JAN 12: 2020
NET PROPHETS
CASTING:
Matthew 4:18-22 “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Mark 1:16-20 While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of people!” So immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat repairing their nets. He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Luke goes into a bit more detail:
Luke 5:1-11 “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”
We understand from Luke’s preface at the beginning of the book that his account is intended to be “in order”
Luke 1:1-4 “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
In light of this “order” priority in Luke’s writing from his “perfect” understanding, it is Interesting to note that in Luke 4:38-39, Peter’s mother had been healed.
Matthew 13:45-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
John 21 (Handy Link)
Key Factors:
They were doing (Matt 24:46)
They were where the fish would be
They were prepared/had the resources
They weren’t lone rangers
All night they toiled
Perseverance
Come follow me
Jesus
It wasn’t just a literal “follow me around” but a “be like me”
Abiding (psalm 91)
Be separate
“I will MAKE”
Jesus takes us and makes us, for His purposes
Spurgeon said “It is not "Follow me, because of what you are already." It is not "Follow me, because you may make something of yourselves;" but, "Follow me, because of what I will make you.”"
Obedience
They forsook all
Even though they’d been going all night they tried the other side
Key part of obedience is playing your part regardless of the outcome that you perceive, or even what even happens and leaving the rest in God’s hands because he is trustworthy!
Purpose and Identity
BID
We can play a part in generating the water - if we’re going out believing there will be waters to fish in, if we go out in unbelief there won’t be
From Phil’s briefing: - John 7:37 out from our innermost being will flow rivers of living water – rivers of living water speaks of overflow of Holy Spirit. When the rivers are in full flow, as per Ezekiel, we need to get in over our head and swim with the flow. Ezekiel also speaks of casting out of nets from the banks of the river.
In other words, the Spirit empowers us to release water everywhere, where there is water there is fish, and where there is fish we can cast our nets in order to catch them. So let’s GO as we are instructed in the authority we’ve been given by the power of the spirit