If You're A Fisherman, You're Apparently Jesus' Kind Of Person. Fish Aren’t Cleaned Until They’re Caught First! Remember: You Catch, Let God Clean!

Luke 5:10, “And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon (Peter). And Jesus said to Simon, Have no fear; from now on you will be CATCHING MEN!” (AMPC)

If You're A Fisherman, You're Apparently Jesus' Kind Of Person. Four of the twelve disciples He called were fishermen by trade. When He summoned them to His service, He said, "…Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men" (Mark 1:17 AMP). He told Simon Peter, "…Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." (Luke 5:10 NKJV).

So the business of bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ apparently has some things in common with fishing. For example, you don't try to attract the fish with what you're interested in, but what they're interested in. For example, I like pop corn. I don't like worms. But if I put pop corn on my hook, I'm going home with an empty bucket. I've got to offer what will be interesting to the fish that I'm trying to attract and catch. And so it is in reaching people for Jesus Christ.

Think about it, if all you offer is religious bait, coming to a religious meeting to hear a religious speaker talk on a religious subject in a religious place, you probably won't attract many of the lost men who need Christ so desperately. But if you’re talking about needs they care about in a place where they feel comfortable, in words they can understand, you have a far better chance of getting them within hearing distance of the Gospel.

Now, there's another very important fishing principle we need to keep in mind as we present Jesus to the people around us. It's a principle it seems many believers have never thought about. And here it is: Fish Aren’t Cleaned Until They’re Caught First!

See, far too many times, lost people feel judged by us rather than loved by us, because we're attacking the things they do. And they do those things because they're lost, and instead we should be leading them to the One who will take them from lost to found! This is hard to do because we’re too busy trying to get them in “proper church attire”; trying to change their habits; their mindset; their speech. Before they get in the church good, we have 5 auxiliaries to put them on; and want to cram tithes and offerings down their throat. Now, let’s be real, how would you feel about a group of people telling you Jesus loves you, now all you have to do is give Him 10% of the paycheck you worked hard to earn, and the one that barely covers your bills as it is? As church folks, we have a tendency of going too far, too soon!

Think about this: No fishermen goes to the water, sticks his hand in the water, snatches out a fish, cleans it, cooks it and eats it. There is a process to fishing, and one of the greatest parts to that process is waiting! It doesn’t happen in an instant. And most people aren’t going to just pour into the church like a floodgate has opened either.  A fisherman knows that he can sit out there for hours and catch absolutely nothing; or just one or two. If only we could learn to be that patient with catching people!

And more importantly, it’s vital that you remember: You catch them, and then Jesus cleans them!

Take a brief walk with me through Luke 19 beginning with verse 5. The whole town is shocked when Jesus says to Zacchaeus, of all people - the town crook, "I must stay at your house today." As stunned as anyone, the Bible says Zacchaeus "welcomed him gladly. The people started muttering, 'He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But after meeting Jesus and experiencing His unconditional love, Zacchaeus can't stand his sin anymore. He announces he's going to make right the dishonest wrongs he has done, "If I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus announced, "Today salvation has come to this house."

Zacchaeus got clean, but he got caught first! The problem with the lost people you know is not their profanity or their dishonesty or their immorality – truth of the matter, they're lost and they're living like it! Their real problem is they need a Savior! Yes, they must repent, but that's part of being rescued by Jesus from their sin! Don't make their lifestyle the issue. Make Jesus the issue.

See people of God; simple is best! One righteous man (Jesus) went to an unrighteous man (Zacchaeus) and his life was made the better because of being in the company of a man who didn’t judge him, didn’t try to change him, didn’t bring up his past, his mistakes, his failures, his sins, his habits. No, you simply had one short, unrighteous man that went to great lengths to see Jesus. Jesus looked up, saw him, and talked to him (not about him). The man (Jesus) let the man (Zacchaeus) know I’m your uninvited guest today, and Zacchaeus is delighted to have Him.

Now, I must note this, as soon as the righteous starts talking to the unrighteous, the so-called righteous start gossiping! Luke 19:7, “And when the people saw it, they all muttered among themselves and indignantly complained, He has gone in to be the guest of and lodge with a man who is devoted to sin and preeminently a sinner.” (AMP) Now, you would think the “church folks” would be happy to see someone unrighteous come into contact with someone righteous. And not to simply visit a church service, but to receive salvation! You would think this was a good thing! Sad as it is to say, you will experience some of the very same behavior. But remember, you have to catch them, before He can clean them. So, if that means going to their house, instead of the House of Worship, just to have a conversation that may bring about salvation, it's worth it, don’t you think?

And even if it is done in the midst of muttering church folks!

Well, in spite of those who should have been spreading the gospel, and not the gossip, neither Jesus nor Zacchaeus pays them any attention, nor verbally responds to them! Take note: There will be some folks who don’t think you should be around such people, even if you are trying to win them to Christ. But don’t you get distracted, you have the right bait available and over the process of time, they will be caught by you, and cleaned by Him, and the naysayers can do nothing about it! After all, is the soul about them, or Him?

Remember Paul’s words:

"You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2 MSG).

If you want the same results, follow the same regime: Keep it simple, meet them on their terms, use the right bait, and once they’ve been caught, let Jesus clean them (after all, if you had the power to clean them, you would’ve been able to clean you years ago!)

But just as you needed someone to reach out to you, and you needed time to come to Him, and more time to let Him clean you after you were caught, give your sisters and brothers the same courtesy. Don’t get caught up in protocols, programs, and positions. There simply needs to be one brother telling another brother how they can become family. Don’t complicate the matter with rules, regulations, laws, do’s and don’t. Do your part, and let God do His. You catch, let Him clean!

Psalm 51:10, “CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.” (AMPC)

Now, in all of that WASHING; CLEANSING; and PURIFYING, did you note that the One who was doing it was: “...GOD…”! Not, “James, Edward, Jeffrey, Joseph, John, Mark or Derrick”! Nor was it, “Apostle, Bishop, Pastor, Elder, Evangelist, Minister, Deacon, Missionary, Brother or Sister”! NO, It Was, “…GOD…”! Because that’s the Only One Who Can Clean!

It is simple directives, you catch, and He cleans! And as soon as we stop playing God and stay in character with the only role we were cast in, the sooner we can fill the pews.

Don’t let any more people be left out floating aimlessly in this world, when you have the bait to catch them, and you have the means of getting them to your God so He can clean them! Don’t complicate such a simple process by attempting to be grand. The goal is to make sure your Name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life, not your Accomplishments or Head Count!

Remember: You Catch, Let God Clean!

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Tonight is our Tuesday Bible Study. If you missed last Tuesday, then you have time to catch this woman of God on fire with the word of God. Pastor Jackie Trought. I tell you we were taught, inspired and rejuvenated. She will be back again tonight. People are busy working or other responsibilities that prevent them from attending Bible Study. We are now bringing our Bible Study into your home or while you are on the road you can join us in learning more of the Word of God taught by some of our best Bible teachers throughout the U.S. Our Bible Study Teacher this Tuesday is  Pastor Jackie Trought. You are welcome to join in our Bible Study each Tuesday. Hours: (CST) 7:00 PM- 8:00 PM. From your cell phone you can call the new free toll number 1-302-202-1106, access conference code, 738510 for U.S. & Canada. Calling from your land line the number is 1-800-780-8834, access code is 206-5245.