MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN
Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men!” (Mk 1:17)
What did Jesus mean by this?
For Jesus to say, “Follow me …” tells us that Christianity is highly relational. It’s a relationship with, Jesus Christ! When Jesus said, “…I will make you fishers of men” He was communicating that those who follow Him will have a unique influence upon their fellow man. He wants our lives to have an impact in the work of the Gospel. The Lord wants our lives to have a godly, healthy and inspiring influence to those around us. Boiled down, Christian’s are to lead in this way!
Here’s the question I want to pose to my fellow brothers in Christ, “What does a man of God’s influence look like?” Or, “What does it mean that a man of God, leads the way?” Below are eight points that begin to answer that question. It is not a complete list(there’s more to come), but it’s a good start!
MAIN THING THE MAIN THING
#1 Keeps the main thing the main thing (I Cor 2:2; John 15:26; John 14:6; Phil 3:12-14)
Men of God love Jesus, grow in Jesus, and obey Jesus! What is the main thing? The Son of God, the Word of God and the Spirit of God! When the main thing is the main thing: the Spirit of God is satisfied, the Word of God is prioritized, the Son of God is glorified and the Church of God is edified! When this takes place the church is a powerful influence that will make Christ known and make new disciples of Christ!
STEWARD
#2 He is a Steward (I Cor 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10; I Cor 6:20)
A man of God lives with a high level of awareness that he is responsible with what is not his. He is a steward of the Gospel message. He is a steward of the resources, opportunities, gifts and the time that has been given to him. He is also a steward of his own body knowing that his life does not belong to himself.
CAUSE, FIRST
#3 He puts the cause of Christ, first! (1 Cor 6:7; Acts 20:24)
This means that a man of God is willing to give up their rights and liberties for the greater good for the cause of Christ. They are willing to be disadvantaged personally, so that the community is advantaged corporately! They are willing to suffer privately in order to avoid contributing to influences that undermine the greater good of the body of Christ. Paul wrote, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
WILL OF GOD
#4 He understands and is committed to doing the will of God! (Eph 5:15-17)
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
The word “time” carries the idea of opportunity or special moments. It does not refer to time on the clock. (i.e. Chronos)
Perspective: The speed of the “game of life” is faster than ever! Information, transportation and expectation have all picked up in pace! Unless a man of God has identified the chief opportunities and priorities that are to define his life, there is a high likelihood that his his witness for Christ will get left in the dust. Ask yourself, “Lord, what are the priorities that are to define my life and glorify you?”
LOVE
#5 He has a heart of God for the people of God (John 13:35; Acts 2:46; Rom. 16:17-18).
Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35)
This means that a man of God demonstrates love to all Christians, not just some. What is love? Love is patient, gracious and kind. A Christian is to love all who make up the most diverse family on earth. A man of God exemplifies unity in the essentials, liberty in the non-essentials, but love in all things!
TEACHABLE
#6 He is teachable and is always learning (I Tim 4:15-16; Pr. 9:9; Mt 11:15)
Eight times Jesus said, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. Paul instructed Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim 4:15-16)
Leaders are learners!
Pr. 9:9 reads,“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Abraham Lincoln said, “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”
Peter grew as a man of God, as a leader, and became more influential in his generation largely do to the fact that he remained teachable. In Matt 15:15 Peter asks Jesus to explain a difficult parable. Matt 18:21, he asked how he needed to forgive. Matt 19:27 he asked about the reward that the disciples would get for following Jesus. Mark 11:21, he asked the meaning of the withered fig tree. John 21:20-22, Peter asked questions of the risen Christ. He wanted to know what he didn’t know. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading!
It’s been said …
“The quality of your life in any area of your life will be determined by the kind of questions you have the courage to ask yourself in that area. If you don’t ask the right questions in your life you won’t get the right answers. If you don’t get the right answers you can’t build the right strategy. If you can’t get the right strategy you won’t get the right results. So regardless of what you do in life you have to ask the right questions. Questioning is an art. It is a skill that you can develop. You can get good at it.”
INTEGRITY
#7 He is a man of integrity (Eph. 5:18; 2 Tim 2:21)
A man of God is not perfect but he is honest and authentic. Men of God do not allow compartmentalizing in their life. They are the same behind closed doors as they are in public. Integrity carries the idea of a unit of one. It comes from the word, “integer”. They are Spirit filled (i.e. controlled) Eph 5:18. God can overlook a lack of intelligence. He can overlook a lack of gifts. But God will not use a dirty vessel. 2 Tim 2:21 reads, “Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed” (2 Timothy 2:21 TEV).
PERSEVERES
#8 He never gives up! (2 Tim 4:7; 1 Cor 15:58; James 5:11; Heb 6:10)
Men of God persevere. Without perseverance there would be no redemption, church, missions, evangelism, godly legacy or family! Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7
A man of God understands that at times their efforts will produce measurable results but at other times they will not (at least before men), and often not until the next generation. But they know that the Lord’s Spirit is always at work in and through His people and more often beyond comprehension. Ultimately, whether one’s efforts are measurable in this lifetime or not, faithfulness is always seen by God, weighed by God and rewarded by God — and glorifies God!
So be encouraged and remember Paul’s admonition: “…my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.