THE LESSON OF THE FISHING POLE?
WHY HOPE? LIVELY HOPE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I have a fishing pole, etc with me.
I WOULD RATHER FAIL IN A CAUSE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SUCCEED,
THAN TO SUCCEED IN A CAUSE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL...
That is why we invest in the cross.
CAT LOVER:
In 1978 a book was written called THE BOOK OF FAILURES... by Stephen Pile.
There are many stories of failure of different kinds.
In 1978 in England the FIRE DEPARTMENT was "ON STRIKE."
So the army was officially taking calls, so the ARMY was taking all the calls.
On Jan. 18, A dear, sweet old lady called in great distress, her PET CAT was
stranded in a tree. She loved her precious cat.
THE SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN GREAT SPEED, they cleverly rescued the cat.
A GRATEFUL old lady invited the soldiers into her home for TEA.
LATER SHE HUGGED ALL THE SOLDIER AND THANKED THEM for their
kindness...
As the soldiers drove out of her drive way,
the FIRE TRUCK RAN OVER HER CAT AND KILLED IT...
I. Let the fisher man teach us a few lessons.
A VERY FAMOUS PREACHER WAS ALSO A PRETTY GOOD FISHER MAN...
SEEMS THE TWO HAVE MUCH IN COMMON...
LISTEN AS THE PREACHER DISCUSSES A "LIVELY HOPE!"
A. WHAT LESSON CAN AN OLD FISH MAN TEACH?
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to
his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
B. TERMS:
1. LIVELY: A fire still burning, alive, full of live, cheerful...
alert, energetic, vigorous, active, intense, quick to rebound,
2. HOPE: a cherished desire, anticipation, expectation to obtain, confidence, trust,
reliance, trust that what is wanted will happen, to expect, the object of desire...
C. THE HUMAN SPIRIT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING...
WHEN IT BOILS DOWN: ALL WE HAVE IS HOPE... HOPE AGAINST HOPE...
Without hope we will quit trying?
Where there is no hope... we lose the PLAN OF A BETTER TOMORROW...
ASK ABRAHAM HOW IMPORTANT HOPE IS?
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many
nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
D. LET US GOING FISHING?
A FAMILY IN A DIRTY, RUSTY OLD VAN, PULLED UP IN THE CHURCH PARKING
LOT AND GOT OUT THEIR FISHING POLES AND CHAIRS AND WERE FISHING
IN THIS LARGE POND... It was a very nice pond, concrete all around.
The Pastor looked out his study window and saw this large family fishing.
HE WENT OUT AND TOLD THEM, THERE IS NO USE FISHING HERE, THERE
ARE NO FISH.
There was one old woman that appeared to be the spokes person.
The old woman used some bad words and said, WE KNEW YOU WERE A FANCY
CHURCH AND DID NOT LIKE POOR PEOPLE, WE JUST WANTED TO CATCH A
FEW FISH FOR DINNER. NEVER MIND, YOU DON'T WANT US POOF FOLK HERE.
They loaded up in the van and left in great anger. The van smoked off in the distance.
The Pastor of the huge church knew something the people refused to listen?
The whole area around the church was pronged to flood.
The Government spent several hundred thousands of dollars to help with water
drainage. THE GOVERNMENT BUILT THIS RETAINING CONCRETE AREA.
Most of the time the CONCRETE RETAINING AREA WAS DRY... BUT AFTER A
HEAVY RAIN, THERE WOULD ACCUMULATE A LOT OF WATER AND MAKE
A POND? This pond never had any fish in it...
THE FAMILY HAD ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND ABOUT THIS CHURCH AND
THE PASTOR... LISTEN TO THE PASTOR: NEVER GO FISHING IN A RETAINING
POND... YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME...
II. THERE ARE MANY HIDDEN LESSONS IN THE BIBLE...
JESUS WAS A CARPENTER, BUT HE SEEMED TO LOVE FISHER MEN...
FISH MEN SPEAKS OF HOPE... A FISHER MAN HAS TO BE OPTIMISTIC...
A. FISHING SURVIVES ON HOPE ALONE...
Ask a fisher man: "How are you doing?"
While answering the question, he says: "I HAVEN'T HAD A BITE ALL DAY
LONG?" ...
"WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, I AM FEEL A HIT RIGHT NOW...?"
His line will go slack: "THAT IS OK, HE WILL BE BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE!"
HOPE SAYS: I BELIEVE I WILL CAST AGAIN!
B. It is wonderful to still go to the SEA OF GALILEE ...
The Catholic church owns the property that belonged to Peter.
PETER WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN... HE OWNED SOME BOATS
AND HAD A REAL NICE HOUSE.
PETER WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED SIMON...
Simon means: LISTENER, HEARER...
His Dad's name was Jona, no mention of his mother?
PETER IS KNOWN AS THE APOSTLE OF HOPE...
PETER'S BOOKS CONSIST OF ENCOURAGEMENT and GREAT HOPE...
C. Peter was the older brother of ANDREW...
Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
D. Peter was born at Bethsaida, on the western coast of the SEA OF GALILEE,
He was a trained and successful fisher man...
E. SIMON PETER'S HOUSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE JEWISH TABERNACLE.
His house sits on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee...
The Sea of Galilee is probably more like a lake, it is roughly 17 miles long.
THE CONSANT NEED OF WATER AND LITTLE RAIN HAS THE SEA OF GALILEE
VERY LOW...
We need to pray for Israel to have rain...
F. PETER WAS KNOWN TO BE BLUNT AND MOUTHY...
Peter was a married man, he had a MOTHER-IN-LAW that Jesus healed...
G. TODAY THE CATHOLIC LEADERS HAVE BUILT A BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY
ABOVE PETER'S HOUSE... THE CHURCH HAS A GLASS FLOOR AND YOU
CAN SIT ON A PEW AND LOOK DOWN INTO PETER'S LIVING ROOM AND
BEDROOMS...
From Peter's front yard you can see the water.
His back yard is a few feet from the JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, so Peter would have
often attended services, heard the teaching and listened to the debates.
III. FISHER MEN MUST LEARN WHAT TO DO WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE HIT...
IS THIS THE END? WILL I SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN?
A. STORMS ARE PART OF LIFE...
1. RAINS 1. ONE'S WE ARE EXPECTING
2. WINDS 2. SUDDEN, NOT EXPECTED
3. FLOODS
B. What are we going to do when the STORMS COME?
There is no question if we shall face storms, there question is will we be ready?
C. THE WAY THE SEA OF GALILEE IS...
STORMS SEEM TO ARISE OUT OF NO WHERE...
Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered
with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked
the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the
sea obey him!
D. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE JESUS ON BOARD YOUR SHIP AT ALL TIMES...
E. LITTLE FAITH? WHY NOT STAND UP AND FACE THE STORM YOURSELF...
F. JESUS CAN GIVE CALM:
1. BEFORE THE STORM
2. DURING THE STORM
3. AFTER THE STORM...
IV. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU...
THE LESSON OF PATIENCE AND FISHING IS TEACHING DEPENDANCE
ON GOD'S WORD...
A. DO WE PAY TAXES?
B. HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY OUR TAXES?
C. DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO... GO FISHING...
Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute
money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying,
What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute?
of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook,
and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou
shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
D. GIVE FOR YOU, AND FOR ME...
V. MY FRIEND, YOU BEST STAY IN THE BOAT, UNLESS YOU HEAR THE PERSONAL
INVITATION TO GET OUT...
A. Linda and I got up and walked around the KUBUTZ at the sea of Galilee and prayed.
We boarded the bus and went to a dock and loaded on a large wood boat.
The owner welcomed us on board, he was a 6th generation boat operator.
We rode several miles and parked in the middle of the SEA.
B. On our left side was the GENTILE AREA, there were cliffs, where the pigs jumped into
the water and drown.
C. There were two groups on the boat, a Canadian group and our group... 200 people?
They played music on a NANO, we sang for 30 minutes... AMEN, AMEN...
WOW, it was a kiss of heaven.
A missionary from BAZIL taught the lesson that morning...
D. I stood behind a post on the back of the boat, and cried like a baby.
I felt such a wonderful anointing... They demonstrated fishing in Jesus' day,
we caught nothing?
PART OF ME LONGED TO STEP OVER BOARD AND WALK ON THE WATER?
PART OF ME SAID: IF YOU SINK THEY WILL TELL THEIR STORY FAR AND WIDE...?
I decided: MAYBE NEXT TIME... MAYBE NEXT TIME...
Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be
not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water,
to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,
Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him,
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
E. PETER SAW JESUS...
Peter heard Jesus: BE NOT AFRAID...
F. PETER HEARD THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD THAT SAID: COME...
G. THE FEELING WAS SO WONDERFUL FOR THE FISHER MAN TO WATER
ON THE WATER... WITH THE FISHER OF MEN...
H. PETER WAS FOCUSED ON JESUS UNTIL HE FELT THE WIND?
THE WAVES WERE DASHING AROUND HIS FEET...
PETER LOST HIS FOCUS...
I. Lose your focus on Jesus, sink immediately.
J. IMMEDIATELY PETER KNEW HE WAS IN TROUBLE AND HE REACHED FOR
JESUS, there the Fisher man grasped the FISHER OF MEN...
K. WHY DID YOU DOUBT?
WHY DID THE OTHER 11 STAY PLASTERED TO THE SEATS IN THE BOAT
VI. WHAT IF MEN WERE AS PATIENT WITH GOD AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY
ARE FISHING... FISHING REQUIRES SEVERAL ELEMENTS:
1. PATIENCE; 2. HOPE; 3. THE RIGHT TIMING; 4. THE RIGHT PLACE; 5. THE
RIGHT BAIT;
A. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED... ???
Your family, your income... is dependant on your successful fishing...
NO FISH, NO MONEY...
B. UNDERSTAND SOMETHING JESUS...
1. JESUS WE ARE FISHER MEN, YOU ARE A CARPENTER...
2. WE HAVE FISHED ALL NIGHT, WE ARE TIRED AND FRUSTRATED...
3. SIMON MEANS LISTENER, HEARER...
AT YOUR WORD JESUS... WE WILL TRUST YOU...
Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and
let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken
nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come
and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am
a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they
had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
C. Jesus knows the limit of your load...
D. SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS...
E. Seems Jesus the carpenter appears out of no where and is quick to tell the
fisher men HOW TO FISH...
VII. THEY WENT FROM IN THE BOAT TO ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP...
SIMON PETER, JOHN AND JAMES...
JESUS SPEAKS A GREAT LESSON TO PETER AND HIS FRIENDS...
A. JESUS TEACHES BY EXAMPLE HOW IMPORTANT PRAYER REALLY IS...
THE JOURNEY MAY SEEM TWISTED FROM THE SEA TO MOUNTAIN,
BUT GOD HAS A PLAN.
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain
apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
B. Don't look for the BIG CROWDS at prayer meetings...
C. HOW DID PETER KNOW IT WAS MOSES AND ELIJAH?
He had never met them?
D. YOU CAN NEVER BUILD A CHURCH... LITTLE ALONE 3 CHURCHES
ON SLEEPERS AT PRAYER TIME...
Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake,
they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good
for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses,
and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
E. PETER WAS VERY GOOD AT SPEAKING WHEN HE SHOULD SHUT UP...
IF THE BRAIN IS OUT OF GEAR, THE MOUTH SHOULD BE IN NEUTRAL...
VIII. TWO GREAT LESSONS THIS FISHER MAN LEARNED AT JESUS FEET...
WHO AM I PETER... ??? WHO ARE YOU... FISHER MAN?
A. YOU HAVE HEARD WHAT OTHERS SAY...
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
B. WHAT DO YOU SAY FISHER MAN...
WHERE DO WE HAVE TO GO? WHERE CAN I GO?
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him,
being one of the twelve.
C. PETER LEARNS A REAL LESSON ABOUT GIVING...
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:
freely ye have received, freely give.
CONCLUSION:
LIFE IS A JOURNEY... We must overcome gloom, despair, negativism,
1. HOPE IS A VIRTUE
2. DESPAIR CAN LEAD TO SIN...
PETER'S WRITINGS ADMONISHES US TO:
1. BE STEADFAST AND PERSISTENT...
2. PERSEVERANCE UNDER PERSECUTION
3. BE PRACTICAL, NOT SHOWY
4. PATIENT AND HOLY
5. GIVES SOUND ADVICE TO PASTORS AND PEOPLE..
AS A FISHER MAN MUST HAVE HOPE, SO MUST A CHRISTIAN...
A HOPELESS CHRISTIAN IS AN INDIVUAL HAD HAS SPIRTUAL, TERMINAL
CANCER...
SATAN'S GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET YOU FOCUSED ON YOUR FAILURES
MORE THAN TO SEE ANY BATTLES THAT WE HAVE WON.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
