In order to fulfil end time prophecies about a great harvest for Jesus Christ, we can learn from the account of the great catch in the Bible. There are several paradigm shifts that are needed to position you for partnership in this great end time catch of fish.

Partnering in a Great Catch of Fish
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, July 2007
Preached by Aje Pelser, 22nd July, 2007

Scripture Reading:
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus calls the four fishermen
Great Haul of Fish, Partners help

Thoughts from “The Life of Christ”, written by apostle Andre's mentor, Dr. Roy M. Gray (For a full course contact mbc@harvesterchurch.org.za)

What caused Peter to feel he was a 'sinful man'?
His keen sense of the divinity of Jesus’ way of catching fish, in absolute union with His Father whose yielded and empty instrument He was. This method is in marked contrast to the laborious all-night toiling of the professional fishermen. Peter in the presence of the pure simple operation of the divine through a man wholly abandoned to that operation, felt the sinfulness of any other method: he was a sinful man because he wrought in his own strength. The majestic operation of God in all its divine holiness made Peter contrast the extreme sinfulness of self-wrought actions. This is a foreview of the life Christ was to give His Church on earth, stated by Paul thus: “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (free rendering). It is the kind of life described in John 14-16. When Christ “lives permanently” (Eph. 3.17, “dwell”) in our lives there will be a great change in the world.

To what occupation are they being called? How does Jesus vividly portray it?
The gospel ministry. “Fishers of men”.

By analogy with their former occupation what would await them in this new task?
Many trials, sometimes failure, much skill on their part, learning the best ways to catch the new kind of fish, above all, patience.

Did the call 'Follow Me' precede or follow the miraculous draught of fish?
It must have followed. The great haul of fish provided Jesus with a good illustration of what they were called to. Did Peter recall these words as he pulled in about three thousand on the day of Pentecost?

Here are some paradigm shifts that are needed to position you for partnership in this great end time catch of fish.
Jesus got in to their boat.
Allow Jesus to get into the boat of your life. It could mean the vehicle of your ministry, your business, your circle of friends, or merely placing what you own at His disposal. Say to Him: “Here is what I have, use it to spread the Gospel.”
Let Him teach the masses from the platform of your “boat”.
Create a platform for Jesus wherever you go through taking a sincere interest in ordinary people. Such sincerity will spark meaningful conversations that will build a relationship of trust. Such a relationship of trust is a platform from which to teach the principles of Jesus Christ and so establish the kingdom of God in that life.

“Lower your nets!”
When Jesus had stopped speaking He commanded them to Lower their nets.
Every time Jesus’ Word goes forth, there is an accompanying sign or wonder waiting to take place. We need to live with that kind of expectancy, “these signs shall follow those who believe…”
All we have to do is recognise His voice in our every day activities and obey the command to “lower our nets” with His divine timing.

“At Your Word”
Peter had toiled all night with the other disciples with no success…
Dr. Gray comments on “the laborious all-night toiling of the professional fishermen” he adds that “Peter in the presence of the pure simple operation of the divine through a man wholly abandoned to that operation, felt the sinfulness of any other method: he was a sinful man because he wrought in his own strength. The majestic operation of God in all its divine holiness made Peter contrast the extreme sinfulness of self-wrought actions. This is a fore view of the life Christ was to give His Church on earth, stated by Paul thus: “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (free rendering). “Once more to the breach…” The fishermen had tried their earthly best, now they could put the heavenly command to the test!
There was another account where Peter also launched out at the Word of the Lord, when he walked on water. The Word of the Lord in Peter’s life is quite a study, from his betrayal, to his sermon at Pentecost even to his mode of martyrdom.

Acknowledge the results of obedience
The result of allowing Jesus into their boat was a great haul of fish, a catch worth documenting for 2000 years!
The nets were at the point of breaking. Nets need to be ready in churches for this great catch. The joints that are knot together in Ephesians can be compared to nets that are mended to work together. Every knot is like a member of a church that is knit together “by which every joint supplies – every part doing its share”. It was amazing how we recently saw a team of evangelists bring in some souls at a nearby school. Every team member functioned to make the salvation of souls possible. Students prayed, band members played, sound men created sound that succeeded in capturing the attention of the crowd, a church backed the outreach financially

Partners to help with the great Catch.
The disciples saw they were struggling with the catch and then signalled to their partners to come and share the catch. Divine networking is necessary in the great end time catch of fish. There is such a great harvest, that we need help to catch and process all the wonderful fish. The partners “took hold with them” and filled to the boats so that they were beginning to sink! What a glorious moment of supernatural provision and confirmation.

See your future call with eyes of understanding
Jesus showed them their future: fishing men.