1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:01,620 Would you open your Bible, please, 2 00:00:01,620 –> 00:00:05,720 at Matthew 4 and verse 19. 3 00:00:05,720 –> 00:00:09,680 Matthew 4 and verse 19, we’re continuing to look 4 00:00:09,680 –> 00:00:13,520 at some of the great promises of the Lord Jesus Christ 5 00:00:13,520 –> 00:00:16,379 in which he specifically states something 6 00:00:16,379 –> 00:00:19,639 that he will do. 7 00:00:19,639 –> 00:00:23,760 And today, Matthew 4 and verse 19, 8 00:00:23,760 –> 00:00:26,600 familiar words I think to many of us, 9 00:00:26,639 –> 00:00:31,639 Jesus says, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 10 00:00:37,119 –> 00:00:42,119 Christ promises evangelistic fruitfulness to his church. 11 00:00:43,840 –> 00:00:45,680 That’s what we have here. 12 00:00:45,680 –> 00:00:49,340 Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 13 00:00:49,340 –> 00:00:53,119 He is saying if we follow him, 14 00:00:53,119 –> 00:00:57,799 our ministry will result in other people coming to him. 15 00:00:59,240 –> 00:01:03,840 Now, that therefore is a marvelous promise for us, 16 00:01:03,840 –> 00:01:08,080 especially at this moment in our ministry, 17 00:01:08,080 –> 00:01:10,959 as we are talking, praying, working and advancing 18 00:01:10,959 –> 00:01:15,360 towards launching ministry in new ways. 19 00:01:15,360 –> 00:01:18,559 We want to see many people come 20 00:01:18,559 –> 00:01:21,919 to living faith in Jesus Christ. 21 00:01:21,919 –> 00:01:24,919 We want to see that happen here in the Northwest suburbs, 22 00:01:24,919 –> 00:01:26,360 and we want to see it 23 00:01:26,360 –> 00:01:29,500 wherever we are engaged in ministry around the world. 24 00:01:29,500 –> 00:01:32,000 That is the driving passion of our hearts 25 00:01:32,000 –> 00:01:34,120 that is at the center of the church, 26 00:01:34,120 –> 00:01:38,419 and this promise of Jesus speaks right into it. 27 00:01:38,419 –> 00:01:43,419 He promises the evangelistic fruitfulness of his church. 28 00:01:43,760 –> 00:01:46,199 If you follow me, here is what will happen, 29 00:01:46,199 –> 00:01:51,180 he says, I will make you fishers of men, 30 00:01:52,080 –> 00:01:53,599 of men. 31 00:01:53,599 –> 00:01:55,620 So there is so much for us to learn 32 00:01:55,620 –> 00:01:58,120 from this familiar promise of Jesus today. 33 00:01:58,120 –> 00:02:00,279 I want to attempt four things, 34 00:02:00,279 –> 00:02:04,440 first, for us to learn from the analogy that Jesus uses. 35 00:02:04,440 –> 00:02:06,400 He’s using a picture to help us understand 36 00:02:06,400 –> 00:02:07,599 what ministry is like. 37 00:02:07,599 –> 00:02:08,940 He says it’s like fishing, 38 00:02:08,940 –> 00:02:11,460 so we’ll think a little about that analogy. 39 00:02:11,460 –> 00:02:14,139 Secondly, I want us to use these words of Jesus 40 00:02:14,139 –> 00:02:17,000 to clarify our mission. 41 00:02:17,000 –> 00:02:20,199 Very important to be clear about what Christ calls us to do 42 00:02:20,199 –> 00:02:24,080 and he states it here, fishers of men. 43 00:02:24,080 –> 00:02:26,740 Third, I want to invite you to believe 44 00:02:26,740 –> 00:02:28,360 the promise of Jesus Christ. 45 00:02:28,360 –> 00:02:30,679 This is the great question before us today 46 00:02:30,679 –> 00:02:32,619 as we are clear about our mission. 47 00:02:32,619 –> 00:02:35,240 Do we believe this promise of Jesus Christ 48 00:02:35,240 –> 00:02:37,160 and do we think it is for us? 49 00:02:38,000 –> 00:02:43,000 I will make you fishers of men. 50 00:02:44,080 –> 00:02:47,000 And then of course, we’ll be invited 51 00:02:47,000 –> 00:02:48,880 to respond to Christ’s invitation. 52 00:02:48,960 –> 00:02:51,479 He says, follow me, follow me. 53 00:02:51,479 –> 00:02:53,800 And we’re going to see how following Christ 54 00:02:53,800 –> 00:02:57,279 actually will change us in such ways 55 00:02:57,279 –> 00:02:59,100 that we will become more effective 56 00:02:59,100 –> 00:03:01,000 in the thing that he calls us to do 57 00:03:01,000 –> 00:03:03,360 that is fishing for men. 58 00:03:03,360 –> 00:03:05,839 So these four things today. 59 00:03:05,839 –> 00:03:07,240 Let’s begin then with learning from 60 00:03:07,240 –> 00:03:10,419 the analogy Jesus describes ministry 61 00:03:10,419 –> 00:03:12,839 in terms of this picture of fishing. 62 00:03:12,839 –> 00:03:16,520 That just is so full of resonances 63 00:03:16,520 –> 00:03:18,139 for us, ways in which we can learn 64 00:03:18,279 –> 00:03:19,360 about ministry. 65 00:03:19,360 –> 00:03:21,539 I just want to give you seven observations 66 00:03:21,539 –> 00:03:23,699 that occur to me, that are very obvious. 67 00:03:23,699 –> 00:03:25,220 I’m sure in the live groups you will 68 00:03:25,220 –> 00:03:27,020 be able to think of a boat load, 69 00:03:27,020 –> 00:03:30,539 pardon the pun, of other analogies 70 00:03:30,539 –> 00:03:31,740 in relation to this, 71 00:03:31,740 –> 00:03:34,059 and many of us will be telling fishing 72 00:03:34,059 –> 00:03:36,580 stories this week, I’m sure. 73 00:03:36,580 –> 00:03:38,259 Okay, what do we learn from this analogy? 74 00:03:38,259 –> 00:03:39,979 Number one, some people are really good 75 00:03:39,979 –> 00:03:42,399 at fishing, but anyone can do it. 76 00:03:42,399 –> 00:03:43,960 How many folks here would describe 77 00:03:43,960 –> 00:03:45,759 themselves as fisherman? 78 00:03:45,759 –> 00:03:46,699 How many? 79 00:03:46,699 –> 00:03:47,860 A few. 80 00:03:47,880 –> 00:03:49,460 A few. 81 00:03:49,460 –> 00:03:51,039 A few here. 82 00:03:51,039 –> 00:03:52,899 Different question. 83 00:03:52,899 –> 00:03:54,800 How many of us in this congregation 84 00:03:54,800 –> 00:03:56,899 have ever caught a fish? 85 00:03:57,699 –> 00:03:59,020 Almost everybody. 86 00:03:59,020 –> 00:04:01,199 Now, isn’t that interesting? 87 00:04:01,199 –> 00:04:03,759 I would not describe myself as a fisherman. 88 00:04:03,759 –> 00:04:06,559 I have absolutely no expertise in this regard, 89 00:04:06,559 –> 00:04:10,220 but even I have caught a fish. 90 00:04:10,220 –> 00:04:11,320 Now, here’s what we learned. 91 00:04:11,320 –> 00:04:15,220 God gives certain people gifts of evangelism, 92 00:04:15,220 –> 00:04:18,399 but every Christian can play a part 93 00:04:18,399 –> 00:04:22,000 in drawing other people to Christ, including you. 94 00:04:22,000 –> 00:04:23,540 Second observation. 95 00:04:23,540 –> 00:04:25,480 Fishing requires great patience. 96 00:04:25,480 –> 00:04:28,000 That takes the prize for the most obvious statement 97 00:04:28,000 –> 00:04:29,320 of the day, doesn’t it? 98 00:04:29,320 –> 00:04:30,480 It requires great patience. 99 00:04:30,480 –> 00:04:31,320 You throw out a line. 100 00:04:31,320 –> 00:04:32,959 You throw out a net or whatever it is. 101 00:04:32,959 –> 00:04:34,440 And then you wait. 102 00:04:34,440 –> 00:04:37,339 You throw it out again and then you wait. 103 00:04:37,339 –> 00:04:40,700 Fishing requires great patience. 104 00:04:40,700 –> 00:04:44,480 Some of us have been praying for a loved one 105 00:04:44,519 –> 00:04:49,260 and witnessing to a loved one for many years, many years. 106 00:04:49,260 –> 00:04:52,320 Fishing requires great patience. 107 00:04:52,320 –> 00:04:53,640 Third observation. 108 00:04:53,640 –> 00:04:57,540 Fishermen learn how to deal with discouragement. 109 00:04:57,540 –> 00:04:58,980 Remember when Jesus met with the disciples, 110 00:04:58,980 –> 00:05:01,559 they had worked all night and they had caught nothing. 111 00:05:01,559 –> 00:05:05,359 And Jesus himself knew what it was to bear witness 112 00:05:05,359 –> 00:05:08,519 to himself, to eternal life and to the matters of faith. 113 00:05:08,519 –> 00:05:09,739 We saw this last week. 114 00:05:09,739 –> 00:05:12,320 And then to say in John six in verse 36, 115 00:05:12,320 –> 00:05:15,480 you’ve seen me but still you do not believe. 116 00:05:15,480 –> 00:05:17,600 And so fishermen have to learn that where you go out 117 00:05:17,600 –> 00:05:18,859 and you’ve worked very hard 118 00:05:18,859 –> 00:05:20,260 and you’ve caught nothing, what do you do? 119 00:05:20,260 –> 00:05:22,279 You get up early the next day and go out again 120 00:05:22,279 –> 00:05:24,820 and you carry on and you do the same thing. 121 00:05:24,820 –> 00:05:28,600 Fourth, Christ invites us to come fishing 122 00:05:28,600 –> 00:05:30,640 not to go hunting. 123 00:05:30,640 –> 00:05:33,260 Now there’s a big difference. 124 00:05:33,260 –> 00:05:35,779 And the analogy that Christ chooses 125 00:05:35,779 –> 00:05:37,980 I think is significant. 126 00:05:37,980 –> 00:05:38,959 I mentioned this, you know, 127 00:05:38,959 –> 00:05:40,899 because there are some Christians 128 00:05:40,899 –> 00:05:43,040 with very strong personalities 129 00:05:43,040 –> 00:05:45,959 and when they get going they sound more like hunters 130 00:05:45,959 –> 00:05:47,299 than they do like fishermen, 131 00:05:47,299 –> 00:05:49,399 you know what I mean by that? 132 00:05:49,399 –> 00:05:51,500 Remember there is an art to fishing, 133 00:05:51,500 –> 00:05:53,200 fish are drawn. 134 00:05:53,200 –> 00:05:55,399 Peter gives wise counsel to Christians 135 00:05:55,399 –> 00:05:57,200 who want to win others to Christ. 136 00:05:57,200 –> 00:06:01,279 He says we are always to speak with gentleness 137 00:06:01,279 –> 00:06:03,459 and with respect. 138 00:06:03,459 –> 00:06:05,119 So let’s remember this 139 00:06:05,119 –> 00:06:08,079 in our approach to those who are not yet believers 140 00:06:08,079 –> 00:06:09,359 in the Lord Jesus Christ 141 00:06:09,399 –> 00:06:11,440 that our Lord invites us to come fishing, 142 00:06:11,440 –> 00:06:13,320 it is fishing, it’s not hunting. 143 00:06:13,320 –> 00:06:14,619 Big difference. 144 00:06:14,619 –> 00:06:16,079 Number five. 145 00:06:16,079 –> 00:06:19,500 The church is a fishing boat, 146 00:06:19,500 –> 00:06:22,040 not a pleasure boat. 147 00:06:22,040 –> 00:06:24,739 Now, my wife grew up, as some of you know, 148 00:06:24,739 –> 00:06:26,799 on the south coast of England. 149 00:06:26,799 –> 00:06:29,100 Beautiful part of the world 150 00:06:29,100 –> 00:06:30,299 and she loves the sea 151 00:06:30,299 –> 00:06:32,200 and so when we go back and see her folks 152 00:06:32,200 –> 00:06:33,920 we have a delightful place to visit 153 00:06:33,920 –> 00:06:36,660 and we often spend time hanging around 154 00:06:36,660 –> 00:06:39,040 in the area of the harbor. 155 00:06:39,100 –> 00:06:40,760 And down there, as you would see 156 00:06:40,760 –> 00:06:43,959 in most other harbors and small towns 157 00:06:43,959 –> 00:06:46,019 in England or elsewhere, 158 00:06:46,019 –> 00:06:47,880 you can very immediately see 159 00:06:47,880 –> 00:06:51,559 two completely different kinds of boats. 160 00:06:51,559 –> 00:06:55,399 You have the boats that are there for pleasure, 161 00:06:55,399 –> 00:06:58,040 they take pleasure trips round the bay 162 00:06:58,040 –> 00:06:59,859 and there are other boats that are there 163 00:06:59,859 –> 00:07:03,140 for the guys who make their living by fishing. 164 00:07:03,140 –> 00:07:06,440 Now the boats are constructed in an entirely different way 165 00:07:06,540 –> 00:07:09,579 because they operate in an entirely different way. 166 00:07:09,579 –> 00:07:13,160 The pleasure boats are all about convenience and comfort. 167 00:07:13,160 –> 00:07:15,640 They have cushions all over, you know, 168 00:07:15,640 –> 00:07:19,459 and they go out at times that people want to go 169 00:07:19,459 –> 00:07:21,440 and they hug the shoreline 170 00:07:21,440 –> 00:07:25,359 so that people can enjoy the magnificent view. 171 00:07:25,359 –> 00:07:30,179 They are very safe, that’s the pleasure boats. 172 00:07:30,179 –> 00:07:32,059 The fishing boats are entirely different. 173 00:07:32,059 –> 00:07:33,679 They launch out into the deep. 174 00:07:33,679 –> 00:07:35,239 The crews take risks, 175 00:07:35,239 –> 00:07:36,720 they make sacrifices, 176 00:07:36,720 –> 00:07:37,839 and you look at these boats, 177 00:07:37,839 –> 00:07:40,679 frankly, there is very little comfort. 178 00:07:41,679 –> 00:07:44,980 Now it is easier and it is always more comfortable 179 00:07:44,980 –> 00:07:47,600 for a local church to have a ministry 180 00:07:47,600 –> 00:07:50,160 that is about ourselves. 181 00:07:50,160 –> 00:07:51,480 But let us remember today 182 00:07:51,480 –> 00:07:53,679 that Jesus Christ does not say, 183 00:07:53,679 –> 00:07:58,000 “‘Follow me and I will take you on a delightful cruise.’” 184 00:07:58,000 –> 00:08:03,000 He says, “‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’” 185 00:08:03,500 –> 00:08:05,980 So there’s a moment for an Amen coming up. 186 00:08:05,980 –> 00:08:07,760 I’m just giving you that as a cue. 187 00:08:07,760 –> 00:08:11,200 This church is not a pleasure boat. 188 00:08:11,200 –> 00:08:14,160 This church is a fishing boat. 189 00:08:14,160 –> 00:08:15,799 Amen. 190 00:08:15,799 –> 00:08:17,420 That’s very important. 191 00:08:17,420 –> 00:08:18,500 It’s defining. 192 00:08:18,500 –> 00:08:22,420 And it ought to set expectations for us as well. 193 00:08:22,420 –> 00:08:24,000 Sixth observation, 194 00:08:24,000 –> 00:08:26,440 fishing is hard work and sometimes dangerous. 195 00:08:26,440 –> 00:08:28,119 Have you watched that program? 196 00:08:28,119 –> 00:08:29,920 Deadliest Catch? 197 00:08:29,920 –> 00:08:31,339 Man, that thing is addictive. 198 00:08:31,339 –> 00:08:32,880 Once you’ve seen one episode, 199 00:08:32,880 –> 00:08:35,719 these guys out on the Bering Sea 200 00:08:35,719 –> 00:08:38,840 in the freezing cold catching crab, 201 00:08:38,840 –> 00:08:42,200 it is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. 202 00:08:42,200 –> 00:08:44,400 And if you read the Acts of the Apostles, 203 00:08:44,400 –> 00:08:47,419 you will see that the work of pioneer evangelism 204 00:08:47,419 –> 00:08:49,320 is right out there in the same category, 205 00:08:49,320 –> 00:08:52,200 one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. 206 00:08:52,200 –> 00:08:54,239 But the best fishing, isn’t this interesting? 207 00:08:54,239 –> 00:08:57,080 The best fishing is often in the most difficult waters 208 00:08:57,080 –> 00:08:58,700 that bears thinking about. 209 00:08:58,700 –> 00:09:00,260 Seventh observation, 210 00:09:00,260 –> 00:09:03,080 there is great joy in catching fish. 211 00:09:03,080 –> 00:09:04,479 Now, the great majority of us here 212 00:09:04,479 –> 00:09:06,520 know what it is to catch at least one fish, 213 00:09:06,520 –> 00:09:08,679 we’ve had, it’s happened in our lives, 214 00:09:08,679 –> 00:09:09,820 you know this. 215 00:09:09,820 –> 00:09:14,739 Isn’t it interesting when a guy or a lady catches a fish, 216 00:09:14,739 –> 00:09:16,520 they always want to have their photograph 217 00:09:16,520 –> 00:09:18,780 taken with the thing, isn’t that interesting? 218 00:09:18,780 –> 00:09:22,739 And did you ever see a person who’s caught a fish, 219 00:09:22,739 –> 00:09:24,159 you know, holding the thing, 220 00:09:24,159 –> 00:09:26,640 did you ever see them looking miserable in the photograph? 221 00:09:26,640 –> 00:09:28,479 They’re always smiling, why? 222 00:09:28,479 –> 00:09:31,919 Because there is great joy in catching a fish, 223 00:09:31,919 –> 00:09:35,440 and there is far greater joy in seeing a person 224 00:09:35,440 –> 00:09:38,440 come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 225 00:09:38,440 –> 00:09:39,479 Joy for us, 226 00:09:39,479 –> 00:09:42,799 and there is, Jesus says, joy in heaven, 227 00:09:42,799 –> 00:09:45,640 so this is a profoundly helpful picture. 228 00:09:45,640 –> 00:09:47,880 It helps us to frame our understanding 229 00:09:47,880 –> 00:09:49,099 of what ministry is like, 230 00:09:49,099 –> 00:09:50,900 and what we should expect it to be. 231 00:09:50,900 –> 00:09:53,320 Ministry is like fishing. 232 00:09:53,320 –> 00:09:55,159 And just before we move on, 233 00:09:55,159 –> 00:09:57,359 let me just point out one obvious difference, 234 00:09:57,419 –> 00:09:58,919 I’m sure there are others too. 235 00:09:58,919 –> 00:10:02,520 When fish are caught, one of two things happen. 236 00:10:02,520 –> 00:10:05,039 It’s either catch and release, 237 00:10:05,039 –> 00:10:08,280 or it’s, well, it’s kill and eat, isn’t it? 238 00:10:08,280 –> 00:10:10,080 I suppose that’s the alternative, 239 00:10:10,080 –> 00:10:11,719 and neither of these two things 240 00:10:11,719 –> 00:10:14,179 relate to our work of evangelism. 241 00:10:14,179 –> 00:10:19,119 When we fish for men, what are we doing? 242 00:10:19,119 –> 00:10:22,239 We are fishing so that they may be saved, 243 00:10:22,239 –> 00:10:25,200 and so that they may be fed, 244 00:10:25,200 –> 00:10:26,859 so that they may be fed. 245 00:10:27,659 –> 00:10:31,039 Secondly, as we’ve got our minds into this analogy, 246 00:10:31,039 –> 00:10:34,020 let’s now use the words of Jesus 247 00:10:34,020 –> 00:10:38,179 to help clarify our mission. 248 00:10:38,179 –> 00:10:39,859 Jesus says that our mission 249 00:10:39,859 –> 00:10:42,900 is about being fishers of men. 250 00:10:42,900 –> 00:10:47,260 Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 251 00:10:47,260 –> 00:10:50,099 So the question here is, now what is our mission 252 00:10:50,099 –> 00:10:53,739 and how then are we to fulfill it? 253 00:10:53,760 –> 00:10:57,020 Here I want to make just three observations. 254 00:10:57,020 –> 00:10:58,219 The first is this, 255 00:10:59,599 –> 00:11:01,460 our mission according to Jesus 256 00:11:01,460 –> 00:11:06,460 is to catch fish, not to improve the lake. 257 00:11:07,979 –> 00:11:09,820 And you might want to think about that. 258 00:11:09,820 –> 00:11:12,559 But what I’m trying to say is simply this, 259 00:11:12,559 –> 00:11:17,340 that our mission is about people coming to Jesus Christ, 260 00:11:17,340 –> 00:11:19,159 that’s its focus. 261 00:11:19,159 –> 00:11:22,500 It is not so much on the environment 262 00:11:22,859 –> 00:11:24,960 in which people live. 263 00:11:24,960 –> 00:11:26,419 Now this is a very important issue 264 00:11:26,419 –> 00:11:27,900 and I want to take a few minutes 265 00:11:27,900 –> 00:11:31,919 to explain why understanding it clearly is critical to us. 266 00:11:31,919 –> 00:11:34,719 Obviously, any fishermen who’s clear in his mind 267 00:11:34,719 –> 00:11:38,719 will have an interest in having cleaner and better lakes. 268 00:11:38,719 –> 00:11:40,440 But improving the quality of the lake 269 00:11:40,440 –> 00:11:41,679 is not the job of the fisherman, 270 00:11:41,679 –> 00:11:44,200 the job of the fisherman is to catch the fish 271 00:11:44,200 –> 00:11:48,619 and that is critical for our understanding of mission. 272 00:11:48,619 –> 00:11:50,799 Now let me give you a little bit of a background here 273 00:11:50,820 –> 00:11:53,820 and I have a very specific reason for doing this today. 274 00:11:54,700 –> 00:11:59,340 Evangelical Christians have for centuries 275 00:11:59,340 –> 00:12:02,159 had a clear understanding of the message 276 00:12:02,159 –> 00:12:05,219 and the mission of the gospel. 277 00:12:05,219 –> 00:12:10,219 The message is the incarnation and the atonement. 278 00:12:10,380 –> 00:12:13,099 God became man in Jesus Christ, 279 00:12:13,099 –> 00:12:15,859 Christ died on the cross bearing our sins. 280 00:12:15,859 –> 00:12:19,460 He rose triumphantly from the dead breaking the power 281 00:12:19,500 –> 00:12:22,280 of death through his resurrection. 282 00:12:22,280 –> 00:12:24,659 And this Christ offers forgiveness of sins 283 00:12:24,659 –> 00:12:26,619 and peace with God and new life, 284 00:12:26,619 –> 00:12:28,340 in the power of the Holy Spirit, 285 00:12:28,340 –> 00:12:30,820 and beyond death and entrance not into hell 286 00:12:30,820 –> 00:12:33,260 that we deserve, but into everlasting joy 287 00:12:33,260 –> 00:12:35,419 in the presence of God, that’s the message. 288 00:12:36,599 –> 00:12:39,500 The mission is to proclaim this gospel 289 00:12:40,460 –> 00:12:43,219 to people of every nation, of every culture taking 290 00:12:43,219 –> 00:12:46,419 every opportunity, inviting them to receive 291 00:12:46,419 –> 00:12:49,179 what Jesus Christ offers, so that coming 292 00:12:49,179 –> 00:12:50,940 to Him in repentance and faith, 293 00:12:50,940 –> 00:12:53,059 trusting Him as Savior, and following 294 00:12:53,059 –> 00:12:56,200 Him as Lord, everything that He holds 295 00:12:56,200 –> 00:12:58,880 in His hand may come to be the possession 296 00:12:58,880 –> 00:13:00,679 of the one who comes to Him. 297 00:13:01,820 –> 00:13:04,299 Now that’s the message, that’s the mission 298 00:13:04,299 –> 00:13:07,780 as has been understood by evangelicals for centuries. 299 00:13:09,880 –> 00:13:13,159 But you know, that there is an offense 300 00:13:13,359 –> 00:13:14,960 within this message. 301 00:13:14,960 –> 00:13:17,840 It involves the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, 302 00:13:17,840 –> 00:13:20,359 saying that he can do what no one else can do, 303 00:13:20,359 –> 00:13:22,119 that you have to come to Him. 304 00:13:22,119 –> 00:13:25,039 It involves speaking about sin and guilt 305 00:13:25,039 –> 00:13:27,820 before God, which in an affirming culture, 306 00:13:27,820 –> 00:13:29,599 where everyone likes to be told how good 307 00:13:29,599 –> 00:13:31,260 they are all the time, that obviously 308 00:13:31,260 –> 00:13:33,119 is going in the opposite direction. 309 00:13:33,119 –> 00:13:35,119 It involves speaking even about hell 310 00:13:35,119 –> 00:13:36,719 and who likes that? 311 00:13:37,859 –> 00:13:40,840 So none of us should be surprised 312 00:13:41,840 –> 00:13:44,780 through the years, alternatives come up 313 00:13:44,780 –> 00:13:47,500 and sometimes seize the imagination 314 00:13:47,500 –> 00:13:49,280 of parts of the church. 315 00:13:50,599 –> 00:13:54,559 About 100 years ago, a new movement 316 00:13:54,559 –> 00:13:58,239 arose in the church that was known as liberalism. 317 00:13:59,080 –> 00:14:01,799 Liberalism did not accept the inspiration 318 00:14:01,799 –> 00:14:03,919 and authority of the Bible, 319 00:14:03,919 –> 00:14:08,119 and so it selected certain truths from the Bible 320 00:14:08,159 –> 00:14:11,919 and discarded other truths from the Bible. 321 00:14:11,919 –> 00:14:14,520 In the first half of the last century, 322 00:14:14,520 –> 00:14:16,919 virtually every major city in Europe 323 00:14:16,919 –> 00:14:20,440 had a church that was filled with many people 324 00:14:20,440 –> 00:14:24,679 that was basically advancing the liberal message 325 00:14:24,679 –> 00:14:27,599 and the liberal mission. 326 00:14:27,599 –> 00:14:31,039 This had great appeal to many many people, 327 00:14:31,039 –> 00:14:33,239 but it had no power. 328 00:14:33,239 –> 00:14:35,719 And so within a very short period of time, 329 00:14:35,760 –> 00:14:37,619 what happened was that these once 330 00:14:37,619 –> 00:14:40,719 apparently thriving churches became empty 331 00:14:40,719 –> 00:14:43,520 and became dead, and you can visit the monuments 332 00:14:43,520 –> 00:14:47,200 that they are in many many cities still. 333 00:14:47,200 –> 00:14:49,679 Now liberalism had a different message 334 00:14:49,679 –> 00:14:51,460 that drove a different mission. 335 00:14:52,359 –> 00:14:54,080 The different message was this. 336 00:14:54,080 –> 00:14:55,960 The message of liberalism was not 337 00:14:55,960 –> 00:14:58,479 the incarnation and the atonement. 338 00:14:58,479 –> 00:15:02,919 It was the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men. 339 00:15:02,919 –> 00:15:07,919 The message was God loves you and we must love one another. 340 00:15:08,940 –> 00:15:10,500 Now folks, that’s true. 341 00:15:11,559 –> 00:15:13,520 But that is not the Gospel. 342 00:15:14,460 –> 00:15:17,500 You don’t need Jesus Christ to be born into the world 343 00:15:17,500 –> 00:15:18,880 or to suffer and die on the cross 344 00:15:18,880 –> 00:15:22,039 or to rise from the dead in order to proclaim that message. 345 00:15:22,039 –> 00:15:23,400 You don’t need repentance and faith. 346 00:15:23,400 –> 00:15:24,460 You don’t need conversion. 347 00:15:24,460 –> 00:15:27,340 There’s no hell to be saved from in that. 348 00:15:28,679 –> 00:15:30,479 But what happened, inevitably, 349 00:15:30,760 –> 00:15:34,619 was that the New Message led to a new mission. 350 00:15:35,760 –> 00:15:39,099 Liberalism changed the mission of the church 351 00:15:39,099 –> 00:15:44,099 from individual salvation to cultural transformation. 352 00:15:45,960 –> 00:15:49,380 That is a massive redefinition. 353 00:15:50,200 –> 00:15:52,219 In other words, liberalism said no, 354 00:15:52,219 –> 00:15:54,880 it’s no longer about trying to address 355 00:15:54,880 –> 00:15:57,919 particularly the fish, it’s no longer being fishers of men. 356 00:15:57,940 –> 00:16:00,320 It’s about improving the quality of life 357 00:16:00,320 –> 00:16:02,599 in the environment in which the fish live. 358 00:16:02,599 –> 00:16:05,599 It’s about improving the quality of the lake, as it were. 359 00:16:08,140 –> 00:16:10,280 They began to speak like this. 360 00:16:11,219 –> 00:16:13,440 Instead of saying, our ministry is to lead people 361 00:16:13,440 –> 00:16:16,099 to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ through the gospel, 362 00:16:16,099 –> 00:16:18,679 they said, our ministry is to change society. 363 00:16:19,900 –> 00:16:22,979 Our ministry is to end poverty, so forth and so on. 364 00:16:24,299 –> 00:16:27,200 Now, there is nothing new under the sun. 365 00:16:27,200 –> 00:16:31,599 And today we are seeing a resurgence 366 00:16:31,599 –> 00:16:35,700 of some of these old liberal ideas. 367 00:16:35,700 –> 00:16:37,359 So, you begin to hear people talking 368 00:16:37,359 –> 00:16:39,679 about bringing the kingdom of God into the city 369 00:16:39,679 –> 00:16:40,880 and so forth and so on, 370 00:16:40,880 –> 00:16:43,320 and how the church will change the city, 371 00:16:43,320 –> 00:16:45,159 and how we can end poverty, 372 00:16:45,159 –> 00:16:48,599 and how that’s our calling, and so forth and so on. 373 00:16:50,239 –> 00:16:52,080 And many Christians become confused. 374 00:16:52,080 –> 00:16:54,200 They don’t know where this is coming from. 375 00:16:55,000 –> 00:16:59,500 This week I came across a statement by Dr. Jim Packer 376 00:16:59,500 –> 00:17:01,479 that made the issue very, very clear. 377 00:17:01,479 –> 00:17:02,820 So I want to read it to you, 378 00:17:02,820 –> 00:17:06,439 because Dr. Jim Packer, if you don’t know that name, 379 00:17:06,439 –> 00:17:09,719 is probably one of the most respected 380 00:17:09,719 –> 00:17:12,719 and articulate teachers and leaders 381 00:17:12,719 –> 00:17:14,239 within the evangelical movement 382 00:17:14,239 –> 00:17:17,199 and has been now for well over half a century. 383 00:17:17,199 –> 00:17:18,839 He’s in his 80s. 384 00:17:18,839 –> 00:17:22,280 An esteemed and Godly leader. 385 00:17:22,839 –> 00:17:24,160 Packer says this, 386 00:17:24,160 –> 00:17:27,920 Liberalism has habitually identified 387 00:17:27,920 –> 00:17:30,300 the spirit’s renewing work 388 00:17:30,300 –> 00:17:33,319 with some form of cultural transformation 389 00:17:33,319 –> 00:17:34,800 in human society, 390 00:17:35,619 –> 00:17:39,359 as opposed to the regenerative transformation 391 00:17:39,359 –> 00:17:41,959 of individuals brought to know Jesus Christ. 392 00:17:41,959 –> 00:17:43,959 So he says there’s been this massive shift. 393 00:17:43,959 –> 00:17:45,479 What liberalism does is it says 394 00:17:45,479 –> 00:17:48,160 the work of the spirit isn’t to change the individual. 395 00:17:48,160 –> 00:17:49,640 The work of the spirit is to change 396 00:17:49,640 –> 00:17:52,380 the environment in which the individual lives. 397 00:17:52,380 –> 00:17:54,219 And he says this identification 398 00:17:54,219 –> 00:17:58,959 has constantly obstructed the necessary assertion 399 00:17:58,959 –> 00:18:02,660 that God’s basic method of changing society 400 00:18:02,660 –> 00:18:07,239 is to change the individuals who compose it. 401 00:18:07,239 –> 00:18:08,660 That’s a crucial insight. 402 00:18:09,560 –> 00:18:12,180 And very clearly and wonderfully stated, 403 00:18:12,180 –> 00:18:13,380 Jesus says, 404 00:18:13,380 –> 00:18:16,800 I will make you fishers of men. 405 00:18:17,719 –> 00:18:22,199 And God’s method of changing society 406 00:18:22,199 –> 00:18:27,199 is by changing the individuals who compose it. 407 00:18:29,719 –> 00:18:31,219 So this is very important for us 408 00:18:31,219 –> 00:18:33,079 to have clarity about our mission 409 00:18:33,079 –> 00:18:35,939 so we do not become confused as to what it is. 410 00:18:37,219 –> 00:18:39,380 Our mission is to catch men, 411 00:18:40,839 –> 00:18:42,520 not to improve the lake. 412 00:18:43,219 –> 00:18:46,719 Understanding that then we will begin 413 00:18:46,719 –> 00:18:50,359 to see that keeping the net in good order 414 00:18:50,359 –> 00:18:52,619 is essential to our mission. 415 00:18:54,119 –> 00:18:55,479 I will make you fishers of men. 416 00:18:55,479 –> 00:18:57,699 It’s interesting in verse 21 when Jesus 417 00:18:57,699 –> 00:19:00,560 meets with James and John for the first time. 418 00:19:00,560 –> 00:19:02,119 What are they doing in verse 21? 419 00:19:02,119 –> 00:19:03,660 They are mending, or the NIV 420 00:19:03,660 –> 00:19:06,800 says they’re preparing their nets. 421 00:19:06,800 –> 00:19:09,339 And I guess these guys as they were fishermen 422 00:19:09,339 –> 00:19:11,760 with that technique they threw out a net 423 00:19:11,819 –> 00:19:14,140 into the water and then hauled it in again. 424 00:19:14,140 –> 00:19:16,079 A large part of their life was devoted 425 00:19:16,079 –> 00:19:19,400 to making sure that the net was in good shape. 426 00:19:19,400 –> 00:19:21,339 You throw out a net with lots of holes in it, 427 00:19:21,339 –> 00:19:23,280 obviously you’re not gonna be very successful 428 00:19:23,280 –> 00:19:25,619 in catching fish. 429 00:19:25,619 –> 00:19:28,520 So in trying to define our mission more clearly 430 00:19:28,520 –> 00:19:30,000 we’re saying it’s about catching men 431 00:19:30,000 –> 00:19:30,959 not improving the lake. 432 00:19:30,959 –> 00:19:33,640 And if we understand that then keeping the net 433 00:19:33,640 –> 00:19:37,880 in good repair is essential to our mission. 434 00:19:38,599 –> 00:19:42,140 This week I read a little book that I really enjoyed. 435 00:19:42,140 –> 00:19:44,359 It’s got such a quaint title because it was written 436 00:19:44,359 –> 00:19:49,040 in 1773, the fact it’s still in print shows its value. 437 00:19:49,040 –> 00:19:53,339 It’s called The Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston, 438 00:19:53,339 –> 00:19:55,680 that’s about as quaint as you can get. 439 00:19:55,680 –> 00:19:59,380 Boston wrote these thoughts when he was 22 years of age 440 00:19:59,380 –> 00:20:02,160 and he read in his quiet time Matthew chapter four 441 00:20:02,160 –> 00:20:04,479 and verse 19, that’s before us today, 442 00:20:04,479 –> 00:20:07,079 and God’s Spirit so burned a passion into his heart 443 00:20:07,079 –> 00:20:11,859 he said, God I want to be able to do what you say. 444 00:20:11,859 –> 00:20:15,280 So what will it take for me to become a fisher of men? 445 00:20:15,280 –> 00:20:16,819 And he wrote down his meditations. 446 00:20:16,819 –> 00:20:20,359 The main thing he focuses on is the net. 447 00:20:21,260 –> 00:20:24,439 If we’re going to catch fish we gotta have the right net. 448 00:20:24,439 –> 00:20:26,719 And he talks about the net of the gospel, 449 00:20:26,719 –> 00:20:28,199 the gospel net. 450 00:20:28,199 –> 00:20:30,880 I find that very, very helpful. 451 00:20:30,880 –> 00:20:33,359 And here are three observations that he makes. 452 00:20:33,380 –> 00:20:38,380 He says the net is woven from the promises of the gospel. 453 00:20:40,280 –> 00:20:42,300 In other words if we want to see men and women 454 00:20:42,300 –> 00:20:45,000 drawn to Jesus Christ 455 00:20:45,000 –> 00:20:49,839 we have to be good at spreading the net. 456 00:20:49,839 –> 00:20:52,800 In other words opening up the promises of Jesus Christ, 457 00:20:52,800 –> 00:20:53,800 let me put that another way. 458 00:20:53,800 –> 00:20:56,199 You want to draw people to Jesus Christ 459 00:20:56,199 –> 00:20:59,839 tell them what Jesus promises to do. 460 00:20:59,839 –> 00:21:02,000 Tell them what he’s done for you. 461 00:21:02,079 –> 00:21:04,839 Tell them what he can do for them. 462 00:21:04,839 –> 00:21:08,079 The draw of the gospel is in the promises of Jesus. 463 00:21:08,079 –> 00:21:10,920 Tell what we looked at last week. 464 00:21:10,920 –> 00:21:13,020 If anyone comes to Jesus Christ 465 00:21:13,020 –> 00:21:15,099 he says I will never drive them away. 466 00:21:15,099 –> 00:21:17,640 Spread out the promises of the gospel, 467 00:21:17,640 –> 00:21:20,239 that’s essential to our communication 468 00:21:21,579 –> 00:21:24,160 with those who do not yet believe. 469 00:21:25,119 –> 00:21:27,680 Then Boston says second observation. 470 00:21:27,680 –> 00:21:30,339 If you want to catch fish 471 00:21:30,339 –> 00:21:33,319 you must make sure that the mesh of your net 472 00:21:33,319 –> 00:21:36,099 is not too wide. 473 00:21:36,099 –> 00:21:38,359 That’s an interesting observation. 474 00:21:38,359 –> 00:21:41,540 If the mesh is wide the fish will swim into it 475 00:21:41,540 –> 00:21:43,119 and then they’ll swim out of it. 476 00:21:43,119 –> 00:21:44,640 Obvious point. 477 00:21:44,640 –> 00:21:47,380 So he says if you only speak general truths about God. 478 00:21:47,380 –> 00:21:50,579 If all you ever say to people is God loves you 479 00:21:50,579 –> 00:21:52,739 and you never really get to the specifics 480 00:21:52,739 –> 00:21:55,300 about Jesus Christ, you won’t catch many fish. 481 00:21:56,280 –> 00:22:00,420 He says, if all you do is just talk in general terms 482 00:22:00,420 –> 00:22:03,380 like people do all the time today about faith, 483 00:22:03,380 –> 00:22:07,800 without ever getting to the one we have faith in 484 00:22:07,800 –> 00:22:11,339 and what it is in which we trust him. 485 00:22:11,339 –> 00:22:15,319 If you never get there then we’re not gonna catch many fish 486 00:22:15,319 –> 00:22:17,660 or see clear conversions to Jesus Christ. 487 00:22:17,660 –> 00:22:19,300 So he says make sure that you’re not just 488 00:22:19,300 –> 00:22:22,619 talking generalities but that you really are speaking 489 00:22:22,619 –> 00:22:25,000 about Jesus Christ and what he’s able to do 490 00:22:25,520 –> 00:22:26,560 for a person clearly. 491 00:22:26,560 –> 00:22:29,280 Third observation, I find this fascinating. 492 00:22:29,280 –> 00:22:34,099 He says the net must have weights on it 493 00:22:34,099 –> 00:22:36,260 and in the right proportion. 494 00:22:37,459 –> 00:22:39,880 Now think about this, net fishing. 495 00:22:39,880 –> 00:22:42,000 If you just have a net and you throw the net 496 00:22:42,000 –> 00:22:43,739 into the water, what will happen? 497 00:22:43,739 –> 00:22:45,939 The net will just float on the water, right? 498 00:22:45,939 –> 00:22:47,619 You won’t catch any fish then. 499 00:22:47,619 –> 00:22:49,579 So he says the net, in order to catch fish 500 00:22:49,579 –> 00:22:51,459 needs to have weights on it. 501 00:22:51,459 –> 00:22:53,979 Now the net, he says, is the promises of the gospel. 502 00:22:53,979 –> 00:22:55,780 That’s the great draw. 503 00:22:55,780 –> 00:22:57,660 But he says the net must have some weights on it 504 00:22:57,660 –> 00:22:58,719 and what are the weights? 505 00:22:58,719 –> 00:23:02,680 He says the weights are the law of God. 506 00:23:02,680 –> 00:23:06,300 In other words, people will come to Christ 507 00:23:06,300 –> 00:23:08,780 when they hear what He offers 508 00:23:08,780 –> 00:23:11,459 and when they see their need of it. 509 00:23:11,459 –> 00:23:14,599 Both things, the law and the gospel. 510 00:23:14,599 –> 00:23:17,680 Forgiveness won’t mean anything to you 511 00:23:17,680 –> 00:23:20,540 until you see that you are a sinner. 512 00:23:21,479 –> 00:23:24,140 The gift of the Holy Spirit won’t mean anything to you 513 00:23:24,140 –> 00:23:26,459 until you really see that you can’t live 514 00:23:26,459 –> 00:23:29,660 the life that Jesus calls you to lead. 515 00:23:29,660 –> 00:23:32,699 The gift of everlasting life won’t mean anything to you 516 00:23:32,699 –> 00:23:35,119 until you know that you’re lost 517 00:23:35,119 –> 00:23:38,119 and there’s a hell to be saved from. 518 00:23:39,099 –> 00:23:40,880 So keeping the net in good repair 519 00:23:40,880 –> 00:23:42,939 is essential to our mission. 520 00:23:42,939 –> 00:23:46,040 The weight of the law drives us to Christ 521 00:23:46,040 –> 00:23:50,219 and the promises of the gospel draw us to Christ. 522 00:23:50,839 –> 00:23:53,239 Keep the net in good repair. 523 00:23:53,239 –> 00:23:55,040 We need to know what the mission is. 524 00:23:55,040 –> 00:23:58,579 Fisher’s of Men, it’s about drawing people 525 00:23:59,800 –> 00:24:02,119 to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 526 00:24:02,119 –> 00:24:03,380 It’s not about changing the environment 527 00:24:03,380 –> 00:24:04,819 in which people live. 528 00:24:04,819 –> 00:24:06,839 We must keep the net in good repair 529 00:24:06,839 –> 00:24:08,880 and then here’s the third observation 530 00:24:08,880 –> 00:24:11,319 that I want to make before we move on. 531 00:24:11,319 –> 00:24:15,479 We fulfill our mission by throwing out the gospel net. 532 00:24:15,560 –> 00:24:18,060 By throwing out the gospel net. 533 00:24:20,119 –> 00:24:22,800 He’s after all that Boston says that’s so helpful, 534 00:24:22,800 –> 00:24:25,500 you must have the net, it must be the right mesh. 535 00:24:25,500 –> 00:24:27,339 It must have the weights on it, 536 00:24:27,339 –> 00:24:29,119 and we’ve got a good boat and it’s a fishing boat 537 00:24:29,119 –> 00:24:31,400 and it’s not a pleasure boat and all the rest of it, 538 00:24:31,400 –> 00:24:34,140 but if we do not throw out the net, 539 00:24:34,140 –> 00:24:36,939 if we do not throw out the net of the gospel, 540 00:24:36,939 –> 00:24:39,199 then we will not catch fish. 541 00:24:40,339 –> 00:24:43,459 And so I’m saying that we fulfill our mission 542 00:24:43,459 –> 00:24:47,699 by throwing out the gospel net. 543 00:24:47,699 –> 00:24:52,060 And this folks is of huge importance 544 00:24:52,060 –> 00:24:56,280 in deciding what work we should do 545 00:24:56,280 –> 00:25:01,239 and in evaluating the work that we are doing already. 546 00:25:01,239 –> 00:25:03,439 How do we evaluate what we’re doing? 547 00:25:03,439 –> 00:25:08,439 Well here’s one crucial criteria for evaluating our work. 548 00:25:08,560 –> 00:25:12,160 How is the gospel net bing thrown out? 549 00:25:12,160 –> 00:25:13,520 That’s the question. 550 00:25:13,520 –> 00:25:17,119 How is the gospel net being thrown out? 551 00:25:18,680 –> 00:25:20,180 Folks it begins with the preaching. 552 00:25:20,180 –> 00:25:23,300 If we are to be a church where many people 553 00:25:23,300 –> 00:25:26,920 come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 554 00:25:26,920 –> 00:25:30,800 this must be a place where the good news of Jesus Christ 555 00:25:30,800 –> 00:25:35,079 is proclaimed clearly always, always. 556 00:25:36,780 –> 00:25:38,660 But it’s not just the Pope. 557 00:25:38,660 –> 00:25:41,819 You think of the area of ministry in which you are involved 558 00:25:42,780 –> 00:25:44,119 and you ask this question, 559 00:25:45,439 –> 00:25:50,439 how is the gospel net being thrown out? 560 00:25:51,839 –> 00:25:54,739 Because if we’re not throwing out the gospel net, 561 00:25:54,739 –> 00:25:58,319 we are not fulfilling our mission. 562 00:25:58,319 –> 00:25:59,640 Please understand I’m not saying 563 00:25:59,640 –> 00:26:00,880 this is the only thing we do, 564 00:26:00,880 –> 00:26:02,280 the only thing we do is simply 565 00:26:02,280 –> 00:26:04,420 to speak the gospel to people. 566 00:26:04,420 –> 00:26:06,979 Clearly, the feeding of the 5,000 gives 567 00:26:07,180 –> 00:26:09,479 a Christian basis for feeding the hungry. 568 00:26:09,479 –> 00:26:11,760 Clearly, Jesus healing of the sick 569 00:26:11,760 –> 00:26:13,619 gives basis for Christian medical work 570 00:26:13,619 –> 00:26:15,060 and so forth and so on, 571 00:26:15,060 –> 00:26:17,599 but what I’m contending for is this, 572 00:26:17,599 –> 00:26:19,599 that in every area of ministry, 573 00:26:19,599 –> 00:26:22,199 including all of these ministries, 574 00:26:22,199 –> 00:26:24,520 we must ask the question, 575 00:26:24,520 –> 00:26:28,579 how is the gospel net be thrown out in this ministry? 576 00:26:28,579 –> 00:26:30,979 Because if the gospel net is not being thrown out, 577 00:26:30,979 –> 00:26:32,560 we are not doing what Jesus Christ 578 00:26:32,560 –> 00:26:34,560 has called us to do and in the midst 579 00:26:34,560 –> 00:26:36,939 of many other needs, we have lost our mission. 580 00:26:37,459 –> 00:26:40,060 It is absolutely crucial to keeping the church 581 00:26:40,060 –> 00:26:42,939 in the work that Jesus has given us to do. 582 00:26:42,939 –> 00:26:45,540 We fulfill our mission by throwing out the gospel net. 583 00:26:45,540 –> 00:26:48,579 How is the gospel net being thrown out in your ministry? 584 00:26:48,579 –> 00:26:53,040 Where is the clear communication of the gospel? 585 00:26:53,920 –> 00:26:57,400 That’s the question. 586 00:26:57,400 –> 00:26:58,939 We’ve looked at the analogy, 587 00:26:58,939 –> 00:27:02,260 and we’ve seen that we can learn many many things from it. 588 00:27:03,660 –> 00:27:06,560 We’ve looked at how this promise of Jesus 589 00:27:06,599 –> 00:27:09,280 is defining for our mission. 590 00:27:09,280 –> 00:27:12,760 It gives clarity in the many many needs in the world, 591 00:27:12,760 –> 00:27:14,000 the many many things that people 592 00:27:14,000 –> 00:27:15,599 who are not Christians are engaged in 593 00:27:15,599 –> 00:27:18,099 as well as things that Christians are engaged in, 594 00:27:18,099 –> 00:27:21,479 what particular leads did Jesus Christ call us to 595 00:27:22,640 –> 00:27:24,000 as the church? 596 00:27:24,000 –> 00:27:26,439 And we’ve gained clarity about that. 597 00:27:27,400 –> 00:27:29,640 Fishers of men. 598 00:27:29,640 –> 00:27:32,520 Now more briefly, I want now to come to 599 00:27:32,599 –> 00:27:36,660 believing the promise and following the invitation. 600 00:27:37,579 –> 00:27:40,140 I want to invite you to believe the promise 601 00:27:40,140 –> 00:27:44,819 of the Lord Jesus Christ that’s in this verse today. 602 00:27:44,819 –> 00:27:46,800 He says, 603 00:27:46,800 –> 00:27:48,459 here’s the promise. 604 00:27:48,459 –> 00:27:51,260 I will make you 605 00:27:52,719 –> 00:27:54,479 Fishers of men. 606 00:27:54,479 –> 00:27:55,859 These words, I will make you, 607 00:27:55,859 –> 00:27:57,739 that’s the core of the promise. 608 00:27:57,739 –> 00:28:00,719 This is Jesus saying that he will do something. 609 00:28:01,500 –> 00:28:04,160 It’s very important for us to grasp this 610 00:28:04,160 –> 00:28:06,420 and I want to encourage you to believe it. 611 00:28:07,839 –> 00:28:10,420 Jesus is the master fisherman. 612 00:28:10,420 –> 00:28:12,020 Just look at how he connects with people 613 00:28:12,020 –> 00:28:15,180 from every walk of life in the gospels. 614 00:28:15,180 –> 00:28:18,020 No one ever did it quite like him. 615 00:28:19,000 –> 00:28:22,140 But he says to his disciples, he says to us, 616 00:28:22,140 –> 00:28:24,719 if you follow me, 617 00:28:24,719 –> 00:28:26,900 I will make you 618 00:28:28,640 –> 00:28:29,479 fishers of men. 619 00:28:29,520 –> 00:28:31,140 I’ll make you fishers of men. 620 00:28:32,800 –> 00:28:34,500 I’ll give to you something 621 00:28:34,500 –> 00:28:35,920 that you may not have had before. 622 00:28:35,920 –> 00:28:38,339 I’ll do something in you 623 00:28:38,339 –> 00:28:42,239 that is going to equip you for this work 624 00:28:42,239 –> 00:28:44,160 and make you effective in it. 625 00:28:45,420 –> 00:28:46,979 See, notice this, 626 00:28:46,979 –> 00:28:50,880 it’s not follow me and you will become fishers of men. 627 00:28:50,880 –> 00:28:53,599 That would take Christ out of it, wouldn’t it? 628 00:28:53,599 –> 00:28:58,599 It’s follow me and I will make you 629 00:28:58,599 –> 00:29:00,959 fishers of men. 630 00:29:00,959 –> 00:29:04,760 So there is something that Christ will do 631 00:29:04,760 –> 00:29:08,880 to make us as a church effective 632 00:29:08,880 –> 00:29:10,619 in this work of evangelism. 633 00:29:11,520 –> 00:29:14,199 Now what is it that Christ will do? 634 00:29:14,199 –> 00:29:16,439 Let me suggest two answers to that question. 635 00:29:16,439 –> 00:29:17,859 The first is this, 636 00:29:17,859 –> 00:29:19,680 Christ will make us fishers of men 637 00:29:19,680 –> 00:29:23,280 by giving skill to the fishermen. 638 00:29:23,280 –> 00:29:26,040 And this is very obvious in the story of the disciples 639 00:29:26,060 –> 00:29:28,040 that Jesus gave these men gifts 640 00:29:28,040 –> 00:29:30,859 that they did not have before as they followed him. 641 00:29:31,739 –> 00:29:35,560 I mean they were the most unlikely candidates, weren’t they? 642 00:29:35,560 –> 00:29:36,719 Who have we got here? 643 00:29:36,719 –> 00:29:39,319 Peter, and Andrew, and James, and John. 644 00:29:39,319 –> 00:29:40,839 Let’s start with Andrew, 645 00:29:40,839 –> 00:29:43,640 how many things do you remember Andrew saying 646 00:29:43,640 –> 00:29:45,079 in the gospels? 647 00:29:45,079 –> 00:29:48,640 You can look it up, hardly a word. 648 00:29:48,640 –> 00:29:50,719 This guy was painfully shy. 649 00:29:51,619 –> 00:29:56,020 Some of us are really shy. 650 00:29:56,020 –> 00:29:59,939 We don’t talk a lot, very quiet, like Andrew. 651 00:30:01,239 –> 00:30:03,540 And so your instinct is going to be to say 652 00:30:03,540 –> 00:30:05,800 well of course pastor he’s talking today 653 00:30:05,800 –> 00:30:07,060 to all these folks who have the gift 654 00:30:07,060 –> 00:30:08,880 of the gab and can talk and so forth, 655 00:30:08,880 –> 00:30:10,780 but you know this doesn’t apply to me. 656 00:30:10,780 –> 00:30:12,680 Yes it does. 657 00:30:12,680 –> 00:30:17,680 Andrew, Jesus says to you I’ll make you 658 00:30:18,119 –> 00:30:20,160 a fisher of men. 659 00:30:20,180 –> 00:30:23,640 Christ can use you in ways that will surprise you. 660 00:30:23,640 –> 00:30:26,400 He will work through your temperament. 661 00:30:26,400 –> 00:30:29,459 Your life can be a means of drawing others to Christ. 662 00:30:30,520 –> 00:30:32,119 Now what about James and John 663 00:30:32,119 –> 00:30:35,060 who first heard this promise from Jesus. 664 00:30:35,060 –> 00:30:38,060 Matthew notes that they had the nickname Boanerges. 665 00:30:39,920 –> 00:30:42,640 Now Boanerges sounds like what it is. 666 00:30:42,640 –> 00:30:45,719 It literally means sons of thunder. 667 00:30:45,719 –> 00:30:47,160 Now honestly what kind of guys 668 00:30:47,160 –> 00:30:49,000 get the nickname sons of thunder? 669 00:30:49,040 –> 00:30:50,459 Do you think they were like Andrew? 670 00:30:50,459 –> 00:30:51,959 I don’t think so. 671 00:30:51,959 –> 00:30:54,180 I think these guys had fiery tempers. 672 00:30:54,180 –> 00:30:56,680 They’re the kind of guys that blow their testimony. 673 00:30:56,680 –> 00:30:58,640 They’re the kind of guys that shoot off their mouth 674 00:30:58,640 –> 00:31:00,739 and say, oh, why did I say that? 675 00:31:02,119 –> 00:31:03,959 Kind of guys who say, oh, I wish I hadn’t said that 676 00:31:03,959 –> 00:31:05,619 to the guy next to me at work. 677 00:31:06,719 –> 00:31:07,540 Listen. 678 00:31:09,079 –> 00:31:10,500 Christ can make you 679 00:31:11,800 –> 00:31:12,819 a fisher of men. 680 00:31:13,880 –> 00:31:15,560 And Peter, what can you say about him 681 00:31:15,560 –> 00:31:17,199 with all his impulsiveness? 682 00:31:17,300 –> 00:31:20,000 And yet this man, so impulsive, 683 00:31:20,000 –> 00:31:22,239 becomes by the end of the New Testament 684 00:31:22,239 –> 00:31:24,459 a shepherd of the flock of God. 685 00:31:24,459 –> 00:31:26,020 Read the first letter of Peter. 686 00:31:27,400 –> 00:31:29,319 So there is a work of Christ 687 00:31:29,319 –> 00:31:32,500 in each of these different temperaments 688 00:31:32,500 –> 00:31:34,619 that takes these folks 689 00:31:34,619 –> 00:31:36,400 who really look as if they would be 690 00:31:36,400 –> 00:31:40,119 a very little use in winning others to faith in Jesus Christ 691 00:31:40,119 –> 00:31:42,020 and by the power of the Holy Spirit, 692 00:31:42,020 –> 00:31:45,060 Jesus uses these men and He says to them, 693 00:31:45,119 –> 00:31:48,380 I’ll make you fishers of men. 694 00:31:50,099 –> 00:31:52,020 Now, I’m wanting you to believe 695 00:31:52,020 –> 00:31:55,219 that promise for yourself today. 696 00:31:55,219 –> 00:31:57,719 For us to start believing as a congregation 697 00:31:57,719 –> 00:32:00,979 that this promise is for us today, 698 00:32:00,979 –> 00:32:03,319 that the Lord Jesus Christ can take us 699 00:32:03,319 –> 00:32:05,000 with all of our limitations, 700 00:32:05,000 –> 00:32:07,099 with all of our different personalities, 701 00:32:07,099 –> 00:32:08,739 with all of our hesitations 702 00:32:08,739 –> 00:32:10,099 and everything that is in us 703 00:32:10,099 –> 00:32:12,359 and that if we follow Him, 704 00:32:12,359 –> 00:32:14,979 He says, I’ll make you really effective 705 00:32:15,000 –> 00:32:15,939 in this work. 706 00:32:17,219 –> 00:32:19,719 Can you believe that promise today? 707 00:32:19,719 –> 00:32:21,500 It’s a wonderful promise. 708 00:32:21,500 –> 00:32:22,920 It lifts new horizons. 709 00:32:22,920 –> 00:32:24,579 Listen to what C.H. Spurgeon says, 710 00:32:24,579 –> 00:32:26,359 this encouraged me so much. 711 00:32:26,359 –> 00:32:30,459 He says, when Christ calls us by His grace, 712 00:32:30,459 –> 00:32:33,839 we ought not only to remember what we are 713 00:32:33,839 –> 00:32:38,420 but we ought also to think what He can make us. 714 00:32:38,420 –> 00:32:40,020 That’s good. 715 00:32:40,020 –> 00:32:42,579 We should repent of what we have been 716 00:32:42,599 –> 00:32:45,579 but we should rejoice in what we may be. 717 00:32:46,400 –> 00:32:48,479 He does not say to us follow me 718 00:32:48,479 –> 00:32:50,420 because of what you are already 719 00:32:51,560 –> 00:32:52,959 nor does He say follow me 720 00:32:52,959 –> 00:32:55,500 because you may make something of yourselves. 721 00:32:56,520 –> 00:33:00,300 He says follow me because of what I will make you. 722 00:33:02,140 –> 00:33:04,800 Does that open up new horizons of hope for you today? 723 00:33:06,760 –> 00:33:08,959 Christ makes us fishers of men 724 00:33:08,959 –> 00:33:11,959 by giving skill to the fishermen. 725 00:33:12,920 –> 00:33:14,900 But he does a second thing. 726 00:33:14,900 –> 00:33:17,660 Not only does he give skill to the fishermen, 727 00:33:18,560 –> 00:33:21,699 Christ makes us successful in fishing 728 00:33:21,699 –> 00:33:26,699 because he is the one who draws the fish into the net. 729 00:33:27,979 –> 00:33:30,479 Now that, folks, of course, is the point of the story 730 00:33:30,479 –> 00:33:33,180 in Luke 5 that was read to us. 731 00:33:33,180 –> 00:33:35,699 The disciples had been out all night 732 00:33:35,699 –> 00:33:38,119 and you’ll remember that they had caught what? 733 00:33:38,119 –> 00:33:39,599 Nothing. 734 00:33:39,599 –> 00:33:41,199 And Jesus says to Peter, 735 00:33:41,199 –> 00:33:44,420 now you throw down the nets and Peter says, 736 00:33:44,420 –> 00:33:45,959 well, Luke we’ve been out all night, 737 00:33:45,959 –> 00:33:47,219 we haven’t caught a single thing. 738 00:33:47,219 –> 00:33:49,500 And then to his credit, he says, 739 00:33:49,500 –> 00:33:53,160 because you say so, I will let down the nets. 740 00:33:53,160 –> 00:33:56,560 And so in an act of faith, he throws out the net. 741 00:33:56,560 –> 00:33:57,579 And when they did this, 742 00:33:57,579 –> 00:33:59,300 they caught such a large number of fish. 743 00:33:59,300 –> 00:34:02,640 Luke tells us that the nets began to break. 744 00:34:02,640 –> 00:34:04,140 How did that happen? 745 00:34:04,140 –> 00:34:06,040 Well, it was a miracle, wasn’t it? 746 00:34:06,040 –> 00:34:07,180 And what was the miracle? 747 00:34:07,199 –> 00:34:12,199 The miracle was that Christ brought the fish into the net. 748 00:34:12,719 –> 00:34:13,659 That’s wonderful. 749 00:34:14,739 –> 00:34:18,320 Now look, Jesus is the son of God. 750 00:34:20,260 –> 00:34:23,459 The son of God can make fish 751 00:34:23,459 –> 00:34:27,040 jump from the water into the boat if he wants to. 752 00:34:27,040 –> 00:34:28,239 Do you agree with that? 753 00:34:29,540 –> 00:34:30,780 But he doesn’t do that. 754 00:34:32,820 –> 00:34:34,360 He says you throw out the net 755 00:34:35,179 –> 00:34:37,899 and he draws fish into the net. 756 00:34:37,899 –> 00:34:41,620 Folks, that’s our reason for proclaiming the Gospel. 757 00:34:42,760 –> 00:34:47,139 Because Christ does not make fish jump straight into boats. 758 00:34:47,139 –> 00:34:49,520 Christ brings fish into nets. 759 00:34:50,379 –> 00:34:52,840 He saves through the Gospel. 760 00:34:52,840 –> 00:34:56,120 He saves through your sharing of the truth. 761 00:34:56,120 –> 00:34:58,899 Our sharing of the truth of Jesus Christ. 762 00:34:58,899 –> 00:35:00,699 That’s why we throw out the net. 763 00:35:01,699 –> 00:35:05,540 And folks, I cannot think of a greater motivation 764 00:35:05,540 –> 00:35:10,060 for us to devote our lives to casting out the Gospel net 765 00:35:10,060 –> 00:35:13,780 than this conviction that Jesus Christ is the one 766 00:35:13,780 –> 00:35:16,699 who brings fish into the net of the Gospel 767 00:35:16,699 –> 00:35:19,060 as it is thrown out. 768 00:35:19,060 –> 00:35:20,739 Thank God for that. 769 00:35:21,620 –> 00:35:23,760 Now here’s the last thing, 770 00:35:23,760 –> 00:35:26,120 there is an invitation that Jesus gives 771 00:35:26,120 –> 00:35:29,000 and it’s for us today also. 772 00:35:29,000 –> 00:35:30,199 Follow me. 773 00:35:31,280 –> 00:35:35,120 And I will make you fishers of men. 774 00:35:35,120 –> 00:35:36,459 Follow me. 775 00:35:36,459 –> 00:35:39,020 And Matthew tells us very wonderfully in verse 20 776 00:35:39,020 –> 00:35:43,000 that they left their nets and they followed him. 777 00:35:43,820 –> 00:35:45,899 And they followed him for three years 778 00:35:45,899 –> 00:35:47,620 before his death and his resurrection 779 00:35:47,620 –> 00:35:49,219 and then after his ascension, 780 00:35:49,219 –> 00:35:52,939 then was the time that they really launched into ministry 781 00:35:52,939 –> 00:35:55,620 that led to many, many people 782 00:35:55,620 –> 00:35:58,979 coming to faith in Jesus Christ. 783 00:35:58,979 –> 00:36:01,320 So my question is what did they learn 784 00:36:01,320 –> 00:36:03,580 from three years of following Jesus? 785 00:36:05,139 –> 00:36:07,620 What was the big picture impact 786 00:36:07,620 –> 00:36:10,560 of three years of following Jesus 787 00:36:11,540 –> 00:36:13,820 that put them in a position 788 00:36:13,820 –> 00:36:17,699 where God was able to use them in the acts of the apostles 789 00:36:17,699 –> 00:36:19,139 in such an extraordinary way 790 00:36:19,139 –> 00:36:21,260 to fulfill the promise of Jesus right here, 791 00:36:21,260 –> 00:36:22,739 they became fishers of men. 792 00:36:22,739 –> 00:36:25,860 And I want to suggest just very briefly in the last moments 793 00:36:25,860 –> 00:36:27,500 three answers to that question. 794 00:36:27,500 –> 00:36:31,340 What we will gain as we follow Jesus 795 00:36:31,340 –> 00:36:32,860 that will be means of equipping us 796 00:36:32,860 –> 00:36:36,219 for greater effectiveness in this kind of ministry. 797 00:36:36,219 –> 00:36:38,040 And I think the first thing very obviously 798 00:36:38,040 –> 00:36:43,040 is by following Jesus, they gained a new interest in people. 799 00:36:43,100 –> 00:36:45,100 I mean these were men that lived in the world of fish 800 00:36:45,100 –> 00:36:47,540 and nets and boats, out there on their own on the lake 801 00:36:47,540 –> 00:36:50,020 and all that stuff, perfectly content in the quiet. 802 00:36:50,899 –> 00:36:52,620 And what Jesus did was he brought them 803 00:36:52,620 –> 00:36:54,280 into a world of people. 804 00:36:56,219 –> 00:36:57,280 Everywhere in the Gospels, 805 00:36:58,080 –> 00:36:58,919 it’s all people. 806 00:37:00,040 –> 00:37:03,100 And at first, they didn’t like it. 807 00:37:04,399 –> 00:37:06,459 So you keep finding the disciples saying, 808 00:37:06,459 –> 00:37:08,080 oh let’s send the crowds away, 809 00:37:08,080 –> 00:37:09,280 or when children come, they think, 810 00:37:09,280 –> 00:37:11,860 well, these children are a real nuisance. 811 00:37:11,860 –> 00:37:13,739 And when people of another race come 812 00:37:13,739 –> 00:37:15,679 to the Lord Jesus Christ, they get really edgy 813 00:37:15,679 –> 00:37:17,439 and they say, well, we don’t want these folks around here. 814 00:37:17,439 –> 00:37:20,120 That’s where the disciples were when they began. 815 00:37:20,120 –> 00:37:24,000 But Christ transformed them, gave them a new heart, 816 00:37:24,000 –> 00:37:27,100 a new interest in people. 817 00:37:27,340 –> 00:37:29,479 And, you know, the Lord Jesus Christ will do that for us. 818 00:37:29,479 –> 00:37:32,699 Honestly, folks, some of us are most comfortable 819 00:37:32,699 –> 00:37:35,580 with documents in an office, 820 00:37:35,580 –> 00:37:38,199 writing software for a computer, 821 00:37:38,199 –> 00:37:39,739 spreadsheets for a business, 822 00:37:39,739 –> 00:37:41,500 reference books in an academy, 823 00:37:41,500 –> 00:37:46,060 and Jesus says to us, calling us out of our comfort zone, 824 00:37:46,060 –> 00:37:49,659 he says if you follow me I will make you fishers of men. 825 00:37:49,659 –> 00:37:53,439 And following Christ will give you a new interest in people. 826 00:37:54,560 –> 00:37:56,620 You might like to pray that today. 827 00:37:56,659 –> 00:38:01,659 Lord Jesus Christ, give me a greater interest in people. 828 00:38:02,100 –> 00:38:05,280 Expand my heart in this regard 829 00:38:06,239 –> 00:38:10,080 because in following him this will grow within you 830 00:38:10,080 –> 00:38:12,879 over time and it will make you more effective 831 00:38:12,879 –> 00:38:15,699 in the ministry to which Jesus calls us. 832 00:38:15,699 –> 00:38:17,399 And then in following him they gained 833 00:38:17,399 –> 00:38:19,620 a new clarity about Jesus. 834 00:38:19,620 –> 00:38:22,080 They obviously found something compelling 835 00:38:22,080 –> 00:38:25,360 in Jesus to leave their nets and leave him on that day. 836 00:38:25,360 –> 00:38:27,340 But you know, it’s three years before the time 837 00:38:27,340 –> 00:38:30,659 when Jesus says, who do you say that I am? 838 00:38:30,659 –> 00:38:32,340 Previously they were saying, who is this 839 00:38:32,340 –> 00:38:34,840 that even the winds and waves obey him. 840 00:38:34,840 –> 00:38:36,979 Three years later Peter says, you’re the Christ. 841 00:38:36,979 –> 00:38:38,459 You’re the son of the living God. 842 00:38:38,459 –> 00:38:40,620 But even then Peter does not understand 843 00:38:40,620 –> 00:38:43,159 that Jesus has to die for sins and rise again. 844 00:38:44,100 –> 00:38:46,500 Oh, but after three years, fully following 845 00:38:46,500 –> 00:38:48,500 the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost, 846 00:38:48,500 –> 00:38:50,760 this man gets up. 847 00:38:50,760 –> 00:38:53,060 And there’s absolutely no doubt about his message. 848 00:38:53,060 –> 00:38:54,719 There’s conviction, there’s clarity. 849 00:38:54,879 –> 00:38:57,520 He speaks about Jesus, and he throws out 850 00:38:57,520 –> 00:38:58,659 the net of the gospel. 851 00:38:58,659 –> 00:39:00,439 And by the power of the Holy Spirit, 852 00:39:00,439 –> 00:39:03,320 3,000 people are saved on that day. 853 00:39:04,699 –> 00:39:07,800 So if you want to be a fisher of men, 854 00:39:07,800 –> 00:39:10,600 you want to be really sure that you speak clearly 855 00:39:10,600 –> 00:39:12,179 about the Lord Jesus Christ. 856 00:39:12,179 –> 00:39:15,760 And by following him, you will find 857 00:39:15,760 –> 00:39:19,379 that you have deeper and stronger convictions 858 00:39:19,379 –> 00:39:22,500 about him, greater confidence in him, 859 00:39:22,580 –> 00:39:24,939 a greater sense of love towards him. 860 00:39:24,939 –> 00:39:27,899 You will find yourself so bonded to Christ 861 00:39:27,899 –> 00:39:31,300 that your own love for Christ and your own faith in Christ 862 00:39:31,300 –> 00:39:34,020 comes out in your communication to other people. 863 00:39:35,840 –> 00:39:38,280 And then lastly, they gained a new confidence 864 00:39:38,280 –> 00:39:40,560 in God’s power because by following Christ 865 00:39:40,560 –> 00:39:43,520 for three years, they saw lives changed. 866 00:39:44,600 –> 00:39:46,699 So this is the big transformation that comes 867 00:39:46,699 –> 00:39:47,939 when we follow Jesus. 868 00:39:47,939 –> 00:39:50,719 By nature, these guys are kind of loners, you know. 869 00:39:50,719 –> 00:39:52,280 They don’t like people. 870 00:39:52,280 –> 00:39:55,540 They don’t know Christ and they don’t trust God 871 00:39:55,540 –> 00:39:58,320 but following the Lord Jesus changes that. 872 00:39:58,320 –> 00:40:00,080 They gain a new interest in people, 873 00:40:00,080 –> 00:40:01,959 a new confidence in Christ, 874 00:40:01,959 –> 00:40:06,560 and a new faith in God’s power to change lives. 875 00:40:06,560 –> 00:40:08,340 Now that is what we need. 876 00:40:09,280 –> 00:40:12,600 That is what we need and that is what Christ will give 877 00:40:12,600 –> 00:40:15,580 to us as we follow after him. 878 00:40:15,580 –> 00:40:18,780 Follow me and you will become fishers of men. 879 00:40:18,800 –> 00:40:22,360 I’ll make you fishers of men. 880 00:40:23,260 –> 00:40:24,179 This is promise. 881 00:40:25,520 –> 00:40:27,239 One story and then we’re through. 882 00:40:29,500 –> 00:40:31,459 The story is told of a student 883 00:40:31,459 –> 00:40:35,439 who came on one occasion to CH Spurgeon. 884 00:40:35,439 –> 00:40:38,260 And the student was worried that people were not responding 885 00:40:38,260 –> 00:40:40,100 in repentance and faith and so forth 886 00:40:40,100 –> 00:40:42,379 being converted when he preached. 887 00:40:42,379 –> 00:40:43,459 And he said, you know what? 888 00:40:43,459 –> 00:40:46,659 I’m preaching the gospel, Mr. Spurgeon. 889 00:40:46,659 –> 00:40:48,760 He said, and people aren’t getting saved. 890 00:40:49,959 –> 00:40:52,459 And so Spurgeon said to this student, he said, 891 00:40:52,459 –> 00:40:56,479 now you don’t expect someone to be saved 892 00:40:56,479 –> 00:40:58,899 every time you speak the gospel, do you? 893 00:41:00,100 –> 00:41:01,780 And the student said, oh, no, Mr. Spurgeon. 894 00:41:01,780 –> 00:41:03,340 I don’t expect that. 895 00:41:03,340 –> 00:41:06,260 And Spurgeon said to him, there’s your problem. 896 00:41:06,260 –> 00:41:09,300 There’s your problem. 897 00:41:10,959 –> 00:41:12,000 There’s your problem. 898 00:41:14,600 –> 00:41:16,000 Let me ask you this question. 899 00:41:16,000 –> 00:41:19,939 Is there a lively expectation in your heart 900 00:41:22,139 –> 00:41:27,139 that as we cast out the gospel net over these next years, 901 00:41:28,419 –> 00:41:32,159 many people will come to Christ? 902 00:41:34,739 –> 00:41:35,580 You believe that? 903 00:41:36,520 –> 00:41:40,179 I’m asking you if you believe this promise of Jesus. 904 00:41:40,979 –> 00:41:45,979 I’m inviting you to put your trust 905 00:41:45,979 –> 00:41:49,139 in this promise of Jesus and for you to believe it 906 00:41:49,139 –> 00:41:51,320 and for us to believe it. 907 00:41:53,080 –> 00:41:54,659 Do you think this promise is for us 908 00:41:54,659 –> 00:41:56,260 or do you think it’s for others? 909 00:41:57,919 –> 00:41:59,080 It’s for us. 910 00:42:01,100 –> 00:42:02,260 Follow me. 911 00:42:03,780 –> 00:42:08,300 Christ says and I will make you 912 00:42:09,199 –> 00:42:11,879 fishers of men. 913 00:42:15,000 –> 00:42:18,479 And if you believe that promise today, 914 00:42:19,500 –> 00:42:22,179 there will be an excitement in your heart 915 00:42:22,179 –> 00:42:24,919 about all the prospects of ministry 916 00:42:24,919 –> 00:42:27,699 as we cast out the gospel net 917 00:42:28,820 –> 00:42:31,100 in these months and years that lie ahead. 918 00:42:31,100 –> 00:42:31,939 Let’s pray together. 919 00:42:31,939 –> 00:42:36,800 Father, help us to belief the words of Jesus, 920 00:42:36,879 –> 00:42:38,199 our Savior and Lord. 921 00:42:39,780 –> 00:42:41,780 Help us to believe them not only for others 922 00:42:41,780 –> 00:42:42,899 in different places, 923 00:42:42,899 –> 00:42:44,679 but for ourselves here today 924 00:42:44,679 –> 00:42:46,419 and for all of the ministry 925 00:42:46,419 –> 00:42:48,459 in which we’re engaged around the world. 926 00:42:50,260 –> 00:42:52,260 Help us so to follow after you 927 00:42:52,260 –> 00:42:55,060 that you will make us the kind of people 928 00:42:55,060 –> 00:42:58,459 who can be increasingly fruitful and useful 929 00:42:58,459 –> 00:43:01,699 in this marvelous ministry to which you have called us. 930 00:43:02,620 –> 00:43:04,520 Hear our prayer, 931 00:43:04,600 –> 00:43:07,179 and may the outcome of ministry in these coming years 932 00:43:07,179 –> 00:43:10,580 be that many, many, many 933 00:43:11,580 –> 00:43:16,320 come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ drawn by the gospel, 934 00:43:17,679 –> 00:43:19,219 cast out from this boat 935 00:43:20,280 –> 00:43:22,780 to the praise and glory of God. 936 00:43:22,780 –> 00:43:25,580 And all the people together said, Amen.