Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 11, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

FOLLOWING THE MASTER FISHERMAN

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-20

Text: Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Introduction: Jesus was brought up in the home of a carpenter; yet, He was also a master fisherman. We don’t have any record of Him going fishing for fish, but He certainly knew how to do it. When He told the disciples to cast their nets (plural), they needed more than one net. When they had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them where to cast their nets, and they caught fish! Whenever they did what Jesus TOLD them to do, they caught fish! Let me say that again: Whenever the disciples did what Jesus TOLD them to do, they caught fish!

I traveled 1,000 miles, one way, last week to try to encourage a pastor and congregation in Missouri to follow Jesus and fish for men. Let me say that OUR congregation needs that same encouragement. I need that encouragement! May God help me to stir us ALL up about this!

Are YOU catching fish? I’m not talking about regular fish. I’m talking about fishing for MEN. Are you fishing for men? Are you winning converts? If you’re NOT, you’re not following the Master Fisherman, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me urge you today to follow Him!

I. FOLLOWING THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS A CALL

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

A. It is a call to the saved

It is a call to ALL the saved!
Lost people are not called of God to come to church, but the church is called to go out into the world and preach the gospel!
Fish are not ordered to find the fishermen; fishermen are ordered to find and catch the fish!

B. It is a call of simplicity

“Follow me”
All we have to do is to FOLLOW the MASTER Fisherman, and He will do the rest!
We have a soul-winning training program, but it’s not hard to do. Anyone can memorize two verses a week for 13 weeks. Any child of God can learn to present the gospel! If you’re too busy to do that, you need to DROP YOUR business and take up GOD’S business!

C. It is a call of surrender

The Lord did not MAKE them become soul-winners; they SURRENDERED to follow Jesus that day! THEN He made them into soul-winners!
The only reason some Christians don’t win souls is that they are not willing to surrender their pride, their effort, their time, their energy, and their heart to the Lord in the matter!

It is a call from the Savior, in whose stead we beseech men to be reconciled to God!
It is a call from the Spirit of God, who reproves the sinner and reveals the Savior!
It is a call from the scriptures, where we find that God calls us to not be ashamed of our Lord!

Will you obey the call to follow the Master Fisherman and let him make you a fisher of men?

“There’s a CALL comes ringing o’er the restless wave,
Send the light! Send the light!
There are souls to rescue, There are souls to save;
Send the light! Send the light!
Send the light, the blessed GOSPEL light;
Let it shine from shore to shore.
Send the light, the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore.”

II. FOLLOWING THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS A COMMAND

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

In the same chapter Jesus said to His disciples:

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

A. The call to follow the Master Fisherman is not a suggestion

It’s not just a good idea; it is a command!

B. The call to follow the Master Fisherman is not a spiritual gift

Yes, some Christians may be more gifted at talking, at loving, and at winning souls, but EVERY Christian is to be a fisher of men.
Jesus said that when the Holy Ghost came, the disciples would receive POWER and that they WOULD be WITNESSES.
The Holy Ghost came on Pentecost, you have HIM if you are saved, and you have POWER to be a WITNESS.

C. The call to follow the Master Fisherman is not for a select few

The man in the pulpit should go soul-winning, but so should the man in the pew.
The man who leads the congregation in singing, “Rescue the Perishing,” should win people to Christ, but so should the people who sing the song.

III. FOLLOWING THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS A CHANGE

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

If you follow the Master Fisherman, He will MAKE you a fisher of men! He will TRANSFORM you. You say, “I’m not able to do what you’re talking about.” You may not think you can do it, but Jesus can CHANGE you so that you CAN do it!

A. It is a change from slothfulness to service

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
The nets of most of God’s people are full of COBWEBS, rather than fish!

B. It is a change from selfishness to sacrifice

Christians will spend hours studying in the schools of this world, but they are not willing to spend a few minutes every day and a few hours every week to learn to be a soul-winner!
Why don’t you quit being so self-centered and start following JESUS?

C. It is a change from shamefulness to speaking up

Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
God turned Peter’s COWARDICE of DENYING Jesus at the crucifixion into COURAGE for DECLARING Jesus on the day of Pentecost!
God will do the same for YOU!

D. It is a change from sitting on the shore to showing your fish!

Most of God’s people are not fishing. They are sitting on the bank.
Most of God’s people do not even have ONE person they have led to the Lord in the home and brought to church for baptism and church membership!

IV. FOLLOWING THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS A CHOICE

Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

A. It is a choice to be fruitful

The first thing God said to a living creature was “Be fruitful” (Gen. 1:22).
The first recorded thing that God said to man in Gen. 1 was “Be fruitful” (Gen. 1:28).
The very first thing God told Noah after the flood was to bring everyone and everything out of the ark and “be fruitful.” He told him this three times! (Gen. 8:17; 9:1,7)

B. It is a choice to be faithful

A faithful Christian is one who keeps the faith put in him.
God is trusting us to get out the gospel. He has enTRUSTED us with that precious message!

C. It is a choice to be a fisherman

You WON’T catch fish until you CHOOSE to go!
You won’t be a soul-winner until you choose to do it!
I don’t want to try to FORCE anyone to enter our soul-winning training program or to go out on Thursday night soul-winning visitation! I just want to encourage you to follow Jesus!
I believe that if you follow JESUS, you WILL enroll in our soul-winning training program, and you WILL start fishing for men!

Brother, will you follow Jesus and let Him make you a fisher of men?
Sister, will you follow Jesus and let Him make you a fisher of men?
Young person, will you follow Jesus and let Him make you a fisher of men?