spurgen,47500:21:08,300 –> 00:21:11,540he said, and people aren’t getting saved.47600:21:12,760 –> 00:21:14,780And so Spurgen said to the student,47700:21:14,819 –> 00:21:18,300he said, now, you don’t expect someone47800:21:18,300 –> 00:21:21,780to be saved every time you speak the gospel, do you?47900:21:22,979 –> 00:21:24,619And the student said, oh no, Mr. Spurgeon,48000:21:24,619 –> 00:21:26,180I don’t expect that.48100:21:26,180 –> 00:21:28,819And Spurgen said to him, there’s your problem.48200:21:31,099 –> 00:21:32,180There is your problem.48300:21:34,900 –> 00:21:36,219Let me ask you this question.48400:21:36,219 –> 00:21:40,180Is there a lively expectation in your heart48500:21:42,160 –> 00:21:44,079that as we cast out48600:21:44,140 –> 00:21:47,420the gospel net over these next years,48700:21:48,439 –> 00:21:52,199many people will come to Christ?48800:21:54,040 –> 00:21:54,880You believe that?48900:21:55,859 –> 00:21:59,459I’m asking you if you believe this promise of Jesus.49000:22:01,300 –> 00:22:04,739I’m inviting you to put your trust49100:22:04,739 –> 00:22:07,939in this promise of Jesus, and for you to believe it,49200:22:07,939 –> 00:22:09,800and for us to believe it.49300:22:11,579 –> 00:22:13,140You think this promise is for us,49400:22:13,199 –> 00:22:14,760or do you think it’s for others?49500:22:15,880 –> 00:22:17,060It’s for us.49600:22:18,540 –> 00:22:19,479Follow me.49700:22:21,260 –> 00:22:25,619Christ says, and I will make you49800:22:26,699 –> 00:22:29,500fishers of men.49900:22:31,839 –> 00:22:35,260And if you believe that promise today,50000:22:36,300 –> 00:22:38,979there will be an excitement in your heart50100:22:38,979 –> 00:22:41,739about all the prospects of ministry50200:22:41,959 –> 00:22:44,699as we cast out the Gospel net50300:22:45,599 –> 00:22:48,040in these months and years that lie ahead.50400:22:48,040 –> 00:22:49,479You’ve been listening to Open the Bible50500:22:49,479 –> 00:22:52,339with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called50600:22:52,339 –> 00:22:54,739Jesus Will Use Us To Win Others.50700:22:54,739 –> 00:22:56,140It’s part of our series,50800:22:56,140 –> 00:23:00,260Rock Solid, seven promises Christ makes to you.50900:23:00,260 –> 00:23:02,640And if you ever miss one of the messages in the series51000:23:02,640 –> 00:23:05,380or indeed any of the earlier series,51100:23:05,380 –> 00:23:08,459you can easily catch up or go back and listen again51200:23:08,459 –> 00:23:10,160online at our website,51300:23:10,680 –> 00:23:12,619openthebible.org.uk51400:23:12,619 –> 00:23:15,359or by going to your favourite podcast site,51500:23:15,359 –> 00:23:18,819search for Open the Bible UK.51600:23:18,819 –> 00:23:21,739Open the Bible is able to remain on your radio51700:23:21,739 –> 00:23:23,040and on the internet51800:23:23,040 –> 00:23:26,579because we are supported financially by our listeners.51900:23:26,579 –> 00:23:29,060So if you already give to support the work,52000:23:29,060 –> 00:23:32,079thank you so much and may God bless you.52100:23:32,079 –> 00:23:34,719If you’ve considered supporting us in that way,52200:23:34,719 –> 00:23:35,540all this month,52300:23:35,540 –> 00:23:39,239we’d like to encourage you by offering something in return.52400:23:39,239 –> 00:23:42,119By setting up a new direct debit to Open the Bible52500:23:42,119 –> 00:23:44,699of £5 per month or more,52600:23:44,699 –> 00:23:48,300or a new one off gift of £50 or more,52700:23:48,300 –> 00:23:50,359in return we’ll send you two copies52800:23:50,359 –> 00:23:53,260of Pastor Colin’s book Christmas Stories,52900:23:53,260 –> 00:23:56,219along with five exclusive Christmas Cards53000:23:56,219 –> 00:23:59,040featuring the illustrations from the book.53100:23:59,040 –> 00:24:01,719Here’s Colin to talk about one of the characters53200:24:01,719 –> 00:24:04,280in Christmas Stories, King David.53300:24:04,280 –> 00:24:06,979One of my favourite characters in all of the Bible.53400:24:07,000 –> 00:24:09,300I think of David as a great achiever.53500:24:09,300 –> 00:24:11,819Think of what he accomplished in his life,53600:24:11,819 –> 00:24:14,400recognised as Israel’s greatest king,53700:24:14,400 –> 00:24:17,180all that he did and yet,53800:24:17,180 –> 00:24:19,520the greatest thing about him is,53900:24:19,520 –> 00:24:21,060not his accomplishments,54000:24:21,060 –> 00:24:23,180but his relationship to Jesus Christ.54100:24:23,180 –> 00:24:25,359Of course Christ is descended from David,54200:24:25,359 –> 00:24:27,939but the Bible makes this great emphasis54300:24:27,939 –> 00:24:31,160that there’s a relationship between David and Christ.54400:24:31,160 –> 00:24:32,699Thank God that by faith,54500:24:32,699 –> 00:24:34,300there can be a relationship between54600:24:34,300 –> 00:24:35,859Jesus Christ and us too.54700:24:35,859 –> 00:24:37,699So, that’s our free gift to you54800:24:37,699 –> 00:24:39,859of two copies of Christmas stories,54900:24:39,859 –> 00:24:42,099along with five Christmas cards55000:24:42,099 –> 00:24:43,900if you’re able to begin to support55100:24:43,900 –> 00:24:46,900Open the Bible financially this month.55200:24:46,900 –> 00:24:49,459Full terms and conditions are on our website,55300:24:49,459 –> 00:24:52,660openthebible.org.uk55400:24:52,660 –> 00:24:55,859and you can give online on the website.55500:24:55,859 –> 00:24:57,020Don’t forget though,55600:24:57,020 –> 00:24:59,560to include your full name and address.55700:24:59,560 –> 00:25:01,119Don’t give anonymously55800:25:01,119 –> 00:25:04,219so that we can send you your free gift.55900:25:04,420 –> 00:25:07,319For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,56000:25:07,319 –> 00:25:08,479I’m David Pick56100:25:08,479 –> 00:25:10,719and I hope you’ll join us again next time.56200:25:17,780 –> 00:25:20,819What Jesus will say about us, on the last day,56300:25:20,819 –> 00:25:25,920is closely tied to what we say about Him here and now.56400:25:25,920 –> 00:25:29,420Find out how, next time on Open the Bible.