Fishers of Men

The previous study, Speak the Word, strongly emphasized the importance of speaking the word received when serving.  It has the ability to minister to others, transforming the heart and soul. 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Matt. 9:38 KJV)
 
We also recognized that God, in his sovereignty, arranges divine encounters with individuals who are hungry for that word.  

The word, for say, becomes “bait” for the hungry soul.  This is why Jesus claimed

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19 KJV)
 
Now I’ve learned a thing or two about fishing during my childhood days, and found them to be very relevant to what Jesus was referring to.
 
We’ve already established that he provides the bait.  Now it’s up to the fisher to make himself available.  That is, make time to go fishing.  
 
Foremost, it’s quite obvious the fisher has no control over the exact time the fish will come along.  Therefore, most fishermen will devout hours for the sport.  The more you constrict your time, the less likely you will land a catch. 
 
Often, we are highly ambitious to reach out and help others, yet only in agreement with our schedule.  We try to promote our agenda until the need subsides, and the opportunity is lost.   
Jesus told a parable of a friend coming to his friend at midnight, asking for help.  Jesus claimed the common response is usually

… Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything. (Luke 11:18 NIV)
 
I’ve come to recognize that there is no better timing then the existing time.  If God sent someone my way, it’s up to myself to let him use me, or lose the opportunity.  In order to be useful in his kingdom, it's best to make his agenda priority. Most of the time, it's interruptions to your task at hand.  Yet when you study the lives and ministry of Jesus and the apostles, they were always interrupted, and that's when God moved.

Another thing I’ve learned, is you have no control over the kind of fish that comes your way.  Whether it’s big or small, young or old, etc.  Every fisherman wants to catch the choice, big fish for instance, yet we know that’s often not the case.  
 
Jesus states,
 
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38 NIV)

Notice: will come to me

Jesus understood that everyone who came to him, was divinely sent by the father.  Every encounter was set by his father.  He lived surrendered to the will of the father, making himself available, accepting those that came his way, turning no one away.  

There was an instance in Christ’s ministry, when children were brought to him.  The disciples got upset, and began to rebuke those that brought them, but Jesus did not allow it.  He said let them come to me.  
Again, he knew his circumstances were all divinely appointed.  He simply spoke the word and the word did the ministering to the hungry.  

Likewise, Jesus also correlated the hungry to lambs and sheep who depend on a shepherd for food...

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. (John 21:17 NKJV)

And to a harvest in need of laborers…

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt. 9:38 NKJV)
 

 

Supporting Text

...and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)

The Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. (John 5:19 BSB)

 

The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. (Is. 50:4 NKJV)