Sound The Trumpet : Matthew 4:18-22 Pt 2

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“Matthew 4:18-22 Pt 2”
by Art Sadlier
November 14th, 2010

3- The Qualities of a Good Fisherman

A – He must be patient

It takes time to find a school of fish. He needs to wait for the right time of day or night. He must learn to be patient. Likewise with soul winning, it is rare to see quick results. Motives may be misunderstood; reaction at first may be negative.

B – He must persevere

If he doesn’t catch a fish in the morning he must try again in the afternoon and the evening. If one place is not productive he must try somewhere else. The soul winner must keep scattering the seed. The more seed we sow the greater the harvest; that is the law of sowing and reaping. The heart that is barren today may be open and hungry tomorrow.

C – He must have courage

The fisherman must go out on the sea. Sometimes the winds blow and the waves rise up, but he must go anyway. The soul winner must go out on the sea of life. There is always danger in telling men the truth. The soul winner is willing to risk all to sow the seed.

D – He must use the right tackle

Conditions dictate to the fisherman the right tackle and method he must use. He must know how to fish. The soul winner must be prepared. He must know how to approach people. He must know how to present the gospel simply and effectively.

E – He must keep himself out of sight

The fisherman must attract the fish to the bait or to the net. If he is seen he will drive the fish away. The soul winner is to hold out Jesus Christ and let men see how attractive Christ is. If he is seen himself he will drive men away.

Jesus is about to launch these disciples into an intensive three year soul winning program. It was a study course. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Let me ask you, Could you quietly and effectively lead someone to Christ right now? Some researchers say that as many as 95% of all Christians have never led a soul to Christ. If that is true 95% of the world’s violins have never been played. There is in the heart of every true believer a desire to share Christ with others. I challenge you to begin to share Christ.

Illustration

The hymn, “let the lower lights be burning” is based on a story told by D.L. Moody. A ship was coming into the harbour on Lake Erie. It was a very stormy night. The harbour had two sets of lights, one on the bluffs above the harbour that could be seen for miles. The other set was down on the channel that led to the harbour. The lower lights were placed to guide the ship through the rocks safely into the harbour. On that particular night the lower lights had not been turned on. The pilot suggested that the ship stay out in the lake until daybreak. The captain was afraid the ship could not withstand the storm all night. He decided to risk making the harbour. However, without the lower lights to guide it, the ship was wrecked on the rocks and many of the crew drowned.

Mr. Moody said, “The upper lights in heaven are burning brightly, but what about the lower lights? The lower lights are the testimonies of the believers.”

Are your lights burning brightly? Can lost men and women around you see the light of the gospel as they live near you?

A hundred thousand souls a day; are passing one by one away, in Christ less guilt and gloom, without one ray of hope or light, with future dark as endless night. They are passing to their doom.

They’re passing, passing fast away, a hundred thousand souls a day, In Christ less guilt and gloom, O church of Christ, what will you say when the awful judgment day, they charge you with their doom?

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13