Fisher of Men

Matthew 4:18-20 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. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

My story is a little different from Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother’s. For one thing, Jesus did not walk up to me and say “Brenda come follow me.” It happened one morning while I was walking to my job and it was the Holy Spirit who said to me “You are going to be a fisher of men- the right way.” Although I was a believer at the time I was not yet beyond making poor decisions if you know what I mean. Like my pastor says “You’ll catch that one around midnight!” 

Perhaps there is a lot different between me and them because I didn’t walk away from my net as Simon called Peter did- oh, and Andrew his brother. I continued to spend about four hours a day commuting by bus to and from a job where I spent eight or more hours with half a handful of people that hated me. And yes half a handful is a real measurement. You see there were only a handful of employees at the office where I worked and half of that handful hated me. Unfortunately half of that half handful included my boss. But whatever, I’m a big girl and if you know anything about big girls it’s the fact that we like to eat. So I was persecuted; I mean I persevered. Oh, yes, my kids needed to eat too.

I thought about what the Holy Spirit said. Sure I did- for a little while. I did ask Him if He was sure about what He said. I understood He knew everything about me- but so did I. I asked again, “Lord are you sure?’ Not right then but several times along the way. I didn’t hear anything else about being a fisher of men. I certainly didn’t bring it up either. Well not until about two years later. By then it was ten months after I was fired from that old job. I didn’t forsake it so it forsook me. I’m not complaining because my spiritual growth took off by leaps and bounds, and the Lord made some miraculous provision for me. That job I now know was an idol and a weight that beset me. But let’s get back to fishers.

Like I said I didn’t bring it up again but the Holy Spirit did when I was in Atlanta, Ga. Trust and believe the Holy Spirit will not forget anything He told you. Needless to say neither will you! I was at the 2013 Prophetic Scribal Advance looking up one scripture and then another about being a fisher of men caught my eye. I, being a semi research-a-holic, used my handy dandy Bible App to look up the words fishers and net in the same scripture. Three scriptures came up: Isaiah 19:8, Ezekiel 47:10, and Luke 5:2. Since it came up first I proceeded to read the Isaiah scripture: The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brook shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. I don’t know about you but none of that sounded appealing. I did not care to mourn, lament or languish. “Are you sure, Lord, you want me to be a fisher?” I then read the next scripture, Ezekiel 47:10- And it shall come to pass, that fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. I was excited that things were beginning to look up; no mourning, lamenting, or languishing in this scripture! Hold that thought and take a look at Luke 5:2. Actually look at Luke 5:1 first- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret. People should want to press upon you to hear the word of God; not the latest gossip. I thought I would throw that in there in case you know of some gossipers, or people that murmur.

Anyway, Luke 5:2 And saw two ships standing by that lake; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. After reading that I thought, Lord, I’ve been washing my nets for two years! Not even that, I had been thinking about my nets and preparing to use my net once I figured out what my nets were to do all this fishing the Holy Spirit was talking about. Among other things I was taking a ministry class and learning this and learning that and the Holy Spirit convicted me one day and said “That’s good and all but how many souls have you saved? How many fish or men have you caught for me?”

Luke 5:4 Now when He has left speaking, He said unto Simon (Brenda or you) launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. Really the only thing I could say is “Master I have been toiling for years trying to figure out what my nets are and doing all this preparation for it once I figured it out. Not only that I’ve been trying to figure out how to use them, when, who would let me use them, and who am I to think I had nets anyway?” 

Oh, my how the list of excuses went on and on. Excuses are like noses; everyone has one and you can smell their stink from a mile away. The goal is to be a sweet savor unto the Lord and I was more like rotting fish with all the excuses I had. Still, I asked “Lord, don’t you remember who I am?” He answered “Didn’t you research-a-holic Ezekiel 47:10 where it says “There shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.” I tried to be offended and say “Lord why you gotta come at me like that all hard reminding me of Your word that I just read. You know I got issues!”

Apparently exceeding many have the same issues! No wonder we are to confess our faults to one another and pray for each other so we can be healed. Getting saved is healing. I knew then it was my mission to save big girls that like snacks! We could pray over cupcakes while we are being delivered. So when the church has an influx of people that like snacks don’t blame me; take it up with Father in your prayer closet. It’s not my fault you like Lean Cuisine and I don’t- yet. Seriously, we are all washing our nets and should be saying “At thy word, Master.”  Instead we stand on the shore afraid to launch into the deep. 

What happens when we fail to launch? Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of man snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Lives are taken up in an evil net when we hesitate to launch into the deep; they get caught in snares.  When believers hesitate to launch and cast their nets evil doers greedily cast theirs.

Habakkuk says this in chapter 1 verses 13-17: Thou are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look upon iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? And makest man as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat is plenteous. Shall they therefore empty their net and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. At thy word, Lord… We should all launch into the deep and let down our nets to experience the kingdom of heaven here on earth and gather every kind. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior; who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of truth. Jesus is that truth. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Tell someone about Jesus and set them free.

This is a kingdom catch and release program. Each of us has a net, a God given gift to catch people and bring them into the kingdom and release them into the freedom of Jesus and the grace and mercy of God. I am willing to bet that your net is disguised as something you do so naturally and without much effort or thought that you take it for granted and don’t consider it a God given gift. Don’t get caught washing your nets. Get into the boat and launch into the deep. There are exceeding abundant fish waiting to hear about the truth.