fishers'o'men wharf
He said to them
" Follow me... and I will make you fishers of men"
and they left everything and followed..
BAIT?
how to fish in the darkness
His life
was
the light
of
men
I
am
the
light
of
the
world
those
who
do
evil
hate
the
light
put
on
the
armour
of
light
To start
let us be aware
Today fishermen prefer a rod and reel and like the
solitude... quietness... the sport... the bragging...
The fun in the sun carefree but solemn day
fish don't talk back... they get caught... got-ya!
Man conquers His prey
In the time of Jesus
It was a bit more serious they fished for sustenance
food to eat... for themselves and to sell
Laboring long days... backbreaking... disappointing
faithfully dependent on the wind... exposed to the weather...
they fished with nets and they had to work together
with at least two boats and crews
The order of the day was very well ordered team work
When Jesus called Peter to fish for men
they knew it was not to be a life of ease...
we may see this as a calling of one man
but they were two sets of brothers that were
partners... fishermen all... working together was their lives
Jesus first four disciples were already a team united as brothers and fishing business partners
Maybe a little too much scuttle-butt was spoken hence the title given by Jesus
"The sons of thunder"
that said...
Let us "prepare" to leap into the darkness
and let us take preparation very seriously
The twelve spent about three years before being sent and they were with the son of God
with first hand teaching and observation
they were well prepared
or He would not have sent them... their success
was based not on their ability but
in the ability to obey and do what they were shown...
They could because they couldn't...
So how do we enter the darkness when we're sent...
We are the light of the world
in the reflection of His light
We are light reflecting the light of Jesus
relationship speaks to the extent of His light
no place for bushels to hide here... more than candle sticks
We need light and a matchstick or
a candle may be blown out...
What is the composition of "The City on a Hill"
What is first and foremost... the requirement is prayer... igniting the heart afire to be seen by all
They were with Him as we can be with Him
in praying before we are sent
and that desire to be in what He called us to do
Praying during or in the labor of love
Two or more
one speaks... one prays the other speaks now the other prays
We need light and lots of it don't assume...
because you can see that the lost can...
they are blinded by selfishness
Light leads the way in the darkness
The light of His love
lighting the fire and keeping it burning
all in prayer to ignite hearts
Now we pierce the darkness together
a crew collected and sent by Jesus
as it was then as it is now... nothing has changed
we now can bring light... into those God has set before us
or who are drawn to us by God
casting out the darkness in their souls
remember Jesus told Peter come
yet this obedience is far greater
than walking on water
are we ready... to go out deep...
but not one minute before we're prepared and prayed up...
lasting relationships begin in the motive...
that is God leading by hearing and obeying...
not by manled feeble to induce the mind but
by obedience to to hear and lead with the light of His love...
when the heart is ignited it has opportunity to burn forever
hoist the sail let us observe what's over the horizon
the blind... the lost await...
"The Harvest is ripe!"
alright let us pray... light up the hearts
Praying for the laborers... who include us
Angels needed here... we're praying together daily
looks like they'll still running... when we arrive
we're listening... to push out now Lord?
The City on the hill is mobil in two or more
Ahoy mate!
Let us enter the darkness!
your
light
must
shine
before
men
they
stumble
because
they
have
no
light
he
that
follows
me
shall
not
walk
in the
dark
rejoice
in
His
light
GETTING YOUR FEET WET
holding hands
and
going in together
The harvest is indeed ripe
and the laborers are few… very few…
the first condition of fishing in the dark is this is not
a one man show… Jesus sent them out two by two
More than two is… more than ok!
We need a path shown by blazing light
like hearts afire piercing the darkness
“This comes with more prayer”
The next factor or throwing our net is where do we begin
Jesus answered that as well
begin praying for the laborers the need to pray is great
and affords us great light
A. Because the harvest belongs to Jesus
B. It is Him who sends us… so choosing us is measurable
as to how important we are to Him as we are created for
this purpose… ergo it’s personal
C. We cannot go without Him so hearing a step by step
plan He has made is essential
D. The simple desire to be with Him and hear His voice
is a privilege… more worthy than life
E. And so it is entrusted for at least two praying together
(Keeping in mind it was many highly gifted men
encompassed by a body of believers that heard and selected
Paul and Barnabas and than continued to pray for direction before sending them)
“Net throwing lessons available at the wharf”
not nearly enough said about preparing or practicing
nets with holes need to be mended
mending… sending and tending
tots don’t get to drive big boats
Yes prayer is the basis for our relationship to God and everything we do… and in view of being sent… quintessential
So we pray in the darkness for the light of His love to shine on our path… about us are the angels and through us the light of His love…
we launch out together…
into the fray… We have begun…
while the is still light
WHERE DO WE CAST OUR NETS?
where ever Jesus says too
did
ya
miss
the
boat
did
ya
fall
in
THE FISHERMEN ARE FEW VERY FEW
TOOLS
The listening obedient faithful on fire hearts
The tools of the trade are highly symbolic
1. The Rod or Pole
do we cast out… wave it to be seen…
hang a sign… protect ourselves?
or is it about the line what kind of line
what we say results in the example they will be
we must be led by the spirit therefore prayed up with no game plan
every person is unique to God and we must trust that He has the words
to free the soul
2. The Gaff
shall we hook’em… or is it they need to hook us
for what we have exceeds any and all of what ever they have
3. The Net
The only thing that needs to be thrown down
is us on our faces praying in preparation
so the reference is that there needs to be more than one of us… two or more
4. Foul Weather Gear
Jesus already instructed us no baggage
it’s a come as you are…
I’m your provision
CREW
unity totally integrated into God
A crew begins in the most crucial of circumstances
where and when there is a need for total
cooperation and in a timely manor
the individual or the uniqueness of skill
plays no part in a crew
it’s all in cooperation each doing their part
to make it work personhood of self
has no part or place in a crew
it is in it’s tightly integrated workings
doing everything together as one
with no ego and only the working to accomplish
the responsibility of the job… laboring to
fulfill in it’s total agreement the attainment of it’s goal together
the purpose of a crew is the need to achieve
what one man cannot on His own
collaboration or laboring together is an
alliance an association and most
importantly realized it’s a
relationship
the nameless faceless are seen as one
Membership available dial
P-R-A-Y-E-R
TIMING
a moment away from eternity
God has always had a people
simply because He created us but
what of the timing and the question of alignment
God has a plan… He is never late!
You were born according to God’s plan
almost impossible to see or believe
in this self-centered world
that is blind to God and therefore His timing
but from the beginning yes there was a beginning and the quickly arriving end
The time table of God goes unseen in the
world because it has it’s own
excuse me billions of agendas
God is God for those that receive His love…
have opportunity to both see and
be apart of what He is doing in the Earth
conviction comes with drawing close to Him
as He drew close to the Father
while He was here…
Prayer causes us to hear to listen…
to know His voice and nothing
yes nothing will ever have a lasting affect if its not according to His
and His alone… will.. in His timing
“All the questions that could be or would be asked
are answered in ya' wanna fish for men...
Follow Me”
FOLLOWING
eyes on
Jesus
treading watchfully
in's and out's ups and downs
watch your step
it's a very narrow path
we write led by the
Spirit
FISHMONGER ENTERPRISES
Pray for the laboring fishermen
praying daily as they are fishing daily
two or more fishing two or more praying together
anyone looking for lessons?
HOW TO WALK ON WATER
"someone said a fisher'o'men did"
FISHER'O'MEN
BEWARE!
Discernment needed... there is another kind of fish out there
