¤¤ >> ¤ Praise
the Lord, praise the
00:00:08.50\00:00:16.01
Lord ¤ ¤ Praise
the Lord, call on His
00:00:16.01\00:00:20.52
name ¤
00:00:20.52\00:00:23.35
¤ Declare His doings among the
people ¤ ¤ Declare His doings ¤
00:00:23.52\00:00:32.49
¤ Mention that His name ¤ ¤
Mention that His name is exalted
00:00:32.49\00:00:47.81
¤ ¤ Sing to the Lord ¤ ¤ Sing to
the Lord ¤ ¤ For He has done ¤
00:00:47.81\00:01:02.62
¤ Excellent things ¤
00:01:02.62\00:01:10.47
>> Will you bow your heads
with me as we pray this morning?
00:01:15.90\00:01:21.21
Father God, what a blessing
it is to have made it through
00:01:21.38\00:01:23.85
another week. No
matter how long or tiring the
00:01:23.85\00:01:28.32
weeks can be, it is always
easier when You are with us.
00:01:28.32\00:01:31.99
And so this morning, we come
before Your throne, and we ask
that You open up Your ears to
00:01:32.15\00:01:37.09
hear our praise, to hear our
worship. Lord, we love You, and
00:01:37.09\00:01:40.96
we come to honor You and give
You praise. So hear our worship,
00:01:40.96\00:01:44.70
Lord, and envelop us in Your
bosom, Lord. We thank You in
Your Son, Jesus', precious,
00:01:44.70\00:01:50.74
holy, and powerful
name. Amen. >> Amen.
00:01:50.74\00:01:54.38
>> Good morning, church family.
>> Good morning. >> This
morning, we are going to
00:01:54.38\00:02:00.05
turn in our hymnals to
page number 227. [ "Jesus Shall
00:02:00.05\00:02:09.26
Reign" plays ] [
Congregation sings ]
00:02:22.04\00:02:24.74
Amen. Praise God. You know, this
morning, there's nothing like
00:03:27.74\00:03:32.54
lifting up the Lord. And He says
if we do not praise Him, the
rocks will cry out.
00:03:32.54\00:03:36.75
So this morning, as we get ready
to try a new song, I ask that
you do a little call and
00:03:36.75\00:03:42.08
response with us. The song's
name is "I Will Lift Up Your
00:03:42.08\00:03:47.32
Name Higher." And is that not
what we're here to do? We're
always here to praise the
00:03:47.32\00:03:50.79
Lord. That's what we were made
for. We were made to worship.
00:03:50.79\00:03:53.83
So let's lift up the
Lord's name. Listen to it here.
00:03:53.83\00:03:58.77
I'll sing the first little part,
and then our praise team will
give you the little second
00:03:58.77\00:04:03.57
piece. So you try
it. Follow us, okay?
00:04:03.57\00:04:06.74
¤¤
00:04:06.74\00:04:09.64
[ Performers sing ]
00:04:11.88\00:04:14.78
All right. It's your turn. I
want to hear you sing it. It's
00:04:29.30\00:04:33.17
really easy. One more time.
00:05:21.82\00:05:23.39
Now "I know."
00:05:36.73\00:05:38.13
You sing it.
00:05:44.41\00:05:45.91
Again.
00:05:59.92\00:06:01.16
Now let me hear you.
00:06:37.06\00:06:38.79
Sing out.
00:06:45.60\00:06:46.90
Again.
00:06:53.27\00:06:54.61
¤ Everybody ¤
00:07:16.36\00:07:18.07
¤ Everybody ¤
00:07:31.68\00:07:33.11
Sing out.
00:07:41.02\00:07:42.59
One more time.
00:08:23.47\00:08:24.90
Whoo! Praise God. It's so
wonderful to hear you all
singing out to the Lord.
00:08:33.07\00:08:38.45
He is amazing. He gives us
peace. He gives us that peace
00:08:38.45\00:08:44.95
that passes all understanding.
He is the stillness in our
00:08:44.95\00:08:50.26
lives. He's what gives us calm
when we struggle from day to
day. So sing with us a familiar
00:08:50.26\00:08:56.16
one, "Still," as we
rest in the Lord. ¤¤
00:08:56.16\00:09:02.64
[ Congregation sings ]
00:09:12.48\00:09:15.42
He is our joy,
and He's our strength.
00:11:02.39\00:11:05.69
It's time now to come forward
and lay your burdens down before
00:12:55.74\00:13:05.05
the Lord. This is an older hymn
that I feel touches my heart
when I think about how sweet
00:13:05.05\00:13:13.76
being with the Father is and
being in His spirit. So come and
00:13:13.76\00:13:18.66
lay your burdens down knowing
there's a sweetness in that
00:13:18.66\00:13:22.80
Spirit. [ Congregation sings ]
00:13:25.00\00:13:28.07
Sing.
00:15:58.29\00:15:59.35
Choir, help us. Sing out.
00:17:38.49\00:17:40.49
One more time.
00:18:28.94\00:18:30.51
¤¤ >> ¤ With a
voice of singing ¤
00:19:38.51\00:19:45.45
¤ Declare ye this,
and let it be heard ¤
00:19:45.45\00:19:49.88
¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ Declare ye
this ¤ >> ¤ Declare ye this ¤
00:19:50.05\00:19:56.02
>> ¤ And let it be heard ¤ >>
¤ Declare ye this, and let it be
00:19:56.02\00:20:02.70
heard ¤ ¤ Alleluia ¤ ¤ Utter
it even unto ¤ ¤ The ends of the
00:20:02.70\00:20:17.31
earth ¤ ¤ The Lord hath
delivered his people ¤ >> ¤
00:20:17.31\00:20:23.45
Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ Alleluia ¤ >>
¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ The Lord hath
00:20:23.45\00:20:31.66
delivered his people ¤ >>
¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ Alleluia ¤
00:20:31.66\00:20:35.23
>> ¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤
Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ Alleluia ¤
00:20:35.23\00:20:37.60
>> ¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤
Alleluia ¤ >> ¤ Alleluia ¤
00:20:37.60\00:20:41.27
>> ¤ O be joyful in God, all ye
lands ¤ ¤ O sing praises to the
00:20:45.51\00:20:57.05
honor of his name ¤ ¤ Make
his praise to be glorious ¤
00:20:57.05\00:21:08.30
¤¤
00:21:08.30\00:21:11.20
¤ With a voice of singing ¤ ¤
Declare ye this, and let it be
00:21:14.47\00:21:22.24
heard ¤ ¤ Alleluia ¤ >> ¤
Declare ye this ¤ >> ¤ Declare
00:21:22.24\00:21:28.05
ye this ¤ >> ¤ And let it be
heard ¤ >> ¤ Declare ye this ¤
>> ¤ Declare ye this ¤
00:21:28.05\00:21:31.25
>> ¤ And let it be heard ¤ >> ¤
And let it be heard ¤ ¤ Alleluia
00:21:31.25\00:21:39.09
¤ ¤¤
00:21:39.09\00:21:41.96
¤ Alleluia ¤ ¤ Declare ye
this, and let it be heard ¤
00:21:44.23\00:21:56.11
¤ Alleluia ¤
00:21:56.11\00:22:09.86
>> Man.
00:22:13.43\00:22:14.86
Thank you, Sanctuary Choir.
Beautiful, beautiful, with the
voices singing, "Declare
00:22:18.43\00:22:23.20
alleluia." Father, thank
you for worship this morning.
00:22:23.20\00:22:30.71
We've been swept heavenward over
and over -- the praise team, the
choir, the children's story.
00:22:30.71\00:22:38.59
Thank you for Gabriel and that
beautiful story. And now the
00:22:38.59\00:22:43.69
Word. We want to go heavenward
on this Word. So please bless
00:22:43.69\00:22:48.10
these few moments we have.
Energize it, this time, and us,
00:22:48.10\00:22:56.91
we worshipers. We humbly
pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:22:56.91\00:23:00.08
[ Footsteps ]
00:23:10.29\00:23:12.59
[ Birds singing ]
00:23:17.83\00:23:20.20
Before I share another fishing
story today, I want to show you
00:23:39.25\00:23:43.12
some pictures. Because
here's how you and I --
00:23:43.12\00:23:45.69
When we think about going
fishing, here's what we think
00:23:45.69\00:23:47.66
about. We think
about a rod and a reel
00:23:47.66\00:23:49.12
and the little line and a hook
and little earthworm wiggling on
00:23:49.12\00:23:52.43
it. And we're
down by the sunshiney
00:23:52.43\00:23:55.00
banks of the St. Joseph
River. "Ah, I got another one."
00:23:55.00\00:23:58.17
That's how we think.
That wasn't how Jesus was
00:23:58.17\00:24:00.97
thinking. That
was not how Peter was
00:24:00.97\00:24:03.20
fishing.
00:24:03.20\00:24:04.51
So I want to show you some
pictures of Peter fishing.
Really. No kidding.
00:24:04.67\00:24:08.71
This is Peter fishing. Peter's
the son of Carey Carscallen.
00:24:08.71\00:24:12.55
Carey Carscallen's the dean of
our school of architecture here
at Andrews University.
00:24:12.55\00:24:16.58
They used to take their whole
family -- That would be Peter,
that would be Kristin, who's now
00:24:16.58\00:24:20.99
Kristin Parker -- three precious
little girls and her husband,
Jorden, members here.
00:24:20.99\00:24:25.09
She's a nurse -- and brother
Jeremy, so three kids and dad
commercial fishing every summer
00:24:25.09\00:24:31.00
up at Alaska. For years, they
did this. So I was talking to
00:24:31.00\00:24:35.27
Carey after the Easter service
last week. I said, "Hey, let me
have those pictures."
00:24:35.27\00:24:38.01
Here they are. Take a look
at the video first. Here is the
00:24:38.01\00:24:43.11
boat heading out. You got to go
out into the deep. That's the
deal. You can't fish along the
00:24:43.11\00:24:48.58
shore, folks. [ Indistinct radio
chatter ] You got to go where
00:24:48.58\00:24:53.62
the water is deep. Carey told
me last Sabbath, "Dwight, the
00:24:53.62\00:24:56.39
reason you go to the deep is
because that's where the fish
are." Look at those waves.
00:24:56.39\00:25:00.96
[ Imitates waves crashing ]
Down. Oh, it's choppy. You get
00:25:00.96\00:25:06.57
seasick out there. But that's
where you go. Little bit of
discomfort, but you got to catch
00:25:06.57\00:25:12.47
fish. All right. Now they have
dropped those nets, and they're
00:25:12.47\00:25:15.84
bringing them in. This is father
Carey now. He's at the -- That
00:25:15.84\00:25:19.25
winch is just hauling these nets
in. There's Carey right there,
dean of the school of
00:25:19.25\00:25:24.32
architecture. Look at those --
Those are king salmon, by the
way, king salmon. And they're
00:25:24.32\00:25:30.83
coming in one after the other
after the other. Here are Peter
and Jeremy, the two brothers.
00:25:30.83\00:25:35.03
I love this sunset shot.
And look at the fish they're
00:25:35.03\00:25:38.30
bringing in. Look at the fish.
They're just falling on the
00:25:38.30\00:25:41.50
floor of the boat. I always
think, this is what it would be
like with Peter, James, and John
00:25:41.50\00:25:46.04
in their little fishing skiff at
night. They're pulling in the
fish. Look at that fish.
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.81
And we're not talking about
little minnows here, folks. Have
you ever seen a king
00:25:49.81\00:25:54.62
salmon? Let me show you a
picture of Kristin's, all right?
00:25:54.62\00:25:57.52
'Cause she's in the thick
of this, too. That is a king
00:25:57.52\00:26:01.42
salmon. Yeah. Next picture is of
Peter, and he's got two king
salmon. And here's an aerial
00:26:01.42\00:26:07.10
shot of the now packed boat.
That's what Peter fell in, all
that silvery, slimy -- He was on
00:26:07.10\00:26:13.23
his knees saying, "Jesus, depart
from me. I am a sinner," as he
00:26:13.23\00:26:17.61
saw this miraculous catch.
That's what it looked like right
00:26:17.61\00:26:22.34
there. You got to go out into
the deep. That's the deal. Jesus
said, "Push out into the
00:26:22.34\00:26:27.12
deep. You'll catch
fish." But be forewarned.
00:26:27.12\00:26:30.82
Oh, hold on to your pew. When
you fish in the deep, you pretty
much catch anything, and
00:26:30.82\00:26:35.66
you got to be ready for that.
Anything goes when you fish in
00:26:35.66\00:26:40.60
the deep. That's the point of
the story that I want to share
with you right now.
00:26:40.60\00:26:43.60
Once upon a time, there was a
big fisherman who had a lot of
little fishermen fishing for
00:26:43.60\00:26:48.94
him. And one day, the big
fisherman sent them all out.
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.97
"Out, out, out, out. Go, go,
go, go, go. Cover the deep blue
00:26:51.97\00:26:55.74
sea." And those little fishing
dinghies went out over the rough
waters till they got out to the
00:26:55.74\00:27:02.95
deep. They all threw over their
nets, and the joy when they --
00:27:02.95\00:27:06.39
Ooh, they felt the electric tug.
Whoopee! As they pull in -- You
00:27:06.39\00:27:11.53
just saw it -- They're pulling
in the nets. They can hardly
00:27:11.53\00:27:16.73
wait to get back to shore.
They're dragging in their hauls,
all of them up onto the sandy
00:27:16.73\00:27:20.80
beach, spread out the fish. And
one by one, the little fishermen
start sorting out the
00:27:20.80\00:27:25.51
fish. "This goes
there. This goes there.
00:27:25.51\00:27:27.48
This goes there." When the big
fisherman showed up, he showed
00:27:27.48\00:27:31.98
up, and when he saw what they
were doing, he said, "Yo, yo,
time out! Stop! Stop, stop.
00:27:31.98\00:27:37.59
No, no, no, no, no! I don't want
you to do this! Do not sort the
00:27:37.59\00:27:44.19
fish! Please! I have my crew.
They'll come in at the end of
00:27:44.19\00:27:46.83
the day. They know what to do.
They will do the sorting. In
fact, little fishermen, let
00:27:46.83\00:27:52.83
me teach you a lesson you
must never forget. You do the
00:27:52.83\00:27:59.47
fishing. I do the sorting. The
end." That was the end of the
00:27:59.47\00:28:06.68
story. But that "wow" point
is so significant. I want you to
00:28:06.68\00:28:09.85
grab your study guide right now.
Let's go. Scribble it down. We
can't miss that line.
00:28:09.85\00:28:13.39
That is a huge line. And by the
way, it has all the good news in
00:28:13.39\00:28:18.36
the world wrapped up in just
that one lesson. Take a look at
this. So, thank you, friendly
00:28:18.36\00:28:24.13
ushers. If you'll just raise
your hand, here they come your
way. You didn't get a study
00:28:24.13\00:28:27.50
guide, put your hand up. They'll
make sure you get one. Up in the
00:28:27.50\00:28:30.57
balcony, the same. Those of you
watching on a screen right now,
live-streaming from wherever on
00:28:30.57\00:28:35.64
earth you are,
we're glad to have you.
00:28:35.64\00:28:37.21
You don't need the website,
but those of you watching on a
00:28:37.38\00:28:39.21
television right now
do. There's the website.
00:28:39.21\00:28:40.72
You see it --
www.newperceptions.tv.
00:28:40.72\00:28:45.12
You're looking for a
series that ends next week.
00:28:45.12\00:28:47.09
You say, "How can it end next
week, Dwight, when we're not
00:28:47.09\00:28:49.39
gonna be here?" Oh,
the series -- We're gonna
00:28:49.39\00:28:51.26
shoot the series on television
first service next week.
00:28:51.26\00:28:55.00
So it'll go onto
our archive site.
00:28:55.00\00:28:57.53
Live-streaming will be
the new live fellowship.
00:28:57.53\00:29:01.17
But it'll all be there.
00:29:01.17\00:29:03.17
No matter where you go, it'll be
ready for you the next week, all
00:29:03.34\00:29:06.14
right? So this is "Gone Fishin',
Part 3." Ends next week with
00:29:06.14\00:29:10.71
part 4. Part 3, jot it down
before we forget this little
lesson. The Big Fisherman to the
00:29:10.71\00:29:14.42
little fishermen, what did he
say? "You must learn this
lesson, boys and girls.
00:29:14.42\00:29:19.29
You do the fishing. I do
the --" what? >> Sorting.
00:29:19.29\00:29:24.79
>> Yeah, "I do the sorting,
please. Let me do the sorting."
00:29:24.79\00:29:27.66
You say, "Dwight, did you
make that story up?" Nope.
00:29:27.66\00:29:30.27
Open your Bible to the Gospel of
Matthew chapter 13. Let's just
check Jesus' bright
00:29:30.27\00:29:34.40
red letters out. These
are red-letter words. Matthew
00:29:34.40\00:29:38.64
chapter 13. You're finding
it. I'm in the NIV. You have it
00:29:38.64\00:29:44.21
there in front of you, Matthew
chapter 13. Let's pick it up in
verse 47. Jesus speaking now.
00:29:44.21\00:29:48.88
See that?
00:29:53.15\00:29:54.56
Oh, get a load of this.
00:29:57.63\00:29:59.19
In fact, would you jot
this down? There's three little
00:30:01.93\00:30:04.50
points to this very short story.
Here's point number one. Jot it
00:30:04.50\00:30:07.64
down. It does not catch one
kind. It does not catch two
kinds. It catches all kinds,
00:30:13.38\00:30:21.12
all kinds of fish. Keep that
one in mind. Let's keep reading.
00:30:21.12\00:30:26.39
Now verse 48.
00:30:26.39\00:30:27.62
Hit the pause button again. Here
comes point number two. Jot it
down. Point number two...
00:30:40.27\00:30:44.44
Jesus just said it. You know,
you can read this parable in a
cursory, quick sort
00:30:51.51\00:30:55.38
of way. And you get the feeling
that as soon as the fishermen
00:30:55.38\00:30:58.09
get on the shore, every time
they go fishing, they're just
sorting, sorting, sorting.
00:30:58.09\00:31:00.92
No, no, no, no, no, no. Jesus
says, "The sorting only happens
at the end of the age."
00:31:00.92\00:31:07.20
Ooh! That's a big deal.
00:31:07.20\00:31:09.06
Okay. Finish the
story. Read verse 49 again.
00:31:11.63\00:31:14.80
...Jesus asked these disciples.
And they said, "Yep, we got it.
00:31:25.41\00:31:29.18
Thank you, Master. Great
lesson." Do we get it? Here's
00:31:29.18\00:31:32.72
point number 3. Jot it down,
please, before we forget it.
00:31:32.72\00:31:35.36
Did you get that? The people who
do the sorting at the end are
the angels, not the
00:31:43.83\00:31:49.17
fishermen. Now, remember, the
parable is actually a snapshot
00:31:49.17\00:31:53.81
of the very end of time. It's a
great judgment day. In fact, the
Book of Revelation,
00:31:53.81\00:31:59.48
you remember, has this loud cry
that goes to the whole planet.
00:31:59.48\00:32:02.92
We're in the judgment.
This is that moment, which means
00:32:07.56\00:32:12.79
it's sorting-out time. And
Jesus informs us, "It's the
00:32:12.79\00:32:16.10
angels who are the ones who
assist the big fisherman in the
00:32:16.10\00:32:19.67
sorting on the judgment day, not
the little fisher people, if you
00:32:19.67\00:32:23.57
prefer, not you and me.
We fish. God what? God sorts.
00:32:23.57\00:32:31.71
Let's say that again
together. We fish. God sorts.
00:32:31.71\00:32:36.45
That's what we do. We fish. God
sorts, which, by the way, turns
out to be very good news
00:32:36.62\00:32:43.16
for the likes of little
fishermen and little
fisher-women like us, because
00:32:43.16\00:32:50.10
we've been called to this. We've
been called. Jesus has called us
00:32:50.10\00:32:53.77
all to be fishers. How did he
put it to Peter when Peter's
knee-deep and kneeling
00:32:53.77\00:32:58.27
at the feet of Jesus in that
overflowing boat? Put it on the
00:32:58.27\00:33:02.54
screen, those words. We've
read them before. Luke 5:10.
00:33:02.54\00:33:05.51
"Don't be afraid, Pete."
00:33:05.51\00:33:07.12
So, for all of us as
fisher-people, this short,
punchy parable actually ends up
00:33:13.15\00:33:17.76
being very good news. You say,
"Ah, come on, Dwight. There's no
00:33:17.76\00:33:22.56
good news in this parable that
you just read." Hold on. There's
some very good news for
00:33:22.56\00:33:29.30
fisher-people. In fact, embedded
in this parable are three
00:33:29.30\00:33:34.21
anxiety-relieving insights,
three anxiety relievers, three
of them, three of them, three of
00:33:34.21\00:33:43.45
them. Jot them down.
Let's go. Number one.
00:33:43.45\00:33:45.25
What's in this parable
that's good news? Get this.
00:33:45.25\00:33:47.36
Anxiety reliever number one --
00:33:47.36\00:33:49.16
I don't have to decide. That's
not my mission. That's not my
00:33:53.26\00:33:56.33
responsibility. Somebody with a
higher pay grade and a lot
stronger love than mine will
00:33:56.33\00:33:59.93
make the decision. I don't have
to do it. All I have to do is
take a little net and go,
00:33:59.93\00:34:03.10
"Whee." And the net goes over,
'cause there have to be fish
there when you throw the net
00:34:03.10\00:34:06.57
over. The net goes over. I pull
the net in. That's all I do.
00:34:06.57\00:34:10.38
It's called non-anxious fishing,
non-anxious fishing. No worries.
00:34:10.38\00:34:18.99
He's in charge. Because there
isn't a fisherman in the world
who, when he goes fishing, he
00:34:18.99\00:34:22.96
says, "Yo, fish, not you. I'm
not looking for you. Go, go, go,
00:34:22.96\00:34:25.39
go, go, go. [ Whistles ] You,
you, come over here." Nobody
00:34:25.39\00:34:28.76
does that. When you throw a
net in, what do you do? You take
00:34:28.76\00:34:32.43
everything the net pulls in.
Isn't that right? Everything? Of
00:34:32.43\00:34:35.67
course it is. You take it all.
Am I worried about it? No, I
don't have to be worried
00:34:35.67\00:34:39.21
about it. I just fish.
All I have to do is throw my
00:34:39.21\00:34:43.18
little net in for Jesus,
with Jesus. Man, that's an
00:34:43.18\00:34:48.12
anxiety-reliever right there.
That's number one. There are two
00:34:48.12\00:34:50.35
more. Here comes number two.
Anxiety-reliever number 2, jot
00:34:50.35\00:34:53.79
it down. Not only who gets
netted for Jesus, but even for
eternity. While the parable is
00:34:56.09\00:35:01.53
absolutely clear -- Not every
fish that's caught is kept --
Nevertheless, you and I are
00:35:01.53\00:35:08.44
relieved of having to make the
decision who gets kept and who
gets left. We don't have to
00:35:08.44\00:35:12.54
touch that. Someone at a much
higher pay grade who has all the
love of the universe in his
00:35:12.54\00:35:19.25
heart, He will make the
decisions. We don't have to. Is
that good news or what?
00:35:19.25\00:35:23.85
>> Yeah. >> We don't have
to. Talking about non-anxious
00:35:23.85\00:35:27.16
fishing. No worries. He's in
charge. All I have to do is take
00:35:27.16\00:35:31.19
my little net. "Is this
-- Are there fish around?"
00:35:31.19\00:35:34.10
"Yes, there are people." Throw
the net over. That's all I have
00:35:34.10\00:35:38.07
to do. He does the rest. But
there's one more,
anxiety-reliever number 3.
00:35:38.07\00:35:43.81
Just to drive it home...
00:35:48.08\00:35:49.78
What? >> Fishing. >>
Yeah, all I need to do is the
00:35:54.38\00:35:56.85
fishing. Who gets kept, who's
left, who's good, who's bad --
00:35:56.85\00:36:02.12
pfft, not me. Not me. The big
fisherman with the biggest
heart, I repeat, is the
00:36:02.12\00:36:07.66
one who makes the decision.
I do the fishing. He does the
00:36:07.66\00:36:13.07
sorting. Let's do that out loud
together one more time. I do the
00:36:13.07\00:36:16.97
fishing. He does the sorting.
I do the fishing. He does the
00:36:16.97\00:36:21.88
sorting. It's called non-anxious
fishing. No worries. He's in
charge. So, please, here's the
00:36:21.88\00:36:30.62
question. Give me one reason, no
kidding -- Just raise your hand,
and we'll go to you -- Give me
00:36:30.62\00:36:35.56
one reason why we should be
afraid of going fishing with
Jesus for Jesus, just one
00:36:35.56\00:36:41.63
reason. Why would
we be afraid? Why?
00:36:41.63\00:36:47.00
There is no reason. Non-anxious
fishing. He's in charge. No
00:36:47.00\00:36:53.91
worries. I do the fishing. He
does the sorting. Jim Cymbala,
00:36:53.91\00:36:59.18
the pastor of the well-known
Brooklyn Tabernacle Church in
New York City, describes the
00:36:59.18\00:37:04.35
objections some Christians have
to this whole fishing metaphor.
I want to share his line on the
00:37:04.35\00:37:10.29
screen for you. It's from
his wonderful book, "Fresh Wind,
00:37:10.29\00:37:14.30
Fresh Fire: What Happens When
God's Spirit Invades the Hearts
00:37:14.30\00:37:16.87
of His People." So, Cymbala's
writing. His words on the
00:37:16.87\00:37:19.37
screen. Unless, of course,
you're an Adventist like I am,
and you live by the dietary code
00:37:32.78\00:37:37.42
in Leviticus 11, we don't ask
God to clean the fish. We only
fish for clean fish.
00:37:37.42\00:37:42.42
Can't have fins,
can't have scales.
00:37:42.42\00:37:45.76
So we settle -- Here's what
we've settled for -- "Finding
00:37:48.86\00:37:54.44
Nemo." Looking for Dory. I mean,
we think the church is an
aquarium where you keep
00:37:54.44\00:37:59.77
clownfish. And the whole world
comes, and they press their
00:37:59.77\00:38:04.55
little noses against the cold
aquarium glass, and they're
saying, "Wow! Wow, look at all
00:38:04.55\00:38:09.45
these fish! Aren't they
beautiful fish?" That's not what
Jesus is saying. "Get out of
00:38:09.45\00:38:14.49
here. Get out to where it's
deep. And then you throw your
00:38:14.49\00:38:17.86
little net in. You do the
fishing. I'll do the sorting."
Jim Cymbala again, his words on
00:38:17.86\00:38:21.73
the screen.
00:38:21.73\00:38:23.03
"You know what?"
00:38:50.59\00:38:51.99
Write that in. God
loves differentness.
00:39:00.54\00:39:03.34
So instead of us trying to
figure out those who look like
00:39:09.44\00:39:12.08
us or those who live like us or
those who dress like us, we need
00:39:12.08\00:39:14.98
to be casting our little
fisherman nets over the side of
00:39:14.98\00:39:19.12
the boat for any
fish and all fish.
00:39:19.12\00:39:23.76
We do the fishing. He does
the sorting. Ellen White, by the
00:39:23.93\00:39:28.30
way, just about a century ahead
of Cymbala, makes the very same
00:39:28.30\00:39:32.10
point. This is from the classic
"Christ's Object Lessons." You
see the words on the screen.
00:39:32.10\00:39:36.57
"Ah, it's just a
fake, just a counterfeit --"
00:39:48.05\00:39:51.05
Now here comes a line.
00:39:53.42\00:39:54.99
I mean, the disciples gather,
and they take a vote, and it's
00:40:01.43\00:40:04.87
12-0. Roman centurion, out.
Jesus was pulling him in. The
disciples take another vote.
00:40:04.87\00:40:11.61
Samaritan woman, out. Jesus was
pulling her in. 10 lepers, out.
00:40:11.61\00:40:15.41
"I'm pulling them in." Two
demoniacs, out. "I'm pulling
00:40:15.41\00:40:19.31
them in." One pagan mother,
Syrophoenician, out. "I'm
00:40:19.31\00:40:24.55
pulling her in." Thief on
the cross, out. "I'm pulling him
00:40:24.55\00:40:29.86
in." What's that last line?
00:40:30.03\00:40:31.59
And by the way, isn't it amazing
that when Jesus dies, he makes
sure that they nail his arms
00:40:36.26\00:40:43.34
open in a wide, open embrace?
And he says, "Come to me, all
who labor and are heavy-laden.
00:40:43.34\00:40:52.98
I'll take them all.
Bring them all. Throw that net.
00:40:52.98\00:40:56.72
I take them all." Man.
If you make the church an
00:40:56.72\00:41:03.63
aquarium, then you got this high
bar for who gets in the
aquarium, and then you're
00:41:03.63\00:41:08.50
keeping everybody out. That
doesn't appear to be Jesus'
M.O., does it, his modus
00:41:08.50\00:41:14.77
operandi? He says, "Just
throw the net in. Take them all.
00:41:14.77\00:41:19.44
I'll take them all. And by
the way, you do the fishing.
00:41:19.44\00:41:22.58
I do the sorting. Don't
you worry about body parts.
00:41:22.58\00:41:25.51
Don't you worry about lifestyle.
I'll do the sorting. You do the
00:41:25.51\00:41:33.09
fishing." Hmm. Because the
very ones that you and I may be
00:41:35.72\00:41:41.36
inclined to say, "Whoa, not that
one! Surely, God --" No. Turns
out, he's pulling that one
00:41:41.36\00:41:46.87
in. Anxiety-reliever number one,
I don't have to decide who gets
00:41:46.87\00:41:53.01
netted for Jesus.
Anxiety-reliever number two, I
don't have to decide who gets
00:41:53.01\00:41:56.68
netted for eternity.
Anxiety-reliever number three,
all I have to do is throw my
00:41:56.68\00:42:00.05
little fisherman's net into the
waters where the fish are and
00:42:00.05\00:42:03.82
pull. That's it. "Yeah, but,
Dwight, come on. Come on. How?
00:42:03.82\00:42:07.59
I mean, how am I supposed
to fish? How?" Fair question.
00:42:07.59\00:42:12.06
Let me share with you three
strategies, one story, and I'm
sitting down, okay?
00:42:12.06\00:42:16.30
Three strategies. Here comes
strategy number one. I was at
House of Prayer this
00:42:16.30\00:42:20.34
week. And one of the people in
the prayer group that I was in
00:42:20.34\00:42:24.51
said, "You know what I do? What
I do before I go out of my room
for the day, I ask God,
00:42:24.51\00:42:29.34
'Okay, God, is there somebody
out there that I will meet today
that You need me to reach out
00:42:29.34\00:42:34.88
to, You need me to help? I have
no idea who it might be, but let
my mind know so that
00:42:34.88\00:42:39.62
I'll respond.'" I think it's
a great prayer. So this person
00:42:39.62\00:42:45.53
ends up in Walmart, of all
places, in the line, and there's
00:42:45.53\00:42:49.83
a woman in front. There's a
woman who's pulling the stuff
out of her shopping cart.
00:42:49.83\00:42:53.40
But as she has it all spread up
on the conveyor belt and it's
moving, she whips her cellphone
00:42:53.40\00:42:58.27
out with the calculator app, and
she's going like this. [ Sighs ]
00:42:58.27\00:43:06.11
[ Groans ]
00:43:06.11\00:43:07.52
And the next person back is
watching, saying, "What's up
00:43:10.45\00:43:13.69
with this?" And finally, "Yo,
why are you doing this?" And the
woman says, "I'm doing
00:43:13.69\00:43:19.69
the calculations. I don't have
enough money for these, and I'm
00:43:19.69\00:43:23.73
pulling them out." And just like
that, this person who had prayed
00:43:23.73\00:43:28.47
in the morning in the room is
impressed -- "Yo, yo, listen.
I'll buy those for you.
00:43:28.47\00:43:33.51
Let me buy those, please.
Please, please, let me." Is that
some kind of Nobel Peace
00:43:33.51\00:43:39.48
Prize kind of behavior? It's
nothing. It's called fishing.
00:43:39.48\00:43:42.78
It's called being there in the
moment when the moment calls for
you to be there, and you throw
00:43:42.78\00:43:47.26
your little net over, and you
say, "I'm doing this for Jesus."
00:43:47.26\00:43:51.16
That's all it is. You fish. He
sorts. "There are no questions
about your background.
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.46
I'll take you just the way you
are. Come to me, and I'll give
00:43:54.46\00:43:57.70
you rest." Wow. So jot
it down. Here's number one.
00:43:57.70\00:44:00.37
I said there's three of these
and then a story. Here comes
00:44:00.37\00:44:02.87
number one. Jot it down.
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.11
Sometimes it's only you that can
offer that graceful word, that
00:44:08.64\00:44:13.85
intervention. Don't make this
rocket science. Just be you with
a little fishing net tucked away
00:44:13.85\00:44:22.02
on your side. Nobody
sees it. Trust me. Number two.
00:44:22.02\00:44:26.80
One of our students applied for
a job around here. I just
learned about this last
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.76
week, too, so this is all
fresh stuff. One of our students
00:44:29.76\00:44:32.40
applied for a job around here,
went to work, and invited the
employer to come to her church
00:44:32.40\00:44:40.88
-- this one, which he
promptly did. Go figure. Yeah.
00:44:40.88\00:44:46.88
That's exactly what's happened.
So what would happen if because
Jesus says all fish -- "Come on.
00:44:46.88\00:44:53.62
I take them all. Don't you do
the sorting. You just throw the
00:44:53.62\00:44:57.06
net." What would happen if you
and I had in our hip pocket a
little invitation tucked away?
00:44:57.06\00:45:00.96
Come on, choir. Just a little
invitation that says, "If the
00:45:00.96\00:45:04.90
moment arises, I'm gonna say,
'Come with me to Pioneer. Just
come with me. Come on.'"
00:45:04.90\00:45:10.04
Hey, listen. That's what
we're gonna do this fall.
00:45:10.04\00:45:12.04
Did you hear Pastor Rodlie a
moment ago? Man, we got a lineup
00:45:12.04\00:45:14.71
this fall. There's one he didn't
tell you about. I'll tell you
00:45:14.71\00:45:17.05
about it. Number one in
September, we're calling it "The
Big Day," a series of three
00:45:17.05\00:45:20.28
Sabbaths where we plan our
worship services to meet fresh,
felt needs of this generation on
00:45:20.28\00:45:26.39
campus and in the community,
because some of you are rooming
with somebody on campus that
00:45:26.39\00:45:32.53
needs Jesus. We're calling it
"The Big Day." This would be the
perfect time to invite anybody
00:45:32.53\00:45:37.83
on the planet to come to church
with you. Three Sabbaths in
September. And then when those
00:45:37.83\00:45:42.14
are over, we're gonna do
"Unlocking Revelation." Oh, my.
00:45:42.14\00:45:45.21
You heard Rodlie. This is gonna
be something, getting into the
Word. But he didn't tell you
00:45:45.21\00:45:48.91
about number three, 500th
anniversary of Martin Luther.
00:45:48.91\00:45:51.81
Get this. We're gonna have what
we're calling "God's Boot Camp"
for 300 young adults who'd be
00:45:51.81\00:46:00.69
willing to go into some
high-octane, 48-hour, going deep
into what it means to be a
00:46:00.69\00:46:06.29
Bible-believing young adult in
this generation. We'd like to
tell you, we'd like
00:46:06.29\00:46:11.43
to share with you and then turn
you loose for the big fisherman
00:46:11.43\00:46:18.57
of the universe. Wow. Yeah.
So ask God to help you make an
00:46:18.57\00:46:22.24
invitation. Here's the last one,
number three, and then the
story. Number three, jot it
00:46:22.24\00:46:26.01
down. You might not know a lot
about them, but you know who
they are. You met them. You saw
00:46:31.59\00:46:35.99
them. You had just a brief
conversation. Had someone come
00:46:35.99\00:46:39.09
up to me between services
saying, "Let me tell you who I
met -- big-box service provider
00:46:39.09\00:46:47.14
just this last week." He said,
"Come to my church." I said,
"Yeah, you come to mine,
00:46:47.14\00:46:51.67
and I'll go to yours." Boom.
He goes then to a bank, and the
00:46:51.67\00:46:54.48
banker says, "I know who you
are." Says, "Come to my church,
00:46:54.48\00:46:59.51
and I'll go to your church."
Just like that. Listen, by
praying for three to
00:46:59.51\00:47:03.45
five people, here's what
happens. It's sensitizes your
00:47:03.45\00:47:07.32
mind for them. And along the
way, the Spirit will come along
00:47:07.32\00:47:10.36
and say, "Oh, by the way, here's
a perfect way to build a bridge,
to throw a net." Three to five.
00:47:10.36\00:47:16.67
Three simple, humble, little
suggestions. Tell Jesus you're
00:47:16.67\00:47:21.10
ready to throw a net, your
little fisherman net in the
waters where you live. Pray
00:47:21.10\00:47:26.44
faithfully for these people
by name. You don't have to worry
00:47:26.44\00:47:28.94
the outcome. No, no, no, no.
You do the fishing. He does the
00:47:28.94\00:47:33.68
sorting. Everybody. Nail
out embrace, nailed wide open.
00:47:33.68\00:47:37.52
"I mean everybody, come to me."
Wow. So throw your little net in
00:47:37.52\00:47:45.26
wherever you possibly can.
That's the deal. Let me end with
00:47:45.26\00:47:51.23
a story. Jim Cymbala telling
this story on himself. Okay.
00:47:51.23\00:47:56.97
"I shall never forget Easter
Sunday," pastor of the Brooklyn
00:47:56.97\00:48:02.38
Tabernacle. "A homeless man was
standing in the back of the
church, listening intently," all
00:48:02.38\00:48:06.58
right? Just standing, not
sitting down. "At the end of the
evening meeting, I sat down on
00:48:06.58\00:48:10.95
the edge of the platform," right
here, so you can picture that.
"I sat down, exhausted, as
00:48:10.95\00:48:14.89
others continued to pray
with those who had responded to
00:48:14.89\00:48:18.13
Christ. The organist was playing
quietly. I wanted to relax.
00:48:18.13\00:48:20.86
I was just starting to unwind
when I looked up to see this man
with shabby clothing and matted
00:48:20.86\00:48:26.84
hair standing in the center
aisle about four rows back,"
right there, "waiting for
00:48:26.84\00:48:33.48
permission to approach me. I
nodded, gave him a weak, little
00:48:33.48\00:48:39.45
wave of my hand. And I'm
thinking to myself, 'Look at how
this Easter Sunday's going to
00:48:39.45\00:48:42.72
end. I know what he's gonna do.
He's gonna hit me up for money.
That happens often in this
00:48:42.72\00:48:46.35
church. I am so tired right
now.' But when he came close,
00:48:46.35\00:48:52.36
when he came close, I saw that
his two front teeth were
missing. But more striking was
00:48:52.36\00:48:58.57
his odor. The mixture of
alcohol, sweat, urine, and
garbage took my breath away.
00:48:58.57\00:49:03.84
I had been around many street
people, but this was the
strongest stench I have ever
00:49:03.84\00:49:08.11
encountered. I instinctively
had to turn my head sideways to
00:49:08.11\00:49:11.75
[inhales deeply] breathe in,
inhale, and then look back in
his direction while breathing
00:49:11.75\00:49:18.52
out. I asked him his name.
'David,' he said softly. 'So how
long you been homeless,
00:49:18.52\00:49:23.56
David?' 'Six years.'
'So where'd you sleep last
00:49:23.56\00:49:27.96
night?' 'In an abandoned truck.'
I had heard enough, and I wanted
00:49:27.96\00:49:32.00
to get this over quickly. I
reached for my money clip in my
00:49:32.00\00:49:37.14
back pocket. And at that moment,
David put his finger in front of
my face and said, 'No, no, no,
00:49:37.14\00:49:41.08
no, no. You don't understand me.
I don't want your money. I'm
gonna die out there.
00:49:41.08\00:49:46.72
I want the Jesus that red-haired
girl talked about.'" A
red-haired girl had stood up
00:49:46.72\00:49:51.92
and given her testimony that
night, and he had heard it. "'I
00:49:51.92\00:49:57.79
want that Jesus.' And I
hesitated and closed my eyes.
'God, forgive me,' I begged.
00:49:57.79\00:50:03.67
I felt soiled. I felt cheap. Me,
a minister of the Gospel, I had
wanted to simply get rid of
00:50:03.67\00:50:08.90
him, when he was crying out for
the help of Christ that I had
just preached about.
00:50:08.90\00:50:12.61
I swallowed hard as God's love
flooded my soul. David --" Now,
00:50:12.61\00:50:18.68
listen. "David sensed the change
in me. He moved toward me and
fell on my chest, burying his
00:50:18.68\00:50:26.69
grimy head against my white
shirt and tie. Holding him
close, I tried to talk to him
00:50:26.69\00:50:32.39
about Jesus' love. And these
weren't just words. I felt them.
I felt love for this pitiful
00:50:32.39\00:50:36.33
young man. And that smell, I
don't know how to explain it.
00:50:36.33\00:50:40.54
It had almost made me sick, but
now it became the most beautiful
00:50:40.54\00:50:46.04
fragrance to me. I reveled in
what had been repulsive just a
moment ago. The Lord seemed to
00:50:46.04\00:50:53.52
say to me in that instant, 'Jim,
if you and your wife have any
value to Me, if you have any
00:50:53.52\00:51:01.12
purpose in My work, it has to do
with this odor. This is the
smell of the world I
00:51:01.12\00:51:06.63
died for.'" "This is the
smell of the world I died for."
00:51:06.63\00:51:15.30
"You fish. I sort." And,
by the way, He also saves.
00:51:15.30\00:51:24.65
Hallelujah. >> Amen.
>> Now give me that amen.
00:51:24.65\00:51:27.45
>> Amen. >> Amen and
amen. We got to go fishing.
00:51:27.45\00:51:32.15
We have to. Grab your Connect
card. It's tucked away in your
00:51:32.15\00:51:35.29
worship bulletin. We'll have
a prayer in a moment. Just grab
00:51:35.29\00:51:38.53
that Connect card. Have guests
here today. Always nice to have
you. Glad you're with us.
00:51:38.53\00:51:41.66
Do this with us. We do this
at this moment in every worship
00:51:41.66\00:51:44.80
service. Front of the card, put
your name, e-mail address, and
you'll see why we need that
00:51:44.80\00:51:48.64
address in a moment. Turn the
card over. "My next step today
00:51:48.64\00:51:51.11
is --" Here's the first box --
"I want to fish for Jesus. I'll
let Him do the sorting."
00:51:51.11\00:51:56.68
Come on. Who wouldn't
want to put a checkmark there?
00:51:56.68\00:51:59.25
"I want to fish for Jesus. I'll
let Him do the sorting." Here's
00:51:59.25\00:52:02.18
the next box. "Sign me up for
your next fishing expedition."
00:52:02.18\00:52:07.19
500 baskets. We just went out
last weekend. We got another one
coming up in a couple weeks.
00:52:07.19\00:52:12.09
Put your name down an an e-mail
address. We'll let you know.
00:52:12.09\00:52:16.73
Number three. Oh, here's
the one we've already read.
00:52:16.73\00:52:18.93
"I/We would like to host a table
and provide dessert for 10
guests at our Great Exchange
00:52:18.93\00:52:22.37
Grand Dinner Koinonia Day Event
Sabbath." That's next week.
00:52:22.37\00:52:25.77
Just desserts, folks. Just
desserts. Come on. Come and join
00:52:25.77\00:52:29.18
us. It'll be a Sabbath to
remember. And finally, box
number four, "I would like to
00:52:29.18\00:52:33.82
join others who are praying for
our fishing mission at our House
of Prayer." That's where I got
00:52:33.82\00:52:38.39
two of these stories, right
there. 7:00 in the morning on
Wednesdays or 7:00 in the
00:52:38.39\00:52:44.56
evening. Youth Chapel in
the morning, right here in the
00:52:44.56\00:52:48.70
evening. We'd love to have you.
All right. Friendliest ushers in
00:52:48.70\00:52:54.40
the world, would you please
stand, and would you now receive
from us the Connect cards?
00:52:54.40\00:52:58.34
Just turn your card over so that
your responses are down side.
And we'll ask you to come,
00:52:58.34\00:53:05.98
ushers, and let's go. Don't wait
for me now. We're gonna sing.
00:53:05.98\00:53:08.65
We're gonna sing this beautiful
Sabbath school song we grew up
with, "I Will Make You Fishers
00:53:08.65\00:53:14.56
of Men." Stay seated. I'll
let you know when to stand.
00:53:14.56\00:53:16.99
Let's go. [ "I Will Make
You Fishers of Men" playing ]
00:53:16.99\00:53:21.83
Okay. Let's stand.
[ Congregation sings ]
00:53:31.14\00:53:36.78
Oh, Jesus, thank you for making
so simple, without the anxiety,
this invitation to join You in
00:56:06.16\00:56:15.27
fishing. You'll teach us.
We'll learn, because we choose
00:56:15.27\00:56:21.18
to follow You. Send us into the
waters where the fish are this
00:56:21.18\00:56:28.42
new week, and give us a heart
and a mind that will respond to
00:56:28.42\00:56:34.16
your invitation. And now may the
God of grace and the love of
Christ Jesus and the fellowship
00:56:37.19\00:56:47.44
of the Holy Spirit
be with you all. Amen.
00:56:47.44\00:56:50.41
>> I want to take an extra
moment to thank you for joining
us in worship today.
00:56:53.68\00:56:56.88
It's by the continued support
from viewers like you that we're
able to bring this telecast.
00:56:56.88\00:57:01.82
Today I want to invite you,
though, to share with us how
this ministry has blessed you.
00:57:01.82\00:57:06.29
Truth is, I get inspiring notes,
e-mails, letters from viewers
literally all over the world
00:57:06.29\00:57:12.23
sharing with us how God has
blessed them through this
program, and I'd love to hear
00:57:12.23\00:57:15.46
from you, as well.
00:57:15.46\00:57:16.87
It's not that
hard. Simple, really.
00:57:17.03\00:57:18.73
Just visit our
website, newperceptions.tv.
00:57:18.73\00:57:21.20
That's one word,
newperceptions.tv.
00:57:21.20\00:57:24.97
And click on the "contact"
link at the top of the page.
00:57:24.97\00:57:27.51
Shoot me that e-mail.
Once again, thank you for being
00:57:27.51\00:57:30.78
with us. Thank you,
by the way, for your
00:57:30.78\00:57:32.81
own support. That
support is what keeps this
00:57:32.81\00:57:35.02
telecast week after week
reaching America, reaching
00:57:35.02\00:57:38.75
North America, and
reaching the planet.
00:57:38.75\00:57:41.76
That kind of generosity that
you share is a huge boost and
00:57:41.76\00:57:45.93
blessing to us. And I
hope you'll join us right
00:57:45.93\00:57:48.26
here next time,
'cause we'll be here.
00:57:48.26\00:57:50.23
In the meantime, God be with
you and bless you real good.
00:57:50.23\00:57:54.90
¤¤
00:57:57.01\00:57:59.91