What Are You Fishing For?

Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard

What Are You Fishing For?

• Men pleasers- Ephesians 6:6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
• Gold/wealth- Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
• Treasures-Proverbs 10:2 - Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
• Lust of the flesh- Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Earthly accolades, wealth, something of value, women, men,

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Luke 12: 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

What’s in your tackle box? I love to fish. If I fish in freshwater, I take a smaller rod and lighter line. I use artificial bait that looks like a bug or edible thing to a fish that might find its way by accident into the water.

In saltwater, I have to go heavier. Anything is possible but I am not capable of anything so I have to moderate.

Jesus mission was misunderstood.

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Who is He fighting?

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36

The Sword: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Job threw up the phrase that some people have ascribed to. Job 34:4 Let's decide for ourselves what is right and agree among ourselves as to what is good,

That is straight up PRIDE and arrogance

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said

“DEAR FRIENDS, it is never wise to dispute with God. Let a man strive with his fellow, but not with his Maker. If we must discuss any point, let it be with imperfect beings like ourselves, but not with the infallible and infinitely wise God; for, in most of our discussions, these questions wilt come back to us, "Should it be according to thy mind? Art thou master? Is everyone to be subordinate to thee?" I am going to speak, this evening, to those who have a quarrel with God concerning the way of salvation. “ Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

What’s in your tackle box?

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” Ephesians 4:11-13

Is all you are catching is hell? You might want to change your bait. You might want to change your tackle. You might want to mend your nets.

Simon Peter, and Andrew had already joined him, now he was asking the sons of Zebadee.

Matthew 4:21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

James and John, quit fishing for the wrong thing. So what are you fishing for?

Nets were used back in this time for everything.

I am fishing for the people with a mind for God. I am fishing for the hurt and the lost people of God. I am fishing for the one. The mini, not the mega. I am not fishing for attention, recognition, accolades, or compliments.

I am fishing to bring families back together. To bring wives back to their husbands, husbands back to Christ. I am fishing to bring parents back to parenting.

I am fishing to let young men, be men. I am fishing to make old men wiser, revered and loved again. I am fishing to put you back in right order with God.

And I will do it by hook or by crook. Fishing hook or shepherds crook.

Only you can bring back your crazy kids. Pastor can’t do it. if you kids have strayed, its your fault, own up to it, and minister there first.

Oops, just lost some folks. You were with me until I went there.

Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said to them, Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

Ephesians 6:4 And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord

So what are you fishing for?

(4 points) Fishing requires patience. It requires the right equipment. It requires commitment. It requires knowledge.

1. Patience (Rom 5:4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation

2. Equipment -That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:17)

Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12

3. Commitment Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

4. Knowledge A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. (Proverbs 14:6)

Wisdom and knowledge are granted unto you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like. 2 Chron 1:12

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

thanks,

Kenn

that link:

https://youtu.be/FHIf0RPv_Rs

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