The Father Uses Fishermen to Form His Kingdom vv.1-4

Mark 1:16-20 “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”

God will bless a people, a church, who are winning lost souls to Him!  God will destroy a people, a church, who do nothing for His glory!  How do I know this? 

John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

I’ve seen it many times!  Churches that do not impact the community for Christ, close their doors!  God has designed it that way!  My desire is that Oak Hill will always be a city on a hill, a banner of truth, a light of Christ, but never a country club that caters to felt needs.  I say this with a great smile on my face, because you’re not a country club!  You’re still on rescue operations!  I love that about you!  We’re a rescue outpost for Christ!

God wants to use the imperfect, the ordinary, so only He gets the glory! 

 

A Fisherman is Faithful to Respond to the Father v.5

Ok, although slow and hesitant in his response, Peter is finally obedient!  Peter is a jerk of a Christian, and really all throughout his ministry.

2 John 1:6 “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”

 

A Fisherman Relies on God’s Power as the Foundation vv.6-10

-We know nothing can be done apart from the power of God. 

John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

 

A Fisherman Follows God’s Leading v.11

Luke 11:28 “But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

“If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.”  – CH Spurgeon

“God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell!”  – CH Spurgeon