Romans 9:1-3
“If You Never Fish…Are You A Fisherman?”

Introduction
1. Romans 1-8 is an Explanation of the Gospel. Chapters 9-11 is an Exhibition of the Gospel.
There is an Exhilaration of Grace that takes a man from guilt to glory. It is a demonstration
in terms of people of how God works in human history. How He redeems. How He saves.
The spotlight is turned on the nation of Israel to demonstrate just how God works. To the
Jew in Paul’s day, Paul sounded like an enemy.
2. The Christian Fish Story
3. The message goes from the pulpit to the pew, but we have lost our burden, or we never had
a burden for the lost. We talk of love, compassion, heaven and hell, soul winning but by
and large the majority of Christendom never shares their faith with anyone.
4. Would you like to reach this community with the Gospel? Romans 9:1-3 tells us what it is
going to take. A life set apart to God and for God (Sanctification) will have a passion for
the lost. Jesus’ life was devoted to the lost. That was His heart!
5. Paul sets forth his love for the nation of Israel. Three characteristics are given of one who
would effectively proclaim Jesus Christ.

What does it take to be a fisherman?
I. COMPULSION 9:1
Tell the truth
A.The Truth In Christ
I tell the truth…I lie not.
1.This was of his love and burden for Israel.
2.In Christ we speak, emulate the heart and mind of Christ. His mind was one of honesty, purity, love and sacrifice. (Phil. 2:5-8) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. He humbled Himself…He died. His servants are like that.
B.The Truth In Conscience
My conscience bearing me witness
1.The conscience alone is not a reliable guide to most. It can be ‘seared’ (I Tim. 4:12). Which is covered with insensitive scar tissue.
2.Through neglect of fellowship with God and disobedience to His Word a believer can become insensitive.
3.The conscience of a faithful believer is reliable because it is activated by truths and standards of God’s Word, and energized by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
4.When it comes to the lost we kid ourselves!
C.The Truth In Control
Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit
1.When we live in the Spirit…walk in the Spirit…obey the Spirit, we can trust our conscience because it is under divine control.
2.His Sirit will give you a compulsion for the truth and for the lost!
3.To be effective we must be truthful:
*With Our Dealings With God…no barriers…honesty…Integrity…Reality
*With Our Dealings With Others
*With Our Dealings With Ourselves… Honesty: Do I really love Jesus Christ? Is He really #1? Am I in a right relationship with God? Reality: Is my relationship with God in good order? Am I merely going through the motions? Is there areas of my life that I am reserving for me? Integrity: Do I want to do God’s will? Am I playing spiritual games?


What does it take to be a fisherman?
II. COMPASSION 9:2
Let me look at your heart.
A. Heavy Heart
1.The word is used of a person in mourning.
2.Psalm 126:5, 6 Perhaps this is a reason we see so few saved. A woman was being witnessed to by an old minister. Her husband seeing her: “Why didn’t you tell him to mind his own business?” The wife: “If you would have seen the rears in his eye you would have known he was.”
B.A Heavenly Heart
Unceasing sorrow…continual sorrow
1.It doesn’t mean continual mourning.
2.His life was motivated by deep feelings and purposes. He was a man of purpose and it was reflected in His desire for ‘others’.
3.Do we ever sigh for the souls of men? Are you ever troubled by the eternal destiny of your family or friends? Are you ‘soul conscience’? The person you are speaking with will either spend an eternity in heaven or hell.

What does it take to be a fisherman?
III. CONCERN 9:3
Paul was intense over this soul winning thing. We get excited about football, wrestling,
politics…so few get excited about Jesus!
A. The Possibility
For I could wish
1.Due to all that has been said in the first 8 chapters and especially the last of chapter 8:35-39…It was impossible!
2.“I wish it had been or were possible.”
B.The Personalization
I myself.
1.No one can do it for you.
2.We each have an obligation. We must each give an account.
C.The Penalty
Were accursed from Christ…for his people.
1.To die for someone is one thing, but to spend and eternity in hell is another!
2.King Edward VII invited William Booth (the founder of the Salvation Army) to autograph his album: 75-year-old Booth: “Your Majesty some men’s ambition is art. Some men’s ambition is fame. Some…gold. My ambition is the souls of men.”
*George Whitefield: “O Lord, give me souls, or take my soul.”
*Henry Martyn (a missionary to India) “Here let me burn out for God.”
*Praying Hyde (also, a missionary to India) “Father, give me these souls, or I die.”
*John Knox: “Give me Scotland, or I die.”
3. Evangelism has little effect if the evangelist has little love for the lost. Too
often we won’t walk across the street…we really don’t mean business! Are
you letting the world know who’s side you are on? We must be men and
women of urgency! Heaven is Real and Hell is Certain!

If You Never Fish…Are You A Fisherman?