The Absolute Beginners Guide for Fishers of Men

Feb 25, 2021

By Jason Fetko

The Absolute Beginners Guide for Fishers of Men

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19” (ESV)

The life saving work of evangelism is the most essential work the church will do. The work of evangelism, the work of fishing for men. Men are drowning in the sea of sin all around us and our job as Christians is to throw them the only life preserver available — the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Winning the lost is God's great concern. It is Christ's great concern. And is is the Holy Spirit's great concern.

“For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 ESV

For it is the Holy Spirit who comes:

"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" John 16:8 ESV

The great concern of the Trinity is evangelism, saving the lost. And so as Christians it should be our great concern also.

Proverbs 11:30 says " The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

This is our task. Did you know that the term “evangelize,” the Greek term (euangelizō,) is used no less than 55 times in 52 verses in the New Testament?

It is all summarized, as it were, in the great commission in Matthew 28 when the Lord said, “Go into all the world,” winning people to Christ and, “baptizing them, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

It’s all our task. In Luke 24:47-48,

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." Luke 24:47-48 KJV

Do you notice that repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in His name among all nations, and it was only the beginning at Jerusalem? It’s to go way beyond that.

We’re all a part of that continuity. That’s why in Acts 1:8, it went a step further:

“And after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, in Judea and in Samaria.” Acts 1:8

It started with the twelve.It extended to the early church in Jerusalem and then to Judea, then to Samaria, then to the world and to us. This is our work. We, too, are to follow Jesus and be fishers of men.

What are the characteristics of a good Fisherman?

1.Patience:

Fishermen learn to wait; so do we if we’re good at fishing for men. You’ve got to be patient.

2. Perseverance:

They do it over and over and over and over, and they go, and they’ll come back. “Well, we didn’t catch anything, but we’ll go again,". You've got to persevere.

3.Courage:

“My boat is so small, and the sea is so large,” the saying goes. They’ll face the sea for the cause of the fish.

4. Knows His Stuff:

Fishermen know what the right tackle and best bait to use is; where the best fishing holes are; the right time of day to be there; and how to catch the fish.

How do you win souls and fish for men?

1. Be a Believer:

You can't be on the team unless you are. Make your election sure. Spurgeon said “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!”

2. Be Available:

Learn how to win people to Christ. If that means getting involved in an evangelism ministry, then get involved. If that means reading the New Testament and underlining everything about evangelism and cataloging it and learning it, do it.

3. Be Concerned:

Maybe that means reading some books. Surely, it means meeting some unsaved people. It all starts with obedience, so be obedient.Go out and do it. Even if the passion isn’t there, do it. Reach out to that neighbor.Speak the words you’ve always wanted to speak and never have.

4. Be Following Jesus:

Jesus is your pattern. Study how He did it. Then, find somebody else you can follow, and let them be your model.Go out with them and watch how they do it.

Are you a Fisher of Men?

According to Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, “Only 2 percent of believers in America regularly share their faith with others.”

If this is true that means ninety-eight percent of all Christians have never led anybody to Jesus Christ. Ninety-eight percent of all the believers have never fished for men. You can hold on to the things you love in the church, but you’ve got to reach out too.

Oswald J. Smith said, “Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.”

In our very love for the church, in our very love for the treasures of the Word of God, we get absorbed and the world never hears the hope that is in us. Tragic. Let it not be so!