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“Profession Rigorously Offers Faith, Encompasses Savior’s Salvation In Our Newness! (P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N)”

Publisher
Ramesh C. Reddy

SCRIPTURE:
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew fishing with nets, for they were commercial fisherman. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me! And I will make you fisherman for the souls of men!” At once they left their nets and went along with him.” (Mark 1:16-18, NIV)

I asked myself why it is significant when Jesus says, "And I will make you fisherman for the souls of men?'
As Simon and Andrew were commercial fisherman, I loved how Jesus uses language that they are able to understand, as he meets them where they are. Jesus calls them to follow Him through the profession they are already in. But the awesomeness of this is that Jesus does not tell them to forget everything they have learned or even forget to do their profession. On the contrary, Jesus tells them that He will use what they already know how to do well that of 'fishing with nets as commercial fisherman' and use that to spread the Good News that He wants them to share with the souls around them. That is so exciting to know that they do not have to feel that their profession of fishing will go to waste when they follow Jesus, but that Jesus will use their profession of fishing to be used for the souls of men. Jesus cares so much for the soul of mankind.

The soul is dying because of a virus known as sin so Jesus came to redeem humanity. Jesus decided to do that using His servants to bring the Gospel to others wherever they are so they can be saved from soul sickness as Andrea and Jason shared with their Asian InterVarsity Christian Fellowship students in the past.

I asked myself what is the function of a fisherman?

1. They have to go out into the sea if they want to start fishing or at least have access to the water.

2. They need to have a good net or hook that fish will become attached to and cannot escape.

3. They need to throw the net or hook in the water at the right place and time because it is not enough to have the best net or hook if the net or hook is not thrown in the water at the right place and time.

4. Usually, they need to work together as one drops the net and others help pull it up.

5. They need to utilize ways to attract the fish to come to them.

6. They need to make the fish die once the fish are caught so they can be used.

7. They need to clean the fish and make them available to others.

These are only some of the functions I can think of but there could be more to a fisherman than meets the eye. Those 7 could have been their responsibilities and here comes Jesus calling them to follow Him so that He can make them “fisherman for the souls of men.”

I asked myself how the functions of a fisherman can be used to become fisherman for the souls of men?
To answer that I looked at all 7 points to see if I can make an analogy of 'being a fisherman vs. being a fisherman for the souls of men.

 Point 1:
They must go out into the sea and have access to water where the fish are living.

In the same way, to be ‘fisherman for the souls of men’, Jesus will send them to places where there are lost people or have access to lost people so they can fish for their souls.

 Point 2:
They need to have a good net or hook that fish will become attached to and cannot escape.

In the same way, to be ‘fisherman for the souls of men’, Jesus wants to become their good net or hook that they can use so that lost people will become attached to Him and will not escape once they come to Jesus.

At first this thought sounded as if people coming to Jesus become prisoners if they cannot escape. But I believe once ‘fisherman for the souls of men’ allow Jesus to work in their lives, lost people start seeing the work of Jesus in people’s lives that they are so attracted to that they want to be part of it. So, now lost people get attracted to Jesus and come. Once they come, they cannot escape because they come to the point of voluntarily ‘surrendering their lives to Him.’

In a way, some people do think about becoming a prisoner once they give their life to Jesus. But I believe it is those who have not surrendered their wills to Him who feel that way. Those who do surrender find abundant life with Jesus. 

Lost people get attracted to Jesus many times because of the lifestyle of those who already know Jesus and are known by Him.

Point 3:

It is not enough to have the best net or hook if the net or hook is not thrown in the water at the right place and time.

In the same way, it is not enough for us to have Jesus as our best net or hook knowing Jesus and being known by Jesus if we are just content with having Jesus as our best net or hook but do not make ourselves available and access the help Jesus provides to reach out to lost people at the right place and time.  Just as the disciples went out in faith while they threw their net for fish and believed in the profession they were in, ‘fisherman for the souls of men’ need to go out in faith, believing in Jesus and presenting Jesus to lost people at the right place and time.

It won’t always be easy to find the right place and time but fisherman keep going at it and so should ‘fisherman for the souls of men’. Eventually, just as fish are caught ‘lost people’ do come when we do not give up and keep presenting Jesus.

Point 4:
Usually, they need to work together as one drops the net and others help pull it up.

In the same way, just as one person may present Jesus to someone or multitudes, that person has just dropped the net in a ‘lost person’s life’. This is just the beginning where the seed has been sown. As others help pull the net, I am reminded of Billy Graham Crusades where ‘lost people’ are attracted to the net of Jesus and come to Him. While they come to Him, they are helped by tons of counselors to pull them up from where they were to ‘where they can be now’. Now, they are attracted to Jesus and come but are helped by people who know Jesus and are known by Him.

This is what happened to my mommy as she was listening to so many Billy Graham Crusades on TV and reading Christian literature. One day she gave her life to Christ even though she was a devoted practicing Hindu who had made a closet into shrine to worship idols.

I learned reaching out to ‘lost people’ is not a solo job just as being effective fisherman is not. Jesus did not call Simon and Andrew individually but both together in utilizing what they are familiar with. Jesus loves pairs and working together :)

Point 5:
They (fisherman) utilize ways to attract fish to come to them.

In the same way, to reach ‘souls of men’ different ways can be utilized as ‘fisherman for the souls of men’. Some can use evangelistic crusades to attract people to Jesus, friendship/relational evangelism, testimonial evangelism, narrative/story telling evangelism, evangelistic movies, confrontational/street evangelism, and most of all personal evangelism: Living out our life in such a way that we become the bait to attract people to Jesus. Personal evangelism could use other ways to reach out too. These are just some examples and are not exclusive.

Point 6:
Once fish are caught, they make them die to be used as nourishment.

In the same way, once lost people are caught, ‘fisherman for the souls of men’ make them realize that they need to ‘die to self’ and surrender themselves completely to the Lord to be used of the Lord. It is here ‘lost people’ actually have the opportunity to give their life to Christ by praying and meaning what many call the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ and getting baptized in water where the old life dies and a new life begins. Never forget it starts with Jesus.

If they do not want to die to themselves and be born again for Christ, they have freedom to go their own way! But if they do that, they remain lost to Christ but alive to the world which is not a good thing in the long run. It is possible these lost people are attracted sometime in the future and ‘die to themselves’ as other ‘fisherman for the souls of men’ come along. When they die to be used for Christ, He will use their lives to nourish others. Thank you, Jesus! It starts with Jesus! 

In Luke 9, Jesus said, "If you want to follow me, you must pick up your cross and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose it but those who give up their life for me will gain it. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but lose his soul."

Point 7:
They (fisherman) clean the fish and make them available to others.

In the same way, ‘fisherman for the souls of men’ clean the ‘lost people’ after they ‘die to themselves’ but this cleaning is done through the Lord utilizing His Word, prayer, and the community of Bible believing believers. Jesus personally works in their life through the power of the Holy Spirit, through His Word, through prayer, and the community of believers.

As this continues to happen, now ‘lost people who have been found’ are available to others to reciprocate what happened to them. Just as fish is eaten and people get nourishment after it is available to them, in the same way, now people who are saved can allow Jesus to work in their lives and bring spiritual nourishment to others.

I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
No matter what my profession is when Jesus calls me to follow Him, Jesus will not ignore my profession or everything I have learned but will use what I have learned to tell others about Himself so that they can experience the love of Christ through my profession of what I have learned. As I use the profession I know to share Christ, souls can come to Him in His timing. Even if the Lord changes the profession, I am familiar with and gives me a new profession, the calling will remain the same for me.

The Bible verse that the Lord Jesus has impressed on my heart is, "But life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love!" (Acts 20:24).

No matter what profession I am doing or what I am called to whether it be a husband, father, son, brother, pastor, teacher, evangelist, journalist, etc, my duty should be to follow Jesus and tell others about Jesus. Simon went from being a commercial fisherman to becoming a pastor as His profession later in life. But the calling still remained the same: To follow Jesus and make Jesus known! Thank you, Jesus!

That is my calling first and foremost to make Jesus known even as a husband and daddy. Thank you, Jesus, for this special responsibility. Friend that is your calling too to follow Jesus and make Jesus known!

Years ago, the Lord Jesus spoke to me so powerfully while I was spending time in His Word reading Luke 9 & 1 Corinthians 9 and encouraged me to move forward in online publishing ministry as I depend upon Him to provide in the ways He chooses. What I hear and read points me to ministry as I depend on the Lord reflecting on Acts 20:24, Luke 9, 1 Corinthians 9, and Mark 1:16-18.

What solidified this calling for me are the sermons that Pastor Hugo Cheng gave at the PCCO/PCC’s 30^th – 60^th Anniversary Retreat. Those sermons inspired me to revisit Mark 1:16-18 and reflect on it more. I was also reminded of the kids’ sermon; I heard 5 years ago given by Pastor Mike about being fisherman for the souls of men.  That sermon impacted me a lot and would keep me in the path to do ministry.  When I told that to Pastor Mike, he was shocked because he taught that was the weakest sermon he gave but it was not. Never ever think your words don't have an impact on other people's lives. Positive words touched by the Lord can change a person's life for the good. Negative words touched by Satan can destroy a person's life for the bad without the intervention of the Lord. So, we need to watch our words and never ever think what we have to say does not impact on another person.

Wherever the Lord has placed you or called you to, you can use that profession for the glory and honor of the Lord. Tomorrow, I hope to share personal examples from our own lives of using different professions to share Christ.

“Profession Rigorously Offers Faith, Encompasses Savior’s Salvation In Our Newness! (P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N)” PART I

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you so much you have called Peter and Andrew to follow you letting them know that being a commercial fisherman can be used to be a fisherman for the souls of men. Lord Jesus, help us please to use our lives to win souls for you where you have placed us. We need you Lord. We depend upon you, Oh Lord. Thank you that you are the One who saves but are pleased to use us to serve you in the profession we are in. Guide us and lead us Oh Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the speaking to us through Your Word, through prayer confirmed by your Word, through the Spirit confirmed by your Word, through community confirmed by your Word, etc. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

To be continued….

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I  struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me too. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

"Why B.R.I.N.G your children to Jesus in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 18, 25, 12:40 pm)
"What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 17, 25, 11:39 am)