Let's Go Fishing!

Psalm 27:11-14 / Matthew 4:12-25

Unexpected audience

Isaiah 9: The Child born to us, but who is us?

Isaiah 9:1-2 “1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Unqualified Fishermen

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Ruth, David, The Samaritan woman, Cornelius, James, Paul, Ethiopian Eunuch

1 Message; 3 Results

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Lost people saved

Physical healings

Matthew 9:5 “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

Demon oppressions

Matthew 12:29 “Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”

crowds gathered

Saved people called & gathered

It’s both a new start, and a continuation

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Isreal called the assembly, and the congregation as early as Exodus

I will make you fishers of men

It is a new start for the disciples

Next up is sermon on the mount (charging the newly forming congregation)

This is the truth about the “institution” of the New Testament church; it was very organic, yet shows us elements that carry forth today; not unlike the Covenant Ceremony at Sinai

Jesus didn’t institute the church in a formal way; rather He built it.

Rejection

We know that not all the crowd would remain

John 6:66–68 ESV

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Let’s Go Fishing!

Waiting for God does not mean sitting back

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Get our own limitations out of the way

Galilee of the Gentiles

King David

John 4 - Samaritan Woman

Us

Use the right bait

What you win them with is what you win them to.

The Gospel is key. The Word. Worship. Not form.

Change will come

It is inevitable with time and people

God will bless our efforts

If we are following God, HE is making us fishers; HE is gathering the fish.

Church Family, It has always been The Lord who builds His church. Our church family needs restoration and growth, so let’s go forward in gospel encouragement and be fishers of people for Jesus!