Chronicles of a Fisher of men: "I will make you fishers of men" ~ Jesus

Thursday, May 14, 2009

"I will make you fishers of men" ~ Jesus

To try to win a soul to Christ by keeping that soul in ignorance of any truth, is contrary to the mind of the Spirit; and to endeavor to save men by mere claptrap, or excitement, or oratorical display, is as foolish as to hope to hold an angel with bird-line, or to lure a star with music. The best attraction is the gospel in its purity. The weapon with which the Lord conquers men is the truth as it is in Jesus. The gospel will be found equal to every emergency; an arrow can pierce the hardest heart, a balm which will heal the deadliest wound. Preach it, and preach nothing else. Rely implicitly upon the old, old gospel. You need no other nets when you fish for men; those your Master has given you are strong enough for the great fishes, and have meshes fine enough to hold the little ones. Spread those nets and no others, and you need not fear the fulfillment of His Word, "I will make you fishers of men." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

While watching the first video posted here, I couldn't help thinking how these professing "Christians" berated our brothers in Christ Pastor Brett Coronado (my team leader from Ambassadors' Academy June 2008) and Mark Mackey and shouted down the preaching of the gospel. During the video clip you will hear a woman tell Brett "he must learn to preach" when in fact he was preaching the gospel and nothing else and relying implicitly upon the old, old gospel -- the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Two Scriptures jump out of the Bible -- Matthew 5:14-16 and 1 John 2:6 -- what conflicting message were those professing "Christians" sending out to the unbelievers who were standing in line? The unbelievers listened and were not hypocrites. The Word also says ~

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love for the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. ~ 1 Peter 1:22

It leaves the obvious to be noted -- the hecklers were not loving towards the preachers of the gospel.

So under what teaching are they sitting? Seeing they brought an accusation against brother Brett that "he must learn to preach", we will allow the Word of God to speak for itself against the accusers ~

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ~ 2 Timothy 4:3,4

Here is the second video...

MISSION

The mission of this blog is to encourage Christians to be obedient to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and to Glorify our God by proclaiming the Law and the Gospel of Grace to the unsaved.

This blog is to give all praise and glory to the One and only True and Living God Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

I hope to be faithful "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15b) in recording sound biblical doctrine and theology and that the posts are not to solicit personal praise, but to give rightful honour and glorious praise to all the victories belonging to our Lord and Saviour - King Jesus.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness; But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
~ Matthew 4:19

Let Down Your Nets
There is no exclusion put upon any tribe or clan, no classes are laid under ban, no individuals are exempted. Therefore, Church of Christ, by the love you bear to your crucified Master, by His wounds and death for you, and by His living love to you, seek out the lost and gather together the outcasts. You fishers of men, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught. You sowers of holy seed, go abroad, and sow the untrodden wastes. You consecrated builders, break away from old foundations, and lay fresh groundwork for a larger temple for your God and King. Surely the Spirit of love in a church will suggest this.
Spurgeon Gold