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Learn to Fish Like a Fisherman

5/6/2019

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Alexander the Great was not satisfied, even when he had completely subdued the nations. He wept because there were no more worlds to conquer, and he died at an early age in a state of debauchery.

Hannibal, who filled three bushels with the gold rings taken from the knights he had slaughtered, committed suicide by swallowing poison. Few noted his passing, and he left this earth completely unmourned.

Julius Caesar, staining his garments in the blood of one million of his foes, conquered 800 cities, only to be stabbed by his best friends at the scene of his greatest triumph.

Napoleon, the feared conqueror, after being the scourge of Europe, spent his last years in banishment. (Pulpit Resource, G.S. Bowles)
They failed to live out Christ’s purpose in life. In my last blog, we saw that Jesus told Peter. Andrew, James, and John to follow Him to become fishers of men (Matthew 4:17-22). They lived out Christ’s purpose in life. We can learn at least four principles from real fishermen on how to become a fisher of men.

Patience and Perseverance
It takes many hours to catch a fish. The same is true in sharing our faith. Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness (severe pain, demon-possessed, epileptics and paralytics). Patience and perseverance resulted in large crowds following him (Matthew 4:23-25)

Because of the crowd, four men cut an opening in the roof above Jesus. They lowered a mat a paralyzed man was lying on to bring him before Jesus (Mark 2:1-5). They showed great patience and perseverance.

Good instincts
We must go to certain spots where fish are biting and be ready to catch them. Jesus told Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Jesus ate at his house with other sinners. He didn’t call the righteous, but the humble who knew their sin (Mark 2:13-17). Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to minister in Galilee (Luke 4:14; Matthew 4:23-25). Sensitivity to the timing and leading of the Holy Spirit enables one to take advantage of spur-of-the-moment opportunities.

Skill
A good fisherman knows his tools: how to cast out his line, and right bait and timing for certain kinds of fish. Similarly, fishers of men have the Word of God and Holy Spirit’s leading for their tools. Jesus said His mission was walking in the Holy Spirit and proclaiming good news/liberty to four categories of people: poor (helpless, brokenhearted, no wealth, position, or influence); captives (unable to be free from bad habits, physical addiction, lust for money, and ways of the world); blind (spiritually blind, unbelief, and prideful); and oppressed (beaten and broken down by worldly authorities) (Luke 4:18-19).

Know how to work together.
When a fish is hooked, your buddy stands by with a net. Jesus sent out His disciples in twos (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1). As one person shares, the other person can pray.
Jesus’ told His disciples to let down their nets in the deep for a catch. So many fish caused their nets to break (Luke 5:1-11). Discover these four principles in this passage: patience and perseverance, good instincts, skill, and know how to work together.

Overcome your fear and fulfill your purpose to preach the gospel because people are going to hell without Christ (Luke 4:43; 5:10).
​

To see more blogs, go to www.markpomeroy.com

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Do You Have Good Soil?

4/23/2019

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​I nervously walked up to the door. I knocked several times. A lady opened the door. Her facial expression communicated, “What do you want?” I asked, “How could I pray for you and your family on this beautiful day?” I transitioned into my story of faith and shared the “Three Circles.” She trusted Christ as Savior. 

During my next visit, I gave her a Bible. In a return visit, I saw her Bible sitting on a shelf. She said, “I haven’t read it yet.” I encouraged her that her house could be a place to share Christ with her friends. The next week, I called and asked when we could meet again. “I don’t want to meet with you. You lied!” Before I could explain, she hung up.

A different outcome came with someone else. He experienced one trial after another, but persevered and grew in Christ. Why do we see these different levels of receptivity? 

Jesus’ parable of the soils, also known as the parable of the sower, is found in three places (Matthew 13:1-9; Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8). A farmer sows seed along a path, rocky places, thorns, and good soil.

On the path, birds came and ate up the seed. On the rocky places, plants sprang up quickly but withered without roots in shallow soil. The thorns in the third soil choked the plants so they didn’t bear grain. The fourth soil bore abundant fruit.  

Jesus introduced his interpretation of this parable by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10. People’s hardened hearts prevented them from embracing spiritual truth for healing (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10).

Let’s combine Jesus’ interpretation in these three accounts
(Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15). For seed sown on the path, the evil one snatched it away so they couldn’t believe and be saved.  For the rocky soil, the man heard the word and received it with joy for a short time until trouble or persecution came. Worries of this life, deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things, and pleasures choked the word, which made the thorny soil unfruitful (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:18-19; Luke 8:14).


What about the good soil?  

Let’s first look at the preceding context of Matthew 13:
  • We are in a spiritual battle. A heart filled by the Holy Spirit can drive out demons. “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:22-37; see vs. 34)

  • Even though we aren’t perfect, a spiritual life filled with Jesus equips us to share His word. Even though he sought worldly comfort, Jonah repented of his sin and preached the word in Nineveh (Matthew 12:38-41a; book of Jonah). Jesus is greater than Jonah (Matthew 12:41b-42).

  • Jesus relates with those who do God’s will (Matthew 12:46-50).

Description of good soil

The good soil yields both quantity and character.  

  • Quantity: Matthew 13:18 said the good soil bore 100, 60, 30 times what was sown. Mark 4:8 said the crop multiplied 30, 60, 100 times. Luke 8:8 said the crop yielded 100 times more than was sown.

  • Character: Hear, understand, accept, and retain the word by persevering with a noble and good heart (Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15

    To share God’s word with everyone, the quality of our spiritual life is key.

Grow spiritually in God’s word to share it with others.
​

To read past blogs, go to https://www.markpomeroy.com/
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How Not to Waste Your Life (Insights in Psalms)

7/17/2011

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Many people waste their life on earth. They don't make the most of their time. John Piper wrote, "Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity." Psalm 90 brings these truths to the forefront on how not to waste your life.  

God has been our dwelling place in all generations. He has existed forever. Man's life is short since a 1000 years is like yesterday when it passes by or like grass that sprouts anew and fades in the evening (Ps. 90:1-6). Life is short and God is eternal.

God places our iniquities and secret sins in the light of His presence. Our days last 70 years and up to 80 years due to strength. They are filled with pride, labor and sorrow. It will soon be gone.  Teach us to number our days so we may gain a heart a wisdom (Ps. 90:7-12). Wisdom buys up opportunities on earth so you don't waste your life.

Ask God to satisfy us in the morning with His lovingkindness so we can be joyful in the midst of evil. Give permanence to our work as we see His blessing and favor (Ps. 90:13-17). Participate with God in His work so you have the satisfaction of eternal impact. 

Each morning before you begin your day, go through the following process: 
1. Praise God for His love to you
2. Ask God for wisdom on how you should spend your time 
3. Where do you see God at work?
4. Write down on a do-list how you can join God in His work
5. Prioritize by doing the most important item(s) first 
6. Move uncompleted items to the top of next day's list and begin this process again 

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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     

    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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