Participants: Dwight K Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP170401A
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00:09 >> Father in heaven, we come before You today. We quiet ourselves in the midst 00:15 of the storm and seek to follow You. Lord, as You encourage us today 00:19 to be more like You as we enter into worship, Lord, inhabit our praise. 00:23 Be present here with us. We thank You for already being here. 00:26 Lord, we love You. We're looking forward to seeing You soon. 00:30 In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 00:33 Good morning, and welcome. I'm glad you're here this 00:36 morning. It's a great, beautiful, 00:39 wonderful, amazing Sabbath day. 00:41 We haven't seen sunshine like this for a while. And being from Texas originally, 00:45 I can tell you the clouds can be grim. But we have reason to praise the 00:49 Lord this morning, so I invite you to stand to your feet as we sing our first song, 00:54 "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High." ♪♪ 01:16 [ Congregation sings ] 03:09 Amen. Amen. You know, the beautiful thing about the Gospel is that it 03:14 transforms you and it transforms me. And when we seek to share with 03:18 others about what Jesus has done for us, it doesn't have to be something long. 03:21 It doesn't have to be something super profound. All we have to do is tell our 03:27 story and tell what Jesus has done for us. I invite you this morning to 03:34 sing with us "Hymn Number 457, I Love To Tell the Story." ♪♪ 03:57 [ Congregation sings ] 07:10 [ "He Leadeth Me" plays ] 07:21 [ Congregation sings ] 08:09 He leadeth me. 09:55 He leadeth me. 10:52 By God's grace, He leads us. And it's our choice always to decide to follow Jesus. 11:02 No one goes with us. Though the world is behind us, the cross be before us, it is 11:08 always our choice to follow Jesus. And this morning, I invite you 11:14 right here, right now in a proclamation of that faith, wherever you are, whatever 11:21 burdens you might have, to come to the front now as we prepare to pray. 11:27 And if it's your choice this morning to follow Jesus, to make that step of faith, I invite you 11:32 now step forward as we sing the song "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." 11:41 [ Congregation sings ] 14:29 >> Good morning, boys and girls. Nice to see you on this beautiful first day and first 14:37 Sabbath of April. Wow. What a beautiful spring God is 14:42 sending to us. Nice to have you here. You're looking great. 14:45 You're looking springy. You look well-fed. You look happy. 14:49 I haven't seen you in a couple Sabbaths. We were in Sydney, Australia, of 14:53 all things, on a preaching mission. But I'm glad to be back. 14:57 First I want to ask a question, okay? Anybody here -- Anybody here in 15:02 this group gone fishing? Anybody gone fishing? You put a pole in a little -- 15:07 Okay, we got some fishermen here. Fisher, fisher, fisher, fisher, 15:11 fisher. Whoo! This is a group! I'm gonna tell you about a time 15:15 I went fishing up in the mountains. You couldn't drive there. 15:19 In fact, you had to go in one of these. Let me see a picture of what we 15:23 went in, please. An airplane. We were up in the back, 15:29 backwoods of Alaska. This is a men's retreat. And some of the guys said, "Yo, 15:34 Dwight, you want to go fishing?" I said, "I do. Let's go." Let's put next picture, please. 15:38 Oh, let's go fishing. Come on. Take two planes. Two guys in each plane. 15:41 Let's just keep flying over the tops of the mountains. Our pilot, my pilot, Dan Wotley, 15:45 said, "Hey, I'm gonna tell you something. I know a beautiful spot. 15:49 No people around." Okay, so we're up. [ Imitates airplane engine ] 15:55 Higher and higher. And I'm getting nervous. Ooh, look at that. 15:58 There's no way you could jump out now. It's way up there. 16:01 Oh! Next picture, please. Oh, you can tell I'm nervous. 16:05 Next picture, please. The pilot said, "Okay, Dwight, take a look," and he tips the 16:09 plane over. He says, "You see that river? Not a human being in sight. 16:12 Nobody's -- Look at that. We're gonna -- See those rocks beside the 16:15 river? I'm gonna land this plane right beside that river." 16:20 And I held on for dear life. "Okay, bring it down!" Boom! Next picture. 16:23 He's bringing -- Well, actually, we're already down. These are the guys behind us. 16:27 Look at them coming in right over the trees. They don't have long. 16:30 It's not a runway. It's just a riverbed. >> Wow. 16:33 >> Oh, "wow," is right. Next picture, please. And there's Danny Wotley. 16:37 Now, I want you to look at the tires, boys and girls. Look at the tires of that plane. 16:41 Big, soft, round. That's because they -- That way they can land anywhere with 16:48 these little Alaskan bush pilot planes. All right, let me see where -- 16:52 Oh! Look at that fishing. Look at that. Not another human being anywhere 16:56 in sight. Let's see a picture. Did they really -- 16:59 Oh, they went fishing there. There they are. [ Imitates fishing line, reel ] 17:07 Have you really gone fishing, guys? You put your hands up, you done 17:09 this? [ Imitates fishing line, reel ] "I'll bet you didn't catch a 17:15 thing." You're right! Wrong. 17:17 Next picture, please. Ah! There are fish in the high 17:21 mountains. Ooh, what kind of fish is that? I have no idea. 17:25 I have no idea. But that's what you do when you go fishing. 17:30 You go anywhere. And I thought about these guys, these big Alaskans. 17:33 They'll do anything. They'll pay any price. They'll fly their planes, pay 17:38 for the gasoline, all the trouble of just catching one little fish. 17:44 What's the big deal? Oh, wait a minute. When Jesus was here -- 17:49 Wait a minute. Jesus said, "I will make you fishers of..." 17:54 >> Men! >> Men, women, and children, right? 17:57 "I will make you fishers." Hey, wait a minute. Was that a big fishing 18:02 expedition for Jesus to come down here? Are you kidding? 18:05 It's the biggest fishing expedition in history. He came all the way from up 18:09 there -- shh, shh, shh, shh, shh! And he came to fish, and he came 18:13 to teach us how to fish. First he caught us, and he says, "Follow me, and I'll help you 18:18 catch others." Number one, how many are glad Jesus came down to fish for us? 18:22 Aren't you glad for Jesus? How many want to say, "Hey, you know what? 18:26 I want to help Jesus fish." Anybody want to help -- If you want to help Jesus fish, let me 18:29 just see your hand. I got to see your hand if you want to help Jesus fish. 18:32 You don't have to go to Alaska. You don't even have to cross the street. 18:36 There may be a little boy, there may be a little girl right where you live now that needs 18:41 Jesus. And you can share his love. Oh, my. 18:45 It's not that hard at all. I hope you will. Is there somebody here who would 18:51 like to thank Jesus for being the big, great fishermen that came and caught us? 18:55 Who wants to thank Jesus for fishing for us? Is there anybody here? 18:59 Oh, come here, young man, please. Thank you. 19:03 What's your name? >> Ivan. Ivan. 19:06 >> Ivan, all right. Guys, let's close our eyes and fold our hands, 'cause Ivan is 19:12 gonna thank Jesus for being our fisherman. >> Dear God, thank You for 19:16 bringing all of us together, and thank You for all of the stuff You have done for us. 19:21 We know that You are our one trustful and worthy father. In the name we pray. Amen. 19:26 >> Amen. Thank you, Ivan. Boys and girls, as you go quietly, reverently back to your 19:30 seats, you can say that prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to save us, to fish for us. 19:38 Happy Sabbath to you. [ "People Need the Lord" plays ] 19:55 >> ♪ Every day they pass me by ♪ 20:01 ♪ I can see it in their eye ♪ ♪ Empty people filled with 20:11 care ♪ ♪ Headed who knows where ♪ 20:20 ♪ On they go through private pain ♪ ♪ Living fear to fear ♪ 20:33 ♪ Laughter hides their silent cries ♪ ♪ Only Jesus hears ♪ 20:46 ♪ People need the Lord ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ ♪ At the end of broken dreams ♪ 21:05 ♪ He's the open door ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ 21:23 ♪ When will we realize ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ 21:46 ♪ We are called to take His light ♪ ♪ To a world where wrong seems 21:56 right ♪ ♪ What could be too great a cost for sharing life with one who's 22:08 lost ♪ ♪ Through His love our hearts can feel ♪ 22:17 ♪ All the grief they bear ♪ ♪ They must hear the words of life ♪ 22:30 ♪ Only we can share ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ 22:49 ♪ At the end of broken dreams ♪ ♪ He's the open door ♪ ♪ People need the Lord ♪ 23:07 ♪ People need the Lord ♪ ♪ When will we realize ♪ ♪ That we must give our lives ♪ 23:24 ♪ For people need the Lord ♪ ♪ People need 23:51 the Lord ♪ 24:14 [ Congregation says "amen" ] >> Amen and amen. Thank you, Charles. 24:20 Thank you, Ken. When will we realize that we must give our lives because 24:30 people need the Lord? Let's pray. Oh, God, big, big God, big, 24:41 fisherman God, look at You. Drawing us into Your heart and Your life and wanting to do on 24:50 this campus what You do in heaven so well. You love each other as one. 24:57 Do it here. Do whatever it takes to do it here, and use all of us, I pray. 25:03 Now, we go to the Word. This fish story, dear God, let it be clear. 25:08 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. If it's okay with you, I'd like to read a very short fish story. 25:17 Very short. This is a story -- Maybe you've 25:19 never heard this story before. Well, you'll hear it today. 25:23 Here it is. "Once upon a time, when he was 25:26 standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret" -- That would 25:30 be the Sea of Galilee -- "the crowd was pushing in on him to 25:34 better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. 25:38 The fishermen had just left them, and were out scrubbing their nets. 25:41 He climbed into the boat that was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the shore. 25:46 Sitting there" -- I love this -- "Sitting there using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the 25:52 crowd. When he was finished teaching, he said to Simon, 'Yo, Pete, 25:57 push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.' And Simon said, 'Master, we've 26:07 been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even in a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out 26:14 the nets.' It was no sooner said than done, a huge haul of fish straining 26:19 the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come and help 26:23 them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. 26:27 Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus, "Master, leave me. 26:31 I'm a sinner, and I can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.' 26:36 When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. 26:40 It was the same with James and John, Zebedee's sons, coworkers with Simon, and Jesus said to 26:44 Simon, 'There is nothing to fear. From now on, you'll be fishing 26:53 for men and women.' They pulled their boats up on the beach, left their nets and 27:03 all, and followed him." Want you to watch the brand-new video trailer that introduces 27:09 this brand-new series. Look at the screens. [ Birds chirping ] 27:21 [ Footsteps approach ] 27:28 [ Birds chirping ] 27:46 [ Birds chirping ] 27:50 "Gone Fishin'." You know, I don't mind Jesus having these fish stories in the 27:55 New Testament. I got to tell you, I have a little -- I have a little 27:59 problem with fish. I mean, you know, you think about it. 28:04 Am I the only one, or is this -- Do fish seem a bit gullible to you? 28:10 Huh? Sort of a little naive, easily tricked? 28:16 Sit around the whole day. [ Laughter ] That's all they do. 28:22 That's all they do. I've seen them on BBC. So, Jesus, why did you use fish 28:31 as some kind of big missions metaphor? "Oh, Dwight, because you know 28:35 whenever I see that fish? I'm thinking of you, 'cause you're a lot like that. 28:41 Gullible, naive, follows the crowd." Oh, I get it. 28:48 It's amazing to me that Jesus takes fish and the metaphor of fishing and he says, "This is 28:52 the mission of my kingdom." I'm gonna prove it to you right now. 28:54 Take out your study guide. I'm gonna run them by you. Five one-liners. 28:57 One, two, three, four, five. You write them down in your study guide. 29:01 You didn't get a study guide, hold your hand up. Very friendly ushers are coming 29:04 your way right now. You'll want these. Put your hand up, and they're 29:06 coming your way. I want to say to you who are livestreaming right now, we're 29:09 very glad to have you. 29:11 You're joining us brand-new starting right now a series 29:15 called "Gone Fishin': Part 1." You need the same study guide, 29:19 and so you'll see right there on the website, 'cause you're on 29:21 the website. You see our website. 29:23 Go there and click on "study guide," "part 1 study guide." 29:26 Click on. You say, "Wait a minute, Dwight. 29:29 I'm not livestreaming. I'm watching on television." 29:31 Okay, our website's at the bottom of the picture right 29:33 there. www.newperceptions.tv, okay? 29:36 One word. Newperceptions.tv. 29:39 Go to part 1 of "Gone Fishin'" study guide. You'll have the same study 29:42 guide. It works every time, we hope. Let us know if it doesn't. 29:47 Okay, let's go. Jesus' mission for you and me. Here we go. Jot them down. 29:52 Five one-liners. John 17:18 from the "Message" Bible -- "'In the same way that 29:58 You, Father'" -- Because Jesus is praying to his Father... 30:07 Hey, guess what, guys? You and I were born for mission. We were born, we were made for 30:11 mission. Yep, you join His kingdom, you got a mission. 30:14 Here comes one-liner number two. 2 Corinthians 5:18 from the Today's English Version. 30:21 Paul writing... 30:32 Jesus saves us, then he sends us. He says, "Hey, go. 30:34 Make some more friends for me." That's what he's talking about. That's the mission. 30:38 Here's one-liner number three. John 20:21. This is Sunday night. 30:42 He rose early this morning is unbelieving, just with awe, disciples. 30:46 He's talking to them, and these are Jesus' words to them. 30:53 To do what? Here comes one-liner number four. 30:56 This is the most well-known of his mission statements. This is Matthew 28:19-20 from 31:02 the Contemporary English Version. Jot it down. 31:16 Yeah, but, Lord, how are we supposed to do it? Last one. 31:18 There are five of them. Here comes number five. Mark 1:17. 31:30 Fly these five versions by, and it is absolutely clear that when the God of this universe comes 31:36 down to the human race, he's enfleshed, and they call him Jesus of Nazareth. 31:41 It's very clear. He came to implant the DNA of his kingdom's mission in every 31:52 human heart. The DNA of his mission. I have a mission, you have a 31:57 mission. And by the way, that DNA is not for just people who believe. 32:01 That DNA is for every Earth child right now, which means -- you might as well jot this 32:05 down -- which means... 32:14 Not only the church. No, no, no, no. This DNA is to be embedded in 32:20 every human heart, because not only are you born to get saved. You're born to then help save. 32:33 The two go together. You're born to be saved, born to get saved, born to help save. 32:40 You know, sometimes when I'm standing next to the guy that's pumping gas at the next pump, 32:45 I've never seen him in my life. You haven't, either. Where'd he come from? 32:48 Well, he lives here, I guess. You know, I'm always thinking, "Well, God chose me. 32:53 God wanted me. God willed me into existence. Took my daddy's sperm, matched 32:58 it with my mommy's egg, got me. By the way, don't look so aghast. 33:04 That's exactly how He got you. [ Laughter ] [ Scoffs ] Oh! 33:08 How did Dwight come? Yeah, He got us all the same way. 33:13 Even if your mother and father were not married, He got us all the same way. 33:17 Same way. So we tend to think, well, you know, "'Cause I'm chosen." 33:22 Yeah, you are. You are. "I'm wanted." Yes, you are. 33:27 But the guy in the next pump who I've never met in my life is also chosen 'cause he got born. 33:32 If God didn't want him, he wouldn't have gotten born. He got born. 33:35 God says, "I want that boy. I want that girl." Every man, woman, and child on 33:41 this planet, God says, "You were born to get saved so that you might help save. 33:50 I need you. I want you. I love you. I love you. 33:55 I'm so crazy about you, I have your picture on My refrigerator." 33:58 He says that to every Earth child. Sometimes we think, "Well, it's 34:02 just you and me." No, no, no, no, no. Every person. 34:05 We're on the train, Karen and I, in Sydney. We were just in Sydney a week 34:08 ago, this city-wide thing, met in the Olympic Park, by the way, the 2000 Olympics. 34:13 Whoa, this was dynamite. So we had this weekend rally, but we're riding the trains, 34:19 doing a little sightseeing. Millions of people in Sydney. We're talking millions. 34:24 And every person we saw, never met them before in my life, never see them again, but every 34:28 one of those persons, God says, "I got that girl's picture on My refrigerator, Dwight. 34:31 I love her. I got that man's picture in My heart." 34:37 Every Earth child has been chosen, loved by God into existence. 34:41 If He didn't love you, He wouldn't have loved you into existence. 34:45 You're here's because God has a dream for you, to get saved and then to help save. 34:49 Get saved and then to help save. 7 billion children. 34:53 How many can I get saved and then help save? 34:58 That's it. Oh, yes, of course, you're 34:59 right. God could have done it all by 35:01 Himself. Said, "Hey, guys, stand back. 35:03 Watch this." Boom! He did it. 35:06 No, He could have said, "No, I'm gonna do something a little less 35:09 Me. Angels, I want you to go down to 35:10 this planet, save every man, woman, and child you can find. 35:13 Just save them. I don't care how you do it. Just save them." 35:16 He could have done it that way. But, oh, no. No, no, no. 35:18 Hold on to your pew. Hold on to your pew right now, because I need you to comprehend 35:22 that God, who had all those methods He could have utilized, instead said, "Yo, stop. 35:28 They're my mission delivery system. Messy, messed up. 35:34 It's okay. I need them." You were born to get saved and 35:41 then to help save, help Him save others. Wow. 35:46 It's a big deal. It's a big deal to the Father. You know why it's a big deal to 35:50 the Father? I'll give you two reasons why. Number one, it's a big deal to 35:53 the Father because nobody, and I mean nobody, reaches Earth children like another Earth 35:57 children, like another Earth child. I mean, I look at you and I can 36:01 tell you we got the DNA. We got the DNA. We can talk. 36:06 We can communicate. We know each other, even thought I've never met you before in my 36:11 life. Number one, nobody wins Earth children better than Earth 36:15 children. And number two, because -- Why did He do it? -- because every 36:19 father knows that when you invite your children to join you in the garage to help you on 36:24 that repair project that you're gonna have, it is not because your children have skills that 36:28 you don't have. Nor is it because you need to get this done very quickly. 36:33 I'm gonna tell you something. When a daddy invites his little girl or his little boy to join 36:37 him, he knows it's actually gonna take longer to get it done now. 36:41 Right? Why does Daddy do it, then? Daddy does it because he loves 36:45 that time with that child. And there's something about sharing a project with your dad. 36:50 Whether you're a little girl or a little boy, there's something about sharing a project with 36:54 your dad that just kind of -- ahh -- it just kind of pulls you in. 36:59 God knows that feeling. That's why He says, "Let's do it together. 37:04 We'll have time together. We'll kind of go through stuff together. 37:07 And you get to know Me more. Would you help me, please?" Wow. 37:16 No, it's no big deal for the Father to invite his Earth children to join Him in His 37:21 passionate mission to save every Earth child if you mean He could have done it Himself. 37:27 Of course. But it's a huge deal. I'll tell you why. 37:31 It's a huge deal because you and I cannot conceive of the unimagined, incredible joy that 37:37 comes to you when you are used by Almighty God to reach another same-DNA Earth child with the 37:46 good news about Jesus, and it starts with a smile. And just start to say, "Yo, hey, 37:51 can you believe the weather here as you're pumping gas? Yo." 37:55 Anything can happen in a conversation, so the conversation just opens up. 38:01 But you can't imagine what it's like if God lays that person on your heart, and you say, "Hey, 38:07 dropping by your place, and pfft, you're meeting after lunch or whatever. 38:12 Something begins to happen to you as you begin to pray for this person. 38:16 You've never known them before in your life, but you're gonna pray for them now. 38:20 And the longer you pray for them, the more you start loving them. 38:22 You're not gonna believe this, but something actually changes inside of you, and the joy that 38:27 comes on that day when that person looks at you and says, "I want the Jesus you have." 38:33 'Cause it'll come. "I want the Jesus you have." There is no joy like it on this 38:38 planet. The closest approximation that God can come up with is 38:42 childbirth. Every mother here knows childbirth, the joy of bringing 38:48 life into being. But 50% of the human race has no clue what you're talking about, 38:54 right? So God says, "I have a way for you all to experience the 38:58 greatest joy a human heart can embrace." I want you to help me. 39:05 Look, if we didn't join Him, we wouldn't know His heart. We would never know the 39:11 indescribable joy. 39:12 We would never know the passion that sent the God of the 39:16 universe out of His throne room and down to this dark place to 39:19 spend all those years with us. We'd never know the passion. 39:23 We would never know why God can't sleep at night. You know why He can't sleep at 39:27 night, don't you? Yeah, he's got kids that He's got to reach yet. 39:31 We'd never know that if we weren't partnering with Him. That was a brilliant move on His 39:36 part. What is Jesus' mission? Let's put it on the screen. 39:40 Jesus says, "My mission," "the Son of Man came to seek and save" -- what, what, what? -- 39:45 "The lost." Yeah, I'm talking about fish now. 39:47 Jesus says, "I came to seek and save the lost." There's no greater joy. 39:51 In fact, I told Karen last night at supper. I said, "Love, I'm gonna tell 39:54 you something. I'm gonna share a text tomorrow in church I have never in my 39:58 lifetime of ministry ever quoted from the pulpit." Today's for the first time. 40:01 I want you to see it. You're gonna need to fill it in. Put it on the screen, please. 40:05 The little epistle of 3 John. There's no chapter in it. It's just a bunch of verses. 40:09 3 John 4. 40:18 And the message comes along. It says, "Nothing could make me happier." 40:22 No greater joy. Ladies and gentlemen, that's what fishing is. 40:25 There's no greater joy. There is no -- Nothing will make you happier. 40:29 You don't know it yet. But you're about to discover it. God is preparing you to be a 40:36 fisher for him. You will never be the same again. 40:39 You will never be the same. Okay, so what's it take to go fishing? 40:45 Let's go back to the story, the one I just read. So find it in your Bible. 40:48 Luke Chapter 5. I love the message, so I have my little "Message" pocket Bible 40:53 here. Luke Chapter 5. 40:56 All right, beginning verse 1. "Once upon a time, when Jesus 41:02 was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret" -- Luke's the 41:06 only one that calls it that. It's the Sea of Galilee. 41:33 "And Simon thought" -- Now, it says "Simon said," but Simon 41:35 thought -- this is what he thought. 41:37 He looked at Jesus, and he said, "You, you carpenter, me fisherman. 41:46 Me. You have no clue. You have no clue! 41:49 We fished all night! Do you understand that? Why do we fish at night? 41:52 Because they can't see the net! If we fish in the day, they see the net! 41:55 They won't come anyway!" That's what he's thinking. He never said it, fortunately. 42:01 Peter looks into the face of Jesus and says... 42:17 Write that line down, will you? "Put out into the deep." Hmm. 42:23 "Push out into the deep water." You know why? Because that's where the fish 42:27 are. But that's the problem with you and me. 42:29 Come on. Let's really be honest. Open and vulnerable today. That's the problem with you and 42:33 me. Nobody likes to go into water over her or his head. 42:36 Give me a little stream. Let me hug the shore. No rough waters. 42:40 No crashing breakers. No deep uncertainties. I'll just troll the shoreline. 42:44 That's what I'll do. Nobody wants to be in deep water. 42:50 But the problem is, shallow waters like this, this is where the fish are not. 42:58 You're fishing where the fish are not. There are no fish here! 43:02 They're not here! Fish don't hang around shallow places like this, trust me. 43:11 They're out there in the bars, in the gyms, in the clubs, in the neighborhoods, in the 43:19 shopping malls, in the hospitals. They're out there in the 43:22 workplace. That's where they are. They're out there in the deep. 43:28 Outside these four walls, too shallow in here. Too shallow. 43:35 Outside your comfort zone. Now, that's the truth. Outside yours and my comfort 43:42 zone, the four walls, where the depth is unreliable, where fish are unpredictable, where you are 43:46 uncomfortable. "Push out into the deep." That's what Jesus said. 43:49 "Push out." "Hey, Peter. Push out into the deep." 43:51 Why? Because out in the deep, fish exist in schools of hundreds and 43:56 thousands. That's where you go to fish. Oh. 44:01 "Yeah, but you know what, Dwight? That's the problem. 44:04 I understand that deep part. But the way I see it, the deep-water specialists are 44:09 called pastors and evangelists. That's what you guys are supposed to do." 44:13 Wrong. If you're a disciple, if you're a follower of Jesus, push out 44:20 into the deep. I know it's threatening. But that's where the fish are. 44:26 And by the way, once you hear Jesus' last word in the story, you will not be afraid of deep 44:30 waters ever again. And I'm about to show you that last word, so let's finish the 44:33 story. So, pick it up there. We'll go back to verse 4. 44:56 They waved to their partners frantically. 44:57 Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on! 44:59 Come and help! 45:10 But "Desire of Ages" says that when he fell to his knees with 45:13 that prayer, he was hanging on to Jesus' ankles. 45:15 "I'm not letting you go. Leave, Jesus, but I won't let 45:18 you go." That's the way to pray. 45:20 "Leave me, but I'm not letting you go." 45:32 And here comes that line now. 45:51 In our last series, we learned together that the Creator of this universe, when He speaks a 45:56 word -- do you remember this? -- when He speaks a word, the word is so omnipotent, right? 46:02 When the Almighty God speaks a word, no sooner has the word left His lips than in half a 46:10 nanosecond, what happens? 46:12 The word immediately creates the reality it describes. 46:16 So that when God says, "Yo, in this dark corner of space, let 46:19 there be light." Poom! 46:21 He just says it, and it happens, because His word is omnipotent. 46:26 That means that when God speaks His word to you, and you say 46:29 amen to it, you say, "I believe that word. 46:32 Amen." What the word is offering -- poom! -- is immediately created 46:36 in your heart. You say, "Dwight, what are you talking about?" 46:39 Let's put that line on the screen again, please. What did Jesus just say? 46:42 What did he just say? 46:51 If in hearing that word you say, "Wow. I love that. Amen. Please." 47:00 That's all you have to say. That's all they've ever said. That's all Abraham said. 47:04 God said, Boom! "You got it." Amen. Wow. 47:14 The greatest joy a human can experience is yours. You get it. 47:20 See, you put your trust in Him. Did we ever share the seven-word credo of Jesus? 47:24 Have we shared that here? 47:33 Seven words. You trust him. You say amen. 47:36 That fear, gone! Deep waters, you'll be there. Oh, my. 47:44 So ask. Ask. And then are you ready for this? This is amazing. 47:51 I know these three lines were "Desire of Ages." Amazing. 47:56 In this very same -- Commenting on this very same story, 48:00 "Desire of Ages" writes -- put these three sentences on the 48:02 screen. Here comes sentence number one. 48:04 "The deeper lesson" -- This is incredible. 48:05 "The deeper lesson which the miracle conveyed for the 48:08 disciples is a lesson for us also, that He whose word" -- 48:10 Remember, the word is omnipotent. 48:12 He just says the word. "Yo, fishies!" 48:14 Psssh! They're there. "He whose word could gather the 48:19 fishes from the sea could also" -- Now, hold on. 48:22 Hold on. That same word "could also 48:25 impress human hearts and draw them by the cords of His love, 48:29 so that His servants might becomes 'fishers of men.'" 48:32 Can you believe that? I'm telling you, it's just like 48:35 salvation. 48:36 Jesus does it all. He gathers the fish. He impresses the heart. 48:39 He draws them in. And he does it all through you. You're doing the fishing. 48:43 He's doing it all. He's bringing them in. His word, omnipotent word, draws 48:49 them in. Here's the second line, "Desire of Ages." 49:00 What's the end of that hyphenated word? Self-what? 49:04 Distrust. Distrust. "I will put my trust in Him." See? 49:09 The first lesson every fisher of people learns, "I will put my trust in Him." 49:15 I'll trust Him. I'll just go out there. I'll be there for Him. 49:18 I don't know if I should say something or not. I just know. 49:22 Here comes the last sentence. And this is the one. 49:24 This is a classic. This is one that's known all 49:26 over the world. Everyone say, "Oh, yeah, I know 49:28 where that came from." This is that one, and it's in 49:30 the story about Peter and Jesus and the fish. 49:32 Here we go. Final sentence. "There is" -- What are the next 49:36 two words? "No limit." 49:38 Now, lookit. I've done a little fishing here 49:40 in Michigan, and you have to go down and buy -- Do you know 49:41 this? You have to go down and buy a 49:43 fishing license, and they will tell you what the limit is. 49:44 There is a limit. You can only do this, you can 49:46 only do that. 49:47 You got to release, hook and release if you catch this. But I'm reading right now, 49:52 "There is no limit." If you say, "Jesus, whatever this is about, I'm willing to 49:59 become a fisher for you. Let me just help you. If this is why I was born, then 50:04 let me help you." If you say to Jesus, "I'm available to you," guess what? 50:08 He's not gonna limit you to one little minnow. There is no limit to what you 50:13 can do, no reason -- by the tens, hundreds. You laugh. 50:22 There have been people with less education than you who have heard the call and have been 50:28 instrumental in reaching thousands. Don't laugh at him. 50:33 He says, "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. I'm with you." 50:39 "I will put my trust in you." There is no limit. 50:42 Finish the sentence. 50:46 It's not about me, Jesus. 50:55 "There is no limit." "I will put my trust in Him." 51:01 So, don't you be afraid. "From now on, you will fish for people with me." 51:10 To which I say amen. What do you say? Amen. Amen. 51:17 Take your connect card out, please. Pull it out. 51:19 Stuck the way there in your worship bulletin. Guests, please join us. 51:25 We do this every Sabbath. In front of the card, you fill in what you're comfortable with. 51:29 Turn the card over. So, what do we do with this call to go fishing with Jesus? 51:33 How do we respond? My next step today is before I fish -- 51:37 Here's the first one. "My next step today is before I fish for others, I would like 51:44 Jesus to fish for me." How can I come to him as my savior? 51:48 There's some of you here who you didn't know that God really is crazy about you. 51:53 You had just no idea at all. It may be that today is the day for you to decide, "You know 52:01 what? I'd like his friendship. I'd like to give my life. 52:05 I'd like to know more about what it means to follow him." If you put a checkmark there and 52:13 an e-mail address on the front, we'll send to you a strategic guide how you can follow Jesus, 52:23 just like the disciples. Listen, took several calls for them to finally say, "Yes, 52:30 fully." It's okay. He's ready for you. 52:33 You put a checkmark there, e-mail address, we'll send it to you. 52:37 We'll send it to you. Why not? What are you waiting for? 52:40 Why not? You've been waiting all your life for this. 52:44 Okay, box number two. "Like Peter and the disciples, I want to follow Jesus and become 52:48 an active fisher of people." I'm putting the checkmark there. I'm saying I'm not doing enough 52:52 of it. I'm not doing enough of it. I want to do that. 52:56 Put a checkmark there. You're not promising anybody. You're just saying, "God, by 53:01 Your grace, You do it. And if You say the word and it becomes reality and You make me 53:05 a fisher of people, I'm saying amen. Have at it in my life." 53:09 Box number three. "I'd like to check out the waters by joining your fishing 53:12 expedition this afternoon at 3:30." No kidding. Right here. 53:15 Pioneer Memorial Church. Meet right up here on this side of the church by the piano. 53:20 We're gonna take a little survey out. This is as easy as it comes to 53:23 get into deep water. We're gonna take a survey out and go door to door. 53:27 Not alone. We'll go together. Come on. Come on out and join us. 53:30 3:30 right here. 3:30. Love to have you. Say, "Well, Dwight, I don't want 53:36 to come." Well, would you mind bringing your car? 53:40 We'd be glad to have it. 'Cause there will be people who say, "I don't have a car." 53:44 Let's go out. 3:30, this afternoon right here. Okay. 53:47 And finally, number four, "I want to join others in praying for those who need Jesus, the 53:51 lost." It's called house of prayer Wednesdays at 7:00 in the 53:54 morning in the youth chapel, 7:00 in the sanctuary. Love to have you come and join 53:58 us. God's doing stuff in our midst. I want to pray with you in a 54:03 minute, but first I got to sing that old Sabbath school song. Come on. 54:05 Let's pretend like we're little kids again. 54:11 [ Congregation sings ] 54:17 All right, deacons, let's go. [ Congregation sings ] 54:45 [ Organ plays ] All right, keep singing. 55:30 Oh, God, we stand before you, the savior of the universe, and this little planet, as well. 55:39 Thank you. Thank you for loving us and not giving up on us. 55:46 You still need us. And so here's the deal. To the best of our ability, 55:55 we're saying if you do the fishing and if you do the making, you make us your 56:06 assistants in fishing, we say amen. We won't be afraid. 56:10 Send us to deep waters. It's okay. Have your way, and use this band 56:15 of disciples right here at Andrews University to fan out over the face of this planet 56:23 into the deepest waters on Earth in search of those men, women, and children you died to save, 56:32 you love so much today. Use us, Father, any way you wish. 56:37 We pray. And now... May the grace of the Father and 56:43 the love of Jesus Christ, His Son, and the koinonia, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, 56:50 be with you all. Amen. ♪♪ 57:06 We've been really blessed by the financial support that comes 57:08 from our viewers, and we've made a conscious decision not to 57:11 continually appeal to you for that support, which I hope 57:14 doesn't convey to you that this national and international 57:17 telecast has no needs. 57:18 The fact is, as anyone in the industry will tell you, we are needing to make constant 57:23 upgrades to the technology that brings "New Perceptions" to you every week. 57:26 So if God has blessed you, and you're in a position to share some of that blessing with this 57:31 ministry, I'd be very grateful. I don't receive a dime from our listeners' support, but there's 57:36 a world that gets blessed by the teachings of this program. So thank you in advance. 57:41 You can go to our website and give there. 57:42 www.newperceptions.tv. Or you can call our operators 57:47 and make a donation. 877 -- toll-free for you -- 57:50 877-HIS-WILL. 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Revised 2017-04-06