Matthew 4:18-20 NKJV — And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
“Follow Me”
How could Peter and Andrew resist? There was something about this man named Jesus. As they followed Him throughout Galilee Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and healed the sick that were brought to Him. It was an amazing sight to see the multitudes come from all over the land. Their lives were changed forever. Jesus and the Gospel were powerful. He asked them to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men, but how? The disciples were called to preach and spread the Gospel in all the world and now the Lord is knocking at your door.
“Jesus At The Door”
In your heart, you have heard the call from the Lord. You read the word, study, pray and fast in search of the direction the Lord wants you to take. People begin to gather to hear what you have to say. “Look up! For your redemption is coming soon! Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand!” Many respond and many give their lives to Jesus. They received Him as their Lord and Saviour. Glory be to God! But wait! The job is not finished. Yes, there are many other places to go and there are so many who need to hear the Gospel and receive Salvation. So many souls in need of hope but what do we do about the followers? We have been called to be “fishers of men” but we have also been called to teach as the Lord instructed us to do with His Great Commission;
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV — “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Not only are we preachers of the Gospel but now we have become shepherds of the flock. But what does a shepherd do?
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A shepherd’s primary responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock. Some flocks may include as many as 1,000 sheep. The shepherd will graze the animals, herding them to areas of good forage, keeping a watchful eye out for poisonous plants and anything that might be harmful to his flock. If we have become shepherds of the flock then we are responsible to teach and feed the Word of God to the followers of Christ and be available at all times;
2 Timothy 4:2-5 NKJV — Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
We must realize that in these latter days many will be looking for Holy Ghost preachers and teachers to guide them and have them ready when the Master arrives to take them home. The responsibility of a shepherd is not easy. There are many distractions in our world and enough to test our faith. The flock a.k.a. the Body of Christ, the Church or the believers of Christ are accessible to many trials and tribulations in life and the temptation to run, hide and give up a life of righteousness seems to be the only choice they may have. That’s where the good shepherd comes in. What Jesus asked Peter is the same question He is asking us;
John 21:15-19 NKJV — So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Being aware that the path ahead and the job of a shepherd will be hard, challenging and may also involve persecution; if the calling is still tugging at your heart, Jesus is saying to you, “Follow Me.”
“Jesus Preaching at the Sea of Galilee”
When Jesus began preaching at the Sea of Galilee, Peter and Andrew could not have imagined the scope of what Jesus was offering to them and the multitudes of people who needed salvation.
“The Shepherds in Bethlehem”
The shepherds were tending to their flock on that glorious night when the angel appeared to them in Bethlehem. The time had come for the Messiah to be born but many in the world missed the signs except for just a few. We see a reflection of the same in these latter days. We recognize the season but so few of us have our lamps ready for the return of the Bridegroom. The shepherds were the first to witness and receive the Saviour into this world. They went out and told all that would hear that Jesus was here. Preaching and teaching the Gospel puts us on the front line and with the strength of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit we are able to go that extra mile for the sheep who are lost and in need of a home. If you are called by the Lord into ministry then surround yourselves with Holy Ghost counselors and prayer warriors so you can take up the cross and follow the Lord. Not only will He make you fishers of men but He will hand you the staff you need to be a good shepherd.
Remember this parable that Jesus told His disciples and that we are
“The Shepherds for the Last Generation.”
Luke 15:3-10 NKJV — So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
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