Fishing For Men

by GRIERSON, G. | Category: N/a | Jun 2006

There were two fishermen on the jetty at Brantry Lough in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, on the day I pulled up in the car park and sat watching for a while. The day was wet and two men, one in a wheelchair, sat fishing in the rain. One was fly fishing, his line constantly snaking out over the water, no doubt armed with a skilfully disguised hook. The other man was using a hook with bait attached and sat with eyes riveted to the float for signs of a �bite�. A good while passed and the fishermen called it a day. I noticed that their keep-nets as they lifted them out of the water were empty.

My mind went to the words of the Lord, �"Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."� (1) We long to see others enjoying God�s salvation, serving Him in His kingdom, and watching and waiting for the Lord Jesus to return. Desiring to fulfil the great commission given in Matthew 28:19,20, we make great efforts to fish for men and women, planning and thinking up new ways to bring the fish into the net (or on to the hook!)

In trying to make our efforts productive, we work together to reach out prayerfully and sincerely to those around us. Yet, so often at the end of the day the nets are empty! What could be wrong?

In fishing for men and women technique will never be enough on its own. Whether preaching in a traditional gospel service, running an informal introductory Bible teaching video course or personally witnessing one-to-one, it�s only when the Lord is at work that the nets will fill.

Conviction of sin, the new birth, assurance of salvation and revelation of truth are all the work of God through the Word of God accompanied by the gracious and powerful operation of the Holy Spirit. In relation to fruit-bearing, Jesus said, �"Without Me you can do nothing."�(2) In regard to fishing for men and women we must depend on God. If God is not at work all our efforts will be in vain. Therefore, before any successful fishing begins, there must be earnest intercession to God for a mighty working of His Spirit in the hearts of those we seek to reach.

I am reminded of a biography I read about J.O. Fraser, a China Inland Mission worker stationed in Yunnan Province, China, in the early 1900s.(3) His earnest efforts to reach the tribes-people of that land bore no fruit for many years. Then after years of prayer at home and abroad, and faithful preaching of the gospel around the villages, suddenly there was �mountain rain�. God was at work! Fraser experienced the joy of realizing that God�s time had come. Earnest prayer was at last being answered. Tribes-people began turning to Christ in village after village where previously there had been only resistance or indifference. Souls were being saved and Fraser himself was able to stand back, as increasing numbers of �fish� were being swept into the net by the sovereign power of God, until the nets were breaking. Fraser�s many years of faithful preaching of the Word of God around the mountain villages had finally been rewarded. He stood aside and saw �the salvation of the LORD�, as in the days of Moses.(4)

That brings us back to that other quality all fishermen - those by Brantry Lough and those fishing for men and women - need: patience! If the nets are to fill today, then it will be a combination of the right fishermen or women, in the right spiritual condition, in the right place with the right message, waiting patiently for the right moment for God to begin His sovereign work.

Remember the 153 fish that Peter pulled to shore that unforgettable day by the Sea of Galilee.5 Now that was something which was the Lord�s doing, and it was marvellous in the eyes of those disciples who had laboured all night and caught nothing! What made the difference? The Lord was there, guiding the disciples out to the right place to fish and drawing fish into the net, just as He, and He alone, is able to draw men and women to Himself for salvation, then and now. He has not changed and in some areas of this world earnest, diligent fishers of men supported by praying co-workers are still experiencing the joy of pulling in full nets, giving glory to the One who said, �"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."�(6)

(1)Mark 1:17 (2)John 15:5 (3)Crossman, E., Mountain Rain, A biography of James O. Fraser, O.M.F. Books 1982 (4)Ex.14:13 (5)John 21:11 (6)Mat.28:20 (2)

GRIERSON, G. | Jun 2006
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