Matthew 4:18-22 Called to be Fishers of Men

 

Introduction:  I once worked for a man that had a twenty-five foot boat, a five hundred gill net, and several casting nets.  This is the kind of nets Andrew and Peter were using in our text (verse 18).  These men had heard of the Messiah all of their lives.  But they had not trusted in Him as Savior until they heard John preach.  They had been saved and John had baptized them.  Recently they had met Jesus personally.  Now He comes along and calls them to be His followers and to be fishers of men.  They left their nets and followed Him.

            James and John were similarly called.

 

I.  The call to preach.

            A.  It is a personal call.

                        1.  Jesus stood before them visibly and called them audibly.

                        2.  Today, it is not visible nor audible, but it is just as personal.

                        3.  God speaks silently to the heart and burdens the heart with the desire to preach until it is

                                    obvious – “I am called.”

                        4.  Usually the one most surprised is the man who is called.

            B.  It is a call of faith.

                        1.  Jesus did not tell them where they would go.  (“Follow me.”)

                        2.  When one surrenders he needs to be willing to go anywhere.

            C.  It is a sacrificial call.

                        1.  They were to leave their livelihood.  (A good livelihood).

                        2.  Fishing for men was not nearly as lucrative.

                        3.  They were to leave their father and mother.  (Not an easy task).

            D.  It is a call of compassion.

                        1.  They were to have compassion on hell bound sinners.

                        2.  They were to preach the good news of the gospel to them.

            E.  It was a call of conviction.

                        1.  They were not called to preach a message they did not believe.

                        2.  They firmly believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior. 

                                    (They believed He had saved them and that He could save others).

 

II.  The founding of a New Testament Church.

            A.  By the time these were called out, Jesus had a church.

            B.  The word “church” means “a called out group or assembly.”

                        1.  They had been saved.  (Believers in Christ).

                        2.  They had scriptural baptism.

                        3.  They had been called out to do the Lord’s work.

                        4.  They were committed to the task.

 

III.  The task of soul winning, a church wide responsibility.

            A.  All of the membership, at first, were preachers.

            B.  Soon others would be added and not all would be preachers.

            C.  But all would have the task of witnessing for Christ.  Acts 1:8

 

IV.  The wonderfulness of the gospel.

            A.  Can you imagine a fish saying, “I have family and friends that I wish were caught, too.

                         “I will help you go out and catch others.”

            B.  But that is the way it is with the saved:  the gospel is so great that we wish others were saved.

 

Conclusion:       1.  If you are not saved, then we are fishing for you.

                        2.  If you are saved, we invite you into the same boat with us.

                        3.  If you are called of God to preach, then the sooner you can get started the better.

                        4.  If you are saved and have family, friends, or neighbors, then you have a fishing trip to make.

 

Preached at Pleasant Hill 2-28-82 A.M.

Preached at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church Athens, TX 6-24-03 Afternoon

Preached at Pleasant Hill 7-20-03 Sunday P.M.