1 Peter 3:14-16
BORN TO FISH!
“Are We Fishermen?”
"Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. And the fish were hungry.
“Week after week, month after month, and year after year those who called themselves fishermen met to talk about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
“Continually they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. They sponsored costly nation-wide and world-wide congresses to discuss fishing, promote fishing, and hear about all the ways of fishing such as the new fishing equipment, the fish calls, and any new bait.
“In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. All the fishermen seemed to agree that what was needed was a board which could challenge fishermen to be faithful to fishing.
“Large training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology. But the teachers did not fish.
They only taught fishing.
“And those who were sent out did exactly as those who sent them. They formed groups and held special meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to declare how important fishing was. They talked about the great need for fishing. They prayed much that many fish might be caught. They analyzed the fish and discussed what is necessary in order to catch fish. But one thing they did not do, they did not fish.
“Now it’s time that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen, yet never fished.
“Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t catch fish are not really fishermen. Is a person a fisherman if he never catches a fish?"
From Bits and Pieces - Source unknown
Fishermen?
Matt 4:18-19 - And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Fishermen?
Mark 16:14-15 - Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Fishermen?
Matt 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Fishermen?
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Fishermen, the Lord Jesus has called those who know Him as Savior to be "Fishers of Men". We are called to communicate that same great message of eternal life that saved us to others who have not yet placed their faith and trust in Christ. That's how the early church grew!
Acts 11:19-21 - Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Most of us know that we should share our faith in Christ.
If John 3:36 is true, and it is, we need to get the message out to everyone!
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Our text this morning is a reminder, and yes, a command that we should be witnesses, or fishermen for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Basically, we can say, if we've been born again into the Kingdom of God, we've been BORN TO FISH!
Let's see from this passage what fishing entails.
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
EXPECTATION
SPECIFICATION
PURIFICATION
SEPARATION
Vs. 14 - The context in which we find these verses is that of persecution. Peter tells us here, that if we suffer for the sake of righteousness, we are happy! We should feel privileged to suffer for the one who suffered for us. And, we are told that we will suffer for Him as Christians.
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Philippians 1:29 - For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
The opposition will come. We are told in our text not to be afraid or worried when the opposition gives us trouble. There are reasons not to be afraid or worried.
1. Jesus said "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
2. The worse thing opposition can do is kill us, and that's an instant ticket to glory.
3. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give us the words to say when we are brought before authorities
Luke 12:11-12 - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Instead of being afraid or worried about opposition, Peter tells us to "sanctify the Lord God in our hearts” in verse 15.
Christian, you will not be an effective fisherman for Christ unless your heart is right with God. Your actions and your words will not be a good testimony for Christ unless your heart is right with God.
The word "sanctify" means to "set apart".
Inside your heart, the real you, the seat of your emotions, and very being, there needs to be setting apart of the Lord God.
In our text these words actually mean to set apart God as Lord.
In the Trinity, who is viewed as the Lord? The Lord Jesus is!
Philippians 2:9-11 - Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If you are a born again Christian, you should set apart Jesus Christ as Lord of your heart!
That means that He is boss.
That means that He is in charge.
That means that He is worshiped and adored.
That means that He can direct you to think, to do, and to say anything that he wishes you to think, do or say.
That's because you have set Him apart as Lord in your heart.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
When you acknowledge Jesus as Lord, you are saying, "Lord Jesus I'll go where you want me to go, I'll do what you want me to do, I'll be what you want me to be."
“Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?”
Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”
What does setting apart Jesus as Lord have to do with witnessing or fishing for men?
One of the hardest things to do is to speak to someone else about Christ.
We are afraid of what people will think.
We are afraid of rebuke.
We are afraid of hurting feelings.
We are afraid of upsetting the old "Apple Cart".
But, if we decide that no matter what, Jesus is Lord of our lives, witnessing, fishing for men, becomes easier. The Lord of our lives wants us to witness for Him.
Witnessing becomes an act of obedience to the one I have made King of my life.
When I was a little boy, going to church was easy!
Respecting my Mom was easy!
Going to bed when told was easy.
Being respectful to adults was easy.
Do you know why all these things were easy? I had a Dad who made them easy. It was do as I was told or else! He was boss!
Today you and I can chose who will be boss.
When Jesus is boss, fishing for men becomes a whole lot easier!
Christian, set him apart as Lord in your life!
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason …
Preparation is part of our lives.
You get up in the morning, and you prepare yourself for work or school. Most of us don't want people seeing what we look lke when we first get out of bed.
In order to make a living, you prepare yourself through education to get a job.
We had a great game dinner last night, but the preparation took more time than the actual dinner.
In the same sense we are prepare ourselves to witness to fish for men. It says to be ready always.
HOW CAN WE PREPARE TO WITNESS, TO FISH FOR MEN?
1. Know what you believe. The word "answer" in Geek is the word from which we get our English word "apology". This does not mean to be sorry, but rather to be able to give an apologetic, or a logical defense of the Gospel.
2. Know the Basic Gospel that a person needs to know in order to be saved.
3. Ask God to give you a burden for the lost.
4. Be willing to witness, and ask God for opportunities and the Holy Spirit's direction and power.
5. Look for the opportunities that God provides.
When people ask you a question about your faith, or make a statement that gives you an opportunity, then jump in and share.
Some of the best opportunities that I have had to witness have come when I was looking for an opportunity to witness.
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
EXPECTATION
1 Peter 3:15 - …and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…
The Christian is to be different!
He is to be a doer of good works.
He is to be moral.
He is to love his fellow Christians.
He is to have hope in times of persecution.
When the Christian is different, the unsaved will be able to tell.
When you have hope, an expectation of better things to come, the unsaved will notice.
You will not be anxious.
You will not get as flustered.
You will take mistreatment patiently.
You will have joy and peace.
Why?
Because your hope is in the fact that you've been forgiven!
Because your hope is in Jesus Christ who is coming again, at any time!
Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
When you and I as Christians live a defeated life, a life of sin, worry, and care, we do not show our hope to the unsaved world.
Shame on us!
When I was a new Christian, I was very zealous to witness, especially when it came to my family. I made some serious mistakes, which I eventually made apology for. It looked like my witness to my family was a mistake.
One day my Brother Art came to Christ. And evidently he was prompted to seek the Lord because he said he saw that I had something he didn't have. He saw that I had a hope that he didn't have. That's God's grace.
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
EXPECTATION
SPECIFICATION
1 Peter 3:15 - …and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Peter here makes a specification concerning the attitude for effective fishing for men.
Our attitude is not to be a cocky, "I'm better than you are" attitude.
It is not to be an abrasive, unpleasant approach. My Jewish roommate in college was once accosted by a preacher at a skating rink. That approach totally turned him off.
Instead, we are to are to witness with meekness or gentleness, and fear, or reverence, or respect.
Beloved, what we say for Christ is important.
Beloved, how we say it is just as important!
The person being witnessed to must be handled gently, often firmly.
He must also sense the fact that you respect him or her.
Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
So the specific way we talk to people about Christ is with meekness and fear.
PURIFICATION - Vs. 16
1 Peter 3:16 - Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Your conscience is an inner witness that tells you when you are doing right or wrong. It is possible to ignore your conscience and to sear your conscience.
But when you obey your conscience, you will know when things are not right!
A good conscience is important in witnessing, because those who don't like your witness will speak of you as an evil doer.
But when you are doing what is right, the accusations will mean nothing to you. And eventually, those who falsely accuse you will be ashamed, if your walk matches your talk.
It behooves us to purify our lives daily so that we can be the best possible witnesses.
1 John 1:9
When we keep short accounts with God, our witness will have power.
If you're a Christian, you've been born to fish, born again to fish for men.
Are you are a fisher of men?
If not, why not?
To be a good fisher of men, a good witness, practice:
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
EXPECTATION
SPECIFICATION
PURIFICATION