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The Devotional Diva - Deep Soul Fishing
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The Devotional Diva - Deep Soul Fishing
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 (NKJV)
Sometimes God gives me a bonus in addition to a worship experience on Sunday mornings. Occasionally, He allows me to use my worship experience as a springboard for my writing. A few Sunday’s ago was bonus day!
Brother William preached a message called “Deep Soul Fishing” and used the above-mentioned verse from Mark. In general, fishing excites me as much as watching paint dry. Little did I know what God had in store for all of us that morning.
Our wonderful associate pastor concisely equated the church’s business to a fishing business. He told us the church was a following business where the followers fished. I started think he might be on to something! I just hoped it didn’t involve worms.
He further explained that the church is a finding business. To get fish, you have to find them first! He continued with it’s our job to find unfound fish and let Christ make them followers. Who, in turn, will find more fish for the Father. Fascinating! Okay, as I writer, I was also monumentally intrigued by Brother Williams’s word structuring.
Today, I’d like to share with you my personal take on this message.
First let me repeat I don’t fish. My husband went deep sea fishing once and got seasick. I’ve been seasick twice. I decided it’s not very lady-like to find oneself hanging off the side of a boat, violently ill. I currently prefer to stay on dry land and preserve my dignity.
For me, seasickness is a deterrent for deep sea fishing. So what might deter someone from deep soul fishing? How about soul-sickness?
Perhaps we allow soul-sickness symptoms to overpower us so we avoid soul fishing. In case you’re wondering, those symptoms include but are not limited to apathy, laziness and selfishness. Ouch, did someone just step on my toes?
May I suggest that authentic soul-sickness should drive us off the docks and into the seas! I think we want to see souls saved and revived, but how much. Is it enough to feel only flu-like symptoms over the unfound or floundering fish? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to cause a gut-wrenching seasickness over souls in our hearts? Good questions.
Another thought was that of bait. Ask any angler - they will tell you different fish require different bait. Therefore, I expect fishers of men must use bait to catch people. I refer to this as “sanctified bait.” Before you ask me to resign from writing, hear me out!
I’ve heard that sometimes “fish” are so willing to be caught that they’ll jump in our boat with only an invitation. Glory when that happens! But when invitation alone doesn’t work, we need a lure, motivation, bait… thus sanctified bait.
I am acquainted with a well-known ministry who uses sanctified bait to entice women in and subsequently hear about Jesus. They set up lunches with speakers that appeal to all women on common subjects like hair, make-up, flowers and travel to name a few. Afterwards, a keynote speaker shares her personal testimony and lays out the plan of salvation. I’ve heard many testimonies of women who came to know Christ and surrendered to service because of this method.
You can call it a gimmick or a lure or whatever you want, but if it gets people to the Lord and doesn’t violate the principles of God’s Word (thus the sanctified part) then I’m all for it!
Consider the people you know who are not believers. We ask those grandparents to come hear the kids sing in a holiday program. We encourage those family members to attend our baptism. We request those friends to join us for a free movie the church is showing or to hear a guest speaker they’ve heard of from television. Thus proving bait is not a foreign concept.
However, these examples show us that the best-sanctified bait isn’t a program but people! People, who simply consider themselves “caught fish,” going out to catch more fish. We invite souls - so those souls will hear the message of salvation and get caught by the Holy Spirit!
So how are you at deep soul fishing? Does soul-sickness keep you from or spur you on in your fishing endeavors? If someone described you as bait, would he/she call you sanctified? You know, we are either bait for the Bread of Life or bait for the world. The choice is up to you.
Trying to fish for the Father: hook, line and sinker!
Barbara
Divinely Inspired Victoriously Active
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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