? (Theme Song) ?
? Jesus is worthy ?
00:00:00.66\00:00:11.40
? oh yes, he's worthy
? ? worthy of all... ?
00:00:11.40\00:00:18.26
? all the praise ? ? (Music) ?
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I'm throwing out a
big net for a big catch
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Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:00:21.46\00:00:23.26
let me be clear, I
did not leave Atlanta
00:00:23.26\00:00:25.33
Georgia I did not leave the
00:00:25.33\00:00:27.50
Berean church and
come to Huntsville
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to baptize one person.
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I did not leave to come
here to baptize two people.
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I didn't leave to come
here to baptize three people.
00:00:37.03\00:00:41.66
But the Lord sent me
here to cast a big net,
00:00:41.66\00:00:47.43
to get a huge catch.
00:00:47.43\00:00:48.30
Oh, I've got a
witness in this place.
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I won't be satisfied until
the whole city of Huntsville,
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the whole city of Madison,
the whole city of Tony, the
00:00:55.16\00:00:58.90
whole city of Harvest, the
whole Tennessee valley knows
00:00:58.90\00:01:02.90
that there's no other
name under heaven whereby
00:01:02.90\00:01:05.96
men can be saved
but the name of Jesus.
00:01:05.96\00:01:10.53
Jesus, sweet Rose of Sharon.
00:01:10.53\00:01:13.60
Jesus, Lily of the Valley.
00:01:13.60\00:01:16.30
Jesus, bright as
the morning star.
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Jesus, my up, my
down, my out, my in.
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Way maker, problem solver,
pain reliever, mind mender,
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heart fixer.
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Jesus, make me a fisher of men.
00:01:29.56\00:01:36.16
Now, let me tell you
about a fisherman quickly.
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I've only been fishing twice
in my life, both on a men's
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ministry fishing
trip, and I didn't know
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what I was doing.
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The first time I caught nothing.
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The second time I caught
one fish and I threw it back in
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at the end of the trip.
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But I learned
something about good fishermen.
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Good fishermen
have certain qualities.
00:02:01.60\00:02:04.56
Number one, good
fishermen have patience.
00:02:04.56\00:02:09.03
Fishermen can't be impatient.
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Fishermen have to
learn how to wait.
00:02:12.03\00:02:14.56
Good things come
to those who wait.
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They know it often takes
time to find a pool of fish.
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So, if you are going to
be good at fishing for me,
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you've got to
learn how to be patient.
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Sometimes it takes
time to pull those men
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and women on in.
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Number two, I've
learned fishermen must have
00:02:30.26\00:02:33.03
perseverance.
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Everybody say perseverance.
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It's not simply a matter
of waiting patiently in one
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place hoping some fish
will eventually show up.
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It's a matter of
going from place to place.
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Sometimes you've got to go
back again, over and over and
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over again until
the fish are found.
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You work one area
when you fish for men.
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Then you've got to learn
how to work that area again.
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Work it over and over.
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You have to work another
area and then you have to come
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back to work the
original area, but you've
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got to persevere.
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Number three, a good
fisherman has courage.
00:03:04.23\00:03:07.46
They'll face the sea
for the cause of fish.
00:03:07.46\00:03:13.23
They'll face storm, tempest,
turbulent waves, being called
00:03:13.23\00:03:18.06
names, doors slammed in
your face, hot days, wintery
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nights, all for the
cause of catching fish.
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Number four, good fishermen
have to fish in the right
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place at the right time.
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If you talk to a
fisherman who knows his stuff,
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he'll tell you when
and where the fish are.
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You see, there are
really better times to fish.
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Doing a little study on
this today, understand that fish
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are affected by sunlight,
warming trends, water depth,
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storm and weather
patterns, wind and tidal flows,
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topography, geography
and seasonal differences.
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When it's bad for fishing
in one location, it could be a
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good day in another location,
and a fisherman will tell you
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that the locations
may not be far apart.
00:04:03.36\00:04:07.16
The good soul
winner chooses his moment
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and his location carefully.
00:04:11.16\00:04:12.60
Fishermen must have good
instincts for going to the
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right place and dropping
the nets at the right time.
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Any good fisherman will
tell you, make sure you fish in
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water that
actually has fish in it.
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If there aren't any
fish, you're not going
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to catch anything.
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Are you hearing what I'm saying?
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Poor timing has lost a lot
of catch, both fish and men.
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You have to know
where the fish are.
00:04:41.83\00:04:44.20
Number five, a good fisherman
will stay out of sight as
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much as possible.
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He doesn't want
the fish to be scared.
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A good soul winner
keeps himself or herself out
00:04:50.36\00:04:52.63
of the picture.
00:04:52.63\00:04:54.00
He hides his own presence
even his own shadow and makes
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sure the fish's
eyes are fixed on Jesus.
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Because a good fisherman
understands it's not about
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us, but it's all about Jesus.
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Number six, good
fishermen are not lazy.
00:05:06.20\00:05:09.63
Can't get a
witness in this place.
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Listen to me good, theology
majors, good fishermen are
00:05:14.20\00:05:18.46
not lazy.
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Are you hearing what I'm saying?
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I'm not waiting for Elder
Evan to tell me what to do.
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Good fishermen are not lazy.
00:05:25.10\00:05:26.50
I've got to come to the
office every morning because
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God's got
something for me to do.
00:05:28.36\00:05:30.03
Good fishermen are not lazy.
00:05:30.03\00:05:32.20
Andrew, Peter, James
and John were not lazy.
00:05:32.20\00:05:35.83
They were industrious,
hardworking fishermen.
00:05:35.83\00:05:38.23
God, listen to me, is not
in the habit of calling people
00:05:38.23\00:05:41.56
to serve him who
are slothful and lazy.
00:05:41.56\00:05:44.56
Because if you're a poor
worker on the job, you'll
00:05:44.56\00:05:47.96
more than likely be a
poor worker for Christ.
00:05:47.96\00:05:50.30
God doesn't need any
lazy soldiers in his army.
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Number seven, and this is
a long one, you know number
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seven, you know.
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Good fishermen
choose the right bait.
00:06:00.73\00:06:06.93
getting quiet in here,
sister hill would say, "whoo,"
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Bowling right down
somebody's alley, right now.
00:06:10.43\00:06:14.76
Any fisherman will tell
you, you have to have the right
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hooks and the
right bait to catch fish.
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Now, in our church, I'm
not talking about Oakwood, I'm
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talking about the collective
church, many halls and
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convention centers have
been rented, tents erected and
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pitched, money wasted
and frustrations mounted all
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because people
use the wrong bait.
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Let me be clear.
00:06:41.36\00:06:43.13
You can't use the
same bait all the time.
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Sometimes a fisherman
will tell you, you've got to
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switch your bait.
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And then you can't use
the same bait that was used 10
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years ago, 20 years
ago, or 30 years ago. Amen.
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Preach, Pastor Byrd.
00:07:02.40\00:07:03.36
I'm doing the best I can.
00:07:03.36\00:07:04.13
You have to modernize the bait.
00:07:04.13\00:07:09.83
Modernize your hooks,
your rod and your methods.
00:07:09.83\00:07:14.63
The same base rod and methods
that were used in Jesus' day
00:07:14.63\00:07:17.80
are not used today.
00:07:17.80\00:07:20.63
Now, the message of catching
fish is the same, but the
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bait, the rod, the net,
the methods are different.
00:07:25.30\00:07:30.00
Too many people can't
catch fish today because they're
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using the wrong bait.
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Too many people can't
catch fish because they're using
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antiquated bait.
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You can't use old
bait in a new world.
00:07:40.00\00:07:43.33
I heard a preacher say,
you can't have eight-track
00:07:43.33\00:07:45.93
ministry in a DVD society.
00:07:45.93\00:07:48.70
And speaking of bait, you
have to use different baits
00:07:48.70\00:07:55.36
for different fish.
00:07:55.36\00:07:58.23
Oh, this is good today.
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Come on, say Amen.
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Any fisherman will tell you,
if you want a certain type of
00:08:01.83\00:08:05.50
fish you have to use
a certain type of bait.
00:08:05.50\00:08:11.03
Which means, the same way
you found Jesus may not be the
00:08:11.03\00:08:16.70
same way I find Jesus.
00:08:16.70\00:08:19.16
The same way Elder McGriff
found Jesus is not the same
00:08:19.16\00:08:22.23
way Elder Monroe found Jesus.
00:08:22.23\00:08:25.56
Let me break it down.
00:08:25.56\00:08:27.63
The way Mamma came in may not
be the way your child comes in.
00:08:27.63\00:08:31.96
Now, the bait for
somebody was under a tent.
00:08:31.96\00:08:39.83
Praise God for the tent.
00:08:39.83\00:08:41.90
I grew up in ministry.
00:08:41.90\00:08:43.20
When I first came to
the South Central Conference
00:08:43.20\00:08:45.20
years ago, grew up in an
era where they say, listen,
00:08:45.20\00:08:48.63
before you get ordained
you've got to pitch a tent.
00:08:48.63\00:08:51.03
Well, we don't have any
witnesses here to join in.
00:08:51.03\00:08:54.00
They don't know about that.
00:08:54.00\00:08:57.26
You had to pitch a tent.
00:08:57.26\00:08:58.60
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:08:58.60\00:09:00.73
So the bait for somebody
back in the days was a tent,
00:09:00.73\00:09:03.30
sweating,
sawdust under the tent.
00:09:03.30\00:09:04.86
Somebody knows
what I'm talking about.
00:09:04.86\00:09:06.33
And you would build a
trench around the tent.
00:09:06.33\00:09:08.76
Somebody know
what I'm talking about?
00:09:08.76\00:09:11.50
And when it would
rain you would go and hold
00:09:11.50\00:09:13.90
those two center poles.
00:09:13.90\00:09:14.93
Somebody knows
what I'm talking about.
00:09:14.93\00:09:17.23
And then, we didn't have
screens like we have, back
00:09:17.23\00:09:19.33
then in those days with
the bait, but what we had to do
00:09:19.33\00:09:21.03
was go to Walmart, or
back in the day in Huntsville
00:09:21.03\00:09:26.16
we had Food World.
00:09:26.16\00:09:27.90
Anybody remember Food World?
00:09:27.90\00:09:29.13
You had Food World or Walmart
and you would have to go get
00:09:29.13\00:09:31.43
you a screen, a sheet, you
know what I'm talking about.
00:09:31.43\00:09:35.23
A sheet, a queen
or a king sized sheet.
00:09:35.23\00:09:37.76
Oh, you don't know
what I'm talking about.
00:09:37.76\00:09:39.36
We didn't have this like this.
00:09:39.36\00:09:41.90
We used to go to Lowe's
or Home Depot and we used to
00:09:41.90\00:09:44.10
have to get 2 x 4s and
we would dig and put them
00:09:44.10\00:09:46.53
in the ground.
00:09:46.53\00:09:47.30
Then go get that
sheet and staple that sheet
00:09:47.30\00:09:50.10
on those 2 x 4s.
00:09:50.10\00:09:51.70
Somebody knows
what I'm talking about.
00:09:51.70\00:09:53.53
And that was our screen.
00:09:53.53\00:10:02.86
But I recognize now,
Dr. Pollard, the bait for
00:10:02.86\00:10:06.36
somebody else may be in a
church with air conditioning.
00:10:06.36\00:10:11.50
You all better say Amen.
00:10:11.50\00:10:13.03
I'll cut it off and
you will be in a mess.
00:10:13.03\00:10:17.23
Air conditioned.
00:10:17.23\00:10:28.03
Looking at projector screens,
controlled by PowerPoint.
00:10:28.03\00:10:35.10
I had a young
preacher say to me one time,
00:10:35.10\00:10:36.86
we don't do tents anymore.
00:10:36.86\00:10:37.90
Okay.
00:10:37.90\00:10:38.70
You don't do
tents, do something.
00:10:38.70\00:10:41.96
The bait for somebody
may have been singing "Love
00:10:41.96\00:10:46.93
Lifted Me." Or the bait for
somebody today maybe singing
00:10:46.93\00:10:50.90
"Hallelujah, You're Worthy
to be Praised." The bait for
00:10:50.90\00:10:54.56
somebody may have been
the King's Heralds quartet.
00:10:54.56\00:10:57.13
The bait for somebody else
may have been the Blenrights.
00:10:57.13\00:11:02.36
The bait for somebody
may have been the Aeolians.
00:11:02.36\00:11:05.96
The bait for somebody else
may be Voices of Triumph or
00:11:05.96\00:11:08.90
Dynamic Praise.
00:11:08.90\00:11:10.50
The bait for somebody
may have been the pipe organ.
00:11:10.50\00:11:13.96
The bait for somebody
else may have now been
00:11:13.96\00:11:17.90
the Hammond organ.
00:11:17.90\00:11:20.33
The bait for somebody
may have been E. E. Cleveland
00:11:20.33\00:11:22.73
or E. C. Ward, but
the bait for somebody
00:11:22.73\00:11:25.53
may be now Carlton P. Byrd.
00:11:25.53\00:11:29.56
You have to use different
bait for different fish.
00:11:29.56\00:11:37.33
Going a little deeper.
00:11:37.33\00:11:44.13
Any good fisherman will
tell you, you have to catch fish
00:11:44.13\00:11:47.90
before you clean fish.
00:11:47.90\00:11:51.56
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:11:51.56\00:12:01.00
How can you clean
something you haven't caught?
00:12:01.00\00:12:12.36
When we're fishing for
men, too often we want to clean
00:12:12.36\00:12:16.26
them before we catch them.
00:12:16.26\00:12:19.06
Ooooh-ah.
00:12:19.06\00:12:23.20
I'm doing the best I can.
00:12:23.20\00:12:25.70
You have to be perfect, you
have to have it all together,
00:12:25.70\00:12:31.96
you have to have it ready
for translation, you've got to
00:12:31.96\00:12:35.06
know the 2300-day prophecy,
the 70-week prophecy, and the
00:12:35.06\00:12:37.83
sad thing is many of
us don't even know it.
00:12:37.83\00:12:40.56
We've only heard about
it and can't explain it.
00:12:40.56\00:12:45.70
But we want to put
people through a scrutinized
00:12:45.70\00:12:48.56
screening process and all
they want to do is join the
00:12:48.56\00:12:51.83
body of Christ.
00:12:51.83\00:12:54.30
And I can't understand this,
but how can one sinner deny
00:12:54.30\00:12:57.80
another sinner the privilege
of joining God's church?
00:12:57.80\00:13:02.93
Hallelujah.
00:13:02.93\00:13:06.83
Does anybody know that all
have sinned and come short of
00:13:06.83\00:13:08.83
the glory of God?
00:13:08.83\00:13:10.63
Does anybody know that we're
all sinners saved by grace?
00:13:10.63\00:13:13.93
Does anybody know
anything about sanctification?
00:13:13.93\00:13:16.93
God's imparted righteousness.
00:13:16.93\00:13:18.23
That it's the
work of a lifetime.
00:13:18.23\00:13:22.66
That day by day we
grow into the knowledge
00:13:22.66\00:13:26.53
and love of Christ.
00:13:26.53\00:13:27.70
I am not the same
person I was 20 years ago
00:13:27.70\00:13:29.90
when I was a student here.
00:13:29.90\00:13:32.16
Sanctity, it grows you.
00:13:32.16\00:13:34.56
I've been in the church
all my life, third generation,
00:13:34.56\00:13:37.63
paternally and maternally.
00:13:37.63\00:13:39.70
I've told you that.
00:13:39.70\00:13:40.66
But I can't expect
somebody to gain in 40 days
00:13:40.66\00:13:42.86
what it's taken me
almost 40 years to get.
00:13:42.86\00:13:48.70
And you know what?
00:13:48.70\00:13:51.10
Paul says I'm teaching it.
00:13:51.10\00:13:53.10
So, to my church
family, to the student body,
00:13:53.10\00:13:55.53
be patient with me.
00:13:55.53\00:13:57.50
God is not through with me yet.
00:13:57.50\00:14:01.20
Well, you've got to be like us.
00:14:01.20\00:14:03.83
You've got to look like us.
00:14:03.83\00:14:07.36
You've got to dress like us.
00:14:07.36\00:14:08.43
You've got to smell like us.
00:14:08.43\00:14:10.56
No, just be like Jesus.
00:14:10.56\00:14:14.73
By beholding we become changed.
00:14:14.73\00:14:18.00
And let me tell you
something, that's not
00:14:18.00\00:14:20.03
watering down the gospel either.
00:14:20.03\00:14:21.96
That's the gospel of fact.
00:14:21.96\00:14:23.53
I want people to
fall in love with Jesus.
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.63
Don't fall in love with
Carlton Byrd, fall in love
00:14:25.63\00:14:27.76
with Jesus, because if you
don't fall in love with Jesus
00:14:27.76\00:14:30.13
you will be a dry devil in
the pool, go down in water,
00:14:30.13\00:14:32.36
come up a wet devil.
00:14:32.36\00:14:33.76
You all don't
hear what I'm saying.
00:14:33.76\00:14:36.00
Jesus said, if you
love me, keep my, what?
00:14:36.00\00:14:37.93
It's about a relationship,
not solely about religion.
00:14:37.93\00:14:39.83
It's about love, not legalism.
00:14:39.83\00:14:42.60
It's about Christ not a creed.
00:14:42.60\00:14:44.70
Number nine.
00:14:44.70\00:14:49.80
A good fisherman knows how
to secure fish on the hook.
00:14:49.80\00:14:57.56
Now, when a fish feels
that hook, the fish struggles
00:14:57.56\00:15:02.03
to get free.
00:15:02.03\00:15:04.76
This might involve the
fish jumping, making a long run,
00:15:04.76\00:15:08.86
swimming, swimming back
against the line, swimming
00:15:08.86\00:15:11.76
against obstacles.
00:15:11.76\00:15:13.36
When you fish for men
and they feel the Holy Ghost
00:15:13.36\00:15:19.03
hook they may
struggle to break loose.
00:15:19.03\00:15:25.16
But you've got to keep
your cool and work with that
00:15:25.16\00:15:28.70
fish's movements to
reel them back on in.
00:15:28.70\00:15:32.00
Don't get discouraged
when that fish is trying
00:15:32.00\00:15:35.43
to get off that hook.
00:15:35.43\00:15:36.40
You keep that hook
steady and you reel that fish
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.63
right back on in.
00:15:39.63\00:15:40.86
Then number ten.
00:15:40.86\00:15:43.10
A good fisherman will
pray before they fish.
00:15:43.10\00:15:48.63
Lord, protect me as
I'm out here on the sea.
00:15:48.63\00:15:53.10
There are a lot of
dangers out here at sea.
00:15:53.10\00:15:56.56
But Jesus, keep me.
00:15:56.56\00:15:59.46
The soul winner has
to pray before they fish.
00:15:59.46\00:16:02.83
Lord, lead me, guide me,
protect me as I am fishing
00:16:02.83\00:16:09.23
for men, women, boys and girls.
00:16:09.23\00:16:13.46
When Jesus called the
first disciples, Jesus gathered
00:16:13.46\00:16:17.03
together the
first fish-catching crew
00:16:17.03\00:16:20.53
of his church.
00:16:20.53\00:16:21.96
They were the original band
of originally evangelists he
00:16:21.96\00:16:23.70
called to fulfill
the gospel commission.
00:16:23.70\00:16:25.53
They were his first
partners in ministry.
00:16:25.53\00:16:27.36
Jesus had the power and
right to accomplish the work to
00:16:27.36\00:16:29.83
proclaim the gospel by himself.
00:16:29.83\00:16:33.43
But this was not Jesus' plan.
00:16:33.43\00:16:35.90
Jesus could have done it alone,
but this was not his plan.
00:16:35.90\00:16:40.10
From the beginning of his
ministry his plan was to use
00:16:40.10\00:16:43.10
disciples to win
disciples to win disciples.
00:16:43.10\00:16:48.23
He would command his
disciples to do other things
00:16:48.23\00:16:51.03
but his first call to
them was, follow me, and I will
00:16:51.03\00:16:56.16
make you fishers of men.
00:16:56.16\00:16:59.43
The work of evangelism,
the work of fishing for men out
00:16:59.43\00:17:02.03
of the sea of sin, the
work of rescuing people from the
00:17:02.03\00:17:05.56
breakers of hell
is the greatest work
00:17:05.56\00:17:08.33
the church will ever do.
00:17:08.33\00:17:09.33
God has called all of us to
be fishermen and fisherwomen,
00:17:09.33\00:17:13.13
to reach men,
women, boys and girls.
00:17:13.13\00:17:14.63
I was reading an article
this week and I discovered that
00:17:14.63\00:17:16.33
95% of all Christians
have never led anybody
00:17:16.33\00:17:19.36
to Jesus Christ.
00:17:19.36\00:17:23.30
We are all to be witnesses.
00:17:23.30\00:17:25.43
We are all to preach Christ.
00:17:25.43\00:17:27.63
We are all to teach Christ.
00:17:27.63\00:17:29.76
We are all to live Christ.
00:17:29.76\00:17:30.90
We are all to speak Christ.
00:17:30.90\00:17:32.16
We're the laborers
in the field for Christ.
00:17:32.16\00:17:34.03
The greatest work in the
heart of God, the greatest
00:17:34.03\00:17:36.36
concern in the mind
of God is evangelism.
00:17:36.36\00:17:38.90
Winning the lost is God's
great concern, not only the
00:17:38.90\00:17:42.56
Father, but also the
Son's greatest concern.
00:17:42.56\00:17:46.00
Jesus said in Luke 19:10,
the Son of Man has come to
00:17:46.00\00:17:49.56
seek and to save
that which was lost.
00:17:49.56\00:17:52.76
The work winning the lost
is the Father's concern, the
00:17:52.76\00:17:54.40
Son's concern, but also
the concern of the Holy Ghost,
00:17:54.40\00:17:55.86
for it is the Holy Ghost
who comes along, according to
00:17:55.86\00:17:57.50
John 16, to convict men
of sin and righteousness
00:17:57.50\00:17:59.40
and judgment.
00:17:59.40\00:18:00.43
It is the Holy Spirit
who comes upon the church and
00:18:00.43\00:18:02.46
after we have received
the Holy Spirit we are now
00:18:02.46\00:18:05.46
made witnesses.
00:18:05.46\00:18:06.40
In the New Testament, friends
of mine, you will discover
00:18:06.40\00:18:08.56
that the Apostles'
greatest concern is evangelism.
00:18:08.56\00:18:11.40
Paul said, I am ready to
preach the gospel for I am
00:18:11.40\00:18:14.40
not ashamed of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:18:14.40\00:18:16.96
For it is the power of
God as a salvation to everyone
00:18:16.96\00:18:19.10
that believeth.
00:18:19.10\00:18:20.16
It was Paul who said, I
am made all things to all men
00:18:20.16\00:18:23.10
that I might by all save more.
00:18:23.10\00:18:26.23
Christ's greatest concern
is to win people for himself.
00:18:26.23\00:18:31.20
God's greatest concern,
the Holy Spirit's greatest
00:18:31.20\00:18:33.76
concern, the Apostles'
greatest concern and the
00:18:33.76\00:18:36.06
greatest concern of the
early church was to make
00:18:36.06\00:18:39.60
disciples of Christ.
00:18:39.60\00:18:41.66
When they were scattered,
the Bible Acts says they went
00:18:41.66\00:18:45.43
everywhere
preaching the gospel to win
00:18:45.43\00:18:48.16
people for Jesus.
00:18:48.16\00:18:50.20
This should be our
greatest concern, winning souls
00:18:50.20\00:18:52.60
for Christ.
00:18:52.60\00:18:53.60
This is the
greatest task that we must be
00:18:53.60\00:18:55.60
about this time, task.
00:18:55.60\00:18:56.96
At the same time evangelism
is also a great paradox.
00:18:56.96\00:19:01.23
Last lesson.
00:19:01.23\00:19:02.76
Winning people to
Jesus Christ is paradoxical
00:19:02.76\00:19:05.50
in this sense.
00:19:05.50\00:19:08.30
Jesus said, whosoever would
save his life shall lose it.
00:19:08.30\00:19:13.23
But whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake
00:19:13.23\00:19:16.70
shall save it.
00:19:16.70\00:19:18.56
In other words, in
saving others we lose ourselves.
00:19:18.56\00:19:24.26
Or in losing
ourselves in the task,
00:19:24.26\00:19:27.26
we will win others.
00:19:27.26\00:19:29.50
So evangelism, in a
sense, is the sacrifice
00:19:29.50\00:19:33.66
of the greater for the lesser.
00:19:33.66\00:19:35.36
It is a sacrifice of
the worthy for the unworthy.
00:19:35.36\00:19:39.30
It is a sacrifice
of the strong dying
00:19:39.30\00:19:42.66
that the weak might live.
00:19:42.66\00:19:44.53
It is not the survival of the
fittest, but is the sacrifice
00:19:44.53\00:19:47.96
of the fittest.
00:19:47.96\00:19:49.50
And this is the time,
Oakwood, church, university,
00:19:49.50\00:19:55.13
Oakwood community, for us
to take a hard look at the
00:19:55.13\00:20:00.50
subject of evangelism.
00:20:00.50\00:20:04.30
We like giving
money to evangelism.
00:20:04.30\00:20:07.63
We like preaching evangelism.
00:20:07.63\00:20:09.16
But when somebody comes to
that door that doesn't look
00:20:09.16\00:20:12.26
like us, don't let them
come in here and mess up our
00:20:12.26\00:20:16.06
beautiful church.
00:20:16.06\00:20:18.46
We have a great church,
a great history, a great
00:20:18.46\00:20:22.50
building, a great people.
00:20:22.50\00:20:25.06
We've learned
God's great truths.
00:20:25.06\00:20:27.90
We have great fellowship.
00:20:27.90\00:20:29.23
But listen to me good,
because I've been there.
00:20:29.23\00:20:31.46
If you're not careful you can
become so impressed with your
00:20:31.46\00:20:34.66
greatness that you
forget about lost people.
00:20:34.66\00:20:39.36
We can be so busy singing our
own music that we forget that
00:20:39.36\00:20:43.30
somebody out there
needs to hear the song, too.
00:20:43.30\00:20:47.06
We can like it so
much in here that we forget
00:20:47.06\00:20:50.63
about out there.
00:20:50.63\00:20:53.10
We sing what we want.
00:20:53.10\00:20:56.70
We preach what we want.
00:20:56.70\00:20:59.53
We become so isolated, and
I'm talking about myself too,
00:20:59.53\00:21:02.90
isolated, insulated and
incestual in our ministry
00:21:02.90\00:21:07.93
that we forget about the
great commission of God that
00:21:07.93\00:21:10.40
he has called us to do.
00:21:10.40\00:21:12.10
And the fruit of incest
is always something retarded.
00:21:12.10\00:21:21.96
And we have retarded churches
because we have forgotten the
00:21:21.96\00:21:30.33
great gospel commission,
go ye therefore, teach all
00:21:30.33\00:21:36.00
nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, the
00:21:36.00\00:21:40.00
Son and the Holy Ghost.
00:21:40.00\00:21:41.33
It's fishing time, and
this gospel of the kingdom shall
00:21:41.33\00:21:45.83
be preached as a
witness unto all rthe world,
00:21:45.83\00:21:47.13
then shall the end come.
00:21:47.13\00:21:48.83
It's fishing time.
00:21:48.83\00:21:50.90
Fear thou not
for I am with thee.
00:21:50.90\00:21:53.80
Be not dismayed
for I am thy God.
00:21:53.80\00:21:56.56
I will strengthen thee.
00:21:56.56\00:21:57.33
Ye, I will help thee.
00:21:57.33\00:21:58.33
I will uphold ye
with the right hand of my
00:21:58.33\00:22:00.60
righteousness.
00:22:00.60\00:22:01.46
It's fishing time.
00:22:01.46\00:22:03.40
If God be for us,
who can be against us.
00:22:03.40\00:22:07.66
It's fishing time.
00:22:07.66\00:22:08.96
Fret not thyself
because of evil doers.
00:22:08.96\00:22:12.56
Neither be thy envious of the
word because of iniquity, God
00:22:12.56\00:22:14.60
shall cut them
down like the grass.
00:22:14.60\00:22:17.43
It's fishing time.
00:22:17.43\00:22:19.46
They that wait upon the Lord,
God shall renew their strength.
00:22:19.46\00:22:24.66
They shall mount up on
wings as eagles, run and not get
00:22:24.66\00:22:28.46
weary, walk and not faint.
00:22:28.46\00:22:30.06
It's fishing time.
00:22:30.06\00:22:32.83
And I saw another
angel flying in the midst of
00:22:32.83\00:22:38.30
heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach
00:22:38.30\00:22:41.80
unto them that dwell on
the earth, to every nation,
00:22:41.80\00:22:44.40
kindred, tongue and people,
saying with a loud voice,
00:22:44.40\00:22:46.80
fear God, give
glory to him for the hour
00:22:46.80\00:22:50.83
of his judgment has come.
00:22:50.83\00:22:52.23
And worship him that made
the heavens, the earth, the seas
00:22:52.23\00:22:58.00
and the fountains of water.
00:22:58.00\00:23:01.06
That's why I'm a
Seventh-Day Adventist Christian.
00:23:01.06\00:23:03.86
I'm an Adventist
because I'm looking forward
00:23:03.86\00:23:05.96
to Jesus' coming.
00:23:05.96\00:23:07.33
Advent means coming.
00:23:07.33\00:23:08.86
That's why I keep the
seventh-day Sabbath, because
00:23:08.86\00:23:11.76
the seventh day is God's seal.
00:23:11.76\00:23:13.96
It bears God's name,
his title and his territory.
00:23:13.96\00:23:18.33
His name, the Lord thy God.
00:23:18.33\00:23:20.16
His title, he made
everything so he created.
00:23:20.16\00:23:23.33
His territory, the
heavens, the earth, the sea, the
00:23:23.33\00:23:26.73
fountains of water
and all that in them is,
00:23:26.73\00:23:28.96
that's the world.
00:23:28.96\00:23:29.90
It's rooted in our
fourth commandment.
00:23:29.90\00:23:32.10
So it's fishing time.
00:23:32.10\00:23:34.56
Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:23:34.56\00:23:37.90
Here are they that keep
the commandments of God,
00:23:37.90\00:23:39.63
and the faith of Jesus Christ.
00:23:39.63\00:23:43.90
It's fishing time.
00:23:43.90\00:23:46.36
Blessed are they
that do his commandments.
00:23:46.36\00:23:49.06
Not just read his commandments.
00:23:49.06\00:23:52.93
Do his commandments.
00:23:52.93\00:23:55.56
That they may have a right
to the tree of life and may
00:23:55.56\00:23:58.96
enter in through
the gates into the city.
00:23:58.96\00:24:02.40
It's fishing time.
00:24:02.40\00:24:04.96
But the greatest
fishing expedition was when two
00:24:04.96\00:24:09.76
thousand years ago Jesus
put his life on the line.
00:24:09.76\00:24:16.36
He didn't hang on a
fishing line, but he hung on
00:24:16.36\00:24:18.50
Calvary's cross.
00:24:18.50\00:24:20.90
There is a fountain
filled with blood drawn
00:24:20.90\00:24:23.73
from Emmanuel's
veins; and sinners plunged
00:24:23.73\00:24:26.33
beneath that flood lose
all their guilty stains.
00:24:26.33\00:24:28.36
When I survey the wondrous
cross on when the Prince of
00:24:28.36\00:24:32.30
Glory died, Jesus paid it all.
00:24:32.30\00:24:35.60
All to him I owe, sin has
left a crimson stain, but he
00:24:35.60\00:24:41.50
washed it white as snow.
00:24:41.50\00:24:43.80
And I'm so glad today
Jesus went fishing for me.
00:24:43.80\00:24:48.60
Is anybody glad Jesus
went fishing for them?
00:24:48.60\00:24:53.36
I'm so glad
Jesus died to save me.
00:24:53.36\00:24:58.96
I'm so glad Jesus called me.
00:24:58.96\00:25:02.43
And let me tell you all
something, I love the Lord
00:25:02.43\00:25:06.26
and I won't take it back.
00:25:06.26\00:25:08.20
I said, I love the Lord, and
I won't take it back, because
00:25:08.20\00:25:11.83
he's been so good to me.
00:25:11.83\00:25:15.83
So good, so good, so good to me.
00:25:15.83\00:25:18.20
Two things, and let me sit down.
00:25:18.20\00:25:22.03
Number one, the time
of our fishing on earth
00:25:22.03\00:25:25.83
is soon to end.
00:25:25.83\00:25:28.70
God is about to
draw in the nets.
00:25:28.70\00:25:33.10
The choice is whether we
care enough about people to be a
00:25:33.10\00:25:36.90
part of the fishing process.
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.70
Number two, the response of
Peter, Andrew, James and John
00:25:39.70\00:25:47.60
to Jesus' call was the same.
00:25:47.60\00:25:50.20
Remember what we read.
00:25:50.20\00:25:51.90
They immediately
left what they were doing
00:25:51.90\00:25:59.16
and followed him.
00:25:59.16\00:26:02.90
Their obedience was
instant and without hesitation.
00:26:02.90\00:26:07.76
When Jesus calls a person
to discipleship there is no
00:26:07.76\00:26:11.70
excuse for
delay or disobedience.
00:26:11.70\00:26:15.53
So today, he's calling
someone today to fishing for
00:26:15.53\00:26:23.36
men, women, boys and girls.
00:26:23.36\00:26:27.10
Jesus is calling
somebody today to obedience and
00:26:27.10\00:26:35.33
obedience without delay.
00:26:35.33\00:26:44.16
PB: Thank you very much for
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00:26:44.16\00:26:47.26
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00:26:48.70\00:26:51.30
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when we are fishing for
men too often. we want to
00:28:14.83\00:28:18.23
clean them before we catch them.
00:28:18.23\00:28:20.70
gotta look like us
gotta dress like us
00:28:20.70\00:28:25.23
no, just be like Jesus.
00:28:25.23\00:28:28.83