Where are you fishing; and who are you fishing for?

Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon's and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch." Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee's sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him. [Luke 5:1-11 – The Message Bible]

Even though the description in the Bible for these verses of scriptures is about Jesus calling His disciples, I want us to look at another angle of these same verses. I therefore have entitled it, "Where are you fishing and who are you fishing for?”

Using the boat belonging to Simon Jesus taught the crowd. When He was finished teaching the people, Jesus told Peter to push out into the deep water to let down the nets for a catch. Here was Jesus telling these seasoned fishermen, who had fished all night and caught nothing to go back out into the deep water and let down their net for a catch. Peter protested for they had fished hard all night and perhaps thought to himself that they knew much more than Jesus because this was their trade – their livelihood. However, he would do it, because Jesus told him to. In the scriptures above, we see Peter being obedient and they had such a huge haul of fish that the other boats had to go help them with the catch.

Where are you fishing? Are you fishing close to the shore or are you going out into the deep as Jesus told His disciples? When you are close to the shore, you are in control of what you are able to see. It is when you are out in the deep that you are no longer in control and God has to work through you to bring the lost to Himself. In other words, as you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, He can then do His work through you. We are living in a time when being close to the shore is not going to cut it. We are dealing with men/women who are lovers of themselves and not lovers of God, selfish, self-centered, high-minded, etc. Sad to say that selfishness, self-centeredness, and high-minded attitudes are exactly what is happening in the church also. However, if you are willing to trust God and launch out into the deep and become vulnerable and transparent you will become a fisher of men. It is time out for fishing close to the shore while people are overdosing, committing suicide, killing parents and family members, some are cold and others heartless to the point of getting what they desire in spite of the cost. Please note that it is not because the people necessarily want to be used to kill, steal, and destroy, they are just pawns in the hands of the devil. The Body of Christ has to remember that we are not fighting against flesh and blood [human beings], but principalities, powers, and wicked spirits in heavenly places. BODY OF CHRIST – watch and pray because time is winding down – the day of the Lord's return is closer than when we first believed.

What are you fishing for? Are you fishing for the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the deceitfulness of riches? In other words, are you fishing for celebrity status, the praise of man or flock abuse? Instead, it is time to fish for those who have no knowledge of Christ, e.g., the unchurched, the unloved, the derelicts, the prostitutes, those who were abused and molested as children and now think it is appropriate to live an alternative lifestyle, etc.

I encourage you to launch out into the deep at the prompting of the Holy Spirit and become the fisher of men that God has ordained for you to be.

Prayer: Father, in the Name of Your Precious Son Jesus, I may not always remember that part of my assignment is to be a fisher of men, but I purpose in my heart to be more conscious of the events happening in the world right now and take my rightful place in the Body of Christ to win the lost at any cost. Amen.

Originally published September 1, 2010