Search This Blog

Friday, January 21, 2011

01-21-11 (Day 5&6) Matthew 4:19 - bottom line

Day 5 & 6

Matthew 4:19
“Come follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

See:
Come – we have to do something. An effort is required on our part. Stepping forward towards Christ.
Follow me – remembering the definitions looked up.  This too requires action.  We must do as He does.
Make – he will do this.  We must follow Him, but at some point during that He is molding and will complete molding us into
Fisher of men – someone who is capable and chooses to (by God’s grace and power alone) lead others to Christ.

Search:
Who?  Who is this verse to, from?  The verse is from Jesus and is to those who would answer… me.
What?  What are we when called?  What will He make us if we follow?  We are unqualified sinners.  He will use this lack of qualification to glorify Himself in us by making us into what we cannot make our selves.  Fishers of men.
Where?  Where is this done?  Where will we lead others?  This is done everywhere there are hearts that yearn to be lead by Christ.  We will lead others as we once were lead to Jesus; to salvation in the Son of God; to Heaven.
Why?  Why follow?  Why make us Fishers of men?  Why be fishers of men?  Souls need saving like the sick need doctoring.  There is no other need than where something is broken (our relationship with God), it needs fixing.
How?  How do we follow?  How does He make us fishers of men?  We follow Him by reading His word and applying it daily to our lives and the lives of those around us through the power of His Holy Spirit living mightily in us.  He makes us fishers of men through time and growth that we would one day come to realize how much others also need that which we have and that we would grow in faith and trust the Lord to witness to them through us.  This can be a process of time walking with Jesus, or it can be immediate. 
So what?:
If what I have observed is true, what difference would/should it make?
If while following after Jesus, He will make me a fisher of men, then I should be following after Jesus.
If while following after Jesus, He will make me a fisher of men, then He is making me a fisher of men.
I am a fisher of men when I let others see and hear me following after Jesus and I chose to salt the oats.  This is fishing.


FIND THE BOTTOM LINE:
We must do as Jesus has instructed us.  We must tell others about the Gospel.

SPECK
Sin to avoid:
Being lazy.  Not following His word daily. Ignoring opportunity to witness.
Promise to claim?
If I follow, He “will” make me a fisher of men.
Example to follow?
Christ gave His everything that we may be captured in His love.  We should follow after His example letting nothing hinder our goal to reach others.
Command to obey?
Follow Jesus. 
Knowledge to believe?

Following Him is possible through His Holy Spirit.  Becoming a fisher of men is something that God does in us and therefore it is not natural.  Do not listen to the flesh thus as it is deceitful and will be used by satan to lead you astray from the Lord’s will.  The Lord will use you supernaturally.  Believe, have faith that the Holy Spirit will work through you.  It is not you who saves, but the Lord through you.  Allow yourself to be more useful. 

No comments:

Post a Comment