Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1987

Let's Go Fishing
John Moerman

(Matthew 4:18-25)

Jesus said, "Come, follow me; and 1 will make you fishers of men."

Perhaps this allows me to say that I have a "fish story" for you. I mean, a biblical fish story. No, not a fish story about the one that got away, or the one that got bigger and bigger as the story was being told. There are people who say that fishers are good at exaggerating.

Anyhow, we have a fish story from the Bible. You could almost say that it is an extension of Jonah's fish story. It had to do with "repent and believe", even as this "Come, follow me;".

Now, we read that these two brothers, to whom Jesus spoke these words, immediately left their fishing nets and followed Jesus, as did James and John. Yet as to the full meaning of these words, they yet had a lot to learn. And I would say, that is good news to each of us; for we have a few things to learn here as well. We do not have this reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ down pat yet either. We are not the experienced fishers of men yet. Even as it took the disciples a while, so it takes us twentieth century church members often a while too.

I trust that this message will help us become more effective fishers of men. A number of years later, when Paul had grasped this truth and had become an effective fisher of men, the apostle wrote to the early Christians how they too should make every effort to become great witnesses for Christ, saying, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ". This is what God wants of all of us too: to be great fishers of men, strong witnesses for Christ. So, on the basis of these words of Jesus, "Come, follow me . . .", I want to draw a four point comparison with the fisherman's ordinary experiences:

1. The fisherman goes where the fish are.

2. He goes fishing fully equipped.

3. He has to be prepared for whatever the catch may be.

4. And finally, he catches the fish the way they come.

When you go fishing, you must go where the fish are.

Now you may at once observe, "Yeah, I know that, but that is just my problem. If I only knew where they were; I'd soon be fishing there!" Or someone' else may think, "I know that. I must be fishing where the fish are. This stands to reason!"

Before anyone raises any further such observations or arguments, let me tell you what I mean by saying "You must go fishing where the fish are". I don't have something elementary in mind, but it is at the same time something basic. I mean this: if you want to catch fish to you to be out on the water or at the water. This is where the fish are: Fish live in the water! You must go to the creek, the pond, the canal, the lake, or the sea. Fish and water go together. They are not out in the grain field, nor on the hill side, nor in the back garden. Fish you will only find in the water. This is where you and I can catch them: the big ones, the little ones, the good ones and the not so good ones. Fish you will find only in the water. This is elementary and basic, isn't it?

Yes, but it needs to be said, accepted and practiced. For here is a message as to the church fishing for men. If you and I really want to witness for Christ, spreading the good news and evangelizing, then we must go where the fish are: i.e., where people live and labour! Out in the community, in the world. In holy Scripture, the sea often stands for the masses of peoples. Jonah had to go to Nineveh; that's where the people were whom God wanted to reach. That was the kind of water he was to be in; not the kind where the whales and sea monsters swam.

And isn't this what Jesus did too? He went where the people were: the little ones, the big ones, the good ones and the bad ones. And He took His disciples along to teach them how to work and witness, evangelize, perform signs and miracles: power evangelism. Jesus went with them right out into the big, bad world, where the people lived and laboured ... into their towns, villages and homes. In fact, He sent His followers out as "sheep in the midst of wolves".

Could it be that we, as church members, tend to fish where there is no water? Feeling more comfortable in our own back yard, with those of our own, than out with the thousands of strangers in our community and city. It is much easier to point our fingers at Jonah and his unwillingness to go to Nineveh, than to go to places where the lost are. Sometimes people even fish in other people's aquariums. The church should fish exclusively in the small and wide ponds of the world and in the canals and creeks of humanity. The prophet Joel said, "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near". Jesus said, "Come, follow me; . - - .

How many years have you been a Christian? How many years have you been a member of the church of Jesus Christ? How much fishing have you done for Jesus? How many people have you introduced to Christ during these years? How many people have been saved because you obeyed Jesus' call to be a fisher of men? This is the Christian's calling and the church's purpose! Are you part of that? James wrote, "Whoever turns a sinner away from his error will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins". Daniel wrote, "Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever".

Come, follow me; . . ." is the New Testament's counterpart to Ezekiel's prophesy, that the ungodly will die in their sin, but that unless we have spoken up to them about their sin, God will require their blood from our hands.

What do you take along for fishing? Well, you load your car or trailer with whatever is needed. The disciples were common fishermen; they fished with nets from their little boats. That is still done, even with big trot-lines. Rod, reel, bait, net, etc. At times, Indians still fish with spears. In addition to fishing gear, ice-fishing requires an axe, tent, and extra clothing. Also, you don't want to forget a lunch when you go fishing for fishing takes much time and patience.

Now apply this to what Jesus said, "Come, follow me;..." What lesson do we draw from being equipped for fishing? What is required to be an effective witness for Jesus? How can you and I reach out among the lost?

How is your fishing for Jesus? How long have you been at it? How has the catch been so far?

Where the greatest weakness lies:

Could I start where the greatest failure has occurred? What did Jesus say? He said, "Come, follow me; and I will make you fishers of men". I will, I will, I ... are you getting the point? Neither you nor 1, nor anyone else can make himself a fisher of men. Jesus does that. The church cannot organize itself, or reorganize itself into an army of fishers. Some vital advance equipping must take place. I have in mind, the enabling power of God, available through His Son. I have in mind, the equipping by the Holy Spirit and with the Holy Spirit. I have in mind, the word which Jesus spoke, "You are my witnesses. I am going to send you what My Father promised. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high". That's our basic equipment. John the Baptist also referred to this when he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than 1, and whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire".

During the last ten years or so, various denominations have set goals to double their size within so many years. But I can tell you that after so many years it has not materialized. Most, if not all, mainline denominations have actually lost quite a percentage of their people, instead of gaining! Our own denomination included. I recently read that one of the major Presbyterian denominations in the USA has, over the last 20 years, decreased in size by 1/3 of its membership. Mainline denominations have a very poor fishing (for men) record.

And, I want to add, this is not because of a lack of programs, organizations, structure or methods. We have all that and more. Yet all the while non-mainline churches are growing. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we be equipped to be fishers of men. Not by a program, or an organization, or a budget. Jesus makes us fishers of men. God's people are being equipped to be fishers of men when the Holy Spirit is received, in the overwhelming fullness of the presence of the risen Son. This is the prescribed way to fish and catch men those lost in sin, misery and despair. Look at the experience on Pentecost Day, and what a change it brought in the lives of these followers of Jesus.

J. B. Philips wrote in his preface to the Acts of the Apostles (The Young Church in Action), "The reader is stirred because he sees Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history. The new-born church, as vulnerable as any human child, having neither money, nor influence, nor power, in the ordinary sense, is setting forth joyfully and courageously to win the pagan world for God through Christ.

"The young church, like all young creatures, is appealing in its simplicity and single-heartedness. Here we are seeing the church in its youth, valiant and unspoiled - a body of ordinary men and women, joined in an unconquering fellowship never seen before on earth. No one can read this book of the Acts of the Apostles without being convinced that there is someone here at work besides mere human beings. . . ."

Well, a big "AMEN" to that! They were equipped to go fishing for men. There was a power at work behind and within their commission and mandate. They were baptized with the Holy Spirit! This was their equipping to be fishers of men.

Why are mainline denominations so scared, so fearful, so opposed to this empowering by the Holy Spirit" If it does not fit into our theology yet, we better make it fit! For it is God's designed way for equipping for fishing for lost souls with the good news of Jesus Christ. The great soul-winner, Andrew Murray, used to say, "Let the church return to Pentecost and Pentecost will return to the church".

Sometimes the catch is big in a short time. Other times, just a few nibbles, or one or two fish are caught in the whole day. Other times the fisherman hauls out one after the other; big ones, too. Sometimes he may make a half dozen trips all the way out to a far fishing place and catch only a few small ones. It appears that neither the long ride or the short ride, nor the large lake or the small lake, nor the big stream or the small creek are the all-important factors for the success of the fishing experience.

Well, that's enough. We will not talk about the big one that got away. Anyhow, what does all this have to say in regard to "Come, follow me; . . ."? What does all this have to say as to witnessing, reaching out for Christ, evangelism, and winning people for Jesus? Well, as we have just stated, be prepared for whatever may be the result of your witness and labour for Jesus. Sometimes it is " Oh, Lord, what a surprise! We caught a couple of big ones - an Ernie Holland, a Charles Colson. Praise the Lord! Some notorious sinners were won for Christ. Hallelujah! Everyone said it was impossible, but look ... it happened! They got caught in the salvation-net and couldn't get away. They took the good news-bait and were brought in!" Other times, yeah, I know; you'll be fishing all night and day with nothing to show; nothing, zero! The disciples knew about such frustrating experiences too. Sometimes Jesus has to call to us from the shore: "Throw your nets out on the other side. Let it down into the deep".

I believe that Jesus is saying this today, too, to all the mainline churches. Christ may well be saying that we've been fishing too long on the wrong side of the boat or in water that's too shallow. And, I trust you will agree, that in such cases there is only one thing to do ... blindly obey Him. For Jesus knows best. And, to your amazement, this time - wow! The net can hardly hold all the fish. The net nearly breaks from the load! This way the church building won't be able to hold all the worshippers, and we'll have to go to two or three services .

Just because we have toiled all night and caught precious little, there is no reason to give up and call it quits. Be prepared for whatever the catch may be. Which means, among other things, t)e prepared for a big haul. There are so many sinners out there; the fields are ripe for the harvest. Oh, Jesus, bring them in: "Bring them in from the fields of sin; bring them in, bring them in, bring the wandering ones to Jesus. Throw out the life line to danger fraught men, sinking in anguish where you've never been: Winds of temptation and billows of woe, will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow. Throw out the life line! Someone is drifting away, someone is sinking today."

How marvelous it is to be made fishers of men by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then to go out on the water where the fish are. Some are easily caught, among them are our children. Others put up a big fight, and it takes a lot of wisdom and ingenuity to haul them in. But it is all worth it.

One final thought: The fisherman catches the fish the way they are, right there in the sea, stream, pond or lake. The fisherman hauls the fish out of the water the way they are: slippery and slimey, heart, liver, stomach, and all. Your hands stink and need a good scrubbing after you've done the cleaning. Even after the cooking you have to be careful of any bones that are left.

Do you see the parallel? Do vou understand the comparison? Once you have caught the sinner in the net of salvation, and you've hauled him into the ship of the church, he or she isn't a shining saint overnight! There is a lot of patient cleaning to be done, and in the process your hands may stink for a while. Mine have, and still do. The justifying takes place in a moment, but the sanctifying takes a lifetime. Give them time to get cleaned up and grow up. They won't right away talk like you, or dress like you, or worship like you, or behave like you or look like you. There is not thing special or wrong about this. Let their clothes be different; let their hair be longer; let their whatever....

Then too, who says that your or my way is the one and only way? That your or my way is the best way? God knows how many new converts have slipped through our fingers because we insisted that they immediately be like us and conform to the way we have been doing things in the church for the last who knows-how-many years. This is not wise! In fact, it is foolish and short-sighted. Instead, we must be understanding, loving, patient and kind in helping the new convert start his walk in the ways of Jesus, in worshipping the King of kings according the New Testament principles and directions. And we are warned about molding them into our man-made traditions and patterns; new wine must be poured into new wine skins.

The early church leaders faced this same problem with new converts coming to the faith in Jesus Christ, and they held a special council meeting in Jerusalem about it (Acts 15). At the conclusion of that historical meeting, the Holy Spirit caused Peter to say: "And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles [yes, they ere these totally different, brand new Christians we are talking about now] by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He had to us. He made no difference between them and us; He forgave their sins because they believed. So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of these believers, which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry?" Thereupon, one of the other leaders, James, replied: "It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." He continued, "Let us write them and tell them to abstain from sexual immorality, from polluted foods and from idol worship." Well, there is no problem with that! That is what turning to God entails. That is what believing in Jesus means. And neither did the new Christians (who were Gentiles) have a problem with that. This was the basis of their new-found faith. No objections!

It all fits in with what we are talking about, with what we look forward to practicing. Think of the hymn, "Just as I am Without One Plea".

We shall see that after obeying the call of Jesus to "Come, follow me;. . ." that these new Christians will be made fishers of men too. Hallelujah to our Saviour and Lord! Hallelujah for His sacrifice! Hallelujah for His plan of redemption! Hallelujah for the great commission and mandate that is ours: "Go into all the world..." (Mark 16:151 8)!

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