Lesson 22 Explore 2: Are You Ready to Become a Fisher of Men? | Watchtower Study
STUDY ARTICLE 36
Are You Ready to Become a Fisher of Men?
“Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching men alive.”-
(Luke 5.10: and the same was true of both James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were partners with Simon. But Jesus said to Simon: “Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching men alive.”)
PREVIEW
1. What invitation did Jesus extend to four fishermen, and how did they respond?
THE disciples Peter, Andrew, James, and John were commercial fishermen. Imagine how surprised they were to hear Jesus’ invitation: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” What was the response? The Bible says: “At once they abandoned their nets and followed him.”
(Matthew 4.18-22: Walking alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they abandoned their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two others who were brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.)
That decision would change their lives forever. Instead of catching literal fish, they would be “catching people alive.” ftn.)
(Luke 5.10: and the same was true of both James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were partners with Simon. But Jesus said to Simon: “Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching men alive.”)
Today, Jesus extends that same invitation to honesthearted ones who love the truth.
(Matthew 28.19, 20: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”)
Have you accepted Jesus’ invitation to become a fisher of men?
2. Why should we take seriously the decision to become fishers of men, and what will help us to take that step?
2. Perhaps you have progressed in your Bible study and are at the point of deciding whether you want to become a publisher of the good news. If you are unsure about accepting Jesus’ invitation, do not be discouraged. Your hesitation likely means that you know just how important this decision is. True, the Bible says that Peter and his companions abandoned their literal nets “at once.” However, Peter and his brother did not make that decision hastily. They had come to know and accept Jesus as the Messiah more than six months earlier.
(John 1.35-42: Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he looked at Jesus walking, he said: “See, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, he said to them: “What are you looking for?” They said to him: “Rabbi (which means, when translated, “Teacher”), where are you staying?” He said to them: “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day; it was about the tenth hour. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what John said and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him: “We have found the Messiah” (which means, when translated, “Christ”), and he led him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, he said: “You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).)
Similarly, you probably have already learned much about Jehovah and Jesus, and you want to continue to progress spiritually. But you should not make this decision without counting the cost. What helped Peter, Andrew, and others to make their decision?
3. What qualities will strengthen your desire to accept Jesus’ invitation?
3. Jesus’ first disciples were motivated, knowledgeable, courageous, and self-disciplined. These same qualities no doubt helped them to become effective fishers of men. This article will discuss how you can develop those qualities so that you can be an effective disciple of Christ.
STRENGTHEN YOUR MOTIVATION
CAPTION: Peter and others became fishers of men. This vital work is continuing in our day (See paragraphs 4-5)
4. What motivated Peter to be a fisherman?
4. Peter caught fish to support his family, but it was more than just a job for him. Peter apparently loved fishing.
(John 21.3: Simon Peter said to them: “I am going fishing.” They said to him: “We are coming with you.” They went out and got aboard the boat, but during that night they caught nothing.)
(John 21.9-15: When they came ashore, they saw there a charcoal fire with fish lying on it and bread. Jesus said to them: “Bring some of the fish you just now caught.” So Simon Peter went on board and hauled the net ashore full of big fish, 153 of them. And though there were so many, the net did not burst. Jesus said to them: “Come, have your breakfast.” Not one of the disciples had the courage to ask him: “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after being raised up from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He replied to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Feed my lambs.”)
He also learned to love being a fisher of men. And with Jehovah’s backing, Peter became very good at that work.-
(Acts 2.14: But Peter stood up with the Eleven and spoke to them in a loud voice: “Men of Judea and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you and listen carefully to my words.)
(Acts 2.41: So those who gladly accepted his word were baptized, and on that day about 3,000 people were added.)
5. Based on Luke 5:8-11, why was Peter afraid, and what can help us to overcome similar feelings?
5. We preach because we love Jehovah; that is our primary motivation for doing this work. Our love for Jehovah can help us to overcome any feelings of inadequacy. When Jesus invited Peter to become a fisher of men, he told him: “Stop being afraid.”
Read Luke 5.8-11: Seeing this, Simon Peter fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying: “Depart from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.” For both he and those with him were overwhelmed with astonishment at the catch of fish they had taken, and the same was true of both James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were partners with Simon. But Jesus said to Simon: “Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching men alive.” So they brought the boats back to land and abandoned everything and followed him.
Peter was not gripped by fear of what might happen if he became a disciple. Rather, he was astonished at the miraculous catch of fish that Jesus had just given the men, and Peter felt unworthy of being asked to work with Jesus. On the other hand, you may feel overwhelmed when you realize what is involved in being a disciple of Christ. If so, strengthen your love for Jehovah, Jesus, and your neighbor, and you will be motivated to accept Jesus’ invitation to become a fisher of men.-
(Matthew 22.37: He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’)
(Matthew 22.39: The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’)
(John 14.15: “If you love me, you will observe my commandments.)
6. What else motivates us to preach?
6. Consider some other reasons why we are motivated to preach. We want to obey Jesus’ command: “Go... and make disciples.”
(Matthew 28.19, 20: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”)
We also preach because people are “skinned and thrown about” and are in dire need of learning the truth about the Kingdom.
(Matthew 9.36: On seeing the crowds, he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.)
Jehovah wants all sorts of people to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth and be saved.-
(1 Timothy 2.4: whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.)
7. How does Romans 10:13-15 show that the preaching work is important?
7. We will be moved to take up this lifesaving work when we think about the effect our preaching can have. Unlike a commercial fisherman who sells or eats the fish he catches, we “catch” people in order to save their lives.-Read
(Romans 10.13-15: For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” However, how will they call on him if they have not put faith in him? How, in turn, will they put faith in him about whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent out? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!”)
(1 Timothy 4.16: Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.)
DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE
8-9. What must a fisherman know, and why?
8. In Jesus’ day, an Israelite fisherman had to know what type of sea creature he could catch.
(Leviticus 11.9-12: “‘This is what you may eat of everything in the waters: Anything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, it you may eat. But anything in the seas and in the rivers that has no fins and scales, among all the swarming creatures and of every other living creature that is in the waters, it is a loathsome thing for you. Yes, they should be loathsome to you, and you must not eat any of their flesh and you must loathe their carcasses. Everything in the waters that has no fins and scales is a loathsome thing to you.)
He also had to know where the fish could be found. Fish usually stay in an area where the water conditions suit them and where there is plenty of food. Does it matter at what time a fisherman does his work? Regarding the best time to catch literal fish, note what a local Witness on a Pacific island said when he invited a missionary to go fishing. The missionary said, “I’ll meet you at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.” The brother replied, “You do not understand. We go when it is the right time for the fish, not when it is the right time for us.”
9. Likewise, fishers of men in the first century went to places where the “fish” would be and at a time when they were likely to be there. For example, Jesus’ followers preached at the temple and in the synagogues, from house to house, and in the marketplace.
(Acts 5.42: And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.)
(Acts 17.17: So he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and the other people who worshipped God and every day in the marketplace with those who happened to be on hand.)
(Acts 18.4: He would give a talk in the synagogue every sabbath and would persuade Jews and Greeks.)
We too need to be familiar with the habits of people who live in our assigned territory. We need to be flexible and preach where and when we are most likely to find people.-
(1 Corinthians 9.19-23: For though I am free from all people, I have made myself the slave to all, so that I may gain as many people as possible. To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, in order to gain those under law. To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, in order to gain those without law. To the weak I became weak, in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some. But I do all things for the sake of the good news, in order to share it with others.)
CAPTION: SKILLED FISHERMEN . . . 1. work when and where they are most likely to find fish (See paragraphs 8-9)
10. What tools does Jehovah’s organization supply for us?
10. A fisherman needs the right equipment and must know how to use it. We too need to be properly equipped for our work. And we need to know how to use that equipment. Jesus gave clear instructions to his disciples on how to fish for men. He told them what to carry, where to preach, and what to say.
(Matthew 10.5-7: These 12 Jesus sent out, giving them these instructions: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter any Samaritan city; but instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’)
(Luke 10.1-11: After these things the Lord designated 70 others and sent them out by twos ahead of him into every city and place where he himself was to go. Then he said to them: “Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Go! Look! I am sending you out as lambs in among wolves. Do not carry a money bag or a food pouch or sandals, and do not greet anyone along the road. Wherever you enter into a house, say first: ‘May this house have peace.’ And if a friend of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if there is not, it will return to you. So stay in that house, eating and drinking the things they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not keep transferring from house to house. “Also, wherever you enter into a city and they receive you, eat what is set before you and cure the sick ones in it and tell them: ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But wherever you enter into a city and they do not receive you, go out into its main streets and say: ‘We wipe off against you even the dust that sticks to our feet from your city. Nevertheless, know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.’)
Today, Jehovah’s organization provides a Teaching Toolbox that contains tools that have proved to be effective. And we are taught how to use those tools. That training helps us to gain the confidence and skill we need to be effective in our work.-
(2 Timothy 2.15: Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright.)
CAPTION: SKILLED FISHERMEN . . . 2. are trained to use the right equipment (See paragraph 10)
BUILD COURAGE
11. Why must fishers of men be courageous?
11. Commercial fishermen need to be courageous. They sometimes face unpredictable conditions at sea. They often work at night and on waters that may be subject to sudden storms. Fishers of men also need courage. When we start to preach and identify ourselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses, we may face “storms” of family opposition, ridicule from acquaintances, and resistance to our message. But this does not surprise us. Jesus warned that he would send his followers into a hostile environment.-
(Matthew 10.16: “Look! I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.)
12. In line with Joshua 1:7-9, what can help us to build courage?
12. How can you build your courage? First, be convinced that Jesus continues to direct this work from heaven.
(John 16.33: I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.”)
(Revelation 14.14-16: Then I saw, and look! a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary, calling with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: “Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” And the one seated on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped.)
Next, strengthen your faith in Jehovah’s promise to care for you.
(Matthew 6.32-34: For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.)
The stronger your faith becomes, the more courageous you will be. Peter and his companions showed great faith when they abandoned their livelihood to follow Jesus. Likewise, you showed great faith when you informed acquaintances and members of your family that you had begun to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and to attend their meetings! No doubt you have made significant changes in your conduct and lifestyle in order to live by Jehovah’s righteous standards. That too took faith and courage. As you continue to build courage, you can be confident that “Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.”-Read
(Joshua 1.7-9: “Only be courageous and very strong, and observe carefully the entire Law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not deviate from it either to the right or to the left, so that you may act wisely wherever you go. This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth, and you must read it in an undertone day and night, in order to observe carefully all that is written in it; for then your way will be successful and then you will act wisely. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and strong. Do not be struck with terror or fear, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.”)
CAPTION: SKILLED FISHERMEN . . . 3. courageously work in changing conditions (See paragraphs 11-12)
13. How can meditation and prayer help you to build courage?
13. How else can you build courage? Pray for courage and boldness.
(Acts 4.29: And now, Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant to your slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness,)
(Acts 4.31: And when they had made supplication, the place where they were gathered together was shaken, and they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness.)
Jehovah will answer your prayers and never abandon you. He is always there to give you support. Also, you can meditate on how Jehovah has saved others in the past. Think, too, about how he has helped you overcome challenges and given you the strength to make changes in your lifestyle. Certainly the One who led his people through the Red Sea can help you to be a disciple of Christ.
(Exodus 14.13: Then Moses said to the people: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of Jehovah that he will perform for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will never ever see again.)
Maintain the same conviction as did the psalmist who said: “Jehovah is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”-
(Psalm 118.6: Jehovah is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?)
14. What do you learn from the experiences of Masae and Tomoyo?
14. Another way to build courage is by learning how Jehovah has helped people who are naturally timid but who have learned to be bold. Consider the experience of a sister named Masae. She was shy and felt that she could never speak out publicly about her faith. The very thought of talking to strangers loomed like a high wall that she believed she could never scale. So she made a special effort to deepen her love for God and for her neighbors. She reflected on the urgency of the times we live in and prayed for help to heighten her desire to preach. She overcame her fears and even served as a regular pioneer. Jehovah can also help new publishers to “be courageous.” Note the experience of a sister named Tomoyo. When she started to preach from house to house, the first householder she met shouted: “I don’t want anything to do with Jehovah’s Witnesses!” and slammed the door. Tomoyo courageously told her companion: “Did you hear that? I didn’t have to say a word, and she recognized me as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I’m so happy!” Tomoyo now serves as a regular pioneer.
CULTIVATE SELF-DISCIPLINE
15. What is self-discipline, and why is it important for Christians?
15. Successful fishermen are self-disciplined. Self-discipline has been described as “the ability to make yourself do things that should be done.” Commercial fishermen must discipline themselves to get up early, stay until the work is done, and persist despite bad weather. We too need self-discipline if we are to endure and complete our work.-
(Matthew 10.22: And you will be hated by all people on account of my name, but the one who has endured to the end will be saved.)
16. How can we develop self-discipline?
16. We do not inherit self-discipline. On the contrary, our natural inclination often is to follow the course of least resistance. It takes self-control to be self-disciplined. Therefore, we need help to train ourselves to do the things that may be difficult for us to do. Jehovah gives us that help through his holy spirit.-
(Galatians 5.22, 23: On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.)
17. As recorded at 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, how does the apostle Paul describe his efforts to cultivate self-discipline?
17. The apostle Paul was self-disciplined. But he admitted that he had to “pummel” his body in order to do what was right.
Read 1 Corinthians 9.25-27: Now everyone competing in a contest exercises self-control in all things. Of course, they do it to receive a crown that can perish, but we, one that does not perish. Therefore, the way I am running is not aimlessly; the way I am aiming my blows is so as not to be striking the air; but I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.
He urged others to discipline themselves and to do all things “decently and by arrangement.”
(1 Corinthians 14.40: But let all things take place decently and by arrangement.)
We must exercise self-discipline to maintain a good spiritual routine that includes a regular share in the symbolic fishing work.-
(Acts 2.46: And day after day they were in constant attendance in the temple with a united purpose, and they took their meals in different homes and shared their food with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart,)
DO NOT DELAY
18. What will make Jehovah view us as successful?
18. A commercial fisherman judges his success by how many fish he catches. On the contrary, we do not judge our success by the number of people we bring into God’s organization.
(Luke 8.11-15: Now the illustration means this: The seed is the word of God. Those alongside the road are the ones who have heard, and then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but these have no root. They believe for a while, but in a season of testing, they fall away. As for that which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but by being carried away by anxieties, riches, and pleasures of this life, they are completely choked and bring nothing to maturity. As for that on the fine soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, retain it and bear fruit with endurance.)
As long as we endure in preaching the good news and teaching others, Jehovah will view us as being successful. Why? Because we are being obedient to him and his Son.-
(Mark 13.10: Also, in all the nations, the good news has to be preached first.)
(Acts 5.28, 29: and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.)
19-20. What special incentive do we have to preach now?
19. In some countries, fishing is permitted only during certain months. In such lands, a fisherman’s sense of urgency may intensify as the fishing season draws to a close. As fishers of men, we have this additional incentive to preach now: The end of this system is fast approaching! The time left to share in this lifesaving work is greatly reduced. Do not delay or feel that you have to wait for the perfect circumstances to take part in this vital activity.-
(Ecclesiastes 11.4: The one who watches the wind will not sow seed, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.)
20. Act now to strengthen your motivation, deepen your knowledge of the Bible, build your courage, and cultivate self-discipline. Join the more than eight million fishers of men, and you will experience the joy of Jehovah.
(Nehemiah 8.10: He said to them: “Go, eat the choice things and drink what is sweet, and send portions of food to those who have nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not feel sad, for the joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.”)
Be determined to have a full share in this work and to see it through to completion. The next article will discuss three ways in which we can strengthen our resolve to continue in the Kingdom-preaching work as fishers of men.
HOW CAN YOU DO THE FOLLOWING?
• Strengthen your motivation
• Build your courage
• Cultivate self-discipline
[End of article.]