God Reaches People Where They Are

Evangelism is a God-given calling every Christian must answer in obedience. In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie shares principles of a good "fisherman."

Notes:

Luke 5
 
There are right and wrong ways to go fishing.
And there are also wrong ways to share our faith.
 
The problem today isn’t that Christians are sharing the gospel the wrong way.
It’s that 8/10 Christians never share the gospel in any way.
 
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
  
Do you want to know how to share the gospel effectively? Do you want to go fishing for men?
 
Read Luke 5:1–10
 
This is a story of how a miracle of Jesus touched the lives of three men,
Peter, James, and John.
 
This terrific trio accompanied Jesus on many occasions.
They were there at the transfiguration.
They were there when Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter.
They were there during His agony in Gethsemane.
 
Were they afforded these privileges because they were better than the others?
 
Maybe Jesus was essentially saying, “I need to keep my eye on you, boys.”
 
Peter’s misstatements were legendary.
 
There were never three men who had less promise or natural ability.
Yet they became three of the greatest missionary preachers in church history.
 
Luke 5:3 (NLT)
Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So He sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
 
John 1:42 (NLT)
Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "Your name is Simon, son of John--but you will be called Cephas" (which means "Peter").
 
Jesus looks at Simon and sees what he will become.
 
There was another time Jesus looked at Peter.
It was after Peter’s denial of Jesus.
That was a look of understanding.
 
It appears that Peter, James, and John had a spiritual lapse of sorts.
Or perhaps they were just unsure of what it meant to follow Jesus.
 
Peter, James, and John did not realize the potential Jesus had for them.
 
Jesus was making them into powerful spiritual leaders who would touch their world.
They had the privilege of writing the very scripture we hold in our hands.
 
Have you sensed God’s call on your life to do a certain thing and then not done it?
 
When Jonah ultimately stepped up to the plate, a national revival happened in the wicked city of Nineveh.
 
Not to respond to God’s call on your life can be an actual sin.
It is a sin of omission.
 
Luke 5:4 (NLT)
"Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."
 
Luke 5:5 (NLT)
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing."
 
Fishing at this time was back-breaking work because it involved laying out a great net in a semi-circle. It encompassed over 100 feet. Then it had to be drawn in hand over hand.
 
Luke 5:5 (NLT)
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."
 
Peter used an interesting term for Jesus when he called Him, “Master.”
It was a nautical term, "Captain of this boat."
 
Peter let down the net instead of the nets.
The result was that the net started breaking.
 
This was supernatural, and these fishermen all knew it.
 
Jesus gave Peter fish because that is what Peter understood.
 
It’s amazing how Jesus can reach the academic and the uneducated,
the certified genius and the little child.
 
Augustine lived for drinking, partying, and rampant immorality.
 
Weeping, Augustine heard the voice of a child repeating, “Take and read.”
Augustine saw this as God entering his world.
 
This is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God.
 
Peter is overwhelmed with gratitude and guilt as Jesus gives him a great catch.
  
God is not looking for self-confident people.
He is looking for people who are aware of their inadequacies and weaknesses.
 
When you encounter the Holy God, you realize how sinful you are.
 
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now, on you’ll be fishing for men!”
(Luke 5:10)
 
The Lord said we can catch men alive.
Either we do it, or the devil does.
 
Luke 5:11 (NLT)
And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
 
The word for followed signifies the “deepest inward attachment.”
 
#1 A fisherman needs to be patient.
 
The Bible compares evangelism to farming.
1 Corinthians 3:6–8
 
We live in a microwave society, but God often works like a slow cooker.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:8a (ESV)
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.
 
#2 A good fisherman must persevere.
 
God doesn't grade us on our closing percentage.
He grades us on our obedience.
 
#3 A good fisherman must know to go to the right place at the right time.
 
#4 A good fisherman must have skill.
 
We learn effective skills through experience.
 
We learn to build a bridge rather than to burn it.
 
One of the best ways to share the gospel with someone is to listen.
 
Know the word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15
 
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
 
# 5 A good fisherman must know how to work with others.
 
Cooperation is the key to effectively sharing your faith.
 
God specializes in turning sinners into saints. 

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