KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN OUR FATHER!
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KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN OUR FATHER!
KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN OUR FATHER!
We are going on a fishing series.
Who likes to fish? I love fishing although I have not been for a while I like to fish. One of the best things about fishing is when you throw the line in you do not know what you are going to catch.
Then there is the fun of reeling the fish in to see what you have caught. Then we take a picture of the fish that is caught and a celebration.
Just as fishing is fun it got me thinking about fishing that Jesus did. How he called his disciples to follow him, and how he is the master fisherman.
Before we can go fishing we need to “know” the master fisherman. As this weekend is father’s day here in Australia I thought it timely that we need to get to know our father in heaven the master fisherman.
So what do we know about our father? How do we get to know our father?
Many say: "I know God." Do they? Do you? What does it mean to know God?
The online dictionary describes the word “Know” as follows,
To be acquainted with to know. To know understand, have knowledge of.
To be acquainted with to know. To know understand, have knowledge of.
How do you get to know someone? What do you have to do?
But many also say the Bible. It is important to “Know” God our father the master fisherman to have eternal life.
John 17:3
John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
To know God is to have eternal life.
What will happen to those who do not know God? They will be eternally punished.
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
A young girl named Emma asked the question what does it mean to know God rather then knowing about God?
This question got me thinking how many of us know about God rather then knowing him.
This question got me thinking how many of us know about God rather then knowing him. I love the response that was given.
How do you get to know someone? What do you have to do?
I love the response that was given.
The difference between knowing about God and knowing God is about personal relationships. Because God is a person, you can know ‘about’ him, but you don’t really ‘know’ him until you have a personal relationship with him. For example I can know about the Prime Minister, of Australia, but I wouldn’t say that I know him.
To know him I have to meet him and get to know him. I would We have to reveal things to each other and be willing to share in each other’s lives. The amazing promise of the Bible is that we can know God like this and that He wants us to know him and share in his eternal life!
To know God means to have knowledge of God and to have a relationship with Him.
I. KNOWING GOD MEANS HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHICH IS BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD.
I. KNOWING GOD MEANS HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHICH IS BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD.
One Can Have Knowledge About God, Yet Not Know God.
“Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
They had knowledge of God, but didn't understand & have fellowship with either the Father or the Son.
So the question I have to ask is what is your understanding of God? What do you know about the master fisherman?
I want to share briefly my understanding of God. These are only just a few. I will move quickly through the verses.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
God created the heavens and this earth, everything that lives in it and that has ever walked. Jesus became flesh the walking word. The example for us!
He came to this world and was rejected.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
Secondly Jesus came to this world not to be served but to serve.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
Jesus came and he hung out with the everyday person, in today’s time the homeless, the drunken, and the prostitutes. He met their needs first then bid them to follow him.
Even his disciples were everyday people and some of them were not even liked. They were fishermen and tax collectors. tells us that Jesus called Matthew the tax collector to follow him.
Jesus came into this world and died on the cross for our sins.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Jesus came offering the free gift of eternal life all we have to do is accept.
Further more Jesus also gave a promise that he will come again.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
He taught us to fish. Which I will talk in detail in a few weeks. But Jesus called the disciples to “come follow me”.
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Here Jesus use of words is just powerful. He says Peter, Andrew why don’t you stop fishing for fish and lets fish for the kingdom.
What can we know about God the master fisherman?
What does this mean to us if we now have an understanding of Jesus? Yes he came into this world and died for our sins. What are we to do with this after all he is the master our father?
The answer is simple and our second point.
II. TO KNOW GOD THE MASTER FISHERMEN MEANS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
II. TO KNOW GOD THE MASTER FISHERMEN MEANS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
To know our father the master fisherman we will keep his commandments.
By keeping God’s commandments we will know him and form a relationship with him. To know the master fisherman is to know the bible and keep his commandments and accept the teachings of Jesus.
Lets read verse again.
“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
To know God we need to live a committed life following Jesus and live as he did.
This means caring for others helping people and meeting needs of others. Having a personal relationship with him. Reading the Bible daily.
III. TO KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
III. TO KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
God Knows Us.
God knows everything about us our thoughts, actions and words.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Which allows him to then care for us.
Which allows him to then care for us.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
We are his children and he loves us so much. Even though we sin he still loves us.
I remember when I was younger I do not fully remember what happened. My older sister was one day sitting on the back steps of our home cracking nuts with a hammer. I wanted to help but she got angry with me and decided to punish me so she grabbed the hammer and smashed my finger.
Now I know she was punished for what she did by mum and dad but I had to learn to forgive her and still love her.
This is the same with God he is the good shepherd and he knows his sheep. He loves us no matter what we do or how we treat each other. He still loves us.
It is also great to know that no matter how strong my relationship is he is always there. If I sin I can call on him seek forgiveness and ask him to help me to overcome temptation.
This is promise is found in Hebrews
the last part
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Isn’t it great to know that God will never leave us!
IV. TO KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF HIS SOON RETURN.
IV. TO KNOW THE MASTER FISHERMAN IS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF HIS SOON RETURN.
If we know our father the master fishermen then we will be excited to share his soon return. One day we will be judged for the way we treat each other and for sharing the message of hope.
We are called to share the hope of God our father and the love that he has for each and every person.
How do we do this by being examples to those around us!
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
We share with those around us how God has worked in our life.
I have a friend that has helped me make a decision in buy a car let me share with you how that happened. Or I have a friend that helped me in my travel to Australia let me tell you about him.
We are to look for opportunities to share and care just as Jesus did. We need to share Jesus. We are to be seed planters. Looking for times during conversations to point out God.
Now there will be times that we will not be able to share but if we are connected to God he will prompt us at the right times.
My Challenge to you today is get to know the master fisherman your father. Sit down and workout what your relationship is based on.
What is your understanding of God? Discover how you can go deeper in your relationship. And finally pray each day for opportunities to share how God is working in your life.