GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 23

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

JOINING CHRIST’S MISSION

Matthew  4:19-20

“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

When Christ calls us by His grace, we ought not only to remember what we are, but we also ought to think of what He can make us.  Jesus starts by saying,  “Follow Me, and I will make you…”   We should repent of what we have been but rejoice in what we may be. 

It is not “Follow Me because of what you are already.”

 It is not “Follow Me  because you may make something of yourself,”

But………..

“Follow Me because of what I will make you.”

It did not seem likely that lowly fishermen would develop into apostles – that men who were so handy with the net would be quite as much at home in preaching sermons and in instructing converts – yet that is exactly what Christ brought about.  When we are brought low in the sight of God by a sense of our own unworthiness, we may feel encouraged to follow Jesus because of what He can make us.

Our Lord’s metaphor is filled with lessons for our evangelistic task.  The work of a fisherman is difficult.    A fisherman is a person who is very dependent.  He or she cannot see the fish.  One who fishes in the sea must go and cast in the net without knowing what, if anything, will be caught.  Fishing is an act of faith.  Fishermen must be hard workers.  They do not sit in an armchair and catch fish.  They have to go out in rough weather.  If we never do any work for Christ except when we feel up to the mark, we shall not do much.  We must be always at it until we wear ourselves out, throwing our whole soul into the work, in all weathers, for Christ’s sake.

The winds of providence will waft you where you can fish for men and women.  You will often be surprised to find how God has been in a house that you visit – before you get there, His hand has been at work in its rooms.  When you wish to speak to some particular person, God’s providence has been dealing with that person to make them ready for just that word which you could say – that which nobody else but you could say.  Oh, be following Christ, and you will find that He will, by every experience through which you are passing, make you “fishers of men.”

There are many movements from God’s Spirit which are not noticed by Christians when they are in a callous condition.  But when the heart is right with God and living in communion  with Him, we feel a sacred sensitivity so that we do not need the Lord to shout, but even His faintest whisper is heard.

 I do not say that the Spirit of God will certainly say to your ear, “Go over and join this chariot” like He did in Acts 8:29, but yet, in your soul, as distinctly as the Spirit spoke to Philip, you shall hear the Lord’s will.  As soon as you see an individual, the thought shall cross your mind.  “Go and speak to that person.”  The Spirit will  lead you to river or sea where you can cast your net and be a “fisher of men.”

Live with Jesus and follow Him, and He will make you a fisher of men, women, children, friends, family, and foes.  A Christian should be a bound apprentice to Jesus to learn the trade of the Savior.  See how Jesus saves, and you will learn how the thing is done.

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Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Mark 14:15-16

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 13:10

And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Mark 1:15

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 4:23

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,……..

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