The Guild Of Fishermen - God's Cracked Pots

From my observation, Jesus summoned His twelve disciples from a personality type that accepted they were imperfect and did not know everything. They may have acted like it at times, but they were teachable as compared to other kinds of people of the day like the Pharisees, Sadusees and teachers of The Law.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek (or humble) for they will inherit the earth." And Paul mentions that Jesus loves to capitalize on the quality of weakness in people. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul said, "But He (Jesus) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

As stated before, the twelve disciples that Jesus called to be close to Him during His ministry were not top notch scholars of Scripture with great insight on the signs of the time and expecting Jesus to fulfill the role of Messiah as prophesied. And neither were the regular scholars of the day. The individuals Jesus selected were cracked pots - flawed, human vessels with regular jobs.

However, one particular job attracted Jesus in His pool of selection - the fisherman. At least seven out of the twelve belonged to the Guild of Fisherman. The Disciples had occupations rangng from fisherman to businessman to tax collector to zealot or political revolutionalist and treasurer. But most common among them was the fisherman. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee worked as fishermen according to Matthew 4:18-22. After the resurrection of Jesus, Thomas, Nathaniel and Philip were found fishing, so they also may have been fishermen (John 21:2-8). At least they knew how to fish. 

Remember the Lord's calling of Simon and Andrew in Matthew 4:18-20?

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'And I will send out you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed Him."

Why would Jesus need people with a fishing mindset? Because Jesus would be requiring more than just belief in Him as Savior of their souls, He would be requiring the spreading of His saving message and the training of those same people as Disciples. This demands we discern what a disciple is.

Disciples are active believers of Christ Jesus, living out the lifestyle of Jesus and helping spread His good news of His kingdom to the uniformed and equip the saints for better living. As Christ Jesus ascended to the right hand of Father God in Heaven, His believers, His disciples became His hands, feet, voice and ministry.

Let's briefly observe the journey of one particular disciple - Peter. This disciple struck me as a bold and always wanting to experience the new thing with Jesus. As stated before, he was called while being a fisherman and later tried walking on water with Jesus and was successful for a bit, but failed when fear took over. He declared Jesus, the Son of God and the next minute was influenced by Satan trying to stop Jesus' plan of salvation. Peter was one of the three men who witnessed Jesus' transfiguration but then suggested three booths of honor for - Moses, Elijah and Jesus - instead of just one for Jesus. He denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus restored him. All this for a disciple who was a major role in the Jerusalem church, wrote some new testament letters and requested to be crucified upsidedown. This was certainly a tried, true and beloved cracked pot.

So, Jesus used a bunch of cracked pots whose majority occupation was fisherman to change bait, tackle, waters and fish to that of humanity.

Christ's heart has always been for the next person to come into an intimate relationship with Him. This happens through the disciples of Christ. Whatever drew us to Him should drive us to share with others. Whether you like or dislike physical fishing, disciples must spiritually fish more for men and women of the Lord.

Similar to the motif of the planter, waterer and reaper we can divide up the duties of fishing. Some can carry the fishing pole. Some can carry the bait. Some can bait the hook. Some can cast the line into the waters. Some can scoop up the fish with a net. All of us, from all walks of life, imperfect as they come, have a role to play in The Guild Of Fishermen - God's Cracked Pots.

Why Her? Why Him?

Can you imagine America seeing miracle after miracle, day after day, year after year and having a spokesman for God to declare God’s thoughts and heart? Then could you imagine the citizens of America asking the well known and well respected Christians of the country to appoint The President?

Can you imagine one of the most prominent men of God in our generation like the late Dr. Billy Graham anointing and declaring who is President of the United States of America? All this is what occurred with Samuel and the nation of Israel. God heard the request of the nation of Israel to appoint a king over them and used the prophet Samuel to anoint and declare Saul king.

Saul’s track record as King of Israel had mixed results. However, the majority of events linked with his tenure of kingship was negative, crazy at best. What is the lesson to be learned? Be careful what you request of God. The Lord warned them this was not the best petition, but the people were persistent and God granted their request to be like the other nations around them having a king.

The Scripture begins to give the reader a picture of Saul in 1 Samuel 9:2 – “as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.” So, we have a mental picture of Saul’s physical appeal. However, later in the next chapter we receive a glimpse at a character flaw that does not bode well for leadership or kingship for that matter.

1 Samuel 10:20-25 states that Samuel called all the tribes together and named Saul to be king, but Saul was nowhere to be found. When Samuel inquired of The Lord, The Lord answered, “He has hidden himself among the supplies.” Saul is found and presented before the people as the king and Samuel states the responsibilities, rights and duties of kingship.

However, it took a threat, God’s Holy zeal or wrathful passion and a battle to bring Saul’s kingship to completion, never-the-less – Saul officially became King of Israel in 1 Samuel 11.

There have been many leaders, kings and presidents that God has allowed to rule in history. Was it to fulfill certain prophecy like "wars and rumors of wars" concerning the end-times? Was the governorship allowed to show God's blessing? How can we discern the Lord's appointment of leaders and respect it when the leader shows ill character qualities?

All through David's life, David would not take the life of whoever was holding the office of King of Israel, no matter the status of their mind or spirit. David saw God as the planter and remover of kings and the kings themselves as hopeful, faithful executors of God's will for the country.

The timeframe was not long after David when Israel and all other nations stopped practicing this respect of God's appointment even in the face of not understanding the person's character or agenda. Nations ramped up their intentions and attempts to take matters into their own hands concerning placing leaders.

Of all the nations in the world, Israel and America in particular have forgotten that according to Scripture, God is still working out His plan. Just because humanity thinks they have acquired the reins from God to place leaders over the nations does not mean that is the truth. God's Word still stands and His Word in Daniel 2:21 states - "He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others." And in Job 12:23-25 - "He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards."

Israel and America desperately need to return to a practice David used while King of Israel - he inquired of the Lord. If I had a dollar for every time I have heard the following charge for Christians to perform, I would be much richer.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:13-15)

However, this plea still rings true now, no matter how many times I might have heard it. The necessity of the issue is to garner all the true believers to -

1. humble themselves
2. pray
3. seek God's face
4. turn from their wicked ways
5. AND Inquire of The Lord, as David did.

I believe, when Christians do these things personally and especially corporately, the Body of Christ will experience a sense of peace and possible clear revelation for any office of the country we are praying for as we ask - Why Her? Why Him?