ARE YOU FISHING MEN AND AS WERE CALLED FISHERS OF MEN?

Thursday, October 25, 2012

ARE YOU FISHING MEN AND AS WERE CALLED FISHERS OF MEN?

By: Bishop Albert Gran

Matthew 4:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

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.

²⁰ And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Mark 1:16-18

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

¹⁷ And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

¹⁸ And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

This is a question often used and applied by many so-called grace preachers in our times believing this instruction was also addressed to the members of the Body of Christ. One missionary from a religious sect reacted my statement upon commenting his post of this same issue at FB. That post simply viewed his perception adhering ministerial stresses as something which is for “fishing men”. He can’t resist to uproar my statement “It was Peter who cast the net and not Paul” which made a reaction to not comment it publickly but exclusively in the Cyber’s Forum. Obviously, an attempt made me felt a yoke to put upon one’s neck.

“Fishing men”having masses of conversion same view in the kingdom gospel presentation during the earthly ministry of John the Baptist, the circumcision ministry of Christ, and the commission of the 12 apostles in most cases is the principle they thought to be what’s happening in this dispensation of grace. Today’s view of “fishing men” was a form of an adulterated concept especially when the fleshly walk overrides covetousness for gain sake instead of focusing the truth in the gospel as the quality means of building up strong people for God. Most preachers in our times resort to the beggarly elements after the rudiments of the world with the fleshly scheme of getting through mass conversion in view of preaching mixed up gospels, adulterated teachings neither by pureness of knowledge and the most suitable information based on the grace teachings in accordance to the revelation of the mystery with the apostle Paul.        

Checking the light and principle from the Scriptures, the word of God, we can clearly compare if your eyes are focus to the reality what’s the ending portion of the BOC’s scene in accordance to Christ’s revelation. Let’s stress the significant fact what spiritual weight Paul had in his mind where every preacher and member of the BOC in particular should greatly and mostly prioritized with.  

1 Timothy 4:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Perhaps this article would not mislead you to see what’s the alternative recourse how not being dependent to the old notion what’s got to be the ending portion of the BOC in so far as how Paul deivered these things to us.

As today’s modern preachers focus on quantity in view of their mixed principles and marching order combining Peter and Paul including their messages and gospel, we shall fully developed the quality of building and establishing strong believers through pure grace doctrines as such few were only called the remnants of grace who stand preaching Jesus Christ in accordance to the revelation of the mystery.  

Not to be misrepresented, I’m not saying that we shall no longer preach and reach to the masses of people to have lots of conversion and have many members because the BOC remnants were only few as far as the record of Paul’s epistle is concerned. The point is this: “We need to build preachers and teachers fit to declare the message of grace declaring the message and principles of grace same with Paul and the truth of the gospel of grace alone in view of preaching Jesus Christ in accordance to the revelation of the mystery”. Why should we build quality of believers through sound doctrine for his spirit’s framework and development? 

 Let’s consider this ample citation of truth what’s really happening nowadays in the BOC as Paul when he wrote it foresaw what must be going on at the end part of the Body of Christ  .

 1 Timothy 4:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them WHICH BELIEVE AND KNOW THE TRUTH.

Suffice to the truth presented above it is very clear that the battle for the BOC is the truth or doctrines as the framework of every believer’s walk. If preacher would not focus how he could give right gospel and teachings for an established walk through faith which is the truth of God’s word given to the apostle Paul today, then no wonder many dare not stand the pureness of truth brought by the grace of God and therefore obtain the best quality for establishment so that by the time come they will not depart from the faith and shall continue in His goodness. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

King James Version (KJV)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

So, how does the apostle of this Gentile age of grace viewed the totality of his spiritual ministry and  his ministerial service? My answer is this:” IT’S ALL ABOUT FOR THE DEFENCE AND CONFIRMATION OF THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL”.

 Romans 16:25

King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, which was kept secret since the world began,

Philippians 1:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

⁷ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the DEFENCE and CONFIRMATION OF THE GOSPEL, ye all are PARTAKERS OF MY GRACE.

⁸ For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

It’s very clear here how our ministry today emphasized and puts emphasis relative to that of the apostle Paul not the “fishing men” instructed to Peter in preparation of the forthcoming earthly kingdom. Take note that Paul’s ministry centered preaching Jesus Christ in accordance to the revelation of the mystery in the MY GOSPEL found with Paul and it’s for the defence and confirmation OF THE GOSPEL (the mystery of God’s grace in this dispensation of grace). One striking emphasis in these verses is that: The members of the BOC today (comprising Jews and Gentiles) are partakers of MY GRACE (it’s in view of the grace of God revealed to Paul not the grace of God revealed to Peter and the sons of men in time past. We are right now and therefore connected in the apostleship ministry of Paul in an operation which is current in our time.

Prevalent occurrences of event as we see the modern religious lifestyles nowadays, many church goers and attendees brought by their so called conversion method have much show of lives having no emphasis of truth as theirs were for outward manifestation in view of fleshly walk under the mainstream in and through the vanity of their minds in accordance to the world’s religious standards with less consideration of taking God’s word and were driven and or drift away from the truth and hope of the gospel as though walking by faith but using the faith to sight earthly things embodied for gain sake. Nowadays, ministries were means to obtain life as though they thought blessed by God and yet having ill motives to escape the reality and their obligation to rule their families much more in seeking for their material provisions as therefore commanded by God. However, failure of such resulted to the worsening of one’s faith more than an infidel.    

As in view of this grace walk and ministerial principles:

1 Timothy 5:7-9

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

⁹ Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

Why many today succumb to this worldly standard wherein most preacher’s ministries are based on their supposed walk by faith then plus sight instead of walking by faith alone in response to God’instruction?

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

⁷ (For we WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT:)

⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision,  which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH.
 

Let’s go back to faith’s departure as a mere condition at the end portion of the BOC as clearly seen in the passages above. Instead revival or mass conversion shall occur as majority supposed to think, the end point for the BOC is deficiency of truth resulting to careless walk turning the world upside down based on the manifestation of walk similar to the walk of those who are ungodly. It’s the result of the deficiency and exposure of God’s word made effectually worked in their lives.

Significant ending of the BOC instead of mass conversion and or what religious people thought as revival :

2 Timothy 4:2-4

King James Version (KJV)

² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

³ FOR THE TIME WILL COME when they will NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Why does the BOC shall and later become devastated in the faith if the religious preachers are concerned much in their conversion? The simple answer is this: Their emphasis of conversion is not really a means of conversion until a person was grounded and settled for the hope of the gospel.  This is what Paul called “SOUND DOCTRINE”.They thought that conversion can be done when a man in that instance raised up his hands in accepting the Lord then pray for confession even pushed and moved through and by his own emotion. That’s how they thought conversion started. However, those that inclined to respond and raise up their hands after mass evangelism and altar calling after few days went back to the old life and remained lives unchanged. Many were babes in the churches nowadays who were just doing the usual traditions and rituals performed by their preachers and yet of no avail because they had less consideration to take the word of God as the vital source and nourishments for their spirit.

“Fishing men” in the time of Peter was coined with miraculous manifestation in consonance to the nearly declared establishment of the kingdom whereby Peter and the apostles with Christ’s circumcision ministry upheld to preach unto. Jesus could directly and miraculously appeal to the hearts of men through signs and wonders as the Jews required these things to strengthen their belief.

Mark 16:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

However we can compare relative to the kingdom period ministry of Christ in view of presenting the gospel for conversion:

1 Corinthians 1:22

King James Version (KJV)

²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Let’s not speculate but believe however that Christ’s earthly ministry with his commissioned men John the Baptist with the 12 apostles declared their Jewish approach under the promise and law through manifestations of signs and wonders as they “FISH FOR MEN”.

  

So, as an ambassador of Christ to the lost in this dispensation of grace how will you stand and and walk with Paul? Simple answer: Please stick to the grace of God, the mystery of God through Christ in this recent dispensation of grace.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Most idea of religious preachers nowadays catch fish as men and later they ate fish for their gainful purpose. As ambassadors for Christ this men are lost simply preached and taught by the grace of God in view of the gospel for free to be responded by men’s free will and as thus called servants of Christ’s and or being His ambassadors let’s crave to use the same approach with that old notion of fishing men but really a real and true ambassadors of Christ. Let’s be keen to this simple presentation.

Grace and peace to you all!