Cast The Net One More Time

Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind (Matthew 13:47). That is what we are doing in this last hour—we are casting the net of the Gospel all over the world, and we are gathering souls for the Kingdom.

Children of God are to be fishers of men. You may feel discouraged at times from all the long nights of toiling and not seeing the results you think you should, but you must stand steadfast and ready to cast your net one more time when the Master calls on you to do so.

Jesus told Peter, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught [many fish]. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken…And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him (Luke 5:4-6,8-11).

Peter would not have brought in all of those fish if he had not obeyed the Lord and let down the net one more time, and that phrase “one more time” is what I want you to keep in mind.

The Lord sent the disciples out to win souls, and He is sending us out to win souls today. He wants us to go deeper into His greatness and give all to Him, so we can catch many souls in our Gospel nets. Do you feel His calling?

When God saved me, He rolled the burden of sin off me and gave me the burden for a lost world; and for many years, I have gladly carried that burden. You must do the same thing.

Trust God’s Way

After Jesus was resurrected, He performed the same miracle of allowing the disciples to catch many fish. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved [John] saith unto Peter, It is the Lord (John 21:4-7).

There may be times when the Lord will tell you to do something in a way you aren’t used to doing it, and you may think within yourself that it won’t work; but you must act on His Word just the same. You always need to cast the net one more time no matter where or how He tells you to do it and know that He will always guide you.

The Lord knows where, when and how we should cast the Gospel net to bring in the multitudes of souls; so don’t be locked into your own way of doing things, and don’t lean to your own understanding. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6).

The Lord always knows where the greater catch for souls will be; so by faith, you must do what the Lord tells you. When His instructions go against your own thinking or plans, you must say, “Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.”

The Lord showed me years ago that the power of God and the message that Jesus brought to Earth would go to the ends of the world like rockets, striking the nations 24 hours a day. That is now happening through our world radio station, website, television programs, social media pages and many books and magazines.

Never Run from God

At one time, Elijah thought his days of casting the net for souls were over. He had just killed 450 prophets of Baal when a threat came from Jezebel declaring she would kill him. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them [the dead prophets of Baal] by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life (I Kings 19:2,3).

Elijah was so weary and emotionally exhausted that he fled into the wilderness where he sat under a juniper tree and told God how impossible things looked. It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (I Kings 19:4). Then God answered, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away (I Kings 19:9,10). Have you ever been under that juniper tree telling God you have had enough? That is not a place God wants you to be, and you can’t cast any nets from there.

Elijah felt that all his efforts for God were in vain and that no one was serving God anymore; but God said, Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him (I Kings 19:18).

God wasn’t through with Elijah. He had more work for him to do, and the Lord instructed him where to cast the net next. God sent him to anoint Jehu to be king of Israel and to anoint Elisha to be a prophet in his place, and he obeyed.

Elijah found Elisha plowing his field with 12 yoke of oxen. And Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him (I Kings 19:19). When Elisha got that call, he answered it right away. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah (I Kings 19:20).

Then Elijah had finished his work; and soon after, the Lord took him to Heaven alive as Elisha looked on. It came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (II Kings 2:11). The rewards children of God will receive in Glory for casting the nets will be great.

Ezekiel Obeyed

I’m sure Ezekiel never expected to find himself in a valley of dry bones let alone be able to cast any nets from there. That could have been very discouraging if he had allowed it to be, but he looked to the Lord. Then God asked him, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest (Ezekiel 37:3). Ezekiel knew that only God could do something like that.

Then the Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy over all those dead bones, and they would live. I’m sure that made no sense to Ezekiel, but he obeyed the Word of the Lord. So I [Ezekiel] prophesied as he [the Lord] commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:10).

Take a lesson from Ezekiel—this world is full of dead, dry bones. Are you ready to cast your net one more time, or are you allowing discouragement to settle in? I say again, be ready for the Lord’s instructions as to where, when and how to do what He wants you to do because He knows what it will take to fill the nets with souls.

Understanding Can Wait

I’m sure the servants at the wedding in Cana never imagined water could turn into wine, but they saw it happen because they obeyed what Jesus had said even though they didn’t understand. Jesus’ mother had told them, Whatsoever he [Jesus] saith unto you, do it (John 2:5).

When Jesus told them to fill the pots with water, they could have said, “We have filled these pots with water many times and never poured out anything but water.” But they were willing to carry out His words, and that is the secret to success in the Lord. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now (John 2:7-10). Keep in mind that the juice of the vine they served was not fermented.

If you want to bring in the Lord’s harvest of souls, you must willingly do whatever He tells you to; and when you do, you will always reap in one way or another. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days (Ecclesiastes 11:1). You will never have true freedom if you keep limiting God by bringing Him down to the way you see things.

God’s Timing Is Perfect

Don’t wait for everything around you to be rosy before you obey the Lord. If you are always observing the conditions around you and waiting for the perfect moment to obey God, you will never cast the net at the right time. The Bible says, He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all (Ecclesiastes 11:4,5).

You must always be ready to work for the Lord because our time is limited. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

Abraham didn’t tell the Lord that His plan for him and Sarah to have a child after Sarah was past the childbearing age wouldn’t work or that it was a bad time for such a plan. The Bible says, He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20).

Abraham didn’t go back and forth believing one minute and then telling God why His plan wouldn’t work the next. He believed God, and his faith took action. God had told Abraham, That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed [Israel] as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies (Genesis 22:17). God promised to multiply Abraham’s seed, and that is what happened.

You Must Live Holy

True soul winners are continuously casting their nets. They are members of the bridal company, and they are glorious and pure before Him. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). A true child of God can’t have one sin. The Bible says, For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

If you are unsaved today, don’t you want to help bring in the harvest of lost souls in this last hour? Don’t you want to help cast the nets of the Gospel all over the world? Then you first must give your heart to the Lord. Realize that He gave all and died for you and receive Him.

Pray this prayer now with all of your heart: Oh, Lord, I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that He died for me, and I want to live for Him. I am so sorry that I have sinned against you and am on the road to hell, but I know there is a Heaven to go to; and I want to be there. I believe the blood of Jesus saves me and delivers me from all sin right now. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, now you can say, Hallelujah, Jesus is mine! Prayer, fasting and living in the Word will keep you on the right path. If you follow these three steps consistently, Heaven will soon be yours.

Now, you must go on to get the Holy Ghost baptism. If you are saved and you die, you will go to Heaven; but the Lord has let me know that it will take more than salvation to make the Rapture. Those who go will have to have the Holy Ghost. The greatest power God gives people today comes through the Holy Ghost; and this should be a tarrying time for you who don’t have Him. Without Him living within you, you will be left when Jesus comes; and He won’t come back for you no matter how loud you scream.

Claim the Promise

If you are sick and afflicted today, reach out and claim God’s promises of miracles and healings. You may have AIDS or some other deadly disease, but the blood of Jesus will heal you of anything if you will just look to Him.

Lord, I bring the sick and afflicted to you. Lay a healing hand on them and cure them of all diseases and afflictions in their bodies—cancer, diabetes, heart trouble, lung trouble, paralysis or deafness. Heal the little, deformed children who were born with just part of a brain. Give them a whole brain and the power to walk just as you have done again and again. In the holy name of the Lord, deliver them. Heal! in the all-powerful, blood name of Jesus.

Now, get well in the name of Jesus, but keeping your miracle depends on you serving the Lord and living for Him. The Lord healed sinners when He was on Earth, but He told them to go, and sin no more (John 8:11).

God bless.

Ambassadors For Christ

by Chris Machamer

An ambassador is an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to another country. Child of God, we are to be ambassadors for Christ, representatives for Him, in this last hour. Jesus said that His disciples are not of this world. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:14).

Like the heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, children of God are to be pilgrims and strangers on this Earth and foreigners in this world. They are to seek a city whose builder and maker is God, and Heaven is their home. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city (Hebrews 11:16).

Children of God have a divine responsibility to be ambassadors for Christ and represent Jesus to souls in this world. Representing Christ is the greatest business opportunity in the world, and our divine mission is to win the lost at any cost. There is nothing more precious and valuable than souls. Jesus declared one soul is worth more than all the wealth of this world. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:36,37)?

Your Divine Responsibility

There are many Christians today who don’t realize the divine responsibility they have, and the only thing they represent is their selfish will as they travel through life. To understand your divine responsibility and how to truly represent Jesus Christ, you must learn Jesus. He said, Learn of me (Matthew 11:29). That means “know me,” and the only way to truly know Jesus is through the divine teacher, the person of the Holy Ghost.

Many businesses will conduct seminars to train their employees how to represent and conduct business in the community. For the same reason, Jesus has sent the Holy Ghost into this world to teach children of God how to properly represent Jesus and do business for Him. While on Earth, Jesus was an ambassador for His heavenly Father. He did His Father’s whole will and always represented Him in perfection.

Jesus told Philip, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9). He was saying, “When you have seen me, you have seen my heavenly Father’s love, grace and power in operation. You have seen mercy and compassion at work, and you have seen holiness and righteousness on display.”

Jesus Was the Perfect Ambassador

When Jesus was just 12, He was a working ambassador for His heavenly Father. He was on His own in the temple for a time, yet He was surrounded by doctors and lawyers who were amazed at His wisdom and knowledge. His mother and Joseph searched Jerusalem for Him for three days; and when they finally found Him, He said, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business (Luke 2:49)? If a 12-year-old boy can understand and feel the responsibility towards God to represent Him, how much more so should men and women in Christ?

But when he [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:36-38). Today, we are being sent by the Holy Ghost to work in the harvest fields of God with the same urgency that Jesus did when He was on Earth.

Jesus said, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4). Night will soon fall upon this world, and judgment will soon come forth from the heavens; so we must work the works of Him who has sent us.

The heavenly Father walked with Jesus into the valley of human needs and answered His prayers, and the Lord is walking with the Bride in the same way as she goes forth to do the whole will of the Father. The Bible teaches that we are to represent the Lord to people the right way—to be truthful, honest, pure and give a good report.

Be About God’s Business

In business, it is vitally important to establish trust with those you do business with; and children of God must maintain a certain level of confidence with sinners. How?—by your Jesus testimony. If you don’t have a good testimony with sinners, they will lose confidence in you; and you will lose influence with them. Then they may categorize you as a hypocrite thinking, “There is no difference between them and me, so why do they think they’re going to Heaven and I’m not?” Many so-called Christians throughout the years have tarnished God’s business.

Most successful businesses are very careful in who they hire because they seek to maintain a certain standard and a good image in the community they serve. In the same way, the Lord requires you to represent Him in a certain way—the truth way. Do you speak only truth? Do you keep your word with people? Do you treat people as you want to be treated? Are you continually about your Father’s business and helping to build His Kingdom with souls?

This Jesus ministry offers people great opportunities to be wise ambassadors for Christ and win souls. They can give of their finances to help send the Gospel to the world through the ministry’s television programs, website, world radio station, social media pages, books, magazines and so much more. People are being drawn by the Holy Ghost from all over the world to these different outlets; and they are receiving from the Lord spiritually, physically and financially.

Many Christians will be greatly disappointed on the Day of Rewards because they did not take advantage of opportunities to invest or do more to win souls. Others will realize they had foolishly invested in ministries that wasted God’s money and were not about winning souls for the Lord.

The Apostle Paul declared in Romans 1:14 that he was a debtor not only to the Lord but to all people; and like Paul, we are debtors to lost souls in need of help. We are debtors to those around the world who have never had the opportunity to receive living reality in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, Freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). The Lord wants to bless His children abundantly, but with such blessings comes great responsibility. It is impossible for you to ever repay your debt unto the Lord, but you can do your best to serve Him from this day forward. You can do your best to represent Him to others and to build His Kingdom with souls.

Keep the Heavenly Vision

The Bible says, Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). It takes clear, spiritual vision to represent Christ and be about your heavenly Father’s business. It takes clear, spiritual vision to make all the sacrifices necessary to do the whole will of God.

Noah and his family had divine vision to build an ark, and they maintained that vision for 120 years in a civilization where every thought of the people’s hearts was evil continually. Not one soul was saved in all those years, yet Noah and his family never strayed or became distracted from that heavenly vision regardless of the obstacles they faced. They made every sacrifice necessary, and they kept on working no matter how many trials and persecutions they faced.

We read in Genesis 19 that Lot and his two daughters took on divine vision when God sent two angels to warn them and deliver them from the coming judgment of God upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, Lot’s wife did not take on that vision even though she had heard the same warning. Her spiritual vision was blurred and cloudy because she was distracted by the lusts and sins of those two cities. Instead of setting out to do the whole will of God and escape the coming judgment, Lot’s wife was preoccupied with self; and it is the same with many people today.

Jonah did not keep the vision God gave him of preaching to the people in Nineveh. Instead, he tried to excuse himself from representing God to those people who were in need of help, but God would not allow him to get by with that; so God sent a whale to swallow him . Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). How many times has God been forced to send a whale after His children because they lost the heavenly vision of who they are, who they are representing and the fact that they are on Earth to win lost souls?

Jesus tried to give His disciples spiritual vision of the plan of redemption, but they wouldn’t let it sink in because they had their own selfish ideas and opinions about Jesus. They thought they knew why He was on Earth and what He was supposed to do. As a result, Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him in the Garden of Gethsemane when He needed them the most. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled (Matthew 26:56). They also missed out on one of the greatest events of all time—the Resurrection of Jesus.

What Do You See?

Many so-called Christians make poor ambassadors for Christ because they are content living in this foreign country, and they are unconcerned with bringing in the Lord’s harvest or making preparations to leave this world behind when Jesus returns. Their lives are preoccupied with the cares of life, the fellowship of this world and being involved in other people’s business instead of minding their own business and doing the Lord’s work. They waste time, energy and even money on things that do not profit the Lord or His Kingdom.

The end-time signs are laid out in the Word of God, and you can see them all around you. Jesus said, And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28). Sooner or later, Jesus will step out on the clouds to take His children home; but many will not hold fast to that divine vision of escaping the coming judgment.

The Holy Ghost is seeking to give people end-time vision; but many will not accept it because they are too caught up in their own selfish vision. They have a vision of their own heart, and they deceive themselves by saying it is God’s vision for their life.

Peter refused to accept the vision of God’s plan of redemption for the human race, and he went so far as to rebuke the Master for telling them about it. Then Peter took him [Jesus], and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee (Matthew 16:22).

Later, Thomas refused to accept the vision that Jesus was alive even though the other disciples had seen Him and testified of it. Instead, Thomas said, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe (John 20:25).

Both Peter and Thomas had to suffer for their lack of spiritual vision, and children of God today will also have to suffer for not accepting the heavenly vision when God seeks to give it to them and direct them. Then just as the disciples missed out on Christ’s resurrection, they will miss out on the greatest event of all time—the second coming of the Lord.

Jesus and Paul Kept the Vision

Jesus was obedient to His heavenly vision even though He had to pay a terrible price to fulfill it. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). The joy that was set before Him was the heavenly, spiritual vision of multitudes of souls being brought into the Kingdom because of His sacrifice.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (Hebrews 12:3). Jesus took the weak cross of suffering and made it a Cross of power and deliverance for us and others. Therefore, you must keep clear, spiritual vision in order to take up your cross and be about your heavenly Father’s business.

The Apostle Paul was a wonderful ambassador for Christ, and he was able to stand before King Agrippa and declare, Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). Like Jesus, Paul paid a great price; but he was faithful to the Lord’s work and to the heavenly vision all the way to Nero’s chopping block.

Never Lose Your Vision

In this final hour before Jesus returns and the Antichrist, the son of perdition, reveals himself, many are falling away and growing lukewarm because they have lost spiritual vision. The Bible said this would happen. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (II Thessalonians 2:3).

Many people are blind to the truth because of self, family, friends and relationships. They are blind to the will of God and to the call to win lost souls, so they are not about their Father’s business in prayer and fasting. They are not working for the Lord or attending church like they should. They excuse self, justify self and enable self when Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

At the end of life’s journey, you must be able to declare, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, and I was continually about my Father’s business. I was a faithful ambassador for Christ and the Kingdom of God.”

Strive to be all God wants you to be; and continue working to bring in every lost soul until Jesus declares the work is done, and it is time to go home. Oh, your flesh will get tired and weary as you travel through this foreign country, but the strength of the divine blood and the anointing of the Holy Ghost will enable each bridal company member to carry on their divine mission and serve others just as Christ did.

We cannot be like the disciples when they lacked vision and fled the garden in our Lord’s greatest hour of need. Jesus needs disciples who are alert, on their post of duty and working to bring in souls as He did. We are not running after the world; we are running hard after Jesus. Our cup is full and overflowing with the Holy Ghost, so we can serve a lost and dying world the Gospel of Christ.