CASTING OUR NET

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  (Luke 5:4-6)  

This was simply a matter of obedience.  No matter their emotions or experience, these fishermen were being tested at the point of their submission.

They didn’t argue or debate.  They didn’t dispute or delay.  They just did what they were told.

You won’t catch any fish until you respond to the command, “Go fish!”  God’s demand is clear.  He has called us to fish for eternal souls—so we are either sinning or soul-winning! 

I cannot guarantee that you will catch a soul for Christ the next time you share the Gospel, but I can guarantee you won’t if you don’t!  I’m not saying it is easy to reach a culture that is increasingly hardened to the Gospel, even hostile to it—but at least you don’t have to stand on the bank all day hoping for a bite—there are lost people everywhere—and a surprising number have never even heard the Gospel.  Our world is not “fished out!”

Cast the net!

CONFESSING OUR NEED

 

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  ‎When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing…”  (Luke 1:1-5a)

These fishermen felt like complete failures.  Despite their best efforts, they didn’t have so much as a minnow to show for it!  How discouraging! 

These weren’t sportsmen in a competition.  This wasn’t a hobby done for relaxation.  It was catch fish or starve to death. 

Folks, when it comes to catching people for Christ in evangelism, it is a matter of life and death.  Churches all over America are dying!  They are failing to reach new people.  I am concerned that a deadly lethargy has gripped us—that our passion for souls is not a priority any more.  Pole Creek is a solid, Bible-believing, mission-minded congregation, but we’ve become complacent.  While giving lip-service to evangelism, when all is said and done, there’s more said than done!

Let us confess our need!  I say US because I need a renewed zeal for the lost also. 

Recently, at the funeral of a fifteen-year old football player, our auditorium was overflowing.   The pews were packed, and folks were lining the walls and even in the foyer.  A fellow told me afterward, “I may visit your church.”  I responded, “Great, and on Sunday morning you can find a seat because it won’t be standing room only!” 

But shouldn’t it be? 

It won’t until we cry out to God, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing!”  (emphasis added)  This is the confession of need—the desperate plea—acknowledging that we have done many good activities, but have failed to, “Go fish!”  The Great Commission too often is “The Great Omission.”

GO FISH!

 

Maybe you are familiar with a simple little child’s card game called, “Go Fish.”  I take all forms of competition seriously—but, after all it’s still just a game.  But, for Simon Peter, and the brothers James and John fishing wasn’t a game—it was the way they survived.  Yet, Jesus told them He had a bigger fishing job for them—to catch souls for God! 

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  (Luke 5:1-11)

Church, Jesus has commanded us to, “Go Fish!”  It’s not a game.  This is deadly serious.  Every day people are slipping out into eternity without God and without hope!  There are some fishing lessons we need to learn from this text.  It is our intention this week to examine them.  Load up your net, untie your boat, and shove off because there are some fish to catch!

THE LEADER’S AVAILABILITY

 

I once heard Dr. John Tiller, the former pastor of the church I now serve say in a sermon, “The greatest ability is availability.”  It doesn’t matter how much potential you have until your performance fulfills it.  Then, I think of what leadership guru John Maxwell said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  Jesus—as in all things—exhibited the leader’s availability absolutely.

 

This is THE FORCE OF OUR SERVICE.  As we make ourselves available to be used of God, we see Him work through us in incredible ways.

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DISTRESSED.

 

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”  (Luke 4:31-37) 

 

Now, whether we encounter those who are actually possessed by demons, or more likely oppressed by spiritual forces, the grim reality is  so many are under Satanic bondage these days.  What shall we do?  Will we reach out to them in compassion, and declare to them the power that will set them free?

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DISEASED.

 

And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.  Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.  When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.  (Luke 4:38-41) 

 

We have a ministry to the sick.  Elders may be summoned to anoint with oil and pray for the sick.  Physical infirmity may hinder spiritual productivity.  Sometimes God is most glorified through giving grace to press on despite our weakness, and sometimes He is most glorified in giving grace to bring healing—even miraculously.  But, whatever a Sovereign God decides, he has chosen to use us as channels through which that grace can flow.

 

·         Jesus was available TO THE DESPERATE

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.  (Luke 4:42-44)

 

These people were desperate for Jesus.  Wherever He was and whenever He was there, they sought Him out.  That is true of people everywhere.  He moved from place to place.  His mission was urgent.  Lives are filled with hopeless desperation.  Is there any hope?  Does anyone care?  As God’s church we offer hope to the world, but a church will not be encouraged to this task without the example of her leaders.

 

If a leader shuts himself up in an ivory tower far from the hurts of people, then he has forfeited his right to church leadership.  Shepherds must be with the sheep if they are to help them.  Ours is a day of celebrity preachers who don’t counsel the distressed, visit the diseased or take time for the desperate.  What would Jesus do?  You can see here by answering the question, “What did Jesus do?”  Go, and do likewise.