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resurrection the nets broke but after the resurrection they did
not break.
These are three wonderful truths about the Great
Commission. I can’t do it. He can do it. He doesn’t need me
but He wants to use me. The principle of fishing is, “Just live.”
That’s the Great Commission. You be you and let Jesus do the
fishing. I have an idea that if we went around the room we
would have many testimonies. You would say, “I didn’t plan it
but God brought that person into my life and I got to share
Jesus.” That’s Jesus putting the fish into the net. I don’t have
to work at it. I just have to live. I just have to be who I am and
let God be who He is. That’s the first part; fishing.
Let me say a couple of words about the second part;
shepherding. I want to give a principle that I call the key to
shepherding. If I’m going to be used by the Lord in the Great
Commission, I need to be free in my heart. God tells this story
in terms of Peter because Peter was feeling guilty. If I’m going
to be used by the Lord, I can’t be living under condemnation.
That’s why the Lord tells us this story in terms of Peter’s
restoration.
I’m certain that in Peter’s heart he felt disqualified and
said, “I will never be a fisher of men. I’ll still love the Lord and
I know I’m going to heaven but as far as service, I’ve
disqualified myself.” I want you to notice how the Lord Jesus
deals with Peter as he swims to shore. At first, I thought it
looked a little cruel, what Jesus did. He begins to bring up
things that Peter didn’t want to think about. I already told you
that the whole miracle with the fish was a refresher course. The
first time is in Luke 5:8, “But when Simon Peter saw that, he
fell down at Jesus; feet, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a
sinful man, O Lord!’” The first time God did that miracle, Peter
said, “Depart; I’m a sinful man.”
Listen to John 21:9, “And so when they got out upon the
land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it,
and bread.” When Peter got to shore, the first thing he saw was
a charcoal fire. I can’t prove it but I think his heart sunk when
he saw a charcoal fire. John 18:18, “Now the slaves and the
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