This is the second in our series Going Fishing. When I was a kid I went fishing in a reservoir. It was so clear that you could see the fish. We used worms and bread. You didn’t have to be very good at fishing. I always caught several perch or bluegill. Years later I took my kids to Lake George in Hobart, Indiana. It was much harder. We didn’t catch many fish.

Today’s fishing tournaments have prizes in the millions and you have to know what you are doing to win.Obviously catching a prize-winning Marlin is harder than catching a perch! How about catching people? People are far more complex than fish.

Jesus said that if we would follow Him He would makes us become fishers of people! Jesus always stayed focused on His mission to seek and to save people! As we follow Jesus He will produce in us the same desire He has for people who are empty and broken by life. He will also give us wisdom.

The Bible says that “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” Proverbs 11:30 (NKJV).

Open your Bible or device to the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 11. This Book was written by Solomon. It is a Wisdom Book like Proverbs. It was written ten centuries ago but it is full of truth that still speaks to us today. What does it have to do with Evangelism in 2018? Open your Bible and let’s find out.

Jesus called Peter early in His ministry after displaying His awesome power in catching mere fish. At the end of His ministry, it seems like Peter forgot his original call from Jesus. Fast forward to the end of the gospel of John chapter 21.

This is almost identical to Jesus’ miracle when He first called Peter three years before. I believe God is asking us this question, “Have you forgotten your call/mission?” Have you substituted good pursuits for the best? Peter went back to what he knew: fishing for fish. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothingJohn 21:3 (NKJV).

Jesus had to remind Peter three times with the same heart wrenching question, “Do you love Me?” We know the story. Is He asking us the same thing...?

If we are going to fish we must step out in faith. We must believe in the power and sovereignty of God to use us in His great mission to bring people to Himself. We must be courageous and full of His Spirit. We must ‘cast our bread upon the waters.’ This is a cryptic way of saying, “Take a risk.” It means give, invest yourself, you will reap, and it will come back to you. Whether it is money, resources, or a witness for Jesus Christ there will be results.

Do what needs to be done now, don’t wait (v2). The days are evil; we have no guarantee of tomorrow. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV).

There are things that we can’t control (vs3-4). The clouds, the rain, nature. The future is also beyond our control. Farmers know that they can’t focus on the externals or they will never plant or harvest.

If we constantly look at the externals and wait for a better opportunity we won’t ever go fishing. Knowing this truth should motivate us to take advantage of every opportunity to share Jesus with others. We do have resources, life, breath, and the seed of the Word of God. Let’s quit focusing on what we can’t do and do what we can, leaving the results to God!

From the beginning of creation God gave us a picture of how things grow and reproduce.

We can’t improve on God’s plan. Look at some of the important Laws of the Harvest:
1. You don’t have to understand the process to start. Ecclesiastes 11:5-6
2. You must sow in order to reap. Matthew 25:24
3. You reap exactly what you sow. Galatians 6:7
4. You always reap later than you sow. Mark 4:26-28
5. You reap in proportion to what you sow. 2 Cor. 9:6

I like hot peppers. I usually buy them at the store. In the past I’ve planted a garden of different kinds of hot peppers. Hey, I am not a farmer but I know that if I plant pepper plants, I expect peppers. If I don’t plant, I can’t expect have any peppers. I also know that I must weed the garden, till the soil, and water the plants. I plant, cultivate, and water--God gives the increase 1Cor. 3:6-8.

As I pray, and we get ready for our invitation, ask God to give you boldness and courage to step out in faith this week. Cast your bread upon the waters. It will come back. You will experience the joy of Jesus in your heart! People’s lives will be impacted for eternity by your witness!

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