The word “fish” alone is mentioned thirty-two times in the King James Bible. That doesn’t include words like “fishermen” or “fishers of men.” I had the neatest revelation this morning about fish. And when I came home and began to fish around in the scriptures for the one which that revelation came from, I found something else interesting. The first thing that is mentioned in the book of Genesis as for man having dominion in the earth is over none other than fish! But it makes sense that dominion over the fish would come first ... after this other revelation hits you.
Jesus was a man of many parables. It’s no surprise then that He told his disciples that they’d be fishers of men. It’s not like they were to literally cast nets and baited hooks out to catch men. Their nets and their hooks were the Word of God. But that’s not the only spiritual connotation I found about the word “fish.” What about the “Good Father” who doesn’t give His children a stone when they ask for a fish? Was He talking about food?
I went through a period of about four or five years when the Lord gave me a multitude of visions, dreams, and revelation knowledge, words of knowledge, etc. It seemed the supply of gifts He was pouring out on me was amazingly unlimited. And the more I found out, the more I realized how little I knew. My hunger and thirst for Him were unquenchable. The more He blessed me, the more I stood in awe. And then one day, a day I can’t seem to put my finger on, everything seemed to slow to a slowest crawl. I humbly confess that I wondered if God had just decided I wasn’t responsible enough to contain what He’d once been giving me. Or perhaps I’d done something wrong.
John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
As I drove down the highway this morning, I had no idea that Jesus was just standing on the shore, waiting and ready to reveal Himself to me. I just began to praise the Lord and to confess out loud His righteous judgment, His graciousness and mercy, His kindness, His power, His love, His steadfastness, etc. Yes, I do that, regardless that the passing traffic probably worries about whether I’ve got my eyes on the road since my mind apparently is not.
As I confessed the greatness of the Lord, a peace washed over me unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I said to my little eight month old grandson, “THAT is how we know we have the Comforter. He COMFORTS us! All those other things are icing on our cake. But the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in me is that I am at peace, regardless of what I see with the eyes of my flesh.” No, I don’t think he understood me. But he certainly didn’t argue the matter either. In fact, he looked at me like some of those passersby probably would have had they known what I was up to. Oddly enough, I had a similar conversation with another friend later today.
Suddenly the revelation hit me: That’s what it takes! It takes stepping forward and confessing those things that seem not in our lives to breathe life into them! All those “fish” in my life are just swimming around waiting on me to cast my net. I can fish all day and night long for the things of God and not catch a thing. But when I cast my net according to the things HE says are so, my net becomes so full I can’t contain it! And what did He say is so?
John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. (Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us) They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
When we “cast our nets” and find ourselves in the presence of the Most High, we react in different ways. Personally, I was at once both at peace and overcome with joy. But my reaction is usually somewhat similar to that of Peter’s. John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
We want to HIDE our “nakedness” from God who already knows our conditions better than we do anyway. I find it much easier to confess to the Lord and let Him get hold of me with His “Fuller’s Soap.” If I’m naked, might as well be bathed. Eh? So I guess you could say, in a way, I jump off into the sea too, just for a different purpose than Peter had in mind. So there I was, driving down the road confessing to the Lord every sin I could think of. Trust me, it was not pretty. But when all the confession was said and done, I began, again, to confess the things of the Lord, His holiness, His righteousness, His mercy, etc. And there it was again, that peace! The Comforter! That joy!
Oh, but I’m not done. I confess that I am not done, that my Abba Father reigns and empowers His own to walk forth out of their grave clothes by breathing into them the very same “Comforter” that brings them peace. The Holy Spirit is both Comforter AND the power of God at work in His children. I hate to burst some people’s bubbles, but we don’t get a “little bit” or a “little piece” of the Holy Spirit. We get HIM in His many attributes. When we cast our nets according to the Word of God, we have more to dine on than we can possibly ever eat. But that’s okay ... plenty to share! And besides, my net is NOT broken. I confess that there are plenty more where these came from. John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
Hungry? :::smile::: Have a little fish. Or a lot of fish for that matter. I’ve heard tell that it’s really very good for you.
John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Written by © Joyce Pool
05/22/07
Click here to read more of Joyce Pool's writings at Faithwriter's
Poetry
The Greatest Book
Many books have been written by man
On every subject that comes to mind
But the one written by Almighty God
Stands alone, it is one of a kind.
There are books of romance and love
And there are books on war and strife
But the book written by our Father
Alone contains the words of life.
We call this book the Holy Bible
Its words inspired, its message holy
And its truths are all sufficient
For the mighty and the lowly.
Enduring the rigid tests of time
It has survived the neglect of man
Throughout its pages an enduring theme
God's love for us and salvation's plan.
Its teachings are wise and pure
Treasures of knowledge from above
Testifying to God's majesty and power
And of all His great redeeming love.
It has long been a best seller
But its value is not from sales
It is coveted for the truths it contains
Revealing the love of God that prevails.
The Bible, the greatest book of all
Written by the Creator of the universe
His truths and wisdom contained
In every chapter, in every verse
It is our roadmap to Heaven
And our truest manual for success
For those who hold it dear to heart
God will smile upon and bless
Do not let your Bible gather dust
Open its covers and read it through
Learn its truths, obey its commands
And its Author will surely bless you.
© Thomas E. Kittrell - 02/19/07
Click here to visit Thomas Kittrell's Site Today
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