Transformed to Be Fishers of Men: A Life of Uncompromising Faith

Jesus chose ordinary people, not the educated or wealthy, to be his disciples.

He commissioned them to become 'fishers of men', a difficult task that required humility and faith.

Jesus' message of repentance and faith in the gospel was simple and uncompromising.

He rejected the idea that success and wealth were measures of a person's worth or closeness to God.

The The title of this message today is called True Believers in Jesus Christ Are Transformed to be Fishers of Men. We are going to open in Mark chapter 1, beginning in verse 14, and see how Jesus' ministry began with a handful of chosen disciples. The word declares, Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The appointed period of time is fulfilled, completed, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent. Have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better. And believe, trust in and rely on, adhere to the good news of the gospel. Verse 16. And passing along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon Peter and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net to and fro into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Come after me and be my disciple, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Verse 18, with the hired men and went on after him to be his disciples, side with his party, and follow him. What we see here, where John, James, Peter, and Andrew were all fishermen, but Jesus commissioned them to become fishers of men. Fishing, we have to understand, was a difficult work, and those who were engaged in it were considered to be uncultured. The occupation of fishermen was one of the most shameful occupations. Most of the disciples were Galileans at this time, and all of the twelve evidently were. They were identified by their rural appearance and by their accent. We see this in Matthew chapter 26, verse 73, when we read, After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you. You see, the Galileans had difficulty pronouncing certain words when speaking, so they were looked down upon by people of Jerusalem as being a native of the province where they were not sophisticated and educated. Jesus acted contrary to any human expectations because he did not choose those who were highly educated or humanly wise the wise of this earth were and are too proud of their knowledge and it's far more difficult to build the kingdom of God where there is already a wrong structure or a mix in belief systems Jesus knew that they would call the gospel foolishness and we know this because in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 23 Apostle Paul said We preach Christ the Messiah crucified preaching which to the Jews is a scandal and an offense, a stumbling block that springs a snare or a trap and to the Gentiles it is an absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. Jesus knew that the educated and worldly wise would have to put aside their control of power which they exercised to show love that was now required for the attainment of salvation found only in him. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, verse 8, love never fails, never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end for as prophecy, the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose it will be fulfilled and pass away as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease as for knowledge, it will pass away and it will lose its value and be superseded by truth Jesus knew that pride and power are the two greatest obstacles to believing in the kingdom of God and would not come into being through merely understanding it nor through a violent act of demanding or forcing it upon people. Jesus' message is simple and could not be adulterated when he said, Repent and believe the gospel in Mark's gospel found in chapter 1, Verse 15, our Lord did not choose the rich and those who held esteemed offices or prestigious positions in life. An overabundance of material possessions and wealth leads many to drunkenness, debauchery, perversion, and an incapability to know who or what one truly is in Jesus Christ. success in people's lives is misconstrued as more than enough but often proves very disastrous in the end and Jesus makes this adequately clear when he said in Matthew's gospel chapter 19 verse 23 and 24 Jesus said to his disciples truly I say to you it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven And again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven. Well another account that we see this parallel scripture in is found in Luke chapter 12, beginning in verse 13. Someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. Jesus said, Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbitrator between you? Then he said to them, Watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And he told them this parable. The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. And he thought to himself, What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. verse 18 and then he said this is what I do I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns and there I will store all my grain and all my goods And I say to myself you have plenty of good things laid up for many years Take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, you fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? and this is how it will be with everyone, anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God. Wow. You see, one's possessions become such a part of an individual. It shields their ability and make it hard to see there is something better that is worthwhile and it is called eternal life. We see this so well described by our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke's gospel in chapter 18, beginning in verse 18. A certain ruler asked him, Good teacher, you who are essentially and perfectly morally good, what shall I do to inherit eternal life, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom? Jesus said to him, Why do you call me essentially and perfectly morally good? No one is essentially and morally good except God alone. You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not witness falsely. Honor your father and your mother. And he replied, All of these things I have kept for my youth. And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, One more thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have. Divide the money among the poor. and you will have a rich treasure in heaven and come back and follow me, become my disciple, join my party and accompany me. But when he heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful for he was rich exceedingly so. Jesus observing him said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus did not choose religious or pious people who observed a strict adherence and devotion to the religious ways the Lord Jesus in Luke's account in chapter 18 beginning in verse 18 gave a parable that fits this very well you know it seems really fitting that he would go to these places because it seems logical that this is where religious and holy people would be found right? Well the Lord knew that the Pharisees' traditional piety was neither genuine nor true because it was really all about themselves. They were hypocrites and to them the most important thing was not God's word as originally given but the traditions of the elders. Look with me in Matthew chapter 15, beginning in verse 2, to see what the Lord said about them. Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat. Jesus replied, Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? And God said, Honor your father and mother. Anyone who curses his father and mother must be put to death. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God. He is not to honor his father with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites. Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. Verse 8. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Their teachings are but rules taught by men. Even today, it is easier to bring someone to Jesus Christ who has never heard of him than one who is wrapped up in false Christian tradition in error. Jesus did not choose the politicians either when he first chose his disciples. If he had chosen political leaders from among the Romans, the Jews would have been excluded. and if it were from the Jews, the Romans and Gentiles would be excluded. Jesus came to offer salvation to all people. The Lord's main concern was to give the immediate understanding that the gospel that he came to bring and preach was for everyone, for the whole world, although first opportunity was given to the Jews. still an enigma remains in Christ's choice of his first 12 disciples why did he choose fishermen? who would ever choose fishermen for leadership? listen to what 1 Corinthians chapter 1 beginning in verse 26 tells us in God's choice of selection the word declares for simply consider your own call brethren Not many of you were considered to be wise according to human estimates and standards, and not many influential and powerful, not many of a high noble birth. Verse 27, no, for God selected, deliberately chose what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. and God also selected, deliberately chose what is in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt even the things which are nothing that he might depose and bring to nothing the things that are verse 29 so that no mortal man should have pretense and glory and boast in the presence of God Jesus chose fishermen also because of the contempt and neglect that they had experienced in their lives. He wanted to prove that the foolishness of God is wiser than man and the weakness of God is stronger than man. In 1 Corinthians 1, beginning in verse 24, we see the answer. But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek, Gentile, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Verse 25, this is because the foolish thing that has its source in God is wiser than man, and the weak thing that springs from God is stronger than men. Verse 26, for simply consider your own call, brethren. Not many of you were considered to be wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, and not many of high noble birth. We just read this, but it's a repetition, and repetition is good. Verse 27. No, for God selected, deliberately chose what in the world is foolish, to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak, to put the strong to shame. And God also selected, deliberately chose what is in the world, is lowborn, insignificant, and branded, and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing. he might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, so that no mortal man should have pretense for glorying and boast in the presence of God Well verse 25 explanation gives us a look at it in this way and it says, The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. The meaning of this strong expression is that the things that God appoints, or whatever causes to happen, which seem to men as foolishness, are infinitely beyond the highest degree of human wisdom and the marvelous works of God, which appear to superficial foolish observers to be weak and contemptible, but yet all of these surpass all the efforts of human power and thinking and judgment. Hallelujah. You see, by means by which God is appointed for the salvation of all people, it is so beyond human understanding and are beyond mere creatures of quay understanding because they are so wisely planned and so passionately powerful for all who diligently obey them. those who do obey God's commands and ways are done out of respect and love and honor for their precious Savior and appreciation for what he has done for them in his supreme sacrifice upon the cross these shall be incapable of failing and shall be brought to the final end of their long awaited hope and enter into the eternal kingdom which he has promised to all who believe and obey his commands as long as they remain faithful to the end. Our precious Lord wanted to show that he can use anybody if he or she will simply conform to his image and make themselves available. Jesus calls not those on whom he can build, But he calls those whom he can become the very foundation of their lives. The greatest misunderstanding of the calling of the Lord is that he wants what we think we are and what we have in order to build on us. Many people mistakenly think because they have a good memory for scripture, an outgoing charismatic personality, are handsome or beautiful or rich. Have something extra special to offer God in the mission of winning souls for his kingdom. But remember, any of the above mentioned are all personality traits and gifts given by God. But you must understand as well, many times these things are perverted for wrong use. Christ's building must not be built on any human foundation Jesus Christ must be the foundation Jesus doesn't want us because of what we are and what we have He wants us for what He can mold and shape us into and that is in His image In Matthew chapter 4 verse 19 Jesus said to His disciples come after me as disciples letting me be your guide follow me and I will make you fishers of men and they followed him at once dear listener this involves our willingness to come and leave everything behind our building will be on a supernatural structure a foundation that has already been built and laid by our Lord Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 beginning in verse 10 the word declares by the grace God has given me I laid a foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it but each one should be careful how he builds for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that's already built which is Jesus Christ verse 12 and if any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stone, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. Verse 14, If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. And if it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. To become a fisherman depends basically on the Lord as far as the foundation is concerned, but it also depends on how we build on it. When Jesus called his disciples, he spoke to them saying, Come after me. And this was something that was the initial and necessary act of everybody who answers the call. This was a starting point in each true believer's life. They were called. The second was to be that we must be separated unto Christ so that we may learn and grow in him and know his heart in all matters of our lives. And this is called being chosen. Then we must live in him that we may heed the precious Holy Spirit's leading We must believe him and what he says in the word of God. And then we must learn to obey him in everything that is commanded in the holy book of life so that we may learn his heart and ways of reaching people. And this is called true transformation. This is called being sent. We must copy our Lord's life so that we may receive his blessings from God our Father and his Father. When Jesus called his disciples, he said, I will make you fishers of man. Then it is here, dear one, that something is to be done by God. I will make you is saying that by following Jesus Christ, this act on our part, He will make us into the vessels fit to win souls for the kingdom of God. He continues to teach us by our personal experience by following him. By an inward unction, he guides us in what and when and where to speak and to whom we speak. Remember, it is by his Holy Spirit who lives within you that he makes us competent and capable to reach people when witnessing. And it should not be on our own power and strength, but by the Holy Spirit's leading. Being a fisherman who is sent by the Lord means that they possess certain qualities. This means they are dependent and trustful. They are dependent upon the Holy Spirit for his leading and for his actions in the conversation. with people that they meet in sharing the gospel. They are trustful with the Word of God and not defiling the truth of Scripture. And they are diligent and persevering in the work that God has given them They are watchful and successful with those that they reach There is a saying the work is in your hands but the results are not I think of a dream that comes to mind in one of the times that God had an individual in mind when he pre-planned a meeting in which I would encounter a person the next day that he wanted me to witness to. And the dream was this. I was sitting in a passenger side of a vehicle, which seemed like a third world nation. Next, I saw a woman coming towards the car in which I was sitting. I got out of the car to meet her face to face, asking her if she knew the Lord Jesus Christ. I put my forehead against her forehead and said to her, The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and awaits you to come to him so he can save you. She reared back from me and said, I can choose hell if I want to. And the Lord spoke to me in the dream and said, And if she chooses hell, it is not your burden to bear or carry. And this is where the work, dear church, is in your hands, but the results are not. So now, that is my dream. And the rest of the story is the next day. My husband and Lee and I took an elderly woman to a doctor appointment. While she was in the doctor's office, there was no one else sitting in the waiting room but Lee and I. And suddenly a man and a woman walked in, and the woman was soon called by the nurse for her time to see the doctor. As the man was sitting there, I heard the Holy Spirit say, Now share your dream with this man. I was surprised but out of obedience I asked the man his name and we both Lee and I engaged in conversation with him I knew or felt beforehand that he was a Muslim he said his name was John I said John my Lord my God the Holy Spirit tells me to share a dream with you that I had last night and I proceeded to tell him my dream and all of a sudden the man's face became red with anger and the veins stood out on the side of his neck and he said you mean I have to choose Jesus Christ so I will not have to go to hell I said yes John that is correct I said to the Lord within my spirit Lord how will you get us out of this one I know that I've heard your voice Dear listener, all of a sudden the door to the doctor's office opened up and people flooded in and the woman that we brought to her appointment opened the door to the waiting room and announced I'm ready to go I said to John, goodbye John, it was nice meeting you and we left and as we approached the elevator I heard the spirit of the Lord say that was one more time I have called him Dear listener the last thing to be mentioned in being a fisher of men is that these people are daring and not afraid to venture upon a dangerous sea. At the time this account was taking place it seemed like a dangerous sea but hearing from the Holy Spirit makes the angry sea calm and peaceful within your heart. When Peter and the others were out endeavoring to catch fish after the Lord's resurrection, they weren't having great success until Jesus called out from the shore and told them where to cast their nets. When they obeyed the Lord, they caught 153 fish. Jesus had taught them that they could do nothing without him. John chapter 15, beginning in verse 5, Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches whoever lives in me and I in him bears much abundant fruit however apart from me cut off from vital union with me you can do nothing if a person does not dwell in me he is thrown out like a broken off branch and withers such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and they are burned verse 7 if you live in me abide vitally united to me and my words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask what you will and it shall be done for you. Verse 8. When you bear and produce much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of mine. I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Abide in my love. Continue in his love with me. If you keep my commandments, if you continue to obey my instructions, You will abide in my love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed my Father's commandments and live on in his love. Verse 11, I have told you these things, that my joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be full measure and complete and overflowing. Verse 12, this is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love, no one has shown stronger affection than to lay down, give up his life for his friends. You are my friends if you keep on doing the things I command you to do. I do not call you servants and slaves any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing or is working out. But I have called you my friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from him verse 16 you have not chosen me but I have chosen you I have appointed you I have planted you that you might go out and bear fruit and keep on bearing that your fruit may be lasting that it may remain abide so that whatever you ask the father in my name as presenting all that I am he may give to you and this is what I command you that you love one another. You see, doing the work of God in winning souls for the kingdom of God must not be apart from his direction and blessing. Our continued prayer for those whom we share the gospel with should be that they are made alive in Jesus Christ. People are first called, then chosen, and finally they are faithful in their journey and salvation walk until the end of their lives, where each one will receive their greatest reward, which is called eternal life. Let's all take heart and heed the words of our Lord when he said, I will make you fishers of men. Let's be diligent to watch and guard our own souls and hearts and grow in the admonition of the Lord so we can be truly worthy of serving our precious Savior in being fishers of men for his kingdom's sake.

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