Fear Fishing

// INTRO & RECAP

Key Verse:

​We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Key Points:

Demolish Pride

Every Thought Obeys Christ

The biggest battle to fear is battling myself.

When I humble myself and no longer worry about what man thinks about me, it is easier to overcome fear!

Pray

Tonight’s Message: Fear Fishing

1. FEAR TO FISH

Jesus First Words

The first words that Jesus speaks to His disciples are...

Mark 1:16–17 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

The whole purpose of following Jesus is be, “fishers of men.”

This is why one of the biggest fears we are going to face as a Christian is going to be the fear of man and sharing the gospel with men.

Jesus Final Words

Acts 1:6–9 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Jesus affirms the original reason for Him calling His disciples - to be witnesses everywhere you go!

From the beginning to the end Jesus pushes us to tell the world about The Gospel

The Gospel = “the good news”

Life was “perfect” - we had a perfect relationship with God

Sin broke perfection - Adam and Eve disobeyed God, knowing the consequences, and thus cause a separation between God and man

God loved us so much that He wanted that intimacy back - He asked his perfect Son, Jesus, to take our place

Jesus agreed, our intimacy was restored - but it’s still a choice whether we accept it or not

Free Gift Skepticism

Imagine that you are walking down the street and a total stranger is handing out FREE CANDY.

How many would take the candy without questioning it?

How many would ask questions about the candy?

This is the same scenario as the gospel. The good news is so good that some people just can’t accept it right away, they need to walk through the process - this is discipleship!

2. FEAR OF GOD’S GOODNESS

Jonah 1:1–3 ESV

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah 1–3 ESV

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” 10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. 1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah is called to go help the Ninevites find their way to God

Jonah runs, not away from Nineveh, he runs away from the presence of the Lord.

Fear Costs:

time

money

distance

health

Why did Jonah want to run away from God’s presence?

Jonah

Jonah 3:10–4:2 ESV

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah knew that God was a God of mercy, and that even in Jonah’s obedience, it wouldn’t be the result that he wanted.

History: The people of Nineveh were direct enemies of the people of Israel (Jonah’s people). Jonah was excited to go deliver the message to the enemy in hopes that God would wipe out the enemy. HOWEVER, Jonah knew that God was “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, relenting from disaster.” This meant that Jonah wasn’t going to his (selfish) result.

The people of Ninveh

Jonah’s Cry For God’s Mercy

Jonah 2:1–10 CSB

1 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: 2 I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice. 3 You threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All your breakers and your billows swept over me. 4 But I said, “I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look once more toward your holy temple. 5 The water engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 I sank to the foundations of the mountains, the earth’s gates shut behind me forever! Then you raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God! 7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cherish worthless idols abandon their faithful love, 9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord.” 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

vs 7 - Jonah’s life was fading away, he was dying, and his life was flashing before his eyes. Jonah realized that he didn’t fulfil his purpose in life and he cried out to God for another chance.

vs 10 - Jonah’s repentance moves God to move!

Jonah 2:10 ESV

10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

The fish was provided to save Jonah from death. Sometimes the things that save us, we mistake as things to hurt, punish, limit us.

3. LEARN TO FISH

Last week: we learned not to fear man and we have to kill the pride in our lives first.

This week: I’m doubling down, we have to get rid of the fear of man and fear God only!

Matthew 10:32–33 ESV

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Are you more afraid of man knowing you or God knowing you?

Top 3 Fears of Sharing the Gospel

Messing Up

Rejection

Persecution

Messing Up

1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Prepare, Practice, Preach

A daily life in God’s word, memorizing verses along the way is the best & easiest way to overcome this fear

Ephesians 6:15 ESV

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:14 ESV

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

readiness = hĕtŏimasia, het-oy-mas-ee´-ah; preparation

To have peace in these difficult situation, you have to have a solid/prepared foundation

Rejection

John 15:18 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Know that you are the messenger and it’s not your message, it’s Gods!

Persecution (Teasing)

Matthew 5:11 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Psalm 23:4–5 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Even if (this is a big IF) everyone deserted you, is your relationship with God enough?

CHALLENGE

Think of one person in your life that you know they don’t have a relationship with Jesus

Reach out to them this week and invite them to get together

Start the process of discipling them

Discipleship = the process of training people in steps

**this means it’s not a one & done situation or that you have to know everything right away — it’s a process

Key Verse:

​We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Key Points:

Demolish Pride

Every Thought Obeys Christ