|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Return To The Online Bulletin
Main PageThere was once a group of men who were interested
in fishing. From time to time, they would get together to
talk about fishing:
"I'd sure love to catch a big bass!"
"I heard they're biting at the lake across town!"
"I don't see how people use that stink bait --- it stinks!"
Not only would they talk about fishing, but on occasion,
they would make plans to go fishing:
"I'm going to make sure I pack me a lunch."
"I just got my boat engine tuned up, ready to go."
"I'm getting my new rod tomorrow."
"I plan on staying out all day --- sun up to sun down."
Not only would they talk about fishing, and make plans to go
fishing, they even studied about fishing, that they might be
effective fishermen:
"Catfish feed on the bottom."
"The best times are early morning and late evening."
"Some fish are attracted to the bait because of smell."
They continually talked, planned and studied about going
fishing, but never went fishing. Needless to say, no fish
were ever caught!
Unfortunately, the above is sometimes a fit description of God's people in regards to evangelism. We commit plenty of time to talking about evangelism, we make plans/preparation to take the word forth, we even study what methods are the most effective, how best to teach the contacts we find, etc., but if we don't go evangelizing, no contacts will be made, and no souls will be brought to Christ.
TALKING, PLANNING AND
STUDYING ABOUT GOING FISHING ARE ALL GOOD THINGS IN AND OF
THEMSELVES.
There are Bible examples of fishermen who made preparation to go
fishing. It is necessary to mend nets (Matthew 4:21) so that the
fish will not escape through holes. One must keep the nets
clean, lest they begin to rot and decay (Luke
5:2). But the truth of the matter is that
if all we do is mend and wash nets, we will never catch fish.
Thus, fishermen go fishing (Matthew
4:18). That is what fishermen do!
Talking, planning and studying doesn't make one a fisherman ---
fishing does. Having said this, fishermen don't always
catch fish (Luke 5:4-5),
but they do continually go fishing.
If we are to be fishers of men, we will do more than talk, plan and study about fishing for men with the gospel. We will actively fish. We will knock on doors. We will talk with our neighbours, friends, co-workers, family members, grocery clerks, bank tellers, etc, etc.. We will look for opportunities to spread the net of the gospel. Whether there is a catch or not is not ours to be concerned with. We are to cast the net. It is certain that there will never be a catch if we don't cast the gospel net!
"TO EVERYTHING THERE
IS A SEASON..."
Solomon wrote a wonderful text of Scripture, instructing that
there is a time and season for all things (Ecclesiastes
3:1ff). Indeed, there is a time to talk,
plan and study about evangelism. The more we do these
things, presumably the more effective we will be. We
must be conversant in the Scriptures (1
Timothy 4:15-16). We must study so that we
will be prepared to teach others (2
Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15). We need to be
able to tell people who Jesus is (John
1:1, 14), why He came to earth (Luke 19:10), what He did
for man (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
and what He expects of man (Matthew
10:37-39; John 14:15). There is a time to
talk, plan and study, and there is a time to go fishing for men.
WE CANNOT BE PLEASING TO
GOD UNLESS WE FISH!
There are many things which should cause us to go fishing for men:
We are commissioned to go (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Master has given us an example (Luke 19:10; 1 Corinthians 11:1)
We've been given the proper tools for the task (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The impending judgment should compel us (2 Corinthians 5:9-11)
We were lost ourselves --- someone went fishing!! (Epheisans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9-10)
To not do it --- it is sin!! (James 4:17)
At times, we may pull up our nets and find them empty. What do we do? Cast again (Luke 5:1-11). The Lord is responsible for the increase (1 Corinthians 3:5-8)
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT FISHING?
In this week's Answering The Athiest: Why does the Bible include the bat in a list of unclean birds in Leviticus 11:13-19 and Deuteronomy 14:11-18? Is there a contradiction? Visit http://AnsweringTheAtheist.faithweb.com/20010603.htm