Geraint Jones
Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 187
Location: Cardiff
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 Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:48 am Post subject: 'Threefold Gift of God' Rev Ed - Pt 3 Ch 6: Fishers of Men |
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| Quote: | CHAPTER VI.
FISHERS OF MEN.
"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." - MATT. iv. 19.
THE blessed Lord was raised from the dead that He might carry out and fulfil the purposes for which He made sacrifice of Himself. Instead of exercising this power alone, He invites redeemed and saved men to fellowship or partnership with Himself in the great work which is near His heart. He said, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach" (or make disciples of) "all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. xxviii. 18-20).
Observe, in these words the Master does not give or impart His power, or any influence, to His followers, but rather declares that He will be their power Himself, and go with them into every place, even to the end of this dispensation. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. i. 15); and He is Himself in the midst of us in spiritual presence to do it. It is a mistake, therefore, to suppose that He delegates power to official persons or to the Church; for this honour He will not give to another - it is peculiarly His own. But He condescends to use us as instruments in His hand for His work. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me," as the voice of one speaking: not the light, but the lamp which holds up the light to lighten those that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. The Lord said, "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark i. 17); and again, "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Luke v. 10).
The Lord Jesus had been speaking to the multitude on the shore, as He sat in Simon's ship. We are not told what He said, but we may be sure that He spake with authority, expecting obedience and submission; and not as the Scribes. His object was to produce conviction, that men might be changed; whereas the Scribes spoke with a view of elevating them, as they were.
When the Lord left off speaking, He wrought the miracle of the draught of fishes before their eyes, in order to illustrate His object. He bade Simon Peter to launch out into the deep, and let down his nets for a draught. Simon Peter and his partners had been toiling all the night, and had taken nothing. They had that morning been washing their nets, and laying them in order for the following night's work; doubtless intending to go home for rest and refreshment. But the Lord, as if He did not see or know of their exhausted and weary condition, bade them launch out again (Luke v. 1-11).
Launch out at such a time as this, Master, in the full light of the morning sun! Launch out in the very place where we have toiled in vain all night, which is the proper time for fishing, according to the wisdom and craft of fishermen! Launch out now, while we are thus weary, and when we know it is of no use! Besides, what will all the other fishermen think of us? We have been brought up to fishing, and know this water. "Nevertheless!" How much there is in that word! It tells of a strong current of reluctance; but one look at the Master's countenance was enough to show that He did not recall His word. Therefore Peter says: "Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net;" and he enclosed such a multitude of fishes that it broke. With the help of his partners he filled the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and he fell at the Master's feet ashamed and confused. He had presumed that he knew better about fishing than the Master Himself; but he confesses, "I am a sinful man, O Lord."
This miracle, we may be sure, was not wrought for the multitude on the shore only, but for us also; and, looking attentively at it, we may learn some lessons for our profit and for our usefulness as fishers of men. The Lord says to us, as He did to Peter, Launch out into the deep. Thrust out fearlessly. Have not I bidden thee? Tarry not for a more seasonable opportunity, and delay not for any considerations. Launch out beyond yourself, your fears, and your wisdom - away out of your own depth into the deep. It matters not how deep is the ocean of the world into which you are sent, or how deep the wickedness of those to whom you are sent.
There can be no doubt that when we go about the Lord's work in this way, we are on ground of which we know very little; are confronted with powers of whose strength we are ignorant; and engaged about a work of which we do not know the extent. Many considerations may arise in our minds from our timidity or ignorance, and many more may be suggested by the Evil One; but if we look, as Simon did, to the Lord Himself, and say, "Nevertheless, at Thy word we will launch into the deep, and let down" - not one, but all our nets - we may do so with full expectation.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccles. ix. 10). There should be no mental or other reservations in serving the Lord. However deep the sea in which we toil, let our intention be, to reach to the lowest depth of it, in the Master's name. He is stronger than all that are against us, and He is able to prevail; therefore, under His command, we need not fear to cope with the worst and the strongest of all our difficulties.
But there is a word in our text which we must needs dwell upon for a little space. The Lord would have us fish with nets - all our nets. In Gospel preaching it is a very important consideration that the truth should be so arranged as to apprehend and convict. There are many beautiful sermons, which set forth the love of God for sinners, His willingness to forgive, and His forbearance and long-suffering towards men; but all these truths and many more like them, may do no more than instruct the hearers as to the nature and character of God, while they leave them unawakened as to their sins, and unconscious as to their state of spiritual death.
We are sent out to "compel" them to come in; therefore sermons should be so arranged and applied, as to bring conviction upon sinners. The love of God should be so set before them, as to condemn them, there and then, for sinning against the forgiving kindness of the Lord; in order that they may tremble at the danger they incur by slighting it. And the forbearance of God should be so brought home to them, that each one may feel - I have taxed it enough, I have presumed too far already, I dare not do so any more.
Too often persons give instruction, and teach the way of salvation before a sinner has been convicted of sin; or try to lead him from darkness, before he has been made to feel or know that he has need of light. A blind man is no better for being brought from a dark room into a light one. The Scriptural plan is to open the sinner's eyes first, and show him to himself, making him to understand that he is a lost sinner; and as such, ready to perish, and that without hope. Let him be shut up in this net, and he will not sit down to consider whether he will give up his companions, or the world with its pleasures; but concern about his soul's eternal safety, will rather be the commanding thought of his mind. His eyes being opened, he will mourn in the darkness; and readily yield to be brought into the light which shines so brightly, through Christ, the open door of salvation. At this threshold, he will encounter the deceitful power of Satan to hinder; but being brought from that to God, he will receive forgiveness of his sins. (See Acts xxvi. 18.)
This is also the order in which the Holy Spirit works in us. (See John xvi. 8-11.) Likewise this is the manner of the operation of the Word of God upon men's souls. The Word, as we have said before, does not save; for it is Christ that saves by the Word, as the fisherman catches fish by his net. This Word, the Apostle tells us (2 Tim. iii. 16) is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." But notice what follows "doctrine." It is "reproof;" and when that is effectually received, then "correction" to put us in the right way; and after that, "instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." So that, whether it be for winning souls or for leading them onward, the same principle obtains. This is, so to speak, the law of the spiritual kingdom; and if we would procure successful results, it can only be in the line of that power, and in obedience to that law.
Good men there are who have preached the Gospel for years without winning souls. Now and then they may have heard of a chance one who was blessed somehow, under their ministrations, or under some text they uttered; but they never went forth with expectation to win souls, or used any means to that special end. The materials of which nets are made will catch nothing; but the same materials arranged and made into nets may, and do entangle the fish.
The Lord, as we said in the beginning, spake with authority, expecting obedience and result; so we should speak in faith and expectation. Have we not authority for this in our text? - "Let down your nets for a draught." It is more than expectation which the Lord commands us to entertain: it is the certainty of a draught, whether we see it or not, and whether it be much or little. The Word of God cannot return void; it must accomplish that whereunto it is sent; it must be the savour of life, or the savour of death. We are not sent on an uncertain errand, to beat the air, or to run in vain; but having a high commission from One who has all power in heaven and on earth, we may go boldly forward, expecting to see great things.
In all these instances it will be observed that the Lord works as the fisherman, who shuts up or encloses fish in His net, to draw them out of their natural element into another; and that in spite of their struggles and opposition. The power is the Lord's, and not ours; but we, as intelligent and willing instruments, yield ourselves to His hand, that He may use us in His own way, and for His own good purposes. Thus, "I will make you to become" - not, you shall be endowed with a power, but - "I will make you to become fishers of men." I will be with you, even unto the end of the Gospel dispensation, when the special work of this parenthetical age shall be accomplished.
But it may be asked, How was it that Peter and his partners were so unsuccessful in the night, which was accounted the best time for fishing, and so successful in the day, which was deemed an unfavourable time? There is, I think, a typical and spiritual meaning here, which we may appropriately consider in this place. It is intended to represent the difference between works done in the energy of the flesh or human nature, and those done in the power of the Spirit. When man works by himself, especially before the Sun of Righteousness has risen upon him, he is working in the night; but when he labours after the Sun has risen - that is, when he can say the Saviour is the Sun of his soul - he is a child of the day, and he works in the light.
Viewing the subject in this way, we may notice that there were three reasons why they failed, and as many causes which ensured success.
1. THEY WENT OUT IN THE DARKNESS.
2. THEY WENT OUT IN THEIR OWN WISDOM.
3. THEY WENT AT THEIR OWN BIDDING. When they succeeded:
1. THEY WENT IN THE DAYLIGHT.
2. THEY WENT WITH THE LORD'S PRESENCE.
3. THEY WENT AT HIS WORD. 1. THEY WENT OUT IN THE DARKNESS, instead of the light. So it is with those who preach or speak Gospel truths merely as ministers, from head knowledge; without being living witnesses of the realities they proclaim. They speak like the chief priests who told Herod that Christ should be born in Bethlehem, and that the time of His birth was come; but they themselves had not been to see, neither did they know that He was born. The Lord would have His people to be both ministers and witnesses of His truth. How happy those who are so! They are joyful witnesses of the glad tidings they proclaim to their fellow-sinners. The sun shines upon their souls, irradiates their countenances, and puts life into their words; they know the effect of the truths which they preach, for they themselves have experienced them; and they are not ashamed or afraid to say that the Lord can save sinners, for He has saved them. There is a vast difference between the fishermen who work by night, and those who work by day.
2. THEY WENT OUT IN THEIR OWN WISDOM and craft, which they had learned from others. Far too many learn from books, or from the manner of others, and try to imitate them, instead of learning directly from the Lord Himself. The Lord does not require us to go out alone, or even with His power; but He goes with His servants, and works in and by them, so that when souls are won He can still say, "I found my sheep which was lost." It was the Lord who drew that multitude of fishes to Simon's net; and the Lord caught them; though all was done by Simon's instrumentality. This is the way of the Lord's work; and this is the manner of our success.
3. THEY WENT AT THEIR OWN BIDDING, not at the word of the Lord. We may not go out on this errand at our own will and pleasure; but when, where, and how the Lord leads us. Then we shall see results which will astonish us, and make us fall down at His feet, saying, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thyself and Thy name, be all the glory and praise!
The purpose of the Lord is, that we should be His witnesses, and so transmit blessing to others as it has been transmitted to us. This, after all, is the true Apostolical Succession. A mere chain of ministers, be their pedigree ever so unbroken, is but an empty form, if the life-giving power of the Gospel is not in it. It is as the cable, without a message; the office, without qualification. |
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